Inspired by the real psychology study popularized by the New York Times and its "Modern Love" column, this contemporary YA is perfect for fans of Eleanor and Park. Two random strangers. Two secrets. Thirty-six questions to make them fall in love. Hildy and Paul each have their own reasons for joining the university psychology study that asks the simple question: Can love be engineered? The study consists of 36 questions, ranging from "What is your most terrible memory?" to "When did you last sing to yourself?" By the time Hildy and Paul have made it to the end of the questionnaire, they've laughed and cried and lied and thrown things and run away and come back and driven each other almost crazy. They've also each discovered the painful secret the other was trying so hard to hide. But have they fallen in love? Told in the language of modern romance—texting, Q&A, IM—and punctuated by Paul's sketches,...

Letters from beyond the grave and a green velvet dress reveal a secret to Yardley's beloved grandmother; for fans of The Parker Inheritance and The List of Things That Will Not Change and ages 10 and up.It's always hard to lose a friend, but for Yardley O'Hanlon it's devastating. Her best friend is her wild and wonderful grandmother Gidge. They're two fashionable peas in a quirky little pod. They spend all their time together sewing and crafting and creating beautiful things — until Gidge dies, and Yardley loses her for good.Or does she?Yardley isn't convinced. Gidge was a big believer in reincarnation. She promised she'd never leave Yardley, and Gidge always kept her promises. So when a stylish older woman walks into the Over Easy Vintage Emporium where Yardley is helping out, Yardley is sure it's her grandmother, back from the dead. But her happiness doesn't last long, as the woman runs away in terror and no one else believes she was Gidge...

The perfect after-school job turns deadly for teens working as simulated patients at the local med school. Everyone has something to hide and no one is safe in this contemporary YA thriller that exposes the dark reality of #MeToo in the world of medicine, for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson.It seemed like a cool after school program — being a simulated patient for med school students to practice on. But now vivacious, charismatic Viv lies in a very real coma. Cellphone footage just leads to more questions. What REALLY happened? Other kids suspect it was not an intentional overdose — but each has a reason why they can't tell the truth.Through intertwining and conflicting narratives, a twisted story unfolds of trust betrayed as we sift through the seemingly innocent events leading up to the tragic night. And perhaps simulated patients aren't the only people pretending to be something they're not . . .

Award-winning young adult novelist Vicki Grant's adult debut, perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Bad Sisters, and The Perfect Couple, follows a family's unravelling after the death of its patriarch. Petra felt oddly calm. The last forty years of her life had turned out to be very good preparation for this little caper. Not showing her true emotions. Being blandly pleasant. Jackie O, as she knew the girls secretly called her. She'd honed her skills on windbags, petty snobs, and garden-variety monsters. She was dealing with a killer now but, really, it was only a matter of degrees. Nina Fforde believed her parents had the perfect marriage—until her elegant mother showed up at her father's funeral in gleeful red lipstick. In the days following, Petra's behaviour only becomes more inappropriate. She clears the family home of any vestige of her husband, Malcolm. She smokes, she drinks, she laughs lustily during stolen phone calls. It's...

A boring field trip turns dangerous. (RL 2.0) (20060929)From School Library JournalGrade 5-9–Dan Hogg is the class brain who wears glasses and has weird hair. But his biggest problem is his name: it just begs for insults. And the kids in his class are glad to oblige. When they go on a field trip to a heritage farm specializing in raising pigs, Dan knows that it will be the worst day of his life, but he never imagined just how bad it would get. An escaped criminal has made his way to the farm and locked up the owner. The convict is not sure what to do with the bus full of eighth graders, but soon figures out that he needs to get rid of them all. Surprising even himself, Dan, in a bumbling, self-effacing way, becomes a hero by saving his classmates and teacher. He is still the class nerd, but he has earned the respect of the biggest bully, and that helps. Grant has done a fantastic job of developing the voice of an adolescent who is the class bully's whipping boy. Dan's wry sense of humor catches readers' attention and has them rooting for him practically from the first page. Pigboy is a great quick read for boys who may be reluctant readers, but others will enjoy it as well.–Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review"Grant hits the nail on the head when she brings both mucous and underwear into the story line Grant writes a compelling story with lots of suspense, but it's the journey to Dan's personal redemption that is most enjoyable to read Highly recommended." (CM Magazine 20061215)"Dan's wry sense of humor catches readers' attention and has them rooting for him practically from the first page. Pigboy is a great quick read for boys who may be reluctant readers, but others will enjoy it as well." (School Library Journal 20080615)"This quick read is perfect for reluctant readers, especially boys. In a story of bravery and redemption, Grant moves quickly to first establish Dan's post on the lowest rung of the social ladder, and then chronicles his eventual rise to the top." (KLIATT 20081101)"Middle school readers will appreciate this adventure." (VOYA )no details (Canadian Book Review Annual )"It would suit high interest low vocabulary readers with its brevity and reading level, but the high action and excellent writing, not to mention the likable main character, would make it a good choice for any reader." (Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's Books )

