New releases of sci fi/fantasy for kids and teens--the first half of March 2011 edition

Here are the new releases of sci fi and fanasy for kids and teens from the first half of March! My information comes, as always, from Teens Read Too, and the blurbs are from Amazon/Goodreads/the publishers.

Enjoy!

Middle Grade

AURORA: DRAGON ORB by Mark Robson. "In this final installment four dragon riders are on a mission to save their world. Elian and his dawn dragon, Aurora, lead the search for the fourth and final orb. Pursued by night dragons and helped by a World War I airman, the four dragon riders are drawn into a huge aerial battle between all the dragon enclaves. The ultimate fate of dragonkind hangs by a thread. To restore order, a terrible price must be paid."

THE BLOOMSWELL DIARIES by Louis L. Buitendag. "Benjamin Bloomswell is pleased to be staying with his uncle in America while his parents are off on another business trip. It's like a vacation. But when a series of newspaper articles, telephone calls and mysterious disappearances result in his being sent to - and having to escape from - a sinister orphanage and the criminals who run it, he knows he's somehow got to find a way back to Europe. He has to get to his sister's boarding school before anyone else does. And somehow, he has to find his parents, who are also in trouble. But how..."

CLAWS!: GOOSEBUMPS HORRORLAND, HALL OF HORRORS by R.L. Stine "The Hall of Horrors is open. Step into the nightmare! Mickey and Amanda are put in charge of their vacationing neighbors' cat, Bella. All they have to do is make sure she has enough to eat and doesn't destroy the house. Seems simple enough. But Bella escapes from the house and disappears. Mickey thinks she may have been hit by a car but there is no body. Amanda has an idea to replace the cat with a look-alike from the local pet store Cat Heaven. They find a cat that looks exactly like Bella, but the clerk won't sell it to them, so they decide to steal it. Big mistake! These cats are more than they seem to be."

DRAGONWORLD: SECRETS OF THE DRAGON DOMAIN by S. A. Caldwell. "Dragonworld: Secrets of the Dragon Domain is a richly illustrated volume showcasing a comprehensive look at the fantastic mythological world of dragons-- without the danger of being scorched. Ignite the imagination with the painstakingly detailed, gallery-like approach of illustrations that present more than you could ever imagine. The lavish artwork engages readers to look at every corner of the page, which includes dragon profiles, maps, diagrams, and inventive memorabilia. The illustrations are so detailed that little text is required to explain each unique quality of these ornate creatures."

THE FAERIE LOCKET: THE COMPANION NOVEL TO A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO FAERIES by Susan Morris. "When Jadenia finds a locket hidden in a tree, she slips into a world of faeries—and the adventure of a lifetime. The locket opens a door to a magical forest rimed in frost. Jade soon learns that the Winter Queen has escaped her prison and waits at the edge of the feywild, plotting to turn the faeries’ world and everyone in it to ice. The faeries are counting on Jade to help them for it is prophesied that the locket will push back the tide of winter. There’s just one catch. Whoever wears the locket becomes a faerie—forever. Can Jade find a way to stop the Winter Queen and go home again?"

FIRE OVER SWALLOWHAVEN: SUNDERED LANDS by Allan Frewin Jones. "Trundle, Esmeralda and Jack are racing across the skies of the Sundered Lands, in search of the nest of the wondrous phoenix bird. There they will surely find the Crown of Fire, third of the six lost crowns of the ancient Badger Lords. Well, that's the plan, but first they must survive a terrible battle in the skies over the city of Swallowhaven, with Captain Grizzletusk and his pirate fleet.

And if they do live to tell the tale - can they be sure in the end that the extraordinary phoenix will choose to help them?"

