The 2012 Texas Lone Star Reading List has been announced and includes 20 exciting titles.
Looking for an edge-of-your-seat adventure set on the Texas-Mexico border? Try Take Me to the River by Will Hobbs which involves intense white water rafting, a kidnapping, and a manhunt for a member of the deadly drug cartel.
Would you enjoy a clever tale of time travel about an unlikely heroine who is in for the ride of her life? Check out Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier, the first in a delightful trilogy.
Do you like the original Grimm fairy tales which are full of blood and gore and not for the ears of small children? Read Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark and Grimm, if you dare!
Interested in the story of a girl whose father steals a car and accidentally kidnaps a child who is now hiding in the garage? Read Hidden by Helen Frost. You'll be captivated by the story and the author's original writing style.
How about a chilling tale of a girl who struggles to survive during Stalin's reign of terror? Read Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys which is based on the true events of those who suffered under the unbelievable cruelty of the Soviet dictator. It's a holocaust you cannot imagine.
Ever wonder about the early lives of Sherlock Holmes or Victor Frankenstein? Try Andrew Lane's Death Cloud about the young detective or Kenneth Oppel's This Dark Endeavor about the young scientist.
Can you imagine what you would do if you were a track star and then lost your leg in a terrifying, life-changing bus accident? Read The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen.
Do you like mysteries? How about a hilarious whodunit set at a zoo in Texas involving the suspicious death of a beloved hippo? Don't miss Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs.
Are you fascinated with zombies? Try Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry. It's a compelling tale of zombie hunters, brotherhood, and survival.
Looking for more exciting post-apocalyptic stories like The Hunger Games? Check out Divergent by Veronica Roth and Blood Red Road by Moira Young. Both are captivating, futuristic novels that will soon hit the big screen.
How do you keep going when things are really tough and life keeps handing you more than you think you can bear? Read about three teens' stories in Paintings from the Cave: Three Novellas by Gary Paulsen.
Do you enjoy tear-jerkers? Don't miss A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Inspired by late author Siobhan Dowd's original idea, A Monster Calls tells the tale of a boy whose mother is dying from cancer and how a monster in his dreams is helping him deal with his pain.
Or, would you like something a little more light-hearted? How about a hilarious, paranormal romance? Kiersten White's Paranormalcy stars a sassy heroine who while hunting paranormals and trying to avoid her ex - a beautiful, almost irresistible faerie - falls for a charming shape shifter.
How about a story of a kid who runs a business at his middle school out of an "office" in the fourth stall of an unused restroom? In Chris Rylander's The Fourth Stall, the "boss" and his gang must take on the local bully to maintain control of the playground.
Looking for a fast-paced adventure about three siblings on a quest to find their parents full of evil villains and magic? Check out The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens, the first in an exciting new trilogy.
Or, would you like a more realistic journey about a shark-obsessed boy with Cystic Fibrosis who dreams of swimming with the sharks? In Wish by Joseph Monninger, he and his older sister both see some wishes come true.
Interested in the story of a girl who is serious about her music with dreams of playing in the Boston Symphony Orchestra but ends up in the high school marching band? Read Erin Dionne's Notes from an Accidental Band Geek.
Finally, how about a kid with an abusive father who moves to a new town and finds some real friends and a new interest that just might help him survive? Try Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, one of the best books of 2011.
Click here to view the 2012 Texas Lone Star Reading List and dive into one today!
