Alienated

Alienated by Melissa Landers      

Cara has mixed feelings about hosting a student from the planet L'eihrs.  On the good side- it will provide her with tons of opportunities.  She will get a scholarship for college.  Her blog is getting lots of hits.  She has even has press engagements!  The downside- most of her friends can't stand the thought of aliens on the planet, much less in school.  When Cara meets her exchange student Aelyx, she is even less sure how she feels.  He's handsome.  And articulate.  And smart.  And also arrogant.  And secretive.

Then Cara and Aelyx begin to develop feelings for each other but he is still hiding something from her.  Their respective planets have a lot riding on this exchange program being successful and there is intense scrutiny from the media.  Cara finds herself fighting with her boyfriend and her best friend.  Next thing she knows, there are protestors outside of her school and she has to be escorted everywhere for her own safety.  Now, Cara and Aelyx find themselves together on an uncertain path.

This has romance, mystery, and conflict.  What would you give up for your planet?  For love?

 

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

Vidya has a happy life with her parents and brother Kittya.  She loves her school and is an excellent student.  She's proud of her father, who is very progressive and believes Indians should be free of British rule.  This all changes in a heartbeat when she and her father wind up in the middle of a protest.  In the excitement, Vidya is separated from her father and she sees him being beaten when trying to help a protester.  He has permanent brain damage.  As a result, Vidya and her family must go to leave in the home of her grandfather and uncles.  They live a completely different lifestyle in their new home.  Vidya's new teacher is not very nice.  Vidya doesn't get along with her cousins.  Vidya's father is called "the idiot" and she never sees her brother anymore- Men and women are housed on separate floors

Vidya's only escape is when she is taking care of her niece and climbs the stairs to the library. Here, she enters the world of words and education.  She discovers authors and philosophers.  She even meets a somewhat mysterious and interesting young man.  Will Vidya be allowed to continue her education or will she be forced to abide by her family's old fashioned expectations?