The Unwanteds / Lisa McMann / 390 pages

Kirkus summed this book up perfectly:  "The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter."  Kids will love, love love this book about a world in which there are Wanteds who run the military, Necessaries who support the Wanteds, and Unwanteds, the creative who are condemned to death.  13 year olds who show any sign of creativity in the arts, music, language, theater, etc are culled in the annual Purge and taken away.  Their families could care less.  Alex, Meghan, Lani and Samheed think they are being sent to their deaths and instead discover that the Unwanteds are actually taken to a secret, magical place Artime where they flourish.  The book ends with discovery and battle against the Quillitary and Governors of the land of Quil.  Thankfully there is a sequel, Island of Silence, which readers will gobble up.  Recommended for kids who love adventure, fast-action, and magic.  Grades 5-8.