Betsy's life is officially over: Dumped by her boyfriend, betrayed by her best friend. . . . How is she ever going toshow her face again? Determined to avoid everyone and everything from her previous life, Betsy stumbles into an unusual café and an even more unusual girl. Dolores Morris--a mouthy, green-haired outsider Betsy can't quite remember from school--talks her into starting a cleaning service. Before she knows it, Betsy is down on her knees, dressed like a dust bunny, scrubbing strangers' toilets.It's a long way for the most popular girl in school to havefallen. But Betsy finds comfort in the wine bottles and prescriptions and other dirty secrets she finds hidden in her clients' homes. She also finds love with a client's son, friendship with Dolores and a liberated sense of herself. Her new life soon falls apart, though, when valuables begin to go missing from some of the homes she and Dolores have been cleaning. Betsy discovers the hard way that not...

Cyril MacIntyre, son of firebrand lawyer Andy MacIntyre, smells something fishy about one of his mother's cases. And it's not just that there are sea lice in the coffee. When Cyril starts investigating the death of a millionaire inventor, he gives a whole new meaning to the term "legal aid." Long on smarts and short on—well, just plain short, Cyril tangles with deranged criminals, indulges in a little bit of B & E and confronts the scariest person in the world—his mother. (20090401)Reviewno details (Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee 20081024)"Funny and clever, with twists and turn in the plot and just a bit of serious thrown in, Res Judicata is a worth sequel to Quid Pro Quo and fans will be left wanting more." (Canadian Children's Book News 20090501)"A fast-paced narrative with a skillfully woven plot and a highly entertaining cast of offbeat characters...[Cyril is] an instantly likeable, wisecracking teen who infuses the story with humour." (Atlantic Books Today 20081227)"Recommended." (CM Magazine 20081201)"The perfect environment for humor and mix-ups and mystery. The novel features laugh-out-loud bits between mother and son and plenty of hilarious insights...Students who enjoy quick-witted writing and good mysteries will enjoy how well Vicki Grant cracks the case...Highly recommended." (Library Media Connection 20090101)"...Filled with quirky characters and great detective work. Cyril's off-beat life provides a colorful backdrop for the action, and readers will be kept on their toes right up until the end." (Readingjunky's Reading Roost blog 20090201)"The author's plot development is fast-paced, well-crafted and fun, and makes the whole novel one suitable for even less enthusiastic readers. Highly recommended." (Resource Links 20091001)"Recommended." (Tucson Unified School District 20090201)"A delightful, page-turning stand-alone sequel to Quid Pro Quo...This mix of wisdom beyond his years and familiarly realistic teen concerns makes Cyril a winning, engaging narrator." (VOYA 20090317)"What a fun book from Orca Book Publishers!...A great choice for your more reluctant readers." (Puget Sound Council )"Cyril's cheerful tolerance of his mother's irresponsibility and lack of organization makes him an extremely charming main character...This book is highly recommended." (The Bookmark (BCTLA) )"A hilarious romp featuring a teenage sleuth and his friends. Recommended." (Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group ) Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.The guy had his hands around my neck and was slamming my head against the floor. I guess he couldn't decide whether he wanted to strangle me or bash my brains in. Either that, or he'd just got tired of killing people the usual way.(20090401)

Can Frances make it through the night shift? (RL3.6)

Neil decides that his long-term relationship with Jade is finally over. After ending it, he realizes the hardest part will be saying goodbye to her little brother, Owen, who suffers from severe migraines. Neil's friends suspect that Jade's constant calls for help are just too convenient to be real. What are the chances Owen would relapse every time Neil is out with someone new? Neil admits they're not very good—but he's seen the boy. A four-year-old can't fake an illness like that. Turns out both Neil and his friends are right.

