New Releases of Fantasy and Science Fiction for kids and teens, the beginning of July, 2011 edition

Here are the new releases of fantasy and sci fi for kids and teens from the beginning of July (three posts this month, instead of the two I've been doing). As usual, my info. comes from Teens Read Too, with the blurbs lifted from Amazon, and as usual, I haven't actually read these, so I can't quite guarantee they are all sci fi/fantasy! (sorry, mg books, for not putting all your covers in, but I ran out of time).

My picks from this lot would be Beasts: The Mystic Files for middle grade, and Shadows on the Moon for YA...But I am Not Buying Any More Books until I read what I have! (I haven't even bought the new Sarah Rees Brennan book....sob).

Middle Grade:

BACK TO THE BLITZ: HISTORY SPIES by Jo Foster "A seasoned history spy, Charlie Cartwright teaches kids how to survive in WWII England—from learning to survive air raids by identifying enemy aircraft to blending in with the locals in speech and dress

It's Liverpool, 1940. The war is raging, and the Department of Historical Accuracy needs a brave and daring History Spy to uncover the truth. Your mission: disguise yourself as an evacuee, make spitfires out of saucepans, and learn to do the jitterbug. Find out how people spoke and what they ate, and become a champion at marbles!"

BEASTS: THE MYSTIC PHYLES by Stephanie Brockway "Abigail Thaddeus is aware of her borderline geek status--which only keeps her secretly yearning for a life of fame and adventure. But as an eighth-grader in the tiny town of Westbrook, tucked away in her grandparents' ramshackle old mansion, her chances for glory are slim. That is, until she discovers a mysterious letter that launches her on an undercover quest to research mythical beasts.

With the help of her best friend, Charley, Abigail unearths little-known facts about mythical creatures, from the familiar unicorn to the bizarre bonnacon. The more she learns, the more she finds that all is not as it may seem. When a threatening letter arrives, the lines between fact and fiction and excitement and danger begin to cross. Pop, her overly-strict grandfather, and Ninny, her nutty grandmother, may both be part of a reality more complicated and mystical than Abigail ever imagined.

Will Abigail pursue top-secret knowledge at all costs or choose a path of safety? Her decision could bring eternal glory . . . or certain doom! In this scrapbook-style journal, Abigail's quest to investigate mythical beasts is full of adventure, mishap, spunky humor, colorful sketches, and historically based research."

THE CAT-ASTROPHE: B MAGICAL by Lexi Connor "B's magical adventures will cast a S-P-E-L-L on middle-grade readers in this funny, fast-paced series!

B's favorite band, the Black Cats, is coming to town, and B and her best friend George have tickets to the show! Meanwhile, the two friends meet a mysterious new girl at school. Trina is shy and secretive ... could she be a witch, just like B? And maybe even ... a S-T-A-R?"

CROOKEDSTAR'S PROMISE: WARRIORS by Erin Hunter "Two healthy kits have just been born in RiverClan—Oakkit and Stormkit. The whole Clan rejoices, and no cat is more pleased than their mother, who immediately recognizes her kits’ innate skill and bravery.

But when tragedy befalls Stormkit and he is permanently disfigured, his mother renames him Crookedkit and casts him aside.

As the young cat grows in strength, he dreams of becoming Clan leader. Then a mysterious cat appears in his dreams, whispering of prophecies untold and destinies undiscovered. She proclaims that Crookedkit will have all that he desires—but he must pledge his undying loyalty to RiverClan.

No cat could ever have imagined the terror and destruction that would lie in one hastily made, seemingly harmless, promise."

EMMY AND THE RATS IN THE BELFRY by Lynne Jonell "Emmy was not an ordinary girl. She could talk to rodents. She could shrink to the size of a rodent. And just a few weeks ago, she had even become a rodent to defeat her evil former nanny, Miss Barmy.

