Rampant by Diana Peterfreunde

Astrid knows unicorns don't exist. They are mythical beings. But her mom believes that unicorns not only exist, but that they are bloodythirsty, deadly creatures. Her mother is a little crazy, but then Astrid is forced to believe in her mother's stories when her boyfriend is gored by a unicorn and almost dies. As a reward for saving him, Astrid is dumped and humiliated before second period the next day at school. Her mother though is elated to be proven right and sends Astrid off to Rome to train in hunting unicorns.

Astrid quickly discovers that Rome isn't going to be the holiday she was hoping for. The cloisters are in disrepair. Cory, her roommate goes completely psycho whenever she sees their pet unicorn, and the few girls that arrive aren't sure about how to actually kill the unicorns that all of a sudden seem to be everywhere they go in Rome.

Being a unicorn hunter also requires sacrifices. Only virgins may be unicorn hunters and they are required to live in the cloisters like nuns for the rest of their lives. Astrid isn't prepared to make that kind of lifestyle choice, especially not after she meets the handsome and smart Giovanni one night when she sneaks out.

But as much as Astrid isn't sure about her future unicorn hunting, how can she turn back now, when unicorns are once more running Rampant?

We Were Here by Matt de la Pena

Miguel wasn't planning on running away from his group home, but when Mong, this scary, psycho kid asks him, he finally decides to go. After he messed up, his mom won't even talk or look at him, and Miguel really couldn't care less about anything anymore. So what the heck, why not just run away from everything and go to Mexico like Mong wants. His roommate Rondell, huge, black, and illiterate decides to come too.

The three boys get out okay. Miguel even manages to jack $750 from the cash box. But then things go wrong. Mong's cousin drives them north instead of south to the Mexican border. Now they have to travel through most of the state of California. They need to be careful with their stolen money and, most importantly, they have to avoid the cops. Miguel actually welcomes some of the problems. At least it keeps his mind off of what he did. What happened to his family. How his mom hates him now.

But Miguel is about to learn that the old adage is true - you can't run away from your problems. And that crazy as it seems, three unlikely teens may actually become the best of friends, if they can keep out of jail and make it to Mexico.

A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper

Her Highness Sophie, princess of the tiny island of Montmaray has a dilemma. Now that she just turned sixteen years old, she wants to go to England and be presented at court. But she doesn't want to go without her cousin Veronica, who would rather spend time working in the library on her book, A Brief History of Montmaray then going to parties and meeting boys.

Not that there's been any chance to do either in Montmaray. The tiny windswept island located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coats of Spain and France has very few people remaining on it, mainly the royal family, King John (Veronica's father who went insane when his wife left him), Veronica, Sophie, and Sophie's little tomboy sister Henry. As well as the housekeeper and a couple of villagers. The island has no electricity, no radio, no stores, the royal family is broke, and the castle is falling to pieces around them.

Although Montmaray used to play a vital role in European politics, the rest of the world has passed them by. But now it's 1936 and things are about to get more interesting, especially after two German Nazi officers arrive.

As Europe prepares to go up in flames, the history of Montmaray is about to change.