Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has a grace as is evident in her eyes. Each of her eyes has a different color. Katsa has been graced with superior fighting skills and her Uncle Randa uses Kasta as his enforcer in the kindgom of Middluns (one of the seven kingdoms.) Working as King Randa's enforcer bothers Katsa to her very core, so she and her team of four friends have formed an underground network called The Council that fights for the underdog throughout the Seven Kingdoms. On a secret mission for the Council, Katsa and her team rescue an elderly Lienid who has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner in King Murgon of Sunder's dungeon. It is during this rescue, Katsa battles a graced Lienid whose skills are close to her own. This encounter spins Katsa's life in a different direction. Read Graceling to follow Katsa's amazing journey.

The Circle of Blood by Alane Ferguson

This is Alane Ferguson's third forensic mystery featuring Cameryn Mahoney. Cameryn is an assistant county coroner in Silverton, Colorado working for her father. Cameryn plans to be a forensic scientist when she graduates from high school. Cameryn and her mother, who has just recently returned to Silverton after a long absence, are getting to know one another and working on building a relationship when a mysterious hitch-hiker is found dead. The last person to see the hitch-hiker alive was Cameryn's mom, Hannah, who gave the young lady a lift. As evidence is uncovered, Cameryn must decide whether to share information that may incriminate her mother.

The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu

Charlotte's cousin Zachary is coming from "across the pond" to live with her family. Zee, as he is called, is an outgoing, talented soccer player. He fits right into life at her high school. He fits in better than Charlotte. But the students are getting sick at school. Zee shares that it happened at his school in London and Charlotte begins to wonder what is going on. When two strange looking men attack Charlotte and Zee, Mr. Metos, their English teacher, intervenes. Charlotte and Zee share their suspicions with Mr. Metos. Mr. Metos warns them of the shadow thieves and confirms their suspicions. Soon Charlotte and Zee find themselves swept up in a plot to overthrow Hades in the Underworld.

If you enjoy Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympian series, you should find The Cronus Chronicles entertaining as well.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Every year, the Capitol requires each district to send to representatives between the ages of twelve to eighteen to play in the Hunger Games. In the Hunger Games the participants fight to the death on national television. When Katniss Everdeen's younger sister, Prim, gets chosen in the lottery to represent District 12, Katniss steps forward to take her place. But Katniss has skills, she's been providing for her family for years using the knowledge her father taught her. The Hunger Games is Survivor with an edge!

Vampirates: Blood Captain by Justin Somper

Twins, Connor and Grace Tempest, continue their adventures in the third book of the Vampirates series, Blood Captain. Grace, along with the Captain and other members of The Nocturne, takes blinded Lorcan to the Santuary in hope of a cure for his failing health. While at the Santuary, Grace meets interesting characters, learns more about her healing abilities and struggles with her place in the vampirate world. Meanwhile, Connor aboard the pirate ship, The Diablo, prepares for an exciting mission that will test his commitment to his life as a pirate. Twists and surprises will keep pages turning in this thrilling adventure.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

A young toddler wanders away from his home during as a killer has murdered his family. He toddles up the street to the old graveyard with the killer on his trail. The residents of the graveyard sensing danger, hide the toddler from the killer and raise him. Nobody Owens has the protection of the graveyard and its residents. The ghosts assign Bod parents and guardians, teach him what they know and keep him away from the killer who is still searching for Bod. The Graveyard Book is a magical and thrilling read. Come check it out.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Despereaux Tilling is a small, sickly mouse with big ears who breaks all the Mouse Council rules by interacting with humans. Interacting with humans is potentially dangerous for mice that live in castles, so when Despereaux falls in love with Princess Pea, the Mouse Council sentences him to death by the rats that live in the castle's dungeon. Despereaux is a brave and special mouse. Will his love of the princess conquer the obstacles he must face?

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

When Molly and Michael's mom remarries and they have to move with her new husband, Dave and his daughter Heather to the country, they are not overjoyed. This has spoiled their summer plans with friends. Living in the country is boring compared to the big city but they try to make the best of the situation by exploring their new environment. The family's new home is an old coverted church which comes with its own graveyard. Molly notices a change in Heather's behavior after a visit to the graveyard and the discovery of a small tombstone. Strange things begin to happen around the house and Heather blames both Michael and Molly. Tensions begin to rip the family apart. Heather continues to manipulate the adults and threaten her new siblings with "Wait till Helen comes!"

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

The final book of the Inkheart trilogy, finds Meggie and her family still in Ink World. Mo is being hunted by the Adderhead, who wants Mo to rebind the book that has given him immortality. The Adderhead is furious over the trick that Mo and Meggie played in Inkspell and is wreaking havoc in Ink World. Fenoglio has lost his control over the story. Mo, as the Bluejay, and the Black Prince try to fend off attacks by the Piper and others sent by Adderhead to capture Mo, Meggie and Resa. Meanwhile, Elinor is stuck in our world wondering what is happening to her loved ones. This is an exciting end to Funke's extraordinary fantasy.

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

The Cahill family has gathered in the Great Hall for the reading of the will of its matriarch, Grace Cahill. Grace gives her last instructions to her family via a previously taped video. She offers them each a million dollars or 39 clues which lead to a secret that will make the individual or team that finds it the "most powerful and influential human beings on the planet". Dan and Amy Cahill loved their grandmother Grace and miss her greatly. They know that she was secretly training them for this mission but they must pit their wits against other more savvy members of their family to find the clues.

Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer

Vladimir Tod lives with his Aunt Nelly since his parents were killed in a house fire. Vlad has a secret. He's a vampire. His father was a vampire and his mom was human. Vlad is the first known case of a vampire actually being born and not "created" through a vampire bite. So some consider Vlad special while others detest his existence.

Nelly, a nightshift nurse, keeps Vlad stocked in packets of blood from the hospital. She only takes the ones that will be destroyed because the packets are about to expire. Vlad has never killed anyone to feed. Vlad's best friend, Henry, knows his secret, too. But odd things soon start happening in Vlad's town. Mr. Craig, a favorite middle school teacher, is missing. His substitute, Mr. Otis is very different and Vlad believes Mr. Otis is on to his secret. The vice principal watches Vlad like a hawk just waiting for him to mess up so he can administer a severe punishiment. Mark and Todd, the school bullies, continually pick on Vlad for his "goth" appearance, while Vlad longs to have the courage to speak to his crush, Meredith. And, as his vampire powers become more prominent, he longs to know more about his father and his background. Check out Eighth Grade Bites to find out how Vlad handles it all!