Emmy’s parents, unaware of their daughter’s other life, ship her off to visit two elderly aunts in Schenectady. Emmy figures her life will be ordinary at last, if rather boring. But she didn't count on her friend Ratty, whose search for his long-lost Ratmom brings him more than he bargained for.

Here is the third book in the acclaimed Emmy series, complete with a flip book feature (bats!)."

EQUINUS THE SPIRIT HORSE: BEAST QUEST, AMULET OF AVANTIA by Adam Blade "Fight the Beasts. Fear the magic!

Equinus the Spirit Horse crashes through the forests of the Forbidden Land, stealing the life force of other creatures. Tom must dodge the Ghost Beast's flying hooves and take the fragment of Amulet that Equinus guards- or Tom's father will remain a ghost forever!!!!"

ESCAPE FROM ZOBADAK by Brad Gallagher "When Uncle Gary mysteriously disappears, all he leaves behind is a mountain of sawdust and a nighstand that his eleven-year-old nephew, Billy, inherits. When Billy is awakened at night by noises from inside the nightstand, he takes a closer look and discovers a hidden panel that opens to an antique maze of wooden corridors. He and his sister Sophie believe that Uncle Gary is hiding somewhere in the nightstand. As Billy, Sophie, and their two friends, Chris and Maggie, begin to explore the ancient hallways they discover far more than they expect. Billy must make a terrifying choice: let the police handle things the conventional way, or escape to the nightstand and try one last time to find Uncle Gary before it's too late."

THE FIVE MASKS OF DR. SCREEM: GOOSEBUMPS HORRORLAND, HALL OF HORRORS
by R.L. Stine "Welcome to the Hall of Horrors, HorrorLand's Hall of Fame for the truly terrifying.

It's Halloween and Monica Anderson is out Trick-or-Treating with her younger brother. They knock on the door of an old, creepy house and are met by a strange woman who pleads for their help. Every year she must battle for the control of five sacred masks with the evil Dr. Screem. These artifacts have the power to manipulate the world around them. Monica doesn't want to help at first but then Screem bursts in and steals the masks. This sets her and her brother off on a Halloween mission that will change their lives forever!"

THE GREAT EXHIBITION MISSION: HISTORY SPIES by Jo Foster "Charlie gives kids all they need to know to travel Victorian London incognito—dapper disguises and the lowdown on Sweeney Todd, telegraphs, and common diseases

It's London, 1851, and Queen Victoria is on the throne—the year of the Great Exhibition. The Department of Historical accuracy need a bold and adventurous History Spy to get the facts. Your mission is to learn how to walk, talk, and dress like a Victorian, and go and explore the streets of London. With Charlie's help, you will find out about the fearsome factories, dinosaur bones, and incredible inventions that made the Victorian age so exciting. "

IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL...FOREVER! by R.L. Stine "On the first day of school, Artie falls out of his bed and hits his head. Hard. He tells his mom he’s dizzy and she says: “You’re just worried about your first day in a new school.”

At breakfast, his little brother, Eddie, splashes syrup in his hair, and there’s no time to wash it. Artie has to go to school with syrup-hair. And then, on the way there, he gets splashed by a puddle that makes him look like he wet his pants. It’s not just the first day of school; it’s the worst day of school.

On the second day of school, Artie falls out of bed and hits his head. Hard. He tells his mom he’s dizzy and she says: “You’re just worried about your first day in a new school.”

Huh? Today is just like the day before. Can Artie find a way to change it, before it’s the first day of school…forever?"

THE ICEGATE OF SPYRE: SUNDERED LANDS by Allan Frewin Jones "Was there ever in the whole of the Sundered Lands an island more extraordinary than Spyre? From the swampy, beast-infested jungles at the bottom to the snowy mountain monastery at the top, the place is full of wonders...and dreadful dangers. It is on the frozen peaks that Trundle, Esmeralda and Jack must search for the fourth lost crown of the Badger Lords of Old: the Crown of Ice. And as if this wasn't trouble enough, they also have to deal with their new companion - a wild and crazy hare by the name of Ishmael March!"


