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Sapphire Blue
Karen King
Synopsis: Can love survive death? “No one has ever walked out of Red. Once the Soul Catchers get you they don’t let you go.” Denny’s words scare me but I have no choice. If Will is in Red, that’s where I have to go. I’ve never really thought what it was like when you died. I’m only 16, too young to worry about that. At least I thought I was. I’ve heard about Heaven and Hell, of course, but it doesn’t look like I’m in either of them. All I know is that Will is here too, and I need to find him. I can’t face spending eternity without him.
Publication Date: 12/05/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Finding Refuge: Book 2 of the Marked Ones
Synopsis: After successfully escaping Séreméla, Thia, Kiara and Mina agree to meet in the newly created safe haven of The Refuge. As a precaution they take different paths to their destination, only to discover those paths force them even farther away from one another. As one pitfall and danger after another emerges, they are once again left to wonder if there is anyone they can trust and if they will ever uncover the secrets of the Prophecy.
Publication Date: 12/04/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Valley of Fires
J. Barton Mitchell
Synopsis:

VALLEY OF FIRES had won the 2014 RT BOOK REVIEWS Reviewers' Choice Awards for best Science Fiction Novel!

J. Barton Mitchell's sci-fi tour de force Conquered Earth series concludes as the characters try and unite Earth's disparate survivors to overthrow its alien invaders once and for all.

The Severed Tower is no more. Zoey has been taken by the Assembly, and time is running out. Just as their feelings are finally out in the open, Holt Hawkins and Mira Toombs are forced apart onto individual quests to try and unite Earth's survivors against their alien invaders.

Mira ventures west, holding together a fragile coalition of Wind Traders, White Helix, and rebel Assembly, a mix of groups that do not trust the other. The voices of the Assembly in Mira's head threaten to drive her mad, and she soon learns a grim reality: that the one resource they have on their side, the Strange Lands artifacts, are dying, and soon the world will be a very different place.

Meanwhile, Holt travels with Ravan and Avril to Faust, the dangerous desert city of the Menagerie pirate guild. He goes not only to resolve his issues with Tiberius, its tyrannical leader, but to enlist the Menagerie in the fight to save Zoey. Except Tiberius has his own problems. The Menagerie is splintering, word of rebellion is spreading. If Holt wants their help, he might have to side with his greatest enemy in exchange.

Valley of Fires is the final installment in J. Barton Mitchell's Conquered Earth series, following Midnight City and The Severed Tower, and it brings the genre-bending series to an utterly unforgettable close.

Publication Date: 12/02/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
The Ghost of Sephera
J Caleb Clark, Scott Spotson, J. D. Tew
Synopsis: Having left his innocuous childhood on Earth behind for the adventures of outer space, Theodore Crane now thrusts himself into desolate conditions, vowing to find two valued members of his crew that were lost in battle, and to rejoin the Opposition. After falling into a state of disarray, the Opposition must retrench in order to rid the universe of the two demigods who threaten the freedom of the Galaxy. Somehow, Theodore must help the Opposition's freedom fighters--and give them hope. 
Along his journey, Theodore and his crew learn of an all-powerful omnipotent mainframe, Eppa. Records of her existence suggest that she knows everything and sees everything. If Theodore can find Eppa, he may determine the outcome of the Galaxy. 
The Ghost of Sephera is a rollicking space adventure to be enjoyed by readers age twelve and up.*Each month, I will give 100% of net proceeds from each sale of my books to the Wounded Warrior Foundation; whether it's a dollar or a thousand. Thank you.
Publication Date: 11/28/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Waiting for a Sign
Esty Schachter
Synopsis:

Shelly and Ian used to be close, but after Ian leaves home to attend the Hawthorne School for the Deaf, Shelly feels abandoned, and the two drift apart.

When Ian returns home with news that the future of Hawthorne is in jeopardy, Shelly isn’t sure she wants him back. And Ian, who has enjoyed living with students and staff who sign all the time, feels angry when his family forgets to do the same.

An explosive argument that could drive brother and sister further apart actually offers hope for reconciliation—a hope that grows as Shelly’s spirited best friend, Lisa, helps strengthen their bond.

