Book Title: The Golden Compass
Author: Philip Pullman
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: It's been a while but I think it was about a world full of humans whose consciencessness and souls in physical representation of an animal. The girl discovers that children have gone missing and she investigates it.

Your reasoning for why we should read this book: I really enjoyed it. It was pretty good, but the other two were meh.

Book Title: Watchmen
Author: Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Genre: Science Fiction
Synopsis:In an alternate 1985 America, costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock" - which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union - is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes.

Your reasoning for why we should read this book: I reall liked it. For those who don't have much background on comic books this is a great place to start. This is one of the few works where crime fighters and super powered beings are seen in such a way.