Spells by Arilynne Pike

Pike, Aprilynne.  Spells.  Harper Teen. 2010. New York, NY.

Annotation:
Sixteen year old Laurel has been living among humans for most of her life.  She has been chosen to guard the land surrounding the gate to Avalon.  In order to be a better steward of her land, she has been called home to Avalon for the summer to learn how to use her talents as a Fall Faerie to protect her land, her home, and the people that she loves.


Booktalk:
Laurel has been happily living the life of a human for most of her sixteen years, totally unaware of the fact that she is a faerie. She discovered the truth about herself when she burst into flower last year.  Having finally come to grips with the fact that she is a faerie, she has been summoned home to Avalon for the summer.  Here she will learn more about her powers as a Fall Faerie, and learn about the world of faeire that she left at the age of seven.

Laurel's job in the human world is to inherit the land that houses the gate to Avalon.  Many evil and fey creatures would love to access the gate that would allow them to access Avalon and destroy everyone who dwells within.  Living in the human world, Laurel is always at risk of being captured by one of these creatures.  Trolls have been stalking her for years now, they want access to the gate, and nothing is going to stop them from getting what they want.

When Laurel's human best friend, Chelsea is captured by the trolls, Laurel must make a choice for the future of Avalon.

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

Reviewer's Note:  I was enchanted by this book.  This is the second book in a series.  This is a stand alone book.  Not having read the first book, I was easily able to follow the plot line and was introduced to each new to me character.  All of the characters were in the first book, but the author took the time to remind the reader who the characters were and how they were important to the original story line.
Also, I downplayed the love triangle between Laurel, Tamani and David.  It is a compelling story line.  Although this is not a vampire book, I do think that readers who are looking for a read-alike to Twilight would enjoy this.

An Apology

I haven't been able to post recently, and I apologize.  My father in law was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer 12 weeks ago.  He was admitted into Hospice Care 3 weeks ago, and passed away 2 weeks ago.  The funeral was last week.

I have been so tied up in our family life that I haven't been able to keep up with my reading.  I finally made it to the library today to pick up new books.  Unfortunately, this time of year, most books that are out on display or on the new shelves are Macabe or Horror.  I really felt the need to find something light and funny this week, but I had a hard time finding something that fit my guidelines.

I have read each and every book that I post on here.  I only post the books that I enjoy reading.  I can't, in good conscience, recommend a book that I really don't like.

This leads me to my problem for the day.  I pulled many books off the shelves, and began looking for something light and funny.  I found two promising books.  The first one put me to sleep within the first ten pages.  Now, keep in mind, I was in the middle of the library, surrounded by strangers and I fell sound asleep.  Once I finally jerked awake, I flipped to the halfway point in the book to see if the story improved at all once I got past the awkward beginning.  Once again, I jerked awake unexpectedly.  This time, I had read an astounding 5 pages.  Needless to say, I did not check that book out.

I do have a new book that I will be reviewing in a few days.  It's going to take a while for me to get back into the "groove" of reading and publishing after the events of our last few months, but I hope to get back into a regular publishing schedule within a month.

How to Survive Middle School

Donna. How to Survive Middle School Delacorte Press, a division of Random House, Inc. New York, N.Y.


Annotation:
David Greenberg struggles through the horrors of beginning middle school.  Most of his friends have gone to the other middle school in town.  David's best friend disowns him, and he unexpectedly finds himself with a new girl best friend.  Just when David thinks life can't get any worse, he finds himself targeted by the school bully.




Book Talk:
David is your average, ordinary, every day sixth grade student who aspires to be a talk show host when he grows up.  His goal is to one day take over the Daily Show from John Stewart.  In preparation for his future career plans, David produces his own web video entitled "Talk Time", where he interviews magazine covers of his favorite stars, adds his daily top 6 1/2 list, includes a daily zit forecast, and edits in footage of his hamster, Hammie.  He then posts "Talk Time" to YouTube, where it sits, ignored by everyone.

But when middle school starts, David finds his life is suddenly more complicated than he ever imagined.  His best friend has deserted him.  He is the target of the school bully, Tommy Murphy.  And, he finds himself with a new best friend - a freckled red head named Sophie. 

When Sophie begins e-mailing out links to David's Talk Time videos to her friends, well...David's life takes some twists and turns he never expected.  Could his video truly be going viral?  Could that truly be the newspaper calling to ask him for an interview?  Could any of the kids at Harman Middle school care less?


