New Moon

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, 2006 Little, Brown, and Company

     Bella and Edward have decided to give a romantic relationship a chance, however, Edward refuses to turn Bella into a vampire. When Jasper - one of Edward's adopted brothers - attacks Bella at her eighteenth birthday party Edward begins to withdraw. Believing leaving town will keep her safe, Edward and the rest of the Cullens leave Forks, WA.
     Devastated, Bella checks out for several months. What brings her back from the fugue-like state is Edward's voice in her head. She can only hear him, though, when she does something reckless enough to endanger her life. Bella finds a supportive friend in the son of her father's best friend.
     Jacob Black had a crush on Bella and is more than happy to be her emotional support as she begins to heal. Though Jacob obviously wants more than friendship, Bella allows some of his advances to make her feel better about Edward's leaving despite adamantly wanting Edward back.
     In the forest outside Forks Bella runs into Laurent, a vampire from a clan she had previous run-ins with. He warns Bella that the mate of the vampire the Cullens saved her from is out for blood, literally. Laurent decides to save Victoria the trouble, but he's chased away by several large wolves.
     Bella discovers Jacob is a werewolf set to guard the humans against vampires. Jacob and his pack vow to protect Bella from Victoria, and Jacob still seeks more from her. But Bella still yearns for Edward and in a cliff-jumping exercise to hear his voice nearly dies.
     Edward hears a false report of her death and decides to provoke the Volturi to end his existence. Alice is surprised to find Bella alive and enlists her aid in stopping Edward. With the vampires ruling body watching the Cullens Bella and Edward risk a war with the wolves or the wrath of the Volturi no matter their choices.
     LIke Twilight, New Moon follows a teenage romance through the ups and towns of teen-aged love. Early high school readers looking for teen angst will easily follow as Jacob is introduced to Bella and Edward's love triangle.

All Else Confusion

All Else Confusion by Betty Neels, 1982 Harlequin

     Annis is from a large family full of love. When her childhood friend introduces her to Jake Royle she cannot stand the man. Jake likes the pretty girl and maneuvers to get her a position as companion to his godmother. Annis adores the old woman and in the few weeks she cares for the woman she develops a strong rapport.
     Jake Royle and his godmother do not reveal to Annis that she is dying. An over-excited and over-filled schedule reveal it to Annis as the lovely old woman dies. Jake asks Annis to stay on and help him settle the last things and after a couple weeks of companionship Jake asks her to marry him.
     Annis realizes she loves the financial mogul desptie his wealth and the arrogance it gives him. Knowing he may never return her feelings to teh same degree, the young woman agrees. Their marriage starts on a good foot - Annis gets along with Jake's family and housekeeper, she fits into his life easily.
     But some time through their honeymoon Jake's business interrupts a peaceful vacation and Annis begins to doubt how well she can love a man who shows no inclination to love her back. When Jake suggests she stay with her family in the country rather than their flat in London his new wife despairs of their marriage becoming anything more.
     Annis and Jake Royle must decide if tehir marriage is to continue when one loves the other withotu any hope of reciprication. The pair travel to more exotic locations than many of Betty Neels's characters: Spain and Italy rather than her usual Dutch excursions, but like most of her stories, Betty's characters hold with her old-fashioned values.

Lady Thief

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen,  2014 Walker Children's Books

