In my humble opinion (which happens to change often), these books are must reads. You may not like them very much but I think they're good or at least worth reading. They're just ones that you should read when you get a chance. Notice, this list contains children's, young adult, and adult books.

By Author: A B C D F G H J K L M N O P R S T W V Y Z

Allende, Isabel - Did you know? Isabel Allende was one of the women who carried the Olympic flag in Torino, Italy. These books are about Alex and Nadia, two teens who meet for the first time in City of the Beasts. The trilogy is about their adventures while traveling around the world with Alex's energetic grandmother. The books are a blend of science fiction and fantasy set on our modern world. Highly recommended.
The Alexander Cold trilogy:
- City of the Beasts ****
- Kingdom of the Golden Dragon *****
- Forest of the Pygmies ****


Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia - These books are about the shapeshifters, beings who are human in appearance but can change into their corresponding animals at will. The series begins as Zane and Danica resolve to bring peace to their people so they can end the ancient war that has left countless dead and many more grieving. Each book is told from a different character's point of view. So far, it depicts two generations. Highly recommended.
Volumes of the Kiesha'ra:
- Hawksong *****
- Snakecharm ****
- Falcondance *****
- Wolfcry ****

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Bass, L.G. - This takes place in China long ago and delves into the myths and legends about a certain monkey, gods, and the Emperor's heir. As far as I know, this is the only book in the "Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh" series. Highly recommended.

The Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh:
- Sign of the Qin ****


Bell, Hilari - Amazing author. Fall of a Kingdom used to be called Flame. The trilogy takes place in Farsala, comparable to Persia. The land-hungry Hrum wage war against Farsala and Jiaan, Soraya, and Kavi must set aside their differences and work together to save their country from the slavery and cruelty the invaders bring with them. Very highly recommended.
The Farsala trilogy:
- Fall of a Kingdom *****
- Rise of a Hero *****

- Forging the Sword *****

 

- A Matter of Profit ****
- The Goblin Wood ****


Brashares, Ann - Fun, girly stories for the teenage soul :) These books revolve around four girls who find a pair of pants that can fit their very different body types. As they go away for the summer, they write to each other and send the pants between them. They are coming-of-age stories. Has been made into a movie. Recommended.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants:
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants ****
- The Second Summer of the Sisterhood ****
- Girls in Pants: the Third Summer of the Sisterhood ****

- Forever in Blue: the Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood ****


Bray, Libba - Set in Victorian England, Gemma moves to London from India when her mother dies. Soon after she settles at Spence Academy, she is visited by a messenger of a brotherhood. As she and her friends find a diary and dig deeper into the magical world they discover, Gemma learns some shocking news about her mother. There's supposed to be another book to complete the trilogy. Highly recommended.
- A Great and Terrible Beauty *****
- Rebel Angels *****


Brian, Kate - Kate Brian is a very good author. Her books are realistic fiction. They are sweet, funny books and I really like them, so read every single one. The Private novels are about Reed, a girl who gets into a private boarding school on a scholarship. Every book in the series ends with a cliffhanger but I can handle it :) Recommended.
- Lucky T *****

- The Fairy Godmother *****

- One Good Knight ****

- Fortune's Fool ****

 

Larbalestier, Justine - I thought these books were very good "modern fantasy" as I call it. They take place in Austrailia and New York City. Magic or Madness: Her whole life, Reason Casino has traveled around Austrialia with her mother. When her mother becomes insane, she goes to live with her grandmother Esmerelda, whom she distrusts. She learns that her mother's side of the family has magic but using it is tricky; either use the magic and die young, or don't use the magic and become insane. She is reluctant to learn and finds herself in trouble and very alone, stranded in New York City. Very highly recommended.
Magic or Madness trilogy:
- Magic or Madness *****
- Magic Lessons *****


Lee, Tanith - These books are in a kinda modern-ish, magical-ish, different universe. They are the journals of Claidi, a maid in the House, possibly royalty. Wolf Tower: Claidi escapes from the House and travels with a handsome stranger only to find that she must escape yet again... Wolf Star & Wolf Queen: On the day of her wedding, Claidi is kidnapped and brought to a fortress, when she finally goes, she only to finds more mysteries. Wolf Wing: Just who was Ustareth? What did she want? Claidi and Argul search for answers. Highly recommended.
The Claidi Journals:
- Wolf Tower ***
- Wolf Star ****
- Wolf Queen ***
- Wolf Wing ****

