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Grief Girl
Erin Vincent
Synopsis:

It's just another October day until Erin’s parents are hit by a speeding tow truck. Mom dies instantly. Dad dies one month later, after doctors assure Erin he’s going to make it. Now Erin and her sister are left to raise their baby brother—and each other.
 
This is Erin Vincent’s gripping true story of how one moment tears a family apart and how love and strength come together to rebuild what was lost. Grief Girl will break your heart and then fill you with hope, time and time again.


Publication Date: 11/11/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Milagros
Meg Medina
Synopsis: Milagros de le Torre hasn’t had an easy life: ever since her father sailed away with pirates she’s been teased at school and there’s the constant struggle for her family to make ends meet. Still, Milagros loves her small island in the Caribbean, and she finds comfort in those who recognize her special gifts. But everything changes when marauders destroy Milagros’s island and with it, most of the inhabitants. Milagros manages to escape in a rowboat where she drifts out to sea with no direction, save for the mysterious manta rays that guide her to land. In stunning prose,Meg Medina creates a fantastical world in which a young girl uncovers the true meaning of family, the significance of identity, and, most important, the power of a mother’s love.
Publication Date: 11/11/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Time to Smell the Roses
Michael Hoeye
Synopsis: While immersed in wedding plans, Hermux is hired to find the son of the patriarch of the DeRosenquill rose dynasty and in the process discovers a homeless teenager, fields of dying flowers, and killer bees. Reprint.
Publication Date: 10/16/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Mystery
Charles Darwin
Alan Gibbons, Leo Brown
Synopsis:

Ten-year-old Henry has just gotten the job of his life―assistant to Charles Darwin on a voyage of the HMS Beagle. He will help Darwin collect all the creatures that fly, scuttle, and leap on this expedition to faraway lands. Little does he know that it will be one of the greatest scientific expeditions of all time! As the trip gets under way, Henry records everything he sees and does in his diary, providing readers with a firsthand account of the famous adventure. Fictionally told but based on facts, Charles Darwin puts an innovative spin on the story and accomplishments of the most famous naturalist in history, just in time for Darwin's 200th birthday.

Publication Date: 10/14/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Historical Fiction
Knucklehead
Jon Scieszka
Synopsis: How did Jon Scieszka get so funny, anyway? Growing up as one of six brothers was a good start, but that was just the beginning. Throw in Catholic school, lots of comic books, lazy summers at the lake with time to kill, babysitting misadventures, TV shows, jokes told at family dinner, and the result is Knucklehead. Part memoir, part scrapbook, this hilarious trip down memory lane provides a unique glimpse into the formation of a creative mind and a free spirit.

Watch a QuickTime trailer for this book.
Publication Date: 10/02/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Biography
Slant
Laura E. Williams
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Lauren, a Korean American adoptee, is best friends with the prettiest — and tallest — girl in the school, Julie, who has an endless amount of confidence. Lauren, on the other hand, has been saving for years to pay for a special eye surgery that will deepen the crease of her eyelids. It's not that she wants to look like everyone else in her suburban Connecticut school; she'd just be happy if kids stopped calling her "slant" and "gook." Up until now she's been able to ignore the insults, but when the cutest boy in her class calls her "slant," she realizes she needs to do something about her "nickname." When she convinces her reluctant father to consent to the eye operation, Lauren suddenly finds herself faced with a challenge: should she get the operation that might make her more confident and popular, or can she find that confidence within herself? Laura Williams' sensitive, beautifully written story offers a powerful lesson to young readers whose self-esteem depends too much on how they look.
Publication Date: 10/01/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Stolen
Vivian Vande Velde
Synopsis: The same day that the villagers of Thornstowe finally hunt down a witch with a reputation for stealing children, a 12-year-old appears in the woods with no memory of her past. Is there a connection between Isabelle, the girl who doesn’t know who she is, and the girl the witch stole six years earlier? One of the few things Isabelle remembers is a chant that keeps running through her head:
 
Old as dirt,
dirty as dirt.
Ugly as sin,
mean as sin.

