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Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls
Jonathan Bean, Lynne Jonell
Synopsis: Emmy Addison is an ordinary girl—almost. If you don’t count the fact that her parents are rich (very), her best friend is a boy (and a soccer star), and she can talk to rodents (and they talk back), she’s very ordinary indeed. But she hasn’t been that way for long . . . It was only a few weeks ago that Emmy and her friends Ratty and Joe got rid of the evil Miss Barmy, the nanny who had nearly ruined Emmy’s life—and the lives of five other girls who went missing. Miss Barmy is now a rat. How much harm can she do?Book Details:Format: HardcoverPublication Date: 10/14/2008Pages: 368Reading Level: Age 9 and Up
Publication Date: 10/14/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Blame it on Barbara
C.B. Lilley
Synopsis: Unbeknownst to the residents of the sleepy town of Clarence, IN, their fate, and perhaps the fate of the free world, lies in the hands of two unlikely heroes. Barbara Birnbaum is a regular 12-year-old, shy and unassuming, living a quiet life with her ordinary family... until the fall of her seventh grade year. Barbara's seemingly normal life becomes quite extraordinary after meeting Jesse, the mysterious new boy with a reputation for trouble, and the two of them become embroiled in the greatest and most dangerous adventure of their lives. In this riveting cloak-and-dagger spy caper, Barbara and Jesse are charged with guarding the nation's most valuable secrets from a group of rogue SVR agents, and they must protect them at all costs...possibly with their lives!
Publication Date: 10/09/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Witch High
Denise Little
Synopsis: High school is different for everyone. For some, it’s a time to shine, and for others, a time to survive. Then there are the students who attend those special schools for the gifted. But what if there was a school that catered to those rarest of students—those who can do magic?

These fourteen tales explore the challenges that students of the magical arts may face in a high school of their very own. If you think chemistry is tough, try alchemy. If you ever fell victim to a school bully, how would you deal with a bully gifted with powerful magic?

And if you needed more time to study, what spell could give you all the time you desired? These are just a few of the magical adventures that will await you when you enter Salem Township Public High School #4— otherwise known as Witch High...
Publication Date: 10/07/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Dragon Wishes
Regan Johnson, Stacy Nyikos
Synopsis: Alex and Isa's world has been turned upside down by their parents deaths. They've had to leave their homes in Oklahoma to live with their Uncle Norbert and Aunt Ling in San Francisco. They're both having trouble adjusting. Five-year-old Isa has stopped ta
Publication Date: 10/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Seems
John Hulme, Michael Wexler
Synopsis:

WARNING: Anything can happen in a Split Second

Becker Drane's still got the coolest job in The World, but it's getting harder and harder to live a normal life outside of The Seems. He's definitely feeling the strain of being a teenager (complete with mood swings and a newfound respect for sarcasm) and he can't stop thinking about Jennifer Kaley, the totally cool girl he met during his Mission in Sleep. Things don't get any easier when a bomb explodes in the Department of Time and Becker is called in to pick up the pieces after a more senior Fixer couldn't disarm the device. It's his toughest mission yet, and Becker finds himself going places in The Seems he never knew existed, and meeting people long thought dead. Yep, it's just another day in the life of Becker Drane. Let's hope he lives to Fix again . . . .

Publication Date: 09/30/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Alicia Afterimage
Lulu Delacre
Synopsis: On the evening of September 24, 2004, sixteen-year-old Alicia María Betancourt was killed in a car accident. Popular, happy, fun-loving Alicia daughter, sister, and friend to so many gone in an instant. How would those left behind cope with such a sudden, devastating loss? Wrestling with grief, anger, mortality, and spirituality, Alicia's loved ones struggle to create a lasting place in their hearts for someone who is no longer a physical presence. They share joyful and painful memories, and discover the resilient power of enduring friendship and love. In time, each person finds a way to heal while keeping Alicia's vibrant spirit alive for those who knew her, and those who never will. Alicia Afterimage is a remarkable story of loss and recovery, but mostly it is a story of love. In this moving tribute to an extraordinary girl, readers will find a pathway through grief and a road map to remembrance. It is a book of comfort for all teens and adults who seek a way to ease the pain of losing someone they cherished.
Publication Date: 09/30/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Icy Hand
Chris Mould, Chris Mould
Synopsis:

