Daniel Woodrell's new book Winter's Bone is out -- Ozark Gothic. His previous book, Tomato Red, would be a good recommend for a high school reader (junior or senior), along with Mercury by Cary Holladay.

Also - Jincy Willet's Winner of the National Book Award - tongue in cheek title, well worth reading and rereading. (First person narrator is a librarian). Skewers many aspects of modern American culture, and FUNNY.