Do you ever wish your life were different? Are there days that you just want to ESCAPE!? You're not alone; everyone has those days - some of us more than others. Teen girls can have a ton to deal with: zits, periods, guys, not-so-loyal friends, homework, unreasonable parents, pesky brothers and sisters, not enough cash, oh; did I mention guys? Anyway, the point here is that sometimes we wish we could get a new life or at least take a vacation from the one we have. But no one is inviting us to a beach or mountain resort anytime soon. Besides, when we need to escape, we usually need it BAD! It's a matter of survival, of staying sane, of NOT completely freaking out! When things start to feel overwhelming, you want to get out NOW! You're not stupid - you're not planning on running away, but you need a BREAK, like immediately!!! How much is one girl supposed to handle anyway?

So, what can you do? No funds. No invitations. Same life. Same pressures. Same old same old. How can you escape? And what do you want to escape TO? Do you want to make your life more exciting because things are so dull that you swear you could actually die from boredom? Or, is your life already so complicated that sometimes it scares the be-johnnycakes out of you? Maybe you're totally stressed, worn out waiting for the next unpleasant surprise or parental expectation to hit you right between the eyes. Maybe, what you really need are a few, just a few, magical powers, so your world would be a little easier to handle.

Sound too good to be true? It is, but it still can be yours. How? Stay with me now; don't run yet; remember I am NOT your English teacher, but, yes; yes; it's called reading!

"NO! NO!" you say. "NOT that. I REALLY need to escape FOR REAL!"

Trust me, if the writing it good enough, it FEELS real. If you can see yourself as the girl in the story - the story will feel like your own. If the adventure is one you can envision yourself on - you're there! The trick is to find the RIGHT book. The one that makes you forget the real world. The one that will TRANSPORT you. That's right - take you to a different time and place. Take you away from your humdrum or get-me-out-of-here life. And while you're there, you'll learn things that will help you in your real life. No, not magic. But the magic of how to talk to people so they'll listen, the magic of how to have courage, and the magic of believing that dreams can come true.

But you have to plan your escape well. You have to pick stories that are about places and situations you secretly wish you could experience. You have to find authors who know how to craft believable worlds with characters that sound and act real. Then you really WILL escape. You'll fall into the book and your real world will fall away! This is a healthy way to deal with stress and to kick-start and maintain your imagination, emotions, and vocabulary! Here are two types of escapes you can start planning today.

Power Trips AND Destinations Unknown

Power Trips
Want to feel like you have some control over your life? Want to fantasize about being able to make things happen? About having POWER? Then check out these cool books...

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Don't let the title of this book fool you - yes, there ARE cool little men in this book who have lots of power, BUT the main character is Tiffany, a girl who doesn't seem all that special at first. Tiffany may seem ordinary, but she finds out how to use powers she didn't even realize she had. The wee men DO help her, of course, but you'll get charged by her bravery and her spunk. This book will make you believe in yourself AND in your power to change your life! Read a great excerpt about Tiffany here.

The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell
Makenna cries, gets upset, gets mad, and THEN gets even! If you've ever felt judged - unfairly - THIS is the book for you. Oh yeah, Makenna, is pretty good at thinking on her feet too. That's what you want, a book with a SMART and powerful girl as the main character!

Abhorsen by Garth Nix
Lirael is the Ahorsen-in-Waiting. Talk about power; she has the power to go into death! It sounds creepy and it sort of is, but it's ALSO about being girl-powered, loving, and very brave. If you've read Sabriel and Liarel, you'll REALLY love this book. If you haven't, you can still follow the story through all its scary, brave, and exciting turns with no trouble at all.

Destinations Unknown
When you get that I-want-to-be-anywhere-but-here feeling, these worlds make fine destinations. Be prepared to be scared, worried, startled, and pulled right in. . .

Fire-Us: The Kindling by Jennifer Armstrong and Nancy Butcher
This is the first book in an amazing trilogy about Earth - it's the year, 2007 and all the grown-ups have been wiped out by a deadly plague. Only the kids remain. This story is about seven of them. Are they the only ones? Can they survive on their own? If your life is dull or you're the least bit bored, start this trilogy. You won't be able to put it down unless you're reaching for the next two books: Fire-Us: The Keepers of The Flame or Fire-Us: The Kiln. Don't say I didn't warn ya!

The Merlin Conspiracy by Dianna Wynne Jones
So much happens in this book that you'll feel like you got to spend all day at the movies watching one magical, adventurous episode after another. Things that don't seem to matter - do. Things that don't seem connected - are. And of course, there's a time-crunch. If our heroes (a boy AND a girl) don't do what they need-to-do by the time it needs-to-be-done, then - oops, there goes their world. Oh yeah, did I mention they have no idea what they're doing? This one will definitely spice up your humdrum life!

The Books of Magic #1: The Invitation by Carla Jablonski
This kid, you'll have to forgive him, he's a boy, Tim, may very well be the most powerful magician of his time. He's thirteen and he doesn't have a clue. (Told ya he was a boy!) Watching him trying to figure it all out amid the danger of magical realms and powerful forces will definitely keep you well amused when your life needs a lift or you just want to, you know, escape. Stay tuned for more books in this series.

The above books are all from Eos. Since 1998, the Eos imprint has been committed to publishing the finest science fiction and fantasy. Now, in 2003, HarperCollins Children's Books is thrilled to introduce a new branch of the Eos imprint, featuring the most exciting, innovative, and engaging science fiction and fantasy titles written for young adults, but appealing to readers of all ages.