The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

Jade DeLuna has Panic Disorder. Her anxiety attacks can be set off by the slightest change in routine, life can become quite hard to handle. Her sanctuary is her room, where she burns saint candles to ward off misfortune and watches the elephants at the zoo via live web cam. All is Ok until she sees the boy in the red jacket who comes to see the elephants almost everyday with a baby. Jade becomes fascinated with the boy, and decides to meet him. In the process she ends up working at the zoo with the elephants and both Jade and the reader learn about these amazing animals. Sebastian, the boy in the red jacket, a single teen father who lives on a houseboat with his activist grandmother, complicates Jade's life with mystery and unanswered questions... but with him she feels safer than ever. And then she learns his secret. Will she do the right thing, or what feels like the right thing?

Bounce by Natasha Friend

Evyn and her brother have lived with their father for many years, since her mother's death. Suddenly, her father announces not only that he is getting married, but that the whole family is moving in with the new wife and her five children. Change is never easy, and you have to "bounce" along with what life life hands you, but sometimes that is easier said thatn done/ Leaving your best friend behind, getting a crush on your new step brother to be, and finding out you are a teenage flower girl in the wedding are not great, but knowing that your brother is OK with all the changes and your father is happier than you've ever seen him, makes your impossible new life even harder. Easy and quick read.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

What a fantastic book. Can't stop thinking about it even a couple of weeks after I read it. The book alternates between Jacob Jankowski's present day, to old memories. The 90+ year old protagonist spent a large portion of his youth as a circus hand. He worked with all the animals, but particularly with Rosie, an elephant. The author gives a great description of what times must have been like travelling with a third -rate circus during the Great Depression. Events start with a murder, and continue with an emotional roller coaster ride of a read to the surprising but satisfying end. Read it if you're a history buff, or an elephant buff, or a circus buff or if you just want a good book, but I'll warn you that you'll never look at elderly people the same way again.