New releases of fantasy and science fiction for kids and teens--the first half of March, 2012 edition

Here are the new releases of science fiction and fantasy for kids and teenagers from the first half of March, 2012--my information comes from Teens Read Too, with blurbs from Amazon. I'm trying to decided if I want to read Froi of the Exiles or not....

(in case anyone wonders, the YA books don't have blurbs because my life is too short to put them in, and they get lots more press at other blogs)

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE GRADE

THE BATTLE FOR ARGON FALLS: TOMO by Jim Krueger "ONE FINAL BATTLE BRINGS GLORY ... OR DESTRUCTION The war appears lost and Argon Falls is doomed, but Hana's friends still believe in the power of prayer. With their support, her faith is restored and Hana bravely rejoins the fight. But when the forces of good and evil face off once more, the final battle will determine the fate of Argon Falls ... forever."

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG FLIES AGAIN by Frank Cottrell Boyce "When the Tooting family finds an old engine and fits it to their camper van, they have no idea what kind of adventure lies ahead. The engine used to belong to an extraordinary car . . . and it wants its bodywork back! But as the Tootings hurtle across the world rebuilding the original Chitty, a sinister baddie is on their trail - one who will stop at nothing to get the magnificent car for himself.

Fueled by wry humor , this much-anticipated sequel to the children's classic by Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond - fe aturing a contemporary family and a camper van with a mind of its own - is driven by best-selling, award-winning author Frank Cottrell Boyce and revved up by Joe Berger's black-and-white illustrations."

EXPLORER: THE MYSTERY BOXES by Kazu Kibuishi "Seven clever stories answer one simple question: what’s in the box?

Funny, fantastic, spooky, and suspenseful, each of these unique and beautifully illustrated short graphic works revolves around a central theme: a mysterious box and the marvels—or mayhem—inside. Artists include middle school favorites Kazu Kibuishi, Raina Telgemeier (Smile), and Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy), as well as Jason Caffoe, Stuart Livingston, Johane Matte, Rad Sechrist (all contributors to the groundbreaking comics anthology series Flight), and upcoming artist Emily Carroll.

GOBLIN SECRETS by William Alexander "In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around—much like the fairy tale figure of Baba Yaga. Graba takes in stray children, and Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s only real relative is his older brother Rowan, who is an actor. But acting is outlawed in Zombay, and Rowan has disappeared.

Desperate to find him, Rownie joins up with a troupe of goblins who skirt the law to put on plays. But their plays are not only for entertainment, and the masks they use are for more than make-believe. The goblins also want to find Rowan—because Rowan might be the only person who can save the town from being flooded by a mighty river."

GOING OVERBOARD!: KATIE KAZOO, SWITCHEROO by Nancy Krulik "With indoor mini golf, a chance to swim with dolphins, and her best friend, Suzanne, onboard, Katie's cruise vacation sounds like an ocean of fun! But, of course, the magic wind appears - twice in this Super Special - and blows everything off course! Young readers love the black-and-white illustrations that bring this fun chapter book series to life."

THE KEY OF BRAHA: AMOS DARAGON by Bryan Perro "Amos survived his first mission as Mask Wearer, but soon after that, an encounter with a mysterious girl brings his life to an end—and sends him on his way to Braha, the City of the Dead, where souls await judgment. To get there, Amos, now a spirit himself, boards a boat, on which he meets Jerik, a decapitated criminal who must carry his head everywhere. Jerik tells Amos that Braha is overcrowded with spirits; the gods have shut the doors that lead to paradise and to hell. A key is said to unlock the doors—but its whereabouts are unknown. Only someone who dies and comes back to life can find it. Will Amos be that someone? Will his ingenuity and intelligence be enough to restore order in Braha? Or will he unknowingly serve those who are using him for their own gain? Most importantly, even if Amos finds the key, will he ever return to the land of the living?"

MORDRED: THE DRAGONS by Colin Thompson "Arthur has been crowned King and peace and happiness have broken out all over Avalon. Life has never been more peaceful and everyone is living happily ever after—so why are so many people planning rebellion? On one hand, the Dragons are planning an uprising. On the other hand, King Arthur's revolting little cousin Mordred is planning an uprising. And on the other, other hand, Brassica, the deposed fake King Arthur, is also planning an uprising. It's lucky that Merlin, who has more than two hands, has everything under control—or does he?"

MUNCLE TROGG by Janet Foxley "A topsy-turvy fairy tale about a small giant on a big adventure! Let's get ready to grumble!

