Purge

by Sarah Darer Littman

Summary: Janie Ryman has a secret, or rather, she HAD a secret. She makes herself throw up in a desperate attempt to stay thin, and to try to take away some of the pain she feels inside. At her sister's wedding, her secret is revealed, embarrassing herself, her sister, and horrifying her friends. She chronicles her story through journal entries at the psychiatric hospital where her parents send her. At the hospital, she meets an intriguing cast of characters with eating disorders who seem to fall into two categories: the Barfers and the Starvers. The people she meets, the discoveries she makes, and the secret she eventually reveals will keep you turning pages.

My thoughts: Just like with Wintergirls, this book makes me sad. It is horrible to think that I know anyone who can relate to the way this young girl thinks and feels about herself. What I like about this book is that the author reveals that she is an eating disorder survivor, and lists many resources on how to cope with and get help for this terrible disease. Her personal knowledge of the disorder makes the story very believable.

Bad Girls Don't Die

by Katie Alender

Summary: Alexis's younger sister Kasey is kind of a weird girl. She acts more like an elementary school kid than a middle-schooler, and she has a strange attachment to her doll collection. But soon Alexis starts to notice Kasey's behavior getting more and more bizarre. And did her blue eyes just turn green? When Kasey asks Alexis to tell her a story, why does the tale of a young girl being tortured and bullied suddenly spring into her mind? As weeks pass, it becomes increasingly clear that Kasey is not altogether herself, and who she is becoming is a danger to not just Alexis, but to many people in town.

My thoughts: This is not only a great ghost story, but a good story about fitting in, school, and figuring out who you are. Alexis is an interesting character, one you can relate to. She's not the character in the scary book or movie who makes dumb decisions and gets herself in trouble. She's smart and makes good choices, which makes this story all that much scarier.

Kaleidoscope Eyes

by Jen Bryant

Summary: Lyza was always close to her grandfather, and when he passes away in 1968, she has to go with her father and older sister to help clean out his house. In the attic she finds a note with some maps and a key that are marked for her eyes only. Her grandfather has left her documents that lead Lyza and her two best friends on an exciting search for Captain Kidd's pirate treasure.

My thoughts: The Vietnam War-era setting gives this book a different feel--it's interesting to read Lyza's reaction to the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy, and to watch her see her friend's older brother get drafted. This is a novel written in verse. Jen Bryant takes full advantage of this format, using very few words to make a very powerful statement.

Prophecy of the Sisters

by Michelle Zink

Summary: Twins Lia and Alice Milthorpe couldn't be more different. When their father dies suddenly and mysteriously, the girls and their younger brother are left orphans. Lia's friend and long-time love James is working on organizing the Milthorpe family library, when he comes across a strange book with only one page. The cryptic message it reveals kicks off a deadly chain of events that pits the two sisters against one another, fulfilling an ancient prophecy, and leaving the fate of the world in their hands. One sister is good, and the other is evil beyond imagining. Who will win?

My thoughts: This is the first in a planned series, so be prepared for the cliffhanger ending! I think that the sequel will be well worth the wait, though. This book is exciting, suspenseful, and has some truly shocking moments. It would be creepy enough if set in modern times, but the late 19th century setting makes it even creepier.