By Harris, Joanne  Maddy Smith, who bears the mysterious mark of a rune on her hand, learns that she is destined to join the gods of Norse mythology and play a role in the fate of the world. But better watch out for that trickster god Loki--he is not who he appears to be.

By Pierce, Tamora 

When sixteen-year-old Beka becomes "Puppy" to a pair of "Dogs," as the Provost's Guards are called, she uses her police training, natural abilities, and a touch of magic to help them solve the case of a murdered baby in Tortall's Lower City.

This is Book 1 of The Legend of Beka Cooper and is a "prequel" story about an ancestor of many of this author's other books' characters.

By Hill, Stuart 

After the death of her beloved father, headstrong princess Thirrin Freer Strong-In-The-Arm becomes warrior queen of her homeland, Icemark, defending it from a formidable invader. Despite Thirrin's bravery and the support of Oskan, the Witch's son, the task proves more difficult than Thirrin ever dreamed. She must assemble a force to rival her opponent. And, in the chill winter of Icemark, she only has until spring to unite the strange beasts and frightening creatures who live just outside her country. Ultimately, it is Thirrin's vision and determination that will see her through to victory.

 See also Book 2: Blade of Fire

By Landy, Derek 

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant: Ace Detective. Snappy Dresser. Razor-Tongued Wit. Crackerjack Sorcerer. And--walking, talking, fire-throwing skeleton. He's also ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, an unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old. These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil. The end of the world? Over his dead body.

See also Book 2: Playing With Fire

 

By Garner, Alan  A young girl and her brother are catapulted into a battle between good and evil for possession of a magical stone of great power that is contained in her bracelet. A "Tale of Alderley". Sequel: The Moon of Gomrath

By Sanderson, Brandon  On his thirteenth birthday, foster child Alcatraz Smedry receives a bag of sand which is immediately stolen by the evil Librarians who are trying to take over the world, and Alcatraz is introduced to his grandfather and his own special talent, and told that he must use it to save civilization.

By De La Cruz, Melissa 

Gossip Girl meets Dracula! Certain teenagers from some of New York City's wealthiest and most socially prominent families learn a startling secret about their bloodlines--they are becoming vampires.

See also Book 2: Masquerade

By Paver, Michelle 

Book I of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series. In this series that combines Stone Age anthropology with supernatural mythology, Torak befriends a wolf who becomes his best friend and "packmate," and they go up against supernatural bears and crazy humans alike. Thre are lots of outdoor survival scenes and tense action in these books, plus animal behavior--the way Torak and Wolf "talk" in wolfspeak is really neat. The magical elements are also fascinating, as Torak learns he has the ability to "spirit walk" in the body of animals.

See also Book 2: Spirit Walker and Book 3: Soul Eater.

By Nimmo, Jenny  Gifts from Gwyn's grandmother on his ninth birthday open up a whole new world to him, as he discovers he has magical powers that help him heal the breach with his father that has existed ever since his sister's mysterious disappearance four years before.

By Carey, Janet Lee  In 1145 A.D., as foretold by Merlin, fourteen-year-old Rosalind, who will be the twenty-first Pendragon Queen of Wilde Island, has much to accomplish to fulfill her destiny, while hiding from her people the dragon's claw she was born with that reflects only one of her mother's dark secrets.