All Books
Synopsis: Winner of the 2011 Newbery Award.
The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby. I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I’d seen only in Gideon’s stories: Manifest—A Town with a rich past and a bright future.
Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.
Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.”
Abilene throws all caution aside when she heads down the mysterious Path to Perdition to pay a debt to the reclusive Miss Sadie, a diviner who only tells stories from the past. It seems that Manifest’s history is full of colorful and shadowy characters—and long-held secrets. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. And as Manifest’s secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.
Powerful in its simplicity and rich in historical detail, Clare Vanderpool’s debut is a gripping story of loss and redemption.
From the Hardcover edition.
The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby. I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I’d seen only in Gideon’s stories: Manifest—A Town with a rich past and a bright future.
Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.
Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.”
Abilene throws all caution aside when she heads down the mysterious Path to Perdition to pay a debt to the reclusive Miss Sadie, a diviner who only tells stories from the past. It seems that Manifest’s history is full of colorful and shadowy characters—and long-held secrets. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. And as Manifest’s secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.
Powerful in its simplicity and rich in historical detail, Clare Vanderpool’s debut is a gripping story of loss and redemption.
From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date: 12/27/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: There was a time when all was right in Taylor Dresden's world―that is, as long as she was on the baseball diamond, pitching with all her heart. But that was years ago. Now, there's no competition in her New Jersey high school, and summer league is not much better. With the scouts losing interest due to her poor grades, and with the challenge of the game gone, Taylor has made a difficult decision: she won't be playing her senior year. Everything changes when a local, elite, all-boys prep school recruits Taylor for its own baseball team. But the Hazelton School is a rich boy's world, its student body run by the Statesmen, an organization determined to force Taylor and the other girls out of their school. Taylor knows she's a great pitcher, but can she be a great student? Can she succeed in the face of devious boys who will stop at nothing to get rid of her? Will she rise above them, sink to their level, or will she be gone before she can do either? Singled Out, the exciting sequel to Thrown a Curve, will answer these questions as Taylor struggles to find her place beyond the pitcher's mound.
Publication Date: 12/01/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: When we last saw Oliver and Celia Navel, they had fallen into the clutches of Sir Edmund S. Titheltorpe-Schmidt III and were doomed to spend their entire summer vacation doing his deadly bidding.
In their second unwanted adventure, We Dine with Cannibals, Oliver and Celia will travel from the ruins of ancient temples to the shadowy forests of the Amazon. They'll need all their reality TV survival skills when they ride a llama, race the rapids, and even fly an airplane! If that's not enough excitement for you (it is decidedly too much excitement for Oliver and Celia Navel), they'll be forced to learn the proper etiquette for a cannibal feast and confront the strangest and most brutal rite of passage ever devised by human imagination: dodgeball.
The second installment of the Accidental Adventures series is just as funny, just as exciting, and just as kid-friendly as the first.
In their second unwanted adventure, We Dine with Cannibals, Oliver and Celia will travel from the ruins of ancient temples to the shadowy forests of the Amazon. They'll need all their reality TV survival skills when they ride a llama, race the rapids, and even fly an airplane! If that's not enough excitement for you (it is decidedly too much excitement for Oliver and Celia Navel), they'll be forced to learn the proper etiquette for a cannibal feast and confront the strangest and most brutal rite of passage ever devised by human imagination: dodgeball.
The second installment of the Accidental Adventures series is just as funny, just as exciting, and just as kid-friendly as the first.
Publication Date: 11/14/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Emma Burblee couldn't be more different from her parents if she tried. She'd rather dig for treasure in a park than try on the latest fashions or discuss her vain parents' favorite subject: themselves. When Emma mortifies her parents at a dinner party, her punishment is immediate. She must spend the summer with her Uncle Simon—a loathsome man with a huge appetite for food and get-rich-quick schemes.
Although Emma's days revolve around cooking and cleaning, there is one bright spot. Her uncle's sweet tooth means she gets to visit the town bakery, Mr. Crackle's Cake Shop, all the time. This world-renowned baker is as charming and kind as Uncle Simon is vile. But then Emma discovers a plot by Uncle Simon and one of his shady acquaintances; they've set their sights on ruining Mr. Crackle (and the entire dessert making industry for that matter). Can Emma stop their evil plan?
