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I am obsessed with this book; I have spent hours poring over all of the maps. The authors include all sorts of information on various countries from around the world: historical events and people, landmarks, traditional food and dress, wildlife, and more using beautiful illustrations. My only complaint was that they couldn't include all the countries

This steampunk prequel to the Mortal Instruments series has everything a teen could want. Sixteen-year-old Tessa's introduction to London's Downworld shows her a world of danger and excitement. A dash of romance is added when she meets not one, but two intriguing Shadowhunter

Very (Veronica) LeFreak has just started college. She spends more time with her technology than she does in the real world, and has some very complicated relationships with her roommate, her real-life boyfriend, and her super-secret Internet crush. When she is sent to a rehab center for tech-addicted people, Very has to start figuring out what she really wants in life — and the results might be surprising! Great for teens who liked Cohn's Gingerbread series, or anyone who enjoys realistic, sarcastic teen

Are you waiting impatiently for the final volume of Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games? Looking for something to tide you over in the meanwhile? Look no further! John Marsden's Tomorrow series has what you need: near-death adventure, a dangerous and dystopian world, and fantastic characters. Plus, there are seven books in this

This is the one of the best young adult novels of the year, and is without a doubt among the best-written young adult books I have ever read. Sprout is the story of Daniel Bradford (his nickname is Sprout; note the green hair on the cover), a smart, funny misfit in his small Kansas town. He's got a dead mother, a depressed father, a self-absorbed best friend, and a drunken mentor — meaning he's basically figuring out life and love all on his own.

Funny, real, and touching, this book is such a compelling read that I found myself picking it up to re-read only weeks after I finished it the first time (in a single night!). The whole story feels like a puzzle where we are slowly figuring out who Sprout is while he, in turn, is figuring out for himself how he fits in the

When I grow up, I want to be just like Sunday Chutney. Her life isn't perfect, but she's happy. Everything about this book is both unique and comforting, from the richly colored illustrations to the simple yet occasionally off-the-wall sentences, and most especially Sunday herself! You could learn something from this book about relishing life and all its ups and downs, or you could simply relish reading this book over and over again. Or you could do both. Sunday Chutney would probably do

Few cats have gone where Binky dreams of going: Space! He's trained; he's put on the space suit; he's built the rocket. What could be missing? This graphic novel delights young readers with its intrepid, adorable, and just-a-little-gassy feline

Gamers, band geeks, science nerds, and Trekkies — this one's for you! Waiting impatiently for the new ? Have you finished Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and Paper Towns by John Green, but you still want more? Inside Geektastic, you will find 15 stories from the best YA authors out there. Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci (who are responsible for this glorious book) kick things off with one of the funniest stories I've read in years: "Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way." Ever wonder what would happen if a Jedi fell in love with a Klingon? This is your answer. Scott Westerfeld's here, with an edgy tale of love, danger, and adventure. Online love blossoms and withers in both Casandra Clare's "I Never" and Kelly Link's "Secret Identity." There's baton twirling, Rocky Horror Picture Show viewing, Quiz Bowl, and fantastically hilarious comics by Bryan Lee O'Malley (Scott Pilgrim) and Hope Larson (Chiggers). This book will remind you how great it is to be a

I grew up on the Serendipity books and still have most of my childhood copies — worn, tattered, and well loved. Thankfully, they are still available for a whole new generation. Serendipity was one of the first books in the series, which Cosgrove created with illustrator Robin James, and continues to be relevant today with its message of ecological responsibility. Cute and endearing, this little pink sea monster will both entertain and

Have you been looking for a poetry collection that doesn't feature the same old classics found in every other collection? Are you trying to get a reluctant child interested in poetry? Look no further! In Hip Hop Speaks to Children, Nikki Giovanni has brought together an amazing, diverse selection of African-American artists, spanning American history from the Harlem Renaissance to modern-day hip hop, and paired the selections with beautiful illustrations from several illustrators. And then — to top it all off — there's a CD! Nikki Giovanni has done a wonderful job here, and has created a book that has a place on every