Slam by Nick Hornby

I love pretty much all of Nick Horby's books. If you haven't read him before try High Fidelity, About a Boy, How to be Good and this one, Slam. Set in England this this book is about Sam. Sam loves skating (skateboarding) and is into girls, particularly this girl Alicia. As is apparent from the cover of the paperback, Sam and Alicia have sex and Alicia gets pregnant. That's where the whole "this is a book about teen pregnancy" goes out the window because Sam sort of gets whisked into the future. He has no idea what is going on which makes his forays into fatherhood that much more hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. Despite the sci-fi aspects of the time-travel, this book is always realistic especially the dialogue, the gravity of the situation that Alicia and Sam find themselves in and the fights they have. Nothing is simple, including the relationship A and S have with their families. So, a book about relationship, true to life, with sex, love, and skating. And an occasional appearance from Tony Hawk.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Want something to look forward to? Try reading the first two books in this trilogy and then just wait with baited breath until December when the third one will come out! Libba Bray's books are set in England and are about Gemma Doyle, an English girl raised in India who has discovered an ancient group of women called The Order who possess magical powers that come from a magical place called The Realms. In book one, Gemma discovers who she really is (a member of The Order) after the murder of her mother. This in addition to being sent away to a finishing school and having a hot Indian boy chasing her makes for some wild times. Add in a beautiful friend named Pippa, a loyal friend named Ann, and a strong willed and beautiful friend named Felicity and you have drama, drama, drama! Not to mention the fact that the girls can actually bring magic back from the realms to wreck havoc on Spence, their stuffy boarding school! I've read one and two and I can't wait to see what happens in three. Romance, rich historical detail, and the trials of corsets abound in these action packed historical fantasies. Till next time! -Suzanne

Away Laughing on a Fast Camel by Louise Rennison

Note: You must read this post with a British Accent.
Hello girls! Are you ready for some mad marvy fun? Read the Georgia Nicolson books and immerse yourself in some brilliant literature all about the situations that Geogia Nicolson gets herself into while attending her girls' school and prowling for gorgy blokes over in England-land. Learn what Boy Entrancers are and how to use them, learn how to build a shrine to a lost lurve and learn how to make any idiot boy want to spend some major snoggilicious time with you. As an added plus, these books are written as a tell-all diary! So curl up with a spot of tea and let Georgia take you away to the land of tea, scones, and full frontal snogging! - Till next time! Suzanne

Martyn Pig by Kenin Brooks

Martyn Pig hates his name. Not only does his first name have a "unique" spelling that he is constantly having to explain, his last name is a farm animal that goes oink. But really, Martyn's name is the least of his troubles. Martyn's dad is a violent alcoholic who spends as much time as possible doing one of two things:

a. TV
b. beating up Martyn.

The week before Christmas Martyn accidentally kills his dad. Yup. You read right. And things get really compicated when Martyn finds out about $60,000 that his dad was hiding from him. Throw in a hot young actress with a scary biker boyfriend who helps Martyn get rid of the body and you've got one gripping story that will keep you hanging on till the very last page. Did I mention there's an Aunty Jean? There's an Aunty Jean. Till next time...Suzanne

Gansta Rap by Benjamin Zephaniah

I read this book on a recommendation from a fellow reader (like I so often do) and I wasn't disappointed. Gansta Rap tells the story of Ray (a.k.a. X-Ray-X). He's having trouble at school and trouble at home. He and his two best friends, Prem and Tyrone, end up getting kicked out of school permanently. Luckily, they are given the option to attend a special vocational type school that gives them an outlet for their musical talents and ultimately launches them into stardom. Set in England, music lovers and British fiction lovers alike will enjoy Gangsta Rap. Till next time! -Suzanne

Girl, 15, Charming but Insane by Sue Limb

For fans of British humor, this book is a riot. If you liked Bridget Jones Diary, you will definitely fall for Jess who is definitely charming and totally insane. Also try the sequel: Girl, Nearly 16, Absolute Torture. There is only one other person I know who could get herself into the situations that Jess gets herself into...and that would be me. Have you heard about that time that I froze myself to a door knocker? It wasn't pretty. Till next time! -Suzanne