Mount Grumble is where the giants live. But (contrary to what you might think, maybe because of their name) not every "giant" (see?) is, um...big. In fact, Muncle Trogg is so SMALL that all the other giants make fun of him for being (uh-oh) people-sized. And toss him around like a football! Fed up, Muncle Trogg climbs down Mount Grumble to take a look at the Smallings (that would be humans) he supposedly looks like. What he discovers is...a sulky green dragon and a terribly sensible girl? But when Mount Grumble is put in harm's way, it's up to little Muncle to be the bigger smallest giant, prove that size doesn't matter, and somehow save his home!"


SEEDS OF REBELLION: BEYONDERS by Brandon Mull "After the cliffhanger ending of A World Without Heroes, Jason is back in the world he’s always known—yet for all his efforts to get home, he finds himself itching to return to Lyrian. Jason knows that the shocking truth he learned from Maldor is precious information that all of his friends in Lyrian, including Rachel, need if they have any hope of surviving and defeating the evil emperor.

Meanwhile, Rachel and the others have discovered new enemies—as well as new abilities that could turn the tide of the entire quest. And as soon as Jason succeeds in crossing over to Lyrian, he’s in more danger than ever. Once the group reunites, they strive to convince their most-needed ally to join the war and form a rebellion strong enough to triumph over Maldor. At the center of it all, Jason and Rachel realize what roles they’re meant to play—and the answers are as surprising as they are gripping."

SPY SCHOOL by Stuart Gibbs "Like many kids, Ben Ripley imagines life as a secret agent would be pretty awesome -- so when he learns he's been recruited to the C.I.A.'s top secret Academy of Espionage, it sounds too good to be true. And it is. From the moment he arrives -- and ends up in the middle of an enemy attack -- Ben finds Spy School is going to be far more difficult, dastardly and dangerous than he expected. Even worse, he soon discovers that he hasn't been recruited to become a top agent; instead, he's been brought in as bait to catch a devious double agent. Now, Ben needs a crash course in espionage so that he can catch the mole, prove his worth -- and get the girl. It won't be easy, but it'll be a very fun -- and very funny -- ride."

THEA STILTON AND THE SECRET OF THE OLD CASTLE by Geronimo Stilton "Geronimo's sister Thea Stilton narrates this action-packed adventure!

When the Thea Sisters' good friend Bridget has to return to Scotland to help her family repair their ancient castle, the five mice offer to help their friend in whatever way they can. Little do they know that Bridget will be kidnapped, and they'll have to rush to Scotland to help find her! Along the way, the Thea Sisters encounter Celtic legends, cryptic messages, and hidden treasures on a trip that's full of mysteries and surprises!"

TIME SNATCHERS by Richard Ungar "Caleb's blinders are off. The small group of orphans who were also "adopted" by Uncle used to feel like family, but the competition to be the top time snatcher and the punishment for failure has gotten fierce. Time traveling to steal valuable objects can be a thrill, but with bully Frank trying to steal his snatches, his partner Abbie falling for Frank's slimy charms, and Uncle's plans to kidnap innocent kids to grow his business, Caleb starts thinking about getting out. But Uncle's reach extends to any country in any time period, and runaways get the harshest punishment of all.

Caleb can steal just about anything from the past, but can he steal a family for the future?"

YOUNG ADULT

ANOTHER JEKYLL, ANOTHER HYDE by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
BALTHAZAR: AN EVERNIGHT NOVEL by Claudia Gray
BRAVE NEW LOVE: 13 DYSTOPIAN TALES OF DESIRE edited by Paula Guran
BURIED: A GOTH GIRL MYSTERY by Linda Joy Singleton
THE COMPELLED: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, STEFAN'S DIARIES by Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec
DEAD IS A BATTLEFIELD by Marlene Perez
THE DESERTER by Peadar O. Guilin
EVERLASTING: KISSED BY AN ANGEL by Elizabeth Chandler
EYE OF THE SWORD: THE ANGELAEON CIRCLE by Karyn Henley
FROI OF THE EXILES: THE LUMATERE CHRONICLES by Melina Marchetta
THE GIRL WHO COULD SILENCE THE WIND by Meg Medina
THE GRAVE ROBBER'S APPRENTICE by Allan Stratton
KATANA by Cole Gibsen
ILLUMINATE: GILDED WINGS by Aimee Agresti
INFAMOUS: CHRONICLES OF NICK by Sherrilyn Kenyon
LUCY: DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA by Kathryn Lasky
PANDEMONIUM by Lauren Oliver
PERCEPTION: A CLARITY NOVEL by Kim Harrington
THE REPOSSESSION by Sam Hawksmoor
THE SAVAGE GRACE: A DARK DIVINE NOVEL by Bree Despain
SOUL BOUND: A BLOOD COVEN VAMPIRE NOVEL by Mari Mancusi
SPELL BOUND: A HEX HALL NOVEL by Rachel Hawkins
STARTERS by Lissa Price
TRAITOR'S REVENGE: CRYPT by Andrew Hammond
VAMPIRE'S KISS: THE WATCHERS by Veronica Wolff
VENOM IN HER VEINS: A FORGOTTEN REALMS NOVEL by Tim Pratt