Author's Web Site:
Donna Gephart
Be sure to check out the Hammie Time video on her web page!

Disclosure Notice: This post contains links to my Amazon Affiliates account.  By purchasing through this link, you support this blog.  Thank You!

Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia

Paolini, Christopher Eragon's Guide to Algaesia.  2010.  Alfred A. Knopf, Publishers.  New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-0-375-85823-9.  Hardback, $24.99.

Annotation:
A pictorial guide to the mythical land of Algaesia, the setting for the Eldest Trilogy, written by Christopher Paolini.



Book Talk:
Eragon was a boy like any other, living with his uncle and cousin outside of a small town, deep in the Spine Mountains.  Eragon loved the land around him, and enjoyed hearing the tales of the old story teller, Brom, who lived in the village.

And then, one mystical day changed Eragon's life forever.  Startled by the sudden appearance of a beautiful large rock in the mountains one day while hunting, Eragon decides to take the rock home to see if he can sell it.  Once he brings the rock home, Eragon discovers that it contains a secret... a life altering secret.  For the rock is actually a dragon egg.  And once Eragon and the baby dragon meet, Eragon becomes a dragon rider.  As the only living dragon rider aside from the king, Eragon's life and destiny change forever.

This book introduces the reader to the land of Algaesia, and the rich history of the continent, the elves, the dwarves, and the history of the dragon riders.
Richly illustrated throughout, this book contains detailed maps, stunning artwork, and dozens of "lift the flap" type pages within pages of still more information about the mystical, magical land called Algaesia that readers yearn to know more about.

Reviewer's Note:
This richly illustrated book is best shared in a face-to-face book talk.  The illustrated pictures of the knights, the fold out pages that reveal more detailed information, and the textured cover as well as tactile samples within the book make this a true treasure that any Eragon fan will find difficult to put down.

Author's Web Site:
Christopher Paolini

The Adventures of Jack Lime

Leck, James.  The Adventures of Jack Lime.  2010.  Kids Can Press, LTD.

Annotation:
Written in the style of a 1940's Hollywood Detective movie, this short story collection of mysteries involves the teenage detective, Jack Lime.  Jack solves mysteries surrounding his high school - Iona High School.

Book Talk:
Jack Lime is a gumshoe, or a P.I.  He solves problems for his classmates at Iona High School.  Jack is new to the school, and the students have decided that he is the perfect outsider to help them solve problems.  Join Jack as he solves three mysteries: The Case of the Broken Lock, The Case of the Daily Telegraph, and The Case of the Big Dupe. 

As of this writing, this author does not have a web site.

A.D. New Orleans, After the Deluge

Neufeld, Josh. A.D. New Orleans, After the Deluge. 2009. Pantheon Books, New York, NY.

ISBN: 978-0-307-37814-9. Hardback, $24.95.

Annotation:
A.D. follows the lives of 5 different families in the days before and after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005. This graphic novel vividly details the destruction, and the lives of the survivors who stayed through the hurricane, and of those who left just ahead of the storm.

Book Talk:
Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on August 25, 2005. With winds topping 140 miles an hour, the storm brought tremendous devastation. When the levees were breached and the city flooded, life changed forever for those families who called New Orleans home.

Follow the stories of 5 families as they face the indecision in the days before the hurricane struck to the tragedy that followed the hurricane. Whether you left ahead of the hurricane or stayed behind, the hurricane has left an imprint upon the souls of thousands of New Orleans residents.

Reviewer's Note:
This book is hard to book talk. The pictures speak for themselves, but since this is a copyrighted book, I can not publish the pictures from the book here. If I were to booktalk this in front of a real, live group of kids, I would open this book to the pages of the Hurricane striking New Orleans, and the pictures of life in the city in the days immediately after the levees were breached. I think seeing those pictures would be enough to get anyone to want to read the book. I also believe that I would read the "who's who" section of characters at the beginning of the book. This is a powerful book. The cover drew me in, and once I started reading it, I could not stop until I finished it. Set aside the time to read it in one sitting.

Second Note:
The author of this book is a Red Cross volunteer. He was in the Gulf Coast in the days immediately after Katrina. The events in this book are all true. The stories are the stories of Katrina survivors. Names and some details have been changed to protect privacy. But, when you read this book and realize that it is TRUE....wow. It is a humbling, must read book for all of us.

