Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

Pon, Cindy. Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia. Green Willow Books. 2009. New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-0-06-173021-4. Hard Cover, $17.99

Book Awards:
2009, Top Ten Fantasy for Youth, Booklist
*Starred Review*, Booklist

Annotation:
Ai Ling sets out on a journey to find her father. Months ago, he left to visit the palace on business, but has not been heard from since. Armed only with the beautiful pendant her father gave her, she sets out to find her father.

Book Talk:
Ai Ling's father has disappeared. He left to journey to the palace on business, and he has not been seen or heard from for months. Ai Ling and her mother are waiting patiently for him at home when she is suddenly faced the prospect of an unwanted marriage to pay off an unknown debt. Armed only with the beautiful jade pendant that her father gave her, she sets out to find her father.

Soon, Ai Ling finds herself chased by things. Dark things that are chasing her and trying to kill her.

Chen Yong is searching for his birth parents. He knows to begin with a Mr. Tan, and that Mr. Tan will have more information for him. He rescues Ai Ling from one of the dark things attempting to drag her under the lake, and they agree to travel together for a while.

As they travel together, Ai Ling discovers that she has powerful talents of her own which are just as deadly and powerful as any martial art.

Join Ai Ling and Chen Yong as they journey across the Kingdom of Xia in search of Ai Ling's father and Chen Yong's past.

Author Web Site: www.cindypon.com

Red Moon At Sharpsburg by Rosemay Wells

Wells, Rosemary. Red Moon At Sharpsburg. Viking, 2007. New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-0-670-03838-7. Hard Cover, $16.99.

Annotation:
Set in the Shenanndoah Valley during the Civil War. India Moody tells the story of coming of age during the Civil War.

Book Talk:
It is the year 1861. It is the year that everyone and everything changes forever.

India Moody is 12 years old. She lives in the Shennandoah Valley of Virginia. She has been sent to Emory Trimble for tutoring in the scriptures and handwriting. Emory is a scientist, and India quickly discovers a fascination with the world of chemistry and how things work. Emory encourages India to learn as much of the unwomanly world of science as she can.

War breaks out between the South and the North, and the Shennanhoah Valley lies in the heart of the battle. The idyllic valley in the middle of the mountains is where many skirmishes and battles of the Civil War take place.

India's father enlists in the Confederate Army. He is determined to work with the horses, and drive ambulances. Emory Trimble enlists in the Confederate Army. He is determined to take his knowledge of science and help out the soldiers by using some radical new science - he is going to boil his instruments before he uses them, and he is going to sterilize wounds before he sews them shut. And India's best friend, Julia Pardoe writes of a college in Ohio- Oberlin College- that will allow women to enroll and study. They have a scholarship program which will allow poor students to work off their tuition as they study.

But everything changes forever one night, under the Red Moon Over Sharpsburg.

Author Web Site: www.rosemarywells.com

Snow Falling in Spring by Moying Li

Li, Moying. Snow Falling in Spring. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2008. New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-374-39922-1. Hard Cover, $16.00.

Book Awards:
*Starred Review*, Booklist
*Starred Review*, Publisher's Weekly
IRA Children's Book Award, 2009
Bank Street Best children's Book of the Year, 2009.
CCBC Choice (University of Wisconsin)
NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, 2009
Massachussetts Book Award- Massachusetts Book Award in Nonfiction, , 2009
Scholastic, Best Memoir, 2008.

Annotation:
The story of a young child growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution.

Book Talk:
"Most people can not remember when their childhood ended. I, on the other hand, have a crystal clear memory of that moment. It happened on night, in the summer of 1966, when my elementary school headmaster hanged himself. I was twelve years old." page 42.

In a gripping tale, Miyong Li tells the tale of her loving family and life in China before the Cultural Revolution began. As the Red Guards begin to take over the universities and the schools, her life, and the life of everyone around her is turned upside down. Schools are closed. Intellectuals are imprisoned. Books are burned. Teachers are denounced and beaten, or worse.