First-time author Meika Hashimoto's effervescent tale, filled with funny characters and adventures, will have readers checking their cupboards for mouth-watering ingredients and secret portals.
Although Emma's days revolve around cooking and cleaning, there is one bright spot. Her uncle's sweet tooth means she gets to visit the town bakery, Mr. Crackle's Cake Shop, all the time. This world-renowned baker is as charming and kind as Uncle Simon is vile. But then Emma discovers a plot by Uncle Simon and one of his shady acquaintances; they've set their sights on ruining Mr. Crackle (and the entire dessert making industry for that matter). Can Emma stop their evil plan?
First-time author Meika Hashimoto's effervescent tale, filled with funny characters and adventures, will have readers checking their cupboards for mouth-watering ingredients and secret portals.
Publication Date: 10/25/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Before Buggy Crenshaw, there were others… Magpie & Dilly A Nexus Series Tangent, Book 1 Welcome to a new series of tales that all happened in the days before Buggy Crenshaw arrived in Lloyd’s Hollow to save the world, and when the Darkest of All Evil was already laying the groundwork for his rise to power. When the Demon King learns that his prize prisoners, the world famous Mystics known as the Seven Sisters of Surrey, each had a child before they were captured, he sends out his most fearsome Hunters to find and destroy them. It’s not as easy as he expects, though… By now, these seven children are all around twelve years old, but are scattered about the world, hidden in pairs mostly, and are oh-so-carefully guarded by some of the Greater Good’s most heralded Warriors. And for very good reason… The possibility exists that if these children were ever to meet and combine their magic, their power would be devastatingpossibly world-ending!which is all the more reason to bring their stories to light. Maggie and Dylan Cooper are the first to be targeted, but be very certain they won’t be the last. Magpie & Dilly is the first book in the series A Nexus Series Tangenta sister series supporting the Buggy Crenshaw books, In Search of the Nexus. While offering a great deal of background information, factual as well as imagined, this series also shines a light on some very important people: the mostly unknown network of characters who so valiantly serve in the shadows and without whom Buggy simply will not succeed. In Buggy’s upcoming adventures, you’ll see these characters slip quietlyand sometimes not so quietlyinto the stories as their parts in the Grand Scheme play out, but be aware that each has his or her own tale to tell, and as always, every new face hides a new secret. One thing is certain, though: magic and imagination are a dangerous mix!
Publication Date: 10/16/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: From 2008 Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz comes an exhilarating new adventure — and a thoroughly original fairy who is a true force of nature. (Ages 7-11)
What would happen to a fairy if she lost her wings and could no longer fly? Flory, a young night fairy no taller than an acorn and still becoming accustomed to her wings — wings as beautiful as those of a luna moth — is about to find out. What she discovers is that the world is very big and very dangerous. But Flory is fierce and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. If that means telling others what to do — like Skuggle, a squirrel ruled by his stomach — so be it. Not every creature, however, is as willing to bend to Flory’s demands. Newbery Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz and world-renowned illustrator and miniaturist Angela Barrett venture into the realm of the illustrated classic — a classic entirely and exquisitely of their making, and a magnificent adventure.
What would happen to a fairy if she lost her wings and could no longer fly? Flory, a young night fairy no taller than an acorn and still becoming accustomed to her wings — wings as beautiful as those of a luna moth — is about to find out. What she discovers is that the world is very big and very dangerous. But Flory is fierce and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. If that means telling others what to do — like Skuggle, a squirrel ruled by his stomach — so be it. Not every creature, however, is as willing to bend to Flory’s demands. Newbery Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz and world-renowned illustrator and miniaturist Angela Barrett venture into the realm of the illustrated classic — a classic entirely and exquisitely of their making, and a magnificent adventure.
Publication Date: 09/13/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Now batting third—book #3 in a brand-new early chapter book mystery series where each book is set in a different American ballpark!
It's spring break and Kate and Mike are off to Los Angeles to visit Kate's dad, a scout for the Dodgers. But all is not sunny in L.A.—strange things have been happening to Kate's dad. Pages have gone missing from his clipboard. He's gotten threatening phone calls. And he thinks he's being followed! Is someone after Mr. Hopkins's top secret scouting reports?
The L.A. Dodger includes a fun fact page about Los Angeles's Dodger Stadium.
Cross Ron Roy's A to Z mystery series with Matt Christopher's sports books and you get the Ballpark Mysteries: fun, puzzling whodunnits aimed at the younger brothers and sisters of John Feinstein's fans.
