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Beetle Boy
Margaret Willey
Synopsis: When he was seven, Charlie Porter never intended to become the world's youngest published author. He just wanted his father to stop crying. So he told him a story about a talking beetle—a dumb little story his mother made up to make him feel better. (That was before she left and feeling "better" became impossible.) But Charlie's story not only made his father stop crying. It made him start planning. The story became a book, and then it became school events and book festivals, and a beetle costume, and a catchphrase—"I was born to write!"



Because of the story, Charlie stayed seven until he was ten. And then it all ended. Or it should have. Now Charlie is eighteen, and the beetles still haunt his dreams. The childhood he never really had is about to end . . . but there's still a chance to have a story of his own. Beetle Boy is a novel of a broken family, the long shadow of neglect, and the light of small kindnesses.
Publication Date: 09/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Standing (The Waterblaze Trilogy) (Volume 1)
Synopsis: In a future where two tyrants hold the world in an iron grip, humanity is about to meet its doom. An empathic girl from the past is called to action by a group of technologically advanced mermaids. An apocalypse is coming. Along with fellow time traveler, Force, she is sent to the future as the last hope for humanity. The stakes are high, the odds against her. Can she overcome her fears and step into her destiny? Can she lead a people to victory who lost hope long ago?
Publication Date: 08/31/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Kirin Rise: The Cast of Shadows
Synopsis: Nineteen-year-old Kirin Rise doesn't look like a hero. Short and scrawny, she's not the type to strike fear into anyone, much less the brutes that make up the United Federation of Mixed Fighting. Despite her size, she spent her youth secretly training with her Sifu in the art of Wing Chun Gung Fu. What's more, Kirin has something that many people in 2032 seem to have lost-a conscience. Enraged by government corruption and corporate greed, Kirin sets out to do something about it in the most unlikely place: the weekly bloodbath known as Chum Night. With the guidance of her Sifu and the help of those who love her, she just might survive. Kirin Rise: The Cast of Shadows is the story of a young woman struggling against the apathy of a nation in her drive to make the world a better place.
Publication Date: 08/15/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Birds Like Us, The Pi Phillecroix Story
Synopsis: It all started one day when a NYC pigeon hopped onto a subway car, took the train one stop and then walked off Pi Phillecroix, daughter and only offspring of Piette and Paul Phillecroix V attempts to survive a world that preys on the weak and vulnerable when she leaves the protection of her Paris home and journeys to the shores of England to find a cure for her dying father. Flightless, she bears the expectations of seventeen centuries of France’s most heroic and decorated flying families. Can one little bird bear the expectations of seventeen centuries? The Phillecroix’ have long been respected the world over for their daring and flying excellence. Each and every member of their lineage has devoted their lives to flock and country. The tragedy is that Pi, the last and only progeny of these decorated heroes, cannot fly. Intelligent, loving, virtuous, enormously devoted and reverential to mother and father, Pi bears the weight of her parents’ disappointment when they learn that the family’s tradition of flying excellence has ended. At a time when most young birds frolic and play in and around the fountains of the Tuileries, Pi relegates herself to a small corner of the family nest atop the l'Arc de Triomphe in order to hide her handicap and escape endless torment from the arrondissement’s teenage birds. When her war-decorated and beloved father becomes seriously ill, Pi steals away in the middle of the night to walk from Paris to England in an attempt to find Dr. Allbewell, the only one who may have the powers to save his life. Flightless, Pi makes her way on two scrawny pink feet, north to Normandy. During her journey she uncovers a host of characters that sometimes halt and other times hasten her journey with a blend of cruelness and helpfulness. Gervaise, an angelic force of wisdom rescues Pi from the throes of two sadistic Starlings; Etienne, a Giant Sea Fish helps Pi navigate the river Seine; Quick Jac Carlson a short-tempered, red-bellied woodpecker strangles her in an attempt to prevent her from seeking a night’s refuge; and Big Fella, a humble stallion who befriends and carries Pi to Cherbourg are just a few of the multifarious characters that drive this colorful and eclectic narrative. Readers from ages twelve and older will identify with Pi’s journey and feelings of inadequacy, the ridicule she has to endure for being ‘different,’ and ultimately the courage she exhibits in facing her fears one step at a time. Readers from ages twelve and older will identify with Pi’s journey and feelings of inadequacy, the ridicule she has to endure for being ‘different,’ and ultimately the courage she exhibits in facing her fears one step at a time.
Publication Date: 08/13/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Revelation of Gabriel Adam
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Gabriel Adam is used to relocating a lot. When a mysterious assassin burns his home to the ground, Gabriel’s father reveals the truth of why they are always on the move: Gabriel is one of four archangels, born human and sent to stop Armageddon. Now Gabe must set aside dreams of attending NYU to try to fulfill his newly discovered role.

