Denver Public Library: Teens: Find a Good Book, Book Lists

Squee’s Great Series Book Recommendations for Young Adults!!!

Rating System:

! – I enjoyed this book.
!! – A really fun, engaging read.
!!! – Ok. I’m impressed.
!!!! – Wow! You’ve gotta read this book!
!!!!! – You haven’t lived ‘til you’ve read this book!

	1. Warriors Series by Erin Hunter – Book 1: Into the Wild RATING: !! "For generations, four clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their warrior ancestors. But the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger, and the sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying—and some deaths are more mysterious than others. In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary house cat named Rusty…who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all." - warriorcats.com While this series may not need much imagination or effort to get through, I have found that many of the kids who were reluctant readers before starting Warriors became avid readers before finishing the series. The fact that most of the kids I recommended the books to could finish them in a day or two seemed to improve their confidence in their reading abilities. The stories are engaging enough to attract even long time readers if they don’t expect too much, but want to be engulfed in the world of the wild cats! WARRIORS SERIES The Books: Into the Wild Fire and Ice Forest of Secrets Rising Storm A Dangerous Path The Darkest Hour
	2. The Mysterious Benedict Society Series by Trenton Lee Stewart – Book 1: The Mysterious Benedict Society RATING: !!!! "Dozens of children respond to a particular ad in the newspaper and are put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children – two boys and two girls – succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is there are no rules. But what they’ll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you’re gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help." - hachettebookgroup.com While the three kids who make up the main trio of this book seem too different to be friends, when they come together to combine their unique talents, they make an unstoppable team! The challenges these kids face are perilous and strange, but with teamwork, thought and a bit of muscle, they manage to overcome some pretty tough obstacles. This work by Mr. Stewart is creative and clever and shows the importance of working together to accomplish a common goal for the greater good. THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY SERIES The Mysterious Benedict Society: Book/Audio Book eBook Audio eBook The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey: Book/Audio Book eBook Audio eBook The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma: Book/Audio Book eBook Audio eBook
	3. Ulysses Moore Series by Pierdomenico Baccalario – Book 1: The Door to Time RATING: !!! "Eleven-year-old twins Jason and Julia have just moved from London to an old mansion on the English coast. Their new home is filled with twisting tunnels and strange artifacts from around the world, and the twins can't wait to discover all its secrets. Before long, Jason, Julia, and their friend Rick stumble upon a mysterious-looking door hidden behind an old wardrobe. But none of the keys in the house will open it. What lies behind the door? And why has someone tried to conceal it? Jason, Julia, and Rick are determined to find out, no matter what it takes..." - www.scholastic.com ULYSSES MOORE SERIES The Door to Time: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Long-Lost Map: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The House of Mirrors: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Isle of Masks: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook
	4. The Seventh Tower Series by Garth Nix – Book 1: The Fall RATING: !!!! "The series follows two children from distinctly different societies in a world blocked from the sun by a magical Veil which leaves the world in complete darkness. Tal is a chosen from the Castle, and Milla is an Icecarl from the Ice. Together they have discovered that an evil, long thought to have vanished, once more threatens their world, slowly and secretly letting its presence be felt. A pact was broken, and a war dormant for two thousand years is rekindling. Danger looms and it is up to two children and a small band of unlikely heroes to save their Dark World." - wikipedia.com This is another easy read for kids who are still finding their feet in the literary world. Garth Nix is a master at writing kids books (as you can see I have his name on this recommendation list several times) and always tells a story that will get kids excited about continuing the series. While this story is simple in its elements (bad guys versus good guys, look to the light for truth, etc.) it starts to weave in more complicated themes, like the good guy forced to participate in evil plots, thus blurring those boundaries between good and evil. THE SEVENTH TOWER SERIES The Books: The Fall Castle Aenir Above the Veil Into Battle The Violet Keystone
