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The Poisons of Caux: The Hollow Bettle
Jennifer Taylor, Susannah Appelbaum
Synopsis: Introducing a witty and macabre new fantasy trilogy.

There's little joy left in the kingdom of Caux: the evil King Nightshade rules with terrible tyranny and the law of the land is poison or be poisoned. Worse, eleven-year-old Ivy’s uncle, a famous healer, has disappeared, and Ivy sets out to find him, joined by a young taster named Rowan. But these are corrupt times, and the children—enemies of the realm—are not alone. What exactly do Ivy and Rowan’s pursuers want? Is it Ivy’s prized red bettle, which, unlike any other gemstone in Caux, appears—impossibly—to be hollow? Is it the elixir she concocted—the one with the mysterious healing powers? Or could it be Ivy herself?

Told with wry humor, The Hollow Bettle is the first installment in the Poisons of Caux trilogy, an astonishing tale of herbs and magic, tasters and poisoners.
Publication Date: 08/11/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
When The Snow Fell
Henning Mankell
Synopsis: Joel Gustafson’s journey toward becoming a man continues.

As it has in the past, the first snow of the year signifies to Joel Gustafson his very own New Year’s Eve. So when the snow begins to fall on a cold November day, Joel gets busy making new resolutions—three, to be exact.

As the winter days pass, life becomes ever more complicated. Joel has questions and the answers don’t necessarily come easily, but he is determined to keep his resolutions—for his father, for himself, and for their future.

In this companion novel to A Bridge to the Stars and Shadows in the Twilight, readers follow Joel’s journey as he realizes along the way that it will require determination, strength, and valor to truly become a man.
Publication Date: 08/11/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Meridian
Amber Kizer
Synopsis: Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility.

Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate’s tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home—and Meridian’s body explodes in pain.

Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she’s a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt’s house in Revelation, Colorado. It’s there that she learns that she is a Fenestra—the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos.
Publication Date: 08/11/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Wild Girl
Patricia Reilly Giff
Synopsis: A contemporary and irresistible story from Patricia Reilly Giff

Lidie lives in Jales, Brazil, where she’s free to ride, to be a wild girl, and to dream of going to live with her father and older brother, Rafael, in New York City. Finally Lidie is 12—time to leave Brazil for New York.

Meanwhile, a filly is born and begins her journey to a new home. As Lidie’s story unfolds, so does the filly’s.

Lidie’s father runs a stable at a famous race track, and Rafael is training to be a jockey. As much as they want to make Lidie feel welcome, they still think of her as the little girl they left behind. They don’t even know what a strong rider she is, and that she’s determined to befriend and ride the wild filly her father has just bought: Wild Girl.
Publication Date: 08/11/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
X-Men: Misfits
Anzu, Dave Roman, Raina Telgemeier
Synopsis: THE X-MEN GET A RADICAL NEW REMIX IN A STORY ABOUT TEEN ANGST, FIRST LOVE, AND WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

High school student Kitty Pryde has always been the odd girl out. A mutant, she was born with strange superpowers, magical talents that make her the class freak. But Kitty’s world is changed when she’s invited to study at Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, a special home for mutant teens. There’s just one catch: Kitty’s the only girl at the all-boy school, and she ends up just feeling like a freak all over again.

Then Kitty meets Pyro and the ultra-hot bad boys of the Hellfire Club. They’re the school’s elite–handsome, rich, and totally above the rules. Now Kitty seems to have it all: a dreamy boyfriend, super-cool friends, and the chance to develop her extraordinary talents. But why is her heart telling her that something is wrong? Will Kitty ever find the place where she belongs, or is she doomed to be a misfit forever?
Publication Date: 08/11/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Treason's Shore
Sherwood Smith
Synopsis: Fourth in "an intense fascinating epic"* of high action and fantasy adventure.

Inda, fresh from his triumph on the battlefield against the Venn, takes his place beside King Evred as Harskialdna, the King's Shield. But the Venn are far from defeated and only Inda's fame is strong enough to inspire all the squabbling kingdoms to unite and raise a force mighty enough to protect the strait and repel the enemy. Evred has also ordered Inda to take over the strait once the battle is won, but Inda, a former pirate, knows that this is a very bad idea. Now Inda must choose between obeying his liege-or committing treason.
Publication Date: 08/04/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Dragons and Dwarves
S. Andrew Swann
Synopsis: Two novels in one volume.

