Meet Gen, the reluctant King of a fantasy kingdom, unlovable Lump, who is being raised by a witch, and Liz, who is having trouble adjusting to life after death in these fantasy and science fiction titles.

Megan Turner, Whalen The King of Attolia

Although this memorable book stands on its own, it will be more enjoyable when read after prequels The Thief and The Queen of Attolia. Gen, the thief of Eddis, has entered into a truly complicated marriage with Irene, the Queen of Attolia. He's deeply conflicted about his new role as king, is regarded with contempt and as a buffoon by the suspicious, unwelcoming Attolians, and of course everyone wonders if a man can find true happiness with the woman who ordered some years earlier that his right hand be cut off. The story is told by Costis, a young member of the Attolian military who is assigned to the palace guard and is tapped by Gen as his own personal aid. Initially antagonistic, Costis is slowly won over by Gen's courage and cleverness in the face of an assassination attempt and as he deals with corruption in Attolia's government. Causes the reader to grapple with issues of mercy versus justice.

Michael Gruber, The Witch's Boy

The witch's mother isn't cut out for compassion, and she never intends to become a parent. But when infant Lump is abandoned, she takes him in, though she correctly suspects her child-raising skills are scanty. A bear is engaged as a nurse, a djinn as a tutor, and Lump grows up the picture of a dysfunctional child, so it's no surprise that his social skills are poor. Tired of the confinement of the witch's house, Lump seeks the company of other children, who are often cruel to him. Understandably, he becomes defensive about his appearance, angry, and mistrustful. The story is peppered with thoroughly entertaining fractured fairy tales and watching Lump's character transform from lout to a more sensitive guy is intriguing.

Gabrielle Zevin, Elsewhere

One of the better recent books for teens told by dead narrators. Liz is fifteen and biking to the mall when she is killed by a hit and run driver. She regains consciousness on an ocean-going liner, and her realization that she is dead is slow and painful, aided by cabin-mate Thandi, who figures out her death from a gunshot wound sooner than Liz can accept that reality. Liz is welcomed to the afterlife by her grandmother, and for a time is comforted by a viewing place where she can look back at her earthly life and keep up with the doings of her friends and family, but eventually she is encouraged to move on, take a job, and establish relationships - giving a whole new meaning to the idea of blooming where you're planted. Zevin imagines an afterlife where individuals age backward until they are reborn as babies, and Liz's struggles to deal with the complications of such a life (or death) are never boring.

Chris Gustafson is the library teacher at Whitman Middle School. Do you have a question for Chris? Email her at cgustafson@seatleschools.org.