Twelve-year-old Anita lives in the Dominican Republic with her entire family in the early 1960s, during which time Dominicans were either trying to flee their homeland or show their courage by fighting for their freedom. Although many of her family members leave for the United States, Anita stays with her Mami and Papi as they try to help fight the cause. Anita struggles with her family’s uncertain future, her developing body, avoiding the secret police, and her feelings for her new neighbor Sam Washburn. As the situation deteriorates, Anita’s uncle and Papi are imprisoned, and Anita and her Mami go into in hiding. Eventually, Anita and her Mami are able to escape and go to the United States to join the rest of the family. As they begin to settle in, they receive some heartbreaking news. Readers will be inspired by Anita’s bravery and courage as she faces the unknown.

Esperanza Ortega lives a charmed life on her family’s ranch in Mexico until her world suddenly comes crashing down when her father is unexpectedly killed. Esperanza and her mother flee Mexico in order to avoid her terrible uncle who wants to control their lives. Now settled in America, on the eve of the Great Depression, Esperanza and her mother must labor in the fields of Southern California. Ryan pulls the reader in from the very beginning and takes them along Esperanza’s journey in this reverse rags to riches tale.

Café Reads: Book Discussion Group for Teens
Sunday, September 20, 2:30p-3:30p
Hughes Main Library, Palmetto Bean Café

Join us in a discussion of Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. At the end of Miranda's sophomore year in high school, her journal reflects the busy life of a typical teenager: conversations with friends, fights with mom and fervent hopes for a driver's license. But after a meteor hits, pushing the moon off its axis and causing worldwide natural disasters, all the things Miranda used to take for granted begin to disappear. Open to all 9th-12th graders. Registration begins August 17. Call 242-5000 x2248 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Jamie Carcaterra is a girl on a mission. She is writing a feature column for her high school newspaper called “Fat Girl,” with the goal of winning a “National Feature Award” scholarship. Jamie tells her readers, “Write to Fat Girl and send her to college!” Jamie has struggled with weight issues her entire life; through her column she shares her thoughts and feelings about weight while challenging others to explore their views. Jamie’s boyfriend, Burke, is overweight too, and his decision to have gastric bypass surgery sends Jamie reeling. Can she handle the repercussions involved with Burke’s weight loss? Will she win a scholarship? Will she be forced to stop the presses as she deals with the fallout? Big Fat Manifesto is laugh out loud funny and heart wrenchingly poignant.

Cammie Morgan attends The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women but it is not your typical all girls boarding school. It is a school that trains spies. Both of her parents were CIA field agents; her mother is currently the head mistress at The Gallagher Academy and her father recently died while on an undercover mission. Cammie is considered a natural in the spy world. She is only seen when she wants to be seen, she can speak 14 languages and takes classes in code breaking and undercover operatives, but she knows nothing about boys. Her life as a spy in training is turned upside down when she meets Josh on her first undercover assignment and discovers that he can actually see her when she is trying not to be seen. As Cammie builds a relationship with Josh, she is forced to lie to him about her entire life in order to protect the secrecy of The Gallagher Academy. Can a relationship that is built on lies survive? Read I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d have to Kill You to find out.

The Tequila Worm is powerful story that chronicles the life of Sofia, a Mexican-American girl living in McAllen, Texas. Sofia has a magical childhood, and her family retains their Mexican-American traditions—from making cascarones to eating tequila worms. When Sophia is older, she earns a scholarship to attend St. Luke’s, an elite private high school. She struggles with her decision, but ultimately decides that she wants to go. Sofia’s time at St. Luke’s allows her to experience an entirely different way of life and strengthens her ties to her barrio. Pura Belpré winner Viola Canales writes a heartwarming story that provides readers a wonderful window into the world of a Mexican-American family’s traditions.

Frankie Landau-Banks has just begun dating one of the hottest guys at Alabaster Preparatory Academy, but she soon finds that he is keeping secrets from her. He is a member of the Loyal Order of the Bassets, an all boy secret society with a history of creating mayhem. As the year progresses, many elaborate pranks are staged by the Loyal Order; little do they know that they are really taking orders from Frankie.

Ana was born into the great wealth and privilege of a Russian Countess; but the Russian Revolution ends that world. Ana finds herself, and what remains of her family, living in a small house in London. With all of her wealth gone, she is living on the charity of her former governess, but is determined to make a new life for herself. Armed with a manual on how to be a domestic servant, Ana hires herself out as a maid, but she soon finds a lot more than what she was expecting.

What would you do if you only had one year to live?  Would you drop the track team and go out for football?  Ask out that gorgeous but unattainable girl?  Create a stir in your formerly-tame civics class?  Challenge your community to take a hard look at current racial prejudices?  High school student Ben Wolf does all this and more in response to being diagnosed with a terminal illness at the start of his senior year.  Does he make the pass or go down for the count?  Can he save the world and himself?  Chris Crutcher has written an engaging novel with current issues and a protagonist with traits you would look for in a best friend.

The town of Highsmith was once filled with heroes competing to quail the local goblin population, seek treasure, and go off on general adventuring. But now, the town has only one hero - Duke Darlinger - who has renamed the town “Darlington” after himself. Mason, a poor freelance bard finds out a dreadful secret when he applies for work at Duke Darlinger’s house. The town is in grave danger. Armed with a borrowed sword, his best friend Cowel, and a copy of Quayle’s Guide to Adventure for the Unadventurous, the pair sets off on a desperate quest to find heroes to save their town. Mason and Cowel encounter laugh-out-loud adventures. This is one of the funniest fantasy adventures I have read in a long time!