Author's Web Page:
Josh Neufeld Comics and Stories

The Guardians of Ga-Hoole

Lasky, Kathryn. The Guardians of Ga-Hoole, The Capture. 2003. Scholastic. New York, New York.

ISBN 13: 978-0-439-40557-7. Softcover, $5.99.

Annotation:
Soren, a young barn owl is kidnapped by the evil owls of St. Aggie's. If he is to survive with his mind intact, he must find a way to withstand the cruel treatment he is undergoing. With the help of a young pygmy owl named Gylfie, the two owls struggle to survive the nightmare that is St. Aggie's.

Book Talk:
The loving barn owl family in the kingdom of Tyto has just welcomed three new hatchlings into their family. Kludd, Soren, and Eglantine. Each of the nestlings was hatched a week or more apart from the others.

Soren is the middle owl. Full of love for his young sister Eglantine, and curiosity over the beatiful world in which he lives, Soren rejoices in each new ceremony. First meat, first insect, first fur on meat, first meat on bones, branching....all of these ceremonies help a young owl grow up and prepare him for life in his own hollow.

However, there is a mystery afoot. Hatchlings are disappearing out of the nests. Eggs are being taken. No owl family is safe.

On the fateful day when Soren tumbles out of the hollow and to the ground far, far below, his quiet simple life is changed forever.

Snatched by the owls from St. Aggies he is taken to an orphanage to be indoctrinated. Subjected to moon blinking, moon scalding, and other mind-washing techniques, Soren struggles to maintain his true identity.

Soren is fortunate when he finds Gylfie, a pygmy owl who is able to withstand the mind control techniques. Together, Soren and Gylfie discover the horrible, terrible truth of what is going on in St. Aggies. They begin to plot a desperate plan of escape.

Reviewer's Note:
The Guardian's of Ga'Hoole will be released as a movie at the end of this month. I have enjoyed this series since it was first released, and I chose to reread the book for this review because it will be a movie. However, I don't know that I will ever see the movie. It has been my experience that very, very few movies ever live up to the promise of the book. The plot is frequently twisted and watered down in order to make the tale fit the constraints of a 2 hour (or less) time limit for a movie.

Don't get me wrong, the previews of the movie look amazing. The digital animation is nothing short of astounding. I'm just worried about how well the tale will be told. I hope someone who is a die-hard fan of the book who does go see the movie will let me know what they think. :)

Author Web Site:Kathryn Lasky

  

The Bad Queen

Meyer, Carolyn. The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie-Antoinette. 2010. Harcourt Children's Books, New York.

Annotation:
A list of instructions for a young Princess given to her by her mother. This list of instructions is intended to guide a young Marie-Antoinette in the ways best to lead a kingdom as Queen. The young queen finds herself thrown from her comfortable court life in Austria to a strange new home in France, where her mother's instructions should guide her every step.

Book Talk:
Young Antoinette of Austria has been promised in marriage to Lois since the age of nine. She spends every moment of every day learning how to walk, dance, dress, and speak in the French fashion.

On the appointed day, Antoinette is sent in a carriage to her new husband in her new homeland, France. She finds that, although she is well schooled in the language, the rules of court are stifling. She also finds herself surrounded by people who do not trust her because she is Austrian, and the French and Austrians have been enemies for centuries.

As Antoinette struggles to adapt to French court life, she finds herself struggling to find friends. She begins throwing lavish parties and balls every week. Beautiful new gowns are ordered for every occasion, each more lavish than the last. Hours are spent on memorable hairstyles that become the talk of Europe.

As the talk of Antoinette continues, she is warned continuously by the Treasurer, The Austrian Minister, her Mother, and her brother that she must reign in her spending. Her subjects, the people of France are talking about her expenses and her lavish lifestyle. As Antoinette continues to undertake ever more lavish projects, her subjects are starving.

Across the Ocean, a group of 13 colonies have broken free from England. The people of France have sent troops and support to the new country. Talk begins to swirl in France of a new way of governing the country.

Author's Web Site:Carolyn Meyer

Fire

Cashore, Kristin. Fire. 2009. Fire. Dial Books

ISBN-13: 9780803734616. Hardcover, $17.99

Annotation:
In the kingdom of the Dells, King Nash struggles to maintain control of the kingdom he inherited from his father. Where his father, King Nash ruled for years in a reign of terror, mercilessly enforced by his monster advisor who had the ability to control the minds of his subjects, King Nash wishes to rule his kingdom with less force.

