Beige (by Cecil Castellucci)

Readers will appreciate the unusual backdrop: An L.A. punk scene with dirty apartments and clubs, energetic music, a burlesque dancer, and a recovering drug addict dad known as The Rat. Katy's new world seems very real, and readers will immediately understand why the good girl feels out of place. The wonderful, offbeat characters are easy to like, and it's easy to sympathize with Katy.

The plot follows a predictable path. No one will be surprised when Katy and her dad start to build a relationship (or when Katy and Lake -- the teen punk rock singer behind her Beige nickname -- finally bond). A final scene in which Katy sings backup for Lake seems a bit unbelievable, but it helps drive home the book's point: Everyone needs to find her own voice. There is enough compelling material about the price of addiction -- and the importance of being yourself -- to make this a compelling read.