GHOSTS OF THE TITANIC by Julie Lawson. "A teenage boy finds himself caught up in a century-old mystery aboard the Titanic! Kevin and his family are enroute to Halifax to check out a house they have mysteriously inherited from a man named Angus Seaton -- mysterious because none of them have any clue who he was or why they would be named in his will. While at the house, Kevin does his own investigating and discovers some old artifacts hidden behind a wall, including enigmatic photographs dating back to 1911, which show a young woman and her baby. This puzzling discovery leads to troubling dreams for Kevin -- haunting dreams and a voice that plagues him, a voice he cannot escape. Someone -- somewhere -- needs his help. One night he tries to answer the call, and finds himself in another reality, another time, in a flooded corridor... ...aboard the ship Titanic. In this ghostly new mystery by award-winning writer Julie Lawson, the terror, anxiety and reality of the sinking of the Titanic comes to life, as a teenage boy tries to right the wrongs of the past and put some troubled souls to rest."

JIGGY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: JIGGY MCCUE by Michael Lawrence. "What would you do if you were attacked by vampires? Edwardian butcher's son Jiggy Offal-Trype knows what he'd do. Run. But he can't. He has to fight back. Luckily, he has these killer new skills...

A fang-tastically funny new story from a bestselling author."

LOST & FOUND by Shaun Tan. "A collection of three jaw-dropping stories: THE RED TREE, THE LOST THING, and THE RABBITS, by New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Shaun Tan

A girl finds a bright spot in a dark world. A boy leads a strange, lost creature home. And a group of peaceful creatures loses their home to cruel invaders. Three stories, written and illustrated by Shaun Tan, about how we lose and find what matters most to us. Never widely available in the U.S., these tales are presented in their entirety with new artwork and author's notes."

MADELINE THE MERMAID by Anna Fienberg. "Some people tell stories about mermaids and their wild, wicked ways, but Madeline is the friendliest mermaid anyone could meet She lives in a conch shell, and when she sings, a golden light flashes from her tail. Still, not all the creatures under the sea are friendly, and Madeline faces some bad ones in these four tales. Will Madeline be swallowed up by the monster Kraken or be bored to death by the talkative Pufferfish? Can she escape the Sea Harpy with her hair of hissing snakes? Can she prevent a war of magic between the rival Sea Witches—a war that would mean the end for all sea creatures?"

MASTER OF MIRRORS: A MAGIC REPAIR SHOP BOOK by Amanda Marrone. "Maggie has discovered a kobold—a creature similar to a house brownie but with an evil bent. Her grandfather trapped a particular kobold thirty years ago to keep it away from Maggie’s father, but the creature has escaped and is out to punish Maggie's family. Narrowly escaping the creature in her house, Maggie and Hasenpfeffer head to Mr. McGuire’s Magic Repair Shop to repair the spell and end up in a tricky spot thanks to Milo the Magnificent. Milo may still be trapped in the magice mirror, but he's trying to get out, and in the kobold he may have found someone to help him--even if that includes kidnapping Fiona and Mr. McGuire! Can Maggie foil Milo's plans, stop the kobold, rescue her friends, and escape the mirror maze? Or will she be stuck inside forever?"

THE SECRET OF ROVER by Rachel Wildavsky. "The Secret of Rover follows the clever and resourceful twins Katie and David as they race across country in their attempt to outwit an international team of insurgents who hold their parents and baby sister captive in a foreign land. Held hostage because they invented a spy technology called Rover that can locate anyone in the world, Katie and David’s parents are in grave danger. Now, it’s up to Katie and David to rescue them. But first they must find their reclusive uncle, whom they have never met—the only person they know who can help them."

THE TROUBLE WITH CHICKENS: A J.J. TULLY MYSTERY by Doreen Cronin. "J.J. Tully is a former search-and-rescue dog who is trying to enjoy his retirement after years of performing daring missions saving lives. So he’s not terribly impressed when two chicks named Dirt and Sugar (who look like popcorn on legs), along with their chicken mom, show up demanding his help to track down their missing siblings. Driven by the promise of a cheeseburger, J.J. begins to track down clues. Is Vince the Funnel hiding something? Are there dark forces at work—or is J.J. not smelling the evidence that’s right in front of him?"