It's spring break and Kate and Mike are off to Los Angeles to visit Kate's dad, a scout for the Dodgers. But all is not sunny in L.A.—strange things have been happening to Kate's dad. Pages have gone missing from his clipboard. He's gotten threatening phone calls. And he thinks he's being followed! Is someone after Mr. Hopkins's top secret scouting reports?
The L.A. Dodger includes a fun fact page about Los Angeles's Dodger Stadium.
Cross Ron Roy's A to Z mystery series with Matt Christopher's sports books and you get the Ballpark Mysteries: fun, puzzling whodunnits aimed at the younger brothers and sisters of John Feinstein's fans.
Publication Date: 07/26/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Loveable thirteen-year-old geek Milo Cruikshank finds reasons for frustration at every turn, from the annoying habits of his neighbors to his futile efforts to get Summer Goodman to realize his existence. The truth is, ever since Milo’s mother died, nothing has gone right. Now instead of the kitchen being full of music, his whole house has been filled with Fog. Nothing’s the same. Not his Dad. Not his sister. And definitely not him. Milo achieves a rare and easy balance of poignancy and awkward, natural humor, making it deeply accessible—this is the kind of book that can change lives.
Publication Date: 07/26/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Arash lives in the city of Ray in ancient Persia. At the age of twelve he is a capable archer. His dream is to shoot an arrow far enough to mark the border between the rival empires of Persia and Tooran. He believes that Simorgh the Queen of Birds has given him a message in the form of a riddle that will help him achieve his dream. But he is unaware that Ahriman the Devil and his Deevs are plotting against him.
This book is inspired by the ancient story of Arash the Swift Arrow who with a single shot sent an arrow all the way to the Oxus River and marked the border between Persia and her rival empire of Tooran.
The story introduces several other characters of Persian mythology including King Hooshang, Simorgh, Zahak, Ahriman and his Deevs, as well as the Zoroastrian philosophy of the constant battle between Good and Evil, to an audience of 8 to 12 year olds.
Children with or without Persian heritage, might be more attracted to the mystery and intrigue in which the heroes are children their own age.
3rd edition includes additions to the plot.
This book is inspired by the ancient story of Arash the Swift Arrow who with a single shot sent an arrow all the way to the Oxus River and marked the border between Persia and her rival empire of Tooran.
The story introduces several other characters of Persian mythology including King Hooshang, Simorgh, Zahak, Ahriman and his Deevs, as well as the Zoroastrian philosophy of the constant battle between Good and Evil, to an audience of 8 to 12 year olds.
Children with or without Persian heritage, might be more attracted to the mystery and intrigue in which the heroes are children their own age.
3rd edition includes additions to the plot.
Publication Date: 06/30/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Lucy Dakota isn't different from other teens - she is just like them. Lucy has many strengths, she just doesn't realize them. She is smart and kind, organized and tenacious, trusting and a bit naive. At school, she tries desperately to fit in somewhere, anywhere. That leads her to make poor decisions, particularly around boys and friends. She joins various sports teams, she goes out with boys that have no respect for her and she is friends with a girl who bullies her. Then one day our heroine, Lucy Dakota, is invited to explore in the Colorado wilderness. She faces danger around every corner, and discovers her adventurous side. She starts believing in herself and her abilities and learns there is a lot she can do. Join Lucy as she comes to grips with who she is as a young woman and starts loving life and being alive.
Publication Date: 05/25/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Desi is a witch. And she knows she could be a great witch—if only her mom would teach her any spells. Unfortunately, Desi’s mom is more concerned with keeping them safe and their abilities hidden.
When her mom leaves town under mysterious circumstances, it should be Desi’s perfect opportunity to explore magic on her own. But Desi has been left in the care of the most unusual babysitter of all time: her pet cat—also her mom’s familiar—now transformed into a teenage girl named Cat. And Cat has only three goals: Learn how to eat sushi with her new hairless monkey paws, get the awkward boy next door to pay for her sushi, and keep Desi out of trouble. And that means no magic.
Yeah, right!
This hilarious and high-spirited fantasy is perfect for cat lovers, embattled siblings, and anyone who yearns to find the magic in everyday life.
From the Hardcover edition.
