In the last few months, I read seven middle grade speculative fiction books in which a major character has a disability. This is noteworthy, because in the previous seven years I had read only 2 that I reviewed (though it's quite possible there were others that I have forgotten...), and it actually gave me enough books to make a decent, though still short, list of books in which a major protagonist has a disability in recent Middle Grade and Young Adult fantasy. Please share other books that I have missed! (I'm pretty good on Middle Grade, but not so well read in YA).
Realistic disabilities in fantastical worlds:
For readers younger and older than 12ish:
The Orphan and the Mouse, by Martha Freeman (2014). A young orphan with a badly burned hand and a mouse become friends, and work together to expose the dark secrets of the orphanage that is their home.
El Deafo, by Cece Bell (2014) A graphic novel for the younger reader, about a bunny-eared girl who becomes deaf at the age of four, and has to deal with that complication on top of the general complications of being a kid wanting good friends. Spec. fic. by virtue of the bunny ears.
The Iron Trial, by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare (2014). The protagonist, attending a school of magic, has a leg that was broken and healed badly, leaving him with a debilitating limp. This is not the point of the book, but it is convincingly shown as a part of his life that he has to deal with.
Handbook For Dragon Slayers, by Merrie Haskell (2013) Princess Tilda, born with a painful clubfoot, and her friends set off to become dragon slayers. This was the first fantasy novel to win the Schneider Family Book Award (Middle Grades) in 2014.
Three I haven't yet reviewed because of not having gotten to them yet--Little Green Men at the Mercury Inn, by Greg Leitich Smith (2014), in which a main character has a prosthetic leg, The Night Gardener, by Jonathan Auxier (2014), in which the little brother has a painfully twisted leg, and Dreamer, Wisher, Liar, by Charise Mericle Harper, in which the main character has face blindness.
Also in this category go four that I haven't reviewed, in part (the amount of part varies) because I personally found their portrayals of disability unsatisfying:
Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, by Jonathan Auxier (2012). Peter is blind, but has magical eyes.
Fleabrain Loves Franny, by Joanne Rocklin (2014). A flea befriends a girl who's a victim of polio, and takes her on magical adventures (going so far as to fly around the world with her).
Game World, by Christopher John Farley (2014) One of the main characters uses a wheelchair. It must be the most magical wheelchair ever, because he goes over a waterfall and then falls out of a tree in it, with no effects to either chair or self, and with only a little help he traverses jungle and visits sundry fantastical settings that don't present issues of wheelchair accessibility.
The Zoo at the Edge of the World, by Eric Kahn Gale (2014). The main character in this 19th century historical fantasy set in a zoo in stutters so severely he can barely communicate with words; he can, however, speak with animals..
For readers older than 12ish
(with special thanks to Liviania, whose comments helped make this a longer list!)
Cinder, by Marrisa Marr (2012) and its sequels. The main character, Cinder, is missing a hand and a leg, replaced with cybernetic prostheses. In the third book, Cress, a major character is blinded.
The Demon's Lexicon (2009), The Demon's Covenant (2010) and The Demon's Surrender (2011). Alan, a central character, has a badly damaged leg.
Dragonswood, by Janet Lee Carey (2012) Tess, the main character, is deaf in one ear as the result of her father's abuse.
The heroine of Bleeding Violet, by Dia Reeves (2010), must deal with schizophrenia as the icing on the cake of a supernatural bloodbath.
Bone and Jewel Creatures, by Elizabeth Bear. The feral child at the heart of the story had an amputated hand replaced by one of bone and jewels.
The Drowned Cities, by Paulo Bacigalupi (2012). Mahlia, the daughter of a Chinese peacekeeper and a Drowned Cities woman, became
a despised outcast when the Chinese withdrew and her father left. She escaped
into the jungle but lost her hand to one bloodthirsty faction in the process.
There's also Dangerous, by Shannon Hale (2014), in which the main character was born with only one hand.
The next four are taken verbatim from Livinian's comment:
Extraction by Stephanie Diaz has a disabled love interest.
Otherbound by
Corinne Duyvis has protagonist Amara, who is mute.
The Insignia Trilogy
by S.J. Kincaid has antagonist/love interest Medusa, who is
disfigured.
Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly has a disabled mermaid. She's
set up to be a main character in the series, but enters late in the book.
Fantastical disabilities in fantastical worlds (all of these are YA):
One thing about talking about "disability" in speculative fiction is that there exists a range of fantastical physical differences that don't fall under the rubric of things people in real life have to deal with.
For instance, having bits of your body be bits of dragon-- Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman (2012), which isn't so bad if it's just scales, but a dragon tail is a serious disability, and Dragonskeep, by Janet Lee Carey (which I should review someday...) in which main character has a dragon talon in place of a finger.
Or having strange and awful and amazing mutations, as is the case of the characters in Above, by Leah Bobet (2012).
And then there are twists of disability/ability, like instead of a regular human arm, having a hand made of psychic energy as in Ghost Hand, by Ripley Patton (2012).
{I wondered briefly if being undead, and having to cope with bits of your body falling off, etc., counted as a fantastical disability, but I decided to draw the line so as to exclude zombies, even though a good zombie book can be a powerful exploration of physical difference......}
Further reading--Sage Blackwood was also thinking about disability in MG Fiction--here are her thoughts on the portrayal of characters with disabilities.
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Showing posts sorted by date for query demon's lexicon. Sort by relevance Show all posts
5/2/14
My most favorite sci fi and fantasy books with diversities of various sorts
Mostly when I blog about diverse science and fiction and fantasy for kids, the books are about characters who don't happen to be white, because other diversities (LGBT protagonists, and kids with disabilities that aren't magically cured being somewhat thin on the ground in speculative fiction books for kids and younger teens). So just for kicks, here are my favorite spec fic books that including those diversities.
The first book I ever read (I think I was 15) in which the hero was in a loving, committed relationship with another man was The Door Into Fire, by Diane Duane, and I pretty much read this fantasy epic to pieces. Herewiss is a magic user, his loved, Freelorn, is the exiled heir to a kingdom, and there is just tons of great fantasy world build and sexy times of all sorts. I myself thought Freelorn was kind of wet (I think I just took against the name right from the beginning), and I was rooting for Herewiss' relationship with a really wonderful fire elemental being (who sometimes took male form, sometimes female, for the sexy good times)....because really a self-confident but poignantly vulnerable shape shifting elemental love interest is more interesting. The other two books in the series that were published (Door into Shadow, and The Door Into Sunset, are fine too, but not quite as preconception-of-sexuality shifting as this one was!
And at the same time, I was reading to pieces many of Marion Zimmer Bradely's Darkover books. Thendara House, in which two women from different patriarchal societies (one is from Earth and one from Darkover) come to love each other, was a particular favorite, and can be read a stand-alone just fine. I think I liked this one because I've always enjoyed reading about close communities of women--there's often a comfortable safeness to this sort of book, that in no way precludes emotional and external tensions and adventures, and I also love to read about struggles to navigate social norms in alien cultures.
My favorite spec fic protagonist with a disability (a damaged leg that causes him considerable pain) is Alan, from Sarah Reese Breennan's Demon's Lexicon series because I love him and he is wonderful and he is kind and smart and loves books and I love him. And the books in which he appears are pretty darn good too.
My second favorite spec fic protagonist with a disability is Eugenides from Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series, who has only one hand. He is awesome, and the books are awesome (especially The King of Attolia). I am putting him after Alan because he is so awesome I can't even imagine crushing on him from afar in real life (perhaps in part because the relationship that he's actually in is so perfectly tight that there's no room for strangers to crush on him much).
For cultural and ethnic diversity reimagined in speculative fiction, Ursula le Guin is my go-to author. Always Coming Home, is an novella set in the future that's situated within an anthropological framework based on Le Guin's extensive knowledge of Native North America. It's taken me some years to realize how much I appreciate it, but after reliving it countless times while weeding the garden (a benchmark by which I measure books is how clearly and how often my mind offers them back to me again while weeding), I've realized that I truly love it.
And the other Le Guin I must include is Four Ways to Forgiveness, four stories set on a planet and its moons where dark skinned people enslaved pale skinned people. In order for this world to become part of the galactic community, the inequities of this culture must be resolved, and it's a difficult and painful process. The characters in these stories are some of Le Guin's most memorable, which is saying a lot. And I'm also fond of this one for personal reasons--when I first met my husband, it had just come out, and both of us had it on our respective nightstands.
My second favorite spec fic protagonist with a disability is Eugenides from Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series, who has only one hand. He is awesome, and the books are awesome (especially The King of Attolia). I am putting him after Alan because he is so awesome I can't even imagine crushing on him from afar in real life (perhaps in part because the relationship that he's actually in is so perfectly tight that there's no room for strangers to crush on him much).
For cultural and ethnic diversity reimagined in speculative fiction, Ursula le Guin is my go-to author. Always Coming Home, is an novella set in the future that's situated within an anthropological framework based on Le Guin's extensive knowledge of Native North America. It's taken me some years to realize how much I appreciate it, but after reliving it countless times while weeding the garden (a benchmark by which I measure books is how clearly and how often my mind offers them back to me again while weeding), I've realized that I truly love it.
6/1/11
New Releases of Fantasy and Science Fiction for Kids and Teens--the first half of June, 2011 edition
Here are the new releases of fantasy and sci fi for kids and teens from the first half of June, 2011 (a feature I offer on a regular basis--check the "new releases" label for earlier lists). My information comes from Teens Read Too, and the blurbs from Amazon, the publishers, etc. It may or may not be entirely accurate. And, since I haven't read them, I don't know if the ages put on them at Amazon are accurate either....
This is the sort of list that drives one to the book store (or to drink), in as much as there are books on here that I want to Read Right Now. I'm going to try to restrain myself to Darke, the new Septimus Heap book, and The Demon's Surrender, by Sarah Rees Brennan...
Middle Grade (aka for ages 9-12)
13 CURSES by Michelle Harrison "The 13 Treasures have become the 13 Curses. When fairies stole her brother, Red vowed to get him back. Now trapped in the fairy realm, she begs to be seen before the fairy court where she strikes a bargain: Her brother in exchange for all thirteen charms from Tanya's bracelet.
