New releases of YA science fiction and fantasy--the beginning of April, 2011 edition

This is the YA installment of the new release of mg and YA sci fi/fantasy from the first half of April...here are the mg books. My information comes, as always, from Teens Read Too, and the blurbs are via Amazon/Goodreads/the publishers etc.

This is the sort of new releases list that inspires madness--there are so many books on here that I want to read that my little mind is blown. Faerie Winter is one I'm especially looking forward too--Bones of Faerie left me wanting more. And Akata Witch sounds awesome....and, for the first time, I pre-ordered a book just because of the author who blurbed it--Megan Whalen Turner liked The Returning, which was good enough for me. And then there's Huntress, and Red Glove, and Flip, etc etc.

(I'm sorry there aren't cover pictures, but I can't be bothered- it's a nice day, my sister's visiting, and I'm re-reading A Sudden Wild Magic, by Diana Wynne Jones. Likewise, life is too short to argue with blogger about formatting...).

101 WAYS TO BECOME A SUPERHERO...OR AN EVIL GENIUS by Richard Horne & Helen Szirtes "Ever wanted to fly like Superman?* Drive a cool car like
Batman? Smash things like the Hulk? Well, 101 Things to Do to Become a
Superhero is the book for you. Inside is everything you need to
transform yourself from mere mortal into exciting, dynamic, total
superhero material. Make things, learn amazing tricks, and be inspired
by genius ideas in order to complete the transition to object of
worship and admiration. Develop your stealth and telepathy! Identify
your nemesis! Choose your outfit! Or maybe the side of evil is more
your thing? Select a sidekick! Get a villainous chair! Either way,
your days as a mere mortal are over. . . .

*Note: Book will not actually teach you to fly."

THE ABUSED WEREWOLF RESCUE GROUP by Catherine Jinks When Tobias
"Richard Vandevelde wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the night
before, his horrified mother tells him that he was found unconscious.
At Featherdale Wildlife Park. In a dingo pen. He assumes that his two
best friends are somehow responsible, until the mysterious Reuben
turns up, claiming that Toby has a rare and dangerous “condition.”
Next thing he knows, Toby finds himself involved with a strange bunch
of sickly insomniacs who seem convinced that he needs their help. It’s
not until he’s kidnapped and imprisoned that he starts to believe
them—and to understand what being a paranormal monster really means."

AKATA WITCH by Nnedi Okorafor "Twelve-year-old Sunny lives in Nigeria,
but she was born American. Her features are African, but she's albino.
She's a terrific athlete, but can't go out into the sun to play
soccer. There seems to be no place where she fits. And then she
discovers something amazing-she is a "free agent," with latent magical
power. Soon she's part of a quartet of magic students, studying the
visible and invisible, learning to change reality. But will it be
enough to help them when they are asked to catch a career criminal who
knows magic too?"

CINDERELLA, NINJA WARRIOR: TWISTED TALES by Maureen McGowan "In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!"

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS: THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS by Cassandra Clare "Who will be tempted by darkness? Who will fall in love, and who will find their relationship torn apart? And who will betray everything they ever believed in?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.

In the heart-pounding fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series, the stakes are higher than ever."

CREEPING TERROR: THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT by Justin Richards "There is an unseen world most people can’t begin to imagine . . . . . . Where the most ordinary things can turn against you. The village of Templeton was evacuated during World War 2. Now even the ghosts are leaving –because something terrible stayed behind. Ben and his new friends at the School of Night must find out what’s going on. But they are soon trapped in the village, where even the trees and plants turn against them. Could you survive against all the odds? Could you solve the ancient mystery and free the village from a curse that threatens the whole world? If you could, then maybe you have what it takes to join The School of Night."

CRYSTAL BONES: THE FAELIN CHRONICLES by C. Aubrey Hall "A ya fantasy trilogy about a twin boy and girl, the children of a Fae mother and a human father, who discover a new destiny when their parents are murdered."

DREAMLINE by Nicole Luiken "Lissa is a dream come true. Literally. She has the power to cross the dreamline into the world of dreams even while awake.