The siblings grow closer still when they find themselves coping with an unexpected tragedy. To fully heal her relationship with Ian, however, Shelly needs to acknowledge and understand why Hawthorne—and access to the Deaf community—is so important to him. To do so, she’ll need to take action and stop waiting for a sign.

Written by clinical social worker Esty Schachter, Waiting for a Sign celebrates the beauty and power of Deaf culture, offering readers an opportunity for insight and understanding.

Publication Date: 11/26/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Captive
Aimée Carter
Synopsis: The truth can set her free 

For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, in a hostile meritocracy on the verge of revolution, Kitty sees her frustration grow as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoat rebels she is secretly supporting keep her in the dark more than ever. 

But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape. 

As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?
Publication Date: 11/25/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Stolen: Heart of Dread
Michael Johnston, Melissa de la Cruz
Synopsis: Who is Eliza Wesson?

Months after Nat and Wes said good-bye on the shores of the Blue, Nat is learning how to control and use her new power. She and her drakon are the last of their kind—and she’s risked her life for their reunion. When she receives a mysterious distress call, she races to help, soliciting the guidance of her new friend, the beautiful and aloof Faix Lazaved of the Blue.

Still heartbroken over losing Nat, Wes is racing cars on a New Vegas racetrack while his team is scattered and lost. When he finds out that his sister, Eliza, is being held in the golden domes of El Dorado, he does what he’s best at—running to her side—and gambles on luck to see him through one more time.

Magic, romance, and danger collide as Nat and Wes become entangled in a dark new adventure that leads right to the heart of the mystery of their frozen, broken world. They soon discover that the answer to both their quests lies in the same question: Who is Eliza Wesson—what is she capable of, and why was she stolen from her family so long ago?
Publication Date: 11/18/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Tandem
Angela Welch Prusia
Synopsis: An ex-con. A tandem bicycle. And a bike trip through the mountains. Not exactly the ideal conditions for a father-son trip. Fourteen-year-old Zeke Taylor lives to race his BMX bike around a dirt track. Not pedal through the mountains from the back seat of a tandem. Especially when the guy in the captain’s seat is an ex-con. Zeke’s father, a.k.a. the druggie, spent the last seven years in prison. Now that he’s free, the druggie wants to make up for lost time. Zeke agrees to the tandem trip only to escape the alternative — his mother’s latest boyfriend, Cowboy. Father and son can barely bike two blocks without killing each other. Four days on a tandem will test their rocky relationship. Can the two put the past behind them? Or will the trip destroy any hope for reconciliation?
Publication Date: 11/14/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Autumn Falls
Bella Thorne
Synopsis: New friends, new enemies . . . can a magical journal change Autumn's crazy life? This funny and sweet novel by FAMOUS IN LOVE star Bella Thorne—is perfect for fans of Girl Online, Liv and Maddie: Cali Style, Descendants, and anyone looking for an entertaining read with just a touch of magic! 
 
With her fiery red hair, new-girl outsider status, and tendency to be a total klutz, Autumn Falls definitely isn’t flying below the radar at Aventura High. Luckily, she makes some genuine friends who take her under their wing. But she also manages to get on the wrong side of the school’s queen bee, and then finds out the guy she’s started to like, funny and sweet Sean, hangs with the mean crowd. Now her rep and her potential love life are at stake.
 
When Autumn vents her feelings in a journal that belonged to her late father, suddenly her wildest wishes start coming true. Is it coincidence? Or can writing in the journal solve all her problems? And if the journal doesn’t work that way,  is there a bigger purpose for it—and for her?

Filled with personal elements from Bella’s own life, AUTUMN FALLS is the first book in Bella Thorne’s new series! It has everything readers will love and relate to: a real girl trying to find her own inner strength and be the best she can be, with a hint of magic and mystery, and a steady stream of OMG-I-can’t-believe-that-just-happened fun.