    Robin and Scarlet have risked everything to save the people of Nottingham. Scarlet is now married to Guy of Gisbourne and her desire to be rid of his connection wars with her faith, and the fear of damning her soul prevents her from acting on her attraction to Robin.
    Prince John plans to name a new sheriff. The royal progress reaches Nottingham and Gisbourne demands his wife appear at his side. Scarlet is fresh from a beating brought on by Robin's nightmares of war and the residue of the torture he endured under Nottingham's control. The people of Nottinghamshire still guard Robin despite the thief-hunter and prince's attacks.
     Scarlet is given the choice to comply with Gisbourne's demands to secure her annulment or to be tied to the man for the rest of their lives. In playing the lady of the manor Scarlet meets the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine: King Richard and Prince John's mother. Prince John shows a deep dislike for the girl he shouldn't know, one which stems from more than her crimes perpetrated to provide for the common people.
     In a twist of fate, the people's champion is injured and Rob puts his hat into the tournament to win the seat of Sheriff in his own fief. Robin is allowed to compete by the queen's intercession, but he is blocked at every moment by the lords and gentry.
     When Robin wins the tourney and it appears everything is set for the couple to finally be together, Guy of Gisbourne reveals a secret to Scarlet which could keep her from Robin forever. Tragedy strikes and upsets their plans; Prince John gains the power to hide Scarlet from her new and powerful allies. The life Scarlet has fought for is ripped from her grasp and she has no hope of rescue.
     Embroidering on the legends of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, Scarlet's continued story has humor and a lighthearted fun through the despair of an arranged marriage and the limited reality of a lady of the manor. Older teens will find Lady Thief a gradual transition from the family-friendly Robin Hood legend into the darker tale of Lionheart, the final installment in the trilogy.

The City of Ember

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, 2003 Yearling Books

     For generations, the people of Ember have lived in a well-equipped underground city. The Builders planned for the citizens to live in Ember for 200 years and the storerooms are empty, the crops are failing, and the lights are flickering.
     At graduation, the twelve-year-olds are assigned their new jobs. Lina has always dreamed of being a messenger, but she's assigned to the Pipeworks. Doon, who doesn't have a real preference, offers to trade with Lina and the two strike up an unexpected friendship.
     Lina learns the city is worried that the lights will fail to flick back on though they aren't sure why they're even turning off. Doon discovers the generator which powers all of Ember is failing. When Lina's grandmother presents her with an ancient parchment with strange writing on it, the two teens work together to discover what it could mean for their dying city.
     When the friends discover the mayor and his corrupt clerk hoarding supplies the mayor attempts to turn the city against the children. Lina and Doon decide to prove their integrity and their theory of the parchment and try to escape as Ember dies. The only problem is they don't know what they'll be escaping to or if they'll even survive the attempt.
     An adventure for younger teens, The City of Ember follows Lina and Doon's unexpected friendship through the end of the only world they've ever known into the hope of a better future. DuPrau's novel is aimed at middle readers and has been adapted into a movie. Readers who enjoyed the 'Hidden Children' series will find The City of Ember a compelling read.

Loki's Wolves

Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr, 2013 Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

     Blackwell South Dakota is full of people who are a little bit different. Matt Thorsen is well aware of what makes his extended family different: they're descended from the Norse god Thor. To Matt this simply means he's a disappointment when he cannot meet his parents' expectations in controlling the gift of Moljnir. The Thorsens run Blackwell and Matt's dad is the sheriff holding him to a higher standard.
     On the opposite end of the spectrum Fen Brekke's family is descended from Loki the Trickster god. The Brekke's are constantly in trouble: Fen's uncle and his cousin Laurie are gifted with Loki's luck while Fen can become a wolf. Fen has been protecting Laurie while she has been kept ignorant from her heritage. Laurie's only hint is a realistic dream that she became a fish.
     When Matt dreams of the beginning of Ragnarok it sets in motion the event itself. Matt and his classmates are selected as champions of the old gods: Matt as Thor, Fen as Loki, and the descendents of the other gods are to be found across South Dakota. Matt's grandfather, mayor of Blackwell and head of the high council, describes great success for his grandson, but Matt overhears a conversation which indicates the council expects him to die in the process of saving their world.
     Matt seeks the help of Loki's replacement, but Fen and Matt have never gotten along. Laurie convinces her cousin to help Matt and the three embark on a quest for the remaining champions. More than the question of how to find their other kids is what to do when they've collected everyone.
     The kids are only middle-schoolers and face some of the challenges thirteen-year-olds traveling alone would face. Matt, Fen, and Laurie learn to work together and even begin to develop a friendship. When they've caught up to the other champions tragedy strikes and the kids must decide how they're going to save the world and prevent Ragnarok.
     Loki's Wolves is aimed at middle readers with action, adventure, some magic and a touch of romance. The characters learn to judge each other based on their own interactions rather than how others perceive them. A quick read for older readers, fans of Rick Riordan will like this similarly-paced dive into mythology