HANK
Arch Montgomery
Bancroft Press
ISBN: 1890862223
192 pages

Thirteen-year-old Hank Collins has just finished the seventh grade at a public school in Baltimore's affluent suburbs. The three words that immediately come to mind when describing Hank are shrewd, gutsy and funny. But Hank is far from carefree --- oh, quite the contrary. He must deal with a number of serious issues, not the least of which is a troubled family. During the course of the summer, we witness the many layers of Hank: his confusions and vulnerability, but also his grit and honesty. You're going to like Hank --- you'll find yourself rooting for him and you'll care about what happens to him.

IMPRESSIONS (Angel Series)
Doranna Durgin
Pulse
ISBN: 0743427580
304 pages

A fairly peaceful day at Angel Investigations is disturbed by the arrival of a desperate man --- and the demon at his heels. The gang quickly disposes of the monster, only to discover that it decomposes the instant it dies. So they appear to be out of luck when it comes to identifying characteristics. The man is of no help because he had been the victim of a stolen identity scam; he was cheated by a false Angel and so is distrustful of the real deal. And he's certainly not going to give up the ancient stone he's pocketed.

NO BODY'S PERFECT: Stories by Teens about Body Image, Self-Acceptance, and the Search for Identity
Kimberly Kirberger
Scholastic Trade
ISBN: 0439426383
289 pages

Kimberly Kirberger, co-author of the bestselling CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE TEENAGE SOUL books and a renowned expert on teen issues, addresses the topic of body image in NO BODY'S PERFECT. Unfortunately, some girls today suffer from a lack of self-esteem and self-love, which can lead to eating disorders, depression, drug use and more. This important book contains powerful stories, poems from real teens, and personal tales. Kirberger hopes these accounts, along with her own advice, will help girls learn to accept, love and appreciate their bodies --- and, ultimately, love themselves.

PLANET JANET
Dyan Sheldon
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763620483
Ages 14 and up
240 pages

Sixteen-year-old Janet Bandry decides she is ready to enter the Dark Phase of her life. As this determined British teenager sees it, the Dark Phase requires dressing in black, listening to jazz when she can find the right radio station, and thinking about Deep and Meaningful Things. Of course, this is when she isn't thinking about boys, what color to dye her hair, or whether her nose piercing is infected. Janet tells her charming and funny story in a series of diary entries, in which she reflects on her dysfunctional family, her religious zealot of a grandmother, her free spirit aunt and much more!

WHAT THE BIRDS SEE
Sonya Hartnett
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0763620920
Ages 14 and up
208 pages

Here are some facts about 9 year-old Adrian. Adrian lives with his gran and his uncle Rory. He has a best friend named Clinton Tull. He loves to draw and he wants a dog. He's afraid of quicksand, shopping centers and self-combustion. But Adrian is also intensely curious and there's a lot that he unfortunately cannot understand. For instance, he doesn't know why three neighborhood children would go out one day to buy ice cream and never come home. Set in the year 1977, Sonya Hartnett tells the touching yet ominous story of a little boy, unwanted and unloved, living in a suburb that is no longer safe or innocent.