Earthborn

Written by: Sylvia Waugh

First line: The Gwynns had lived just outside the city of York for the past fourteen years.

Why you should read this book: A great little unexpected novel, it follows twelve-year-old Nesta Gwynn, who, completely unbeknownst to her, is not an Earthling, but actually the surprise daughter of a pair of disguised alien anthropologists on a twenty-year contract to observe Earth culture. Unfortunately, an accident involving another alien of her species means that Nesta's parents have been recalled, and they choose to reveal her origins to her some years ahead of schedule, explaining that they will be returning to their home world that very week. Nesta knows nothing of her home world, and feeling very much like a creature of her adopted planet, refuses to leave, doing everything in her power to stay on Earth, testing her parents' love for her in the process.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're moving.