	5. Septimus Heap Series by Angie Sage – Book 1: Magyk RATING: !!!! "Septimus Heap, the seventh son of a seventh son, is pronounced dead by the midwife on the night he is born. That same night, Silas, his father, finds a newborn girl with violet eyes in the snow. The Heaps take the baby girl into their home, name her Jenna after Sarah Heap’s mother, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus? 10 years later, the evil Extra-Ordinary wizard has taken control of the land and Jenna finds herself in the center of an incredible series of events that leads her down a path towards destiny!" - wikipedia.com and books.google.com This series is what magic would have been had Terry Pratchett been the genius behind Harry Potter. It is witty enough to keep adults engaged, and tells a magical story that will get kids excited about continuing the series! The pun-erific writing is reminiscent of Piers Anthony, but the focus is more on storytelling than Anthony ever managed. SEPTIMUS HEAP SERIES Magyk: Book/Audio Book eBook Flyte: Book/Audio Book eBook Physik: Book/Audio Book eBook Queste: Book/Audio Book eBook Audio eBook Syren: Book/Audio Book eBook The Magykal Papers: Book eBook
	6. Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer – Book 1: Artemis Fowl RATING: !!!! "Artemis Fowl tells the tale of a twelve-year-old genius, a criminal mastermind who wants to acquire fairy gold in order to replenish his family’s fortunes. Bringing together both the human and fairy worlds, Colfer writes about Artemis’ quest for the gold and how the fairies try to prevent him from gaining their riches." - bookrags.com What we have in Artemis Fowl is starter fantasy for kids! For those kids with excessive amounts of imagination that will likely turn into a lifelong enjoyment of all things peculiar, Artemis Fowl is a great introduction to get them interested in reading books along the lines of Terry Pratchett in their future. 1 part maniacal genius, 1 part fairy magic, and 3 parts hilarious misadventure, this series will support any kid’s (or adult's) crush on books. ARTEMIS FOWL SERIES Artemis Fowl: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Arctic Incident: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Eternity Code: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Opal Deception: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Lost Colony: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Time Paradox: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook
	7. The Underland Chronicles Series by Suzanne Collins – Book 1: Gregor the Overlander RATING: !!!! "When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles in the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, and cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor’s arrival is no accident. A prophecy fortells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland’s uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it – until he realizes it’s the only way to solve the mystery of his father’s disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever." - scholastic.com In Suzanne Collins’ first ever series, The Underland Chronicles, she comes out swinging and doesn’t let the reader down in any of the books she has written since. Gregor the Overlander starts with a power few writers ever accomplish and the subsequent books just add to the brilliance she shows as a writer. While there are moments of idyllic goodness displayed by Gregor (that do grow fewer and fewer as the series continues) that occasionally leave the reader questioning the authenticity of this character, the story as a whole displays a vast array of personality quirks that seldom just rely on sheer good or sheer evil. THE UNDERLAND CHRONICLES SERIES Gregor the Overlander: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Gregor and the Marks of Secret: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Gregor and the Code of Claw: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook
	8. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan – Book 1: The Lightning Thief RATING: !! "Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school it’s only getting worse – Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is actually Poseidon!" - percyjacksonbooks.com This series is a great introduction to the Greek myths. Percy keeps finding himself involved in shenanigans with the gods and monsters that filled the Greek stories with honor, bloodshed, and occasionally humor. The predicaments become a bit predictable as the series goes on, but Riordan still tells a great tale and works in some stuff that will help kids when they start getting into more advanced English classes where Greek myth references play a role in their education. PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS SERIES The Lightning Thief: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Sea of Monsters: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Titan's Curse: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Battle of the Labyrinth: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Last Olympian: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook

