This week's new releases of science fiction and fantasy for kids and teenagers

Here's what's come out in the past few days (taken, as ever, from the handy list at Teens Read Too).

9-12 year olds:

Fairypedia, by DK Publishing. "From England to Iceland to your back yard, did you know that hidden fairies are everywhere? You just need to know where to look! They come in every shape, size, and temperament, from the common mischievous Pixie to the ugly, grumpy Orculli."



Night Wings, by Joseph Bruchac. "Paul has always believed in the power of dreams. He knows that they are often warnings. Warnings that should be taken very seriously. Now his nightmare visions of a predatory winged creature are becoming all too real. And though Paul has always depended on the wisdom of his Abenaki ancestors' stories to guide his footsteps, no monster tale could have prepared him for what he is about to encounter, alone, at the top of one of the most dangerous mountains in the world."

The Search for Truth: Erec Rex, Book 3, by Kaza Kingsley. "Not only does the latest contest to become king appear to be a suicide mission, but it means more than just winning the crown of Alypium; if Erec doesn't succeed, then Upper Earth could disappear forever. So Erec must set out to retrieve the five Awen from their mystical hiding places and unite them, a herculean undertaking that has laid waste to all those who have attempted it. Before this can be completed, Erec will have to put a great friend in mortal danger and decide if that friend's life is worth the survival of Upper Earth. To succeed, he must face inner battles, passions, friendships, deadly missions, and daring risks in this breathtaking adventure.

THREE'S A KROWD: MEET THE KREEPS, by Kiki Thorpe. "When Polly brags to her snooty classmate, Denise, that she and her new stepfamily live in a castle, she doesn't expect Denise to invite herself over--and she doesn't know how to hide the fact that the castle is more like a haunted mansion! If Denise discovers how strange the Kreeps are, Polly's life at school is sure to be ruined!"



Young Adult:

Damsel, by S.E. Connolly. "The dragon roared and the clearing filled with shining whiteness. The flames burned with the pure deadly brightness that can only come from dragon fire. Annie closed her eyes but the scene imprinted on her vision; The knight tall and proud with his sword raised high and the dragon on her haunches, wings spread wide above them. When she opened her eyes all that was left of him was red hot armor glowing on the ground and a skittish grey mare neighing in panic. Can a damsel ever be the one to do the rescuing? Annie Brave thinks so. Her father, one of the most famous heroes of them all, is missing, presumed eaten. With no heroes available to rescue him from the clutches of the evil wizard, Greenlott, Annie takes his book "How to Slay Dragons - and Other Advice for the Hero in Training" and sets off on a rescue mission.

Ghost Town by Richard W. Jennings. "Spencer Honesty and his mom are the last people left in Paisley, except for Chief Leopard Frog, Spence’s imaginary friend. One lonely day, Chief Leopard Frog’s carved rabbit talisman tells Spence to take his photo, so Spence digs up his late father’s camera and starts shooting photographs all around his ghost town. When the photos come back developed, he does not expect to see his old neighbor Maureen Balderson in her bedroom. Or Ma Puttering clearing weeds in her yard. They aren’t in Paisley anymore. Yet there they are."

Full Moon (Dark Guardian #2) by Rachel Hawthorne. "Lindsey is wild and reckless, a natural rebel—maybe because her entire life was laid out for her even before she was born. Her parents are among the most powerful members of the Dark Guardians, an ancient tribe of werewolves, and they arranged Lindsey's betrothal to Connor long ago. The next full moon is coming all too soon, and then her commitment to Connor will be final—no turning back. She should be happy . . . so why can't she stop thinking about gorgeous, brooding Rafe? When a dangerous threat on the pack escalates, so do tensions between Connor and Rafe. A fight over Lindsey is imminent, but will it be to the death?"

Homecoming--Ghostgirl, by Tonya Hurley. "Charlotte Usher discovers that the afterlife isn't quite what she pictured when she's forced to intern at a hotline for troubled teens. Before she can officially cross over, she'll have to be a source of guidance for one such teen. The problem is she doesn't have much advice to offer since dying hasn't exactly boosted her confidence level. But when Hawthorne High's leading, love-to-hate cheerleader Petula and her gothic little sis' Scarlet find themselves suddenly resting-in-peace in comas, Charlotte's opportunity to save them will prove to be the risk of a lifetime-for all of them."

Laughing Wolf, by Nicholas Maes. "It is the year 2213. Fifteen-year-old Felix Taylor is the last person on Earth who can speak and read Latin. In a world where technology has defeated war, crime, poverty, and famine, and time travel exists as a distinct possibility, Felix's language skills and knowledge seem out of place and irrelevant. But are they? A mysterious plague has broken out. Scientists can't stop its advance, and humanity is suddenly poised on the brink of eradication. The only possible cure is Lupus Ridens, or Laughing Wolf, a flower once common in ancient Rome but extinct for more than 2,000 years. Felix must project back to Roman times circa 71 BC and retrieve the flower. But Can he navigate through the dangers and challenges of the world of Spartacus, Pompey, Cicero? And will he find the Laughing Wolf in time to save his how family and everyone else from the Plague of Plagues?"

The Quest for the Lance: Spy Goddess, by Michael P. Spradlin. "Fresh from pounding the streets of Tokyo in her designer boots, spy goddess Rachel Buchanan is called to yet another corner of the world. When a Mithrian artifact is pinpointed deep in the thick, sticky, dark, and endangered Brazilian rainforest, Rachel packs a bikini and heads for Latin America with her spy-school friends. Of course, it being the season of Carnival in Rio, the rest of the team might have a tough time dragging her away from the greatest party ever . . . or at least long enough to beat her archrival, Simon Blankenship, to the prize."