They have feelings like humans do – but these creatures are a whole new race of warriors called the Alpha, or first men. Spiced with a girl’s innermost concerns, this fast-paced and witty story spins readers smack into Normandy’s orbit. The aloof Keira has also burdened her little sister by sort of sharing a disturbing secret. Meanwhile at home, Normandy’s older sister Keira is a child prodigy who has created a popular series of graphic novels in which she used her own family as subjects – in embarrassing ways. High school junior Normandy Pale and two friends set out to uncover the truth behind some gossip they are the Truth Commission. Nodd is all Jacob, 17, knows, until he meets “Worldly Girl” on the other side of the fence, who calls him “Cult Boy.” For the first time in his life he samples fried chicken and sweets such as M&Ms and Coke. The National Book Award winner introduces readers to Nodd, 12 square Montana miles enclosed by a chain-link fence. Hillyer’s debut is billed as “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” for 2015, but it has more impact and better developed characters. Now, just before college, there’s a camp reunion. Once so tight, their friendship later fell apart. Joy, Tali, Luce and Zoe became friends at an overnight summer camp. Dessen goes deeper and darker in this stirring story about the pressures teenagers endure. Meeting another family becomes a turning point. (PUSH/Scholastic, ages 12 and older)Ī drunk-driving accident sends Sydney’s family into conflict and distraction, and she’s left to muddle through on her own. Walton, of Athens, delivers an honest and encouraging story about the importance of being yourself and trusting those who love you.

He came close, but he doesn’t know.” Tretch Farm, 15, is gay and secretly in love with his best friend, Matt, who’s straight. “Once my clothes are off, I turn the shower knob to cold and stand under the freezing stream. (Little, Brown and Co., ages 12 and older) Caitlin’s mom works all angles to help Martin get a scholarship to an American college.

Caitlin sends her babysitting money to Martin, helping him with much more than postage costs – it helps his family pay rent, and they even eat chicken for the first time in years. Caitlin Stoicsitz lives in Hatfield, Pennsylvania Martin Ganda lives in Zimbabwe. It will be a memorable summer for anyone who reads this uplifting nonfiction account of two kids whose lives were worlds apart, but who stuck it out as pen pals for six years, transforming each other’s lives. ‘I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives’ by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda with Liz Welch

Drive Me Crazy by Terra Elan McVoy