	9. The Keys to the Kingdom Series by Garth Nix – Book 1: Mister Monday RATING: !!!!! "Strange things begin happening after Arthur Penhaligon dreams of a strange figure who hands him a key shaped like a minute hand. A winged man-dog tried to invade his house. A sleeping sickness falls over the city. And then there’s the weird new house that only Arthur can see… Before long, Arthur realizes he’s stumbled into a strange new universe of moving staircases and gigantic clocks – and it’s up to him to set things right in a literal race against time." - scholastic.com Garth Nix delivers again! He always manages to tell a story that the reader can’t predict and maintains a storytelling style that is just incredible. In Keys to the Kingdom, Nix manages to play with concepts of matter versus nothing and how matter came to be from nothing. Basically a kids theoretical prequel to Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time, without all the math. THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM SERIES Mister Monday: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Grim Tuesday: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Drowned Wednesday: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Sir Thursday: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Lady Friday: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Superior Saturday: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook
	10. Protector of the Small Quartet by Tamora Pierce – Book 1: First Test RATING: !!!!! "The Protector of the Small quartet of books tells the exciting and adventurous tale of Keladry of Mindelan. Kel has just one dream: to become a knight. Her hero is Alanna the Lioness, the first woman to ever become a knight in the kingdom of Tortall. Kel has one advantage over her idol: Alanna had to disguise the fact that she was a girl throughout her training, but now the King has decreed that any nobly-born girl can enter the palace school. Kel knows that she will not exactly be welcome in the all male domain. Kel is a force to be reckoned with, however, and First Test is the story of her probationary year at the school, the hardships she endures and the friends (human and otherwise) that she finds." - www.kidsreads.com If you have a young girl in your life that loves to play with the boys, this series is the perfect tale for her! Tamora Pierce always manages to tell stories about girls overcoming hardships and making the most out of situations. She is the ultimate in empowering young women to do whatever they want and to throw gender expectations to the wind! In this series, Kel has to fight against a culture of men (and sometimes women) who do not think a girl can do a man’s work. She finds creative solutions to situations that might otherwise have turned to violence and teaches the boys the true meaning of friendship. She is the cornerstone of the young knights of her realm and proves time and again that it is not one’s gender that makes one a great fighter, it is one’s ability to think. Kel is an inspiration to any girl who wants to lead a rough and tumble lifestyle, compete in co-ed sports, stay tough for life, or prove herself to be just as smart as anyone else! PROTECTOR OF THE SMALL QUARTET First Test: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Page: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Squire: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Lady Knight: Book Audio eBook
	11. The Looking Glass Wars Series by Frank Beddor – Book 1: The Looking Glass Wars RATING: !!! "The Myth: Alice was an ordinary girl who stepped through the looking glass and entered a fairy-tale world invented by Lewis Carroll in his famous storybook. The Truth: Wonderland is real. Alyss Heart is the heir to the throne, until her murderous aunt Redd steals the crown and kills Alyss’ parents. To escape Redd, Alyss and her bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, must flee to our world through the Pool of Tears. But in the pool Alyss and Hatter are separated. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author to whom she tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Yet he gets the story all wrong. Hatter Madigan knows the truth only too well, and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts." - us.penguingroup.com In this wonderfully creative new look at Wonderland, Frank Beddor is able to take the basics thought up by Lewis Carroll and perform a magnificent spin effect! The white rabbit is really an anagram for “Bibwit Harte,” the royal tudor to Alyss and previous generations of Heart royalty. The Queen of Hearts is Alyss’ evil Aunt Redd, who has stolen the throne of Wonderland from Alyss’ mother and now tyrannizes over her subjects. Each story and detail of Carroll’s original masterpiece is beautifully reworked for Beddor’s tale of action, betrayal, death and eventually love. THE LOOKING GLASS WARS SERIES The Looking Glass Wars: Book/Audio Book eBook Seeing Redd: Book/Audio Book eBook Archenemy: Book/Audio Book