Back at Elvesden Manor, Red, Tanya, and Fabian begin a desperate hunt, but as they soon find out, the fairies have done more than hide the charms; they've enchanted them with twisted qualities of the thirteen treasures they represent. And the longer the charms are missing, the more dangerous they become.
Can Red, Tanya, and Fabian find all thirteen charms? And if they do, will the fairies keep their promise?"
THE ADVENTURES OF ROOPSTER ROUX by Ryan Burton & Erik Thompson "Finals are tough, but they're even tougher when your best friend and sister have been mind controlled by the most sinister villain in the city! And that's exactly the situation Roopster Roux finds himself in his latest escapade. He'll have to use all his wits, book smarts, and his trusty Roux Ripper to overcome his greatest and most dangerous adventure yet!"
ARE YOU READY TO BE A LEGEND?: THE ESSENTIAL HANDBOOK FOR WANNABE HEROES by Chris Edge "This worst-case mythological survival guide offers advice on battling myriad mythical creatures and surviving situations sure to test the strength and skill of any aspiring hero. Practical how-to instructions are presented for outwitting goblins, hatching phoenix eggs, learning invisibility, and escaping a dungeon. Sections on riding a witch's broom, being a wizard’s apprentice, and bartering at a magical market will be of special interest to young fantasy readers. Pull-out maps, quizzes, stories, and a goblin IQ test are some of the interactive elements presented in this stunningly illustrated handbook to the magical realms."
BAD WOLF RISING: WOLVEN by Di Toft "When Nat Carver and his Wolven pal Woody learn that their arch enemy is creating a bad werewolf pack, they know they must stop him. Although it doesn't help that Nat's having problems controllinghis own shape-shifting abilities. Delving back into history, the boy s have to solve the clues and riddles to stop one of the worst monsters of all time!"
THE BONES OF THE HOLY: GILDA JOYCE PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR by Jennifer Allison "When Gilda Joyce's mother announces her engagement to a man from St. Augustine, Florida, Gilda is appalled. She hasn't even given him the "Joyce Family Application" yet! But as the wedding preparations get under way, Gilda realizes she has much bigger concerns. Why does her soon-to-be stepdad keep calling Mrs. Joyce by his ex-wife's name? And why is Mrs. Joyce acting like she's possessed?
With only a few short days before her mother says "I do," Gilda knows this much for sure: it's going to take every ounce of her sleuthing skill and psychic savvy to solve this one!"
CITY OF ICE: CITY TRILOGY by Laurence Yep "....the action-packed sequel to the critically-acclaimed City of Fire
THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE by M.T. Anderson "Murder! Mystery! Rebellion! From bestselling and National Book Award-winning author M.T. Anderson, a third visit to the world of THE GAME OF SUNKEN PLACES.
MISTRESS OF THE STORM by M.L. Welsh "Verity Gallant is a lonely little girl who doesn't quite fit in. But when a mysterious stranger hands her an ancient book, everything changes. Suddenly it's up to her to solve the riddle of an ancient pledge and protect her family from the evil Mistress of the Storm. What hope does she have against a witch so powerful she can control the wind and create storms at will? Luckily, Verity does not have to face her enemy alone. As events begin to spiral out of control, she finds two loyal and steadfast friends to stand by her side.
The Storm is coming. And it will change Verity's life forever."
THE NIGHTMARE NINJA: MOONSHADOW by Simon Higgins "The future of medieval Japan is at stake once again. A ruthless and power hungry warlord has set out to destroy Moonshadow, a young ninja spy, and his clan of ninja warriors, the Grey Light Order. Luckily, Moonshadow has Snowhawk, a powerful girl ninja and former rival, at his side. Together, they face bounty hunters, a vengeful gangster, and cunning agents from Snowhawk's former clan. But their greatest enemy is a man who uses no weapons-a deadly ninja who enters his victims' minds in their sleep!"
THE SECRET KINGDOM: CHRONICLES OF THE RED KING by Jenny Nimmo "Timoken is a prince born in a secret kingdom. At his birth, a forest jinni bestows magical gifts upon him: a cloak made by the last moon spider and a potion called Alixir. When the peaceful land is attacked, Timoken and his sister, Zobayda, must find a new kingdom to call home. Together, with only the magical gifts and a talking camel, the siblings set off.
Rising sea temperatures and overfishing have caused food to become scarce, and the battle for new hunting grounds has brought with it corruption and warfare.
Now, with the ocean on the brink of chaos, a young reef shark named Gray - exiled from the safety of his peaceful reef home - must venture deep into Open Water to unlock the secrets of his destiny and bring peace back to the ocean. But first, he'll have to discover the truth about who - and what - he really is."
SUPERCHARGED!: CARTOON KID by Jeremy Strong "MEET CASPER! By day he’s a regular school kid but by . . . later on in the day he’s CARTOON KID! That’s right – Casper is a SUPERHERO – but shhhhhh, keep it quiet because it’s a SECRET! Casper, Big Feet Pete and Sarah Sitterbout are in for a shock when a MONSTROUS new teacher arrives. She says her name is Mrs Cloddle – ha! – CLODZILLA more like. Cartoon Kid to the rescue! And that’s just ONE of their adventures in this laugh-out-loud book . . . WHAM BAM JELLY AND JAM!"
THE SWORD OF DARROW by Hal & Alex Malchow "In a magical realm filled with creatures of every possible shape and size, war is brought upon the peaceful kingdom of Sonnencrest by evil goblin King Malmut. Princess Babette, the only surviving member of the royal family, manages to escape and seeks refuge with Asterux, a powerful wizard who agrees to teach Babette magic, and who disguises her as an ugly gypsy girl to protect her from King Malmut’s thugs.
Ten years later, Babette must use the magic she has learned to help aid the kingdom’s only hope at defeating the goblins’ horrible reign: Darrow, a lame boy who can barely pick up a sword but has a great gift for inspiring others. With Babette’s unseen help, Darrow begins a journey to free his country once and for all and bring peace back to Sonnencrest."
TRUTH OR DARE...: YOU'RE INVITED TO A CREEPOVER by P.J. Night "During a round of Truth or Dare, Abby Miller confesses her crush on Jake Chilson. The only people who know her secret are her friends at the sleepover—and whoever sent her a text message in the middle of the night warning her to stay away from Jake…or else! But Abby isn’t going to stay away from Jake, especially not after he asks her to the school dance. As the night of the dance comes closer, some very creepy things start happening to Abby. Someone definitely wants to keep her away from Jake. Is it a jealous classmate or, as Abby begins to suspect, could it be a ghost?"
WATCH WOLF: WOLVES OF THE BEYOND by Kathryn Lasky "A wolf's eye view of the legends of Ga'Hoole in this stirring third installment of the Wolves of Beyond series by bestselling author Kathryn Lasky.
WISHES FOR BEGINNERS: FOURTH GRADE FAIRY by Eileen Cook "The second in a series of books about Willow's adventures as she masters her secret fairy powers, navigates sprite training, tries to ignore her perfect older sister, and maintains a friendship with Katie, the most un-normal of humans. Miranda, the most popular girl in fourth grade, comes to school with exciting news: her older cousin is getting married, and Miranda will be in the bridal party! This is great news for Willow, because Miranda's cousin has hired Willow's mom to provide the cake. She is certain this is her chance to finally get closer to Miranda. She makes it sound as if she is very involved in her mother's bakery and wedding planning business. Suddenly Willow is gaining popularity as the fourth grade expert on all things wedding. The only one who doesn’t seem impressed is her best friend, Katie. Willow thinks she’s finally arrived when Miranda invites her to an exclusive birthday slumber party. The only problem is that it is so exclusive, Katie hasn’t been invited. Then, when Willow tries to use some fairy magic to make Miranda’s cousin’s wedding even bigger and better, everything goes horribly wrong. She might ruin the wedding, blow her first slumber party, and lose her best friend all in one. It’s going to take magic to survive fourth grade."
YOU CAN'T COME IN HERE!: YOU'RE INVITED TO A CREEPOVER by P.J. Night "Emily Hunter loves hanging out with her new neighbors. From their decked-out rec room to their almost-professional guitar playing, Drew and Vicky Strig are super cool. The only bummer is that Drew and Vicky are homeschooled and Emily's other friends haven't gotten to know them yet. So Emily comes up with a plan for everyone to meet--a big party and sleepover at her house! But as Emily gets ready for the party, she begins to wonder about Drew and Vicky. They won't let Emily into certain rooms in their house. And a wolf howls on their lawn every night. Is it only Emily's overactive imagination or are the new neighbors more than just a little strange?"
YOU'LL LIKE IT HERE (EVERYBODY DOES) by Ruth White "While Meggie and David Blue are from another planet, they're a lot like Earth kids, with similar hopes and dreams, and can't wait to grow up. BUT they also have GROSSLY UNIQUE qualities, such as blue streaks in their hair that pop up randomly and language skills that sound like nothing on this planet. The story takes these alien kids, along with their mother and grandfather, by accident, to a far planet in which the society is not only oppressive but hostile to individual freedom. People are kept submissive through drugs and brainwashing. The Blues, who have spent time in free societies recognize the upside-down-ness of this world. They're almost helpless to do anything, but do what they can, plan their escape, and vow to help others."
ZERO GRAVITY: ASTRONAUT ACADEMY by Dave Roman "Hakata Soy's past life as the leader of a futuristic super team won't stay in the past!
Young Adult
ANYA'S GHOST by Vera Brosgol "Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn’t kidding about the “Forever” part . . . Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century. Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya’s normal life might actually be worse. She’s embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she’s pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend—even a ghost—is just what she needs. Or so she thinks."
ASHES, ASHES by Jo Treggiari "A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.
Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her."
BANDITS by LM Preston "Daniel's father has gotten himself killed and left another mess for Daniel to clean up. To save his world from destruction, he must fight off his father's killers while discovering a way to save his world. Time is running out, and Daniel must choose to either walk in his father's footsteps or to reinvent himself into the one to save his world."