SIDEKICKS by Dan Santat "Look up in the sky! It's a BOLD new graphic novel about SUPERHERO PETS!

Captain Amazing, superhero and savior of Metro City, is getting old. He's out all hours battling arch-villains, catching thieves, and helping little old ladies cross the street. He doesn't even have time for his house full of pets. He needs - a SIDEKICK!

Captain Amazing's four pets agree. But each one of them thinks HE should get the sidekick spot - and a chance for one-on-one time with the Captain. Get ready for sibling rivalry royale as pets with superpowers duke it out for the one thing they all want - a super family."

SPIDERS ON THE CASE: THE DEADLIES by Kathryn Lasky "Can Jo Bell spin a web big enough to catch . . . a criminal? The world's friendliest spiders take center stage in bestselling author Kathryn Lasky's latest book about The Deadlies!

They're sweet and friendly . . . but they just happen to be super toxic. The Deadlies are the world's most misunderstood family of spiders. Kicked out of home after home, all the Deadlies want is to settle down in a cozy web with no exterminators around.

Now they've found the perfect place - the Rare Books room at the Boston Library. The librarian isn't afraid of the Deadlies, and they have lots of lovely books to explore. But their peace is threatened when a thief starts targetting the library. Can the Deadlies spin a web big enough to catch a crook - or is it back on the road once more?"

YOUNG ADULT

20 YEARS LATER by E.J. Newman "LONDON, 2012: It arrives and with that the world is changed into an unending graveyard littered with the bones, wreckage, and memories of a dead past, gone forever.LONDON, 2032: Twenty years later, out of the ashes, a new world begins to rise, a place ruled by both loyalty and fear, and where the quest to be the first to regain lost knowledge is an ongoing battle for power. A place where laws are made and enforced by roving gangs-the Bloomsbury Boys, the Gardners, the Red Lady's Gang-who rule the streets and will do anything to protect their own.THE FOUR: Zane, Titus, Erin, Eve. Living in this new world, they discover that they have abilities never before seen. And little do they know that as they search post-apocalyptic London for Titus' kidnapped sister that they'll uncover the secret of It, and bring about a reckoning with the forces that almost destroyed all of humanity."

CONSPIRACIES: SHADOW GRAIL by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill "Spirit and her friends Burke, Loch, Muirin, and Addie have managed to defeat the evil force that has been killing students at Oakhurst Academy for the past forty years—or so they think. When a series of magical attacks disrupts the school, Doctor Ambrosius calls upon alumnus Mark Rider to secure the campus—and start training the students for war. The only student without magic, Spirit doesn’t trust Mark or his methods. She knows that Oakhurst isn’t safe. And if Spirit and her friends want to live long enough to graduate, they have to find out what is really going on—before it’s too late."

ICE SHOCK: THE JOSHUA FILES by M. G. Harris "Though he knows about the secret Mayan prophesy that his father and grandfather were a part of, Josh still hasn't solved the mystery surrounding his father's death. But when Josh learns that a special artifact, the Bracelet of Itzamna, is the key to both that and the mystery of the codex, he must return to the hidden city of Ek Naab. Only this time he must do it alone-because as the stakes rise, Josh can no longer trust even his closest allies.

This second installment of the action-packed Joshua Files series brings readers back to the secret world of the Mayan civilization, where the mysterious 2012 prophecy still threatens the world. Does Josh have what it takes to make it out alive once again?"

LOST VOICES by Sarah Porter "Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder?"

MOMENT OF TRUTH: THE LAWS OF MAGIC by Michael Pryor "Aubrey has a difficult choice to make to save his friends when Albion erupts into war—and it could cost him his life

The war that has been looming for so long finally erupts, sending Albion and the continent into chaos. Aubrey, George, and Caroline are brought into a top-secret espionage unit and sent on a mission to investigate a mysterious magical facility on the Gallia–Holmland border. There they uncover a factory that is about to unleash an unstoppable horror that could win the war within weeks. The only way to save hundreds of thousands of lives could cost Aubrey his friends, his family, his reputation—and even his life."