	12. Quantum Prophecy Series (The New Heroes) by Michael Carroll – Book 1: The Awakening RATING: !! "It has been ten years since the great battle that wiped out all the superhumans. Whether they all died that day or simply lost all their powers and blended back into society, only one thing is certain: They are gone. Or are they? Thirteen-year-olds Danny and Colin have recently begun changing. How can they explain Danny’s newfound ability to move at the speed of light, or Colin’s surprising strength? They can’t, but their parents – the lost generation of superhumans – can. They have been watching and waiting for these changes. So have others – and not everyone is happy about the boys’ new powers. Some will do anything to stop them." - powells.com Who says superheroes are just for kids? Quantum Prophecy spins a tale into being that relates to every teenager’s most fundamental questions about life and the future, but then it compounds those issues with the complication of adding in superhuman abilities. Now, not only do these teens need to negotiate crushes, acne and grades, they also have to figure out how to control their budding powers. While there is a potential to border on the corny, hokey and expected, Michael Carroll manages to tell a story that is both comforting in its reliance upon superheroes of the past while creating whole new dynamics to play with! QUANTUM PROPHECY SERIES The Books: The Awakening The Gathering The Reckoning
	13. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series by Michael Scott – Book 1: The Alchemyst RATING: !!! "He holds a secret that can end the world. Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects – the Book of Abraham the Mage. It’s the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That’s exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won’t know what’s happening until it’s too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it. Some legends are true. And Sophie and Josh are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time." - randomhouse.com/teens This series is like an older kids version of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. It is well written and engaging, and relies heavily on myths to fill out the story. Unlike Riordan’s series though, Scott uses myths from all over the Europe and weaves them together with modern twists and breathless scenes! In a journey that takes the reader from the U.S. to France to England and who knows where else, The Alchemyst takes the reader on some incredible rides that brings what may have been history into the present. THE SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL SERIES The Alchemyst: Book/Audio Book eBook The Magician: Book/Audio Book eBook The Sorceress: Book/Audio Book
	14. The Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan – Book 1: The Ruins of Gorlan RATING: !!!! "They have always scared him in the past – The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now, 15 year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice. What he doesn’t yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the Kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, the Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time he will not be denied…" - us.penguingroup.com While I generally don’t enjoy, much less advocate for books where one of the primary premises is to teach the young boy how to kill people honorably as his coming of age story, I must make an exception in this case. The Ranger’s Apprentice series is beautifully written and well thought out. Flanagan’s story of Will, a young orphan, is really more of a lost youth finding himself and his way in a world that punishes him for not being a fighter, rather than the machismo garbage that gets written in most novels about boys. The series doesn’t presume to justify killing or war, but those are major elements in the novels. It just is what it is, a quite compelling story. THE RANGER'S APPRENTICE SERIES The Ruins of Gorlan: Book/Audio Book eBook The Burning Bridge: Book/Audio Book The Icebound Land: Book/Audio Book eBook The Battle for Skandia: Book/Audio Book eBook The Sorcerer of the North: Book eBook The Siege of Macindaw: Book/Audio Book eBook
	15. Pendragon Series by D.J. MacHale – Book 1: The Merchant of Death RATING: !!! "Bobby Pendragon is a seemingly normal fourteen-year-old boy. He has a family, a home, and even Marley, his beloved dog. But there is something very special about Bobby. He is going to save the world. And not just Earth as we know it. Bobby is slowly starting to realize that life in the cosmos isn’t exactly what he thought it was. And before he can object, he is swept off to an alternate dimension known as Denduron, a territory inhabited by strange beings, ruled by a magical tyrant, and plagued by a dangerous revolution. If Bobby wants to see his family again, he’s going to have to accept his role as savior, and accept it wholeheartedly. Because, as he is about to discover, Denduron is only the beginning…" - thependragonadventure.com This series is the Warriors equivalent for slightly older kids. It, like Warriors, does not take much effort or imagination to get through the series, but it is an easy series that can help people who are not very avid readers feel more confident with their reading. The plot is straightforward, there are no dramatic twists or turns or blurring of the lines of good and evil, so this series is about as simple as they come. This is not to say it is a bad series (I wouldn’t put it on my recommendations list if it was), but more advanced readers will look at this as more of a “brain candy” experience. It does, however, as an added bonus, have engaging enough stories that parents could easily get into them for “reading with the kids” material. PENDRAGON SERIES The Merchant of Death: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Lost City of Faar: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Never War: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Reality Bug: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Black Water: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Rivers of Zadaa: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Quillan Games: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Pilgrims of Rayne: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Raven Rise: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Soldiers of Halla: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook
	16. Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson – Book 1: The Angel Experiment RATING: !! "Fourteen year-old Maximum Ride is not your typical teenager. She’s one of a group of genetically engineered children who have wings and are able to fly. They’ve escaped from the school where they were created and tortured, and are living together in the woods. From Death Valley, California to the bowels of the New York City subway system, fourteen year-old Max leads her five feisty “family” members on a journey of action, adventure and soul-seeking." - scholastic.com This series is based off of a novel James Patterson wrote (When the Wind Blows) that received high critical acclaim, so he decided to write a youth series. Maximum Ride is a great balance between adult and youth fiction. This series could be some great transitional material for helping youth advance their reading level a bit. MAXIMUM RIDE SERIES The Angel Experiment: Book/Audio Book eBook School's Out--Forever: Book/Audio Book eBook Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports: Book/Audio Book eBook The Final Warning: Book/Audio Book eBook Audio eBook Max: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook

	17. Alex Rider Adventure Series by Anthony Horowitz – Book 1: Stormbreaker RATING: !! "When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider finds his world turned upside down. Within days he’s gone from schoolboy to super spy. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex has to take part in grueling SAS training exercises. Then, armed with his own special set of secret gadgets, he’s off on his first mission. His destination is the depths of Cornwall, where Middle Eastern multimillionaire Herod Sayle is producing his state-of-the-art Stormbreaker computers. Sayle’s offered to give one free to every school in the country - but MI6 thinks there’s more to the gift than meets the eye." - alexrider.com Anthony Horowitz can always write a compelling action sequence, and he does not let the reader down this time! Alex Rider explodes on the scene almost immediately with death defying leaps across empty space, great fight sequences, and a chase scene that is to die for! This is a great series to boost confidence in teenage readers. The stories are engaging and fast paced and will keep even ADHD children wanting more. Horowitz must have had a Hollywood script in mind when he started the series ‘cause this reads with all the energy of a screenplay. ALEX RIDER ADVENTURE SERIES The Books/Audio Books: Stormbreaker Point Blanc Skeleton Key Eagle Strike Scorpia Ark Angel Snakehead
	18. The Warrior Heir Series by Cinda Williams Chima – Book 1: The Warrior Heir RATING: !!!! Wizards have maintained control over the magical guilds since the beginning of magic. Warriors, Enchanters, Sorcerers and Seers have been forced to submit to their cruel and tyrannous rule for far too long. When two warring factions of wizards force two warriors to face off for the wizards own benefit, the warriors stand up and start a backlash involving all the under guilds to claim equality for all the “gifted” in the world. THE WARRIOR HEIR SERIES The Books: The Warrior Heir The Wizard Heir The Dragon Heir
	19. The Last Apprentice Series by Joseph Delaney – Book 1: Revenge of the Witch RATING: !! "For years Old Gregory has been the Spook for the county, ridding the local villages of evil. Now his time is coming to an end. But who will take over for him? Twenty-nine apprentices have tried – some floundered, some fled, and some failed to stay alive. Only Thomas Ward is left. He’s the last hope, the last apprentice." - harpercollins.com THE LAST APPRENTICE SERIES Revenge of the Witch: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Curse of the Bane: Book/Audio Book Night of The Soul-Stealer: Book/Audio Book Attack of the Fiend: Book/Audio Book Wrath of the Bloodeye: Book/Audio Book Clash of the Demons: Book/Audio Book The Spook's Tale: Book Audio eBook
	20. The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud – Book 1: The Amulet of Samarkand RATING: !!! "Nathaniel is a young magician’s apprentice, taking his first lessons in the arts of magic. But when a devious hotshot wizard named Simon Lovelace ruthlessly humiliates Nathaniel in front of everyone he knows, Nathaniel decides to kick up his education a few notches and show Lovelace who’s boss. With revenge on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all: summoning the all-powerful djinni, Bartimaeus. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand, Nathaniel finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder, blackmail and revolt." - teenreads.com This is the perfect book to introduce the concept of civic unrest. Bartimaeus teaches the young wizard Nathaniel the dangers of abuse of power by showing him how the commoners respond to and rebel against the ruling class, wizards. This could lead to a lot of discussions about historical uprisings, such as the Indian Independence Revolution or the American Revolution. THE BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY The Amulet of Samarkand: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook The Golem's Eye: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook Ptolemy's Gate: Book/Audio Book Audio eBook