However, the monster advisor of the king had one child, Fire, a daughter, who also has the power to rule the minds of his subjects. Fire refuses to use her power to coerce people to do the bidding of others.

As the power struggle for control of the Dells intensifies, Fire finds herself drawn into the middle of all factions, asked to use her powers for the good of the kingdom.

Book Talk:
Fire is the daughter of Cansrel, the advisor to King Nash. Cansrel was a monster/human crossover. Beautiful and compelling, monsters are able to draw people in with their beauty and control their minds to do their own bidding. Cansrel used this power to enable King Nax to keep an iron control over his kingdom. When fear of Cansrel was not enough to control the populace, the very real pain inflicted by Cansrel was the persuasion used to convince everyone to "go along" with whatever the King wanted.

Although Fire's mother was human, she is a monster because of her father's blood. She too has her father's beauty, and his ability to control minds. She is the last human/monster hybrid in the kingdom.

As the story begins, King Nax and Cansrel have died, and King Nash has taken his father's place on the throne. Unable to control the minds of his people, Nash strives to rule them with their hearts. An uneasy peace has descended onto the Dells.

With dangerous neighbors surrounding him on all sides, Nash turns to Fire for help. He desperately needs her mental abilities. He needs to find out who his enemies are, what they want to do, and when they plan on doing those things. There is just one problem. Fire refuses to become the mind-controlling monster that her father was. She will never use her powers to force people to do something against their will.

Fire is pursuaded to come to the Royal City by Brigan, Nash's brother. As Fire spends time with Brigan, and in the court with the Royal Family, she begins to see where her powers would be helpful.

Will Fire agree to help the kingdom in this time of great turbulence? Will she succumb to the lure of power? And is it possible that her power is even more powerful than she had ever thought?

Author Web Site:
Kristin Cashore

Reviewer's Notes:
Fire is a companion novel to the book Graceling. Fire is set in the kingdom to the East of the mountains from the Seven Kingdoms in Graceling. The action in Fire takes place about 20-ish years before Graceling.

I found a very cool video promoting Fire on Amazon. I'm not sure I can load it onto this page without taking up too much bandwidth, but you can link to it here: Fire Video. You'll have to scroll down the page, it's just past the "big" sales information, and before the professional book reviews. Enjoy!

Fire Will Fall

Plum-Ucci, Carol. 2010. Fire Will Fall. Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt. Boston, Mass. and New York, NY. USA.

ISBN-13: 978-0152165628. Hardcover.

The Publisher Recommends this book for Grades 9 and up.



Annotation:
Four Teenagers, known as the "Trinity Falls Four" have survived a biological attack masterminded by a group of terrorists known as Shadow Strike, headed by the mysterious leader known only as "Omar".

The teens are sent to a remote mansion in New Jersey for 24 hour medical care and supervision. As the teens struggle to deal with their potentially fatal disease, it becomes clear that Shadow Strike is still very much a threat to National Security. Even more, they are determined to finish what they began with the Trinity Falls victims.

Book Talk:
Terrorism. Every day since 9/11, people have wondered "will it ever happen again"?
In the book Fire Will Fall, we see the aftermath of a world where a bio-terror attack has already happened. In the first book in the series, the water of Trinity Falls, New Jersey had been poisoned by a shadowy terror group known as Shadow Strike. The water was poisoned with a mysterious bio-chemical agent known only as Q-3.

Four teenagers: Scott, Cora, Rain, and Owen survived the attack and are recuperating in a remote mansion where they have access to round the clock medical care and protection. As the teenagers struggle to survive the potentially fatal antigen, they also struggle to deal with their identities. Forced to spend time alone and with only each other for company, each person struggles to find out exactly who they are and what they want out of life.

As the teenagers live in the relative safety of the mansion, we find out more about the other two teens from the first book. Shahzad and Tyler were the virtual spies (v-spies) who first cracked the computer codes and found out what was going on in Trinity Falls. They were also attacked by Shadow Strike, but with a disease called Tularemia. Tyler and Shahzad struggle to survive and stay hidden in Tyler's house as they search the internet for more information on their enemies.

However, no one is as safe as they seem. Tyler and Shahzad track Shadow Strike as they prepare to make a deadly move against an amusement park and the Trinity Four. Even as the boys attempt to send information to let the Trinity Four know they are in danger, Shadow Strike comes knocking at their front door.

