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).