Wolven, by Di Toft

Wolven, by Di Toft (Chicken House, middle grade, 336 pages)

Nat and his mother have come to a small English village to live with his grandparents in a house overlooked by a forbidden woods, home to a secret government research agency. People have disappeared in those woods, and many locals know secrets they aren't telling...

Soon after Nat's arrival, his grandpa offers to get him a puppy. But the dog being offered by a local farmer isn't the cute little thing either of them quite had in mind. It's the huge white thing with a head too large for its body, crusty, patchy fur, and a powerful stench. But when Nat looks into the dog's amber eyes, something strange happens--it's almost like the dog is inside his mind, showing him the death by drowning that might lie ahead if Nat won't take him, and "Woody" becomes Nat's dog.

But this isn't your average "boy and beloved canine companion" story, and Woody isn't your average malodorous mongrel. He is the last of the Wolven, an ancient race of anti-werewolves (as in wolves who can take human form). When he's human, he's just a kid who doesn't know much about how the real world works...but he does know that he's being hunted by the power-hungry evil scientist controlling the government research center. Twisted were-wolfian experiments are being conducted up in the woods--experiments that have had deadly consequences. And Woody is destined to be the next lab rat (more accurately, lab Wolven), if they can catch him.

This book came out last year in the UK, and has just recently been released here in the US (with its UK English intact, as far as I could tell--yay!). It was displayed prominently at the last Scholastic Book fair I visited--and I think it is just the sort of book that the fourth and fifth grade browsers would enjoy. The larger threat of the were-wolves and mad scientists is balanced by Nat's more personal problems of absent father and local bully; he's not a special Chosen One, but an ordinary kid in extraordinary circumstances. I especially liked Toft's decision to allow adults (including a revolver-packing, overweight, more than middle-aged woman) to act heroically and help save the day. Left to themselves, Nat and Woody, although certainly brave, would have been were-wolf toast.

The story is scary in places, but not overwhelmingly so. The disturbing experiments are, in fact, disturbing, but they aren't dwelt upon in too much detail; the main bad werewolf character is a nasty piece of work, but his nastiness is, I think, exaggerated enough so that it doesn't disturb deeply. And the danger is leavened nicely with humor.

Cat lovers might have trouble getting past the initial completely and utterly unappealing description of Woody; once this has been managed, it's a fun adventure. Although it comes to a satisfying conclusion, there is more to come--the sequel, Wolven: The Twilight Circus, is already out in the UK (thanks to Geranium Cat for bringing that to my attention).

Other reviews at Manga Maniac Cafe and Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books.

The Elementary and Middle Grade SFF Cybils Nominees

Nominations for the Cybils Awards are now closed.

Here are the 147 books that us mg sff panelists are busily reading:

13 Treasures
By Michelle Harrison
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Christie Ibarra

Adventures of Hotsy Totsy, The
By Clive Cussler
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Sarah Sammis

Adventures of Nanny Piggins, The
By R. A. Spratt
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jess Pugh

Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising
By Jason Henderson
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Ms. Yingling

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
By Lewis Carroll
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Katie Connors

Archvillain #1
By Barry Lyga
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Kirby Rundell

Astrosaurs The Twist of Time
By Steve Cole
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Kelly Hurst

Atlantis Complex, The (Artemis Fowl, Book 7)
By Eoin Colfer
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Brandon

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies
By Andrea Beaty
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jess Pugh

Basilisk's Lair, The (Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist, Book 2)
By R. L. LaFevers
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Nell Clark

Behemoth (Leviathan)
By Scott Westerfeld
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Melissa Baldwin

Bellyache: A Delicious Tale
By Crystal Marcos
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Brenda

Birthday Ball, The
By Lois Lowry
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Torey Yates

Bogbrush the Barbarian
By Howard Whitehouse
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Amelie Roberge

Boneshaker, The
By Kate Milford
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Amanda Snow

Boom!
By Mark Haddon
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Kara Dean

Brains For Lunch: A Zombie Novel in Haiku?!
By K.A. Holt
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: E. Kristin Anderson

Brimstone Key, The (Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles #1)
By Derek Benz
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Shannon Messenger

Call, The (The Magnificent 12)
By Michael Grant
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Ben

Carnival of Lost Souls, The: A Handcuff Kid Novel
By Laura Quimby
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Farrar Williams

Celestial Globe, The: The Kronos Chronicles: Book II
By Marie Rutkoski
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jessalynn Pinsonault

Celia's Robot
By Margaret Chang
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Doret

Chestnut King, The: Book 3 of the 100 Cupboards
By N. D. Wilson
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Beth

Clockwork Three, The
By Matthew J. Kirby
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Kristen

Clone Codes, The
By Patricia C. Mckissack
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Edi Campbell

Cosmic
By Frank Cottrell Boyce
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Eric Carpenter

Crossing Over (Suddenly Supernatural 4)
By Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jenny Schwartzberg

Crowfield Curse, The
By Pat Walsh
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Karin Lackmann

Curse of the Spider King: The Berinfell Prophecies Series - Book One
By Wayne Thomas Batson
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Deborah

Dark Deeps, The: The Hunchback Assignments 2
By Arthur Slade
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: James Bow

Dark Life
By Kat Falls
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Kathy M Burnette

Dead Boys, The
By Royce Buckingham
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Mike Schoeneck

Dragon Cowboy (Dragonblood)
By Michael Dahl
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Liz Rouse

Dragon Games (Books of Umber)
By P. W. Catanese
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Charlotte

Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-wiener
By Ursula Vernon
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: D.M. Cunningham

Elephants' Call, The (Astral Legacies)
By Volke Gordon
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Eleanor Rose

Elliot and the Goblin War
By Jennifer Nielsen
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Ruth Barshaw

Enchanted Glass
By Diana Wynne Jones
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jennifer Wharton

Facing Fire
By KC Dyer
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: James McCann

Falling In
By Frances O'Roark Dowell
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Liz Jones

Familiars, The
By Adam Jay Epstein
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Pam van Hylckama Vlieg

Fever Crumb
By Philip Reeve
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Gwenda Bond

Flight of the Outcast (The Academy: Year 1)
By Brad Strickland
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Kate Coombs

Forbidden Sea
By Sheila A. Nielson
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Rebecca Herman

Forgive My Fins
By Tera Lynn Childs
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Debbie Barr

Found (The Magic Thief)
By Sarah Prineas
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: madigan

Ghost Hunter (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #6)
By Michelle Paver
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Tammy Allen

Ghost of Heroes Past
By Charles Reid
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Hilde Polten

Green
By Laura Peyton Roberts
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Nell Saunders

Grim Hill: The Family Secret (The Grim Hill Series)
By Linda DeMeulemeester
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Catherine Knowles - Lobster Press

Grimm Legacy, The
By Polly Shulman
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: KT

Haint Misbehavin'
By Maureen Hardegree
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Deborah Smith

Halt's Peril (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 9)
By John Flanagan
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Elliot

Haunted Houses (Are You Scared Yet?)
By Robert D. San Souci
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Gladys

Healing Wars, The: Book II: Blue Fire
By Janice Hardy
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Natalie Aguirre

Immortals, The: The Edge Chronicles 10
By Paul Stewart
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Brigan Dell

Inside Story, The (The Sisters Grimm: Book Eight)
By Michael Buckley
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Laura Mihalick

Interdimensional Dumpster, The
By Ray Connor
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Noreen Vigneault

Invisible City (The Joshua Files)
By M. G. Harris
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Kathy M Burnette

Ivy's Ever After
By Dawn Lairamore
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Linda Joy Singleton

Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation (Jack Blank (Trilogy))
By Matt Myklusch
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: morninglightmama

Johnny Mackintosh and the Spirit of London (Johnny Mackintosh Trilogy)
By Keith Mansfield
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jane Moraghan

Johnny Mackintosh: Star Blaze (Johnny Mackintosh Trilogy)
By Keith Mansfield
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jon Reed

Keeper
By Kathi Appelt
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Mary Ann Scheuer

Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven, Book 5)
By Brandon Mull
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Nicole

Kid Vs. Squid
By Greg van Eekhout
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Sarah Prineas

Knightley Academy
By Violet Haberdasher
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Erica

Last Hunt, The (The Unicorn Chronicles, Book 4)
By Bruce Coville
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Beverly Wrigglesworth

Legends: Battles and Quests (Legends (Anthony Horowitz))
By Anthony Horowitz
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Summer Ogata

Legends: Beasts and Monsters (Legends (Anthony Horowitz))
By Anthony Horowitz
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Marina Cambareri

Letters to Anyone and Everyone
By Toon Tellegen
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Katie Connors

Light, The (Morpheus Road)
By D.J. MacHale
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Karin Lackmann

Limit, The
By Kristen Landon
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Enna Isilee

Line, The
By Teri Hall
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Savannah

Lost Children, The
By Carolyn Cohagan
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Zena Logan

Lost Hero, The: The Heroes of Olympus, Book One
By Rick Riordan
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Kate

Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Numbers
By Penny Noyce
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Rebecca Raibley

Magic Below Stairs
By Caroline Stevermer
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Marie

Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle, The
By Deva Fagan
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Saundra Mitchell

Magician's Castle, The
By Mary Cunningham
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Mary Cunningham

Merlin's Curse
By Darren J. Butler
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Dianne Hamilton

Merlin's Dragon, Book 3: Ultimate Magic
By T. A. Barron
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Barb Langridge

Middleworld (The Jaguar Stones, Book One)
By J&P Voelkel
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Virginia

Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates
By Kim Kennedy
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jason Wells

Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins, and Other Nasties: A Practical Guide by Miss Edythe McFate
By Lesley M. M. Blume
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jennifer Rembold

Mousebeard's Revenge (Mousehunter Trilogy)
By Alex Milway
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Keith Mansfield

Mr Mumbles (Invisible Fiends)
By Barry Hutchison
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Dan Green

My Sparkling Misfortune
By Laura Lond
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Laura Lond

Nest for Celeste, A: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home
By Henry Cole
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Dotz Johnson

Nightmarys, The
By Dan Poblocki
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: D.M. Cunningham

Nightshade City
By Hilary Wagner
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Lawral

Ninth Ward
By Jewell Parker Rhodes
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Hallie Tibbetts

On the Blue Comet
By Rosemary Wells
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Vicki Palmquist

Ortega
By Maureen Fergus
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Naseem Hrab

Over My Dead Body: 43 Old Cemetery Road: Book 2
By Kate Klise
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Nicole

Owl Keeper, The
By Christine Brodien-Jones
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Heather Z.

Penny on Safari
By Eileen O'Hely
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Sharon O'Donovan

Peter Pan and Wendy: Centenary Edition
By J. M. Barrie
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Derry Wilkens

Princess and the Snowbird, The
By Mette Ivie Harrison
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Cecil Castellucci

Princess for Hire
By Lindsey Leavitt
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Allie Williams

Radiance
By Alyson Noel
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jennifer Donovan

Raiders' Ransom
By Emily Diamand
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jen Robinson

Reckless
By Cornelia Funke
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Angela

Red Pyramid, The (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1)
By Rick Riordan
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Mary Ellen Thompson

Restoring Harmony
By Joelle Anthony
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: El

Rise of the Darklings: The Invisible Order, Book One
By Paul Crilley
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Virginia

Roberto & Me (Baseball Card Adventures)
By Dan Gutman
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Andromeda Jazmon

Roll Up the Streets
By John Bladek
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Lisa Barker

SPHDZ Book #1! (Spaceheadz)
By Jon Scieszka
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Debbie Nance

Sabotaged (Missing)
By Margaret Peterson Haddix
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: B.Wells

Scumble
By Ingrid Law
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Maureen E

Search for WondLa, The
By Tony DiTerlizzi
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Debbie Barr

Secret Lives of Princesses, The
By Philippe Lechermeier
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Danielle Smith (The1stdaughter)

Shadow
By Jenny Moss
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Sally Barringer

Shadow Hunt, The
By Katherine Langrish
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Colleen Mondor

Shadows, The (The Books of Elsewhere, Vol. 1)
By Jacqueline West
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Sandra Stiles

Sixty-Eight Rooms, The
By Marianne Malone
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Emma Carbone

Smells Like Dog
By Suzanne Selfors
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Becky

Song of the Whales, The
By Uri Orlev
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Sarah Rettger

Specter Key, The (Bran Hambric)
By Kaleb Nation
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Zane

Squirrel's Birthday and Other Parties, The
By Toon Tellegen
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Derry Wilkens

Starlight Prince, The
By Borislava Borissova
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Sabina Arabadjieva

Tall Story
By Candy Gourlay
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Tarie Sabido

The Pickle King
By Rebecca Promitzer
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Sharon Hrycewicz

Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus
By R. L. LaFevers
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Angie

Thirteenth Princess, The
By Diane Zahler
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Alyssa

Thomas and the Dragon Queen
By Shutta Crum
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Greg Leitich Smith

Tilting House, The
By Tom Llewellyn
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Amy Baskin

Timekeeper's Moon, The
By Joni Sensel
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Melissa

Tiny Angel
By Nancy Carty Lepri
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Janet Ann Collins

Tollins: More Explosive Tales for Children
By Conn Iggulden
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Matthew H.

Toto's Tale
By K. D. Hays
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Elizabeth Burton

Trail of Fate: The Youngest Templar
By Michael Spradlin
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: cindy pon

Trapped (The Prometheus Project)
By Douglas E. Richards
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Robin Prehn

Unearthly Asylum (Joy of Spooking)
By P.J. Bracegirdle
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Susan Mitchell

Whistle Bright Magic: A Nutfolk Tale
By Barb Bentler Ullman
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Sara Ullman

Wide-Awake Princess, The
By E. D. Baker
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Jessica Miller

Wiff and Dirty George: The Z.e.b.r.a. Incident
By Stephen R. Swinburne
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Elizabeth Bird

Windblowne
By Stephen Messer
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: B.Wells

Wish Stealers, The
By Tracy Trivas
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: samuel White

Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams, The
By Rhonda Hayter
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Stephen Bochicchio

Wizard of Mars, A: The Ninth Book in the Young Wizards Series
By Diane Duane
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Liz

Wolven
By Di Toft
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Nicola Manning

Wolves' Gambit, The (Astral Legacies)
By Volke Gordon
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Dan Graham

Wyverns' Treasure, The (Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist, Book 3)
By R. L. LaFevers
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Gina R

Young Chieftain, The
By Ken Howard
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: Chimaechi Ochei

Zombiekins
By Kevin Bolger
Status: Eligible
Nominated by: D.M. Cunningham

Once Upon a Royal Superbaby

Once upon a time, a boy and a girl were asked to collaborate on a story. The result of their clashing styles was the hilarious 2005 picture book, Once Upon a Cool Motercycle Dude (written and illustrated by Kevin O'Malley, and also illustrated by Carol Hayer and Scott Goto).

Now the fairy tale telling duel begins again, when the same two kids (and the same creative writer/illustrator team) must tell another story-- and out of their competing narratives comes Once Upon a Royal Superbaby (Bloomsbury, 2010).

