For Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a chance for her to start over, to escape from what happened in Paris. While Celine is learning to love her new city, something or someone is viciously murdering young girls. When Celine meets Sebastien Saint Germain she is swept into his world of balls and soirees and is soon falling for him. But Sebastien is hiding something from Celine, something that may get her killed. 

Set in 1872 this is an atmospheric vampire story with a little romance and a little mystery. The setting is interesting, and the story will sweep you up. Definitely a more mature book meant for 9th grade and up. 

When Mia's family moves back to Vermont she breathes a sigh of relief to be away from Boston. When her mom tells her she needs to do two summer camps, one for her mind and one for her body, she chooses Warrior Camp and Launch Camp. In Launch Camp, she and her new friends are aiming to help her grandmother get her cricket farm successful, but something or someone is sabotaging it. She struggles more with Warrior Camp with bad memories from gymnastics surfacing as she grapples with something that happened in Boston. Part mystery, part friendship story this #metoo novel is all heart, Mia and her friends will make you smile and admire their bravery and creativity.  Recommended for grades 5 and up. 

Haunting and well crafted, this is the story of a young girl, Tea who is gifted with dark magic. Tea accidentally raises her brother from the dead, when her feelings of grief overwhelm her. With her newly discovered powers, Tea and her brother, Fox, are brought to a different land to learn the ways of the Asha so that she may fight the monstrous daeva that plague the country. But dark asha are feared, and rightfully so as they can control the monsters. The story starts slowly and builds towards a cliff hanger. Beautifully written with Asian mythology and cultural influence, the book weaves an intricate tale of a young girl trying to find her place. Recommended for grades 8 and up. 

Jo Kuan is a Chinese-American girl living in Atlanta in the late 1800s. While racial tensions between black and white are rising in the South, Jo as Chinese, isn't quite sure where she fits in. Then she starts writing an advice column anonymously as Miss Sweetie, for one of the local papers and find her voice. Not everyone likes what she has to say, however. 

Written during a time of great change, the suffragettes marching for the right to vote and Jim Crow laws beginning to go into effect, this book tells a story of a part of history we rarely see, and from the point of view of a young girl trying to find her place in a society that isn't sure what to do with her. Jo is such a captivating character that you can't help but root for her. She will be in your head long after the book is done. There is a horse race, racial tensions, mysterious liaisons and a swindler. Plot twists abound and the writing is superior. Everyone should read this fantastic story. Recommended for grades 8 and up. 

Nina and Artemis are twins who live in a secret conclave of Watchers. Artemis gets all her mom's attention and all the training, while Nina becomes a medic, and dwells in the fact that her mother hates her and doesn't understand why. Everything changes the day that Nina realizes she is a Slayer and the last Slayer at that, because of what Buffy did. Now she needs to figure out how to be a Slayer and fast, because something evil is out there killing people and she needs to stop it. 

Based in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe, this book is a nonstop action filled thriller of a ride. You don't have to have knowledge of the Buffy show to enjoy this book. The action is solid, the characters are interesting. Nina can get a little too whiny at times, but overall the book is fun and you will want to continue the series. Recommended for grades 7 and up.

When a royal messenger shows up at their shop looking for her father, a once reknowned tailor, to become the new Imperial tailor, Maia decides to dress as a boy and take his place. You see, she is the best tailor in their shop, but only boys are allowed that title. 

When she gets to the palace she discovers she is one of twelve tailors vying for the job. Soon she is dragged into a fierce battle for the title, and not everyone is playing fair. An unlikely ally, a reluctant bride and mysterious scissors all come into play, in this lush fantasy steeped in Chinese culture. Recommended for grades 7 and up.

This follow up to Before She Ignites find Mira and her friends escaping from The Pit and heading out to find a way to rescue the ailing dragons. With a shaky alliance among the escapees will they be able to find the dragons in time, or will they be recaptured by Altan and made prisoners again?

This second book is full of action and adventure as Mira and her compatriots run from one close call to another. The world building is fantastic and you get to know the characters better in this second book. When it is done you are going to want to go straight to the next book to find out what happens. 
Recommended for grades 7 and up.

Raquel and Sasha have been best friends since Kindergarten when they bonded over a pair of plastic shoes. Then cancer happens and Sasha is terminal. They spend all her last days together, and then just like that Sasha is gone. However, Sasha had been planning for this and she send Rockie a letter and asks her to go on an adventure with Elijah a complete stranger and secret Sasha had kept from Rockie. The letters keep coming and as they adventure together they get to know one another. 

I loved this book. Sasha's character and the supportive family throughout the story were so wonderful. The adventures are heartfelt and while some may question all that happened, overall this is a sweet story about a remarkable girl whose life was cut way too short.  Recommended for grades 7 and up