 

Levine, Gail Carson - Ella Enchanted is an elaborated (and very good) version of Cinderella. Poor Ella must fight her evil stepmother's dominace over the household, escape from ogres, survive boarding school, and do what is best for Prince Char all while obeying every order she is told without choice. Good thing she has a fairy godmother... right? Highly recommended. By the way, they made a movie and absolutely ruined it. Fairest is set in the world of Ella Enchanted and it is about a girl named Aza in a retelling of Snow White.
- Ella Enchanted ****
- Fairest ****
- The Two Princesses of Bamarre ****

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Maguire, Gregory - Excellent. Wicked has been made in to a musical! Wicked: a novel is "the life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West." It follows Elphaba, a child born with green skin, through her life in the University of Shiz (where she meets Galinda, who later changes her name to Glinda) and her infamous life beyond that. In the sequel Son of a Witch, Liir may or may not be Elphaba's son. For one thing, he does not have green skin but after her death, it seems possible. Highly recommended. To quote from a friend, even if the books are a bit "laborious" to read, they're totally worth it.
- Wicked: a novel ****
- Son of a Witch ****


Mayer, Melody - At first I thought it sounded a lot like The Au Pairs, but it's definately different. These take place in LA. Lydia, Esme, and Kiley are nannies for rich people. They are each dealing with their own problems. The three become fast friends and help each other out.
The Nannies novels:
- The Nannies ***
- Friends With Benefits ***

- Have To Have It ****

 

McCaughrean, Geraldine - Takes place in thirteenth-century China. After his father's death, Haoyou joins the circus as a kite rider and makes decent money but ends up giving it to his greedy uncle. His cousin warns him about this but Haoyou doesn't listen and his uncle eventually gets him into trouble with the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan. Recommended.
- The Kite Rider ****


McGraw, Eloise - It had a few cheesy lines but overall, it was great though I still have questions about what happens to the characters. Mara, a slave in Egypt, is bought by a man to serve Queen Hatshepsut as a spy. However, Mara decides that working as a double agent is better for her. She assists the rebels who want to restore the rightful ruler to throne. Things get messy when she makes one mistake too many. Highly recommended.
- Mara, Daughter of the Nile *****

 

- Od magic *****

 

Mechling, Lauren and Laura Moser - I think this is going to become a series. Mimi moves back to New York City after living in Texas. After betting her best friend Sam that she can become friends with the most popular girls in their grade, Mimi gets her chance to prove she can be one of them. After she and Sam have a fight, he uses this information against her.
- The Rise and Fall of a 10th-Grade Social Climber ****
- All Q, no A: More Tales of a 10th-Grade Social Climber ****


Meyer, L.A. - The full title is Bloody Jack: Being An Account Of The Curious Adventures Of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy but that's a bit long. After Mary's parents die, she is forced to live on the streets. She eventually finds her way onto a ship as "Jacky" and life continues on... as a boy. The other books chronicle her life after she is discovered and sent away... Highly recommended.
Bloody Jack adventures:
- Bloody Jack ***
- Curse of the Blue Tattoo ****
- Under the Jolly Roger ****

- In the Belly of  the Bloodhound *****

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Nix, Garth - This trilogy takes place in the world of the Old Kingdom and the Land of the Dead. Sabriel journeys into the Old Kingdom in search of her father, the necromancer Abhorsen, who is trapped in the Land of the Dead. With help, she confronts a certain relative of hers... Lirael takes place years after Sabriel. Lirael and Prince Sameth must battle to stop the evil that is coming out of the Land of the Dead. With the mischievous cat Mogget and the Disreputable Dog to help them, they travel south towards the Wall. However, their own identities may shock them... Abhorsen: Once Lirael and Sam know their true identities, their purpose is clear. Time is running out so they must bind the Destroyer before all life perishes. Very highly recommended.
Old Kingdom trilogy:
- Sabriel *****
- Lirael, Daughter of the Clayr *****
- Abhorsen *****

