MIRACLE WIMP, by Erik P. Kraft, Little, Brown Young readers, paperback $7.99; ages 12 and up.
Tom Mayo, otherwise known as Miracle Wimp, is just trying to get through his days in high school. He wonders about simple things: Is it OK that your two new friends are the two guys who sat next to you in first period on the first day of school? He wonders about serious things: Making fun of a kid with special needs makes you no different from the kids who pick on you and gave you that stupid nickname.
Tom’s first-person account of life in high school is funny, hilarious, sarcastic and realistic.
VIOLA IN REEL LIFE, by Adriana Trigiani, HarperTeen, $16; ages 12 and up.
Viola turns on her video camera and narrates, “I’m marooned. Abandoned. Left to rot in boarding school.” When Viola and her video diaries move from Brooklyn to Indiana, she believes her life is over. With her camera in her hand, Viola wears yellow flats, makes friends, gets involved, falls for a boy, enters a contest and shakes up her world.
THE ETERNAL KISS: 13 VAMPIRE TALES OF BLOOD AND DESIRE, edited by Trisha Telep, paperback $9.95; ages 12 and up.
I find short stories very satisfying. Instead of reading a chapter and forcing yourself to put the book down, you have already read an entire story. Then next time you pick up the book, you get to read another entire story. Thirteen well-written tales, 13 very exciting authors. Are you a sucker for romance, the handsome dark prince, the eternal kiss? This book is for you.
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Little, Brown Young Readers, $17.99; ages 12 and up.
Ethan Wate has lived in Gatlin all his life and he can’t wait to get out. Lena Duchannes is the new girl. In a small town like this, everyone knows everything about you especially when you look out of place and you live in the town’s haunted house with your uncle who is the town crazy. But the instant Ethan sees Lena, he knows she is the girl of his dreams-only these dreams are the kind that jolt you awake at night.
