Sarah - The Host by Stephenie Meyer (the movie just came out in March)
"Earth being invaded by a parasitic alien race, known as "Souls", and follow one Soul's predicament when the consciousness of her human host refuses to cooperate with the takeover of her body."
Mariann - Borrowed Light by Carla Kelly (#1 in trilogy)
"Julia Darling never expected to cook for some cowboys in Wyoming, but when she breaks off her engagement in Salt Lake City, it s the perfect opportunity for her to escape. Determined to stick the job out, Julia faces her biggest challenge yet letting go of borrowed light to find her own testimony. Set in the early 1900s, this is one romantic adventure you ll never forget!"
Gwynne - Objects of My Affection by Jill Smolinski
"Lucy Bloom is broke, freshly dumped by her boyfriend, and is forced to sell her house to send her nineteen-year-old son to drug rehab. Although she’s lost it all, she’s determined to start over. So when she’s offered a high-paying gig helping clear the clutter from the huge home of reclusive and eccentric painter Marva Meier Rios, Lucy grabs it. But she soon learns that the real challenge may be taking on Marva, who seems to love her objects too much to let go of any of them.
While trying to stay on course toward a strict deadline—and with an ex-boyfriend back in the picture, a new romance on the scene, and her son’s rehab not going as planned—Lucy discovers that Marva isn’t just hoarding, she is also hiding a big secret. The two form an unlikely bond, as each learns from the other that there are those things in life we keep and those we need to let go—but it’s not always easy to know the difference."
Gwynne - The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson (#1 in series)
"Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?
This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson's vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication."
Gwynne - Unwind (Unwind Dystology #1) by Neal Shursterman (YA)
"It takes place in the United States, somewhere in the near future. After
a civil war—known as the Second Civil War or the Heartland War—is
fought over abortion,
a compromise was reached, allowing parents to sign an order for their
children between the ages of 13 and 18 years old to be unwound—taken to
"harvest camps" and having their body parts harvested for later use. The
reasoning was that, since 100% (actually 99.44% taking into account the
appendix and "useless" organs) was required to be used, unwinds did not
technically "die", because their individual body parts lived on. In
addition to unwinding, parents who are unable to raise their children to
age thirteen for retroactive abortion have the option to "stork" their
child by leaving it on another family's porch. If they don't get caught,
the "storked" baby then becomes the other family's responsibility."
Jessica - Peter Pan by Sir James Barrie
"A mischievous boy who can fly and who never ages, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang, the Lost Boys, interacting with mermaids, Native Americans, fairies, pirates, and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside of Neverland."
Jessica - Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (YA trilogy) - based on the fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses"
"Princess Rose and her sisters Lily, Jonquil, Hyacinth, Violet, Daisy,
Poppy, Iris, Lilac, Orchid, Pansy, and Petunia are trapped in a curse.
Every third night, they have to dance at the Midnight Ball with the
twelve sons of the King Under Stone, who lives in a realm below the
earth. The curse prevents them from speaking of it, and every prince who
attempts to learn their secret in hopes of marrying one of them and
inheriting the crown ends up dead by the next full moon.
Galen Werner is a soldier who is returning from the
Westfalin-Analousia war. On his way to the city of Bruch to live with
his mother's sister Liesel Orm, Galen meets an old woman. After he
shares his food with her, the woman gives him white and black yarn and
an invisibility cloak, saying that he would have to use them when "He"
tries to get to the surface."
Rebecca - Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray
"Ruth has always found baking cakes to be a source of relief from the stresses of life. And now-as her husband loses his job, her life-of-the-party father arrives for an extended stay (much to the dismay of her mother, who also moved in recently), and her teenage daughter perfects the art of sulking-Ruth is going to have to save the day. And let the crumbs fall where they may..."
Rebecca - Step Ball Change by Jeanne Ray
"Caroline and Tom are looking forward to retirement. He's been practicing law, she's been running a dance studio, and together they've raised four great kids. It's time to enjoy the fruits of their labor...Suddenly, though, their empty nest is filling up. Caroline's sister arrives with a load of luggage, a bad-tempered terrier, and a broken heart. A contractor finds cracks in the foundation, and sets up camp indefinitely. And their daughter Kay brings home her fiance, the richest boy in Raleigh--and plans a high-society wedding that could wipe out their savings. Filled with the warmth and wit that delighted readers of Julie and Romeo, this tale of a family caught in a whirlwind of change reminds us that life is what happens while we're making other plans--and that having loved ones along for the ride is the greatest blessing of all."
Rebecca - Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray
"Ruth has always found baking cakes to be a source of relief from the stresses of life. And now-as her husband loses his job, her life-of-the-party father arrives for an extended stay (much to the dismay of her mother, who also moved in recently), and her teenage daughter perfects the art of sulking-Ruth is going to have to save the day. And let the crumbs fall where they may..."
Rebecca - Step Ball Change by Jeanne Ray
"Caroline and Tom are looking forward to retirement. He's been practicing law, she's been running a dance studio, and together they've raised four great kids. It's time to enjoy the fruits of their labor...Suddenly, though, their empty nest is filling up. Caroline's sister arrives with a load of luggage, a bad-tempered terrier, and a broken heart. A contractor finds cracks in the foundation, and sets up camp indefinitely. And their daughter Kay brings home her fiance, the richest boy in Raleigh--and plans a high-society wedding that could wipe out their savings. Filled with the warmth and wit that delighted readers of Julie and Romeo, this tale of a family caught in a whirlwind of change reminds us that life is what happens while we're making other plans--and that having loved ones along for the ride is the greatest blessing of all."