Young Adult

AFTERLIFE: EVERNIGHT by Claudia Gray. "Destiny awaits Bianca and Lucas . . .Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling. Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help . . . Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her. A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They've overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges after life."

AFTERWAR by Gloria Skurzynski. "There’s only one thing more deadly than disease, more destructive than the forces of nature: jealousy. It’s been years since the world was nearly destroyed by natural disasters, but even the biggest earthquake couldn’t shake the evils of mankind. Of course, Corgan and Brigand are not normal human beings. Brigand is the product of a cloning experiment gone wrong and Corgan was conceived and raised in a sterile environment, conditioned to be a hero for the Federation’s virtual wars. They aren’t typical humans, but they are still flesh and blood. And their virtual competition spills over into the real world when the beautiful, rebellious Sharla comes between them. Corgan’s adventure, which began with Devastation, continues as Brigand launches an attack to eliminate his rival. Corgan is about to see that even battles fought with mind controlled avatars can have very high personal stakes."

BETRAYAL: HAUNTING EMMA by Lee Nichols. "Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great when she's battling the wraith-master Neos, but terrible when she's flirting with fellow ghostkeeper (and soul mate) Bennett. When ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power, and that's not something Bennett can handle. Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school with fellow ghostkeeper, Natalie. When a new team of ghostkeepers arrive-one a snarky teen boy, the other a British scholar-Emma finds solace in training for the battle against Neos. But as the team grows stronger, they are threatened by an unknown force. One they thought was good. As chilling and page-turning as Deception, this sequel will grab readers and hold them to the last page. No one is safe from suspicion as Emma closes in on the traitor."

BLOOD & FLOWERS by Penny Blubaugh. "Three years ago, Persia ran away from her drug-addict parents and found a home with the Outlaws, an underground theater troupe. This motley band of mortals and fey, puppeteers and actors, becomes the loving family Persia never had, and soon Persia not only discovers a passion for theater but also falls in love with Nicholas, one of the other Outlaws. Life could not be more perfect. Until an enemy with a grudge makes an unfair accusation against the group and forces them to flee the mortal world and hide in the neighboring realm of Faerie. But in Faerie, all is not flowers and rainbows—with bloodthirsty trolls, a hostile monarchy, and a dangerous code of magic, the fey world is not quite the safe haven the Outlaws had hoped for. And they must decide what’s more important: protecting their right to perform or protecting themselves."

BLUE BLOOD: PULSE by Kailin Gow. "With an early acceptance to Yale, Kalina is set to graduate from Rutherford High School and becoming a Yale Blue student, putting behind all the tragedies of her past. But on a visit to Yale, Kalina makes a discovery that will change her destiny. In this pivotal book to the PULSE Vampire series, Blue Blood, everything you knew about Life's Blood will change as Kalina meets her maker. One of her vampire loves will die, another will be turned, and another will break her heart forever."

THE CHAOS: NUMBERS by Rachel Ward. "The curse of the NUM8ERS continues in Rachel Ward's CHA0T1C, earth-shattering sequel!

Adam has more than inherited his mother's curse: When he looks in someone's eyes, he not only sees the date of their death...he feels the searing, shocking pain of it. Since Jem died, Adam has lived by the sea with his great-grandmother, Val. But when rising tides flood the coast, they return to London. The city is an alien, exciting, frightening place. Most disturbing of all, Adam can't help but clock how many people's numbers are in January 2027; how many are on New Year's Day. What chaos awaits the world? Can he and Sarah stop a catastrophe? Or are they, too, counted among the "twenty-sevens"?"

CLARITY by Kim Harrington. "When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth? This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift. And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?"

