By Piranha T.

Seventeen-year-old Echo has lived for years among the Avicen—mysterious creatures with powerful magic and feathers instead of hair. They’ve lived hidden for centuries beneath the streets of New York, and Echo is the only human ever to have learned of their existence. Despite the discord this difference brings, the Avicen are Echo’s home.

But her serenity shatters when she steals a music box and discovers a centuries-old secret hidden within it. And because of it, she’s sent on a mission to retrieve a mythical firebird and bring an ancient war to a close. Echo has only ever been a thief—finding something this complex is beyond her area of expertise. Only with the help of a group of unlikely friends can she begin to draw close to discovering it. And even then, there are difficult secrets to uncover. This mystery has lain hidden for centuries, and as she uncovers more of the secrets which lead her along the firebird’s trail, the truths which have always governed her world begin to fall apart.

The Girl at Midnight is one of the best books I’ve read for a long time. Melissa Grey expertly creates a world born from this one fraught with danger and war, with unusual magic and dark secrets. Simultaneously, this book is completely fantasy, and could be occurring under our very noses. Echo is an incredible main character with complicated thoughts and desires, fierce loyalty, a brilliant sense of humor, and an awesome attitude. All the supporting characters (many of whom I adore!) have complex relationships and unusual, often unconventional, personalities, ranging from a disgraced guard to a flamboyant thief. And there were many points where I was literally blown away by a plot twist which I had never expected. It’s action-packed, fast-paced and unique (and great for fans of Six of Crows). The Girl at Midnight has a number of thematic elements, including mild romance and violence, which categorizes this as YA—in this case, ages 13+. For those readers, however, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves sophisticated, well-plotted fantasy novels with unforgettable characters. 

By Piranha T.

We were all villains, once. 
                                                            -Renegades by Marissa Meyer

In a world where superheroes are leaders as well as champions, Nova Artino has grown up among the villains they once defeated. She’s set on vengeance and justice, and when she infiltrates the Renegade headquarters, she’s on her way to achieving just that. Adrian Everhart is one of the superheroes, or Renegades, and although he isn’t certain whether the current system is perfect, he despises the defeated villains—like Nova. When their paths collide, both unknowing of the other’s hidden identity, they form a partnership which could easily be destroyed by learning the truth. But which side will the connection profit? And when the struggle comes, who will win dominance—the heroes or the villains?

Renegades is a well-written and executed novel which simultaneously creates a dangerous and enthralling story and makes fun of every superhero book ever written. It pulls you in from the first sentence and through a combination of Marissa Meyer’s excellent writing and deep, multilayered characters. Nova, Adrian and all the supporting characters, both Renegades and villains, are full of multiple layers and complicated thoughts. I highly recommend Renegades to readers ages twelve and up. 

By Super Kitty

Aibileen Clark has spent her whole life playing by the rules. She's raised dozens of white children, but the pain of seeing them grow up to become as racist as their parents has never faded away. And now that her only son has been killed in an accident, she's beginning to wonder if silence isn't her only option.

Skeeter Phelan has come back home to Jackson, Mississippi with a college degree and dreams of becoming a writer, but all her mother cares about is finding her a husband, and even spending time with her high school friends doesn't feel natural anymore. Maybe they're growing apart--or maybe Skeeter's the only one who notices the discrimination that seems to be everywhere.

Minny Jackson has never had a problem with telling people what she thinks, be they black or white, friend or employer. She's been fired plenty of times, but as the best cook in Jackson, it's never been too hard to find another job. Until now. Desperate for a job, she accepts a position with a woman too new to town to know about her sarcastic reputation--a position which involves keeping far more secrets than she wants to be involved in.

When the three women unite to write about the experiences of African American maids in their town, they know that they could be risking everything they care about. But each knows that it's time that change came to Jackson. And once you see injustice, you can't ignore it anymore.

​The Help is gorgeously written, and the characters all feel incredibly real. The three perspectives balance and contrast each other, creating a stunning narrative. Also, the audiobook narration is outstanding--if you enjoy audiobooks, I would highly recommend listening to it! Overall, an excellent book for readers ages 13 and up.