Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Around the turn of the 19th century, Will Henry is an orphan, apprenticed to the doctor with a very unusual specialty:  he hunts monsters. This isn't really what Will Henry signed up for, but it is better than being at the orphanage.  Of course, most of the work happens at night, when the monsters are out and about.  The story begins with a strange man showing up at the back door with a "specimen" that he happened to find in the graveyard at NIGHT (he was grave-robbing).  It is indeed a monster, so the doctor gets very excited and piles everyone into a horse-driven cart to go check out the graveyard AT NIGHT.  Very spooky story with monsters galore, guaranteed to make it hard to go to sleep.  Beginning of a series...

Amazing Life of Birds by Gary Paulsen

As twelve year-old Duane endures the confusing and humiliating aspects of puberty, he watches a newborn bird in a nest outside his window. The bird and Duane have a lot in common, as they both grow awkwardly and navigate the world.  At least the bird has a couple of parents to help him---Duane seems to be unable to ask either parent for help, especially about the weird things his body is doing.  Paulsen has handled this topic with humor, which really is the only way to handle puberty.  Funny read, appealing to both sexes.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

This book begins with a plane crash. But the author says "we do not want you to worry about this."  The plane is filled with beauty queen contestants and after it crashes on a desert island, they have to figure out how to survive and keep their nails neat.  The characters are comical at first, but as the survival aspect starts to peel away their veneer, their humanity is revealed.


 This story could have easily  become  Lord of the Flies, but Bray cleverly steers it, resulting in an enjoyable read with a deeper thread of how far women have advanced since the 50s, but have they really...

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Arthur Dent wakes up with a hangover and looks out to see several bulldozers posed to demolish his house.  He lays down in front of the bulldozers to stop them, when his friend, Ford Prefect, comes to take him to the pub.  Unknown to Arthur, Ford is an alien, an author who has been writing The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  He has been on Earth for several years to include a chapter in his book, but it now is unnecessary because the Earth is going to be demolished in a few minutes.   Ford saves Arthur, and together they go across the galaxy in Ford's spaceship. This hilarious, classic book also contains the answer to the question "What is the meaning of life?"  

The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman

A Brooklyn eighth grader nicknamed Antsy makes friends with the Schwa, a boy who is so good at blending in with his surroundings that he is, for all intents and purposes, invisible. Antsy takes advantage of the Schwa's skills of invisibility by charging students for tasks that only he could accomplish.  When he tries to steal a dog bowl from an old man and gets caught, Antsy and the Schwa are enlisted to escort the old man's blind granddaughter.  This is the beginning of a friendship, with some twists and turns.  The Schwa struggles with the fear of disappearing (like his mother), but Antsy's friendship helps him come to terms with that.

Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

Being a vampire is like being stuck indoors with the flu watching daytime television forever and ever.  Nina is a fifteen-year-old vampire and she has been 15 for 51 years!  She is stuck in a support group for vampires who don't want to kill people.  Nothing exciting ever happens and she hates her life with the angst of a 15-year old.  When one of the vampires of the group is killed, finally something exciting has happened!    It's left to the other members to solve the crime.  This book is a funny read, no sparkly vampires here!

In The After by Demetria Lunetta

Amy has to survive and she is very good at it. She is a quiet as a ninja, slipping in and out of houses to scavenge for supplies. She has to be quiet, because aliens with super sensitive hearing have taken over the Earth. On her excursions, she finds Baby, a child who has miraculously survived the invasion. Since they can't speak, Amy teaches Baby to communicate with sign language. When their home is taken over by other humans on the run, Amy and Baby have to stay on their toes to avoid being captured. This book is action-packed, full of aliens we love to hate. First of a trilogy, this book will get you prepping for disaster!