Will beautiful baby Sweet Piper, friend of the birds and darling of his mother, Queen Tenderheart, survive? Or will his alter ego, heavily muscled Strong Viper, ride his motorcycle to victory?

The boy and the girl snap at each other in comic book style speech bubbles, while behind them their stories come to life (one illustrator for her, in sweet pretty style, and one for him, bolder and darker). Neither kid is at all happy, until the story takes hold of their young minds, and their imaginations work as one...(and their characters all ride off on a robotic unicorn).

This is seriously funny. It will make little kids laugh with its obvious silliness; it will make grown- up fans of fairy tales laugh with its more subtle satire (as well as its silliness).

I asked my son which narrative (Strong Viper or Sweet Piper) he preferred. He answered: "You have to have them both; otherwise it's not interesting." Truly it is the conflict between the two versions of the story that makes this so entertaining. I liked it so much that I just nominated it for the Cybils Awards in the picture book category.

(disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher)

The Magnificent 12 -- SIGNED!--Giveaway!

And the winner is-- Elaina! Thanks, all of you who entered.

My 10 year old says: "I'm loving this one."

Middle Grade Ninja calls it: "...a very funny little book you can curl up with and have a good time." (read the full review here--there are lots of great passages quoted!)

I said (in my own review): "If you are looking for a fantasy book for your kids (or yourself) that is tremendously entertaining (in a chuckle out loud way), which doesn't take itself too terribly Seriously, but yet has a nice tight plot; a book which has nice generous spacing so your reluctant reader won't be daunted, but which can be enjoyed by all ages, I highly recommend The Call."

Just leave a comment, and you'll be entered to win a signed copy!

Courtesy of its publishers (HarperCollins), I have a signed copy of Michael Grant's new book, The Magnificent 12, to give away! I have been looking forward to this book myself for ages...a well-known YA author (the Gone books) writing middle grade fantasy! Exciting story! Funny!

I haven't read it myself yet, because my review copy got lost in the mail (sadness). So I can't, yet, offer my own review. But here's the publisher's blurb:

"Twelve-year-old Mack MacAvoy suffers from a serious case of mediumness. Medium looks. Medium grades. Medium parents who barely notice him. With a list of phobias that could make anyone crazy, Mack never would have guessed that he is destined for a more-than-medium life.

And then, one day, something incredibly strange happens to Mack. A three-thousand-year-old man named Grimluk appears in the boys’ bathroom to deliver some startling news: Mack is one of the Magnificent Twelve, called the Magnifica in ancient times, whatever that means. An evil force is on its way, and it’s up to Mack to track down eleven other twelve-year-olds in order to stop it. He must travel across the world to battle the wicked Pale Queen’s dangerous daughter, Ereskigal—also known as Risky. But Risky sounds a little scary, and Mack doesn’t want to be a hero. Will he answer the call?

A laugh-out-loud story filled with excitement and magic, The Magnificent Twelve: The Call is the first book in bestselling author Michael Grant’s hilarious new fantasy adventure series"

And here's the Magnificent 12 website, full of extras and news and games!

To win a Signed Copy of this book, just leave a comment before midnight, next Wednesday (October 6th)!!!!

The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan

The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan (2010, Hyperion Books, middle grade on up, 516 pages)

When their mother died, Carter Kane and his little sister, Sadie, were split up. Carter travelled the world with their archaeologist father, while Sadie lived with their grandparents in England. Now, six years later, they hardly know each other, but they are in agreement that a trip to the British Museum is not what they want to do during their brief Christmas reunion.

But the museum visit is even worse than they thought it would be. Their dad shatters the Rosetta Stone in a mysterious explosion that raises a fiery figure who entombs him in a glowing coffin. Life for 14-year old Carter and 12-year old Sadie has just become more than somewhat interesting.

Whisked off to New York by their uncle, whom they had never known before, the kids are thrown into a maelstrom of ancient Egyptian magic. The gods and goddess of Egypt have been woken, and the titanic struggle between chaos and order that characterize Egyptian mythology is being fought again. Carter and Sadie, whether they want to or not, have pivotal roles to play.

Riordan has created a world of non-stop action, danger, and adventure, filled with fascinating ancient Egyptian magic and mystery. The non-stop action was a bit much for my personal taste--I appreciated the moments of relative peace, where one could quietly contemplate the magic of ancient Egypt, all the more because they seemed so few and far between....On the other hand, I found the premise and the intricacies of the plot fascinating, and I really enjoyed the character of Bast, the cat goddess, who takes the kids under her paw. The pages kept turning rapidly, (although in part this is because I skimmed various scorpion/crocodile attacks).

The Red Pyramid is told from the alternating perspectives of Sadie and Carter, a device that allows the author to show how their relationship deepens as their adventures progress (providing a nice side-note to the non-stop action, although I would have preferred a bit less snide-ness). Sadie and Carter are bi-racial (black dad, white mother). Carter takes after their dad, while Sadie looks like their mom, and Carter, in particular, openly discusses the implications of this.

I didn't like this quite as much as The Lightning Thief, but that could be because I'm more familiar with the Olympian gods, and so got more immediate enjoyment from Riordan's take on them. It could also be that 500 pages of tension, no matter how interesting, engaging, and entertaining (which this book is), is just too much for me.

The Ship that Flew, by Hilda Lewis, for Timeslip Tuesday

It might be a worn out cliche, but, gee, there really are books that I wish I had read when I was young, before the veil of cynicism descended (or something like that), keeping me from happy acceptance and enjoyment....In short, I would have loved The Ship that Flew, by Hilda Lewis (1958) if I had read it when I was nine or so.

As it was, I still managed to enjoy reading it for the first time last weekend. It is a story very much in the E. Nesbit/Edward Eager vein, a story of four children who find a magic object that opens a way to magical adventures. In this case, it is a tiny ship, that Peter, the oldest boy, finds in a mysterious shop on a mysterious street he'd never before seen. The ship can fly, through time and space, and it takes Peter, and his siblings--Sheila, Humphrey, and Sandy--on a journey to Asgard itself, and flies them back to ancient Egypt, Norman England, and the time of Robin Hood.

Each adventure is fraught with some danger and suspense, as is the way of these things. On each journey they meet with new friends, and occasional enemies...And although the friendships perhaps come too easily (I think the Norman lord's daughter and the son of the Pharaoh were perhaps to quick to cast suspicion aside), the adventures are diverting, the magic captivating.

I especially liked the bit where the children bring Matilda (the Norman girl) into their own time for a visit--yes, her astonishment at running water, etc., was not new to me, but it was fun nonetheless. And it was one of the few parts of the book set in our time, where the intersection of magic and reality got to play out a little bit (the adventures in the past are more or less encapsulated episodes).

There wasn't, as is the case with (most) Nesbit and (most) Eager, a larger story arc holding things together, and this, for me in my grownup-ness, was the main weakness of the book. Nor was there any difficult with the magic--the ship was entirely co-operative, ready even to clad the children in appropriate garments, and solve pesky difficulties of language, and so there was less tension than one finds in the works of the two masters, and this too I found to weaken the story.

But do try to find this one for your magic-loving child who thinks Nesbit's Phoenix and the Carpet and Eager's Knight's Castle are the creme de la creme of books, and who, perhaps, was lucky enough to have been given last year's Any Which Wall, by Laurel Snyder, to read. They might very well love this one unequivocally (as all the five star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads from those who read it young show).