BLOOD RED ROAD: DUSTLANDS by Moira Young Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.
CHASERS: ALONE by James Phelan "Jesse is on a school trip in New York when his subway carriage is rocked by an explosion. When he and three friends crawl out of the wreckage they discover a city in chaos. Streets are deserted. Buildings are in ruins. And the only other survivors are infected with a virus that turns them into horrifying predators..."
THE DEMON'S SURRENDER: THE DEMON'S LEXICON TRILOGY by Sarah Rees Brennan "The Goblin Market has always been the center of Sin’s world. But now the Market is at war with the magicians, and Sin’s place is in danger. Thrown out of the Market she loves, Sin is thrown together with brothers Nick and Alan—whom she’s always despised.
EVERLASTING: THE IMMORTALS by Alyson Noel "Their epic love story has captured the hearts of millions and enchanted readers across the world. In this beautiful finale, their journey draws to a spectacular conclusion—where all will be revealed.FAIRY BAD DAY by Amanda Ashby "While most students at Burtonwood Academy get to kill demons and goblins, fifteen-year-old Emma gets to rid the world of little annoying fairies with glittery wings and a hipster fashion sense. She was destined to be a dragon slayer, but cute and charming Curtis stole her spot. Then she sees a giant killer fairy - and it's invisible to everyone but her! If Emma has any chance of stopping this evil fairy, she's going to need help. Unfortunately, the only person who can help is Curtis. And now, not only has he stolen her dragon-slayer spot, but maybe her heart as well! Why does she think it's going to be a fairy bad day?"
A FLICKERING FIRE by Alexandria Cramer "Join Fiammetta, a young traveling entertainer, as she embarks on a journey that will change the course of a kingdom. An outcast among her own people, she possesses the power to create and control fire; it is this power that embroils her in the plot of the cruel King Nicholas, who as killed his brother and usurped the throne. Framed for the murder, Fiammetta must buy her family's freedom by accepting the King's quest to find the Gavino Claw. With her cursed companion, Paolo, she must endure an arduous journey that will either bring her face to face with destiny, or end her life."
FLYING BLIND: THE DRAGON DIARIES by Deborah Cooke "Zoë Sorensson is perfectly normal, except she's been told she's destined for great things. Zoë's the one female dragon shapeshifter of her kind. But Zoë is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr and her powers are AWOL, so she's sent to a Pyr boot camp.
Zoë quickly realizes that she has to master her powers yesterday, because the Pyr are in danger and boot camp is a trap. The Mages want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line-unless Zoë and her friends can work together and save their own kind."
FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick "Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.
When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future."
FROM BAD TO CURSED: BAD GIRLS DON'T DIE by Katie Alender "Alexis is the last girl you'd expect to sell her soul. She already has everything she needs—an adorable boyfriend, the perfect best friend, and a little sister who’s finally recovering after being possessed by an evil spirit.
Alexis is thrilled when her sister joins a club: new friends are just what Kasey needs. It’s strange, though, to see how fast the girls in the Sunshine Club go from dorky and antisocial to gorgeous and popular. Then Alexis learns that the girls have pledged an oath to a seemingly benevolent spirit named Aralt. Worried that Kasey’s in over her head again, Alexis and her best friend, Megan, decide to investigate by joining the club themselves. Soon, Alexis trades in her pink hair and punky clothes for a mainstream look, and finds herself reveling in her newfound elegance and success.
The club’s connection with Aralt seems harmless, and before long, Alexis can hardly remember why she joined in the first place.Surely it wasn’t to destroy Aralt. . . . Why would she hurt someone who has given her so much, and asked for so little in return?"
HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson "Can there truly be love after death? Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?"
THE LOST HEIRESS: RELIC MASTER by Catherine Fisher "The second installment in the Relic Master quartet!
Even though Tasceron and its Emperor have fallen, there is a rumor that the heiress to the throne still lives. If so, her life is in grave danger, especially from the Watch. Galen and Raffi must race to find and protect her."
MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs "As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs--alive and well--despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole."
NYX IN THE HOUSE OF NIGHT edited by P.C. Cast "The House of Night is no ordinary school—and not just because it's for vampyres. It's a place where magic, religion, folklore, and mythology from multiple traditions merry meet and meld to create something incredible and new.
In Nyx in the House of Night—a 2-color illustrated companion to the House of Night series—some of your favorite YA authors, plus a few experts, help you navigate the influences behind the House of Night series in a guide that would get even Damien's seal of approval. Travel with P.C. Cast as she gets her first tattoo in Ireland, climbs the ruins of Sgiach's castle, and discovers the lore that led to the Isle of Skye vampyres. Read Kristin Cast's defense of women in history and mythology who, like Zoey, have made a practice of juggling multiple men. Sit in on a vampyre lecture by Bryan Lankford, the real-life basis for House of Night instructor Dragon Lankford, on the parallels between Wiccan and vampyre circle rituals. Tour Tulsa's House of Night landmarks with local Amy H. Sturgis."
PASSION: FALLEN by Lauren Kate "Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .
Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last. Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever."
PERFECTLY REFLECTED by S.C. Ransom "This is the second book in the Small Blue thing trilogy. Still recovering from her earlier brush with death, Alex's source of strength and comfort is Callum, still locked in a sad half-life after drowing in the river Fleet that flows into the Thames. And she needs all the strength and comfort she can get: someone is out to make her life a misery, and someone is out to get hold of the extraordinary bracelet that enables her to communicate with Callum."
THE QUICKSILVER FAIRE: THE SCIONS OF SHADOW by Gillian Summers
"At the dazzling Fairy High Court—fraught with enchantments and trickery—Keelie Heartwood discovers that an imbalance in magic has created a colossal rift that can destroy the world. Keelie's mixed blood (elf, human, and fae) makes her powerful, but this sixteen-year-old L.A. girl can't fix things alone. The Grey Mantle elves aren't helping at all, even though bizarre things are happening all around their village.
Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.
Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . . ."
SIRENZ by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman "Bickering frenemies Meg and Shar are doing some serious damage at a midnight sample sale when the fashionistas find themselves arguing over a pair of shoes-with fatal consequences. One innocent bystander later, the girls are suddenly at the mercy of Hades, Lord of the Underworld himself. To make them atone for what they've done, Hades forces the teens to become special-assignment Sirens, luring to the Underworld an individual whose unholy contract is up.
A TRAVELLER IN TIME by Alison Uttley "Penelope Taberner Cameron is a solitary and a sickly child, a reader and a dreamer. Her mother, indeed, is of the opinion that the girl has grown all too attached to the products of her imagination and decides to send her away from London for a restorative dose of fresh country air. But staying at Thackers, in remote Derbyshire, Penelope is soon caught up in a new mystery, as she finds herself transported at unforeseeable intervals back and forth from modern to Elizabethan times. There she becomes part of a remarkable family that is, Penelope realizes, in terrible danger as they plot to free Mary, Queen of Scot, from the prison in which Queen Elizabeth has confined her.
Penelope knows the tragic end that awaits the Scottish queen but she can neither change the course of events nor persuade her new family of the hopelessness of their cause, which love, loyalty, and justice all compel them to embrace. Caught between present and past, Penelope is ever more torn by questions of freedom and fate. To travel in time, Penelope discovers, is to to be very much alone. And yet the slow recurrent rhythms of the natural world, beautifully captured by Alison Uttley, also speak of a greater ongoing life that transcends the passage of years."
TRIAL BY FIRE: A RAISED BY WOLVES NOVEL by Jennifer Lynn Barnes "There can only be one alpha. Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.
But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were. With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone. Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves."
UNLEASHED: MONSTER SLAYERS by Lukas Ritter "For as long as Evin can remember, he has dreamed of being a real hero. And when his entire village is kidnapped by evil monsters, he finally gets his wish. With the help of his friend Jorick, a young elf wizard named Betilivatis, and an ancient guidebook of magical beasts called A Practical Guide to Monsters, Evin treks through ancient ruins and faces all kinds of strange and terrible creatures on his quest to find his family.
But soon, Evin realizes that not everything is as it seems. Why is Betilivatis sneaking off to report their every move to someone only she can see? Why can’t Evin remember anything before the day of the kidnapping? Why does it seem as if someone—or something—is controlling the monsters and drawing the three friends deeper into a battle they might never win?"
THE VAMPIRE STALKER by Allison van Diepen "What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?
This is the sort of list that drives one to the book store (or to drink), in as much as there are books on here that I want to Read Right Now. I'm going to try to restrain myself to Darke, the new Septimus Heap book, and The Demon's Surrender, by Sarah Rees Brennan...
Middle Grade (aka for ages 9-12)
13 CURSES by Michelle Harrison "The 13 Treasures have become the 13 Curses. When fairies stole her brother, Red vowed to get him back. Now trapped in the fairy realm, she begs to be seen before the fairy court where she strikes a bargain: Her brother in exchange for all thirteen charms from Tanya's bracelet.
Back at Elvesden Manor, Red, Tanya, and Fabian begin a desperate hunt, but as they soon find out, the fairies have done more than hide the charms; they've enchanted them with twisted qualities of the thirteen treasures they represent. And the longer the charms are missing, the more dangerous they become.
Can Red, Tanya, and Fabian find all thirteen charms? And if they do, will the fairies keep their promise?"
THE ADVENTURES OF ROOPSTER ROUX by Ryan Burton & Erik Thompson "Finals are tough, but they're even tougher when your best friend and sister have been mind controlled by the most sinister villain in the city! And that's exactly the situation Roopster Roux finds himself in his latest escapade. He'll have to use all his wits, book smarts, and his trusty Roux Ripper to overcome his greatest and most dangerous adventure yet!"
ARE YOU READY TO BE A LEGEND?: THE ESSENTIAL HANDBOOK FOR WANNABE HEROES by Chris Edge "This worst-case mythological survival guide offers advice on battling myriad mythical creatures and surviving situations sure to test the strength and skill of any aspiring hero. Practical how-to instructions are presented for outwitting goblins, hatching phoenix eggs, learning invisibility, and escaping a dungeon. Sections on riding a witch's broom, being a wizard’s apprentice, and bartering at a magical market will be of special interest to young fantasy readers. Pull-out maps, quizzes, stories, and a goblin IQ test are some of the interactive elements presented in this stunningly illustrated handbook to the magical realms."