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Oppel, Kenneth - I read these a while ago but I liked them. Shade is a young bat who gets separated from his colony during migration. He and Marina must find the colony before Goth, a blood-thirsty vampire bat, finds them first. The saga continues in Sunwing when humans capture the bats and hold them captive. Once they escape, their problems seem worse than ever... In Firewing, the next generation of bats faces the Underworld, the place where dead bats go. When Griffin goes in search of Luna, Shade must find them both before they also lose their lives. Recommended.
Silverwing saga:
- Silverwing ****
- Sunwing ****
- Firewing ***

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Paolini, Christopher - Made into a movie. Adventures galore! In the land of Alagaesia, Eragon finds a mysterious dragon egg and to his surprise, he now has his own dragon: Saphira. Unknown to him, there are others searching for this dragon... others that are willing to kill. Eragon, Saphira, and Brom look for safety while Eragon struggles with his identity. The adventure continues in Eldest when the group goes to the Elves for help. Very highly recommended.
Inheritance series:
- Eragon *****
- Eldest *****


Patterson, James - Maximum Ride and her flockmates escape from the School, the genetic research lab that created them. They are 98% human and 2% avian so they have wings and are able to fly. Well, the School just found and abducted the youngest member of the group. With a rescue in mind and a plan to escape to a place where they can be safe, the six outwit their hunters to survive just a bit longer. In the second book, after a stay with an FBI agent and a relatively normal life, Max has to face her destiny... or die before she has a chance. Highly recommended.
Maximum Ride:
- The Angel Experiment ****
- School's Out - Forever ****


Pattou, Edith - This is based on the myth "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" but I don't think anyone's heard of that. Anyway, a great white bear shows up to take a girl to an enchanted castle where she is kept a virtual prisoner. In a search for answers, she tries to gain information from the castle's mysterious servants. Only after she makes a fatal mistake does she realize what she has done and now she must fix what she started. Recommended.
- East ****


Pierce, Tamora - Read all of her books. She's one of my favorite authors. Her books revolve around two different worlds. If you don't have time to read everything, read Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen. Summaries would take all day, so suffice it to say that everything is very highly recommended.
The Realm of Tortall:
- Song of the Lioness quartet *****
- Immortals quartet *****
- Protector of the Small quartet *****
- Trickster's Choice *****
- Trickster's Queen *****
- Beka Cooper: Terrier *****

The Circle of Magic:
- Circle of Magic quartet *****
- The Circle Opens quartet *****
- The Will of the Empress *****


Prose, Francine - What if this actually happened? After depicts a vision of the country's school system slowing edging toward totalitarianism. Students and teachers who don't comply to newer stricter rules disappear. What is happening? Will it stop? Recommended.
- After ****


Pullman, Philip - Wonderful. The first book takes place in parallel universe and the others travel between worlds. Following the disappearance Lyra's friends, she joins an expedition to the north. With the help of her daemon and her friends, she travels in hope of discovering and stopping the evil that has already been set into motion. The next two books follow Lyra and Will, a boy whose father has been missing for years. With the discovery of a special knife, the two, with their daemons, find themselves drawn into something much larger than they are. Very highly recommended.
His Dark Materials trilogy:
- The Golden Compass *****
- The Subtle knife *****
- The Amber Spyglass *****

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Rees, Celia - Pirates! is "the true and remarkable adventures of Minerva Sharpe and Nancy Kington, female pirates." After her father's death, Nancy moves to her family's Jamaican plantation. When she discovers certain secrets have been kept from her, she escapes with Minerva, one of the slaves. The girls become friends as they adventure on a pirate ship. When her past haunts her once again, they all may be in danger. Recommended.
- Pirates! *****


Rowling, J.K. - Do I really need to explain the Harry Potter books? Recommended.
Harry Potter series:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ***
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ***
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ****
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ****
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ***
- Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince ***

 

 

 

 

Shepard, Sara - In peaceful Rosewood, PA, high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna all have something to hide. Aside from their current little, um, escapades shall we say, they've all got some pretty big secrets. Then the girls start getting threatening messages from "A." Could "A" be Alison, their best friend who disappeared three years earlier? She knew everything about them. But if Alison isn't "A," who is?