Years ago Lissa decided she could either have friends or secrets, but not both. Now there’s a new boy in town who sees past Lissa’s social outcast label, but is he someone Lissa can trust, or a spy for the evil wulfdraigles?"

ENCLAVE by Ann Aguirre "WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE In Deuce's world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed 'brat' has trained into one of three groups-Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear--to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She's worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing's going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce's troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn't like following orders. At first she thinks he's crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don't always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she's never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce's perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy... but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she's ever known."

FAERIE WINTER by Janni Lee Simner "Liza is a summoner. She can draw
life to herself, even from beyond the grave. And because magic works
both ways, she can drive life away. Months ago, she used her powers to
banish her dangerous father and to rescue her mother, lost in dreams,
from the ruined land of Faerie.

Born in the wake of the war between humanity and Faerie, Liza lived in
a world where green things never slept, where trees sought to root in
living flesh and bone. But now the forests have fallen silent. Even
the evergreens' branches are bare. Winter crops won't grow, and the
threat of starvation looms. And deep in the forest a dark, malevolent
will is at work. To face it, Liza will have to find within herself
something more powerful than magic alone."

FLIP by Martyn Bedford "One December night, 14-year-old Alex goes to bed. He wakes up to find himself in the wrong bedroom, in an unfamiliar house, in a different part of the country, and it's the middle of June. Six months have disappeared overnight. The family at the breakfast table are total strangers. And when he looks in the mirror, another boy's face stares back at him. A boy named Flip. Unless Alex finds out what's happened and how to get back to his own life, he may be trapped forever inside a body that belongs to someone else.

THE GATHERING: DARKNESS RISING by Kelley Armstrong "Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home—and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.

It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy—her paw-print birthmark."

GEEK FANTASY NOVEL by E. Archer "What happens when a science geek and magic collide? Be careful what you wish for. Really. Because wishes are bad. Very bad. They can get you trapped in fantasy worlds full of killer bunny rabbits, evil aunts, and bothersome bacteria, for example. Or at least that's Ralph's experience. He's been asked to spend the summer with his strange British relatives at their old manor house in order to set up their Wi-Fi network. But there's much more to it than that, of course. It's just that nobody told Ralph. He's a gamer, sure. But this game is much stranger--and funnier--than anything to be found on his xbox. He is a geek. This is his story."

THE GHOUL NEXT DOOR: MONSTER HIGH by Lisi Harrison
"Cleopatra de Nile
- New pet snake
- Has Deuce--the hottest guy in school--all warapped up
- Herve Leger bandage dress, strappy gold platforms
Cleo was the queen bee of the RADs, the normies, and everyone in between at Merston High. But now it's "Frankie this" and "Melody that" . . . these new girls sure know how to get her lashes in a tangle. When Cleo lands a golden Teen Vogue photo op for her friends, everything seems to be back on track . . . until they bail to be in some film . . . Frankie and Melody's film! Can't a royal get some loyal?

Frankie Stein Frankie lost her head over Brett once and vows never to do it again. Not that she has a choice: Bekka is clinging to her guy like plastic wrap. But when Brett comes up with a plan that could help the RADs live free, sparks fly, and Bekka will stop at nothing to put out the flames . . . even if it means destroying the entire monster community.

Melody Carver The clock is tick-tick-ticking. Melody has a serious deadline to save her boyfriend, Jackson, from being exposed by the vengeance-seeking Bekka. But Cleo is making it royally difficult for the normie while threatening her acceptance into the RADs' exclusive group . . . a group that Melody suspects she has more in common with than she ever thought."

THE GIRL WHO WAS ON FIRE: YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS ON SUZANNE COLLINS' HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY edited by Leah Wilson "Praised by writers from Stephen King to Stephenie Meyer, Suzanne Collins’ New York Times bestselling Hunger Games trilogy is dark, captivating, and deeply thought-provoking. Part straight-up survivalist adventure, part rich allegory, and part political thriller, the series has become a new YA favorite.

The Girl Who Was On Fire offers even more to think about for teen readers already engrossed by the Hunger Games. From the trilogy's darker themes of violence and social control to reality television, fashion, and weaponry, the collection's exploration of the Hunger Games by other YA writers reveals exactly how rich, and how perilous, protagonist Katniss’ world really is.