This fascinating story tells the tale of how she and her family manage to struggle through one of the darkest and most uncertain periods in modern history.

Author Web Site: http://moyingli.com/

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. Harcourt, Inc. 2008. New York, NY.

ISBN 13:978-0-15-206396-2. Hardback, $17.00.

Book Awards:
2009 Amelia Bloomer list (recommended feminist literature for birth- age 18.
2008 Recommended Reading List, Locus Magazine
*Starred Review*, Kirkus Magazine
*Starred Review*, Publishers Weekly
*Starred Review*, School Library Journal
An Indies Choice Book Award Honor Book in the category of Best Indie Young Adult Buzz Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2008

Annotation:
Kasta is a young woman living in the seven kingdoms who has been graced with a special talent. She has the grace of killing. Her king uses this grace to his advantage throughout the kingdom. Eventually, Kasta tires of being the evil killing tool of her king and begins to rebel against him. When Kasta meets Po, she finally finds a friend, who is graced with a skill equal to hers. Together, they unravel a plot which has the potential to unravel all of the kingdoms.

Book Talk:
Kasta was born with the grace of killing. Her king sends her out to enforce his will whenever anyone dares to go against his wishes.

As Kasta begins to tire of the killing and maiming that she must do, she forms the council. The council is a group of people who are united to do what is right. They fight injustice and attempt to make life easier for the residents of the kingdoms.

The council has received word that the grandfather of King Leinid has been kidnapped and is being held in the castle of King Murgon. The council undertakes the task of stealing the grandfather out of the castle of King Murgon in the middle of the night, leaving no witnesses to their deed. Kasta has been charged with safely retreiving the grandfather from the dungeons, and bringing him back to the horses on the outside of the castle walls. Kasta unarms and knocks out all of the guards around the dungeons. After safely rescuing the grandfather, she begins the final, most dangerous part of the trek back to the safety of the horses.

As she neared the garden, "she was astonished when a man stepped out of the darkness and grabbed her from behind. He wrapped his arm around her chest and held a knife to her throat. He started to speak, but in an instant she had deadened his arm, wrenched the knife from his hand, and thrown the blade to the ground. She flung him forward, over her shoulders.

He landed on his feet.

Her mind raced. He was Graced, a fighter. That much was clear. And unless he had no feeling in the hand that had raked her chest, he knew she was a woman.

He turned back to face her, They eyed each other, warily, each no more than a shadow to the other. He spoke.

"I've heard of a lady with this particular Grace." His voice was gravelly and deep. There was a lilt to his words; it was not an accent she knew. She must learn who he was, so that she could know what to do with him.

"I can't think what that lady would be doing so far from home, running through the courtyard of King Murgon at midnight," he said. He shifted slightly, placed himself between her and the wall. He was taller than she was, and smooth in his movements, like a cat. Deceptively calm, ready to spring. A torch on the path nearby caught the glimmer of small gold hoops in his ears. And his face was unbearded, like a Lienid.

She shifted and swayed, her body ready, like his. She didn't have much time to decide. He knew who she was. But if he was Lienid, she didn't want to kill him." (pages 12-13)

What Kasta decides to do next will affect the future of all seven kingdoms. The kidnapping of the Leinid grandfather exposes a secret so terrible, so horrifying that it has the potential to destroy all seven kingdoms.


Author Website: http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. Random House Books, 2007. New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-0-375-84976-3. Hardback, $15.99

Book Awards:
2007 NASEN and TES Special Educational Needs Children's Book Award.
2008 Red House Children's Book Award Nominee
2008 Booklist Top 10 Crime Fiction for Youth
2009 Booklist Best Books for Young Adults
2008 Booklist Editor's Choice
2009 Booklist Notable Children's Books

Annotation:
When Salim disappears while riding the London Eye, it is up to his cousins, Ted and Kat to solve the mystery and find Salim.

Book Talk:
The London Eye is a giant ferris wheel located in the middle of London. It takes 30 minutes to travel once around the loop.