New releases of fantasy and science fiction for kids and teens--the second half of Feb., 2012

Here are the new releases of sci fi and fanstasy for kids and teens from the second half of February 2012; my information comes from Teens Read Too, and the blurbs are from Amazon. I myself cannot wait for The Humming Room!

Middle grade (ages 9-12 ish)

DEAD WOOD by Andy Croft "Holly's family move to the old house so her dad can do his job: bulldozing the ancient trees to make way for a housing estate. But there's something haunting the old house. Something old, and angry, that doesn't want the trees cut down. Something alive... Highly readable, exciting books that take the struggle out of reading, the Wired and Wired Up series encourage and support reading practice by providing gripping, age-appropriate stories at a manageable length and reading level."

THE HUMMING ROOM by Ellen Potter "Hiding is Roo Fanshaw's special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment's notice. When her parents are murdered, it's her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life.

As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn't believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth.

Despite the best efforts of her uncle's assistants, Roo discovers the house's hidden room--a garden with a tragic secret."

THE LEGEND OF DIAMOND LIL: A J.J. TULLY MYSTERY by Doreen Cronin "After his last run-in with Vince the Funnel and the mystery of the missing chicks, J.J. the search-and-rescue dog is ready for some much-needed R & R. But just when he thinks he has everything under control, there’s a new problem to worry about: Diamond Lil, a shiny new dog who’s taken up residence next door. Suddenly Moosh and her chicks are spending an awful lot of time with their fancy friend, talking about weird things like fluffy feathers and good posture. And Lil’s not the only new kid cramping J.J.’s style. There’s a possum loose, and it’s up to J.J. to keep everyone safe. But the questions keep piling up. Is Lil all that she seems? And how does the possum keep finding her way to the chicken coop?

In this hilarious follow-up to The Trouble with Chickens, the clues, plot twists, and one-liners add up to an unputdownable read."

SHIP OF SOULS by Zetta Elliott "When Dmitri, an eleven-year-old bird-watcher and math whiz, loses his mother to breast cancer, he is taken in by Mrs. Martin, an elderly white woman. Unaccustomed to the company of kids his own age, D struggles at school and feels like an outcast until a series of unexpected events changes the course of his life.

First, D is asked to tutor the school’s basketball star, Hakeem, who will get benched unless his grades improve. Against the odds, the two boys soon realize they have something in common: they are both taunted by kids at school, and they both have a crush on Nyla, a beautiful but fierce eighth-grade girl. Then Nyla adopts D and invites him to join her entourage of “freaks.” Finally, D discovers an injured bird and brings it home from the park.

D is stunned when the strange bird speaks to him and reveals that she is really a guiding spirit that has been held hostage by ghost soldiers who died in Brooklyn at the start of the American Revolution. As Nuru’s chosen host, D must carry her from Brooklyn to the African Burial Ground in lower Manhattan, but the ghost soldiers won’t surrender their prize without a fight."

THE STAR SHARD by Frederic S. Durbin "This beautifully written fantasy tackles the issues of slavery and freedom. Twelve-year-old Cymbril is a slave on Thunder Rake, a gigantic wagon city that rolls from town to town carrying goods to be sold by its resident merchants. The Rake’s master purchases a new slave, a mysterious boy named Loric who is one of the magical Fey. Because he can see in the dark, Loric’s duty is to guide the Rake through the treacherous wilderness at night.Cymbril and Loric secretly join forces to plan their escape—soon the two friends thread their way through a series of increasing dangers, encountering an enchanted market and deadly monsters as their one chance for freedom draws nearer."

