Most people want to avoid the subject of death and dead bodies, but not Mary Roach. Her book fearlessly discovers just what happens to our bodies when we die. She is especially interested in the subject of cadavers donated to science. Topics she researches span from the history of body snatching for the purpose of dissections to the use of cadavers in car crash testing. Although there are graphic sections, Roach manages to keep the humor going, so you forget some of the gory reality of the subject matter. Stiff may not be for everyone, but it is fascinating and informative, and if you're at all curious about the subject, I highly recommend it.

This was one of my favorite children's books of the year, and not just because the main character has my name!  Katerina and her family are immigrants, trying to live the American dream in the early 1900's.  Their life is not any better here than it was in the Czech Republic, and Katerina longs for her life at home, until she discovers a pond by her house.  In the pond, a silver carp comes out of the water to look at her.  In an old Czech legend, the silver carp will grant three wishes if it is found.  All three sisters make a wish, and the wishes of the younger sisters come true.  Katerina's wish is for her family to run a farm, but is the magic really that powerful, or will she have to make it come true herself?  Good for 5th grade and up.

Yes, it’s finally here!  And it was worth the wait!   Paolini’s breathtaking conclusion to The Inheritance Cycle has all the adventure, suspense, and action that we’ve come to expect, but it also explores facets of the character’s personalities that haven’t been touched on yet.  After nearly dying, Roran contemplates on why so many others have died while he has evaded death so often.  Nasuada proves her strength and cunning again and again under the threat of torture.  Murtagh faces inner conflict now more than ever as he is forced, again and again, to hurt someone he cares for deeply.  And finally, Eragon must gather his strength, physically and mentally, as he prepares to challenge Murtagh and Galbatorix for the last time.   All of them will fight for their lives, but will they all survive?

If you loved The Hunger Games and Divergent, try this next! In Katsa’s world, there are certain people born with an extreme talent, called a “Grace.” These people, called “Gracelings,” are respected by some, exploited by others, and feared by all. Katsa’s Grace is one that even she hates-the Grace of killing. Her uncle, the king, uses Katsa to carry out his dirty work: torturing those who displease him. Katsa bears this duty for years, but her attitude is beginning to change. She starts to pity those who displease her uncle, and punishes them less harshly than the king would like. In another act of mercy, Katsa spares the life of a man interfering with her mission; a man Graced with combat skills. Little did she know how this would change her own life. Twists of fate lead Katsa to meet this man again, and she learns he is a prince of another country. She never expected to become his friend, which would lead her to learn the truth about her own Grace, as well as uncover a terrible secret that could destroy her entire world. Suspenseful, with a blend of romance and action, Graceling will be a book you’ll want to read over and over again.

Don’t you wish your little brother or sister could just disappear sometimes, so they’d stop annoying you? Steven feels the same way about his brother Jeffrey. Whenever Steven tries to practice his drums Jeffrey interrupts him, begging Steven to teach him how to play. But just when Steven thinks that having a crush on the hottest girl in his school is his next biggest worry, Jeffrey falls sick with leukemia. Suddenly, Steven is left alone with his dad (who has basically turned into a zombie) while his mom takes Jeffrey to different hospitals for treatment. Steven worries constantly about his brother, but doesn’t tell anyone at school about Jeffrey being sick. He wishes everything could go back to the way it was: just drums, girls, and Dangerous Pie (and yes, you’ll have to read the book to find out what that is!).

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson Elisa, the younger, clumsier, more unremarkable of two princesses, suddenly finds herself the wife of a king in a foreign land. This land is in turmoil, and everyone looks to Elisa, supposedly their "chosen one," to save them. I finished the whole second half in just a couple of hours! Elisa is all the more interesting for her struggle with her weight, and through the course of the book she overcomes this challenge beautifully. I loved how much growth (although not in size) and maturity she gained because of her many adventures. She faces typical teenage worries like whether or not her male friends find her appealing, but she also has to face extreme challenges, such as trying to help her people survive in the inevitable war. It's a great coming-of-age book

Before: Miles Halter has an obsession with famous last words. The last words of Francois Rabelais ( "I go to seek a Great Perhaps) inspired Miles to go to Culver Creek boarding school. There, he is dubbed "Pudge" by his roommate, Chip "The Colonel" Martin. Down the hall, he meets Alaska Young and immediately develops a crush on her. As the story progresses, Pudge is dragged into her world. He, The Colonel, and Alaska develop a prank war against the "Weekday Warriors," the gang of rich kids who go home to air-conditioned mansions every weekend. Pudge loves his new life, until...after. You're going to have to read the book to find out what that means!