THE ICY HAND VOLUME 2 :THE SECOND ADVENTURE IN STANLEY BUGGLE'S SAGA

Even more wicked and weird than the first! Stanley is looking forward to a relaxing winter. After all, nothing could have been weirder than the werewolf curse and plotting pirates he had to face the summer before! Or at least that's what Stanley thinks; but he has a lot to learn about Cramdon Rock, especially after accidentally bringing some dead pirates back to life―ones that make the previous pirates he faced look like cuddly puppy dogs and ones that are trudging across the arctic determined to fi nd a magical medallion in Stanley's house. The only person who can save him is his dead great-uncle Bartholomew, which is a little tricky considering he's…well, dead. Oh, and did we mention headless? With the help of a talking stuffed fish and a new friend named Daisy, Stanley sets out to fi nd his great-uncle's head, stop the pirates, and win over some new readers in this second funny and spooky installment of a thrilling new series.

Publication Date: 09/30/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Wooden Mile
Chris Mould, Chris Mould
Synopsis:

THE WOODEN MILE VOLUME 1: PIRATES…WEREWOLVES…LOST TREASURE AND A SPOOKY HOUSE

Something Wickedly Weird is most definitely here! Crampton Rock seems like a lovely seaside town…at least until dark. When eleven-year-old Stanley Buggles inherits a house from a mysterious uncle he didn't know he had, he also inherits a mystery and some strange and sinister new neighbors. The questions begin to pile up: Why are all the dogs in town three-legged? Why is no one on the streets after dark? Is it true that the man who runs the candy shop is a werewolf? And why do those shoemakers look an awful lot like pirates? With the help of Mrs. Carelli, a housekeeper, and a talking stuffed fish, Stanley begins to unravel the mysteries that haunt his great-uncle's death and have set their sights on him. A thrilling, spooky, and funny read, and the first installment of a kid-pleasing new series.

Publication Date: 09/30/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Nation
Terry Pratchett
Synopsis:

The sea has taken everything.

Mau is the only one left after a giant wave sweeps his island village away. But when much is taken, something is returned, and somewhere in the jungle Daphne—a girl from the other side of the globe—is the sole survivor of a ship destroyed by the same wave.

Together the two confront the aftermath of catastrophe. Drawn by the smoke of Mau and Daphne's sheltering fire, other refugees slowly arrive: children without parents, mothers without babies, husbands without wives—all of them hungry and all of them frightened. As Mau and Daphne struggle to keep the small band safe and fed, they defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down. . . .

Internationally revered storyteller Terry Pratchett presents a breathtaking adventure of survival and discovery, and of the courage required to forge new beliefs.

Publication Date: 09/30/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
What It Do!
Natalya LaBauve
Synopsis: For most seventeen year olds, graduating from high school is something to look forward to. But not for Victoria Johnson, who has just learned, two days before graduation, that she has been living a privileged and sheltered life in the gated community of Laketon, with 'adopted' parents. "What It Do", is the story about what life does to a young girl of class and prestige, when her biological mother arrives and wants to spend time with her. The weekend after graduation, Victoria finds herself being driven from the happy world of two story homes with Mercedes Benzes parked out front; to the mean streets of Oakville, where being naive and simple-minded, are just not allowed. With the help of a street wise younger brother; a strong willed little sister, and the admiration of a handsome young street thug, Victoria learns very quickly - What it do!
Publication Date: 09/28/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
How to Ditch Your Fairy
Justine Larbalestier
Synopsis:

Welcome to New Avalon, where everyone has a personal fairy. Though invisible to the naked eye, a personal fairy, like a specialized good luck charm, is vital to success. And in the case of the students at New Avalon Sports High, it might just determine whether you make the team, pass a class, or find that perfect outfit. But for 14-year-old Charlie, having a Parking Fairy is worse than having nothing at all―especially when the school bully carts her around like his own personal parking pass. Enter: The Plan. At first, teaming up with arch-enemy Fiorenza (who has an All-The-Boys-Like-You Fairy) seems like a great idea. But when Charlie unexpectedly gets her heart's desire, it isn't at all what she thought it would be like, and she'll have resort to extraordinary measures to ditch her fairy. The question is: will Charlie herself survive the fairy ditching experiment? From the author of the acclaimed Magic or Madness trilogy, this is a delightful story of fairies, friendships, and figuring out how to make your own magic.

Publication Date: 09/16/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Much Ado About Anne
Heather Vogel Frederick
Synopsis: The mother-daughter book club is back!

