Fablehaven Series, by Brandon Mull

I know what you might be thinking... that this is a 'kids' book. And, well, it kind of IS.

BUT!!!!!!, I have read books 1-5 and am completely in love with each and every one.

Here is the official synopsis:

For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken — Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good — powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

This is a book that's in league with Percy Jackson & the Olympians, it's whimsical, and interesting, and full of surprises.



Once A Witch, by Carolyn MacCullough

Tamsin Greene has grown up in a family of witches, magic is commonplace in her life. Need a love potion? Just ask her mother. Is someone making your life miserable? One of her crazy extended family members can just send a well-placed hex their way.
But Tamsin? She can't do a thing, she's an outsider. Talentless. The one who was supposed to be the most powerful in the family never manifested, she doesn't have a drop of magic to call her own.
So, when a mysterious stranger mistakes her for her talented older sister, asking for her help to track down an old family heirloom Tasmin can't help but play along and enjoy feeling special for once. But this stranger isn't who she thinks he is, and the heirloom she helps him find is one that will unlock her powers and cause destruction for everyone she loves.

Beastly, by Alex Flinn

 I read this book when it was just a cover, a twist on an old fairytale story.

Now, it's going to be a major motion picture.

It's about a beast, and this is his story......

I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster. You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell. Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

Kyle Kingsbury is everything you ever wished you could be: Handome, Insanely Wealthy, Popular, Smart, Confident.... he's the whole arrogant package. Set in New York City, Kyle is cursed, turned into a modern beast - not a prowling animal - but a human, one who is deformed, laughed at, one who is ugly. With a father who shuns him because of his curse Kyle is on his own. And, as the old fairytale goes, he must find someone to love him for who he is- someone who can look past his hideous disfigurement, his awful attitude, and see the person behind the enchantment. 

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

This is a story told from Death's point of view, a fresh take on Nazi Germany with just a touch of a love story.
Liesel Meminger is a young girl, growing up in Nazi Germany. Liesel is also a book thief.
Narrating from his point of view, Death talks about the first time he met Liesel, how her brother died, and how she stole her very first book "The Gravediggers Handbook", and her love of not only books - but stealing books, became greater - one of her fiercest desires and something that helped her carry on through the extremely hard times she would soon face. From hiding Jews in her basement, stealing so she wouldn't starve, and being completely and utterly afraid of falling in love - her books helped her with all of this and more.

Beauty, A Retelling of the story of Beauty & The Beast, by Robin McKinley

I read this story for the first time in second grade. But, trust me, it's a book that is amazing no matter what age you read it. This is a retelling like you've never read before.
This is the story of Beauty, a girl who grows up by the sea, lives with her wealthy family, and has two beautiful and kind older sisters. But, Beauty is anything but beatiful, she is awkward, sallow faced, with big hands and feet.
Her fathers shipping business goes bankrupt and their family is forced to travel to the forest to live.
The story takes a twist when her father returns home from a trip with tales of a wild beast, living in a castle in the forest beyond their home, and, in order for the fathers' life to be spared, one of his daughters must go, willingly to live with the beast. Forever.
But nothing is as it seems...

Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations is the story of Pip, his childhood and growth into an adult. As a poor child, growing up was rough, he never had the best of things, was in love with a girl in a station much higher than his own, and had a longing for things that always seemed out of reach. When he is a bit older, he receives and unexpected windfall of money. He moves to the city, pursues what he thought he always wanted only to find that he was too materialistic and what he had originally wanted isn't worth having anymore and the things that he truly does want don't want him back.
Most people have already read this story, and so I'll say -- the ending of this book was tragic, but it was also the only way this book could have ended, so fitting.