Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Laurel's life has changed a lot - her family has moved to the city even though she's always lived in the country and she's going to a public school for the first time. But more changes are in store. When she suddenly sprouts wing-like petals from between her shoulder blades, she'll have to discover who her friends are and confront the reality of who she is before it's too late to prevent disaster.

This book takes a different approach than most 'fairy' stories. It was enjoyable and only occasionally predictable. Overall, I liked the characters and the story although it was a little fluffy - and the ending definitely set up a sequel, so if you're looking for a stand-alone book or don't want to wait for the next one, this may not be the book for you. I would recommend this to fantasy fans looking for some light reading, especially younger teens or people who enjoy the 'real life' fairy stories.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fablehaven, The Fairy Path Series, or Princess Nevermore

Alyzon Whitestarr by Isobelle Carmody

Alyzon Whitestarr does not come from an ordinary family: her father is a musician, her mother is a pinter, and her siblings have all inherited similar artistic talents; in fact, Alyzon is the only ordinary one among them. After an accident puts her in a coma, however, everything changes. When she wakes up, all of her senses are heightened, making the world seem to be a new and fascinating place. But most importantly, she can now smell things no one else can sense - including the emotions of those around her. This new ability will be invaluable when Alyzon discovers that something terrible threatens her family and friends - and she's the only one who can tell that it's there.


There were several things that I really enjoyed about this book - the characters, in particular, are well-developed and interesting people. The story was also a bit different from the ordinary and moved at a good pace. The only thing that I had trouble with is that I couldn't quite buy in to the central premise of the story regarding the 'evil' in the world that they were trying to stop; I was actually a bit disappointed because I liked reading the book, but it seemed a little dubious to me. (Also, I couldn't figure out where it was supposed to take place, which doesn't really matter, but I prefer to know.) That being said, I would suggest that critical fantasy readers who want everything explained should probably let this one go - if you're just looking for something fun and a little different (or if you're a fan of conspiracy theories), this book might be worth it for you.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Now You See It, Wicked Lovely, or Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Marilyn Kaye


Amanda Beeson is the most popular - and nastiest - girl at Meadowbrook Middle School. But Amanda has a secret: there's a reason she's so mean, because feeling sorry for someone means Amanda spends time "in their shoes." Literally. One morning she wakes up in someone else's body - quiet, timid Tracy Devon, the biggest nobody in school. Now Amanda has to learn to live as someone else and find a way to control her ability so that she can return to being herself.


This book was interesting - sort of a Freaky Friday with a bit of a twist. Although the story was a little fluffy, there were definitely some more serious undertones; also, the characters were interesting but it was pretty clear that character and plot development are going to continue running throughout the "Gifted" series which focuses one at a time on the students at Meadowbrook who have special abilities. The book can stand on its own, but it definitely seems to be the sort that might be better with the sequels. The ending seemed a little abrupt, but overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it, particularly for younger teens and fantasy fans who are looking for some light reading.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Summoning, The Lightning Theif, The Wish List, or Fablehaven

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica has known her whole life that she's adopted, but when a strange, foreign-exchange student shows up, she finds out that there's a lot her parents never told her. Not only is she (apparently) a vampire, she's betrothed to the new student, Lucius Vladescu, who turns out the be overbearing, possessive, and too intrusive for Jess' tastes. But when she finally discovers there might be more to him than she thought, he seems to have moved on to an obnoxious, blond cheerleader. With only a copy of Growing up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions to help her, Jess must figure out who she is and what she wants before she loses it all.


This book was an interesting read with well-developed characters and I enjoyed it for the most part. It is rather predictable, however, and some readers might find it to be a little too sappy and romance-novel-like. For the most part, it wasn't too fluffy and I would definitely recommend it to readers who are looking for an amusing teen romance novel with a fantasy twist.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, Twilight, Tantalize, or The Fairy Godmother

The Immortal Realm by Frewin Jones

This is a continuation of The Faerie Path series.

In this fourth book, Tania has finally started to make peace with her magical heritage and has shown the world of Faerie to her mortal parents. Life finally seems to be setting down, except that not all is well in Faerie; first children start to get sick and die. Then the illness spreads. In a place where disease is unheard of and death rarely happens, panic grips the entire realm. Soon Tania is on a quest to find the cause - and cure - before the Plague destroys her family, friends, and the place she has grown to love.

This book continues the series very well, bringing in some new characters while maintaining the ones from the previous volumes. Some of the plot felt overly complicated, but it may just be that it's been too long since I read the first three books. In fact, I was a little surprised to discover that there was a fourth book - the end of the third was a bit abrupt, but all of the loose ends that had carried through the first three books were pretty much tied up - and this book introduces another plot that will span at least one additional book. I would recommend this book to readers who really enjoyed the first three and are looking for more.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Wicked Lovely, or The Elemental Masters series