An omnibus edition of Dragons of the Cuyahoga and The Dwarves of Whiskey Island

Kline Maxwell was a serious political reporter. He wasn't interested in working on "fuzzy gnome" stories, or any of the other unbelievable tales that should end up only in sensationalist rags. But twelve years ago a magical Portal had opened into Cleveland, a Portal that had ruined much of Cleveland's modern-day technology even as it released magical energy all over town. And suddenly there was a shift in the population as humans fled the burg while dwarves, elves, dragons, ogres, gnomes, mages, and every other denizen of the fantasy realm on the other side of the Portal began moving into town.

And whether he wanted to or not, Maxwell had found himself covering stories that sometimes took him far from his political beat and into way too much danger both magical and mundane. Still, he took his job seriously, and when he was assigned to cover a dragon's death by crash-landing into the Cuyahoga, he headed over to the accident site with only a few curses. But what should have been a simple accident report soon led Maxwell in search of a much bigger story—one that would see him kidnapped by elves, framed for murder, holding secret meetings with dragons, and fleeing not only from the cops but from pretty much everybody!

Publication Date: 08/04/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Timelock
David Klass
Synopsis:

In Timelock, the thrilling finale to the Caretaker Trilogy, the end of life as we know it has arrived, and history will be made -- or lost -- at the hands of one young hero.

Jack Danielson has spent the last year saving the oceans and the Amazon, attempting to fulfill a prophecy that was written before his birth. Now he's more than ready to get back to life as a typical teenager and spend some quality time with his girlfriend, P.J. Too bad the world has other plans.

Wrenched away once more from those he knows and loves, Jack is thrust through time to the fiery deserts of the future and the frozen tundra of the Arctic, battling cyborgs, zombie warlocks, and scorpions the size of tanks. At least he has Gisco -- everyone's favorite surly telepathic canine -- to keep him company, not to mention the Ninja Babe, Eko. And he will finally be reunited with the parents who abandoned him so long ago, in order that he might save their dying planet.

But it isn't only a race to save Earth. As the clock ticks down before the final confrontation with the dreaded Dark Lord, Jack must decide once and for all who he really is -- prince of the future or humble human of the present -- and choose between the two women who love him.

Publication Date: 08/04/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Journey of Dreams
Marge Pellegrino
Synopsis:

This is the story of how one family survives the Guatemalan army's 'scorched earth' campaign in the 1980s and how, in the midst of tragedy, suspicion and fear, their resilient love and loyalty - and Papa's storytelling - keeps them going. On their harrowing journey as refugees to the United States, the dramatic ebb and flow of events are mirrored in the tapestries of one daughter's dreams.

Publication Date: 08/01/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Westward Ho!
Malcolm Day, Charles Kingsley
Synopsis: Beginning in the fictional seaport of Bideford Quay in Devon, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Charles Kingsley's monumental novel follows the fortunes of Amyas Leigh, a young man who sets sail on a life of adventure on the high seas. After battling pirates and treasure-hunting in the Caribbean, and setting out to rescue his beloved Rose Salterne, Amyas joins Sir Francis Drake as he prepares to face England's greatest threat—the Spanish Armada. Packed with drama, excitement and romance Westward Ho! is a magnificent celebration of an age of exploration, discovery and conquest. More than this, however, the novel also draws parallels between Elizabethan England and mid-nineteenth century Britain, when many feared imminent invasion by the French under their Catholic emperor Louis Napoleon. Included is an insightful introduction by historical writer Malcolm Day.
Publication Date: 08/01/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Coffeehouse Angel
Suzanne Selfors
Synopsis:

When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother's coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down. Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions, and now he won't leave until he can reward Katrina's selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Fame and fortune seem like the obvious requests, but after two botched wishes, Malcolm knows Katrina is hiding something from him. How can she tell him the truth, when her heart's desire has become Malcolm himself?

Fans of romantic comedies will be clamoring for this heartfelt novel that is good to the last drop.

