Three Quarters Dead

By Richard Peck
(YA F Peck)
193 pages 2010 Horror Fiction

Kerry has finally made it. The three coolest girls in the school have invited her to sit at their lunch table and suddenly she’s one of the elite. But how much will she have to put up with to hang with the most popular girls in the school who appear to be using her? And when her “friends” are killed in a car accident, Kerry feels three-quarters dead. But the dead return and a simple tale of high school hierarchy becomes a creepy ghost story. (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Kay G.

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I Am Number Four

By Pittacus Lore
(YA F Lore)
440 pages 2010 Science Fiction

Escaping the planet Lorien and living on earth the past 10 years, nine children avoid detection by the Mogadorians. Number Four, fifteen-year-old John, discovers the first three died and he’s next. John and his protector flee to Ohio where he’s befriended by schoolmate Sam, an expert on aliens. John fears exposure when his legacies begin to uncontrollably appear while in the presence of humans. Chaos erupts when John’s cover is blown and his friends are innocently drawn into a battle with the Mogs. Leave it to the stray mutt John named Bernie Kosar to save the day. (Grades 7 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Elaine D.

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The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend.)

By Kody Keplingber
(YA F Kepl)
280 pages 2010 Realistic Fiction

High school senior Bianca has always felt like the plain one when compared to her two gorgeous best friends. Her belief is confirmed when the school womanizer Wesley tells her she is the DUFF. She gets paired with Wesley for a school project and is forced to spend extra time with him. When her parents’ marriage breaks up, and her recovering alcoholic father begins drinking again, Bianca feels like there is no way to escape her reality. Surprisingly, she finds a much needed distraction in Wesley, and the two begin a steamy love/hate relationship in secret. Eventually Bianca starts to realize there is more to Wesley than what she originally thought, and that they might have more than physical chemistry in common. (Grades 11 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Sara H.

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Hot Pick from TAB - The Reformed Vampire Support Group

By Catherine Jinks
(YA F Jink)
362 pages 2009 Fantasy/Mystery Fiction

Being a vampire is not a blessing for this group—it’s a disease. They have found a way to not have to drink human blood, but it’s hard on their systems. They can’t go out during the daytime because they are knocked unconscious and look dead. When one of the vamps gets staked, turned to ashes, and shot by a silver bullet, the others along with a priest drive all over Australia with fear in their hearts and guinea pigs in the bed of their truck. This book has a great plot, is fast-paced, and definitely not your average vampire novel.  (Grades 8 & up)

Reviewed by TAB member Colleen K.

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