WHAT THE DOG SAID by Randi Reisfeld & H.B. Gilmour "Ever since her police officer father was killed a few months ago, Grace Abernathy hasn't wanted to do much of anything. She's pulled away from her friends, her grades are plummeting . . . it's a problem. The last thing Grace wants is to be dragged into her older sister Regan's plan to train a shelter dog as a service dog. But Grace has no idea how involved she'll get-especially when a mangy mutt named Rex starts talking to her. Has Grace gone off the deep end? Or might this dog be something really special-an angel? A spirit? Either way, he is exactly the therapy that Grace needs."

Young Adult:

ALLEGIANCE: THE LEGACY TRILOGY by Cayla Kluver
A BEAUTIFUL EVIL by Kelly Keaton
BZRK by Michael Grant
THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME by Jess Rothenberg
FAERY TALES & NIGHTMARES by Melissa Marr
FEVER: THE CHEMICAL GARDEN by Lauren DeStefano
FORGIVEN: A DEMON TRAPPERS NOVEL by Jana Oliver
FRIENDS WITH BOYS by Faith Erin Hicks
FUGITIVES: ESCAPE FROM FURNACE by Alexander Gordon Smith
THE HUNGER PAINS by Stefan Petrucha
PARTIALS by Dan Wells
A TOUCH MORBID by Leah Clifford
UNAFRAID: ARCHANGEL ACADEMY by Michael Griffo
WHEN THE SEA IS RISING RED by Cat Hellisen

New releases of fantasy and science fiction for kids and teens--the first half of February, 2012, edition

Here are the new releases of fantasy and science fiction for kids and teens from the first half of Feb., 2012. My information comes, as always, from Teens Read Too, the blurbs from Amazon. I haven't read them all, so had to guess if some of these really are sff--I gave them the benefit of the doubt when it wasn't clear!

My most anticipated book on this list is The Crowfield Demon (it's been out in the UK for a while). I am pretty sure I am getting it as a Valentine's Day present...

Elementary/Middle Grade:

ABOVE WORLD by Jenn Reese "Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony's survival is at risk. The Kampii's breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people. But can Aluna's fierce determination and fighting skills and Hoku's tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt - growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains - here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true."

THE ADVENTURES OF BEANBOY by Lisa Harkrader "Never underestimate the power of the bean. Tucker MacBean has been drawing comic books almost as long as he’s been reading them. When his favorite comic has a contest for kids, he hopes he has finally found a way to fix his family—all he has to do is create the winning superhero sidekick . . . Introducing “Beanboy”—the first comic book character to truly harness the power of the bean for good. He is strong, he is relentless, he can double in size overnight (if given enough water).

With thoughtful characterizations and copious comic book illustrations, this laughout-loud novel will have readers rooting for a superhero with true heart."

THE BIG BEAST SALE: AN AWFULLY BEASTLY BUSINESS by The Beastly Boys "Ulf the werewolf is on his most dangerous adventure yet—to Capitol City, where the wicked Baron Marackai is plotting the return of the beast trade and the end of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts (RSPCB). With the public calling for beasts to be banished from the city, or worse still, destroyed, it's up to Ulf to protect them and get to the bottom of the mysterious events. This time, the future of all beasts depends on it."

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER: YOU'RE INVITED TO A CREEPOVER by P.J. Night "Katie Walsh is majorly bummed when her BFF moves away. But her hopes soar when the new girl at school, Whitney, befriends her right away and invites her to spend the night at her house for a sleepover. Katie loved sleepovers with her old BFF, so she’s sure she will have a great time. But Katie doesn’t have a great time. Something is not quite right at Whitney’s house. Whitney seems really, really into her dolls…and later that night, Katie’s convinced that the dolls are threatening her.

The next morning, a freaked-out Katie decides that maybe she hasn’t found a new best friend, after all. Whitney, however, has made up her mind about Katie—they’re going to be best friends forever…no matter what. This too-close-for-comfort friendship tale is ranked a 5 on the Creep-o-Meter."

BLISS by Kathryn Littlewood "Rosemary Bliss’s family has a secret. It’s the Bliss Cookery Booke—an ancient, leather-bound volume of enchanted recipes like Stone Sleep Snickerdoodles and Singing Gingersnaps. Rose and her siblings are supposed to keep the Cookery Booke under lock and whisk-shaped key while their parents are out of town, but then a mysterious stranger shows up. “Aunt” Lily rides a motorcycle, wears purple sequins, and whips up exotic (but delicious) dishes for dinner. Soon boring, nonmagical recipes feel like life before Aunt Lily—a lot less fun.

