Ender's Game

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Summary: This novel takes place in the future, where Earth has united to fight against the buggers (aliens) in an intergalactic war. But the army needs someone with great intelligence to be able to take down the alien's forces, and they have chosen Ender Wiggins to be the one to take them down. The only challenge, however, is that Ender Wiggins is only a kid. This amazing book takes you through Ender's training as a soldier and all of the friends (and enemies) that he meets. So the real question is--will Ender be able to take down the buggers, or is the threat too big for a kid from a small town in North Carolina?
Review: I absolutely loved this novel. It was written in 1977, but you would never be able to tell that it was written so long ago. Plus, this book would be great for a school project, because its an exciting story and plotline but there is also a significant amount of symbolism and literary devices. And the movie just came out!
Recommendation: Anyone ages 13+ (the movie is also rated pg-13). Some of the vocabulary and content are a bit advanced.

Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Summary: Set in another dystopian society, America has been separated into five different factions, each focusing on a different virtue that is most important to them--Candor (honesty), Dauntless (bravery), Abnegation (selflessness), Erudite (intelligence), and Amity (peace).  At the age of sixteen, everyone must take a test that determines which faction they most belong in.  But for Beatrice Prior, a sixteen year old Abnegation, has a decision that is a little harder than the decisions that will be made by all of the others.  Will Beatrice's secrets come out and ruin her future, or will she choose to be confined by the barriers created by the factions?
Review: This novel was thrilling and intense, filled with amazing characters.  Beatrice and Four are such complex characters, yet everyone can find a similar trait in either one.  The plot is so unique and thought through that you will be turning the pages throughout the whole novel (and the sequel Insurgent).  With romance, adventure, and mystery Veronica Roth has done a fantastic job with this story.
Recommendation: Ages 14+ because there is lots of violence and fighting, and some more mature content.

Delirium

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Summary: Set in a dystopian future, American society is basically the same with one major difference.  At the age of 18, every citizen is required to undergo a procedure to have love removed.  Yes, America has been "cured" of the disease Love so everyone can live a pain free life.  And up until one day, this future of being free of pain and disease sounded like perfection to Lena, just an average girl living in Portland.  This future sounded perfect until the day that Lena fell in love--when Lena was infected by a boy, and was slowly becoming infected and irrational.  Will Lena choose to take a chance on love and the dangerous symptoms, or will she choose the emotionless, adventure-less, and boring life of the cured?
Review: This book was absolutely fantastic.  Lauren Oliver presented this future American society in such a way that I found myself believing that this future could actually be plausible.  The way that she uses normal things like products and phrases that we use today, while talking about a crazy procedure to remove love from a person left me stunned and flipping the pages.  
Recommendation: Anyone ages 12+.  There's no real inappropriate content, but the whole idea of the story can be very hard to wrap your mind around.

Can You Keep A Secret?

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

Summary: Emma is living a pretty good life--great boyfriend, good job, and fun friends.  But when Emma is stuck on a flight that is especially rocky, she finds herself spilling all of her darkest secrets to the (attractive) stranger sitting next to her.  These secrets are pretty embarrassing too.  Let's just say there's something about the interesting way that she lost her virginity, watering a certain plant with orange juice, and how oblivious about politics she really is.  Once she survives the flight though, and returns to work, she finds a surprise waiting for her that will make you want to cry out with sympathy and laughter.

Review: Sophie Kinsella is probably my all time favorite author.  The way that she presents her characters makes them incredibly easy to connect to, and you will find yourself laughing through the entire book.  She is extremely witty and her plots are all so clever and unique.  This story in particular was probably my favorite Kinsella book as well, just because you find yourself biting your nails as you want to help Emma so badly. 

Recommendation: Girls 14+, mostly just because of sexual content and language (all of the Kinsella books are set in England, so there are other British slang words that are considered offensive to some as well).

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Summary: Anna is new at the whole "boarding school" situation.   Especially when the boarding school is in Paris!  Yet Anna is still not leaving Atlanta right before starting her Senior year with her amazing best friend, a job at the local movie theater, and a crush who she thinks might just be crushing back on her.  So when Anna is suddenly thrown into this new world not knowing a soul, she luckily finds two new friends right next door--one of them being a fabulous and charming English boy named St. Clair.  Anna is starstruck, yet cannot act because of all the emotions flitting around in their friendship.  As St. Clair and Anna grow to become great friends with a flirty touch, trouble strikes at both homes.  Can Anna and St. Clair work it out, and can Anna unwrap her true feelings to get her French kiss?
Review: This book was a quick read but a very enjoyable read at that.  Any girl reading will instantly fall in love with the flirty yet charming character of St. Clair and his relationship with Anna.  I know I did!  This book is a great book to grab and take around for summer as it is light and fun yet heartfelt as well.
Recommendation: Probably for girls 14-18.  Some content is mature, but it is mostly wholehearted fun in the high school world of romance.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Summary:  Set in a dystopian society of Panem, Katniss Everdeen is basically raising her family.  Her younger sister Primrose and her depressed mother could not survive without the black market meat she hunts for everyday with her best friend Gale Hawthorne.  The book opens on the reaping day--a day when the male and female "tribute" is randomly chosen from each district to be sent to the Hunger Games in the Capitol.  In the Hunger Games, the 12 female and 12 male tributes ages 12-18 must fight it out to the death until one tribute is left standing.  So when young Primrose is chosen as the female tribute for district 12, Katniss volunteers to save her sister basically from her death sentence.  As Katniss embarks on the journey to the Hunger Games with Peeta Mellark, the male tribute from her district, Katniss tries her hardest to strategize to win the games for her sister.  While meeting intense fighters, such as Cato and Clove, and little girls who remind Katniss of home, like little delicate Rue, Katniss fights hard to survive with the loving aid of the charming Peeta.  Through love and support Katniss fights through the cruelty of the Hunger Games, bringing her own fire to Panem.
Review: Suzanne Collins is a genious for compacting such a detailed plot into some 350 pages, while all the while creating my favorite character: Peeta Mellark.  You could say that I am definitely obsessed with the Hunger Games, and especially the charming Peeta.  Definitely a touching and action-packed story--I warn you, you will not be able to stop reading!
Recommendation: I would recommend this book for girls ages 12-any age! As the topic is rather disturbing, the story is filled with passion and dedication that leads to a rebellion of epic proportions.


(I would do the review for #2 and #3, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, but if I did a review the spoilers would be too great.  But, if you read the Hunger Games it will be inevitable that you will continue on)

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene
Summary: Hazel is a 16 year old girl who has an inspiring story.  Diagnosed with a terminal cancer at age 13, Hazel thought that she was done for.  But when her doctors tried an experimental drug on her and the tumors started going away, Hazel was pronounced as a miracle case.  Hazel did not feel that inspired though, as she went into a sort of depression as she was released from the hospital.  So when she was sent to a cancer survivor support group, she was not trying to find friends or even love.  But Hazel most certainly did. When Augustus Waters, a fellow cancer survivor, shows up at the support group, Hazel can do nothing but stare.  As their relationship develops through Augustus's charming lines and motives, Hazel gains hope for life.  Through silly dates and Wishes and favorite authors, Augustus and Hazel find a love unlike any other, as they know just how to value the life that a person is given.
Review: This book touched my heart as I cried a river while reading this inspiring and heartfelt novel.  Hazel is an image for any girl to look up to as I did myself.
Recommendation:  I would recommend this book to any girl from the age 14-18.  The content is mature and it is one of the saddest books I have personally ever read--but it is most definitely the most inspiring.