The Maze

Will Hobbs (Morrow Junior Books, c1998)
Shelf Number: J FICTION/HOB

Stowing away in the back of a pickup, 14-year-old runaway Rick Walker finds himself at a dead end in the surreal landscape of redrock spires and deep canyons called the Maze.

The Misfits

James Howe (Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Aladdin, c2001)
Shelf Number: FICTION/HOW

When four student misfits team up to form a new political party in their seventh-grade elections, they face more than one obstacle from their teacher and the other students.

My Perfect Life

Dyan Sheldon (Candlewick Press, c2002)
Shelf Number: FICTION/SHE

Sheldon brings back the winning cast of characters from "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" in this new tale of suburban high school woe--told through the eyes of Ella Gerard, an endearingly unassuming heroine who's talked into running for school president against her former best friend.

Saving the Planet & Stuff

Gail Gauthier (Putnam, c2003)
Shelf Number: FICTION/GAU

This witty story explores what can happen when a typical, self-absorbed teenage boy is influenced by radical, environmentally concerned senior citizens--making the possibilities for humor endless.

Secrets in the Fire

Henning Mankell (Annick Press, c2003)
Shelf Number: J FICTION/MAN

Based on a real-life land mine victim, this middle reader novel tells a story of recovery, hope and coming of age of an African girl who loses her legs to a land mine.

Sticks and Stones

Beth Goobie (Orca Book Pub., c2002)
Shelf Number: FICTION/GOO

Jujube is thrilled when Brent asks her out. She is not so happy when the rumors start flying at school. Pretty soon her name is showing up on bathroom walls and everyone is snickering and sniping. When her mother gets involved, Jujube's reputation takes another hit. Deciding that someone has to take a stand, Jujube gathers all the other girls who are labeled sluts and worse and tries to impress on her fellow students the damage that can be done by assigning a label that reduces a person to an object.