BAD WOLF RISING: WOLVEN by Di Toft "When Nat Carver and his Wolven pal Woody learn that their arch enemy is creating a bad werewolf pack, they know they must stop him. Although it doesn't help that Nat's having problems controllinghis own shape-shifting abilities. Delving back into history, the boy s have to solve the clues and riddles to stop one of the worst monsters of all time!"
THE BONES OF THE HOLY: GILDA JOYCE PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR by Jennifer Allison "When Gilda Joyce's mother announces her engagement to a man from St. Augustine, Florida, Gilda is appalled. She hasn't even given him the "Joyce Family Application" yet! But as the wedding preparations get under way, Gilda realizes she has much bigger concerns. Why does her soon-to-be stepdad keep calling Mrs. Joyce by his ex-wife's name? And why is Mrs. Joyce acting like she's possessed?
With only a few short days before her mother says "I do," Gilda knows this much for sure: it's going to take every ounce of her sleuthing skill and psychic savvy to solve this one!"
CITY OF ICE: CITY TRILOGY by Laurence Yep "....the action-packed sequel to the critically-acclaimed City of Fire
From the islands of Hawaii, Scirye and her loyal companions pursue the villainous Mr. Roland and evil dragon Badik all the way to the city of Nova Hafnia in the Arctic Circle. With the help of a trader, Prince Tarkhun, and his daughter Roxanna, the companions chase their enemies into the vast and desolate Wastes. Scirye and her friends are determined to stop Mr. Roland from getting his hands on the second of the Five Lost Treasures of Emperor Yü, which will give him the power to alter the very fabric of the universe. But few who enter the Wastes ever return, and Scirye has no choice but to call on the spirit of the North for help. As wild and unpredictable as the Arctic itself, will the spirit turn out to be friend or foe?"
DARKE: SEPTIMUS HEAP by Angie Sage "In the sixth book of the Magykal series, Alther Mella has been Banished, a Darke Domaine engulfs the Castle, and a Darke dragon is on the loose. Septimus Heap must use all of his skills to save the Castle and the Wizard Tower from destruction: He must enter the Darke. But he cannot do this alone. With the help of Jenna, Alther Mella, Marcellus Pye, and Septimus's estranged brother, Simon Heap, Septimus and Marcia Overstrand battle the spreading Darkenesse. Will Septimus succeed in protecting his Magykal world?"THE EMPIRE OF GUT AND BONE by M.T. Anderson "Murder! Mystery! Rebellion! From bestselling and National Book Award-winning author M.T. Anderson, a third visit to the world of THE GAME OF SUNKEN PLACES.
The land of New Norumbega is an unusual one--an empire of gut and bone, a kingdom of blood and mucus. At its dark, dry heart is a ruling class that doesn't care about much besides itself . . . and a ruler who is (literally) a one-eyed stump of flesh. Brian and Gregory have come to New Norumbega for a reason--to get the Norumbegans to help them thwart an alien attack back home on earth. But instead, the two boys find themselves caught up in both a robot rebellion and a murder mystery after one of the Norumbegan leaders is sent to sleep . . . permanently. In New Norumbega, it's very hard to know who to trust. There are assassins around every corner, and secrets pave every conversation. Brian and Gregory will be lucky to make it out alive, never sure if they are meant to catch the murderer . . . or be the killer's next victim."
FLOOD AND FIRE: RAIDERS' RANSOM by Emily Diamand "The Riveting Sequel to the Award-Winning RAIDERS' RANSOM. "She survived the epic battle of the raiders on the rough waters that flood England. Now poor fishergirl Lilly is determined to return Lexy, the Prime Minister's kidnapped daughter, to her home. And since his father was killed in the clash, Zeph is equally determined to claim leadership of his family's clan before more savage tribes invade the marshlands. But will the electromagnetic pulse of an omnipotent computer set the world aflame and wipe out all humans so that artificial intelligence can take over the future?! It's up to the unlikely trio of children -- and their petulant, unpredictable gameboard PSAI -- to rage against the machines!"MISTRESS OF THE STORM by M.L. Welsh "Verity Gallant is a lonely little girl who doesn't quite fit in. But when a mysterious stranger hands her an ancient book, everything changes. Suddenly it's up to her to solve the riddle of an ancient pledge and protect her family from the evil Mistress of the Storm. What hope does she have against a witch so powerful she can control the wind and create storms at will? Luckily, Verity does not have to face her enemy alone. As events begin to spiral out of control, she finds two loyal and steadfast friends to stand by her side.
The Storm is coming. And it will change Verity's life forever."
THE NIGHTMARE NINJA: MOONSHADOW by Simon Higgins "The future of medieval Japan is at stake once again. A ruthless and power hungry warlord has set out to destroy Moonshadow, a young ninja spy, and his clan of ninja warriors, the Grey Light Order. Luckily, Moonshadow has Snowhawk, a powerful girl ninja and former rival, at his side. Together, they face bounty hunters, a vengeful gangster, and cunning agents from Snowhawk's former clan. But their greatest enemy is a man who uses no weapons-a deadly ninja who enters his victims' minds in their sleep!"
THE SECRET KINGDOM: CHRONICLES OF THE RED KING by Jenny Nimmo "Timoken is a prince born in a secret kingdom. At his birth, a forest jinni bestows magical gifts upon him: a cloak made by the last moon spider and a potion called Alixir. When the peaceful land is attacked, Timoken and his sister, Zobayda, must find a new kingdom to call home. Together, with only the magical gifts and a talking camel, the siblings set off.
In this brand-new series, bestselling author Jenny Nimmo takes readers on an extraordinary quest with one of her most powerful and mysterious characters, the one who started it all for Charlie Bone and the children of the Red King."
SHARK WARS by EJ Altbacker "Since the dawn of time, prehistoric shark clans called Shivers have ruled over the earth's oceans, fierce protectors of all who swim. For eons, the Big Blue has prospered under Shiver Law, and the delicate balance of sea life kept sacred. Until now.Rising sea temperatures and overfishing have caused food to become scarce, and the battle for new hunting grounds has brought with it corruption and warfare.
Now, with the ocean on the brink of chaos, a young reef shark named Gray - exiled from the safety of his peaceful reef home - must venture deep into Open Water to unlock the secrets of his destiny and bring peace back to the ocean. But first, he'll have to discover the truth about who - and what - he really is."
SUPERCHARGED!: CARTOON KID by Jeremy Strong "MEET CASPER! By day he’s a regular school kid but by . . . later on in the day he’s CARTOON KID! That’s right – Casper is a SUPERHERO – but shhhhhh, keep it quiet because it’s a SECRET! Casper, Big Feet Pete and Sarah Sitterbout are in for a shock when a MONSTROUS new teacher arrives. She says her name is Mrs Cloddle – ha! – CLODZILLA more like. Cartoon Kid to the rescue! And that’s just ONE of their adventures in this laugh-out-loud book . . . WHAM BAM JELLY AND JAM!"
THE SWORD OF DARROW by Hal & Alex Malchow "In a magical realm filled with creatures of every possible shape and size, war is brought upon the peaceful kingdom of Sonnencrest by evil goblin King Malmut. Princess Babette, the only surviving member of the royal family, manages to escape and seeks refuge with Asterux, a powerful wizard who agrees to teach Babette magic, and who disguises her as an ugly gypsy girl to protect her from King Malmut’s thugs.
Ten years later, Babette must use the magic she has learned to help aid the kingdom’s only hope at defeating the goblins’ horrible reign: Darrow, a lame boy who can barely pick up a sword but has a great gift for inspiring others. With Babette’s unseen help, Darrow begins a journey to free his country once and for all and bring peace back to Sonnencrest."
TRUTH OR DARE...: YOU'RE INVITED TO A CREEPOVER by P.J. Night "During a round of Truth or Dare, Abby Miller confesses her crush on Jake Chilson. The only people who know her secret are her friends at the sleepover—and whoever sent her a text message in the middle of the night warning her to stay away from Jake…or else! But Abby isn’t going to stay away from Jake, especially not after he asks her to the school dance. As the night of the dance comes closer, some very creepy things start happening to Abby. Someone definitely wants to keep her away from Jake. Is it a jealous classmate or, as Abby begins to suspect, could it be a ghost?"
WATCH WOLF: WOLVES OF THE BEYOND by Kathryn Lasky "A wolf's eye view of the legends of Ga'Hoole in this stirring third installment of the Wolves of Beyond series by bestselling author Kathryn Lasky.
Born with a twisted paw, Faolan was abandoned as a wolf pup and left to die. But not only did he survive and make it back to the wolf clan, he proved himself to be one of the most worthy wolves of all.
But just as Faolan is about to take his place as one of the revered Wolves of the Watch, a fellow watch wolf goes missing. Faolan is sent to track her down and makes a horrifying discovery - she has been kidnapped by bears. A war is coming between the wolves and the bears, and only Faolan can stop it.
