The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Thomas wakes up in a elevator, his only memory is his name.  When the door is opened, Thomas is greeted by a group of kids who live in the Glade.  The Glade is a large area of land that is surrounded by high walls where everyone has a job to do.  The doors close every night to protect the group from the Grievers, monsters that kill those found in the maze after dark.  The group has been trying to figure out a way to escape through the maze, which changes every night.  Eight runners go into the maze every day to map it and try to solve the maze.  A new resident is add to the group every 30 days.  The group is totally surprised when the day after Thomas arrives, a second person arrives this time a girl bringing an important message to the group.

For those who enjoyed the Hunger Games, this would be a good series to try next.  The second book is due out in October 12, 2010.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

The story takes place on the Gulf coast where ground oil tankers are stripped for their valuable materials.  Nailer is a teenage who works on the light crew taking copper from the grounded ships.  Nailer's mom is dead and his dad is an addict, so Nailer is basically on his own and just barely surviving.  When Nailer discovers a beautiful grounded clipper ship and he must decide whether to help the girl he discovers on it or savage the ship and the valuable materials it contains.

This story hits close to home with the oil spill in the Gulf and the description of New Orleans, where Nailer and "Lucky Girl" travel in search of her father and his allies.