The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak, 550 pages

Death meets Liesel Meminger three times. The first will be the experience that will define the rest of her life and set her on the path of being the Book Thief. Stealing books provides much more for Liesel than simply obtaining the item, it gives her life meaning and serves as a coping method for coming of age in Germany during World War II. This is a powerful book, highly deserving of its Printz Honor.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

By Ransom Riggs, 352 pages

Jacob's life is turned upside down when his grandfather is suddenly and disturbingly killed in the woods. The aftermath of the tragedy sends him on a quest to Wales to figure out what truth, if any, is behind his grandfather's old stories and photographs. What he discovers in the abandoned ruins of a bombed out children's home is more than he could have ever imagined. The vintage photographs of "peculiar children" add special intrigue to the story. This is for anyone curious about mystery blended with the paranormal.

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices 1)

by Cassandra Clare, 476 pages

Tessa Gray's entire life changes when she travels to London to be with her brother only to be kidnapped upon arrival by two terrifying...and unusual...women. She discovers quickly that not only do creatures like vampires and warlocks exist, but she is in fact a Downworlder as well, although she doesn't quite fall into a neat category. She is rescued by the Shadowhunters who are those responsible for keeping balance between the Downworlders and the rest of the world. During her stay with the Shadowhunters, Tessa has to find her missing brother, figure out her complex feelings for the difficult Shadowhunter, Will, assist with solving the mystery of the Pandemonium Club, and try to determine just how she fits in to this strange new world.

This series precludes Clare's first series, The Mortal Instruments, and there are definite parallels between the two. I found the characters to be a bit too similar to Jace and Clary of the first series, but fans of Clare will most likely enjoy this series as well.

Margaret Sanger: A Life of Passion

by Jean H. Baker, 349 p.

Talk about fascinating cultural figure.  I learned more about Mrs. Sanger in this book than in my whole life.  I really do recommend this biography to anyone, despite any preconceived opinions you may have on the subject matter.

Winter Town

by Stephen Edmond, 336 p.

I'm a sucker for love stories and old friends.  I can't help it.  I blame it ALL on Anne of Green Gables.  Home girl messed me up for life, crazy red-haired minx.

Moving on...

Evan waits all year for his best and oldest friend, Lucy, to come to town for winter break.  This year is different, or at least Lucy is.  Through a shared secret world and a shared storied past, Evan and Lucy try to figure out what exactly they want to be and who they are in the span of one week.

This is seriously a perfect book.  Seriously.  The gay best friends, the tortured soul, the aspiring comic book writer, snow....  Stephen Edmond, you best be cranking these puppies out.  You capture a teen voice and state of mind so perfectly.  Thanks!

Habibi

by Craig Thompson, 655 p.

This was so beautiful and terrifying that I'm not even sure where to begin.  It's the story of Dodola and Zam trying to survive in a world so tied to ours yet so very far away.  It's intricate, moving, and brilliant - everything I've come to love about Craig Thompson.

It's quite the behemoth at 655 pages, but the story flows so smooth and quick.  It was impossible to put down.

Bake Sale

by Sara Varon, 160 p.

The mixture of my love of comics and baked goods collided when this hit my desk.  I literally can't get enough of Cupcake and Eggplant and their lovely adventures in the world of NYC bakeries.  Best part? The recipes for Cupcake's baked goods are included in the book and are beautifully illustrated (take that, Food Britannia).

Oh, how I want to see more adventures of Cupcake and Eggplant!!!