Don’t let the old witch catch you!
 
Could Isabelle have been stolen by the old witch of the woods, or has she lost her memory as the result of an accident? And what about the baby the witch stole right before the villagers attacked? Did either the witch or the baby survive the fire the villagers set?
 
"Isabelle heard no sound beyond the faintest shivering of leaves in a gentle breeze. No sound of pursuit. But surely something was wrong, or she would know who and where she was. So she resumed running. But it wasn’t as effortless as before. Her worry weighed her down as she tried to list the things she knew—and found the list of things she didn't know longer by far."
Publication Date: 10/01/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Mystery
My Cousin, the Alien
Mike Gorman, Pamela F. Service
Synopsis: In this first book of the Alien Agent series, we meet Zack, a normal kid with a crazy cousin, Ethan, who thinks he's an alien. But is Ethan really crazy? And why do the same bald, odd-looking fat guys keep reappearing everywhere the boys go?
Publication Date: 09/01/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
The Dragon's Lair
Elizabeth Haydon
Synopsis:

Barely one day after fulfilling his second mission for King Vandemere as Royal Reporter of the land of Serendair, young Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme—known as Ven—is off on another adventure. To keep them safe from the wrath of the Thief Queen, whose rage at their escape from the Gated City knows no bounds, the king sends Ven and his friends on an important mission.

Their journey takes them across a wondrous land filled with marvels—and danger. For the mission the king entrusts to Ven is a delicate one: to discover the cause of a dispute between two warring kingdoms—and the answer leads Ven straight into the lair of a very angry dragon….

Fans of The Floating Island and The Thief Queen’s Daughter—both chosen as Book Sense Children’s Picks—will love this third enchanting adventure in The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme series by bestselling author Elizabeth Haydon.

Publication Date: 07/08/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Series
Vampire Island
Adele Griffin
Synopsis: From a National Book Award finalist comes a lively new spin on the classic vampire tale.

When old-world dangers threaten a race of fruit bat hybrids, where can they run to? New York City, of course! And that?s where we meet the Livingstone kids?Lexie, Hudson, and Maddy?trying to blend their ?vampireness? with the regular people of the city. Unfortunately, their vampire traits keep complicating things. Lexie?s super speed, amazing strength, and poetry-quoting habit embarrass her in front of classmates?and her secret crush. Hudson can fly and is determined to save the planet, but with a vocabulary from the wrong century, he doesn?t quite fit in. And then there?s Maddy, who has a hard time sticking to her vegetarian diet, and an even harder time convincing her siblings that their new neighbors are vampires. With all these challenges, will Lexie, Hudson, and Maddy ever be able to navigate the normal world?

Publication Date: 06/19/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Paranormal
Secret of the Sleepless Whales
Ana Maria Rodriguez
Synopsis: A high-interest series for reluctant readers details the strange and fascinating secrets of different types of animals, offering scientifically accurate descriptions of each animal's behavior and/or characteristic.
Publication Date: 06/01/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Environment
Neptune's Children
Bonnie Dobkin
Synopsis:

A day at the fabled amusement park Isles of Wonder turns deadly when a world-wide biological attack kills every adult, leaving behind only the kids to fend for themselves. Isolated from the world, unsure of what lies ahead, the young survivors assemble under the statue of King Neptune, the mythical ruler of the Isles, to form a new society. Led by the children of the park workers, they choose to remain closed off from the outside world living relatively comfortably inside the self-contained park. But when violence from the infested outside world appears to infiltrate their safe zone, one small group discovers a secret society and a hidden system of underground tunnels, and the stage is set for a war that will determine the future of everyone on the Isles.

As alliances are formed and broken, readers will find themselves taking sides in this suspenseful adventure story that addresses the duality of human nature.

