The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart

Frankie has her growth spurt and discovers leave-in conditioner the summer after her freshman year in high school, and when she gets back to school, boys seem to notice.  In particular one boy, Matthew, whom Frankie begins to date.  But Matthew and his friends are part of a secret society, the Basset Hounds, and the society doesn't let in girls.  Frankie, frustrated at being underestimated, impersonates the Basset's leader, organizing increasingly daring and successful pranks on campus, but pulling off brilliant pranks while letting someone else gets the credit rankles, and ultimately she has to come clean.  There are elements of romance, but ultimately this story is about Frankie and her growing realization of how being female effects how others see and treat her.  It doesn't have a "happy ending" in that Frankie does not end up with the boy of her dreams, but she does recognize her own self-confidence, worth and sense of power.

One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

Eliza is looking forward to a quiet night watching movies with her best friends while her parents are out of town, but a club of boys from her school, including the ex-boyfriend that only dated her as initiation into the club, use her notebook of secret things to blackmail her into doing stunts around Boston. Includes under-age drinking, references to drugs and sex that might make some teens (and unparents) uncomfortable, but the overall message doesn't glorify any of them. The relationships with best friends are depicted pretty realistically (both friends get distracted by their own concerns - other friends, boys, etc. - but pull together for Eliza when she needs them most. A touch of romance, a supportive relationship with her older sister, and the thrill and danger of staying out all night will appeal to teen readers, probably of the female variety.

My recommendation - 9th grade and up.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Told from alternating POV's, this story focuses on a few months in the lives of two teens with the same name who meet through change and whose lives intersect at the large point of Tiny Cooper, the best friend of one Will and the new boyfriend of the other Will. Themes include looking at what makes people friends, dealing with romantic interest, how people can be very different but still love each other, a bit about telling friends and family that you are gay and a bit about depression and mental illness in teens. Funny, witty, relationships told from a guy's point of view, matter of fact about homosexuality. Lots of IM and texts quoted.

SLJ grades 9 and up

The Miles Between by Mary Pearson

Destiny wants one fair day, so when she discovers a convertible car apparently abandoned and just waiting for her, she enlists 3 classmates from boarding school to go on a roadtrip to a nearby town. Cute Seth, flaky Mira and serious Aiden join her, and as Destiny slowly begins to admit that her parents did not abandon her by choice and that sometimes things cannot be controlled no matter how much she tries, she faces the truth behind their death and her denial and discovers that Seth, Mira and Aiden aren't defined only by their most obvious characteristics, either.

SLJ grades 9 and up

Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist by R.L. LaFevers

Book 1: Flight of the Phoenix

When his parents disappeared while off adventuring, Nathaniel is sent to live with Phil A. Fludd, and aunt he did not know. With her he discovers that his parents, aunt and most of his ancestors are beastologists, "someone who studies beasts. Not any old beast, mind you. Only unusual beasts...like dodos. Or basilisks, or griffins, or manticores and the like." But Nate isn't sure he's cut out to be an explorer or adventurer, especially when his first beastology trip with his aunt results in her being held prisoner by Bedouins and Nate on his own to make sure a phoenix egg hatches, figure out how to rescue his aunt and keep the families Book of Beasts safe from a mysterious man who wants to steal it.

Sequel: The Basilisk's Lair

SLJ grades 3-5