 
"You'll be obsessed with Autumn Falls. It has basically everything you could ever want: a lovable klutz for a main character, a total heartthrob, and just a touch of magic." —Seventeen.com 

“A brilliant debut from Bella Thorne!” —Girls’ Life

 “We personally loved the book. . . . The main character is a fiery, redheaded girl who captures your heart.” —Latina.com

“Entertaining.” —Booklist

“Captivating . . . highly recommended.” —VOYA

“A fun premise.” —Publishers Weekly

“Thorne is a shining example of what can be accomplished with the right attitude and drive.” —Girls Write Now
Publication Date: 11/11/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Like Water on Stone
Dana Walrath
Synopsis: "Evocative and hopeful," says Newbery Honor-Winner Rita Williams-Garcia of this intense survival story set during the Armenian genocide of 1915. 
 
It is 1914, and the Ottoman Empire is crumbling into violence.
     Beyond Anatolia, in the Armenian Highlands, Shahen Donabedian dreams of going to New York. Sosi, his twin sister, never wants to leave her home, especially now that she is in love. At first, only Papa, who counts Turks and Kurds among his closest friends, stands in Shahen's way. But when the Ottoman pashas set in motion their plans to eliminate all Armenians, neither twin has a choice.
     After a horrifying attack leaves them orphaned, they flee into the mountains, carrying their little sister, Mariam. But the children are not alone. An eagle watches over them as they run at night and hide each day, making their way across mountain ridges and rivers red with blood.     

A YALSA Best Fiction Nomination
A Notable Books for a Global Society Award Winner    
A CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book of the Year
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year with Outstanding Merit

“I have walked through the remnants of the Armenian civilization in Palu and Chunkush, I have stood on the banks of the Euphrates. And still I was unprepared for how deeply moved I would be by Dana Walrath’s poignant, unflinching evocation of the Armenian Genocide. Her beautiful poetry and deft storytelling stayed with me long after I had finished this powerful novel in verse.” —Chris Bohjalian, author of The Sandcastle Girls and Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands

“A heartbreaking tale of familial love, blind trust, and the crushing of innocence. A fine and haunting work.” —Karen Hesse, Newbery Medal–winning author of Out of the Dust
 
“This eloquent verse novel brings one of history’s great tragedies to life.” —Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor–winning author of The Surrender Tree

*"This beautiful, yet at times brutally vivid, historical verse novel will bring this horrifying, tragic period to life for astute, mature readers." —School Library Journal, Starred

"A powerful tale balancing the graphic reality of genocide with a shining spirit of hope and bravery in young refugees coming to terms with their world."—Booklist
 
“The emotional impact these events had on individuals will certainly resonate.”—Kirkus Reviews
Publication Date: 11/11/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Poetry
The Quest of Narrigh (The Other Worlds Book One)
Synopsis: THE OTHER WORLDS: where the realms of science-fiction and fantasy collide...

Connor is playing an online computer game, The Quest of Narrigh, when without warning he finds himself in another world. He played the game well on his brother’s laptop. He defeated his enemies with his acts of defiance and bravery. Narrigh is now a reality. It is a world governed by magic, filled with hostile races, warring factions and ferocious beasts.

In Narrigh, Connor is no ordinary boy. He discovers he possesses extraordinary powers, which he must learn to master if he wants to survive. But first, he must find his courage…

The scientist, Skelos Dorm, has been exiled to Narrigh from his home planet, Odisiris, for carrying out unlawful experiments. Forced to work for the Narrigh government, he holds in his possession a great artefact that if wielded could disrupt the balance between Narrigh and Odisiris, and ultimately lead to their destruction.

Skelos and Connor’s lives are about to become intertwined…
Publication Date: 11/10/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Halfway Home: Drawing My Way Through Japan
Synopsis: An illustrated travel journal exploring the food, fashion and culture of modern day Japan. The summer before she turned sixteen, author/illustrator Christine Inzer traveled solo to Tokyo to get reacquainted with her birthplace. Through charming illustrations, photos, and musings, Christine takes us on a journey through modern Japan: she explores the fashion hub of Harajuku; she hunts down geisha in Kyoto; she eats the best sushi of her life in Tsukiji; and she meets many interesting characters along the way. Halfway Home is an engaging—and often hilarious—look at a fascinating country and a girl rediscovering her roots.
Publication Date: 11/07/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Nonfiction
Tommy Black and the Staff of Light
Synopsis: For fourteen-year-old Tommy Black, nothing is worse than being raised by an overprotective grandfather in the city that never sleeps. That is until his grandfather is captured by magical creatures and Tommy has to save him with his family's magical staff.