Ted and Kat take their cousin Salim up on the London Eye for a ride the day before Salim is to leave for London with his Mother. Ted and Kat watch as Salim boards his car, and then watch it go around, and then stand astounded as they watch people come out of the car- but no Salim. Stunned, Ted and Kat call the police and the massive search for Salim begins.

As chaos reigns in the house, Kat and Ted piece together small pieces of information, looking for clues to Salim's whereabouts.

Can Salim be found in time? Find out in The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd.


Author's Web Site: http://www.siobhandowdtrust.com/

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

George, Jessica Day. Princess of the Midnight Ball. Bloomsbury, 2009. New York, NY.

ISBN-13: 978-1-59990-322-4. Hardback, $16.99.

Book Awards:
Best Books for Young Adults nominee, (YALSA), 2009.

Annotation:
In this update of the classic fairy tale, Queen Maude has made a deal with Lord Under Stone. In exchange for children, and an end to the war which is ravaging her country, she is to go down to the kingdom under stone every third night and dance at the ball held by Lord Understone. When Queen Maude dies part way through her contracted dance time, her children are forced to complete her contracted dance time with Lord Under Stone. Knitting patterns for items made by Galen in the book are included.

Book Talk:
Galen is back from the war. His father was killed in the war, and his mother died soon after. Galen goes to live with his aunt and uncle, who live near the palace. His uncle is the head gardener for the king.

While serving as the gardener, Galen hears of the mystery surrounding the princesses. Every night, they are locked into their rooms. Every morning, when the doors are unlocked, the princess's dancing shoes have been worn clean through and must be replaced. The mystery has the entire kingdom whispering about the habits of the young princesses.

When we join the story, Galen finds himself intrigued with the mystery surrounding the dancing shoes. Princess Rose has been very ill, and is unable to get out of bed for several days in a row. Galen is working in the garden when the wind begins to blow and whine. The old gardener, Walter attempts to lock all of the gardeners into the tool shed, but Galen escapes the shed to find out what is going on outside.

"Galen!" the older man came stumping around the corner. "Stay inside!"

"No, tell me what is happening!"

It was dark, and Galen could barely make out Galen's head shake. "No time! Take this!" And he pressed a switch into Galen's hands. "Rowan, best I can do in a pinch."

"For what, the storm?"

The wind was tearing through the gardens, and Galen thought with despair of how many leaves he would have to dredge out of the swan fountain in the morning. Strangely, it didn't smell of rain or snow, both of which were possible at this time of year, but of mold and stone.

"There is no storm" Walter said evenly. "Do you know where the windows of the princesses' sitting room are?"

"The South side? Overlooking the hedge maze?" That he knew this so readily made Galen blush. He hadn't been trying to peep at the princesses, but he'd seen them at those windows more often than at any of the others.

"That's right! Come quickly!"

Walter moved off at a greater speed than Galen would have thought that a man with a false leg could go. Galen was soon trotting to keep up as the wind buffeted them. They skirted wide around the maze and came upon the smooth lawn on the south side of the palace.

The windows were all ablaze, and Galen could see anxious faces peering out: servants curious about the sudden wind. The princesses' sitting room was on the third floor, and Galen thought he saw movement there.

But then his attention was caught by a sound that sliced through the wind. A hollow howling sound that was no dog that Galen had ever heard. Strange, creeping shapes were coming out of the hedge maze, from behind a fountain shaped like a mermaid, and around the corner of the palace. They were like tall men, stooped over.
"Hay, hallo there" Galen called, his words carried off by the wind. "Hey!"
"Galen!" Walter shouted.

ONe of the figures lunged at Galen. He brought up his switch just in time and lashed his attacker across the face with it. A surprisingly human cry followed, and the hunched figure fell back. Now more creatures were coming at them, and Galen and Walter whipped at them as best they could.

"Stop there!" with a surge of panic, Galen saw that one of the figures had gone around them and was attempting to climb the ivy on the palace wall. It grew all the way to the princess's windows, and though it would not hold a grown man's weight, these...beings...were slender and seemed almost insubstantial. "I said stop!" Galen rushed after the figure, switching it across the back.
Above them, a window flew open. (pages 61-62)

What do these creatures have to do with the princesses' midnight ball?