So Rose and her siblings experi-ment with just a couple of recipes from the forbidden Cookery Booke. A few Love Muffins and a few dozen Cookies of Truth couldn’t cause too much trouble . . . could they?"

BONE: QUEST FOR THE SPARK BK. 2 by Tom Sniegoski "The Nacht, the evil dragon that threatens to destroy both the Dreaming and the Waking World, is growing stronger, and twelve-year-old Tom Elm is the champion the Dreaming has chosen to defeat it. Along with Roderick the raccoon, Percival Bone and his nephew and niece, Randolf, Lorimar, and the two stupid Rat Creatures, Tom must race to find the missing pieces of the Spark. This leg of the journey introduces him to a trio of scheming bears and takes him into the depths of a dangerous beehive. And, on top of everything else, a traitor might be among them. . . ."

COLD CEREAL by Adam Rex

"Cold Cereal Facts Serving size 1 chapter Number of servings 40
Primary human characters 3
Scottish Play Doe, aka Scottpossible changeling Erno Utz genius Emily Utz supergenius Magical creatures at least 3
Mick Leprechaun (or Clurichaun)
Harvey Pooka (rabbit-man)
Biggs indeterminate origin (hairy, large)
Evil organizations 1
Goodco Cereal CompanyPurveyor of breakfast foods aspiring to world domination Adventure 75%
Diabolical Schemes 40%
Danger 57%
Legend 20%
Magic 68%
Humor 93%
Puzzles 35%
Mystery 49%

Not a significant source of vampires. May contain nuts. Daily values based on individual interest. Reader's estimation of value may be higher or lower, depending on your tolerance for this sort of thing."

THE CROWFIELD DEMON by Pat Walsh "In THE CROWFIELD CURSE, young monks' apprentice Will learned he was gifted with the Sight: able to see beyond this mortal coil into the spirit realms of Old Magic. Protected by the warrior fay Shadlok -- and befriended by the wry, wary hobgoblin called Brother Walter -- the boy is just coming into his strange powers.

But now, from its very foundations, Crowfield Abbey has begun to crumble. As Will slaves to salvage the chapel, he discovers something truly terrifying. A heathen creature from a pagan past is creeping up through the rubble -- avowed to unleash havoc on holy ground!"

FAIRY LIES by E. D. Baker "In this delightful sequel to Fairy Wings (originally titled Wings) the fairy princess Tamisin has been kidnapped from her home in the human world by Oberon, king of the fairies, who thinks he’s her father. When Tamisin’s boyfriend Jak finds out, he sets off to rescue her. In this funny and heartwarming romp through a land of fairies, goblins, sphinxes, unicorns, and many more, Tamisin and Jak try to regain their romance even as they find their way back to the human world."

ELLIOT AND THE LAST UNDERWORLD WAR: THE UNDERWORLD CHRONICLES by Jennifer A. Nielsen "As King of the Brownies, Elliot has battled Goblins, tricked Pixies, and trapped a Demon. But now, that Demon has escaped and he's ready for revenge. Elliot will face a challenge unlike anything he's seen before. The Last Underworld War is about to begin. "

FIRST HERO: THE CHRONICLES OF AVANTIA by Adam Blade "At the age of seven, Tanner's father was killed in front of him by the evil warlord Derthsin. But his father's death was not in vain and Derthsin was carried away to his doom by a good Beast, Firepos the Flame Bird. Now, eight years later, another evil army is wreaking havoc across Avantia. But Tanner has been training with Firepos, waiting to avenge his father's death. There is something familiar about this new menace, who rides with a Beast of his own. The evil army is after the pieces of the Mask of Death--which allows whoever wears it to control all Beasts. Tanner sets off on a journey to stop them. Along the way, he encouters twins Gwen and Geffen, who hold the map to finding the remaining pieces."

GHOST PIRATE TREASURE: CREEPELLA VON CACKLEFUR by Geronimo Stilton "Breakout star Creepella von Cacklefur is back in another fur-raising adventure!

Oh, no! Billy Squeakspeare has a big problem, and he needs Creepella's help. Someone's been digging holes around Squeakspeare Mansion at night, and Billy wants to find out who it is. The dangerous, legendary pirate Morgan Darkwhisker is said to have buried his long-lost treasure near Squeakspeare Mansion years ago -- could he be hunting for his hidden riches? It's up to Billy and Creepella to find the treasure first!"