That wouldn't be so bad, but the only magic he can do with the staff is weak--making light. What the heck can you do with light? 

Tommy finds out as he fights golems, shadow creatures, and djinn in a journey that features a magical river, an enchanted train, and an illusionary fortress. But the worst part of all? Tommy has to save his grandfather with the help of Naomi, a girl whose talent with magic is only rivaled by her ability to hurl insults.

In this novel full of action and adventure, Tommy Black continues the tradition of young heroes finding their place in a formerly unknown magical world. Like Harry Potter, Tommy has a magical legacy thrust upon him from out of nowhere. He must not only understand this responsibility but the forces that are suddenly arrayed against him. Like Percy Jackson, mythology is plays a central role. And like both heroes, one of Tommy's best friends is a strong independent girl, who is a valuable ally while being headstrong and often difficult. 

From Nebula, Sturgeon, and Million Writers Award nominee Jake Kerr comes the Tommy Black trilogy, an action adventure series for boys, girls, and readers of all ages.
Publication Date: 11/04/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
Mr. Samuel's Penny
Treva Melvin
Synopsis:

It's 1972 and fourteen-year-old New Yorker Lizbeth Landers is sent to the sleepy town of Ahoskie, North Carolina to spend the summer with relatives. Her expectation of boredom is quickly dispelled when police sirens and flashing lights draw her to a horrible scene at the Danbury Bridge. Mr. Samuel, owner of Samuel's Lumber Yard, has driven his car off the bridge and into the river, drowning himself and his daughter. Curiously, Mr. Samuel died clutching a unique 1909 wheat penny - a penny that is then stolen from the Sheriff's office. Lizbeth witnesses Miss Violet's grief upon learning that her husband and child are dead, and decides she will help by finding the penny.

Her search involves Lizbeth in the lives of many Ahoskie residents, including mean old Mr. Jake, Ms. Melanie Neely, otherwise known as "Ms. McMeanie," and Mr. Samuel's handsome brother Ben, who struggles to keep the business afloat after his brother's death. Lizbeth searches through the collection plates at church and in the coin jars of crazy Aunt Ode, a strange old woman missing one eye and most of her teeth, who keeps a flask in her apron pocket and a secret in her soul.

Publication Date: 11/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Mystery
Mr. Samuel's Penny
Treva Melvin
Synopsis:

It's 1972 and fourteen-year-old New Yorker Lizbeth Landers is sent to the sleepy town of Ahoskie, North Carolina to spend the summer with relatives. Her expectation of boredom is quickly dispelled when police sirens and flashing lights draw her to a horrible scene at the Danbury Bridge. Mr. Samuel, owner of Samuel's Lumber Yard, has driven his car off the bridge and into the river, drowning himself and his daughter. Curiously, Mr. Samuel died clutching a unique 1909 wheat penny - a penny that is then stolen from the Sheriff's office. Lizbeth witnesses Miss Violet's grief upon learning that her husband and child are dead, and decides she will help by finding the penny.

Her search involves Lizbeth in the lives of many Ahoskie residents, including mean old Mr. Jake, Ms. Melanie Neely, otherwise known as "Ms. McMeanie," and Mr. Samuel's handsome brother Ben, who struggles to keep the business afloat after his brother's death. Lizbeth searches through the collection plates at church and in the coin jars of crazy Aunt Ode, a strange old woman missing one eye and most of her teeth, who keeps a flask in her apron pocket and a secret in her soul.

Publication Date: 11/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Mystery
Shadowboxer
Tricia Sullivan
Synopsis: Thai martial arts, international crime, celebrity and mythical creatures combine in this masterful new tale of two people facing incredible dangers, from award-winning author Tricia Sullivan.

Nothing she’s faced in the cage will prepare her...

Jade is a young mixed martial arts fighter. When she’s in the cage she dominates her opponents—but in real life she’s out of control.

After she has a confrontation with a Hollywood martial arts star that threatens her gym’s reputation, Jade’s coach sends her to a training camp in Thailand for an attitude adjustment. Hoping to discover herself, she instead uncovers a shocking conspiracy. In a world just beyond our own, a man is stealing the souls of children to try and live forever.
Publication Date: 10/28/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy

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