Don't let the YA lable deter you!  Great read for everyone!
586332
These books are excellent.  As a lifelong lover of supernatural stories, the concept appealed to me immediately.  I was hooked from the first chapter, and couldn't stop until the end of the third book.  The story drew me in, the characters drew me in, and I stayed glued the whole time.  Usually with a series of this length, I find myself taking a break between books to see what else is new, but not with these.  So glad I discovered them after the last one was published so I could read straight through!  None of the books dragged for even a moment.  I loved Eliza and her love for Jason, and the special relationship they had.  I was fascinated by Hadewich and the relationship he had with Zef.  I found the past-to-present storytelling seamless.  That can be tricky to write, but these were never confusing, the history was interesting, and always blended in with what was happening with Jason and company.  This could have been so cliche, since the story of the Headless Horseman is so well known, but Mr. Gleaves put a new and completely engrossing spin on it.  Truly enjoyed every page of all three books.  On a personal note, last week for my 60th birthday (I told you, don't let the YA label fool you), I adopted a 5 year old little black rescue dog.  She's tiny, smart, fiesty, funny, cute and loyal.  I named her Charley.
889803
I loved this book! I often enjoy young adult fiction, but sometimes find it a little too cheesy or unrealistic for my taste. Things I Should Have Known actually felt realistic and true to what teenagers' lives are like these days (man, I sound like such an old lady!). While I can't speak from personal experience, it did also feel like LaZebnik portrayed living with autism in a realistic light and in a different way than how it's usually approached. The relationships and emotions in the book felt very real and as far as I could tell, stereotypes of autism weren't used. More than anything, this felt like a story about the bonds between siblings and if nothing else, will make you think about your own sibling relationships and how things could be different.

While it does deal with more actual issues than most YA novels, this was a quick read for me and one of those books I didn't want to put down. If I had to compare the novel to others in the YA genre, I'd probably say it most reminded me of Jenny Han's summer series. I haven't yet read any of LaZebnik's other novels, but I certainly will now! I also can't help but hope that she'll write a followup to Things I Should Have Known, so we can continue to follow Chloe, Iris, Ethan, and David's stories.
3961333
I love this book! As a librarian, teacher, and mom of 3, I think Ms. DiGiovanni has a winner. This book is perfect for tweens and teens alike. It is a refreshing story about love, family, friendship, and high school. It is rare to find a love story that I can feel good about recommending and discussing with my students. My Senior Year of Awesome is that kind of book and I definitely will be recommending it to students, teachers, and other librarians. This is a great book for so many reasons. The characters are so well developed... I feel like I know Jana and Sadie personally. The plot is full of unexpected twists just like the lives of teenagers. I was hooked from the very start when Sadie was faced with the horror of being paired with a guy she didn't even like for "Most Likely to Get Married".  I love the realistic experiences, emotions, and challenges the girls face. While it has been a few years since high school, this book took me right back there. The lists in the book were brilliant and oh so clever. Kudos to Jennifer DiGiovanni on writing such a great book!  No need to look any further, this should be the next book you read! I sure hope there is a sequel.... I need to know what happens to Sadie, Jana, Andy, and yes, even Dom!
1857285
This book is great for all ages. I loved it, and my kids loved it when I read it to them, too. It's the first in a series. I'm reading the second now. I can't wait to see what happens next! I love the interaction between the heroine and her friends and family. She's fearless! It's a really quick read. Louie the Leprechaun is a pain! haha  I highly recommend this book and look forward to more books from this author.
46268
"Defending Jacob" is not the run-of the-mill mystery.  The author grabs your attention from the first page. Each chapter draws you further and further into the drama unfolding for a normal family, loved by everyone in their community, who suddenly find themselves in the newspaper headlines because of their 14 year old son. I will not disclose any more details because I don't want to ruin this book for you. Read it !  You will find yourself staying up later and looking at your teenager differently. Leave it to Amazon to change your life!
2397411
The Tyrants Daughter was a step outside of my normal comfort zone.  While I love YA, the subject matter wasn't something that normally piques my interest. There was something about the description that grabbed my attention though, so I thought Id give it a shot.  Wow, am I glad I did!  I found this book to be stimulating to say the least.  I have a profound interest in how people relate to one another, and this book certainly does not skimp in that area, nor does it ignore the contributing factors to our differences.  I certainly learned a thing or two reading it, and I recommend it to readers of all ages.  I will definitely read more from this author!
190271
This book may fall under the "YA" classification, but don't be fooled - this book is for everyone! As someone who works professionally in humane education, I read pretty critically for messages that do (or do not) support concepts around animal protection, environmental preservation, and human rights. I also really enjoyed being entertained. This book achieved both of those objectives and made me excited to share "Persimmon" with  students, parents, and teachers as well as people who just enjoy a good, inspiring read. Thanks to the author; this truly is a great and well-written story about the world-changing power of compassion and how each of us can make a difference!
2308032
This book is an excellent read for everyone.  The main character is not only hilarious, but totally relatable, and she grabs your attention from page one.  As you continue through the story and learn of all she has going on in life, she makes us feel better about ourselves, because she allows us to connect with her.  She reminds us to recognize that we all have our mistakes and lowest of lows, yet eventually they bring about enlightenment and joy.  Once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down.  This book isn't just a quick read, it is a MUST READ!
1272919
I really enjoyed this book!! I am a fan of YA fiction even though I am an adult.