Will anyone survive the attacks in this fast paced race against time?

Reviewer's Note: This book picks up where the book Streams of Babel left off. While this is a stand - alone story, readers will enjoy going back to Streams of Babel to find the back stories of all the main characters.

Author's Web Site:
Carol Plum Ucci

Does My Head Look Big in This?

Abdel-Fattah, Randa. 2007. Does My Head Look Big in This? Scholastic. New York, NY.

ISBN 13:978-0439919470

The Publisher Recommends this book for grades 7 and up.


Annotation:
The hijab is the traditional headscarf worn by Muslim women when they are in public. Amal, a native Australian-Palestenian teenager living in a suburb of Melbourne, makes a life changing decision when she decides to wear the hijab. Amal's decision sparks controversy within her family and her school as her friends and relatives struggle to understand her decision to make such a public statement of her faith.

Book Talk:
How does an outward statement of your faith affect the way you act in public?

Amal attends McCleans Prep School in Melbourne. She is in the middle of her Junior Year. Four days before her third term at school starts, Amal makes the decision to wear the Hijab.

Wearing a hijab is a risky move. Amal will be proclaiming to the world, everywhere she goes, that she is a devout Muslim. Her actions will be on display to the world, for all to see and judge and hold to a higher standard. What concerns her the most is that, in a post 9-11 world, she is making herself an easy target for anyone who wants to "get even" with a Muslim.

Amal's family desperately attempts to convince her to forgo the hijab at school, Amal insits that she is ready for the challenge.

When she reports back to school for the first day after break, all talk comes to an end when she walks into her classes wearing the veil. People whisper, stare, and make comments behind her back. None of this bothers her, as she fears the reaction of only one person in her school: Adam.

As Amal struggles through this particular faith walk, we begin to see the similarities we all share with a young girl making her way through the tangles of high school. But, as the day of the big debate nears, and a night club in Bali is blown up by Islamic Extremists, Amal struggles with the decision of whether or not she should remove her hijab in public for her own safety and sanity.

How will this very outward statement of faith affect Amal's life?


Author Website:Randa Abdel-Fattah

Peter and the Sword of Mercy

Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson. 2009. Peter and the Sword of Mercy. Hyperion Books. New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-1423121343

The publisher recommends this book for grades 4-8.



Annotation:
Set twenty three years after the book Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, this story begins where it left off, with Peter the forever boy living on Mollusk Island and tormenting Captain Hook. However, in London, time has moved forward. Molly has married George Darling and has three children: Wendy, Michael and John.

When James, one of the former lost boys approaches her about a threat to the monarchy, star stuff, and Lord Ombra, Wendy begins a search to find the truth. When both Molly and James disappear, daughter Wendy goes on a quest to find the mysterious Peter to convince him to help her find her mother.

Book Talk
Starstuff. Lord Ombra. A mysterious sword of mercy. The Starcatchers. These are all things of legend, of children's tales. Or are they?

In the twenty three years since Molly left Peter on Mollusk Island, many things have changed. Molly has married George Darling and has three children, Wendy, Michael and John. As Molly has gotten older, she has done her best to forget about her past as a Starcatcher and the wonderful boy named Peter. As time goes on, it is easier and easier for Molly to forget her past.

On Mollusk Island, Peter lives much as he always has. Doomed to spend forever as a 13 year old by the Starstuff, Peter lives on the island with the other forever boys, tormenting Captain Hook. Until the day that three mysterious strangers show up on the island.

Things look like they will continue on as they always have....And then... The Queen is dying, and the new Prince will soon take over the throne. As the Queen gets sicker and sicker, the advisors to the Prince begin to mysteriously disappear until only one trusted advisor is left. One advisor who has a face like a nightmare and keeps himself surrounded in shadow. One advisor who feels much like an old shadow enemy - Lord Ombra. And Lord Ombra is searching for the Sword of Mercy - a powerful weapon which can change the course of events.

James, a former lost boy who now works for Scotland Yard meets the enemy and recognizes him for who he is. Panicked, James tracks down the only other person he knows who will believe him - Molly Darling. Molly listens to James, but doesn't believe him until James disappears and is never seen again. Determined to find James, Molly then sets out to find him and also disappears.

Confused by mysterious references to starstuff and Lord Ombra and Rundoon, Wendy tracks down her grandfather and discovers that she is a Star Catcher, one of the chosen who fight the age - long battle between good and evil.

