Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Jennifer Lynn Barnes wrote her first novel as a teenager, and she’s written five others since, including the Wordcandy Featured Book pick Fate, Tattoo, and the 'Killer Squad' series. Her far-fetched premises (magical temporary tattoos, cheerleader spies, etc.) are nicely counterbalanced by her intelligent writing, making her books several cuts above most YA genre fiction.

Aftertaste:
The many, many sections of Fate that were told in italics.

Availability:
Ms. Barnes’s books are available via online booksellers, but they can be hard to find in brick-and-mortar stores. We’ve never been sure why, but Meg’s theory is that the cover art for 'The Squad' books look too much like the recent re-releases of the 'Sweet Valley High' books to get this series the kind of sales numbers it deserves.

Other Recommendations:
The 'Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil' series, by Rosemary Clement-Moore