THE WIKKELING by Steven Arntson "In the enormous city of the Addition, all children are SAFE, SECURE, and SUPERVISED, and are watched by cameras even while they sleep. Henrietta is unlikable at her competitive school until she meets Gary and Rose. They all share something in common: headaches with an unknown cause. Then, late one night, Henrietta makes a startling discovery when she finds a wounded cat in the attic above her bedroom. Soon after, a series of strange occurrences follow, including the appearance of a threatening creature with long, waxy fingers, who calls itself the Wikkeling. With the help of an ancient Bestiary, will Henrietta and her friends solve these mysteries before the Wikkeling finally catches them?"WISHES FOR BEGINNERS: FOURTH GRADE FAIRY by Eileen Cook "The second in a series of books about Willow's adventures as she masters her secret fairy powers, navigates sprite training, tries to ignore her perfect older sister, and maintains a friendship with Katie, the most un-normal of humans. Miranda, the most popular girl in fourth grade, comes to school with exciting news: her older cousin is getting married, and Miranda will be in the bridal party! This is great news for Willow, because Miranda's cousin has hired Willow's mom to provide the cake. She is certain this is her chance to finally get closer to Miranda. She makes it sound as if she is very involved in her mother's bakery and wedding planning business. Suddenly Willow is gaining popularity as the fourth grade expert on all things wedding. The only one who doesn’t seem impressed is her best friend, Katie. Willow thinks she’s finally arrived when Miranda invites her to an exclusive birthday slumber party. The only problem is that it is so exclusive, Katie hasn’t been invited. Then, when Willow tries to use some fairy magic to make Miranda’s cousin’s wedding even bigger and better, everything goes horribly wrong. She might ruin the wedding, blow her first slumber party, and lose her best friend all in one. It’s going to take magic to survive fourth grade."
YOU CAN'T COME IN HERE!: YOU'RE INVITED TO A CREEPOVER by P.J. Night "Emily Hunter loves hanging out with her new neighbors. From their decked-out rec room to their almost-professional guitar playing, Drew and Vicky Strig are super cool. The only bummer is that Drew and Vicky are homeschooled and Emily's other friends haven't gotten to know them yet. So Emily comes up with a plan for everyone to meet--a big party and sleepover at her house! But as Emily gets ready for the party, she begins to wonder about Drew and Vicky. They won't let Emily into certain rooms in their house. And a wolf howls on their lawn every night. Is it only Emily's overactive imagination or are the new neighbors more than just a little strange?"
YOU'LL LIKE IT HERE (EVERYBODY DOES) by Ruth White "While Meggie and David Blue are from another planet, they're a lot like Earth kids, with similar hopes and dreams, and can't wait to grow up. BUT they also have GROSSLY UNIQUE qualities, such as blue streaks in their hair that pop up randomly and language skills that sound like nothing on this planet. The story takes these alien kids, along with their mother and grandfather, by accident, to a far planet in which the society is not only oppressive but hostile to individual freedom. People are kept submissive through drugs and brainwashing. The Blues, who have spent time in free societies recognize the upside-down-ness of this world. They're almost helpless to do anything, but do what they can, plan their escape, and vow to help others."
ZERO GRAVITY: ASTRONAUT ACADEMY by Dave Roman "Hakata Soy's past life as the leader of a futuristic super team won't stay in the past!
The former space hero is doing his best to keep his head down at Astronaut Academy. Things aren't going so great, though. The most popular girl in school has it in for him. His best friend won't return his calls. And his new roommate is a complete jock who only cares about Fireball.
Hakata just wants to make a fresh start. But how will he find time to study Anti-Gravity Gymnastics and Tactical Randomness when he's got a robot doppelganger on its way to kill him?"
Young Adult
ANYA'S GHOST by Vera Brosgol "Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn’t kidding about the “Forever” part . . . Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century. Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya’s normal life might actually be worse. She’s embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she’s pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend—even a ghost—is just what she needs. Or so she thinks."
ASHES, ASHES by Jo Treggiari "A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.
Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her."
BANDITS by LM Preston "Daniel's father has gotten himself killed and left another mess for Daniel to clean up. To save his world from destruction, he must fight off his father's killers while discovering a way to save his world. Time is running out, and Daniel must choose to either walk in his father's footsteps or to reinvent himself into the one to save his world."
BLOOD RED ROAD: DUSTLANDS by Moira Young Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.
Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization."
CASCADE: RIVER OF TIME by Lisa T. Bergren "Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?” Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.
But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever."
CHASERS: ALONE by James Phelan "Jesse is on a school trip in New York when his subway carriage is rocked by an explosion. When he and three friends crawl out of the wreckage they discover a city in chaos. Streets are deserted. Buildings are in ruins. And the only other survivors are infected with a virus that turns them into horrifying predators..."
THE DEMON'S SURRENDER: THE DEMON'S LEXICON TRILOGY by Sarah Rees Brennan "The Goblin Market has always been the center of Sin’s world. But now the Market is at war with the magicians, and Sin’s place is in danger. Thrown out of the Market she loves, Sin is thrown together with brothers Nick and Alan—whom she’s always despised.
Alan has been marked by a magician and is being tortured so that the magicians can get to Nick. As Sin watches Alan struggle to protect the demon brother he loves, she begins to see him in a new light—but she and Mae are locked in a fierce rivalry over who will inherit the leadership of the Goblin Market, and a decisive battle with the Aventurine Circle is looming. Mae’s brother, Jamie, is holed up with the magicians, his loyalties in question. And Nick—well, who knows what a demon might do to save his brother? How far will Nick go to save Alan—and what will it cost them all?"
DRAGON CASTLE by Joseph Bruchac "Young Prince Rashko is frustrated with his family - no one does any thinking but him! The kingdom and castle seem to be in the hands of fools. So when Rashko's parents mysteriously disappear and the evil Baron Temny parks his army outside the castle walls, it is up to the young prince to save the day. But there is more to this castle and its history than meets the eye, and Rashko will have to embrace his ancestry, harness a dragon, and use his sword-fighting skills to stop the baron and save the kingdom. Along the way, he realizes that his family is not quite as stupid as he always thought."
THE ETERNAL SEA by Angie Frazier "Romance and adventure are just around the corner . . .After the thrilling journey that led Camille through the dangerous discovery of love, secrets, and a magical stone that grants immortality, Camille has everything she wants. She's escaped the men who wanted her dead, and now she is ready to build a new life with Oscar, her one true love. But things are not to be so simple. Oscar is acting strangely, and before they can even board a ship from Australia back home, to San Francisco, Camille learns that the journey is not over. If she does not follow the magic of the curse of Umandu, her life and Ocar's could be in grave danger."EVERLASTING: THE IMMORTALS by Alyson Noel "Their epic love story has captured the hearts of millions and enchanted readers across the world. In this beautiful finale, their journey draws to a spectacular conclusion—where all will be revealed.
Their darkest enemies now defeated, Damen and Ever are free to embark upon their final quest—to free Damen from the poison lingering in his body. If they can just find the antidote, they’ll finally be able to feel each other’s touch—and experience the passionate night they’ve been longing for. But their fight to be together will lead them into the most formidable terrain yet…into the dark heart of Summerland.
Here in a land of scorched earth and endless rain, Ever and Damen will discover their relationship’s hidden origins, expose a secret history they never imagined…and come face to face with the true reason fate keeps tearing them apart. Only then, when the final mystery is unraveled and the last secret revealed, Ever and Damen’s future will hinge on one ultimate decision that will put everything at stake….even eternity."
A FLICKERING FIRE by Alexandria Cramer "Join Fiammetta, a young traveling entertainer, as she embarks on a journey that will change the course of a kingdom. An outcast among her own people, she possesses the power to create and control fire; it is this power that embroils her in the plot of the cruel King Nicholas, who as killed his brother and usurped the throne. Framed for the murder, Fiammetta must buy her family's freedom by accepting the King's quest to find the Gavino Claw. With her cursed companion, Paolo, she must endure an arduous journey that will either bring her face to face with destiny, or end her life."
FLYING BLIND: THE DRAGON DIARIES by Deborah Cooke "Zoë Sorensson is perfectly normal, except she's been told she's destined for great things. Zoë's the one female dragon shapeshifter of her kind. But Zoë is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr and her powers are AWOL, so she's sent to a Pyr boot camp.
Zoë quickly realizes that she has to master her powers yesterday, because the Pyr are in danger and boot camp is a trap. The Mages want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line-unless Zoë and her friends can work together and save their own kind."
FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick "Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.
When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future."
FROM BAD TO CURSED: BAD GIRLS DON'T DIE by Katie Alender "Alexis is the last girl you'd expect to sell her soul. She already has everything she needs—an adorable boyfriend, the perfect best friend, and a little sister who’s finally recovering after being possessed by an evil spirit.
Alexis is thrilled when her sister joins a club: new friends are just what Kasey needs. It’s strange, though, to see how fast the girls in the Sunshine Club go from dorky and antisocial to gorgeous and popular. Then Alexis learns that the girls have pledged an oath to a seemingly benevolent spirit named Aralt. Worried that Kasey’s in over her head again, Alexis and her best friend, Megan, decide to investigate by joining the club themselves. Soon, Alexis trades in her pink hair and punky clothes for a mainstream look, and finds herself reveling in her newfound elegance and success.
The club’s connection with Aralt seems harmless, and before long, Alexis can hardly remember why she joined in the first place.Surely it wasn’t to destroy Aralt. . . . Why would she hurt someone who has given her so much, and asked for so little in return?"
HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson "Can there truly be love after death? Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever."
HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire "One hour to rewrite the past . . .For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?"
THE LOST HEIRESS: RELIC MASTER by Catherine Fisher "The second installment in the Relic Master quartet!
Even though Tasceron and its Emperor have fallen, there is a rumor that the heiress to the throne still lives. If so, her life is in grave danger, especially from the Watch. Galen and Raffi must race to find and protect her."
MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs "As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs--alive and well--despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole."
NYX IN THE HOUSE OF NIGHT edited by P.C. Cast "The House of Night is no ordinary school—and not just because it's for vampyres. It's a place where magic, religion, folklore, and mythology from multiple traditions merry meet and meld to create something incredible and new.
In Nyx in the House of Night—a 2-color illustrated companion to the House of Night series—some of your favorite YA authors, plus a few experts, help you navigate the influences behind the House of Night series in a guide that would get even Damien's seal of approval. Travel with P.C. Cast as she gets her first tattoo in Ireland, climbs the ruins of Sgiach's castle, and discovers the lore that led to the Isle of Skye vampyres. Read Kristin Cast's defense of women in history and mythology who, like Zoey, have made a practice of juggling multiple men. Sit in on a vampyre lecture by Bryan Lankford, the real-life basis for House of Night instructor Dragon Lankford, on the parallels between Wiccan and vampyre circle rituals. Tour Tulsa's House of Night landmarks with local Amy H. Sturgis."
Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last. Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever."
PERFECTLY REFLECTED by S.C. Ransom "This is the second book in the Small Blue thing trilogy. Still recovering from her earlier brush with death, Alex's source of strength and comfort is Callum, still locked in a sad half-life after drowing in the river Fleet that flows into the Thames. And she needs all the strength and comfort she can get: someone is out to make her life a misery, and someone is out to get hold of the extraordinary bracelet that enables her to communicate with Callum."
THE QUICKSILVER FAIRE: THE SCIONS OF SHADOW by Gillian Summers
"At the dazzling Fairy High Court—fraught with enchantments and trickery—Keelie Heartwood discovers that an imbalance in magic has created a colossal rift that can destroy the world. Keelie's mixed blood (elf, human, and fae) makes her powerful, but this sixteen-year-old L.A. girl can't fix things alone. The Grey Mantle elves aren't helping at all, even though bizarre things are happening all around their village.
The more Keelie learns about the magical worlds of the Northwoods-where time is unruly, nasty goblins run amok, and an ancient (and handsome) forest god is pursuing her-the more she doesn't know just whom to trust."
THE RAMPAGE OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA by Nagaru Tanigawa "What Haruhi wants, Haruhi gets! Stunning, brash, and completely clueless about her powers, Haruhi Suzumiya can make anything bend to her will. Although she doesn't know it, she's a goddess who has the ability destroy the world--don't make her mad! Luckily, she has her SOS Brigade (a club comprised of her high school's most extraordinary students) to keep her happy.
This fifth volume in the wildly fun and unpredictable Haruhi Suzumiya series features three short stories for Haruhi's every mood--an endless (never-ending) summer, a heated (overheated) competition with the computer club, and a ski trip getaway (with a dangerous blizzard!)."
Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.
Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . . ."
SIRENZ by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman "Bickering frenemies Meg and Shar are doing some serious damage at a midnight sample sale when the fashionistas find themselves arguing over a pair of shoes-with fatal consequences. One innocent bystander later, the girls are suddenly at the mercy of Hades, Lord of the Underworld himself. To make them atone for what they've done, Hades forces the teens to become special-assignment Sirens, luring to the Underworld an individual whose unholy contract is up.
Finding that delicate balance between their fashion addiction and their new part-time job in the eternal hellfire biz turns out to be harder than Meg and Shar expected, especially when an entire pantheon of Greek deities decides to get involved. Then there's the matter of the fine print in their own contracts..."
THE SPECTRAL BLAZE: BROTHERHOOD OF THE GRIFFON by Richard Lee Byers "Aoth and the Brotherhood of the Griffon have succeeded in rescuing Tchazzar, the lost king of Chessenta and a formidable red dragon, and are rewarded with a contract to aid in his war with a powerful dracolich. But the more Aoth sees of the war, the more suspicious he becomes that the Brotherhood may be just a pawn in a cutthroat draconic game that puts whole kingdoms at risk--a game played for stakes of gold and blood. And the more he sees the game play out, the more he realizes that he will have to become a player in this most dangerous of games if he wants the Realms to remain free."
SPIRITS OF THE NOH: THE WAKING by Thomas Randall "Kara Foster is finally starting to fit in at her boarding school in Japan-after all, nothing bonds you with your classmates like having an ancient demon put a curse on you. Hoping life can go back to normal now that the monster has been laid to rest, Kara joins her friends Sakura and Miho in putting on a play for the Noh drama club. It's the story of the Hannya, a snake demon who inhabits the body of a beautiful woman. When a few members of the Noh club go missing, Kara fears that the real Hannya has been awakened by the curse. Then Miho is abducted, and Kara must find her before the Hannya exacts her terrible revenge. But the demon is wily and may be hidden in the last place anyone would think to look."
A TRAVELLER IN TIME by Alison Uttley "Penelope Taberner Cameron is a solitary and a sickly child, a reader and a dreamer. Her mother, indeed, is of the opinion that the girl has grown all too attached to the products of her imagination and decides to send her away from London for a restorative dose of fresh country air. But staying at Thackers, in remote Derbyshire, Penelope is soon caught up in a new mystery, as she finds herself transported at unforeseeable intervals back and forth from modern to Elizabethan times. There she becomes part of a remarkable family that is, Penelope realizes, in terrible danger as they plot to free Mary, Queen of Scot, from the prison in which Queen Elizabeth has confined her.
Penelope knows the tragic end that awaits the Scottish queen but she can neither change the course of events nor persuade her new family of the hopelessness of their cause, which love, loyalty, and justice all compel them to embrace. Caught between present and past, Penelope is ever more torn by questions of freedom and fate. To travel in time, Penelope discovers, is to to be very much alone. And yet the slow recurrent rhythms of the natural world, beautifully captured by Alison Uttley, also speak of a greater ongoing life that transcends the passage of years."
TRIAL BY FIRE: A RAISED BY WOLVES NOVEL by Jennifer Lynn Barnes "There can only be one alpha. Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.
But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were. With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone. Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves."
UNLEASHED: MONSTER SLAYERS by Lukas Ritter "For as long as Evin can remember, he has dreamed of being a real hero. And when his entire village is kidnapped by evil monsters, he finally gets his wish. With the help of his friend Jorick, a young elf wizard named Betilivatis, and an ancient guidebook of magical beasts called A Practical Guide to Monsters, Evin treks through ancient ruins and faces all kinds of strange and terrible creatures on his quest to find his family.
But soon, Evin realizes that not everything is as it seems. Why is Betilivatis sneaking off to report their every move to someone only she can see? Why can’t Evin remember anything before the day of the kidnapping? Why does it seem as if someone—or something—is controlling the monsters and drawing the three friends deeper into a battle they might never win?"
THE VAMPIRE STALKER by Allison van Diepen "What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?
Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction."
THE VAMPIRE HUNTERS by Pete Johnson "On my thirteenth birthday, my life changed for ever. That’s when I learned the shocking truth: I’m a half-vampire.Think that sounds cool? Think again! I’ve been attacked by an evil vampire bat, had huge cravings for my best friend’s blood, and nearly died from eating a pizza (half-vampires aren’t great with garlic). Writing my secret blog is the only thing that’s kept me from going completely crazy. As if life couldn’t get any more complicated, there have been some vicious attacks in the local woods. Vampire-mad Tallulah (definitely not my girlfriend) thinks a super-vampire is behind them – and she’s desperate to prove it, with a mysterious chain that’s supposed to glow red-hot when a vampire is close by. And I have a horrible feeling that the chain’s going to turn red-hot any day now . . ."
WHAT WE KEEP IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT WILL STAY by Amanda Cockrell "Fifteen-year-old Angie never used to think much about God—until things started getting weird. Like the statue of St. Felix, her secret confidante, suddenly coming off his pedestal and talking to her. And Angie's mother, who's busting up her third marriage for no apparent reason. Then there's Jesse Francis, sent home from Afghanistan at age nineteen with his leg blown off. Now he's expected to finish high school and fit right back in. Is God even paying attention to any of this?
Against the advice of an increasingly vocal St. Felix (who knows a thing or two about war), Angie falls for Jesse—who's a lot deeper than most high school guys. But Jesse is battling some major demons. As his rages start to become more frequent and unpredictable, Angie finds herself losing control of the situation. And she's starting to wonder: can one person ever make things right for someone else?"
Z. RAPTOR: HUNTING by Steve Cole "Thirteen-year-old Adam Adlar used to have a normal life. Then his father created the most advanced video-game technology ever-one that uses a person's thoughts to control game characters, so that the characters are actually part of you. And scientists stole this technology to create hyper-evolved dinosaurs with a human's ability to learn . . . and a beast's ability to kill. Now packs of raptors populate a deserted island where the only law is survival. For the death-row inmates who were forced to live there as part of an experiment, survival was not an option. Now it's up to Adam and his dad to make sure the brutality stops."
12/13/10
The Ring of Solomon, by Jonathan Stroud
The Ring of Solomon, by Jonathan Stroud (Hyperion, 2010, to heck with putting in an age bracket like I usually do, because both my 10 year old boy and my mother would enjoy this one, 416 pages)Under the rule of Solomon, Jerusalem prospers. The power of Solomon's ring allows him to command legions of powerful spirits, and to keep under control (more or less) the magicians who serve him. These magicians in turn draw their power from their ability to raise demons, and command them. One of the middle-range demons thus raised is an old timer named Bartimaeus--the cocky type, constantly thumbing his nose (and other ruder things) at authority, happy to boast about his great deeds of yore, back when Mesopotamia was still going strong.
But all is not well for Bartimaeus. He's under the control of the very nastiest of Solomon's magicians, a most unpleasantly sadistic man who is hiding a myriad of dark secrets. Worse awaits-- Bartimaeus is about to face a truly horrendously impossible task...tricky even for a clever demon like himself, the sort of assignment that means almost certain destruction. And it's all the fault of a knife-wielding, demon-summoning, teenaged girl. A girl hell bent on carrying out her mission, even if it means death--a mission to kill Solomon and take his ring.
Asmira was honored when the Queen of Sheba sent her out on this impossible mission. She was determined to do her best, as behoved a member of the Hereditary Guard, firmly believing the fate of her country depended on her. But now that she has reached the doors of King's Solomon's palace, her only recourse is to depend on the wiles of Bartimaeus...and who can trust a demon, enslaved by magic and desperate to find freedom?
Oh my gosh I enjoyed this one so very much. Not, so much, the first hundred or so pages, which were mostly Bartimaeus annoying various beings and getting into trouble, because I found Bartimaeus is hard to like when he is just one demon among many. But once Bartimaeus and Asmira get together, the sparks begin to fly! With her to provide a foil for him, Bartimaeus pushes the boundaries of standard cold-hearted demon-ness, and Stroud does a beautifully teasingly tantalizing and oh so engrossing job of making Bartimaeus sympathetic (while still demonic). And he was just the companion Asmira needed to push her out of her box of blind duty and into independent thinking. From kick-ass knife thrower without much personality, she progresses to strong young woman one can really root for.
