Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande

Mena, a high school freshman, is harassed by her former church friends because she spoke up about their treatment of a supposedly gay student. Her parents business suffers due to her actions, and they are not pleased with her. Evolution vs Intelligent Design form the basis of a controversy in the high school, and Mena finds herself right in the middle of it. Mena's former friends confront her biology teacher. As tensions rise, Casey, Mena's lab partner, and his sister help Mena discover a way to embrace her new liberal ideas without giving up the religion in which she was raised. A great read, and a wonderful way to look at this controversy that arises so often in public schools.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

I know, who wants to read a book with a cow on the cover, right? Don't be put off by the cover or the title. This is a book to wrap yourself around. Filled with cows, football, and a little romance, Diary Queen will rope you in. D.J. Schwenk, our heroine, spends her sophomore year working the family farm by herself while her father recovers from hip surgery. Her grades suffer as a result, and her chances of going to college look dim. Her family is a quiet, "don't talk" sort of family, and the results are disastrous. D.J. decides to try out for the football team, and her life explodes. Her best friend won't speak to her. Brian is out of her league. Her brother continues to be silent, and her father, who doesn't talk much anyway, is not speaking to her either. Read this book for a fresh look on life and look for the sequel The Off Season.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

I listened to this book while driving to and from work. If you have never listened to an audiobook, this is a great one to start with. Each new disk begins with eerie music. The narrator does a superb job of distinguishing the voices of the characters and getting just the right tone of voice in their conversations. Skulduggery is a walking, talking skeleton who befriends 12-year-old Stephanie and introduces her to the world of magic, secrets, and power. There is a bit of violence and rollicking good fun. Pick it up if you want a light read that will keep you entertained and absorbed.