(The 1998 re-issue seems to be still in print in the UK, so it's readily available)

The Call (Book 1 of the Magnificent 12), by Michael Grant

The Call (Book 1 of the Magnificent 12), by Michael Grant (HarperCollins, 2010, middle grade, 243 pages)

If you are looking for a fantasy book for your kids (or yourself) that is tremendously entertaining (in a chuckle out loud way), which doesn't take itself too terribly Seriously, but yet has a nice tight plot; a book which has nice generous spacing so your reluctant reader won't be daunted, but which can be enjoyed by all ages, I highly recommend The Call, the first book of Michael Grant's new series.

12 year old Mack has no reason to think he is extraordinary (apart from his large number of phobias). The one area in which, inexplicably, he's braver than ordinary is his attitude toward bullies--he's not afraid to take them on (with guile and cunning, rather than fisticuffs). And his school has bullies in plenty, with each subgroup (jocks, geeks, etc. having its own designated bully). At the top of the pecking order is Stefan, a 15 year old seventh grader with no phobias at all. A miscalculation lands Mack in trouble with Stefan, but fortuitously, instead of Stefan's fist slamming into Mack, it slams through a sheet of glass--and Mack saves Stefan's from bleeding to death, and Stefan becomes his protector. (Sorry. This isn't all that important, but I really enjoyed the book, and it's making me long winded. I shall try to be more succinct now).

Then we flip back in time, to a messy era three thousand years ago, when the Pale Queen is raising armies of grotesque creatures and Grimluck, a young father, is forced to adopt Flee-er as his new profession

Back to Mack. Someone is trying to kill him. Grimluck (still alive!) is trying to save him. The Evil of the Pale Queen, and her daughter, is rising again. Grimluck, back in the past, had helped defeat her...but it was only a temporary fix, and he's still trying to finish the job. The daughter, a nasty piece of work, has her sights set on Mack. Because (I don't think I'm giving anything away here--look at the title) --Mack is special!

So, for reasons that are unclear to them, Mack and Stefen are sent off to Australia with plane tickets and lots of money (Grimluck had planned ahead by opening a Swiss Bank account back when the Swiss banks first opened). And then Adventure happens! A second member of the Magnificent 12 is met! It is exciting! (really truly).

It is a fine story, but what made this book work beautifully for me is that Grant is clearly having fun with it, without letting it slip into the realm of farce. Here's one of the emails the golem, back at home, sends Mack:

Dear Mack,

Today I ate pizza. But I realized that I do not have a stomach and had to spit it out on the table. Later I used a spoon to reach inside my mouth and dig out a stomach. I placed the mud carefully in the toilet and flushed many times. Now there is water on the floor and also on the stairs. I think Mom noticed.

Your friend,
Golem (page 124)

And while that was happening at home, Mack and Stefen's flight turned ugly when a monster landed on the wing of their plane.

"When it stared at Mack with its white jelly eyes and grinned its broken grin, Mack had no doubt, no doubt whatsoever, that it was coming for him.

"Whoa," Stefan said. "Gnarly."

The flight attendants were telling everyone to stay calm. But they didn't look too calm themselves. Anyone could see that the creature was walking its way down the wing toward the plane.

"It's coming to kill me," Mack said, sounding far more calm than he felt.

"You're under my wing," Stefan said. But he sounded a little doubtful to Mack.

"It can't get in, can it?" Mack cried in a shrill, whinnying sort of tone that was definitely not heroic.

"The door can't be opened from the outside," a flight attendant cried, sounding just like Mack had sounded. "Probably."

"I hate probably," Mack said. He tried to think of a way out, of a way to fight the monster, or alternately a way to hide. "The bathroom!"

"Yo, I have to go, too," Stefan said, "but we got bigger problems." (pages 134-135)


I enjoyed this lots! And I'm currently giving away a signed copy (courtesy of the publishers). Enter to win at this post down here, by midnight tomorrow (Wednesday, October 6).

(note for those looking for diversity in middle grade sci fi/fantasy--the second member of the Magnificent 12 turns out to be half white, half Aboriginal Australian. She doesn't get enough page time for me to count this in my list of non-white sci fi/fantasy above, but perhaps in later books.....)

(disclaimer: review copy received from the publisher)

Dragonart Evolution: How to Draw Everything Dragon, by J "NeonDragon" Peffer

Yesterday afternoon the boys and I had a very pleasant time drawing dragons, with the help of a new book -- Dragonart Evolution: How to Draw Everything Dragon, by J "NeonDragon" Peffer (Impact, 2010, 144 pages). It's the sort of book that just makes you want to open it up and start drawing....so we did!

In her book, Peffer emphasises the importance of getting a basic grasp of dragon anatomy--thinking how bones and muscles work together to create realistic creatures. She doesn't immediately plunge the book's users into step by step drawing of particular dragons, but encourages them to practice--the basic shapes, the framework, the building blocks. For particular aspects of detailed anatomy, she offers a variety of approaches.

I have tried dragon drawing in the past, and I have found that I have trouble with scales--all that repetition is daunting. But! I fear scales no more. With the help of Dragonart Evolution's six handy scale patterns, each presented in four steps, I feel that there is hope for my scale drawing (no pun intended). And this is just one of the many very, very detailed aspects of dragon drawing included in this book. Jaws, beaks, ears, wings, crests....all are offered to the book's user in a variety of shapes and manifestations. You can see the two page spread on Ears (and other pages of the book) here!

In the next section, the practitioner is encouraged to draw a wide variety of whole dragons, step by step from rough shapes to fine detail (I particularly liked the baby dragon, with its discussion of how the youngster would differ anatomically from the adult). It helps to have practiced hard with sketch after sketch of dragon anatomy before trying any of these; without doing that, one might not (and I speak from experience) get a decent final picture (there are reasons why I am not posting what I drew yesterday!). It's not a book for younger kids, who may well get frustrated (which my seven year old did, although he was the only one who actually finished a picture, but he's not allowing me to post it).

But creating perfect copies of particular dragons isn't the point of this book--it is more a set of practice templates, that can be used to build the skill set of the aspiring artist. I think that if I kept practicing, using this book's suggestions, I could create rather nice dragon drawings...They would look very different from Peffer's dragons (which I think of as the graphic novel/computer game sort of dragons), but they would, almost certainly, be more anatomically correct, and more diverse, than what I draw now!

In short, it's easy to recommend this book to any ten year old on up who wants to try their hand, or hone their skills, at dragon drawing.

I think this is the sort of a book that makes a great present (when you want to buy a book for a kid, and don't know what's on his or her shelves), especially when coupled with, perhaps, a deluxe watercolor set, or a copy of Photoshop. I include the later because a useful bonus feature of the book is a four page guide to digital painting, which is how the author creates her own artwork. I'm not sure it's enough in and of itself to teach novices how to create digital art, but it seems as though it would be helpful.

Here's another fine dragon drawing book, rather different in approach, that I reviewed long ago--Ralph Masiello's Dragon Drawing Book (2007, Charlesbridge)

(disclaimer: review copy of Dragonart Evolution received from the publisher)

The Non-fictin Monday Round-up is at Madigan Reads today! (her book for the round-up is also fantasy/crafty--zombie felties!!!)

Soul Enchilada, by David Macinnis Gill

Soul Enchilada, by David Macinnis Gill (2009, Greenwillow, YA, 368 pages)

When a demon shows up to repossess the Cadillac young Bug Smoot inherited from her Grandpa, it's just one last straw in the downward spiral her life-- that car is the one thing of value she owns. She had to drop out of school to look after her grandpa (and there went her dream of college basketball). Her job delivering pizza's isn't enough to keep the rent money coming, and she's about to be evicted. And now that the demon has shown up inside the Cadillac, she's late for work, and gets fired.