Embarrassed by your brother? Estranged from your uncle? Then you might need some help from Almost Family Surrogate Agency. Cam Redden and his dad are rent-a-relatives, available for hire to anyone looking to upgrade. Cam's job is all about being whoever other people want him to be. Then two new clients come along. Albertina is an old lady with a big mouth, a bigger wig and a serious mission. Raylene is a beautiful girl with a nose ring, a wonky eye and a painful secret. Now to get to the bottom of the tragic mysteries that fuel them both, Cam may finally have to be himself.

Cyril MacIntyre may only be thirteen years old, but he knows the law. (20060302)From School Library JournalGrade 7-10–Cyril Floyd MacIntyre, 13, is perplexed over the disappearance of his mother, a 28-year-old law-school graduate. He begins his tale with a frank description of his mother's past behaviors. Drug use and a life on the street took their toll on Andy, who, at 15, pregnant with Cyril, began taking more positive steps. She raised her son, continued her education with the aid of public assistance, and became an attorney. When she vanishes, Cyril becomes involved in a web of intrigue and deceit searching for her. His discovery of resurfacing shady characters who played a role in Andy's disappearance makes for a suspense-filled, well-plotted legal thriller. Sure to be a popular choice with teens.–Andrea Tarr, Corona Public Library, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review"The narrator of this thoroughly engaging whodunit is the smartest mouth on two legs any of us could expect to meet." (The Globe and Mail )2006 New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age list (NY PL )

When her father disappears, Ria is forced to decide if she really knew him.

Dan Hogg is thrilled when his uncle offers him some work at a food fair, because he wants money to hire a professional trainer to help him with his scrawny physique. His excitement vanishes when he learns that the job is dressing up in a hotdog costume and handing out samples. Every dark cloud has its silver lining, Dan discovers, when he, or rather Frank Lee Better, his mascot persona, gains the attention of a pretty girl named Brooke. The attention is great until Dan finds himself under attack from Cupcake Katie and a mysterious guy with a strange interest in Brooke. It's not until he's huddling in a bathroom in nothing but his tight white underwear that Dan begins to suspect Brooke's attention might be too good to be true.(20120127)Review"Filled with gross-out details of snot and slime, as well as simple wordplay, this short novel in the Orca Currents series for reluctant readers combines everyday scenarios with a clever mystery that ends with a surprising revelation about the identity of the pickpocket." (Booklist )"A funny novel about a less-than-cool kid, provides a worthy option for reluctant readers looking for a light but entertaining story. Dan is a very fun character, and he's easy to relate to... He is a likeable 'everyguy' who is just trying to get through regular life while keeping his integrity." (CM Magazine ) Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.I stripped down to my tighty-whities, and Hammy slammed the hotdog over my head before I could change my mind.

Paddy loves his family, all except for his annoying stepfather Anthony. When they have a discussion about his future, Paddy overreacts and threatens to join the army. Unable to back down, he finds he is alienating everyone around him. And when he takes the physical exam and learns his blood type, his world starts to crumble and he starts to question everything he thought he knew.

Emery's neighbor, Richard, is the kind of kid who gets under your skin. When Richard suggests a game of Nicky Nicky Nine Doors, Emery can't come up with a good excuse not to play. Using chocolate bars as "stunt poo," the boys start playing the classic prank of the burning bag on the doorstep, but this game has a modern twist. They videotape their neighbors' reactions. The naked guy and the man in the apron are highly entertaining, but Emery starts to get cold feet when another neighbor is reduced to tears. Emery wants out, but he's not sure how to stop the game without losing face. Soon the game gets serious, and Emery has a lot more to worry about than his reputation. Vicki Grant is a best-selling and award-winning author of many books for juveniles and young adults, including I.D. and Dead-End Job in the Orca Soundings series and Pigboy, all of which were ALA Quick Picks. Vicki lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.