Hot Pick from TAB - A Match Made in High School

By Kristin Walker
(YA F Walk)
278 pages 2009 Realistic Fiction

This is a hilarious book about a high school and the principal whose husband left her for their nanny. Torn up about the desertion, she forces the senior class to be “married” to another, randomly chosen senior for a year-long project--or else they don't graduate. You don't get to pick the partner. Fun, huh? Fiona is forced, by the rules of the project and her practical-joke-loving, cheerleader-dating, male arch-nemesis, to be the cheerleaders’ water girl, to babysit with her arch-nemesis, and give the profit to the school. (Grades 8 & up)

Reviewed by TAB member Colleen K.

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The Ghosts of Ashbury High

By Jaclyn Moriarty
(YA F Mori)
480 pages 2010 Realistic Fiction

Told in multiple formats using letters, journals, exam essays and transcripts, it is senior year at Ashbury. Readers will recognize familiar characters from previous novels, facing multiple issues and testing longtime friendships. Riley fears he’s losing the mysterious brooding Amelia who’s been his girlfriend since the age of fourteen. Storyline twists captivate the reader as does figuring out the true identities of this mysterious couple. (Grades 7 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Elaine D.
 
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Mockingjay

By Suzanne Collins
(YA F Coll)
398 pages 2010 Science Fiction

In the suspenseful conclusion to the Hunger Games Trilogy, Katniss Everdeen has made it out of two trips to the Hunger Games alive. Now safe in District 13, Katniss must decide to become the Mockingjay, the symbol of hope for all the rebelling districts of Panem. But how will she cope being the leader of a cause when she is riddled with fear and guilt for her fellow tribute Peeta, who was captured by the Capitol, or when she begins to see for herself the true atrocities of war? (Grades 8 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Sara H.

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Beat the Band

By Don Calame
(YA F Cala)
400 pages 2010 Humorous Fiction

It’s sophomore year for friends Matt, Sean and Coop, the hilarious boys from Swim the Fly. Coop is determined that he’s going to rock this year, until he gets paired with “Hot Dog” Helen to present a lesson on safe sex in health class. Coop knows working with her is social suicide, so to boost his “coolness factor” he enters Matt, Sean and himself in a Battle of the Bands contest. Only one small problem: they can’t play. At all. Not to be deterred by such a minor problem, the guys forge ahead, trying to sound like a rock band. Will the guys win the contest or sound like an alien life form? A funny, ribald sequel to Swim the Fly.  (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Kay G.

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