It's no ordinary demon--it's Beelzebub himself. Turns out her grandpa made a pretty shady deal to get the car, one that involved signing away his soul to the devil. But he was always good at weaseling out of obligations, and now Bug is being asked to pay for the car--with her own soul.

Fortunately, Pesto, the cute Mexican boy at the car wash (the Cadillac got slimmed with demonic egg stuff during the repossession process) has ties to the local branch of the demon control folks (the International Supernatural Immigration Service). He's able to hook her up with a good lawyer, who's dealt with the devil before, but this particular contract is a sticky one, and Beelzebub's evil plans don't stop with Bug. Her soul is just a snack, a "soul enchilada," as it were, an appetizer on the demon's menu. The main course being evil world domination.

Can Bug use her skills at pizza delivery and basketball (and her native smarts) to thwart him? Fortunately, she's not as alone as she thinks she is; turns out Pesto isn't the only one on her side (although she sure likes having him there....)

Although it's a dark book, in as much as it is a litany of troubles for poor Bug (short for Jitterbug; her real name is Eunice), it's not a dark book in feel. It's fun (and funny), and snappy as all get out. The plot unfolds very nicely. It sets up the impossible situation, and allows Bug to scramble her way out of it in a believably complicated manner-- one that doesn't involve the urban fantasy tropes of the kickass heroine. Sure, Bugs is tough, but not in a preternaturally skilled with weapons/paranormal powers kind of way. And Pesto, although part of the demonic control and disposal organization, is likewise just a normal guy with an interesting side job. The romantic attraction between Bug and Pesto is understated, but serves as a pleasant diversion.

Bug is a strong and spunky narrator, half African American, half Hispanic. Her character comes through loud and clear. She doesn't pussyfoot around her thoughts, contemplating, for instance, "nailing a demon's ass," but steers clear of hardcore profanity. My one initial trouble with her voice was her grammar--phrases like "there wasn't no way" jarred at first, but by the end of the book I was so absorbed I no longer noticed.Here's a scene with Bug, her lawyer, and Pesto:

"Think, Miss Smoot. What do you do best?" she [the lawyer] said.

Pesto cleared his throat. "Dude, what do you spend all of your time doing? Hint, hint. Car. Hint, hint."

"Driving," I said, not appreciating his tone. "Delivering pizzas. That's about all I can do."

"Pizzas?" she said.

"I am the bomb when it comes to delivering pies. Ask my asshole former boss, Vinnie."

"Pizza. It's unorthodox, but Mr. Scratch likes a challenge." She got up, showing us the door. "I'll contact his attorneys, and we'll negotiate." (page 187)

In short- Soul Enchilada is smart, fun, and fast!

Here are other reviews, at A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy, For the Love of YA, and at Book Aunt (scoll down), and here's an interview with the author at Cynsations.

This Sunday's Round-up of Middle Grade fantasy and science fiction from around the blogs

First off--The Cybils!!! Nominations opened on Friday, and close to 60 have been nominated to middle grade sff so far. If you haven't nominated yet, you have until the 15th...and there are lots of really really good books that aren't there yet. Plus lots of books that I haven't read, but which look really really good....

I am extracting every ounce of possible interest out of the Nomination Weeks, and checking the list obsessively-- I post regular updates to this page.

And now, the reviews:

The Birthday Ball, by Lois Lowry, at Becky's Book Reviews.

The Giver, by Lois Lowry, at The League of Extraordinary Writers

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman, at Once Upon a Bookshelf.

How to Grow Up and Rule the World, by Vordak the Incomprehensible, (actually by Scott Seegert) at The O.W.L.

Invisible Order: Rise of the Darklings, by Paul Crilley, at A Patchwork of Books.

Ivy's Ever After, by Dawn Lairamore, at One Librarian's Book Reviews.

The Limit, by Kristen Landon, at Squeaky Books and at Great Books for Kids and Teens.

Masterpiece, by Elise Broach, at Books Together.

Museum of Thieves, by Lian Tanner, at Book Aunt.

Nightshade City, by Hilary Wagner, at Middle Grade Ninja.

Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes, at Charlotte's Library.

On the Blue Comet, by Rosemary Wells, at The Fourth Musketeer.

Once Upon a Marigold, by Jean Ferris, at Imagination in Focus.

Scumble, by Indrid Law, at By Singing Light.

Theodora and the Staff of Osiris, by R.L. LaFevers, at Read in a Single Sitting.

Thomas and the Dragon Queen, by Shutta Crum, at Reading Vacation.

The Witches, by Roald Dahl, at The Writen Word

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L'Engle, at The League of Exraordinary Writers

The Wyvern's Treasure, by R.L. LaFevers, at Book Aunt.

The older books on this list of reviews were posted about for Banned Books Week--at Fairy Layers (a new blog for me) there's a whole weeks worth of banned and challenged books that are primarily fantasy/fairy tales, including a book very dear to me, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.

Interviews and guest posts:

An interview with Vordak the Incomprehensible, at The O.W.L., and another at Green Bean Teen Queen.

Jaqueline West (The Shadow: Books of Elsewhere 1) is featured at Cynsations, as is Matt Myklusch (Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation), in this Cynsations post.

Shutta Crum (Thomas and the Dragon Queen) visits Reading Vacation.

The Writing Mama interviews Adam Epstein & Andrew Jacobson (The Familiars), The red dress club interviews Michael Grant (The Magnificent Twelve, which I am giving away a signed copy of, as well as the Gone series), and Patricia Wrede (The Enchanted Forest series and many more) is interviewed at Reality Bypass (and says nice things about my favorite book, Conspiracy of Kings).

Other things of interest:

Katherine Langrish continues her Fairytale Reflection series at Seven Miles of Steel Thistles with a guest post by author Susan Price.

The most recent epic bookfail is a YA sff title, The Secret of Ka, by Christopher Pike. It is a stunner (thanks to the Book Smugglers for the heads up). I had thought this book sounded interesting--fantasy set in Turkey, flying carpets, etc.; I still think it sounds interesting, but in a train wreck kind of way.

I also encourage anyone who enjoys children's books to stop by this month's Carnival of Children's Literature, hosted by Great Kid Books.

And finally, the astrophysicist who discovered Zarmina describes what life might be like there, in an exclusive interview at io9.

(and in just a little bit I am off to Boston, to chat with Megan Whalen Turner and other members of Sounis!)

Please let me know if I missed your post!

New releases of fantasy for teenagers and kids--the beginning to middle of October, 2010 edition--Part 2, Young Adult

This list of Young Adult titles continues the new releases of science fiction and fantasy books from October 1 to October 15. As I said in Part 1 (the middle grade titles), all of these books are eligible for the Cybils Awards! There are no second chances, not even for those published on October 15!

As usual my information comes from Teens Read Too, and the blurbs are gleaned mainly from Amazon.

ALIEN INVASION AND OTHER INCONVENIENCES by Brian Yansky A polite race of telepathic killer aliens, a ten-second world conquest, and one teenage boy collide in this wry, gutsy adventure.

Jesse is in history class when a formidable, efficient race of aliens quietly takes over the earth in less time than it takes him to brush his teeth. Most humans simply fall asleep and never wake up. In moments, everyone Jesse knows and loves is gone, and he finds that he is now a slave to an inept alien leader. On the bright side, Jesse discovers he’s developing telepathic powers, and he’s not the only one. Soon he’s forging new friendships and feeling unexpectedly hopeful. When a mysterious girl appears in his dreams, talking about escaping, Jesse begins to think the aliens may not be invincible after all. But if Jesse and his friends succeed, is there anywhere left to go? Brian Yansky offers a funny, grim novel packed with everything boys and sci-fi fans love: aliens, humor, action, and a healthy dose of triumph.