ISLAND OF SHADOWS: SEEKERS, RETURN TO THE WILD by Erin Hunter "Toklo, Kallik, and Lusa survived the perilous mission that brought them together, and now it’s time for them to find their way home. Kallik and Lusa are ready to be among their own kinds again, but Toklo, devastated by the loss of their companion Ujurak, feels hopeless and afraid of what’s to come.

When the group reaches a shadowy island covered in mountains and ice, Kallik is sure they’re almost back to the Frozen Sea. But a terrifying accident leads them into a maze of abandoned tunnels, unlike anything they’ve ever seen before—making them question their path once again.

The bears grow desperate for a sign to guide them, and when they meet a cub who has lost his whole family, Toklo believes the cub has been sent by Ujurak. But the others are unsure. Can they trust their new companion? Or could he be hiding something that will endanger them all?"

QUEST FOR THE SECRET KEEPER: ORACLES OF DELPHI KEEP by Victoria Laurie "Delphi Keep is awash in activity, and for Ian, Theo, and Carl, their safe haven might be nearing its end. The Royal Navy has taken the keep to use as a hospital and the tunnels running under the keep and the castle are ideal to set up a central communications outpost for the approaching war. The earl is happy to help the effort, but now the keep is no longer safe for the orphans and they must be evacuated to his winter residence.
Ian, Theo, and Carl know that if they're sent away, they'll no longer be protected. But more important than their safety is deciphering the third prophecy. All clues point to a quest. The orphans don't know where they must go, but they know they must rescue the Secret Keeper.
To do that, however, they need to work out who this Secret Keeper is. And what, exactly are the secrets he's keeping?"

RAPUNZEL, THE ONE WITH ALL THE HAIR: TWICE UPON A TIME by Wendy Mass "The girl's stuck in a tower. The boy's stuck in a castle. There are two sides to every story...
Rapunzel is having the ultimate bad day. She's been stolen by a witch, may have a ghost for a roommate, and doesn't even have a decent brush for her hair. Prince Benjamin's got it pretty tough, too. His father wants him to be more kingly, his mother wants him to never leave her sight, and his cousin wants to get him into as much trouble as possible (possibly with a troll).

Both Rapunzel and Prince Benjamin are trapped--in very different ways. Once their paths cross, well, that's when things get really strange. Journey back to the days when fairy tales were true with this fun and fresh spin on a timeless tale!"

THE SECRET OF ASHONA: EREC REX by Kaza Kingsley "Erec Rex might still become king—but the closer he gets, the more dangerous his tasks become. Given his romance brewing with Bethany, the discovery that his siblings are secretly king and queen of the Fairy world, and the knowledge that the Stain brothers are growing more and more underhanded, Erec Rex isn’t exactly in an ideal state of mind to face his next two tasks. He will need to lean on his friends more than ever to complete what could be the most terrifying challenge he has ever faced…."

THE VISITORS: CLONE CODES by The McKissacks "There is a wicked system of operation inside the Topas Corporation, where clones are produced. Only authorized Topas officials are allowed inside. Only they, along with the clones themselves, know what happens within the walls of the world’s largest and most powerful cloning company. This final book of The Clone Codes plunges readers into this strange reality. At the same time, The World Federation of Nations has issued an urgent decree to the masses--find Houston Ye, a cyborg, and Leanna Deberry, a clone, both fugitives! There is a $1 million bounty on each of their heads if captured alive. Once again, the McKissacks blend a futuristic world with events from world history to create a gripping sci-fi adventure."

THE WHISPER: THE ROAR by Emma Clayton "Telepathic twins Mika and Ellie at last are reunited. But if they're ever to free the brainwashed, microchipped child soldiers, they must pretend to play along with the tyrant Mal Gorman's maniacal plan, even as they mind-read his every evil thought. Members of an elite squadron of mutants, the brother and sister have specialized skills that will enable them to steal the top-secret formula for an age-reversing drug developed by rebel scientists on the wild side of The Wall. Juiced by these potent pills, the cadaver-like Gorman foresees a future in which he'll be forever young - released from the machinery that now supports him.

Unless, that is, Ellie and Mika have a master plan of their own: to bring the all-powerful Gorman to his knees, and face-to-face with his greatest fear."


