Riding Along

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen is the story of Auden's summer after high school graduation. Auden has always been a very focused student and she comes to spend some time with her father and his new wife and baby at the beach with college text books in tow, planning to do a lot of prep work for the coming year. Slowly Auden finds herself being tugged into town life in this small beach community and starts on a quest to live all the experiences she missed in a childhood devoted to scholarship. At first she is just along for the ride but soon she is planning her own new route into adulthood. A Sarah Dessen book that I would recommend to adults as well as teens.

Couldn't Put It Down

Blade: Playing Dead by Tim Bowler, that is. Blade is a street kid with a history that is slowly but not completely revealed as the story moves along. Some time in his past, he did something that has caused him to lay low and not call attention to himself. But now his past is catching up to him. As he narrates his tale, you are drawn to him even when he refuses to paint himself in a flattering light. And even if he were completely unappealing the nonstop action would propel you through the story. I don't think I've ever finished a book feeling quite so breathless. Or with quite so many questions. I hear there will be a sequel. That is a very good thing.
Blade: Playing Dead, by Tim Bowler, 978-0-399-52186-3, coming May 2009

Reminded me of:
Alex Rider books by Anthony Horowitz somewhat but I can't think of another book off the top of my head with the same gritty, urban feel to it.

Sister Love

Lauren Myracle's Peace, Love & Baby Ducks is all about sisters, specifically sisters Carly and Anna. Almost all of their interactions are dependent on Carly being the big sister and Anna the younger. But then Carly comes back from a summer work study project to discover that not only is Anna about to start high school, but she's developed in a way that Carly never has. And suddenly she's getting attention at school because of Anna, instead of the other way around. As they redefine their relationship, both girls do some growing up and learn to see from the other's perspective. But this is really Carly's story. It's Carly whose friendships grow and develop during the story and Carly who has the aha! moments about her relationship with her parents. Although there is a little romance and a lot about friendship, this is ultimately a story about family. Recommended for middle and high school.
Peace, Love & Baby Ducks, by Lauren Myacle, 978-0-525-47743-3, available May 2009
Made me think of:
Mare's War by Tanita Davis (another sister story)
Let It Snow by Lauren Myracle, John Green and Maureen Johnson (this one is more about the romances but friendship and family are important too)
books by Sarah Dessen