Beauty and the Werewolf

Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey, 2011 Luna

     Isabella Beauchamps watches over her young stepsisters and runs the household for her stepmother, until one night visiting Granny in the forest she is attacked by a great wolf. Bella fights back and survives the attack with no more than a wolf-bite. The next morning, though Bella wakes to find the king's guard whisking her away to the Duke's palace.
     There she learns the mystery of Duke Sebastian and his seclusion. Sebastian is cursed to become a wolf the three nights of the full moon. However, no one knows why. Bella's imprisonment forces her into close contact with the werewolf-duke until it is discovered whether or not she too will become a werewolf.
     Her capture is simply frustrating while the Godmother Elena, Duke Sebastian, Granny and other local magicians search for a solution. To fill her time, Bella takes lessons in magic with Sebastian and discovers he is a scholarly young man, but good company. He teaches her of the Tradition and its role in their lives.
     But with knowledge of the Tradition comes knowledge of the paths it fights to force Bella down. Bella, along with the duke's illegitimate brother and Sebastian himself, searches for a way out of the castle and away from the fateful force of the Tradition.
     Beauty and the Werewolf is a refreshing take on the story of the Beauty and the Beast. Dropped into a world similar to eighteenth century France, Bella is not your average woman and her fate is not that of the average Beauty. The story is suitable for readers of all ages, though some material is more appropriate for teens and older readers.

Exile

Exile by Anne Osterlund, 2011 Speak

     After she's survived the attempts on her life and realized the palace can no longer be her home, Aurelia, Crown Princess of Tyralt, goes on an expedition to meet her subjects. She brings her closest friend and protector Robert but their recent trials have put up a wall between the friends. Guilt on both sides makes them pick at each other and their camaraderie crumples into grouching.
     When Melony's reach nearly ends both Aurelia and Robert's lives they flee with only each other to depend on. The Princess's breakdown immediately following the latest attempt on her life drives home to her that even far from her home and renouncing everything that ties her to the throne Aurelia is a threat to her sister Melony.
     Robert leads the headlong race from their pursuers and the pair stumble upon the kingdom's best-kept secret: Aurelia's mother. The princess attempts to form a relationship with her mother, but it is the former queen's distance that finally pushes her back into some semblance of a life and onto the road where she and Robert can continue her mission to know her people.
     A stop with Robert's parents shows her what she has lost as a result of her family's position, and allows her to love her lifelong friend a little more. Aurelia has always known she needs Robert by her side, but fleeing from his family's homestead brings home just how much. They flee to the desert where they discover Melony's plot was much more extensive than anyone gave her credit for.
     On the run with only one person in the world she can trust, Aurelia must find the presence of spirit to conquer the fears that chase her. Depending on and caring for her friends bolsters her strength as her story pushes ever toward a confrontation with her manipulative sister. Violence abounds as Aurelia's life is in danger, but there are softened moments of passion. Teens and older readers will enjoy her feisty spirit.

Entwined

Entwined by Heather Dixon, 2011 Greenwillow

     Azalea is a talented and passionate dancer, looking forward to her coming-out and the balls filled with beautiful gowns, handsome suitors, music and dancing for a young princess. But when the world collapses around her family and the king forbids dancing Azalea and her eleven sisters dismay of ever feeling joy again.
     Trapped and held separate like the twelve princesses, the Keeper understands their wish to dance carefree once more. He extends an invitation to his underground kingdom where the beautiful princesses may continue their pleasures. But there is a story behind the Keeper's name and he issues a challenge to the eldest princess: release him from his prison or release her sisters into his keeping.
     Faced with a decision between releasing an ancient evil and allowing her ignorant younger sisters to be trapped, Azalea searches for a solution. She discovers there is magic beyond what the keeper has used to try and capture her with.
     The tale is aimed at teen readers, but is enjoyable for anyone interested in reimagined fairy tales or fantasy.

