The serious subject matter of Dreamland, by Sarah Dessen, caught me off guard because I remembered her other books being pretty easy-going fare. 
In Dreamland, Caitlin's sister, who was supposed to have attended Yale, unexpectedly abandons her college plans and runs away from her family to go live with her boyfriend and work as an assistant on a daytime reality show. Caitlin and her parents are devastated, and Caitlin ends up in an abusive relationship with a young man who has himself been abused by his father. I've always found it very difficult to understand how women can stay in relationships where their boyfriends/husbands physically or emotionally abuse them, and the story Dessen tells here seems incredible. However, I know that Caitlin's story is all too real, so this was a disturbing book to read.
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, broke my heart. It took me a long time to finish this book because it is so terribly sad and sometimes I just couldn't face it. 
This is a book about the Holocaust, narrated by "Death," and told from the perspective of a young German girl named Liesel. Readers first meet her as she is on a train with her mother and brother. The two children are to go live with a foster family because their mother cannot afford to take care of them, but her brother dies on the train. Liesel goes to live with Rosa and Hans Hubermann. She becomes especially close to Hans, her Papa, who teaches her to read. During World War II, Liesel steals a book that survived a Nazi book burning, and when she is finally able to read it she hungers for more. She ends up becoming "the book thief," stealing books from the library of the mayor's wife.
I found that I often forgot that "Death" was narrating the story instead of an omniscient narrator. When "Death" jumped in with some personal comment about what he did or saw, it was a little jarring, and I had to remind myself of who the "my" or "I" referred to. Nevertheless, having "Death" be the narrator enriches the story by emphasizing death's pervasive presence during that time and at that place. This book was a Printz Honor Book for 2007. I can't honestly say that I enjoyed it, but I certainly admire it and feel it was worth reading.
Marked, by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast, is the first book in the House of Night series. The fifth in the series, Hunted, was just released this month. I found this first book was a pretty good read, and I do think I'll read the second book, Betrayed, when I can get my hands on it. I have my doubts about how this series will stand up to the inevitable Twilight comparisons, though. The story is set in Oklahoma and the heroine, Zoey, is part Cherokee on her mother's side (although she learns about her Native American heritage from her maternal grandmother, rather than her mother). So far I'm thinking Harry Potter meets Twilight and not much else. Nevertheless, I have to admit I enjoyed Marked, and I think I should reserve judgmnent on the series as a whole until I've read at least one more book.
Double Helix, by Nancy Werlin, reminded me of The Adoration of Jenna Fox, because both novels explore the ethical dilemmas that accompany new technologies such as cloning and genetic manipulation. 
The main characters of both novels face questions about their identity and struggle to answer the questions that arise when they learn of their parents' past actions. Double Helix is the second book I've read by Nancy Werlin (Impossible was the first), and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite YA authors. I found both books compelling--the "I can't do anything else until I've finished this book" kind of read that I'm always looking for. I will definitely read more of this author's work.
Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta, is the Printz Award winner for 2009. 
I found this novel confusing for at least the first half. I believe the author deliberately created this confusion, though, and I found that sticking with the story really paid off. The difficulty I had was with keeping the characters' names and relationships clear in my mind so that I could follow the story. There are two story lines, one from the novel's past and the second is the novel's present. The reader is able to tell which is which because the story from the past is always in italic type. However, the main character and narrator, Taylor Markham, is very confused about her past, and the author forces the reader to share that confusion with her. Like a blurry image that fades slowly into focus, though, the past and present gradually coalesce into a coherent whole as Taylor discovers important events and relationships that have shaped her into the young woman she is. This is a novel about identity, love, and loyalty, and these themes emerge within the context of an inventive and challenging narrative structure. I liked this book a lot and I can see why the Printz committee chose it as this year's winner.
Becoming Billie Holiday, by Carole Boston Weatherford, is a short biographical book about the famous singer written entirely in verse. 
The author used the names of some of Holliday's songs as chapter titles. This book is not long (I read it in one sitting), but it really packs a punch. The poems tell of the singer's rough childhood and the racial discrimination she fought as a performer, and the beautiful illustrations add to the haunting, viceral effect of this woman's exceptional story.
I'm still working my way through the Newbery Medal winners, and this time I read Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink. This was written in 1935, but for the most part I did not find the languge to be too dated. 