	21. Inheritance Cycle Series by Christopher Paolini – Book 1: Eragon RATING: !!!! "When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled on a legacy nearly as old as the empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the empire may rest in his hands." - alagaesia.com While the first book, Eragon, comes across as a simple work of fan fiction, as the series progresses, Paolini finds a voice that could make him the fantasy guru of his generation. His unique take on the origin of magic and the creation of several new languages are just two prime examples of the creativity that could set Paolini ahead of his peers. INHERITANCE CYCLE SERIES Eragon: Book/Audio Book eBook Audio eBook Eldest: Book/Audio Book eBook Audio eBook Brisingr: Book/Audio Book eBook Audio eBook
	22. Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix – Book 1: Sabriel RATING: !!! "Since childhood, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the power of free magic, and away from the Dead who refuse to stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorson, is missing, and Sabriel must cross into that world to find him. With Mogget, whose feline form hides a powerful, perhaps malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage, Sabriel travels deep into the Old Kingdom. There she confronts an evil that threatens much more than her life and comes face to face with her own hidden destiny." - harpercollins.com ABHORSEN TRILOGY Sabriel: Book/Audio Book eBook Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr: Book/Audio Book eBook Abhorsen: Book/Audio Book
	23. The Lost Books Series by Ted Dekker – Book 1: Chosen RATING: ! "The land of the Forest Dwellers has been decimated by the Horde under the watchful eye of the vilest of all creatures, Teeleh. Thomas Hunter, Supreme Commander of the Forest Guard, is forced to lower the recruitment age of his army from 18 to 16. From among thousands, four new recruits are chosen to lead – and perhaps die – for the greater good. The chosen four – Johnis, Silvie, Billos and Darsal – are sent on a quest to prove their character, but their mission takes a dramatic turn when they are intercepted, sworn to secrecy, and redirected to a different endgame. Now they must find the seven lost Books of History. Books that have power over the past, present and future. Books whose words are alive. Books sought by the Dark One that control not only the destiny of their world…but of ours as well." - powells.com This series is a spin-off of Dekker’s adult series called the Circle Trilogy (starting with a book called Black). If this series is able to capture the fancy of a teen, they would probably appreciate the adult series even more. Like all of Dekker’s fiction, this series relies heavily on his Christian allusions and storyline. His characters all need to have a show of faith and have deception wiped from their minds in order to serve the fuller purpose of Elyon. In some ways it is a predictable story geared towards a movie deal, full of chase scenes and a simplistic view of good v. evil, but there is also definitely a level of creativity that will captivate the reader and keep them wanting much more! THE LOST BOOKS SERIES The Books: Chosen Infidel Renegade Chaos
	24. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins – Book 1: The Hunger Games RATING: !!!!! "Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see. Survival is second nature for sixteen year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love." - scholastic.com Octavia Butler. George Orwell. Aldous Huxley. These are the greatest dystopia novel writers remembered by history. After this series is completed, Suzanne Collins will be among them. It is Anthem meets The Most Dangerous Game in a tale that leaps around and plays with death on every page. In an honest look at the capacity of humans in powerful positions to abuse their power, Collins tells the story of the oppressed, of those who are thrown into circumstances where the only option is to rise up and resist. It is the turns of chance Katniss’ resistance to “fate” – engineered or otherwise – creates that draws the reader in and propels them forward, facing the same challenges as the tributes. THE HUNGER GAMES SERIES The Books/Audio Books: The Hunger Games Catching Fire

For perspective, series Squee couldn't stand!!!!

	1. Twilight Saga Series by Stephanie Meyer I felt like this was basically erotica for teens. And it was horribly written to boot…
	2. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series by Ann Brashares The narrators are so incredibly self-indulgent that I couldn’t stand to listen to any more of their whining!!!
	3. Uglies Series by Scott Westerfield Once again, indulgent and pathetically whiney. While striving to make a good point about beauty, it mostly just complains about the ways adults rule the world…

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