Wake Unto Me

Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach, 2011 Speak

   Haunted by nightmares and the ghost of a Renaissance witch, Caitlyn Monahan leaves her small-town Oregon life behind for a chance at the Fortune School in rural France. Upon arriving at the exclusive boarding school, Caitlyn is offered a deal by the headmistress: succeed and the Fortune School will make her a mover and shaker in the world, fail and she will be thrown back into the obscurity from which she was plucked.
     Caitlyn isn't sure what is expected from her, but when she begins to have dreams about a young man from the Renaissance she draws a connection between the ghost Bianca and her new romance. The vivid dreams begin to consume her and the task set before her fades in importance.
     When her beau vanishes and a history book shows he's been murdered, Caitlyn doesn't know how to respond. Was her dream something she dreamed, or real?
     The Fortune School is dark and dreary, but within its halls are young women with the same troubles as any teen with a spark of something darker flickering through. Caitlyn's talents have marked her to fit into the exclusive school, but will they allow her to stay? Wake Unto Me is aimed at high school readers.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson, 2005 HarperTeen

     Ginny has directions to England and an adventure to make her more interesting. Or so she thinks.
     Virginia Blackstone's crazy aunt disappeared to London and Ginny is having trouble accepting the news of what happened there. As long as she goes on this adventure Aunt Peg designed for her, Ginny doesn't have to accept her aunt's death.
     At first the trip is fun, but the envelopes keep coming and the adventures no longer make sense. Along the way Ginny makes new friends, finds romance, and finds herself; yet she still has trouble coming to terms with what awaits at the end of the stack of envelopes. When the thirteenth and final envelope vanishes, Ginny has a decision to make.
     In limbo this summer Ginny Blackstone struggles through her first loss, finds her first real love, and makes it back to herself. But the journey is only the beginning.
     Older teens will enjoy and identify with Ginny's adventures, and her story can be helpful for younger readers dealing with their first loss.

A Golden Web

A Golden Web by Barbara Quick, 2010 HarperTeen

     Alessandra is gifted--while her older brother avoids his studies as many young boys do, Alessandra soaks up every moment of learning she can. From her earliest moments she glowed with intelligence and curiosity.
     As a young woman, Alessandra's intelligence becomes the greatest hurdle to her happiness. She longs for the freedom to learn at the great university in Bologna where medicine is developing daily. Alessandra's stepmother has another idea and plans to marry her off to a man who will keep Alessandra out of her stepmother's home. In preparation for such a day the young woman is sent to a cloister from which she escapes to the University and the freedom of disguise as a man.
     But in fourteenth-century Italy, a woman disguised as a man is an abomination--a witch to be burned at the stake. Alessandra must be careful of how the world sees her, but her mind is quick and she becomes what she's always dreamed of: a student, a desired young woman, and an expert medico.
     A Golden Web is based on the life of Alessandra Giliani the world's first female anatomist. Her story is embellished and brought to life through Quick's characters breathing fresh life into the young woman who defied the world.

The Return of the King

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien, 1955 George Allen & Unwin

     In the final installment of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the Fellowship has been separated for some time, and the stage has been set for all-out war throughout Middle Earth. When Sauron attacks Gondor, Gandalf, Aragorn, and the others scramble to warn the defenders.
     Aragorn calls upon an ancient curse for aid in saving Middle Earth. He travels to the Paths of the Dead and with an army of oath-breakers he marches on Sauron's army, still hoping to distract Sauron from Frodo's quest.
     Sam saves his friend from imprisonment in the tower at Cirith Ungol, leaving Gollum to his own devices. Frodo and Sam continue toward the Cracks of Doom and the Ring becomes more and more powerful preying on Frodo and overcoming his will. With the quest nearly at its end the hobbit surrenders, but Gollum reappears. A struggle ensues and the Ring is destroyed.
     At Sauron's defeat, Aragorn takes back his throne and is crowned king of Arnor and Gondor. Saruman escapes from imprisonment in Isengard and takes over the Shire, only to be defeated by the four hobbits. Middle Earth dissolves into peace and the heroes fade into legend.
     Unlike the first two parts of the trilogy, The Return of the King is focused on the military victory and its aftermath. The Fellowship faces difficult obstacles to reach their goal, and in the end are driven apart by that same duty which pushed them to begin in Fellowship. Tolkien's ending shows that sometimes the heroes don't go home and live peaceful lives, but are driven by their wounds to continue the chaos which created them; however there are heroes who return to their lives and are successful. High school and more mature readers can better understand the points illustrated through Tolkien's trilogy.