Rebecca - Cleaning House: A Mom's 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma
"Do your kids expect clean folded clothes to magically appear in their
drawers? Do they roll their eyes when you suggest they clean the
bathroom? By racing in to make their lives easy, have you
unintentionally reinforced your children’s belief that the world
revolves around them?
Dismayed at the attitude of entitlement that had crept into her home, Kay Wyma got some attitude of her own. Cleaning House is her account of a year-long campaign to introduce her five kids to basic life skills and the ways meaningful work can increase earned self-confidence and concern for others.
With irresistible humor and refreshing insights, Kay candidly details the ups and downs of equipping her kids for such tasks as making beds, refinishing a deck chair, and working together. The changes that take place in her household will inspire you to launch your own campaign to dislodge your kids from the center of their universe."
Dismayed at the attitude of entitlement that had crept into her home, Kay Wyma got some attitude of her own. Cleaning House is her account of a year-long campaign to introduce her five kids to basic life skills and the ways meaningful work can increase earned self-confidence and concern for others.
With irresistible humor and refreshing insights, Kay candidly details the ups and downs of equipping her kids for such tasks as making beds, refinishing a deck chair, and working together. The changes that take place in her household will inspire you to launch your own campaign to dislodge your kids from the center of their universe."
Rebecca - Heaven Is Here by Stephanie Nielson
"Stephanie Nielson began sharing her life in 2005 on
nieniedialogues.com, drawing readers in with her warmth and candor. She
quickly attracted a loyal following that was captivated by the upbeat
mother happily raising her young children, madly in love with her
husband, Christian (Mr. Nielson to her readers), and filled with
gratitude for her blessed life.
However, everything changed in an instant on a sunny day in August 2008, when Stephanie and Christian were in a horrific plane crash. Christian was burned over 40 percent of his body, and Stephanie was on the brink of death, with burns over 80 percent of her body. She would remain in a coma for four months.
In the aftermath of this harrowing tragedy, Stephanie maintained a stunning sense of humor, optimism, and resilience. She has since shared this strength of spirit with others through her blog, in magazine features, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Now, in this moving memoir, Stephanie tells the full, extraordinary story of her unlikely recovery and the incredible love behind it--from a riveting account of the crash to all that followed in its wake. With vivid detail, Stephanie recounts her emotional and physical journey, from her first painful days after awakening from the coma to the first time she saw her face in the mirror, the first kiss she shared with Christian after the accident, and the first time she talked to her children after their long separation. She also reflects back on life before the accident, to her happy childhood as one of nine siblings, her close-knit community and strong Mormon faith, and her fairy-tale love story, all of which became her foundation of strength as she rebuilt her life.
What emerges from the wreckage of a tragic accident is a unique perspective on joy, beauty, and overcoming adversity that is as gripping as it is inspirational. Heaven Is Here is a poignant reminder of how faith and family, love and community can bolster us, sustain us, and quite literally, in some cases, save us."
Rebecca - Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
In Love, Stargirl, we hear the voice of Stargirl herself as she reflects on time, life, Leo, and - of course - love."
However, everything changed in an instant on a sunny day in August 2008, when Stephanie and Christian were in a horrific plane crash. Christian was burned over 40 percent of his body, and Stephanie was on the brink of death, with burns over 80 percent of her body. She would remain in a coma for four months.
In the aftermath of this harrowing tragedy, Stephanie maintained a stunning sense of humor, optimism, and resilience. She has since shared this strength of spirit with others through her blog, in magazine features, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Now, in this moving memoir, Stephanie tells the full, extraordinary story of her unlikely recovery and the incredible love behind it--from a riveting account of the crash to all that followed in its wake. With vivid detail, Stephanie recounts her emotional and physical journey, from her first painful days after awakening from the coma to the first time she saw her face in the mirror, the first kiss she shared with Christian after the accident, and the first time she talked to her children after their long separation. She also reflects back on life before the accident, to her happy childhood as one of nine siblings, her close-knit community and strong Mormon faith, and her fairy-tale love story, all of which became her foundation of strength as she rebuilt her life.
What emerges from the wreckage of a tragic accident is a unique perspective on joy, beauty, and overcoming adversity that is as gripping as it is inspirational. Heaven Is Here is a poignant reminder of how faith and family, love and community can bolster us, sustain us, and quite literally, in some cases, save us."
Rebecca - Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Rebecca - Princess Sultana's Circle by Jean Sasson (book #3)
"With Princess Sultana's
Circle, the extraordinary story of Princess Sultana continues. The
forced marriage of Sultana's niece to a cruel and depraved older man,
and Sultana's discovery of the harem of sex slaves kept by a royal
cousin, makes this brave royal princess more determined than ever to
fight the oppression of women in Saudi Arabia. Princess Sultana's cause
is given an extra sense of urgency against the background of increased
dissent against the Al Sa'uds, and the looming spectre of Islamic
fundamentalism. But an extended family "camping trip" in the desert
brings the luxury-loving Sultana and relatives closer to their nomadic
roots, and gives her the strength to carry on the fight for women's
rights in all Muslim countries.This book paints a horrifying reality for
women of the desert kingdom. It is a haunting look at the danger of
Saudi male dominance and the desperate lives of the women they rule."
Tami - Divergent by Veronica Roth (#1 in trilogy-YA)
"In Beatrice Prior's
dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each
dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the
honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the
peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every
year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will
devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between
staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have
both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves, or it might destroy her"
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves, or it might destroy her"
