Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling: “Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed … The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself … A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans …” (Amazon.com) [Note: All the Harry Potter books are available on CD)

Forever in Blue, by Ann Brasheres: “In their latest episode, Bridget goes to Turkey on an archaeological excavation and Lena takes a painting class in Providence. Tibby stays in New York to take classes, and Carmen attends a theater festival in Vermont to work as backstage crew. There are new love interests, loss of virginity, and breakups and makeups. The themes are familiar, but fans who already identify with the characters will want to read more about their latest exploits. The pants pay a more prominent role than they did in the third book and a significant event takes place as each teen receives them … ” (School Library Journal) [Note: All the “traveling pants” books are available in audio and print versions.]

Feed, by M. T. Anderson: “In this chilling novel … Anderson imagines a society dominated by the feed, a next-generation Internet/television hybrid that is directly hardwired into the brain. Teen narrator Titus never questions his world, in which parents select their babies' attributes in the conceptionarium, corporations dominate the information stream, and kids learn to employ the feed more efficiently in School. But everything changes when he and his pals travel to the moon for spring break. There Titus meets home-schooled Violet, who thinks for herself, searches out news and asserts that ‘Everything we've grown up with the stories on the feed, the games, all of that it's all streamlining our personalities so we're easier to sell to.’ … Titus proves a believably flawed hero, and ultimately the novel's greatest strength lies in his denial of and uncomfortable awakening to the truth.” (Publishers Weekly)

Twisted, by Laurie Halse Anderson: “Socially inept Tyler Miller thinks his senior year of high school is going to be a year like no other. After being sentenced to a summer of character building physical labor following a graffiti prank, his reputation at school receives a boost, as do his muscles. Enter super-popular Bethany Milbury, sister of his tormentor, Chip, and daughter of his father's boss. Tyler's newfound physique has attracted her interest and infuriated Chip, leading to ongoing conflicts at school. Likewise, Tyler's inability to meet his volatile father's demands to be an asset, not a liability adds increasing tension. All too quickly, Tyler's life spirals out of control [and] he is left feeling completely isolated at school and alienated at home, a victim of twisted perception …” (School Library Journal)

Fat Kid Rules the World, K. L. Going: “Troy Billings is a 300-pound high school senior contemplating suicide when he meets Curt MacCrae, a homeless teenage musical genius who decides that Troy is just the drummer he's looking for to start a new band. Narrator Matthew Lillard takes cues from the text to create unique voices for all the characters; his voice for Ollie, a punk drummer who is giving Troy lessons, is particularly inspired. Lillard captures Troy's joy in being part of the punk crowd, as well as his confusion over Curt's apparent drug addiction. There are no pat answers, but the listener hears Troy's hope as the last sentence segues into a rocking musical track at his first performance. A fine choice for teens and adults.” (Audiofile)

His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman. Vol. I: The Golden Compass, Vol. II:  The Subtle Knife, and Vol. III: The Amber Spyglass. “Philip Pullman has created a stunning alternate universe peopled by those who seem familiarly human and by miraculous creatures: daemons, armored bears, witches. But now something sinister is abroad in this strangely modern, strangely archaic world, and 12-year-old Lyra Belacqua must try to discover the truth. Into this complex scenario marches Pullman and a remarkable group of readers, expanding the book in a way one might have thought impossible. This is an example of a full-cast recording at its zenith. The actors are well suited to their roles, Pullman proves himself to be a natural narrator, and the decision to remove extraneous text (he said; she said) allows for a more unaffected flow of the story. This is an incomparable treat for lovers of fantasy literature.” (AudioFile)

Freak the Mighty, by Roderick Philbrick: “A wonderful story of triumph over imperfection, shame, and loss. Large, awkward, learning-disabled Maxwell Kane, whose father is in prison for murdering his mother, and crippled, undersized Kevin are both mocked by their peers; the cruel taunting they endure is all too realistic and believable. The boys establish a friendship-and a partnership. Kevin defends them with his intelligence, while Max is his friend's ‘legs,’ affording him a chance to participate in the larger world. Inspired by tales of King Arthur, they become knights fighting for good and true causes. But Kevin's illness progresses, and when he dies, Max is left with the memories of an extraordinary relationship and, perhaps, the insight to think positively about himself and his future.” (School Library Journal)

Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White: “In his classic and beloved novel, E. B. White tells the memorable story of Wilbur, a little pig who becomes famous with the help of his clever friend Charlotte and their chatty animal neighbors. As the runt of the litter, Wilbur struggles to survive from the very beginning. Fern fights her father, Mr. Arable, to raise Wilbur and nurse him to health. Fern succeeds and Wilbur moves to the Zuckerman farm, where he learns the true meaning of friendship from the wise grey spider Charlotte. When it becomes apparent that Wilbur is being well fed for a reason, Charlotte and Wilbur are determined to foil Mr. Zuckerman's plans. With the help of Charlotte and her ‘terrific’ webs, Templeton the rat, and other colorful barnyard friends, Wilbur becomes the prizewinning pig of the County Fair and the most famous pig ever.” (Book Description)

That Summer, by Sarah Dessen: “At five-foot-eleven (‘and counting), Haven is ‘all bony elbows and acute angles, like a jigsaw puzzle piece that can only go in the middle, waiting for the others to fit around it to make it whole.’ But it is not just a sudden growth spurt that prevents the 15-year-old from fitting into the comfortable grooves of her ‘old’ life; her family is also changing at an alarming rate. Her sports-anchor father divorces his wife for Channel 5's ‘Weather Pet.’ Her jilted mother joins a set of aging, Barry-Manilow-listening, swinging singles and Haven's once plucky sister, Ashley, seems to wilt on the arm of her all-too-boring fiance. Amidst the flurry of preparations for her father's second marriage and her sister's wedding, Haven finds a connecting link to her more serene past when one of Ashley's former boyfriends appears on the scene.” (Publishers Weekly)

Friction, E. R. Frank: “Alex, an eighth grader in Forest Alternative school, is the only girl on her school's soccer team, and best friends with Tim, a boy she has known all of her life … [She] finds her life changing dramatically after Stacy, a new girl, arrives at the school. Stacy challenges Alex's relationship with Tim and with their non-traditional teacher, Simon. After a class camping trip, Alex learns that there are rumors circulating around school. Stacy inflicts her dysfunctional unhappiness on everyone, and the power she wields with her fantasies causes friction among the kids and the adults connected with the school …  Young adults who enjoy the gritty realism of Frank's stories will respond positively to this recording.” (School Library Journal)

Hard Love, by Ellen Wittlinger: “John is a high school junior whose difficult family life has left him feeling lost and confused. He discovers the world of ‘zines,’ homemade magazines written and published by people like himself. Soon John meets another zine writer, Marisol, a self-proclaimed ‘Puerto Rican Cuban Yankee Cambridge, Massachusetts, rich spoiled lesbian private-school gifted-and-talented writer virgin looking for love.’ These mismatched teens discover that they are kindred spirits, and a close friendship develops. Unfortunately, John finds himself falling for Marisol, who cannot return his love. Together, they discover many truths about themselves and their families. Familiar motifs are part of this story-love, sex, the prom, fights with parents-but Wittlinger's telling and rich characters make them new and different … ” (School Library Journal)

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee: “Lee's beloved American classics makes its belated debut on audio … The two CD slipcases housing the 11 discs not only feature art mirroring Mary Schuck's cover design but also offers helpful track listings for each disk … [Sissy] Spacek reads with a slight Southern lilt and quiet authority. Told entirely from the perspective of young Scout Finch, there's no need for Spacek to create individual voices for various characters but she still invests them all with emotion. Lee's Pulitzer Prize–winning 1960 novel, which quietly stands as one of the most powerful statements of the Civil Rights movement, has been superbly brought to audio.” (Publishers Weekly)

The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri: “Dante Alighieri's poetic masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, is a moving human drama, an unforgettable visionary journey through the infinite torment of Hell, up the arduous slopes of Purgatory, and on to the glorious realm of Paradise-the sphere of universal harmony and eternal salvation … A single listening will reveal Dante's visual imagination and uncanny power to make the spiritual visible.” (Book Description)