Reed creates a very vivid and complex world for her characters. The tension between the main characters is a compelling and driving force of the story. The writing is well-done, with the author not writing down to a younger audience. The characters are people I feel like I could know in my everyday life. They are down-to-earth types that are easy to relate to, making me think about the reality of this world.

If I had to raise a criticism, the one I would level is that although there is a lot of description of the environments characters find themselves in, the detail-bug in me was sometimes frustrated by the lesser details on the front end for what was happening with respect to the warring sides/groups that are at the center of the story. It could just be how she chose to roll-out the story. I consider myself a simple straight-forward reader that hasn't read many of the world's great literary works, except in high school English class. So it could be that her writing style is just more sophisticated than my usual books. That being said, I found myself not being able to put the book down as I was constantly reading to see what happened.

I look forward to her next project!
2903644
This is a great book! I couldn't put it down! I enjoyed being able to read the different view points! Definitely have some tissues on hand while reading this book. But it is one that I would regimen to everyone! Such an easy and fast read, and a great resource for bullying. I think all youth should be required to read this book!
4371882
Middle-grade readers will relate to the challenges of friendship and wanting to be all things for all people. In an age where so many tweens communicate about their lives digitally and may present an illusion that their life is wonderfully happy, they will discover that there is no replacement for talking to someone else and just listening. Hopefully, readers will learn that friends can be found in many places and that having your friends and family by your side are all that really matters.

Cooper will ask the reader to define a mission statement for their self. What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of person do you want in your circle of friends?  We can choose to love ourselves and others. We have the power to move through the difficult times and overcome great odds when we stick to our core values and fight for what we believe to be true. If you have not read a book by Abby Cooper, now is the time. You won't regret it. The readers in you life won't either!

This is a great read! Both books by Abby Cooper are a must!
1370470
This was a very delightful YA read. I got it as a reviewer from netgalley and would recommend it highly - especially if you enjoy YA or teenagers themselves! Cara was a normal American teenager - very bright but fun-loving and she enjoys her friends and a boyfriend as well. But to get scholarship money for college she agrees to be apart of an exchange program - with the planet L'eihr! Subsequently, Aelyx comes to stay with her family for awhile.

Her family is very open to him and his differences but the rest of the world  is not. The author, Melissa Landers, caught humanity perfectly in that there will be some intelligent people who are open to those with differences and who support the program. But, there will also be some people, who are much louder, who are ignorant and hate those who are different from themselves. They fight to hurt outsiders and get other people to join in their very small way of thinking.

Of course Cara and Aelyx develop strong feelings for each other through the process and it's believable and fun to watch. I hope this is a series - I can't wait to find out what will happen next between these two teens and between these two worlds!
1253323
My husband, daughter, and I all read and loved this book. The main character is a strong and smart girl, but it's certainly not just a book for girls. There's a little near romance (can't wait to see what happens in books 2 an 3), but it's not just a beach read. The main thing we all love about the book is how the main character thinks things through and what she doesn't see/understand because of her youth/essential innocence. I don't want to give anything away, but this is a MUST READ for everyone who's ever (1) watched a reality tv show, (2) been a teenager, (3) thought about war, (4) thought about how to solve world hunger, or (5) liked reading! (My daughter really did say she liked this better than HP.)
2898135
After the 1st few pages the characters come to life and draw you into the story...as I was reading the last page all I wanted was the rest of Mara's story.  My daughter and I can't wait to read from Jenna Lincoln!  I had a hard time putting this book down.  Great read for all ages!
1098359
This is such a fun read for "tweens."  The story keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time.  It's nice to see how the author incorporates teen issues, i.e., self-image, self esteem, and the flip side of how others actually see you.  It touched on topics such as parental relationships, friendships, and romance.  I really enjoyed this book and would recommend its purchase for all middle school libraries.
I also love how this particular author sneaks in some vocabulary building skills.
1751386
Wow! When I first started reading this, I wasn't sure it would be something I normally would choose... But, I am so glad I won this book as I was pleasantly surprised :) Awesome fiction, fantasy or paranormal for anyone from YA to adults! ... I was truly impressed with this young, new author's writing, as this story kept me engaged & the pages turning so that I read it in 3 sittings all in one day :) ... You have to check this out & add it to your must read list!!
4645680
Couldn't put it down -- picked it off a random top-picks book list, and while geared towards YA audiences, it was an easy and fun read for me too. As a teacher, it is a great suggestion to have on hand!