Revolver, by Marcus Sedgwick

Revolver is a fast-paced suspense story that takes place somewhere in the Arctic Circle.  A 15-year-old boy's father freezes to death, and while his sister and stepmother go to the town for help, Sig Andersson keeps a vigil over his father's body.  Eventually, a knock on the door introduces Sig to a cruel, brutal man who claims that, at the last town the Anderssons lived in, Sig's father cheated him out of some gold due to him as part of a business contract.  Sig has no idea what the man is talking about, but this man is not about to be hampered by a 15-year-old.  He threatens Sig and his remaining family members with their lives if he does not receive cooperation.  This is the perfect story for teenage boys who are reluctant readers.  It is about survival, adventure, and history.  I would recommend this book to everyone over 13, in fact; the reason it is great for boys who are reluctant readers is because Sig is an admirable male character, the chapters are short and the story starts right away.  Everything is happening quickly for Sig, and that is how the book reads: quickly, but without detracting from the enjoyment of the story.  Revolver is also a good book for those who enjoy Gary Paulsen's books, Jack London (the London comparison I picked up from Amazon), and any of those stories that feature outdoor survival and adventure as a central theme. 

The Mortal Instruments series, by Cassandra Clare

I recently finished the fourth installment of Clare's Mortal Instruments books: City of Fallen Angels.  However, it would not do to discuss the book by itself as it is part of a phenomenal bestselling urban fantasy series.  So, I am going to discuss the story thus far.  Clary is a teenage girl who lives with her mom in modern-day New York City.  She goes to comic book shops with her best friend.  She loves drawing.  However, one night she discovers that there is a lot more to herself and her background than she was aware of: she is a Shadowhunter, one of a clan of human beings with angel blood running through their veins.  The Shadowhunters' duty in life is to keep track of demon activity and send them back to Hell when they venture onto the surface of the Earth.  They also monitor the Downworlders: vampires, werewolves, warlocks, etc., all of whom they regard as social inferiors.  Clary finds herself in the middle of a brewing battle between these supernatural beings while trying to learn more about herself, her mother, and her newfound powers.  I absolutely love these books!  I initially thought they were going to be rather trashy (I thought they were going to be another Twilight rehash) , but I picked the first one up from the library and I could not put it down.  The books are written for the young adult audience, but adults can enjoy them too!  The characters are very strong and likable (or un-likable, as the case may be, but in the right way), the story is well-crafted and well-told, and all of the themes that some young women and men are interested in today are present.  There is adventure, mystery, magic, a higher power, a greater cause, romance, humor, and intrigue.  I would definitely recommend them to those 13 and up, though I will mention that the fourth book gets very dark and grim in the way that the fourth Harry Potter book is dark and grim.  There will be six books in total.  Additionally, check out Clare's prequel trilogy: The Infernal Devices.  Book 1, the only one out right now, is called Clockwork Angel.

Flygirl, by Sherri L. Smith

I actually read this book a few weeks ago; I have been so busy with school that it has been hard to post new content.  In any case, there has been plenty of time for me to read on public transportation!
Flygirl is about an African-American girl living in Louisiana right before WWII reaches American shores.  Her father taught her how to fly a "duster" plane; Ida Mae Jones is born and bred a pilot.  When Pearl Harbor is attacked, she wants to go and join the Women's Air Service Pilots (WASP) to do her part in helping end the war.  African-American men had a hard enough time being part of the U.S. Army (they were segregated and were not given the same degree of respect that white men were given), and the chances of African-American women joining the WASP are virtually zero.  But Ida Mae Jones is so light-skinned that she passes for white; the story, in essence, is about how she must hide her true heritage from the WASP and her new friends in order to do something she loves-flying-and something she needs to do-serving her country\y.  Sherri L. Smith does a good job describing the social environment Ida Mae Jones finds herself in, and she also discourses a bit on the double standard within the African-American community regarding those who choose to marry "lighter" so that they have a better chance of living as part of the white community.  I highly rcommend this book for mature girls 12-13 and up: not that there is any inappropriate content in the story, but the subject matter is, at times, grim and very serious.  Girls who like airplanes or other mechanical objects and even young men should enjoy this story about a young woman who sets out to fulfill her dream in the midst of war.