Publication Date: 04/29/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Science Fiction
The Mother Daughter Book Club
Heather Vogel Frederick
Synopsis: Acclaimed author Heather Vogel Frederick will delight daughters of all ages in a novel about the fabulousness of fiction, family, and friendship.

The book club is about to get a makeover....

Even if Megan would rather be at the mall, Cassidy is late for hockey practice, Emma's already read every book in existence, and Jess is missing her mother too much to care, the new book club is scheduled to meet every month.

But what begins as a mom-imposed ritual of reading Little Women soon helps four unlikely friends navigate the drama of middle school. From stolen journals, to secret crushes, to a fashion-fiasco first dance, the girls are up to their Wellie boots in drama. They can't help but wonder: What would Jo March do?
Publication Date: 04/22/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Classic
There's a Spaceship in My Tree
Synopsis: Know Your Star-FightersBeamer: California transplant to a weird Midwestern town. Feels like he’s living on another planet. Scilla: the gangly tomboy next door. Ghoulie: the class nerd. Add one spaceship-shaped tree house capable of taking them most anywhere in the universe. Hop in and blast off for fantastic outer space adventures in Star-Fighters of Murphy Street―the quirky, funny, fast-paced new trilogy by Robert West.Newly arrived from California, thirteen-year-old Beamer MacIntyre feels like an alien in this bizarre Midwestern town. Strangest of all is the spaceship-shaped tree house in his yard. Surprises await Beamer and his two new friends, Ghoulie and Scilla, when they climb inside and blast off to a universe full of adventure―including a surefire way to make the school bully stop harassing Ghoulie (provided it doesn’t backfire!).
Publication Date: 04/20/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Score! Sports Stories
Alan Durant
Synopsis:

This collection of championship stories features a broad cast of characters, including cyclists, swimmers, runners, and ballplayers. From a fast-paced hockey story by Matt Christopher to a dramatic basketball tale by Walter Dean Myers, the collection includes contributions from the best writers of contemporary sports fiction. There are also extracts from classic works such as National Velvet and Tom Brown's Schooldays. Gripping stories take readers through all the highs and lows of competition, from the thrill of victory to the heartbreak of defeat. Both boys and girls will be hooked until the final whistle.

Publication Date: 04/15/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Sports
The Serpent In The Glass
Synopsis: "A fabulous book, extremely well written and engaging from start to finish. If you like the Harry Potter tales you'll be sure to enjoy this. Just as much fun for adults as children. Thoroughly recommended!" (S Devon, 5 stars)
"Spellbinding: An excellent and well written book. I was captivated from start to finish. I don't normally read fantasy novels as I find them a bit too "fantastical," but I enjoyed the escapism and adventure in this book." (Steven Ray Montgomery, 5 stars)

On his eleventh birthday Thomas Farrell is informed that the deceased father he never knew has provided for his education at Darkledun Manor, a school for gifted children. Thomas, however, feels he's just an ordinary boy, but Darkledun Manor proves to be anything but an ordinary school...

In this work of fiction the reader is transported into a world of myth as the young protagonist, Thomas Farrell, seeks to understand who his mysterious father was, and why he left him a strange glass orb containing a serpent. As the story progresses, Thomas and his friends become increasing caught up in a world they never knew existed - a world beyond the standing stones.

If you liked Harry Potter, you'd probably enjoy this book. It doesn't have any wands, witches or wizard hats, but still has a charm and appeal all of its own.

You can review a short audio sample from the book, read by the author, at writers-and-publishers.com. A video trailer can also be accessed by viewing D.M. Andrews' Amazon author page. Cover design by Alex Hausch. First chapter revision by R.J. Locksley.

Word count: Approx. 92,000
Brief: "Narnia meets Hogwarts" (AmeliaAT "Apostrophistica", Amazon reviewer)
Audience: Confident readers age 9 to adult
Publication Date: 04/10/08
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy

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