All Rivers Flow to the Sea

Ever feel like time should stop? After her older sister Ivy is sent to the hospital doe to a car accident, Rose Latham starts to go through a mourning stage that lasts months where she wants time to stop. Trying to get over losing her sister leads to hurting others, getting over her pain and finding love.

Rose Latham, a high school student in the Adirondacks, finds herself trying to get over her sister in the hospital. Reliving moments of the past and making new memories, Rose falls in love with a childhood friend and begins to let her sister go.

Even though you may expect a certain ending for this story, or any story for that matter, I was not expecting what happened in the end. After you finish reading this book you start to think about what's said, and you start to look at life a little differently. Alison McGhee did a spectacular job on this book and I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Intensity

Intensity
Dean Koontz

This is a brilliant masterpiece of collective suspense--which, in my opinion, is the best type of horror. The antagonist is dreadfully cool, in a way that makes you hate what he does but love his demeanor.
In this novel we follow the fractured tale of Chyna Shepherd, a young psychology student, and her accidental run-in with a most unusual serial killer. This man, Edgler Vess, kills not for gain of wealth or deranged fantasy, but for the pure pleasure it brings him. Unlike any other, he views the world in such a way that taints the readers vision as well. He sees pain and suffering not as a negative aspect, but just another ripe emotion to be enjoyed to it's fullest. He chews the aspirin for the bitter taste, massages a pulsing bruise, and enjoys the sensations all around him. And yet, his is neither masochistic or sadistic.
The commodity of Edgler Vess is heightened by the reverse view we see from Chyna's point, learning to both despise and respect this character, as we secretly chant for his demise, yet lie in wait for his next atrocious act.
This is, by far, one of Dean Koontz best, and it would be a generous mistake to pass it up.
Amaya

King Dork by Frank Portman (c2006)

What an incredibly clever book that accurately depicts the joys and agonies of High School life -- I laughed out loud and groaned in equal measure! Tom "Chi Mo" Henderson, a 14-year old outsider, survives daily humiliations at Hillmont High and at home by seeking refuge in music. Together with his only friend, Sam, they invent witty band names and write angst-filled songs. One of Tom's educational torments includes having to read The Catcher in the Rye, which leads him to discover a box of books left by his father, a detective who died under mysterious circumstances. Tom sets out to read each volume to decode the secret messages he finds written in the book margins. Tom is a wonderfully intelligent and likeable character with oddball observations and obsessions. The story is easy to read, and the plot's mysteries come together for a dazzling conclusion. Be ready for the movie soon! The author is very hip, too -- you might know him as the front man for the punk band, The Mr. T. Experience.