CYBER TERROR: JORDAN STRYKER by Malcolm Rose. "Bionic agent Jordan Stryker returns with a new mission, new foe and even greater danger. When planes start falling from the sky with no warning and even less explanation, Unit Red has no option but to send out their top recruit - Jordan Stryker, cybernetically-enhanced secret agent - to uncover the truth. In a race against time, Stryker is drawn deep into the hidden world of the Dark Web - the digital catacombs of websites long since abandoned, replaced by newer, better technologies, and unreachable by any search engine. Using these hidden channels, a criminal mastermind is wreaking havoc in the skies using electromagnetic bombs that burn out circuits and render any electronic device unusable, including those in Stryker's implants. Jordan is going to need every ounce of cunning to track down this deadly foe in a mission where his cyber-enhancements are less of an advantage and more of a liability. Fast-paced, action-packed and all too believable, 'Jordan Stryker' is a gripping thriller from the best-selling author of 'Kiss of Death'."

DARK MIRROR by M.J. Putney. "Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted . . . by magic.

When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.

But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth."

DEMONGLASS: A HEX HALL NOVEL by Rachel Hawkins. "Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Acher to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?"

EVERCROSSED: KISSED BY AN ANGEL by Elizabeth Chandler. "It’s been a year since Ivy’s boyfriend, Tristan, died. They’ve both moved on—Tristan to the other side of the afterlife, and Ivy to sweet, dependable Will. Now Ivy’s heading to Cape Cod, hoping to leave the horror of last summer behind. She wants nothing more than to lie on the beach, sip lemonade, and hang out with her friends. But then a car crash ends Ivy’s life.

As she floats to the beyond, looking down on the life she’s left behind, Tristan breathes life back into her with a passionate kiss. She wakes up in the hospital, surrounded by Will and her family, but all she can think about is the love that she lost. But memories aren’t all that’s come back from the past. And this time, Ivy’s not sure love will be enough to save her."

EXCALIBUR: THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR by Tony Lee Arthur Pendragon was raised in obscurity, but fate will not leave him to the shadows. In a moment of desperate need, he draws a legendary sword from its stonebed and commences the life he was born to lead. A series of adventures sparked by the elusive wizard Merlin launches Arthur through love and betrayal, domination and defeat, and toward the prophesied end awaiting him. Merging a faithful retelling with dynamic illustrations, EXCALIBUR invites long-time fans to relive the legend and those new to the story to experience it up close in a vivid graphic adventure.

FALLING UNDER by Gwen Hayes. "Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul."

A FLICKERING FIRE by Alexandria Cramer. "Join Fiammetta, a young traveling entertainer, as she embarks on a journey that will change the course of a kingdom. An outcast among her own people, she possesses the power to create and control fire; it is this power that embroils her in the plot of the cruel King Nicholas, who as killed his brother and usurped the throne. Framed for the murder, Fiammetta must buy her family's freedom by accepting the King's quest to find the Gavino Claw. With her cursed companion, Paolo, she must endure an arduous journey that will either bring her face to face with destiny, or end her life."

HUMAN.4 by Mike A. Lancaster. "Kyle Straker volunteered to be hypnotized at the annual community talent show, expecting the same old lame amateur acts. But when he wakes up, his world will never be the same. Televisions and computers no longer work, but a strange language streams across their screens. Everyone’s behaving oddly. It’s as if Kyle doesn’t exit.

Is this nightmare a result of the hypnosis? Will Kyle wake up with a snap of fingers to roars of laughter? Or is this something much more sinister?

Narrated on a set of found cassette tapes at an unspecified point in the future, Human.4 is an absolutely chilling look at technology gone too far."

THE HUNT OF THE UNICORN by Chris Humphreys. "Elayne thinks the old family story that one of her ancestors stepped through a tapestry into a world of mythical beasts makes a great fireside tale. But she lives in the real world. In New York City. And she's outgrown that kind of fantasy.