Young Adult (these are covered fairly well on other blogs, which is why I don't include the blurbs)

ARCADIA AWAKENS by Kai Meyer
ALMOST EVERYTHING: A VAMPIRE PRINCESS NOVEL by Tate Hallaway
ANGELINA'S SECRET by Lisa J. Rogers
ARTICLE 5 by Kristen Simmons
BEWITCHING: THE KENDRA CHRONICLES by Alex Flinn
BORN WICKED: THE CAHILL WITCH CHRONICLES by Jessica Spotswood
DIABOLICAL: TANTALIZE by Cynthia Leitich Smith
THE GALAHAD LEGACY by Dom Testa
GREEN HEART by Alice Hoffman
HARBINGER by Sara Wilson Etienne
THE JADE NOTEBOOK by Laura Resau
THE MASKED WITCHES: BROTHERHOOD OF THE GRIFFON by Richard Lee Byers
THE NIGHTMARE GARDEN: THE IRON CODEX by Caitlin Kittredge
PURE by Julianna Baggott
SCARLET by A.C. Gaughen
SEKTION 20 by Paul Dowswell
SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE by Katie Dale
THIEF'S COVENANT: A WIDDERSHINS ADVENTURE by Ari Marmell
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: THE LYING GAME by Sara Shepard
VAMPLAYERS by Rusty Fischer
THE VANISHING GAME by Kate Kae Myers
WINGS OF THE WICKED: AN ANGELFIRE NOVEL by Courtney Allison Moulton
THE WOOD QUEEN: AN IRON WITCH NOVEL by Karen Mahoney

New releases of fantasy and science fiction for kids and teens--the second half of January, 2012 edition

Here are the new releases of fantasy and science fiction for kids and teens coming out in the second half of January, 2012! My information comes from Teens Read Too, with blurbs (for the middle grade books, because the YA books get more attention elsewhere) from Amazon.

Middle Grade (ages 9-12)

ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD: THE TREASURE CHEST by Ann Hood "While exploring The Treasure Chest, Felix and Maisie are transported to a Massachusetts farm in 1836. Disappointed that they have not landed in their beloved New York City, they wonder why they were brought to Massachusetts to meet a young girl named Clara Barton. Perhaps Clara has a message for the twins? Or maybe they have one for her?"

THE BOOK OF WONDERS by Jasmine Richards "Sorcerers, Cyclops, Djinnis...Magic. Thirteen-year-old Zardi loves to hear stories about fantastical beings long banned from the kingdom of Arribitha. But anyone who is caught whispering of their powers will feel the rage of the sultan—a terrifying tyrant who, even with his eyes closed, can see all. When her own beloved sister is captured by the evil ruler, Zardi knows that she must risk everything to rescue her. Along with Rhidan, who is her best friend, and an unlikely crew of sailors led by the infamous Captain Sinbad, Zardi ventures forth into strange and wondrous territory with a seemingly impossible mission: to bring magic back to Arribitha and defeat the sultan once and for all."

CHASING THE WHITE WITCH by Marina Cohen "Teased by her older brother, bullied by the popular girls at school, and plagued by a blistering pimple that has surfaced on the tip of her nose, twelve-year-old Claire Murphy wishes she could shrivel up and die or spontaneously combust. But when a mysterious book appears at her feet in the checkout aisle of a grocery store, Claire is confident all her troubles are over. Following the instructions carefully, Claire dives nose-first into reeking remedies, rollicking rituals, and silly spells. It's only when she recklessly disregards the Law of Three that the line between good and evil blurs and Claire must race against time to undo all of the trouble she's caused."

HADES, LORD OF THE DEAD: OLYMPIANS by George O'Connor "Hades: Lord of the Dead tells the story of the great God of the Underworld and one of the most famous of all Greek myths: Hades’ abduction of Persephone and her mother’s revenge. Be prepared to see a new side of Persephone in this dynamic adaptation of the story of the creation of the seasons."

THE ISLAND HUNTERS: THE LEGEND OF BROWN EYED JAMES by N.E. Walford "The legend is real and the man was named James Baako, a merchant, a coppersmith, and voyager turned Treasure Hunter. The key to the Hunter family legacy has been found. But he s not where anyone would expect. And as the Hunter boys find this latest mystery revealed, little do they know who else is looking for him. Now, the journey of a lifetime has turned to chaos as all of their enemies converge in one place. And the knowledge of the past has already begun to bestow power upon the wrong people."

