In the conclusion to the trilogy that started with "A Great and Terrible Beauty," Gemma Doyle is faced with the greatest trials she's encountered yet: keeping the magic of the Realms safe and curtsying to the queen on the day of her debut to society. Together with the only people she can truly trust, her friends Felicity and Ann, Gemma struggles to determine what to do with the magic that she has bound to herself. All three girls want to change their lives in extraordinary ways, but they must also save that world from the evil forces at work in the realms. A bittersweet ending to the Gemma Doyle Trilogy will leave readers sad, but satisfied. Claudia O.
Arnold "Junior" Spirit lives with his parents and sister on a Spokane reservation. He tries to break the prevalent cycle of poverty and addiction by attending a very affluent (and very white) high school away from the reservation. Junior faces hostility from his best friend and his community who see him as trying to "be white". He survives the obstacles and challenges that face him through basketball and cartoons. Joseph G.
This 2007 winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction delves into the story of the creation of atom bomb from the point of view of a young daughter of one of the scientists at work on it. Ten-year-old Dewey is happy to live in Los Alamos, even though everything is so secret that the world doesn't even know they exist and even though she doesn't get along with any of the girls her age. Readers will admire Dewey and root for her happiness while also learning a lot of interesting information about what life was like in Los Alamos as the atom bomb was being built. Claudia O.
What do baseball and bushido –the way of the warrior- have in common? Find out as you follow Toyo Shimada, a 16 year old living at a time of great changes both in his personal life and his country. A family tragedy and the challenges he encounters at Ichiko, an elite boarding school, find him on a collision course between the old and the new ways. Toyo will discover things he never knew about himself and his heritage in the midst of a changing Japan. Bonina G.
Max and her friends were raised in a laboratory through a science experiment splicing human and bird DNA enabling them to fly. Her and her friends escape only to be later chased by mutant werewolves sent by the lab scientists to get them back. Will Max and her friends discover who their parents are before they are captured by the scientists and their werewolves? Will the voice Max is magically hearing lead her to her doom or help her save the world? Or will the werewolves “erase” this experiment gone wrong? Sky K.
After being caught in an embarrassing position at the age of thirteen, Deanna's reputation is in ruins. Her father has lost all of his trust in her and her brother, a teenage father who lives in the basement with his wife and young daughter. Deanna yearns for freedom from her reputation and low expectations that her family and community have of her. Joseph G.
Beka Cooper is a smart, streetwise girl with a passion for justice. Justice for everyone, even those who live in the slums of her city. Beka has always wanted to be one of the Provost’s Guards- to be a Provost’s Dog. But first she must survive being the Provost’s Puppy, where 2 of 10 die in their first year of work. Beka has an edge. She can hear the ghosts of the murdered who ride on the backs of the city’s pigeons, the city whirlwinds tell her the gossip of the streets and best of all, she has a telepathic purple eyed cat. Maybe, just maybe, Beka can beat the odds against her. Barbara B.
This is a creepy, fascinating, and highly original tale of a group of teens gifted (or cursed?) with the unique ability to exist in a secret hour during which time becomes frozen for the rest of humanity. This first volume sees the arrival of a new Midnighter, Jessica Day, who is somehow different from the others. Soon the group of Midnighters is in a race to uncover what makes Jessica so special as to lure the mysterious and terrible creatures that reside within the secret hour out of hiding, transforming the secret hour from a place of tranquility into a nightmarish landscape. Edda R.
People around the world excitedly gather to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event of the moon being hit by a very large asteroid. Unfortunately, the moon is knocked out of its orbit closer to the Earth and everyone, everywhere is affected. Miranda details in her diary the events which change “life as we knew it” into a situation where even being able to do laundry in the washing machine is something that is looked forward to. Does Miranda survive the bitter winter after the asteroid hit or is her diary the only thing left to tell us about her life? Read this great story to find out. Sky K.
Can a vampire and a werewolf be best friends? They can in Martinez’s wacky and entertaining novel about an unlikely duo that works together to help out the owner of an all-night diner when supernatural fiends come crashing through its doors. This novel will be well liked by anyone who enjoys their horror with a good dose of humor. Edda R.
Matt Alacrán is a clone of the feared ruler of the land called Opium. As such, he receives protection from “El Patrón” but is also reviled by the inhabitants of the Alacrán estate who view him as an abomination. Matt comes to understand what he is and what it means to be human, as well as discovering the fate of those clones not under the protection of the dreaded El Patrón, in this eerie and suspenseful novel of a possible future. Edda R.
Check out this enthralling fantasy about Lyra before the movie premiers on the big screen. You'll journey to a thrilling world where everyone has a daemon (an animal form of a person's soul), magic abounds around every corner and Lyra befriends important allies in her adventure discovering the mystery behind a rash of kidnappings and that which is called "Dust." Sky K.
Ever thought about the traveling circus life and how exciting it could be? But what if the reason you are part of it is because you decided to run away from reality? See how a young runaway by the name of Michael travels back to his home town and sees how things have changed since he's been gone. Cynthia S.
When reading this book you will feel moved and connected to Charlie, the main character, and how he goes through adolescence carrying a secret in which he’s forgotten all about. Through his letters his hidden secret begins to unravel. It’s a great read and everyone will take something with them after reading this book. Cynthia S.
Ever thought how cool it would be to connect everything with your mind, to watch TV in your head or call someone just in your mind? In this ironic satire set in the future you will see how a young guy meets a girl without these abilities and how sometimes technology isn’t cut up to what it seems to be. Cynthia S.
In a 2083 reality TV game show, a group of teens battle each other for the $10,000 prize as they reenact Scott’s 1910-1913 expedition to the South Pole. Mother Nature is brutal and someone is secretly aiding them on their journey, but will it be enough to survive? Find out by reading this book! Sky K.
"Blood is my friend. Without it my cells shrivel. Without it I die...." Thus begins Lucy's narrative in Pete Hautman's intriguing and well-written novel Sweetblood. Lucy sees herself as one of the Undead, not as a result of overly imaginative gothic fantasies, but because of the connection between her out-of-control diabetes and her own theory of vampirism. Her increasing frustration with her diabetic state leads her to engage in self-destructive behavior that threatens her school and family life. Lucy is an intelligent and cleverly funny narrator, however, which makes this novel very enjoyable while at the same time dealing with serious issues. Edda R.
After her grandfather's sudden death, Tamar inherits from him a box of WWII items. She vows to uncover the puzzling mystery of the seemingly unrelated objects in the box and her grandfather's history with the Dutch resistance in Nazi occupied Holland. Peet alternates telling this exciting tale between Tamar's modern day detective work and the distant past of Tamar's namesake. The story dramatically develops through two Dutch resistance agents and Marijke, the love of both their lives, as they battle for what they believe is true. Sky K.
Ever read and enjoyed Lois Lowry's The Giver and Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass? Then you will like this fantasy filled trilogy adventure of three kids from Aramanth by the name of Kestrel, Bowman, and Mumpo, and how they defy their society by going on a journey to find the Wing Singer in order to free their people from a demanding society. Cynthia S.