ARIZONA: BEAUTIFUL DEAD by Eden Maguire Not alive. Not dead. Somewhere in between lie the Beautiful Dead. There's been no sign of the Beautiful Dead for weeks. Darina achingly misses Phoenix all over again. Surely he will return to help solve the remaining mysteries. It's been almost a year since Arizona drowned in Hartman Lake. Suicide, it would seem. But something doesn't add up...Drowning herself in the lake does not sound like strong, confident, Arizona: Ellerton high school's high-maintenance drama queen. Darina must help Arizona the way she helped Jonas. But invisible wings are beating, the Beautiful Dead are in danger, and time is running out...

BANISHED by Sophie Littlefieldhere isn’t much worth living for in Gypsum, Missouri—or Trashtown, as the rich kids call the run-down neighborhood where sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell lives. Hailey figures she’ll never belong—not with the popular kids at school, not with the rejects, not even with her cruel, sickly grandmother, who deals drugs out of their basement. Hailey never knew her dead mother, and she has no idea who her father was, but at least she has her four-year-old foster brother, Chub. Once she turns eighteen, Hailey plans to take Chub far from Gypsum and start a new life where no one can find them.

But when a classmate is injured in gym class, Hailey discovers a gift for healing that she never knew she possessed—and that she cannot ignore. Not only can she heal, she can bring the dying back to life. Confused by her powers, Hailey searches for answers but finds only more questions, until a mysterious visitor shows up at Gram’s house, claiming to be Hailey’s aunt Prairie.

There are people who will stop at nothing to keep Hailey in Trashtown, living out a legacy of despair and suffering. But when Prairie saves both Hailey and Chub from armed attackers who invade Gram’s house in the middle of the night, Hailey must decide where to place her trust. Will Prairie’s past, and the long-buried secret that caused her to leave Gypsum years earlier, ruin them all? Because as Hailey will soon find out, their power to heal is just the beginning.

BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

BEHEMOTH: LEVIATHANby Scott Westerfeld The behemoth is the fiercest creature in the British navy. It can swallow enemy battleships with one bite. The Darwinists will need it, now that they are at war with the Clanker powers. Deryn is a girl posing as a boy in the British Air Service, and Alek is the heir to an empire posing as a commoner. Finally together aboard the airship Leviathan, they hope to bring the war to a halt. But when disaster strikes the Leviathan's peacekeeping mission, they find themselves alone and hunted in enemy territory. Alek and Deryn will need great skill, new allies, and brave hearts to face what's ahead.

BIRTH OF A KILLER: THE SAGA OF LARTEN CREPSLEY by Darren Shan Before Cirque Du Freak...Before the war with the vampaneze... Before he was a vampire. Larten Crepsley was a boy. As a child laborer many centuries ago, Larten Crepsley did his job well and without complaint, until the day the foreman killed his brother as an example to the other children. In that moment, young Larten flies into a rage that the foreman wouldn't survive. Forced on the run, he sleeps in crypts and eats cobwebs to get by. And when a vampire named Seba offers him protection and training as a vampire's assistant, Larten takes it.

THE BLENDING TIME by Michael KinchCongratulations on turning age seventeen. You are now ready for placement by the Council government.
For kids in the year 2054, turning seventeen means they’re ripe for Global Alliance work assignments that range from backbreaking drudgery to deadly canal labor. Trying to survive in a desiccated world that’s been ravaged by plagues, AIDS III, and environmental disasters, three “s’teeners” from very different backgrounds think they’ve gotten lucky. Jaym, Reya, and D’Shay are chosen to be among thousands of blenders whose task is to help repopulate Africa after a solar flare left its people sterile. But the continent itself—roiling with civil war and mercenaries intent on crushing the blending program at any cost—poses the gravest danger of all. Separated, the three friends struggle to escape horrific situations, somehow reunite, and reach a camp in the mountains that promises salvation from the harsh and threatening world.

BLOODTHIRSTY by Flynn Meaney Awkward and allergic to the sun, sixteen-year-old Finbar Frame never gets the girl. But when he notices that all the female students at his school are obsessed with a vampire romance novel called Bloodthirsty, Finbar decides to boldly go where no sane guy has gone before-he becomes a vampire, minus the whole blood sucking part. With his brooding nature and weirdly pale skin, it's surprisingly easy for Finbar to pretend to be paranormal. But, when he meets the one girl who just might like him for who he really is, he discovers that his life as a pseudo-vampire is more complicated than he expected.


THE CARNIVAL OF LOST SOULS (A HANDCUFF KID NOVEL), by Laura Quimby For one charismatic kid, the dangerous world of the Forest of the Dead becomes the setting for the ultimate escape trick in this exciting debut novel. Jack Carr has been shuttled from foster home to group home to foster home his entire life. The only constant has been his interest in magic, especially handcuff escapes like those mastered by his hero, Harry Houdini. When he’s placed with the Professor, however, he feels like he’s finally found a home—but his new guardian is hiding a dangerous secret. Years ago the Professor bartered his soul to the undead magician Mussini, and when the payment is due, he sends Jack in his place. Jack must travel with Mussini to the Forest of the Dead, a place in between the real world and the afterlife, where he’s forced to perform in Mussini’s traveling magic show. If he stays in the Forest long enough, he’ll die himself. To find his way home, he’ll have the help of Mussini’s other “minions”—kids stolen just like Jack—and his wits, nothing more. Can he follow the example of his hero, Houdini, and escape the inescapable?

CLOAKED IN RED by Vivian Vande Velde Eight witty stories that parody the Little Red Riding Hood tale. Each story has a different viewpoint. [I don't think "parodied" is the right word--more like "re-imagined."]

CROSSING OVER by Anna Kendall Roger Kilbourne has the ability to 'cross over' into the land of the dead and speak with its residents. It is a startling gift, and not a pleasant one. Roger manages to escape his brutal uncle, who has exploited his talents for years; after he gets a job in the palace laundry, he thinks he will be safe. Instead, there are worse dangers. First, he falls hopelessly in love with the bewitching, willful Lady Cecilia; next, he is pulled into the midst of life-threatening court intigue. Soon Roger is using his gift as a way to get the life he dreams of-even if it means bringing the dead back to the land of the living.

THE CURSE OF THE WENDIGO: THE MONSTRUMOLOGISTby Rick Yancey While attempting to disprove that Homo vampiris, the vampire, could exist, Dr. Warthrop is asked by his former fiancÉ to rescue her husband from the Wendigo, a creature that starves even as it gorges itself on human flesh, which has snatched him in the Canadian wilderness. Although Warthrop also considers the Wendigo to be fictitious, he relents and rescues her husband from death and starvation, and then sees the man transform into a Wendigo. Can the doctor and Will Henry hunt down the ultimate predator, who, like the legendary vampire, is neither living nor dead, whose hunger for human flesh is never satisfied?

DAWN LAND by Joseph Bruchac Ten thousand years ago, in what would one day be known as North America, Young Hunter set out on an epic quest to overcome the Stone Giants who were terrorizing his people. Pitted against creatures of legend, Young Hunter journeyed to the innermost heart of his own humanity, even meeting the very gods of the land. He was entrusted with his tribe’s most dangerous secret, a weapon that would change mankind forever.

Inspired by the classic Joseph Bruchac novel, Will Davis brings a timeless story to life, as the lore of old spawns a thrilling new kind of graphic novel. Drawing from the enduring creation myths of the Abenaki nation, Dawn Land immerses readers in Young Hunter’s vision quest and offers a fresh perspective on the Native American experience.

THE DRAGONS OF NOOR by Janet Lee Carey A dreamwalker who has lost her way. A shape shifter who fears his own dark power. A fire herd punished for his magic. Can these three teens keep the human world of Noor and the magical world of Oth from splitting apart?

The ancient trees of Noor are dying. If the blight kills the last azure trees whose deep roots bind the worlds, the bridge between Noor and Oth will split apart forever. Already as Hanna, Miles, and Taunier sail to the source of the blight, the rent between the worlds is widening, and magic is going out of Noor. The quest deepens when a strange wind blows across Noor stealing young children, and Hanna is powerless to protect her younger brother from the stealing wind. The Three journey east to the azure forests of Jarrosh. East to the dragon lands. East to the place where the wind-stolen children were taken. In Jarrosh, among dragons, the Three will be challenged to discover their hidden powers. Each of them must break beyond the boundaries of self to discover the ancient magic joining all to all.


ELIXIR by Hilary Duff Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.
When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.

EMPTY by Suzanne Weyn It's the near future - the very near future - and the fossil fuels are running out. No gas. No oil. Which means no driving. No heat. Supermarkets are empty. Malls have shut down. Life has just become more local than we ever knew it could be.
Nobody expected the end to come this fast. And in the small town of Spring Valley, decisions that once seemed easy are quickly becoming matters of life and death. There is hope - there has to be hope - just there are also sacrifices that need to be made, and a whole society that needs to be rethought. Teens like Nicki, Tom, and Leila may find what they need to survive. But their lives are never going to be the same again.

ENCHANTED IVY by Sarah Beth Durst What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!
Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.
When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.

THE ETERNAL DAWN: THIRST NO. 3 by Christopher Pike Alisa has spent the past five thousand years as a vampire, living alone and fighting for survival. In her loneliness, Alisa cannot resist bringing Teri—a descendant of her human family—into her life. But Alisa is surrounded by death and destruction, and just by knowing Alisa, Teri’s life is at risk.
Alisa’s guilt grows when she becomes involved in a dangerous conspiracy. A top-secret group knows Alisa’s secret and will stop at nothing to use her powers for their cause. As Alisa desperately tries to protect herself and Teri from the unknown enemy, she discovers a force more powerful and more lethal than anything she has ever seen. Alisa doesn’t know who to trust, who to challenge, or who she will become….

FEARSCAPE: THE DEVOURING by Simon Holt The Vours: evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the Winter Solstice.

It's been a year since Reggie first discovered the Vours, and the Winter Solstice is approaching once again. It will be another night of unspeakable horror for those unlucky enough to be taken by the Vours, because this time, she won't be able to stop them. The Vours have imprisoned Reggie in a psychiatric hospital, where she is subjected to a daily routine of unfathomably sadistic experiments. Her life is a living Hell, but she won't give up. They attacked her brother. They killed her friend. And Reggie will never stop fighting back.

THE GAME by Monica Hughes The Game is just the beginning…

It’s the year 2154. Lisse and her friends have been deemed unemployable in the eyes of society. Now they must scavenge the disintegrating city for food and shelter, just to make ends meet.
But their dismal existence starts to look up when Lisse and her friends are invited to participate in The Game, an experience highly regarded in their society. The Game is a virtual reality experience where they are challenged to survive. But as they spend more time in The Game, the line between reality and fantasy starts to blur. What started as a simple exercise quickly becomes a test of endurance, trust, and their will to live.

A GIRL, A GHOST, AND THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS by Lizabeth Zindel When Holly's mother dies unexpectedly, she thinks things can't get much worse. But then her dad starts dating again. And his new girlfriend is Holly's aunt-her mom's sister! Aunt Claudia is known in Hollywood as the Queen of B Movies. Horror films, zombie flicks, she's made them all. Holly never liked her aunt, but now she positively can't stand her. Especially once the ghost of her mother appears and tells Holly that Claudia was to blame for her death.

Inspired by Hamlet, this funny novel about the danger of family secrets is a modern comic take on a classic Shakespearean tragedy.

THE GOBLIN GATE by Hilari Bell Jeriah's brother, Tobin, is in terrible danger. He's willingly crossed over to the Otherworld with a hedgewitch named Makenna and her legion of goblins. What Tobin doesn’t know is that the Otherworld is a perilous dimension that leeches magic from those who have it—and life from those who don’t. In order to save his brother, Jeriah must find a way to open a mystical gate between the worlds. Searching for the key to rescue Tobin from the clutches of the Otherworld, Jeriah is thrust into a tangled web of political intrigue as he uncovers a dangerous secret that could change the fate of an entire kingdom. Now he must get help from the very beings he’s been taught to hate—the mischievous goblins. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking for Tobin. . . .

HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER by Lish McBride Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak. Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.
With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

ICE CLAW: DANGER ZONE by David Gilman High in the freezing French Pyrenees, Max Gordon’s race to win an extreme sports challenge has become a race for survival. He witnesses the last moments of a mysterious Basque monk, who screams a cryptic clue before plummeting to his death. The clue? A prophecy that foretells a cataclysmic ecological event that will kill millions of people across Europe. Max is desperate to find a solution, but instead, he’s accused of causing the monk’s death, and the hunt is on to find him. How can Max prove his innocence when nobody will trust him … and when he can trust no one?

iDRAKULA by Bekka Black 18-year-old Jonathan Harker is diagnosed with a rare blood disorder after visiting a Romanian Count. His girlfriend Mina and a pre-med student named Van Helsing team up to investigate the source of the disease. The teenagers discover a horrifying truth: the Count is a vampire. The harrowing events unfold through emails, text messages, web pages, Twitter feeds, and instant messaging-the natural modernization of Bram Stoker's original Dracula, which was written in letters, diary entries, and news clippings.

JUMBEE by Pamela Keyes When Esti Legard starts theater school on Cariba, she's determined to step out of the shadow of her late father, a famous Shakespearean actor. But on an island rife with superstition, Esti can't escape the darkness. In the black of the theater, an alluring phantom voice (known only as Alan) becomes her brilliant drama tutor, while in the light of day Esti struggles to resist her magnetic attraction to Rafe, the local bad boy. Toppled sets, frightening rumors of jumbee ghosts, and brewing tropical storms culminate in a tantalizingly spooky finale where romance sizzles and truths are unmasked.

Laced with eerie mystery and the lush scenery of the West Indies, this modern Phantom is perfect for readers who like their love stories served with spine-tingling suspense.

MAGICIAN'S MUSE: THE SEER by Linda Joy Singleton A whisper, too soft to swirl wispy candle smoke, carried across time, beyond life and death—and was heard. “Our bargain is sealed. My secrets will be yours—when the girl dies.” In the thrilling climax to THE SEER series, Sabine Rose’s psychic abilities, sleuthing skills, and courage are pushed to a dangerous edge as she deals with the mysterious disappearance of her ex-boyfriend Josh, a new threat against her boyfriend Dominic, evil magicians (both living and dead)—and a cold-blooded murderer.

THE MERMAID'S MIRROR by L. K. Madigan Lena has lived her whole life near the beach – walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves – the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching. As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf. But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport. Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman – with a silvery tail. Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove. And soon … what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life …

NOW YOU SEE ME: GIFTED by Marilyn Kaye The Gifted class are getting suspicious that there's a spy in their midst. But who? The chief suspect is queen-of-mean Amanda, who's started acting out of character and volunteering in the school office. Tracey and Jenna join forces - and gifts - to try to find out more. But when mind-reader Jenna is framed for a crime she didn't commit and sent to an institution, Tracey is on her own. Using her ability to become invisible, Tracey searches for answers and finds out more than she bargained for . . .