Armed only with a small locket of Star Stuff, Wendy takes off to find the mysterious Peter in an attempt to get him to help her find Molly and stop Lord Ombra and the others from obtaining the last of the Star Stuff and reuniting the pieces of the Sword of Mercy. But, will she be able to convince Peter to join her?

Join in the exciting race against time in "Peter and the Sword of Mercy" by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.

*Reviewer's note - if you have not read the previous three books in the series, this book can be a bit confusing at first.*

Author Website: Peter and the Star Catchers 

The Kane Chronicles

Riordan, Rick. 2010. The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid. Hyperion Books, New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-1423113386. Hardcover, $17.99

Annotation:
A dangerous chain of events is begun when the ancient Egyptian Gods are unexpectedly released into the modern day world as a result of a magical accident. Estranged siblings Carter and Sadie work together to save humanity from the Egyptian God, Set.

Book Talk:
Carter lives with his Dad, a globe trotting Egyptologist. Every day is an adventure as they travel the globe to find mysterious relics from Egypt's past. Carter's sister, Sadie lives in London with her Granparents. Every year on Christmas Day, Carter and his father travel to London to spend the day with Sadie.

This particular year, Christmas began like any other year. Carter and his Dad head to London to spend the afternoon with Sadie. Unlike every other year, Dad takes Carter and Sadie for a private tour to the British Museum. When Dad blows up the Rosetta Stone in an attempt to summon an Egyptian god, things begin to get weird.

As Carter and Sadie flee for their lives, they discover that they are of an ancient Egyptian line descended from the pharaohs. Carter and Sadie set out to find thier father, stop Set, and save all of mankind while learning how to use their newfound magical powers.

Journeying from New York to Cairo and on to Phoenix, Carter and Sadie begin a race against time to stop Set from destroying the modern world.


Author Website:www.rickriordan.com

Babylonne

Jinks, Catherine. Babylonne. 2008. Candlewick Press, Cambridge, Mass.

ISBN 13: 978-0-7636-3650-0. Hardcover $18.99.

Annotation:
Babylonne is a young girl living in France during the Middle Ages. She escapes the abusive home she is living in and strikes out on her own, determined to help the rebels fight against the kingdom of France.

Booktalk:
Cathars are the sworn enemies of the Catholic Church and of Rome. When the French come in and take over a new town or territory, the first thing they do is to kill off all leaders and open followers of the Cathar faith.

Babylonne is 16 years old. She has survived six seiges by the French. She is living with her abusive Grandmother and Aunt in Languedoc in a convent of the Cathars. When she is given the news that she is to be married off to a senile old man, Babylonne decides to run away and strike out for the nearest army to fight against the French and avenge her family.

Attempting to escape in the early morning hours, Babylonne runs straight into the very last person that she wants to see- A Roman Priest. Not only does the priest offer to help Babylonne, he claims that he is the former traveling companion of the father that she has never known.

Can Babylonne trust this priest to help her escape from her horrid living situation? Will he help her escape to fight the French? Can he be trusted to do what is right for her? Did he truly know her father?

Find out in this fascinating look back at Medieval France...

Author Web Site: Catherine Jinks

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Fantaskey, Beth. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. 2009. Harcourt: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-0-15-206384-9. Hardback, $17.00.

Annotation:
In this book, Jessica meets up with her destiny. Adopted as an infant from Romania, Jessica has grown up in the United States. On the first day of her Senior year, Jessica meets a handsome foreign exchange student from Romania. The mysterious stranger is welcomed by Jessica's family and moves into the garage for their Senior year of high school. Armed with Jessica's birth name, the stranger claims that Jessica is a Vampire Princess and must return to Romania and resume her rightful place.

Book Talk:
Jessica is your normal, ordinary, every day American teenager. She loves Math, Science, and logic. She is looking forward to her Senior Year of high school and all of the excitement that comes along with your last year of school. On the first day of school, she is confronted by a mysterious stranger who calls her by her birth name. The name that no one has mentioned since her parents adopted her from Romania and brought her to the United States. Not only does he know her birth name, he claims that he is her betrothed, and that they've been engaged to marry each other since birth. Not only that, but he claims that they are vampire royalty, and their marriage is required in order to prevent a vampire war.