Author Website: www.jessicadaygeorge.com

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Riordan, Rick. The Last Olympian. Disney Hyperion. 2009. New York, NY.


ISBN 13: 978-142310147-5. Hardback, $17.99.

Book Awards:
*Starred Review* Kirkus
*Starred Review* Booklist
#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
#1 Los Angeles Times Bestseller

Annotation:
Percy Jackson is back in this conclusion to the Olympians series. Percy and his friends work against time to stop the Titans from their quest to overthrow Olympus.

Booktalk:
A half-blood child of the eldest gods,
Shall reach sixteen against all odds.
And see the world in endless sleep,
The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap.
A single choice shall end his days.
Olympus to preserve or raze. (pg 55)

Against all odds, Percy Jackson is about to turn sixteen years old. The Titans are advancing on New York City. Their goal is to destroy Mount Olympus and throw down the Gods and install themselves as the new lords of Olympus.

Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Clarrise struggle to stop the advance of the Titans. Ferocious battles are fought between the Titans and the campers, but the inevitable choice is coming closer and closer. What will Percy choose to do?

Will Percy choose the path that will end his life, but save Olympus?

Author Website: www.rickriordan.com

November Blues by Sharon Draper

Draper, Sharon M. November Blues. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007. New York, NY.
ISBN 13: 978-1416906995. Hard Cover, $16.99.

Book Awards:
Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book
NYPL “Books for the Teen Age”
2008 Winner, African American Literary Awards Show

Annotation:
November Nelson is a senior in high school. Everything is going right for her; she is looking at getting into college and scholarships are being offered. Then comes the day when November finds out that her dead boyfriend left her more than just memories. How is she going to tell her mother? What will she decide to do?

Book Talk:

Josh Prescott died two months ago in a fraternity prank. He left behind his girlfriend, November, and his best friend and cousin, Jericho. The emotional toll on both teens has been tremendous.
Jericho has given up playing his horn and everything else that he enjoyed before Josh died. He’s gone out for football. Week after week, he hits the football field hard, hoping that the pain of football will take away the pain of missing Josh.
Much to her horror, November discovers that she is pregnant. She is on the fast track to go to college, accepting scholarships and signed up for college tours with her mom. She is now facing the hardest decisions of her life.
As we join the story, November has gone to Jericho’s house to pick up some homework. She is looking at a picture of Josh on Jericho’s desk…
“I can’t believe all the little molecules that made up Josh have simply disappeared, like…” He paused, searching for an analogy. “Like kids’ soap bubbles when they pop. Just gone. I never did like science,” he added, suddenly kicking his pillow with fury. They both watched it sail through the air and land on a pile of dirty clothes.
Then November said quietly, “not all of Josh’s atoms are gone, Jericho.”
“Huh?”
“Maybe a little piece of Josh will stick around for a while.”
“You talkin’ crazy,” Jericho said.
She leaned forward, “ I got something to tell you.”
“About chemistry class?”
“More about biology.”
“I’m not followin’. We don’t even take biology this year.”
November took a deep breath. “I’m going to have a baby, Jericho. Josh’s baby.”
Jericho inhaled sharply, as if he’d been punched in the gut, then fell back on the bed. “Are you sure?”
“How come every movie I see, that’s always the first question dudes ask? Like I’d come over here and tell you this unless I was absolutely, positively sure.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just…that’s the last thing I’d expect you to say.” He paused, his head swimming. “I would have been less surprised if you had said you were running away to join the circus!”……..
November stood up suddenly and ran out of Jericho’s room to the bathroom across the hall. She didn’t have time to close the door, and her vomiting echoed in the hallway. Jericho headed for the door in alarm.
When she walked out of the bathroom a few minutes later, she looked pale and unsteady. “Are you sure you want to help?” she asked, a wan grin on her face.
“I’m with you all the way,” he answered, and wondered what that really meant.” Pgs. 66-69


Author website: www.sharondraper.com