Bartimaeus made his first appearance in an eponymous trilogy of books that begins with The Amulet of Samarkand. I didn't mention at the beginning of this post that I'd met him in those books before, because this book stands alone just fine. It takes place millennia before the events of the trilogy; there's no need at all to have even heard of them to enjoy this one.
I'd recommend The Ring of Solomon in particular to those who enjoy Sarah Rees Brennon's demonic books (The Demon's Lexicon et seq.). There's the obvious common ground of demonic magic, and the fact that she too is exploring the tricky ground of making someone alien sympathetic, but she and Stroud also share a nice sharpness of wit that makes for very entertaining reading!
Note on age: The books in the Bartimaeus trilogy are pretty firmly YA; The Ring of Solomon, on the other hand, makes a great middle grade read (which is where Amazon has it)--lots of mayhem and demonic death, but in a middle grade-ish sort of way. That being said, it's also a great YA and adult read.
My one small quibble: right at the beginning, on page 11, Bartimaeus uses honky tonk piano playing as a metaphor. Since at this point we are still at 950 B.C.E., and since I don't think demons time travel, I was kicked out of the story. But I bravely kept reading...and was richly rewarded.
Added bonus: Asmira is a first rate heroine of color, dark of hair and skin.
Here's another review from Liz at A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Teacozy.
11/9/10
The first cookie for the Demon's Surrender
Sarah Rees Brennan has, very sweetly (maybe...or not), released the first teasing cookie (aka morsel of story) from the Demon's Surrender, the third in her series of wonderful books that began with The Demon's Lexicon.
And everyone in the comments is going on and on about Jamie and Nick, and no one but me seems to care about the horribleness that might have happened to darling Alan. Sniff.
(in the ten minutes that have past since I wrote this, three others have expressed concern for Alan, as did Tanita in the comments here. I feel better).
Edited on 11/10 to add: But now I feel more worried. SRB has just twittered this post, with the ominous hashtag #theyarerighttoworry....
And everyone in the comments is going on and on about Jamie and Nick, and no one but me seems to care about the horribleness that might have happened to darling Alan. Sniff.
(in the ten minutes that have past since I wrote this, three others have expressed concern for Alan, as did Tanita in the comments here. I feel better).
Edited on 11/10 to add: But now I feel more worried. SRB has just twittered this post, with the ominous hashtag #theyarerighttoworry....
8/22/10
A new poll--which Cybils sci fi/fantasy short-listed book do you love the best?
It is a chilly, grey evening here in southern New England; the rain, which made me happy at 6:00 a.m. (goodness knows we needed it), has overstayed its welcome. It cheered me no end, however, to see over at the Cybils blog the first stirrings of new life...with its promise of a new exciting season of book celebrating to come!
For those who don't know the Cybils, these are awards given by bloggers to books that combine quality writing and kid appeal. Since 2006, anyone who wanted to has nominated the books they loved best in a variety of categories, and panels of bloggers have created shortlists (I've been lucky enough to have been a panelist several times), and picked winners. The Cybils Shortlists are pretty much must read books in my opinion (many of them I Love, and there's only one I didn't enjoy at all. But not because it wasn't a good book).
And so, in an anticipatory spirit, I thought it would be fun to have a poll to see which, of all the books shortlisted in my favorite categories of sci fi/fantasy for middle grade and YA readers from 2006-2009, is the most best beloved! It's a long list--in 2006, there were only 5 books on the short list, but the astronomical increase in the number of books nominated meant that by 2009, middle grade and YA were two categories, with seven shortlisted books each.
Here's the poll; please vote for your favorite (incidently, when you look at the results, the grey bar goes with the book above it).
If that isn't a nice list of books, I don't know what is. And I am finding myself totally unable to pick just one, so maybe this whole poll thing was a bad idea....
For those who don't know the Cybils, these are awards given by bloggers to books that combine quality writing and kid appeal. Since 2006, anyone who wanted to has nominated the books they loved best in a variety of categories, and panels of bloggers have created shortlists (I've been lucky enough to have been a panelist several times), and picked winners. The Cybils Shortlists are pretty much must read books in my opinion (many of them I Love, and there's only one I didn't enjoy at all. But not because it wasn't a good book).
And so, in an anticipatory spirit, I thought it would be fun to have a poll to see which, of all the books shortlisted in my favorite categories of sci fi/fantasy for middle grade and YA readers from 2006-2009, is the most best beloved! It's a long list--in 2006, there were only 5 books on the short list, but the astronomical increase in the number of books nominated meant that by 2009, middle grade and YA were two categories, with seven shortlisted books each.
Here's the poll; please vote for your favorite (incidently, when you look at the results, the grey bar goes with the book above it).
If that isn't a nice list of books, I don't know what is. And I am finding myself totally unable to pick just one, so maybe this whole poll thing was a bad idea....
7/7/10
Throwing my hat into the Book Blogger Appreciation Week ring
Book Blogger Appreciation Week is coming up in September, and the celebration includes awards in various blog categories. One of these is "Best Speculative Fiction Blog," and so I'm putting my blog forward for that.
My blog focuses on middle grade and younger YA speculative fiction, although I do review some adult books as well.
Here are my five representative posts:
Middle grade: my review of The Shadows, by Jacqueline West
Young adult: my review of The Demon's Lexicon, by Sarah Rees Brennan
Adult: my review of Blackout, by Connie Willis (most Tuesday's I review time travel books, and this post serves as an example of that)
Every week I round-up posts from around the blogging world about middle-grade science fiction and fantasy--here's an example.
Here are my thoughts on gender and writers of middle grade and young adult science fiction/fantasy.
My blog focuses on middle grade and younger YA speculative fiction, although I do review some adult books as well.
Here are my five representative posts:
Middle grade: my review of The Shadows, by Jacqueline West
Young adult: my review of The Demon's Lexicon, by Sarah Rees Brennan
Adult: my review of Blackout, by Connie Willis (most Tuesday's I review time travel books, and this post serves as an example of that)
Every week I round-up posts from around the blogging world about middle-grade science fiction and fantasy--here's an example.
Here are my thoughts on gender and writers of middle grade and young adult science fiction/fantasy.
6/26/10
The Locus Awards--Leviathan wins best YA
The Locus Awards, for books published in the previous calendar year, have been announced-- And the best young adult novel is: LEVIATHAN, by Scott WesterfeldThe others on the short list:
The Hotel Under the Sand, Kage Baker
Going Bovine, Libba Bray
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins
Liar, Justine Larbalestier
This award is determined by a poll of Locus Magazine's subscribers....I think that I would have picked Leviathan too, if these books were all I had to choose from. But my favorite YA sci fi/fantasy of last year (to the best of my recollection) would probably be The Demon's Lexicon, by Sarah Rees Brennan. Leviathan was very good indeed (here's my review), but didn't quite fill me with the joy of being alive and having more pages left to turn, the way one's favorite books do...
Which one of the short list would you have voted for?
6/23/10
Waiting on Wednesday to get on the plane to ALA on Friday--the books I want most badly of all
I am almost dizzy with anticipation about going to the American Library Association in D.C.--so excited and happy, and squee-ful I can hardly stand it! I will be seeing friends I've already met! I will be meeting friends I've never seen! One of the later is even going to come to a sleep-over at my (mother's) house! And that will be very nice, and I'm looking forward to that part of things considerably.
But really, what is filling my mind is the exhibit hall-- a goblin market of booths with all the tempting book wares displayed... I am practicing Being Strong. I will not give in to greed. I will only ask for/accept books that I really want. Or possibly, just want. But no books that I think maybe I might want next month because they look interesting. There is such a thing as too large a to be read pile, and I have enough guilt in my life....
That being said, there are more than a few books I really want. But of those books, here are the two that I want most. The two books that if I don't get them, will make all other happy things taste of dust and ashes...
Pegasus, by Robin McKinley (enough said)
The Ring of Solomon, by Johnathan Stroud. (Bartimaeus = best demonic being ever. Except maybe Nick (of The Demon's Lexicon et seq.)
But really, what is filling my mind is the exhibit hall-- a goblin market of booths with all the tempting book wares displayed... I am practicing Being Strong. I will not give in to greed. I will only ask for/accept books that I really want. Or possibly, just want. But no books that I think maybe I might want next month because they look interesting. There is such a thing as too large a to be read pile, and I have enough guilt in my life....
That being said, there are more than a few books I really want. But of those books, here are the two that I want most. The two books that if I don't get them, will make all other happy things taste of dust and ashes...
Pegasus, by Robin McKinley (enough said)The Ring of Solomon, by Johnathan Stroud. (Bartimaeus = best demonic being ever. Except maybe Nick (of The Demon's Lexicon et seq.)
My only anxiety is that I won't get to the exhibits hall before 6:30 on Friday (if I'm lucky) and all the arcs of these will be gone...and I will go to the kidlit drink night empty handed, trying to smile bravely...trying to be friendly, despite it all.
Life is so much more interesting when you exaggerate, and make small things into matters of huge importance...
(Waiting on Wednesday is the brainchild of Jill at Breaking the Spine)
5/29/10
New Releases of Fantasy and Science Fiction for Children and Teens--the end of May edition
Here are the new releases of fantasy and science fiction for kids and teenagers from the end of March. Unless otherwise noted, the blurbs are from the publishers. My list comes from Teens Read Too. It's too nice a day to spend any more time on this, so the formating is yucky, and there aren't pictures for the YA books....sorry! (not all that sorry. Maybe a tad rueful).
Of the ones I don't already have, I'd pick The Summer of Moonlight Secrets....
Edited to add: I also very much want to read Necromancer, the new book by Michael Scott, adn so I've just entered a giveaway that requires creating a link....here is the interview and contest, at Cleverly Inked!
THE BONESHAKER by Kate Milford Thirteen-year-old Natalie Minks loves machines, particularly automata—self-operating mechanical devices, usually powered by clockwork. When Jake Limberleg and his traveling medicine show arrive in her small Missouri town with a mysterious vehicle under a tarp and an uncanny ability to make Natalie’s half-built automaton move, she feels in her gut that something about this caravan of healers is a bit off. Her uneasiness leads her to investigate the intricate maze of the medicine show, where she discovers a horrible truth and realizes that only she has the power to set things right.