PARADISE RED: THE PERFECT FIRE TRILOGY by K. M. Grant As winter falls upon the Occitan, Raimon must find a way to recover the Blue Flame from the hands of the evil White Wolf. But his plan could lead him back to the pyre—and he might not be so lucky to escape from it again.

Meanwhile, Yolanda—unwillingly married to Sir Hugh des Arcis—is threatened by her husband's desire for a son. As Sir Hugh sets off on a mission to claim the Occitain for France, she makes her own journey through the blizzard to find Raimon, a journey that could end in disaster. As the flames rise one last time, Raimon and Yolanda's fates, like the fates of the Flame and the Occitan itself, hang by a smoky thread.

THE SCORCH TRIALS: THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.
In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.
Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.
The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

SECONDHAND CHARM by Julie Berry In a secluded village, magic sparkles on the edges of the forest. There, a young girl named Evie possesses unusually strong powers as a healer. A gypsy's charms—no more than trinkets when worn by others—are remarkably potent when Evie ties them around her neck. Her talents, and charms, have not escaped the notice of the shy stonemason's apprentice. But Evie wants more than a quiet village and the boy next-door. When the young king's carriage arrives one day, and his footman has fallen ill, Evie might just get her chance after all . . .

Berry's debut novel garnered glowing reviews and strong sales—and now she's done it again with a beautifully woven tale to keep all readers, young and old, absolutely charmed.

SELFISH ELF WISH by Heather Swain Zephyr Addler has a problem. Her boyfriend, Timber, is now her ex, because she was keeping secrets from him. But what else can she do? After all, it's not that easy being an elf in the middle of Brooklyn, especially when she's not allowed to use magic to hide her family's quirky elvin ways. To make matters worse, Bella, the meanest girl in school and Zephyr's archrival, has vowed to make Zephyr's life a living nightmare. Can Zephyr keep it together long enough to win Timber back, or will she give in to temptation and work some forbidden elven magic in the school halls?

THE SILVER SEA by Julia Golding
[possibly not sff, but it sounds good] Freydis has been left for dead following a raid on her father’s stronghold Her brother has
been taken prisoner. Her father, a Viking leader, is bent on revenge and takes her on his
quest, giving her Enno—a most unusual slave—to protect her. As the hunt for her brother
becomes more desperate, Freydis and Enno draw closer together. But when battle looms,
the bonds of friendship, family, and loyalty are tested to their limits.

SLAYED by Amanda Marrone The Van Helsing family has been hunting vampires for over one hundred years, but sixteen-year-old Daphne wishes her parents would take up an occupation that doesn’t involve decapitating vamps for cash. All Daphne wants is to settle down in one place, attend an actual school, and finally find a BFF to go to the mall with. Instead, Daphne has resigned herself to a life of fast food, cheap motels and buying garlic in bulk.

But when the Van Helsings are called to a coastal town in Maine, Daphne’s world is turned upside down. Not only do the Van Helsings find themselves hunting a terrifying new kind of vampire (one without fangs but with a taste for kindergarten cuisine), Daphne meets her first potential BF! The hitch? Her new crush is none other than Tyler Harker, AKA, the son of the rival slayer family. What's a teen vampire slayer to do?

SONG OF THE SWORD: SHARDS OF EXCALIBUR by Edward Willett A teenage girl inherits the power of the Lady of the Lake.

STARCROSSED by Elizabeth C. Bunce 16-year-old Digger thrives as a spy & sneak-thief among the feuding religious factions of Gerse. But when a routine job goes horribly wrong and her partner & lover Tegen is killed, she disguises herself in a group of young nobles & sneaks out of the city. Accepted as a lady-in-waiting at the stronghold of the powerful Nemair, she finds new peace & friendship (*and* some new targets). But when an old client from the city comes to the castle, she realizes her hosts may be planning the ultimate uprising against the king - & rather than true peace, she may be at the heart of the rebellion.

STORK by Wendy Delsol Sixteen-year-old Katla has just moved from Los Angeles to the sticks of Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, she learns to her horror that she’s a member of an ancient order of women who decide to whom certain babies will be born. Add to that Wade, the arrogant football star whom Katla regrettably fooled around with, and Jack, a gorgeous farm boy who initially seems to hate her. Soon Katla is having freaky dreams about a crying infant and learns that, as children, she and Jack shared a near-fatal, possibly mystical experience. Can Katla survive this major life makeover and find a dress for the homecoming dance? Drawing from Norse mythology and inspired by The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, debut author Wendy Delsol conceives an irreverent, highly entertaining novel about embracing change and the (baby) bumps along the way.

TRANCE by Linda Gerber Ashlyn Greenfield has always known when bad things are going to happen. Each time that familiar tingling at the back of her neck begins, she knows what's to come-a trance. She's pulled in, blindsided, an unwilling witness to a horrible upcoming event. But she's never been able to stop itÑnot even when the vision was of her motherÕs fatal car accident. When soulful Jake enters Ashlyn's life, she begins having trances about another car accident. And as her trances escalate, one thing becomes clear: it's up to her to save Jake from near-certain death.

TRASH by Andy Mulligan [I'm not sure this is sff, but I put it in because the blurb says it's set in the future] In an unnamed Third World country, in the not-so-distant future, three “dumpsite boys” make a living picking through the mountains of garbage on the outskirts of a large city.

One unlucky-lucky day, Raphael finds something very special and very mysterious. So mysterious that he decides to keep it, even when the city police offer a handsome reward for its return. That decision brings with it terrifying consequences, and soon the dumpsite boys must use all of their cunning and courage to stay ahead of their pursuers. It’s up to Raphael, Gardo, and Rat—boys who have no education, no parents, no homes, and no money—to solve the mystery and right a terrible wrong.

THE UNIDENTIFIED by Rae Mariz Fifteen-year-old Katey (aka Kid) goes to school in the Game—a mall converted into a “school” run by corporate sponsors. As the students play their way through the levels, they are also creating products and being used for market research by the sponsors, who are watching them 24/7 on video cameras. Kid has a vague sense of unease but doesn’t question this existence until one day she witnesses a shocking anticorporate prank. She follows the clues to uncover the identities of the people behind it and discovers an anonymous group that calls itself the Unidentified. Intrigued by their counterculture ideas and enigmatic leader, Kid is drawn into the group. But when the Unidentified’s pranks and even Kid’s own identity are co-opted by the sponsors, Kid decides to do something bigger—something that could change the Game forever.

THE WITCHES' KITCHEN by Allen Williams Deep in the walls of a witches' cottage lays an ancient magical kitchen. Dangling over that kitchen's cauldron, pinched between the fingers of two witches, is a toad. And the Toad has no idea how she got there, and no memory of even her name. All she knows is she doesn't think she was always a Toad, or that she's ever been here before. Determined to recover her memories she sets out on a journey to the oracle, and along the way picks up a rag-tag team of friends: an iron-handed imp, a carnivorous fairy, and a few friendly locals.

But the Kitchen won't make it easy. It is pitch black, infinite, and impossible to navigate, a living maze. Hiding in dark corners are beastly, starving things. Worse yet are the Witches themselves, who have sent a procession of horrific, deadly monsters on her trail. With some courage and wisdom, the Toad just might find herself yet-and with that knowledge, the power to defeat the mighty Witches.