Until she finds herself in front of a unicorn tapestry at the Cloisters museum and sees her initials woven into the fabric. And hears a unicorn calling to her. And slips and falls—into that other world.

Suddenly the line between fantasy and reality isn't so clear. But the danger is real enough. Almost before she can think, Elayne is attacked by a ferocious beast, rescued by a unicorn, and taken prisoner by a tyrant king. Each of them seems to have an idea about her—that she's a hero, a villain, dinner!

But Elayne has a few ideas of her own. She wants to overthrow the king; she wants to tame the unicorn. She wants to go home! And she's willing to become both hero and villain to do it."

THE LIMPING MAN: THE SALT TRILOGY by Maurice Gee. "In this compelling final volume of The Salt Trilogy, Hana narrowly escapes Blood Burrow after her mother chooses to swallow poison rather than die in the great witch-burning in People's Square. Deep in the forest she meets Ben, son of Lo, and Hawk, who becomes her silent protector and guide. But even in the forest there is no peace. When they learn of the advancing armies that will wipe out all those who have sought refuge in the wilderness, they realize they have no choice but to return to the city and confront the terrible power of the Limping Man head-on. The problem is they know that, unless they discover the secret to his power, none of them—alone or together—is strong enough to fight the evil the Limping Man embodies."

MAY: DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA by Kathryn Lasky. "May feels her life drying up. The sea calls to her, but her parents forbid her from swimming. She longs for books, but her mother finds her passion for learning strange. She yearns for independence, but a persistent suitor, Rudd, wants to tame her spirited ways. Yet after her fifteenth birthday, the urge to break free becomes overpowering and May makes a life-changing discovery. She does not belong on land where girls are meant to be obedient. She is a mermaid-a creature of the sea.

For the first time, May learns what freedom feels like-the thrill of exploring both the vast ocean and the previously forbidden books. She even catches the eye of Hugh, an astronomy student who, unlike the townspeople, finds May anything but strange. But not everyone is pleased with May's transformation. Rudd decides that if can't have May, no one will. He knows how to destroy her happiness and goes to drastic measures to ensure that May loses everything: her freedom and the only boy she's ever loved."

MY SO-CALLED PHANTOM LOVELIFE by Tamsyn Murray. "When fourteen-year-old Skye Thackery meets Owen Wicks, it’s not exactly love at first sight. She’s getting over a broken heart and he’s — well — a ghost. But as Sky gets to know him, she can’t help wondering what it would be like to kiss him. Dating a ghost isn’t easy, and things get worse when Owen declares he’s found a way to stay with Skye forever. His plans make her uneasy — the shadowy organisation which claims to be able to help him is bad news, and it seems Nico, her ex, is involved too. As Owen prepares to risk everything, Skye begins to wonder if she really has a future with him, or if his desire to be more than just a ghost will cost them everything."

PERCIVAL'S ANGEL by Anne Eliot Crompton. "Lili, an apprentice of the Lady of the Lake, is the childhood friend of Percy, the boy who will become one of Arthur's greatest knights. But as they grow older, Lili begins to see their differences. She has otherworldly magic while he has the magic that lives within the Human Heart. Lili dreams of knowing human love while Percy dreams of finding the Holy Grail. Neither can succeed without the other."

SUMMER: BEAUTIFUL DEAD by Eden Maguire. "It's been months since Darina has seen her undead boyfriend and her heart is breaking all over again. The wait is slowly driving her crazy. All she wants to do is be with Phoenix, to feel his arms wrapped around her. But to earn the pleasure of that embrace, Darina must track down the crazed killer that shot Summer Madison. Was it a random shooting? Or was the gifted singer the victim of an obsessive fan? As time runs out, Darina will risk her own life to discover the truth. But if she solves Summer's murder, Darina knows it only brings her one step closer to losing Phoenix forever..."

THE VERSPERTINE by Saundra Mitchell. "It's the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia's world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she's not the seer of dark portents, but the cause."