This year the mothers have a big surprise in store for Emma, Jess, Cassidy, and Megan: They've invited snooty Becca Chadwick and her mother to join the book club!

But there are bigger problems when Jess finds out that her family may have to give up Half Moon Farm. In a year filled with skating parties, a disastrous mother-daughter camping trip, and a high-stakes fashion show, the girls realize that it's only through working together -- Becca included -- that they can save Half Moon Farm.

Acclaimed author Heather Vogel Frederick captures the magic of friendship and the scrapes along the way in this sequel to The Mother-Daughter Book Club, which will enchant daughters and mothers alike.
Publication Date: 09/16/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Dark Dude
Oscar Hijuelos
Synopsis:
He didn't say good-bye. He didn't leave a phone number. And he didn't plan on coming back - ever.

In Wisconsin, Rico could blend in. His light hair and lighter skin wouldn't make him the "dark dude" or the punching bag for the whole neighborhood. The Midwest is the land of milk and honey, but for Rico Fuentes, it's really a last resort. Trading Harlem for Wisconsin, though, means giving up on a big part of his identity. And when Rico no longer has to prove that he's Latino, he almost stops being one. Except he can never have an ordinary white kid's life, because there are some things that can't be left behind, that can't be cut loose or forgotten. These are the things that will be with you forever.... These are the things that will follow you a thousand miles away.

For anyone who loved The Outsiders -- and for anyone who's ever felt like one -- Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Oscar Hijuelos brings to life a haunting choice and an unforgettable journey about identity, misidentity, and all that we take with us when we run away.
Publication Date: 09/16/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Mystery Stallion
Sharon Siamon
Synopsis:

Join Sophie and Liv in the explosive kick-off to the new Wild Horse Creek series.

When 13-year-old twins Sophie and Liv spend their spring break vacation with their grandparents in Arizona, they discover that the ranch in the Sonoran Desert is full of surprises. Both girls love horses, and they're thrilled to meet their grandparents' herd of Spanish Barbs who roam freely on the 3,000-acre ranch. Soon, however, the girls encounter more adventure than they bargained for. When their grandfather's stallion is badly injured and the rest of his herd disappears, the twins try to find the missing horses and get to the bottom of the mystery. Along the way, the girls encounter rattlesnakes, good-looking cowhands and an interesting cast of characters who work at the ritzy local spa. Throughout their adventure, the twins come to terms with the fact that they are separate individuals with different paths to follow.

About the Wild Horse Creek series:
When horses are at the heart of a series, it's pretty much guaranteed that every book will also feature fun, adventure and friendship. This series follows twins Sophie and Liv adventures on their grandfather's ranch.

Publication Date: 09/12/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Miracle Girls
May Vanderbilt, Anne Dayton
Synopsis: Ana Dominguez was happy in San Jose, but everything changed when her dad moved the family to Half Moon Bay, California, to open a law practice. Her parents think she's settling into her new school nicely, but she has them fooled. Riley, the most popular girl in school, has picked Ana as enemy #1, and Tyler, Ana's crush, doesn't even know Ana exists.
When Ana ends up in detention with Riley, her life suddenly changes. When Ana, Riley, Christine, and Zoe share their essays on "The Day My Life Changed," it turns out they have more in common than they ever would have imagined. Now as Ana lives out her faith, she and Zoe are determined to befriend Riley and Christine. But the drama of high school life has only just begun. . . .
Publication Date: 09/08/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Swimming With The Sharks
Debbie Reed Fischer
Synopsis:

Five-foot eleven. Freckled. Flat as a surfboard. Peyton Grady sees her role on the varsity cheer squad as the only thing keeping her off the social sidelines at wealthy Beachwood Preparatory Academy. It's her umbilical cord to cool―and it's constantly in danger of getting cut.

As a base, it's Peyton's duty to be stepped on―literally―by cheer queen Lexie Court. So when Lexie hatches a fierce hazing campaign against the frumpy new girl, Peyton has no choice but to support her flier. Soon the pranks become sadistically cruel, even criminal. Suddenly, Peyton has more to lose than her new-found Alpha celebrity. Will she gamble her entire future for "the good of the squad"?

"Debbie Reed Fischer's sizzling take on girl hazing and cheer pressure mixes the perfect ration of humor to anger for a compelling, un-put-downable read."
―Alex Flinn, author of Breathing Underwater

Publication Date: 09/08/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction

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