I just read Idlewild and it's sequal Edenborne (spelling may be off since I don't have the books in front of me right now and don't want to find them), by Nick Sagan, (the son of Carl Sagan)
Idlewild was really really good, edenborn was ok, I don't have the 3rd in the series but will read it when I find it. (they don't have it at my local bookstore)
also I just started reading this C++ book, i already know up to like chapter 4-5 but I'm starting from the beginning to reinforce what I already know, I'm on page 30 out of 1550, so that should take a while. But it's a very well written book, it's meant for a college class.