msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

Dare Me has been dubbed The Fight Club of cheerleading stories, and for good reason: it is a dark, subversive, unique look at teen girl boredom, power, and misbehavior. Mean girl cheerleaders Addy and Beth are BFF; Beth is squad leader and Addy her bad lieutenant. When new beautiful bad-ass coach Colette French arrives on the scene, the squad willingly answers her jump with a how-high, and Queen Bee Beth is removed from the top of the totem pole with a dismissive shake of Coach French's perfectly-manicured hand. As the squad falls in love with captivating Coach French (Addy is completely twitterpated, "driving by her house like a boy might do"), Beth's resentment and need for revenge rises, culminating in a surprise ending that will leave you gritting your teeth. Teen readers will eat this up. Give it to fans of Chuck Palahniuk and Brett Easton Ellis. Click here for a full review. Grade 10+

A riveting story of abuse and the redemptive power of kindness by the author of Breakfast With Buddha. Marjorie Richards, completely isolated from society by her parents until the age of nine (when social services forced them to allow her to attend school), lives in a rustic cabin in the woods, suffering physical and psychological abuse at her mentally ill parents' grim and sadistic hands. Followers of a twisted cult, they force seventeen-year-old Marjorie to find work to support them and their monthly alcohol-fueled escapes in their dirty pick-up. This isn't a light tale of abuse; one scene involves facing : a paper bag is placed over Marjorie's head and an entire congregation takes turns hitting, pummeling, and poking her, not lightly, in the face. The light at the end of the incredibly dark tunnel is lit when she is offered a job rebuilding a cathedral in town alongside a talented builder, a victim of abuse himself. As Marjorie develops her own set of skills, her self-e...

Unforgettable seventeen-year-old Luke has grown up in an essentially matriarchial society surrounded by an eclectic bunch of women, including his bohemian New Age mother, his New England puritan grandmother, and his two charming and lovely half sisters. In the midst of all this kind chaos, Luke manages to create his own belief system that revolves around his passion for brain science. According to Luke, "without evidence, you just have hope, which is nice, but not reliable." It is the end of his junior year and he is drowning in college applications when his unbeknownst-to-him-father writes him a letter inviting him to spend the summer with him in Los Angeles. Did I mention his father turns out to be a fairly well-known television star? Luke accepts his offer, and the pair get to know each other, set against the backdrop of Hollywood life. Secrets are revealed, innocence is lost, and when Luke returns to his mother in New England, he quickly realizes that that "we don...

Le Cirque des Rêves only comes out at night, is in black and white, and has a loyal group of patrons devoted to following it around the globe. Celia and Marco, two young magicians raised and trained to compete against each other in the ultimate magic-off, fall in love, not realizing that only one of them can survive the dangerous game concocted by their scheming masters. A lyrical, gorgeous romance encased in velvet and set in the late 19th century. Not to be missed. Click here for a full review and don't miss Ms. Morgenstern's website for extras including a playlist.

Pia Kolvenbach is living a relatively peaceful existence with her German father and British mother in the tiny town of Bad Munstereifel when her beloved and beautiful Grandmother Kristal dies in a freak accident at Pia's home. Inevitably, her cruel classmates mock her as she quickly becomes the 'girl with the grandmother that exploded.' When children start disappearing from Bad Munstereifel, Pia thinks she has caught a break, but the latest scandal doesn't stop her classmates from continuing to taunt her. Pia, along with her only friend (fellow class reject Stink Stefan), decides to solve the mystery in order to regain her social status. What follows is a gripping, suspenseful, and incredibly insightful story of life in a small town. This is the perfect book for expats living in Germany or for anyone who likes mysteries. Pia's authentic and likeable voice will appeal to teens as well. Don't miss the extremely corny book trailer . Grade 8+

Sebastian lives with his grandmother. In a geodesic dome. And is homeschooled. Everything changes when Grandma has a stroke and Sebastian meets The Whitcombs: Jared, Meredith, and Mrs. Whitcomb herself at the hospital where Jared is receiving treatment for his recent heart transplant. Jared introduces Sebastian to punk rock, convincing him to join him and form a band of their own in what is resoundingly the best use of a Napoleon Bonaparte quote of all time: "Do you know who Napoleon was?" he asked. "The emperor of France," I said. "Wrong," said Jared. "He was the first punk rocker." "He was the emperor of France," I said. "Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily," said Jared. "Do you know who said that?" "Napoleon?" "Yes. And do you know what, Sebastian?" "What?" "We are dying daily... and we are defeated and we are motherf*cking inglorious. And, Sebas...