Publication Date: 08/01/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Montooth and the Canfield Witch
Lauren Ireland, Meghan S. Christian, Robert Jay
Synopsis: The first in the Carty Andersson series, Montooth and the Canfield Witch follows the spirited main character leading her three close male buddies in The Crew on heart thumping mayhem through the Florida swamps of 1950. Deep in Morose Swamp, on the outskirts of the Everglades, The Crew encounters the last descendant of a family chased from Salem, Mass. by 17th Century witch hunters. The hag is dogged by cutthroat treasure hunters led by The Cuban, an ex-Marine imbued with deadly focus and intelligence. The four teenaged members of The Crew are torn by parental warnings to avoid the Canfield Witch's house and the chivalrous impulses they feel despite their fears. Tucked inside the adventure is a fable about a unique alligator whose presence in real life plays a key role in the climax. Young adult readers will enjoy learning about the apparent hardships of students living in an era without television, cell phones and iPods. Older readers will recall with fondness many long gone or seldom seen products that appear throughout the book, like Bab-O, DeSoto and Moon Pies. Carty is a well-grounded and capable girl whom today's teens can admire. Her male friends, who comprise a trio of diverse backgrounds, share a bond of bravery, loyalty, and ability with her. Though good is generally rewarded in Montooth and the Canfield Witch, and evil is usually punished, getting there is an arduous and frightening trip. Though originally written for adults, Montooth has become a Crossover sensation as teens embraced it. Montooth has been garnering a number of awards including the number one position on the recommended reading list in the Anniversary Issue of My Magazine for Girls, Atlanta; Florida Writers Association's Royal Palm Award for Historical Fiction; and three awards from Young Voices Foundation, Virginia: Adult Fiction, Juvenile /Adult Fiction, and Mystery/Suspense Young Adult Fiction.
Publication Date: 08/01/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Fade To Blue
Sean Beaudoin
Synopsis: Sophie Blue started wearing a black skirt and Midnight Noir lipstick on her last birthday. It was also the day her father disappeared. Or spontaneously combusted. Which is sort of bad timing, since a Popsicle truck with tinted windows has started circling the house.

Kenny Fade is a basketball god. His sneakers cost more than his Jeep. He's the guy all the ladies (and their mommas) want. Bad.

Sophie Blue and Kenny Fade don't have a thing in common. Aside from being reasonably sure they're losing their minds.

Acclaimed author Sean Beaudoin's wildly innovative novel combines uproarious humor with enough plot twists to fill a tube sock. Part thriller, part darkly comic philosophical discussion, and accompanied by a comic book interstitial, Fade to Blue is a whip-smart romp that keeps readers guessing until the last paragraph.
Publication Date: 08/01/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Anna's World
Pat Perrin, Wim Coleman
Synopsis: YA Historical Fiction also loved by many adults.
1840's America--a bright, headstrong girl faces challenges in a Shaker community and in Boston. Forced from her home and away from her beloved father, Anna is sent to live among the stern people called Shakers. Their strange ways and strict lifestyle are both appealing and difficult for the bright, headstrong Anna. When reunited with her father, Anna is plunged into upper-class Boston life, where she faces a troubling mystery, new responsibilities, deadly danger, and events that will affect not just herself and her loved ones, but a country about to come apart at the seams. With a cast that includes Henry David Thoreau, a perceptive Shaker schoolmistress, and a murderous false friend, Anna's World is a powerful coming of age story, widely praised for its vivid characters, gripping plot, and moral stature.
Publication Date: 07/31/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
The Treasure Map of Boys
Synopsis: From E. Lockhart, author of the highly acclaimed, New York Times bestseller We Were Liars, which John Green called "utterly unforgettable," comes The Treasure Map of Boys, the third book in the uproarious and heartwarming Ruby Oliver novels.

Ruby is back at Tate Prep, and it’s her thirty-seventh week in the state of Noboyfriend. Her panic attacks are bad, her love life is even worse, and what’s more:

Noel is writing her notes, Jackson is giving her frogs, Gideon is helping her cook, and Finn is making her brownies. Rumors are flying, and Ruby’s already-sucky reputation is heading downhill.

Not only that, she’s also: running a bake sale, learning the secrets of heavymetal therapy, encountering some seriously smelly feet, defending the rights of pygmy goats, and bodyguarding Noel from unwanted advances.

In this companion novel to The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book, Ruby struggles to secure some sort of mental health, to understand what constitutes a real friendship, and to find true love—if such a thing exists.
Publication Date: 07/28/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Notes From The Dog
Gary Paulsen
Synopsis: “Sometimes having company is not all it’s cracked up to be.” Fifteen-year-old Finn is a loner, living with his dad and his amazing dog, Dylan. This summer he’s hoping for a job where he doesn’t have to talk to anyone except his pal Matthew. Then Johanna moves in next door. She’s 10 years older, cool, funny, and she treats Finn as an equal. Dylan loves her, too. Johanna’s dealing with breast cancer, and Matthew and Finn learn to care for her, emotionally and physically. When she hires Finn to create a garden, his gardening ideas backfire comically. But Johanna and the garden help Finn discover his talents for connecting with people.
Publication Date: 07/28/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction

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