When her mom leaves town under mysterious circumstances, it should be Desi’s perfect opportunity to explore magic on her own. But Desi has been left in the care of the most unusual babysitter of all time: her pet cat—also her mom’s familiar—now transformed into a teenage girl named Cat. And Cat has only three goals: Learn how to eat sushi with her new hairless monkey paws, get the awkward boy next door to pay for her sushi, and keep Desi out of trouble. And that means no magic.
Yeah, right!
This hilarious and high-spirited fantasy is perfect for cat lovers, embattled siblings, and anyone who yearns to find the magic in everyday life.
From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date: 05/10/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: ==The Other Side of Life (Final Version / Book #1, Cyberpunk Elven Trilogy)==
Summary: A thieving duo's world turns upside down when an Elven rogue uncovers the heinous dealings of a megacorporation.
Synopsis: Anya and Leticia are partners-in-crime who steal for a living. Their world turns upside down after a chance encounter with fellow rogue, Ithilnin--the enigmatic leader of an Elven band of thieves.
A scuffle to prove who's "the better thief" transforms into more than Anya and Ithilnin ever bargained for. They retrieve the missing piece of an ancient poem, before getting caught in the secret dealings of a megacorporation. What they uncover threatens to alter the very essence of not just human life, but the other side as well.
Elven intrigue, cyberpunk action, and a deadly dose of danger come together in The Other Side of Life [Book #1 in the (Cyberpunk) Elven Trilogy].
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Cyberpunk / YA with adult crossover appeal
* Recommended for adults or young adults seeking cyberpunk themes (not hardcore sci-fi), and a love story (not fluffy romance).
===
* {Book #2 in the series--The Darker Side of Life--and Book #3 in the series--The Arcane Side of Life--will be available once Jess can think of a more original story line. Thank you for your patience. Laer (the dark elf in Book#2) makes an appearance in SKINS--a free eBook short story now available on Jess's website!}
===
Praise for Jess C Scott/TOSoL:
"The notion here is intriguing..."
-- Garrett Hicks, Will Entertainment
"Dear Jess: You are a very good writer--I like your plotting, your concept, the characters...pretty much everything. You are very gifted."
-- Dr. Uwe Stender
"The Other Side of Life features a writing style that is professional and thought provoking, with good dialogue."
-- Roger S. Williams, Central NJ
"This novel has a fast pace, takes its storyline seriously, is loaded with suspense and evokes genuine emotion in its love story."
-- Matt Posner, author of School of the Ages
"I have to honestly say I was pleasantly surprised by The Other Side of Life. Not only was it extremely well edited, but the plot was more well written than some house published books I've read. Truly, this was an incredible fantasy novel and a series I'm hoping Jess C Scott keeps up with, because she's obviously extremely talented."
-- Review @ There's A Book
Excerpt:
"That's sad. How plastic and artificial life has become. It gets harder and harder to find something...real." Nin interlocked his fingers and stretched out his arms. "Real love, real friends, real body parts..."
About The Author:
Jess is an author/artist/non-conformist who's dedicated to writing original stories that are both meaningful and entertaining. She focuses on style and substance over short-term success with current fads and marketing hype. Visit her website for free samples and more!
jessINK.com
jessINK.com/urbanfantasy.htm
Summary: A thieving duo's world turns upside down when an Elven rogue uncovers the heinous dealings of a megacorporation.
Synopsis: Anya and Leticia are partners-in-crime who steal for a living. Their world turns upside down after a chance encounter with fellow rogue, Ithilnin--the enigmatic leader of an Elven band of thieves.
A scuffle to prove who's "the better thief" transforms into more than Anya and Ithilnin ever bargained for. They retrieve the missing piece of an ancient poem, before getting caught in the secret dealings of a megacorporation. What they uncover threatens to alter the very essence of not just human life, but the other side as well.
Elven intrigue, cyberpunk action, and a deadly dose of danger come together in The Other Side of Life [Book #1 in the (Cyberpunk) Elven Trilogy].
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Cyberpunk / YA with adult crossover appeal
* Recommended for adults or young adults seeking cyberpunk themes (not hardcore sci-fi), and a love story (not fluffy romance).
===
* {Book #2 in the series--The Darker Side of Life--and Book #3 in the series--The Arcane Side of Life--will be available once Jess can think of a more original story line. Thank you for your patience. Laer (the dark elf in Book#2) makes an appearance in SKINS--a free eBook short story now available on Jess's website!}
===
Praise for Jess C Scott/TOSoL:
"The notion here is intriguing..."
