TAMORA PIERCE

Don't "poo-poo" these books just because they're in the YA section of the store.  Tamora's books are well grounded and a great read.  In fact, some of the subject matter is perhaps a bit adult for some of today's juvenile readers.  In that aspect she harkens back to the subject matter of young people's books from the 20s-50s (as with the Harry Potter stories).  These days we seem determined to keep our youngsters in the "Dick and Jane" style material until they're in senior high!