Absolutely, Positively Not by David LaRochelle (2005)

Funny and charming novel about a teenage boy coming to terms with his homosexuality. Yay for light and funny gay teen lit! Better than those scarring books where the poor gay kid is victimized, terrorized and humiliated (for example, Annie on My Mind - an acclaimed gay teen novel).  See also David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy for fun gay YA lit.

Rhymes with Witches by Lauren Myracle (2005)

Our heroine gets tapped to join the group of the most popular girls in school, known as the Bitches. However, she finds out that popularity is not all it's cracked up to be, and that popularity has a price. All pretty clichéd, but interesting characterizations and a supernatural element keeps this fresh and fun.

Elinor Lipman - Adored Author

Elinor Lipman writes witty novels filled with vivid, memorable characters. Often my favorite is whatever novel she's most recently published.  Some of my favorites are: Ladies’ Man - A tale of three sisters, all spinsters and living together in Boston; Isabel’s Bed – A writer takes a ghost writing position for scandal queen; and When She Found Me - A shy teacher is sought out by her gregarious birth mother.  My Latest Grievance feels like a revisiting of some themes from her first novel: Then She Found Me. Namely, girl raised by conservative, quiet parents runs into a mother figure who is outrageous (in a Lipman way) and shakes up her life. And I'll always love The Inn at Lake Devine about a young girl who witnesses anti-Semitism from the Inn of the title who grows up and finds her life inextricably linked with that of the owners. Funny, romantic, meaningful.  Plus, I love the inside look at the great Jewish resorts of the Catskills.

Kimchi and Calamari by Rose Kent (2007)

Novel about an engaging eighth-grade boy protagonist who was adopted by his Italian parents from Korea, and who is coming to terms with his heritage. Great characters all around, and funny, likable hero.  Plus, how cute is the cover art?

Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson (2004)

Young, single girl who loves shopping gets hit by a car and wakes up in the morgue as a vampire. Oh, not just a vampire, but the vampire queen.  Very funny chick lit, very untraditional vampire story. An enjoyable, fun read and set in Minnesota, no less!  Continued for many, many volumes, but as I don't really like long-running series, I can't attest to more recent volumes.

Missing Persons series by M.E. Rabb (2004)

Comprised of The Rose Queen, The Chocolate Lover, The Venetian Policeman and The Unsuspecting Gourmet, the Missing Persons series is about two sisters who go on the lam after their father dies to avoid being sent away to boarding school by their evil stepmother. They end up with new identities in a quirky small town, and mystery and adventures ensue. Filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring a realistic relationship between the sisters, plus decent little mysteries, these books are great fun.

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway (2008)

Adorable novel about a girl who inadvertently becomes a celebrity after her ex-boyfriend writes a song about her that hits the charts. Audrey has a similar snarky (but not annoying) feel as the title character in the film Juno. Great supporting characters fill out a engaging story.

Patrick Dennis - Adored Author

Of course, I completely adore Patrick Dennis's Auntie Mame.  It's witty and gay (no other word fits so well) tale featuring one of the most memorable and endearing characters of all time.  Of course, an amazing film starring Rosalind Russell.  But I think if I had to pick a desert island book out of his work, I might pick The Joyous Season.  In this novel, Dennis tells a vivid, comic tale of precocious children, wacky families, Christmas and divorce.  Why did no one make this into a movie yet?   So many beautifully cinematic, and completely hilarious scenes. I also love Tony, but at this point, Dennis's sharpness gets a little tough to take at times.  Still, there are so many scenes that stay with me for always.  Also, he's a fascinating character himself--check out Uncle Mame by Eric Myers for the full, weird story.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2003)

Christopher is fifteen and autistic. This story is told through his unique viewpoint as he tries to solve the mystery of who killed his neighbor's dog, pass his A-levels and deal with everyday life. Compulsively readable and completely original, Haddon sucks the reader right into Christopher's world.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson (2008)

Jenna Fox has recently woken up from a year-long coma after a serious accident, but things are a little mysterious. Why doesn't her grandmother like her? Why did they move cross-country while she was in a coma? Why are there so many locked doors in their new house? Semi-poetically written and suspenseful.