The Rest of Us Just Live Here / Patrick Ness / 319 pages

You know who they are, those indie kids-- the ones who end up being The Chosen One when the supernatural happens, the ones who have the unique powers, the ones who pretty much save the world from the Ultimate Evil?

Well this is not their story.

This story focuses on (somewhat) ordinary kids who just want to graduate high school before it gets blown up.  Again.  Mikey wants to ask Henna out before her family goes to Africa and has a severe case of OCD.  Mel has to graduate a year late while coping with anorexia.  Jared keeps a lot of secrets from his friends, revealing to them only 1) he's gay, and 2) he's part-god (the God of Cats to be exact; cats love this guy).  Each chapter also begins with a short side story on the indie kids' battle against the Immortals, particularly focusing on a girl named Satchel, though there are other characters like Finn, Dylan, Finn, Kerouac, Finn, Wisconsin, Finn, Finn, and even a prince.  Oh, and not to mention Finn.

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I must say: this was a witty, yet sad, yet heartwarming book all at the same time.  Every character faces a different conflict, both internal and external, while having to deal with the flaws he or she has, making them more realistic.  As the books tagline says, "Sometimes you have to find the extraordinary in the ordinary."

FIRE IN FROST/ ALICIA RADES/244PGS

Fire in Frost is the first book within the Crystal Frost series. Its about a girl that grew up able to see the dead and able to predict the future. But even though she was able to do these things she never really thought anything of it. That is until she starts to see Olivia, a fellow classmate that died last year in a fire. When Olivia asks Crystal to help save Olivia's friend kelli from her abusive boyfriend; Crystal fully accepts that she has gifts and is psychic and wants to do anything she can to help. This book is pretty good; it gets to the climax pretty fast and you kind of feel like she should have realized she had a gift. I mean if I saw dead people or just knew all this stuff out of nowhere I would kind of be wondering whats up. But otherwise I enjoyed the book; I probably won't continue with the series tho.

Jane, Unlimited/Kristin Cashore/453 pgs.

As an orphan, Jane has lived with her Aunt Magnolia, an underwater photographer. Jane is a year out of high school, and is somewhat drifting through life. Her main talent is constructing unusual umbrellas. Her aunt makes her promise that if she is ever extended an invitation to a mansion named Tu Reviens, that she will accept. Aunt Magnolia is lost at sea, and an opportunity presents itself for Jane to go to Tu Reviens. The house presents alternate directions for Jane depending on which decisions she makes. The story is a combination of choose your ending and the movie Groundhog Day. It was an interesting read, with elements of fantasy and mystery. It would appeal to a certain audience. Recommended.