JOURNEY TO MARS: PHINEAS AND FERB by Ellie O'Ryan "Phineas and Ferb's friend Baljeet is working on an awesome project for the summer school science fair—he's building a giant portal to Mars! But when Phineas and Ferb's sister, Candace, accidentally goes through the portal and lands on the barren planet, it's Phineas and Ferb to the rescue! Readers will love this fun 112-page chapter book filled with exciting black and white screen grabs from the show."

LITTLE LION: THE TREASURE CHEST by Ann Hood "Now that the twins have begun to settle into their new lives at Elm Medona, they delve deeper into The Treasure Chest and uncover more about the Pickworth family, including the disappearance of their great-uncle Thorne and the theft of priceless family artifacts.

In this adventure, The Treasure Chest transports Felix and Maisie to tropical St. Croix in 1772. There they meet a young man named Alexander Hamilton who is about to embark on a journey to New York. Felix and Maisie aren't sure why The Treasure Chest has brought them to meet Alexander, but they are determined to not let him out of their sights . . .even if that means stowing away on the very ship he is sailing off on!"

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate "Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.

Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better."

POPULAR CLONE: THE CLONE CHRONICLES by M.E. Castle "Meet Fisher Bas: 12 years-old, growth-stunted, a geeky science genius, and son of the Nobel Prize-winning creators of the Bas-Hermaphrodite-Sea-Slug-Hypothesis. No surprise: Fisher isn't exactly the most popular kid in his middle-school, tormented daily by the beefy, overgrown goons he calls The Vikings. But he senses relief when he comes upon the idea of cloning himself--creating a second Fisher to go to school each day while he stays at home playing video games and eating cheetos with ketchup. It's an ingenious plan that works brilliantly, until Fisher's clone turns out to be more popular than him--and soon after gets clone-napped by the evil scientist Dr. Xander."

PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS by Diane Zahler "Princess Meriel's brothers have been cursed. A terrible enchantment--cast by their conniving new stepmother--has transformed the handsome princes into swans. They now swim forlornly on a beautiful heart-shaped lake that lies just beyond the castle walls.
Meriel will do whatever it takes to rescue her beloved brothers. But she must act quickly. If Heart Lake freezes, her brothers will be forced to fly south or perish.
With help from her newfound friends Riona and Liam--a pretty half-witch and her clever brother--Meriel vows to finish a seemingly impossible task. If she completes it, her brothers may be saved.
But if she fails . . . all will be lost."

STEALING MAGIC: A SIXTY-EIGHT ROOMS ADVENTURE by Marianne Malone "Ruthie and Jack thought that their adventures in the Thorne Rooms were over . . . until miniatures from the rooms start to disappear. Is it the work of the art thief who's on the loose in Chicago? Or has someone else discovered the secret of the Thorne Rooms' magic? Ruthie and Jack's quest to stop the thief takes them from modern day Chicago to 1937 Paris to antebellum South Carolina. But as more items disappear, including the key that allows them to shrink and access the past worlds, what was once just an adventure becomes a life and death race against the clock. Can Ruthie and Jack catch the thief and help the friends they meet on the way before the magic—and the rooms—are destroyed forever?"

The Young Adult books

ALBRECK'S TOMB: ADVENTURERS WANTED by M. L. Forman

THE ASYLUM: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, STEFAN'S DIARIES by Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec

DAUGHTER OF THE CENTAURS: CENTAURIAD by K.K. Ross

THE DEAD OF WINTER by Chris Priestley (new release in the US)

DESTINY AND DECEPTION: A 13 TO LIFE NOVEL by Shannon Delany

EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton

FORBIDDEN by Syrie & Ryan M. James
FRACTURE by Megan Miranda
HALFLINGS by Heather Burch
HALLOWED: AN UNEARTHLY NOVEL by Cynthia Hand
HAVOC: A DEVIANTS NOVEL by Jeff Sampson
IN DARKNESS by Nick Lake
INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows
LENOBIA'S VOW: A HOUSE OF NIGHT NOVELLA by P.C. & Kristin Cast
LIFE ETERNAL: A DEAD BEAUTIFUL NOVEL by Yvonne Woon
MESMERIZE: A MYSTYX NOVEL by Artist Arthur
STOLEN AWAY by Alyxandra Harvey
THE SURVIVORS by Will Weaver
TANGLED by Erica O'Rourke
TEMPEST by Julie Cross
THERE IS NO DOG by Meg Rosoff
THE WAY WE FALL by Megan Crewe