ORIGINAL SIN: PERSONAL DEMONS by Lisa Desrochers "Luc Cain was born and raised in Hell, but he isn’t feeling as demonic as usual lately—thanks to Frannie Cavanaugh and the unique power she never realized she had. But you can’t desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly Frannie and Luc find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc’s allies.

Left with few options, Frannie and Luc accept the protection of Heaven and one of its most powerful angels, Gabe. Unfortunately, Luc isn’t the only one affected by Frannie, and it isn’t long before Gabe realizes that being around her is too…tempting. Rather than risk losing his wings, he leaves Frannie and Luc under the protection of her recently-acquired guardian angel.

Which would be fine, but Gabe is barely out the door before an assortment of demons appears—and they’re not leaving without dragging Luc back to Hell with them. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Frannie’s guardian exercises all the power he has to keep them away, but the demons are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell’s grasp.

And not everyone will get out of it alive."

RUN FOR COVER: TOMORROW GIRLS by Eva Gray "In a terrifying future world, four girls must depend on each other if they want to survive.

Now that best friends Louisa, Rosie, Evelyn, and Maddie know the truth -- or at least the danger they're in -- the girls have run away from their "safe" country retreat. But life is riskier than ever, and Rosie still doesn't know who she can trust.

Rosie's survival skills are top-notch. But how well can she keep her own secrets?"

SECRETS OF TAMARIND by Nadia Aguiar "It’s been four years since Maya, Simon, and Penny Nelson left the lost island of Tamarind. For Maya, the island is a nearly forgotten part of her childhood; for Penny, it’s a secret place she can’t remember, but longs to see; and for Simon, it’s an adventure waiting to happen. An evil group called the Red Coral Project is lurking around the Nelson’s home in Bermuda, and the children discover that the project has moved into Tamarind, and are desiccating it to ruin. Only the Nelson’s can save the island.

In Tamarind, there is the mystery of the magical mineral ophalla that Red Coral is greedily mining, their old pirate ship, the Pamela Jane, and the secret of their friend Helix’s parentage. This time, it is up to Simon to put the clues together, and save his sisters from the island and the nefarious Red Coral Project—and defeat Red Coral before the magnificent island is put to ruin.

Nadia Aguiar’s sequel to The Lost Island of Tamarind, crafts a vivid story reminiscent of such classics as Peter Pan, full of adventure, magic, and haunting beauty."

THE SERPENT'S COIL: PROPHECY OF DAYS by Christy Raedeke "After discovering that Uncle Li betrayed her and the Fraternitas Regni Occulti burned down her family’s house, Caity Mac Fireland retreats to a boarding school that allows her to travel around the globe. With the murderous Fraternitas hot on her heels, Caity continues to mobilize the planet’s young people as she attempts to fulfill the Mayan prophecy. Helping—and sometimes hindering— Caity in her quest are her best friend Justine, boyfriend Alex, and new classmate Jules D’Aubigne, an intriguing French boy.

Can Caity end the devastating global reign of the Fraternitas and save the world?"

SHADOWS ON THE MOON by Zoe Marriott "Trained in the magical art of shadow-weaving, sixteen-year-old Suzume is able to recreate herself in any form – a fabulous gift for a girl desperate to escape her past. But who is she really? Is she a girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother’s new husband, Lord Terayama, or a lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama’s kitchens, or Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands? Whatever her true identity, Suzume is destined to capture the heart of a prince – and determined to use his power to destroy Terayama. And nothing will stop her, not even love."

THE SIREN'S CRY: THE OTHERWORLDLIES by Jennifer Anne Kogler "Not just an Otherworldly...an Unusual.

