Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

This amazing novel packs a punch--there is so much that makes it both intriguing and high interest, so it’s ideal for teens who have not yet tried or enjoyed historical fiction. Set in 1977 New York City, the author vividly and realistically recreates the setting--the city and time period almost feel like major characters in the story.

Although the city is terrorized by a series of murders, (eventually revealed as the true Son of Sam murders), main character Nora has additional problems on her mind. Her older brother Hector is becoming more and more a stranger--staying out all night, spending time with dangerous people, and getting into drugs. Nora’s single mother pushes her to watch out for Hector and keep him in line--but how, when his temper becomes more explosive and unpredictable everyday? Nora is working and saving money so that she can move out on her own and escape her family’s problems for good. But will her dreams go up in flames during one crazy summer? I recommend this book to readers who like reading about family issues, urban fiction, suspense, and relationships. This book, its characters, and sense of place are unforgettable--I could not get my nose out of it until I turned the last page and I still think about it.

How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

Warning: This juicy paranormal tale about the descendants of the Salem Witch Trials, including a main character who is a direct descendant of Cotton Mather, was extremely addictive. The story kept calling me back to the book. Samantha Mather is new to Salem, but her lifelong curse has followed her there and seems to have intensified. Samantha is immediately on the radars of--and detested by--a group of teens known as The Descendants. Rumored to be witches, they are descendants of the witches who were hanged as part of the Salem Witch Trials. The author’s writing is particularly strong, which adds to the enticing nature of this book, and there were several times where I swore I was getting goosebumps from the writer’s crafty mastery of the magically creepy. I greatly enjoyed this book as an adult and would have adored it as an adolescent. I recommend this book to readers who like paranormal fiction, ghost stories, witches, and stories about being an outsider trying to fit in.

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey - Book Two of The Fifth Wave

Buckle your seatbelts because this book is a ride! The Infinite Sea continues where The Fifth Wave left off and the storyline is just as gripping as the first book. Yancey is incredibly crafty with mind twists, horrific alien technology, and suspense. Beware if you are a reader who has children--this book will keep you up at night--both because you can't stop reading it and the events are haunting. I recommend this to readers who like action, suspense, survival stories, mystery, and a dash of science fiction. Warning: You cannot put this one down. And then you have to wait for book three...

Hidden by Helen Frost

The lives of two 8-year-old girls, Wren and Darra, change forever when Darra's father steals a minivan and does not realize that Wren is hiding inside. Written in verse, this book moves quickly and takes the reader along as Wren figures out how to escape the minivan inside Darra's locked garage without being discovered. Years later, the two girls meet again by chance at a summer camp. Find out what happens when Wren and Darra confront each other about their shared past. I recommend this book to readers who like suspense, family drama, and books in verse; readers who liked Girl, Stolen, will also enjoy this similar but different story. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!