Strong Female Character Anyone???

First Test by Tamora Pierce
Ten-year old Keladry is the the first girl to train for knighthood. In this medieval, magical fantasy, she suffers hard physical training and many prejudiced opinions from those who hope she flunks this first year. Determined to prove herself, Keladry perseveres and even begins to rally some classmates into ousting bullies. This is the first title in the Protector of the Small series and proves itself a worthy read.

Fun fantasy

Dealing with Dragons
by Patricia C. Wrede

The first in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles series, this fantasy is a light-hearted and fun read. The main character Cimorene escapes the tedious tasks of being a princess and her pending marriage by volunteering to become a dragon's princess. Her new life is far more entertaining than her the boring proper princess lessons. It's while she is preforming her new duties that she stumbles upon a mystery. What are the wizards trying to steal from the dragons!

Dealing with Dragons is a great fantasy. Read this one and you'll be picking up the rest of the series; Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons and Talking to Dragons.

Fabulous Retelling of Folktale

A Curse as Dark as Gold
by Elizabeth c. Bunce

When Charlotte and Rosie Miller inherit the family business, a textile mill that has been in the family for generations, the two young ladies are determined to keep the mill and their small village of Stirwaters in business. But this task isn't so easy when unfortunate mishaps, competing mills and mortgage payment are working against the mill's success. Villagers rumor that the mill has been cursed for generations. Charlotte dismisses such chatter until one day her sister conjures up an odd fellow, Jack Spinner, who promises to spin a roomful of hay into gold thread...for a price. The story, told through Charlotte, question if the rumors and curse are true? Despite an uncle who apparently wants to help and a gentlemen suitor who will do anything to assist Charlotte, it's her agreement with Mr. Spinner that threatens to destroy everything the sisters hold dear. This is an enchanting retelling of Rumplestiltskin filled with magic, ghosts, witchcraft in an English Georgian setting. Strong women characters and supporting characters propel the story forward to a riveting end.

Take flight...

Maximum Ride: Angel Experiment

by James Patterson

On James Patterson's website this book warns reads to "prepare for launch. These pages fly". And boy, do they ever. I think in part it is because Patterson keeps each chapter short(3-4 pages) and in each chapter action happens. But the pages also fly because it's a great story.

Max is the narrator, main character and leader of her flock. Her flock is a group of kids who have escaped from an institute which experimented with their DNA. These kids are not just human. Each are part avian (bird), have wings and can fly. In addition to their wings, they each also have a unique skill or power. All they hope for is a normal life but that's not so easy when you have mutant humans morphing into wolves chasing after you in an attempt to bring them back to the institute. When the mutants succeed at catching the youngest in the flock, Angel, the rest rally together to rescue her.

There is so much more to this book and the series than this short write-up. If you are looking for an adventurous story, packed with action, plot twists and scientific experimentation, then you have found a fabulous read.

Must read!

Impossible 

by Nancy Werlin

Brilliant! Reviews of this book say, "impossible to put down" and they are right!  It didn't take long before I was wrapped into the plight of Lucy.  At age seventeen, Lucy discovers the women of her family are cursed.  Forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or fall into madness upon their child's birth.  Fortunately, Lucy is the first girl in generations to have some help. She has her loving and fiercely protective foster parents and Zach, the boy next door whose always 'been there'.  The whole story is built upon the song, "Scarborough Fair".  It's the song that weaves together fantasy and reality in the story, making it seems so plausible.  But it is the impossible tasks Lucy must attempt, that make the book suspenseful.  Let's not forget true love, too!  Yes, this books has it all.  So when you've finished with the Twilight series, pick up Impossible, before a movie comes out.