The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

A beautiful, heart breaking, orginal approach to finding the humanity hidden in Nazi Germany. A perfect book. Zusak writes liked a detailed painter, his words create the colors and textures and scents of life and death, love and loss, happiness and dispair. Here is a sample that will stay with me forever...
"To most people, Hans Hubermann was barely visible. An un-special person..... He was always just there. Not noticeable. Not important or particularly valuable.
The frustration of that appearance, as you can imagine, was its complete misleadence, let's say. There most definitely was value in him, and it did not go unnoticed by Liesel Meminger. (The human child -- so much cannier at times than the stupefyingly ponderous adult.) She saw it immediately.
His manner.
The quiet air around him.
When he turned the light on in the small, callous washroom that night, Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver. Like soft silver, melting. Liesel, upon seeing those eyes, understood that Hans Hubermann was worth a lot."

Caution: swearing and violence

***** high school and adult

Nine Days a Queen by Ann Rinaldi

I know more about English History now. The reign of Henry VIII, the intriege, the competition bewteen family for power. Makes me glad I am not royalty.

*** middle and high school

"Extras" by Scott Westerfeld

The world of the "pretties" is very different now. This book is an action packed, strangest of the four, that makes you realize the dangers of making assumptions. I love how Westerfeld uses words beautifully.

** middle and high school