Of the ones I don't already have, I'd pick The Summer of Moonlight Secrets....
Edited to add: I also very much want to read Necromancer, the new book by Michael Scott, adn so I've just entered a giveaway that requires creating a link....here is the interview and contest, at Cleverly Inked!
THE BONESHAKER by Kate Milford Thirteen-year-old Natalie Minks loves machines, particularly automata—self-operating mechanical devices, usually powered by clockwork. When Jake Limberleg and his traveling medicine show arrive in her small Missouri town with a mysterious vehicle under a tarp and an uncanny ability to make Natalie’s half-built automaton move, she feels in her gut that something about this caravan of healers is a bit off. Her uneasiness leads her to investigate the intricate maze of the medicine show, where she discovers a horrible truth and realizes that only she has the power to set things right.
Young Adult
ANGEL STAR by Jennifer Murgia Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel. But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows.
THE BATTLE OF THE SUN by Jeanette Winterson Jack is the chosen one, the Radiant Boy the Magus needs in order to perfect the alchemy that will transform London of the 1600s into a golden city. But Jack isn’t the kind of boy who will do what he is told by an evil genius, and soon he’s battling to save London in an epic and nail-biting adventure featuring dragons, knights and Queen Elizabeth I.
CLAIRE DE LUNE by Christine Johnson Torn between two destinies? Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf. As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?
THE DEMON'S COVENANT: THE DEMON'S LEXICON TRILOGY by Sarah Rees Brennan The Demon's Covenant is the sequel to The Demon's Lexicon. Mae was always in control, but suddenly everyone she trusted is lying--and in danger. [I guess the publishers didn’t wan’t to have spoilers]
EARLY TO DEATH, EARLY TO RISE: MADISON AVERY by Kim Harrison Fans of Once Dead, Twice Shy (2009) won’t be disappointed by this more-of-the-same sequel, which follows Madison—the newly minted dark timekeeper of the afterworld—as she tries to stave off unnecessary reaper scythings. The plot this time revolves around a dangerous computer virus, but the story’s primary concerns are the rocky relationships between the rogue’s gallery of supernatural characters (and a few human ones, too). Harrison’s afterworld rules remain rather exhausting, but her theme of fate versus choice is more finely tuned here than in the first book. If this is your kind of thing, you already have it on order. (Booklist)
FLIGHT OF SHADOWS by Sigmund Brouwer Looming buildings rise into the sky of a near-future America, shadowing the desperate poverty of the soovie parks, death doctors, and fear bombs. In this world of walled cities, where status matters most, Caitlyn Brown is desperate to remain invisible, wrongly believing what she needs to hide is the deformity on her back. The powerful want her for so much more. She’s forced to take flight again, relying on the help of Razor, a street-smart illusionist she can’t trust. Her only hope is to reach friends already tracked by government. With a twisted bounty hunter in full pursuit, she and Razor begin to learn the unthinkable about her past and the unique gifts of her DNA. It leads Caitlyn to a choice between the two men who love her, and whether to keep her freedom or sacrifice herself to change human destiny.
FRENZY: DREAMHOUSE KINGS by Robert Liparulo When you live in a house that's really a gateway between past and present, you have to be ready for anything. It's a painful fact the Kings have faced since moving to Pinedale eight days ago. Desperately trying to rescue their mother from an unknown time and place, brothers Xander and David have lunged headlong into the chaos of history's greatest--and most volatile--events. But their goal has continually escaped their grasp.
THE GARDENER by S.A. Bodeen. Mason has never known his father, but longs to. All he has of him is a DVD of a man whose face is never seen, reading a children’s book. One day, on a whim, he plays the DVD for a group of comatose teens at the nursing home where his mother works. One of them, a beautiful girl, responds. Mason learns she is part of a horrible experiment intended to render teenagers into autotrophs—genetically engineered, self-sustaining life-forms who don’t need food or water to survive. And before he knows it, Mason is on the run with the girl, and wanted, dead or alive, by the mysterious mastermind of this gruesome plan, who is simply called the Gardener.
GLIMMERGLASS: FAERIEWALKER by Jenna Black It’s all she’s ever wanted to be, but it couldn’t be further from her grasp…
INFINITY: CHRONICLES OF NICK by Sherrilyn Kenyon At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity. Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead. But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.
THE LAST WORDS OF WILL WOLFKIN by Steven Knight It's funny. If you're born a certain way, you don't really understand how it is to be any other way. So it has been for Toby Walsgrove—paralyzed since birth, unable to move or talk, with no known family, he has spent his entire life at a Carmelite convent in London. That is, until the day that his cat, Shipley, starts talking to him. Shipley has been watching over Toby his whole life and tells him they must go to Langjoskull, a city of exiles buried deep below the surface of Iceland. Because Toby is no ordinary boy—he's a descendant of the great king Will Wolfkin, and his kingdom needs him. Toby has never wielded a sword that can stop time. He has never shifted into his kin creature. He has never even walked on his own two legs before. Ready or not, though, he has a destiny, a responsibility, even a family—and not all of them are happy to meet him. . . .
LOVE BITES: VAMPIRE KISSES by Ellen Schreiber As a mortal girl dating a vampire, Raven knows that love isn't always easy. Now that Alexander's parents have returned to Romania, Raven and her dreamy vampire boyfriend are happy to resume their cryptic romance. But soon another visitor comes knocking: Sebastian, Alexander's best friend, arrives for a stay at the mansion. At first Raven is wary, then thrilled—this is the perfect chance to learn more about her darkly handsome boyfriend and his past. Raven has been wondering whether Alexander will ever bite her and make their love immortal, and Sebastian could be her guide to the love habits of Alexander and his kind. But when Sebastian falls for a particular Dullsvillian, will another mortal beat Raven to the bite?
PUCKER UP by Rhonda StapletonIn this irresistably romantic trilogy, Felicity discovers that she's no ordinary teen matchmaker...she's a cupid! Felicity can't believe her luck. Her longtime crush is now officially her boyfriend, and just in time for prom. Felicity isn't just smitten with Derek, she's head-over-heels in love. So when she learns that her boss at Cupid's Hollow used cupid magic to make Derek fall for her, Felicity is devastated. What will happen when the magic wears off? Felicity has only two weeks to win Derek's heart for real--no matter what it takes!
THE NECROMANCER: THE SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL by Michael Scott San Francisco: After fleeing to Ojai, then Paris, and escaping to London, Josh and Sophie Newman are finally home. And after everything they've seen and learned in the past week, they're both more confused than ever about their future. Neither of them has mastered the magics they'll need to protect themselves from the Dark Elders, they've lost Scatty, and they're still being pursued by Dr. John Dee. Most disturbing of all, however, is that now they must ask themselves, can they trust Nicholas Flamel? Can they trust anyone? Alcatraz: Dr. Dee underestimated Perenelle Flamel's power. Alcatraz could not hold her, Nereus was no match for her, and she was able to align herself with the most unlikely of allies. But she wasn't the only one being held on the island. Behind the prison's bars and protective sigils were a menagerie of monsters-an army for Dee to use in the final battle. And now Machiavelli has come to Alcatraz to loose those monsters on San Francisco. Perenelle might be powerful, but each day she weakens, and even with Nicholas back at her side, a battle of this size could be too much for her. Nicholas and Perenelle must fight to protect the city, but the effort will probably kill them both. London: Having been unable to regain the two final pages of the Codex, Dee has failed his Elder and is now an outlaw-and the new prey of all the creatures formerly sent to hunt down Flamel. But Dee has a plan. With the Codex and the creatures on Alcatraz, he can control the world. All he needs is the help of the Archons. But for his plan to work, he must raise the Mother of the Gods from the dead. For that, he'll have to train a necromancer. And the twins of legend will make the perfect pupils. . . .
PERCHANCE TO DREAM: THEATRE ILLUMINATA by Lisa Mantchev When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?
PRINCESS OF GLASS by Jessica Day George Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.
REIGN CHECK: DEMON PRINCESS by Michelle Rowen Fresh from finding out she is a demon princess and meeting her father for the first time, Nikki Donovan is looking forward to getting back to her regular high school life. But then Rhys, the handsome teenage king of the faery realm, enrolls at her school as a "foreign exchange student." Her conflicted feelings for Rhys and her boyfriend are getting in the way of her new relationship with the Shadow-creature Michael. But this love triangle from hell isn't even Nikki's biggest problem: There's a new prophecy that claims she will destroy all the demon and human worlds. Her best friend Melinda just might be a demon-slayer-in-training. Throw in a field trip to none other than the Underworld itself . . . and Nikki's going to be hoping for a rain check on more than just her homework!
THE SONS OF LIBERTY by Alexander & Joseph Lagos Graphic novels are a revolution in literature, and The Sons of Liberty is a graphic novel like no other. Visual and visceral, fusing historical fiction and superhero action, this is a tale with broad appeal-for younger readers who enjoy an exciting war story, for teenagers asking hard questions about American history, for adult fans of comic books, for anyone seeking stories of African American interest, and for reluctant readers young and old. In Colonial America, Graham and Brody are slaves on the run-until they gain extraordinary powers. At first they keep a low profile. But their mentor has another idea-one that involves the African martial art dambe . . . and masks. With its vile villains, electrifying action, and riveting suspense, The Sons of Liberty casts new light on the faces and events of pre-Revolution America, including Ben Franklin and the French and Indian War. American history has rarely been this compelling-and it's never looked this good.
SPIRIT BOUND: A VAMPIRE ACADEMY NOVEL by Richelle Mead Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong... After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's-and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him... forever.
TALES OF TERROR FROM THE TUNNEL'S MOUTH by Chris Priestley The third installment of the spine-tingling trilogy. A boy's first solo train journey turns out to be more of a challenge than anyone could have imagined as the trian stalls at the mouth of a tunnel and a mysterious woman in white helps the boy while away the hours by telling him stories—ghost stories with a difference.
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