The Girl Who Was On Fire covers all three books in the Hunger Games trilogy."

HUNTRESS by Malinda Lo "Nature is out of balance in the human world. The sun hasn't shone in years, and crops are failing. Worse yet, strange and hostile creatures have begun to appear. The people's survival hangs in the balance.

To solve the crisis, the oracle stones are cast, and Kaede and Taisin, two seventeen-year-old girls, are picked to go on a dangerous and unheard-of journey to Tanlili, the city of the Fairy Queen. Taisin is a sage, thrumming with magic, and Kaede is of the earth, without a speck of the otherworldly. And yet the two girls' destinies are drawn together during the mission. As members of their party succumb to unearthly attacks and fairy tricks, the two come to rely on each other and even begin to fall in love. But the Kingdom needs only one huntress to save it, and what it takes could tear Kaede and Taisin apart forever."

INSIGHT by Diana Greenwood "Some secrets won't let you go. Elvira Witsil lives about as far away from civilization as you can get, in a remote corner of Wisconsin where nothing much ever happens. In a house crowded with her mother, her cantankerous grandmother, and her little sister, Jessie, Elvira feels forgotten and alone. Their house also contains numerous secrets, and Elvira's family holds their secrets closely. Secrets about the father that Jessie never knew, and that Elvira can't forget. Secrets about that day five years ago. And the one secret that Elvira can't quite understand: that Jessie sees things no one else can see. These secrets will lead Elvira and her family on a journey far away from home---on a journey toward redemption and healing---if she can just bring herself to believe."

LIFE ON MARS: TALES FROM THE NEW FRONTIER edited by Jonathan Strahan "Mars! The Red Planet! For generations, people have wondered what it
would be like to travel to and live there. That curiosity has inspired
some of the most durable science fiction, including Ray Bradbury's The
Martian Chronicles and the work of Isaac Asimov. Now the award-winning
anthologist Jonathan Strahan has brought together thirteen original
stories to explore the possibilities. After reading Life on Mars,
readers will never look at the fourth planet from the sun the same way
again."

MEMENTO NORA by Angie Smibert "A teen struggles to hold onto her memories-and her identity-in a world that wants everyone to forget-and keep on shopping. Three dynamic teens come together to creat a comic book of their memories."

MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER, by Janette Rallison "Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother."

PLAGUE: A GONE NOVEL by Michael Grant "This is a blood-pumping, white-knuckle sci-fi thriller of epic proportions. The FAYZ goes from bad to worse...The darkness has been foiled once again and the resurrected Drake has been contained. But the streets of Perdido Beach are far from safe, with a growing army of mutants fighting against the humans for power in the town. In a small room of a house near the edge of town, Little Pete lies ill on a bed. In his fevered dreams, he continues his battle with the hidden evil that seeks to use his power to bring about anarchy and destruction."

RAGE by Jackie Morse Kessler "Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different. That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control. A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world."

RED GLOVE: THE CURSE WORKERS by Holly "Black Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose."

THE RETURNING by Christine Hinwood "An engrossing epic tale with a cast of characters that will hijack your heart.

Cam Attling, having lost an arm, is the only one from his town of Kayforl to return after twelve years of war. All his fellow soldiers were slain, and suspicion surrounds him. When his betrothal to Graceful Fenister is called off and his role in the community questioned, Cam leaves to find the lord who maimed him but spared his life, seeking answers and a new place in the world.

But this is not just Cam's story, it's about all those whose fates entwine with his. Set in a medieval world that is entirely the author's creation, this is an ingenious, exquisite story about what happens after the battle. When sisters, sons, friends, parents, and lovers are left to deal with the subtle aftermaths and unimagined
repercussions of war."

RISE OF THE CORPSES: THE UNDERTAKERS by Ty Drago "On a sunny Wednesday morning in October, a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another, I found out my grouchy next door neighbor was the walking dead. When you turn around expecting to see something familiar, and instead see something else altogether, it takes a little while for your brain to catch up with your eyes. I call it the 'Holy Crap Factor.'" Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers-a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters who've banded together to battle the Corpses."