Fern is not like other girls. She has strange and vivid visions and has the ability to teleport—anywhere, anytime. Fern is an Otherworldly, a special kind of vampire that lives in the human world. What's more, Fern is one of the Unusual Eleven, a group of Otherworldlies all born on the same day with extraordinary powers, prophesied to change the fate of Otherworldlies and humans alike.

On a school trip to Washington, DC, Fern has a dramatic vision that reveals another Unusual in grave danger. Now it's up to Fern to put together the pieces of where he is and why he's been taken. Can Fern solve the puzzle and free the boy in time to defeat the darkness that threatens?

In this gripping and fast-paced tale, the world of vampires has never been more compelling."

SIRENSONG: A FAERIEWALKER NOVEL by Jenna Black "When Dana is invited to Faerie to be officially presented at the Seelie Court, it’s no easy decision. After all, everyone knows Titania, the Seelie Queen, wants her dead. But Titania claims not to be the one behind the death threats; and her son, Prince Henry, makes the decision a whole lot easier when he suggests Dana might be arrested for (supposedly) conspiring with her aunt Grace to usurp the Seelie throne. So she and her father better do as they're told…

The journey through Faerie is long – and treacherous. Dana thought it would be a good idea to have friends along, but her sort-of-boyfriend, Ethan, and her bodyguard’s son, Keane, just can’t seem to get along, and Kimber’s crush on Keane isn’t making things any easier. When a violent attack separates Dana from their caravan, the sexy Erlking saves her just in the nick of time… and makes it clear that he hasn’t given up on making her his own.

Arriving at Titania’s beautiful palace should be a relief. But Dana is soon implicated in an assassination attempt against Titania’s granddaughter, and is suddenly a fugitive, forced to leave her father behind as she and her friends flee for their lives. Will she be able to prove her innocence before the forces of the Seelie Court – or, worse, the Erlking – catch up with her? And will she save her father before he pays the ultimate price in her stead?"

THE SPOOK'S BESTIARY: THE LAST APPRENTICE by Joseph Delaney
"How to deal with the dark

1. Conquer your fear.
2. Clear your mind, so that dark magic cannot take hold.
3. Fill your pockets with salt and iron, and always carry a rowan staff with a silver blade.
4. Never forget your silver chain for binding a witch.
5. A spook’s best weapons against the dark are common sense, courage, and the skills and knowledge he learns as an apprentice.

The Spook’s Bestiary is the complete guide to becoming a spook. Learn how to battle the dark, the demons, the witches, and all the things that go bump in the night. Lavishly illustrated and told in the Spook’s own voice, this is a companion to the best-selling Last Apprentice series."

TAKEN: THE QUEST FOR TRUTH by Brock Eastman 'Five Four Three Two One!'
'We re out of here!'

Suit up! Jump into hyper flight with the four Wikk kids! Forced into a high stakes hunt for their missing parents by the sinister Cpt. Vedrik, the siblings' only hope is their parents' Archeos e-journal. Can Tiffany decipher the clues within it? As time runs out, it's all up to Oliver and his Federation training to fly the Phoenix and protect his crew. But twins Mason and Austin endanger the mission when they unexpectedly meet . . . the blue boy!

The Quest for Truth series unfolds as the four Wikk kids are thrust into a desperate race to find the mysterious planet Ursprung and stop the Ãœbel renegades from misusing its long-lost secrets. Ancient cities, treacherous villains, high-tech gadgets, the Phoenix encounter all of these and more on this futuristic, interplanetary adventure!

WHITE CROW by Marcus Sedgwick "Some secrets are better left buried; some secrets are so frightening they might make angels weep and the devil crow.

Thought provoking as well as intensely scary, White Crow unfolds in three voices. There's Rebecca, who has come to a small, seaside village to spend the summer, and there's Ferelith, who offers to show Rebecca the secrets of the town...but at a price. Finally, there's a priest whose descent into darkness illuminates the girls' frightening story. White Crow is as beautifully written as it is horrifically gripping."