After a heated discussion with her parents, Jessica retreats to her room where she ruminates about her first day of school:

"And that is how a teenager who claimed to be a vampire came to reside in our garage at the start of my once-in-a-lifetime senior year. And not just any vampire. My arrogant, overbearing, vampire betrothed. The last person in hell - or from hell- I wanted to share a ride to school with, even, let alone be bound to for eternity.

I lay awake half the night thinking about my ruined life. My birth parents; cult members who swore they drank blood- and whom I'd try never, ever to think of again. There was nothing I could do about them now except put them out of my mind. Their story could - and would - remain hidden in the past.

But the future...all I'd wanted was a chance to go out with Jake Zinn, a normal guy, and instead I'd gotten a freakish fiance, right in my garage. As if everyone at school didn't already think my family was bizarre enough, with Dad's yoga and his unproductive, organic, anti-meat farm, and my mombeing the breadwinner, studying make-believe mumbo-jumbo." (pages 33-34)

Fortified by the book "Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions", Jessica strives to make sense of her world turned suddenly upside down.

Author Web Site:Beth Fantasky

Riot

ISBN 13: 978-1-60684-000-9. Hardback, $16.99.

Annotation:
The Race Riots in New York City in 1863 are a seldom noted battle of the Civil War. After the Battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln sensed the weakness in the Confederate Army and Instituted a draft to call up thousands of soldiers to finish the war. In New York City, thousands of poor Irish immigrants protested being called up for the draft to fight in a rich man's war. Riot tells the story of four days of horror in New York.

Book Talk:
Priscilla and Clare lived in New York City during the Civil War. Priscilla's father owned his own busines, and she volunteered at the Colored Orphanage. Claire worked for her father. He was saving to buy the Peacok Inn from the owner. Claire's family worked in the Inn, and buying the inn was their lifelong dream.

President Lincoln has instituted a draft to finish the war, and the Irish are protesting that it is a rich man's war. Anyone who is drafted and doesn't want to serve can pay $300 to get out of the Army. $300 was a lot of money in those days, and the Irish immigrants could not find a way to pay that kind of money.

Four intense days change the face of New York forever. As people all over the city riot to protest the war, blacks throughout the city hide from the angry mob. And caught in the middle is Claire- the daughter of a black man and an Irish woman. Claire struggles to find her identity as the city seethes around her.

Author Web Site: Walter Dean Myers

Malice

Wooding, Chris. Malice 2009. Scholastic Press, New York, NY.

ISBN 13: 978-0-545-16043-8. $14.99,, Hardcover.

*note- this book is a graphic novel/print novel hybrid.

Annotation:
Seth and Kady are friends who become concerned when their friend Luke disappears. As Seth and Kady delve deeper and deeper into the mystery behind Luke's disappearance, they find that others have disappeared before. They all have one thing in common. They had read the comic book Malice. Seth and Kady find that there are terrible rumors about the comic world Malice, that children can get drawn into Malice and do not survive. As Seth and Kady discover more about Malice, they find themselves drawn closer and closer to the terrible secret that lies within the pages of Malice.


Book Talk:
There are whispers of a secret comic book - Malice. The whispers tell of a dark world, run by an evil enemy named Tall Jake. The whispers tell that if you burn certain items and repeat the chant, you will be whisked away by Tall Jake into the world of Malice.

The comic book itself is difficult, if not impossible to find. Sold only by one comic store in London, the owner decides whether or not you are worthy to buy a copy of the comic book. The whispers tell that the print in the comic book will fade within hours of being exposed to air. If you are forutnate enough to get a copy of Malice, you will find that the characters in the comic book are drawings of kids who have disappeared without a trace.

But, the rumors surrounding Malice are just that- rumors. There is no proof that the secret world of Malice truly exists. Until the day that Luke stumbles across a copy of Malice and shares it with his best friend, Heather. Determined to show Heather that Malice isn't real, he defiantly sets the fire and says the chant. Luke disappears the next day, and is only seen again in the copy of Malice that his friend Seth manages to find.

Seth and Kady work tirelessly to find clues to Malice, to the fate of Luke, and the truth of Tall Jake. Then,Seth decides to follow in Luke's footsteps and repeat the chant calling for Tall Jake to take him to the world of Malice.

This leaves only Kady, working on the outside, attempting to convince people of the truth of a world only whispered about. But, as Kady digs deeper into the mystery behind Malice, she begins to find out some frightening truths of her own.

Will any of the children survive the world of Malice?

Author's Web Site: Chris Wooding