SAVANNAH GREY by Cliff McNish "Savannah Grey needs to keep moving. She doesn't know why, but she can't let herself get tied down by too many people. It's almost like she's being chased by something. And now something strange is happening with her neck--with her throat. Savannah Grey never thought she'd meet someone like Reece--a guy who seems to understand her. He even knows about her neck. The same thing is happening to him. It's as if their voices are becoming weapons, warming up for some kind of attack. Savannah Grey has no idea what might be chasing her or why her voice suddenly feels like the most powerful weapon on the planet, but she's about to find out. Nature is preparing for battle with the universe's ultimate monster. The time to fight is almost here. The weapon is Savannah Grey."

SLEEPING BEAUTY, VAMPIRE SLAYER: TWISTED TALES by Maureen McGowan "In this thrilling story full of adventure and romance, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a lonely princess waiting for her prince—she's a brave, tenacious girl who never backs down from a challenge. With vampire-slaying talents that she practices in secret, Sleeping Beauty puts her courage to the test in the dark of night, fighting evil as she searches for a way to break the spell that has cut her off from her family. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Sleeping Beauty and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!"

TEETH: VAMPIRE TALES by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling "Fascinated by vampires?

Then feast on nineteen tantalizing, bite-sized tales exploring the intersections between the living, dead, and undead.

The vampires in these stories range from romantic to chilling to gleeful—and touch on nearly every emotion in between. The one thing they have in common is their desire for blood. . . "

A TEMPLAR'S GIFTS: THE BOOK OF TORMOD by Kat Black "The second book in Kat Black's historical fantasy trilogy full of intrigue, mystery, and adventure!

Something's wrong with Tormod MacLeod. Ever since returning home his visions have become more intense and disorienting, making him increasingly ill and constantly on the verge of collapse. But then he meets Aine, a fiery, no-nonsense Scottish lass who has powers of her own and a special supernatural connection with Tormod--when they're actually getting along. Together they must find the healer who can save Tormod's life, all the while dodging King Philippe le Bel's ruthless soldiers, who will stop at nothing to find Tormod and information about the secret he keeps."

THROUGH HER EYES by Jennifer Archer "The last place Tansy Piper wants
to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with
a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the
desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once
there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old
house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the
strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of
poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her.
Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become
part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined
with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house
and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and
the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more
time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must
untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch
with her own life forever."

TIME OF TRIAL: THE LAWS OF MAGIC by Michael Pryor "It may look like a simple wire device, but the Beccaria Cage could be the cure for Aubrey's condition: a way to reunite his body and soul. But can Aubrey solve its mysteries while Dr. Tremaine's warmongering machinations gather pace? After magical confrontations, near-death experiences, and the appearance of new allies and new enemies, Aubrey decides that there is only one thing to do: carry the fight to the enemy. Thanks to a fortuitously timed symposium, Aubrey, George, and Caroline accompany Lady Rose and Prince Albert to Holmland—into the heart of hostile territory—only to find the city of Fisherberg infested with ghosts, brigands, and shadowy figures with agendas of their own. While trying to prevent a war, could Aubrey Fitzwilliam inadvertently trigger one?"

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: THE OFFICIAL ILLUSTRATED GUIDE by Stephenie Meyer "This must-have hardcover edition--the only official guide--is the definitive encyclopedic reference to the Twilight Saga and provides readers with everything they need to further explore the unforgettable world Stephenie Meyer created in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. This comprehensive handbook—essential for every Twilight Saga fan—is full-color throughout with nearly 100 gorgeous illustrations and photographs and with exclusive new material, character profiles, genealogical charts, maps, extensive cross-references, and much more."

VAMPIRE FILES: HEARTTHROBS AND BLOODSUCKERS by Amy Rickman "For fans of boys with bite, this compendium is just the thing. Readers who are head over heels for Edward Cullen from Twilight, hungry for Bill Compton from True Blood, or torn between Stefan and Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries will find this collection to be a scream, packed with the inside info to satisfy every vampire desire. This is the chance to get up close and personal with Robert Pattinson, Kellan Lutz, Stephen Moyer, and more, and learn about their lives and loves, how they rose to fame as vampires, and their theories on why the dark side is so irresistible."