We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(4) Base Camp
Unless you are completely ignorant of the daily reality and language of teenagers, Marked is a breeze to read. Like, totally. Even though Zoey's new friend Damien loves to use big words, they usually get defined by context or by someone asking him what the heck he means. And while Zoey claims to be not so smart, she's smart enough that we understand most of the situations she describes, since we get to ride along in her perspective. Be prepared for a few twists and unresolved mysteries—but we're guessing these get tackled later in the series.