-- Garrett Hicks, Will Entertainment
"Dear Jess: You are a very good writer--I like your plotting, your concept, the characters...pretty much everything. You are very gifted."
-- Dr. Uwe Stender
"The Other Side of Life features a writing style that is professional and thought provoking, with good dialogue."
-- Roger S. Williams, Central NJ
"This novel has a fast pace, takes its storyline seriously, is loaded with suspense and evokes genuine emotion in its love story."
-- Matt Posner, author of School of the Ages
"I have to honestly say I was pleasantly surprised by The Other Side of Life. Not only was it extremely well edited, but the plot was more well written than some house published books I've read. Truly, this was an incredible fantasy novel and a series I'm hoping Jess C Scott keeps up with, because she's obviously extremely talented."
-- Review @ There's A Book
Excerpt:
"That's sad. How plastic and artificial life has become. It gets harder and harder to find something...real." Nin interlocked his fingers and stretched out his arms. "Real love, real friends, real body parts..."
About The Author:
Jess is an author/artist/non-conformist who's dedicated to writing original stories that are both meaningful and entertaining. She focuses on style and substance over short-term success with current fads and marketing hype. Visit her website for free samples and more!
jessINK.com
jessINK.com/urbanfantasy.htm
Publication Date: 02/09/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Allegra Katz has been playing piano since she was four. But these aren't just any piano lessons. She studies at the Julliard School in New York, where careers are being formed—or not.
Between strict practice schedules, music classes, and regular school, Ally doesn't have time for much else. Sometimes she wishes she could break free, but she's never known any other way. Her parents—a professional violinist and a singer—would kill her if they knew she was thinking about quitting piano, especially her mother.
So she keeps on going, but as the months go by, she begins to ask herself, does she even love the piano? Why does she play? And how much longer can she stand the pressure before she breaks?
Between strict practice schedules, music classes, and regular school, Ally doesn't have time for much else. Sometimes she wishes she could break free, but she's never known any other way. Her parents—a professional violinist and a singer—would kill her if they knew she was thinking about quitting piano, especially her mother.
So she keeps on going, but as the months go by, she begins to ask herself, does she even love the piano? Why does she play? And how much longer can she stand the pressure before she breaks?
Publication Date: 02/08/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Boy detective Brooks Berry is at it again in this second book in the series. This time he travels with his sister, Ally, to visit his Grandparents in Arizona. While on their visit, their Grandpa takes them to stay at a friend's cabin with the ulterior motive of having Brooks solve the mystery of who is haunting it.
Publication Date: 01/29/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Filled with on-the-field soccer scenes, black-and-white artwork, and sports statistics throughout, this short novel—ideal for newly independent readers, athletes, and all sports fans—follows nine-year-old Ben and his fourth-grade team, the Bobcats, as they race to the Kickers League playoffs. Ben knows he's one of the team's strongest players, but he's been struggling with the jitters. He's just freezing up on the field. Can he pull through for his teammates now that they really need him?
Publication Date: 01/11/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: It's Diary of a Wimpy Kid for girls! Find out just what happens when class is not in session in this first book in the BLOGTASTIC! series.
Gossip from the Girls’ Room fills readers in on all there is to learn about middle school life at Middlebrooke, where Sofia has her very own blog and discusses all the juicy gossip that comes out of the Girls’ room.
In Sofia's words . . .
Mia St. Claire is only the most popular girl in all of Middlebrooke Middle School. For three very obvious reasons:
1. She's very rich.
2. She has tons of money.
3. She can buy anything and everything she wants. And she does.
I'm sure people like her for other reasons too, but none of those reasons are obvious enough for me to really know. Or care about, for that matter.
Gossip from the Girls’ Room fills readers in on all there is to learn about middle school life at Middlebrooke, where Sofia has her very own blog and discusses all the juicy gossip that comes out of the Girls’ room.
In Sofia's words . . .
Mia St. Claire is only the most popular girl in all of Middlebrooke Middle School. For three very obvious reasons:
1. She's very rich.
2. She has tons of money.
3. She can buy anything and everything she wants. And she does.
I'm sure people like her for other reasons too, but none of those reasons are obvious enough for me to really know. Or care about, for that matter.
Publication Date: 01/11/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction