The Mad Apprentice (Forbidden Library 2) by Django Wexler

At the end of the first book Alice and Isaac had conquered The Dragon and bound it to them.  Alice has tried many times to wake the dragon, but it is solid as a rock.  Geryon is sending Alice to a Reader's fortress.  The Reader has been killed by his apprentice, Jacob.  Several Readers are sending their apprentices to go fetch Jacob back for judgement for his crime, and if he won't come willingly they can dispose of him.  As Alice ventures into this task she meets other apprentices:  Garret, Ellen, Dex, Soranna, and Isaac.  As they enter the readers realm, they realize the labyrinth is still in play.  It should be dead now that the Reader is dead.  They become separated as the labyrinthine, Torment, controls everything and he has a special interest in Alice.   Ending has asked Torment to "protect" her, but Alice is not very cooperative, she has ulterior motives, because the Reader is Esau, who was after her and knows what happened to her father and Alice is determined to make Torment tell her what happened. 

Lots of twists and turns kept me reading. 

 

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler

Alice sees her father talking to a...fairy?  But this fairy looks nothing like she pictured.  This fairy is yellow and black and seems to be threatening her dad.  Not soon after her dad says he has to go away on a trip, but his ship goes down at sea and is presumed dead. As she is taken to live with Uncle Jerry, she begins on an adventure she was not expecting.  "Uncle Jerry" turns out to be Geryon, who has a bit of magic and can "read" himself into books.  Alice discovers she too possesses this gift when she accidentally gets sucked into a book and the only way out is to kill what is prisoned inside it. As she tries to figure out what happened to her dad, and begins to realize she can't trust anyone, Alice decides to begin to trust herself and look for her own answers.

This is the first book in the trilogy. 

Similar books:

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
The Book of Elsewhere by Jacqueline West

   

Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen

Wren is snatched from her home by a "police type" guy, taken to the airport, and sent to a desert camp.  Her parents paid for it.  Wren started doing pot in 6th grade when they moved to a new town and she had no friends and felt lonely.  As she started high school things escalated into stealing, selling drugs, and drinking.  Throughout the book we visit Wren's past as she tries to work though her addiction and fight the demons it brings with it.

I listened to the audio and read the book interchangeably.  I would say this book is fine for a mature middle school reader.

The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey

Darcy Wells is a reader, word collector, and loves literature.  Her mother is a hoarder.  Darcy thinks it stems from Darcy's dad leaving before she was born.  She has never known him, nor has he ever contacted her until now.  She doesn't know if she wants to know him or not.  Her mother has been hoarding so much that there are "goat trails" throughout their apartment, but Darcy's room is the only space not invaded by the mountains of stuff.  Darcy's grandmother has been giving her money to help pay for food, bills, etc., but says when Darcy turns 18 she either has to move in with her or if she stays with her mom she will no longer send her money.  On top of all of this she meets a boy who she likes, but has a girlfriend, and she keeps the information about her dad from her best friend and that causes a problem.  As you can tell there is a lot going on in Darcy's life.  I loved this book.  I feel it might be better suited for 8th and up because of some language.  It also reminded me a little of this BOOK because of the selling things to help make money for family.