The one exception I noticed was that the characters (even the sympathetic ones) refer to the Native Americans as "savages." Brink based Caddie Woodlawn on the stories her grandmother told her about her childhood as a pioneer living in Wisconsin during the mid-19th century. 11-year-old Caddie is one of seven children in her family. She is a tomboy and loves to go adventuring with her two brothers, Tom (who is older) and Warren (who is younger). Her father accepts her for who she is and encourages her mother to let her "run wild" so that she will grow up to be healthy and confident. The society in which Caddie lives nevertheless expects girls and women to be ladylike, and in the end it seems as though Caddie will eventually have to conform. In the meantime, however, she has great fun, and I enjoyed reading about all of her adventures and learning more about pioneer life. This is a good one to recommend to girls in middle school.
I finished two more Newbery Medal winners: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (1986) and Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (1973). Sarah, Plain and Tall is very short, really more of a short story, but beautifully written. It is about a family living on the prairie in the 19th century who have lost their wife/mother. Jacob (the father) puts an ad in the paper for a mail-order bride, and Sarah answers the ad. She comes to live with the family for one month to see how things go. Anna and Caleb, the children, like her right away and are afraid that she will miss her home in Maine too much and leave them. We discover during the narrtative that Sarah is not only "plain and tall" but also quite cabable. She gives everyone a hair cut, helps Jacob fix the roof, and drives a wagon on her own. This is a quiet story with not much conflict, but I liked seeing a strong female character and positive, warm family relationships.
Julie of the Wolves 
is about an Eskimo girl with two names: Miyax, her Eskimo name, and Julie, her American name. It seems appropriate that the author gives her main character two names because Miyax/Julie also has two identities that are at odds with each other throughout the story. Miyax is only thirteen but she is married to a boy named Daniel. Unhappy with her situation, Miyax runs away with the intention of going to San Francisco to live with a friend. However, Miyax becomes lost and must survive in the Alaskan wilderness on her own. George provides detailed descriptions of Eskimo survival techniques which I found very interesting. I admire people who have the know-how to live in such an inhospitable climate. Julie makes friends with a pack of wolves, and they help each other to survive. Miyax must make a choice between her two worlds at the end, and I was surprised by her decision. I liked this book, but it is not as exciting as other survival/adventure stories such as Hatchet. It is more about the culture clash in which Miyax/Julie is caught, and there are not as many edge-of-your-seat moments.
Phineas L. MacGuire . . . Erupts!, by Frances O'Roark Dowell, is the first in a series of books about 4th-grader Phineas, 
known as Mac. In this story, Mac and the new boy in class pair up for the 4th grade science fair and create an awesome erupting volcano. Mac considers himself a pretty astute scientist, and I understand that in the next book (Phineas L. MacGuire . . . Gets Slimed!) Mac turns his attention from chemical reactions to mold. This is a very short book (I think I read it in about 30 minutes), but it is very funny and I enjoyed it. At the back of the book readers will find instructions for doing some very simple science experiments. This seems like a great series for fans of Captain Underpants and Franny K. Stein.
Edith Nesbit (1858-1924) wrote this collection of eight short stories about dragons. 
I found myself really paying attention to each word as I read, and I realized that these stories would make great read-alouds. The stories just exude imagination, humor, and life. Also, Nesbit's British vocabulary and sensibilities added considerably to my enjoyment. I think my favorite was Chapter 2: "Uncle James, or the Purple Stranger." In this story, foods that we have to bake or cook, such as buns and cakes, grow on trees, while things that we grow, such as fruits and vegetables, must be prepared in the kitchen. Also, animals are all the wrong size so that children can take rides on guinea pigs and keep elephants for pets. Lots of fun!
Rascal is Sterling North's memoir about one year during his childhood spent with his pet raccoon named Rascal. 
In 1918 11-year-old North lived with his father in Wisconsin, his mother having died several years earlier. North loved animals, and his father allowed him to keep many as pets, including not only a Saint Bernard named Wowser but also an assortment of wild animals such as skunks, a crow, and of course, Rascal the raccoon. Rascal and young Sterling share many adventures, exploring the lakes and streams close to their home, fishing, going to the country fair, and camping together in the wilderness. North's narration is gently humorous, witty, and elegant. I was sad when this book ended. I think both boys and girls, fiction and non-fiction lovers alike, will enjoy reading this wise and beautiful story.