Pretty Little Liars:

- Pretty Little Liars ****

 

Smith, Sherwood - These were great books, though I think they've been republished so its just one book called Crown Duel. Countess Meliara and her brother Branaric organize a rebellion against the corrupted king. Plans go awry when Meliara is captured. Once she escapes, she must survive long enough to get word back to her brother. The second book is what happens after the final battle. Mel must go to live at the court where she must decipher friends from enemies. Highly recommended.
Crown & Court Duet:
- Crown Duel ****
- Court Duel ****


Snyder, Maria V. - On the day of her execution for murder, Yelena gets a chance to live. She is offered a job as the food taster for the Commander of Ixia. She'll have all the perks of a palace servant... and the risk of dying as her predecessor did. So she cannot escape, Yelena is fed a poison and she will only live if she shows up for the antidote every day. As rebels plot to assissinate the Commander, Yelena's life is in danger... not to mention she is literally being haunted by her past. Good thing she has some helpful friends ;) Very highly recommended.
the Study series:
- Poison Study *****
- Magic Study *****

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Tingle, Rebecca - Takes place in ninth-century Britain. Aethelflaed, daughter of King Alfred, is betrothed to Ethelred of Mercia. With the soldier Red as her guardian, she travels to Mercia only to be ambushed by the Danes. Much happens before that but I can't really say much without giving things away. Far Traveler: Years later, Aethelflaed's daughter Aelfwyn flees from her uncle King Edward after her mother's death. She disguises herself as a bard and gains some unlikely friends as she finds herself involved with the politics of the time. Recommended.
- The Edge on the Sword ****
- Far Traveler ****

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Weisberger, Lauren - This has been made into a great movie. After Andrea lands a job as the assistant to a famous magazine editor, it doesn't take long figure out that she's working for the psychob**** from hell. The perks are great but working for her is a nightmare. Can she handle the pressure? We'll see about that...
- The Devil Wears Prada ****


Wells, Martha - Master criminal Nicholas Valiarde is bent on avenging the wrongful execution of his godfather by a certain count when he stumbles upon an evil plot that involves the work of his deceased godfather. With his friends, he sets out to discover the root of the plot while fleeing from the law. Highly recommended. Years later, with the help of a mystical sphere created by Ile-Rien's greatest sorcerer, Nicholas's daughter Tremaine must discover a way to protect their country which is under attack from the invading Gardier. She must unearth the secrets of the sphere before time runs out. Recommended.

- Death of the Necromancer *****

 

the Fall of the Ile-Rien:

- The Wizard Hunters ****

- The Ships of Air ****


Westerfeld, Scott - These were really good. In a world where beauty is achieved at age 16, Tally can't wait for her operation. There are three types of people in the world, Uglies, who have not had the operation; Pretties, who have; and Specials, the law enforcement. When her friend Shay runs away before her operation, Tally is given a choice: betray Shay and become pretty or stay ugly forever... Very highly recommended.
Uglies trilogy:
- Uglies *****
- Pretties *****
- Specials *****


Wrede, Patricia C. and Caroline Stevermer - Set in Regency England, cousins Cecelia and Kate write letters to each other during the Season in Sorcery and Cecelia. Strangers, mysterious spells, and the strange chocolate pot make life interesting... to say the least.

- Haters: a novel ****

 

Viswanathan, Kaavya - Amazing and hilarious. I love how the author portrays her parents. I get enough grief from mine, so this was fun to read. Opal's parents have planned for her to go to Harvard ever since she was born. When the day of her interview comes, she bombs it. The interviewer tells her to get involved with more things than academics. So, Opal's parents create a new plan: How Opal Will Get A Life. Soon, Opal finds herself with a social life and popularity... and the complications that go with it. Highly recommended.
- How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life *****


Von Ziegesar, Cecily - Gossip Girl series: Follows the girls of Constance Billard, an exclusive school in New York City. Gossip Girl is the all-seeing girl who knows the dirt about everyone... and posts it on the internet. No names, of course :) The It Girl novels: After her disgrace, Gossip Girl character Jenny moves to a boarding school away from the city. Too bad she can't get away from all the drama...
Gossip Girl series:
- Gossip Girl **
- You Know You Love Me **