Racing against time, Gabe and his father travel to the English university town of Durham, hoping the last surviving member of an ancient religious sect can guide them. With the assassin in pursuit, Gabe must shoulder the weight of his new life and an impossible destiny as protector of the entire human race.
Publication Date: 08/12/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Shadows
E. C. Blake
Synopsis: Second novel in EC Blake's dystopian fantasy Masks of Aygrima series

In Masks, Mara Holdfast's life changed forever. As the daughter of the Autarch’s Master Maskmaker, she had a clearly defined future: a quiet, ordered life in the capital, making Masks with her father and doing work important to the ruling Autarch.

But when her Mask, specially made by her own father, cracked and fell to pieces during her Masking ceremony, Mara was exiled from everything she once knew.

Now she has become part of an underground rebellion, rejecting the unjust rules of a Masked society. She must try to understand her unprecedented ability to use all types of magic—and to tear magic from the living bodies of those around her. But Mara has yet to discover just how horrifying her power can be….
Publication Date: 08/05/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
Thrones & Bones: Frostborn
Synopsis: Fantasy fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series will embrace this first novel in an adventure-filled, Viking-inspired series by a debut author.
 
Meet Karn. He is destined to take over the family farm in Norrøngard. His only problem? He’d rather be playing the board game Thrones and Bones.
 
Enter Thianna. Half human, half frost giantess. She’s too tall to blend in with other humans but too short to be taken seriously as a giant.
 
When family intrigues force Karn and Thianna to flee into the wilderness, they have to keep their sense of humor and their wits about them. But survival can be challenging when you’re being chased by a 1,500-year-old dragon, Helltoppr the undead warrior and his undead minions, an evil uncle, wyverns, and an assortment of trolls and giants.
 
Readers will embark on a sweeping epic fantasy as they join Karn and Thianna on a voyage of discovery. Antics and hair-raising escapades abound in this fantasy adventure as the two forge a friendship and journey to unknown territory. Their plan: to save their families from harm.
 
Debut novelist Lou Anders has created a rich world of over twenty-five countries inhabited by Karn, Thianna, and an array of fantastical creatures, as well as the Thrones and Bones board game.


Praise for Frostborn:
"Future fans of Tolkien and George R.R. Martin can happily cut their serial-fantasy teeth on this first book of an eventual series." -Kirkus Reviews

"A fun, fast-paced, and highly enjoyable tale." -Garth Nix, bestselling author of the Abhorsen trilogy

*"...a powerful, fast-paced tale... The setting is rich, the characters well-defined, and the danger ever-paramount." -Publishers Weekly, starred

"...an excellent choice for readers new to the genre. The themes of staying true to oneself, teamwork, and individuality will resonate with readers." -School Library Journal

"...this accessible fantasy brings together two very different children bound by common goals." -Booklist

"The most delightful fantasy I have read in ages. . . . Put me on the waiting list for book 2!" -Amy Plum, international bestselling author of the Die For Me series
Publication Date: 08/05/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
The Jericho River
David W. Tollen
Synopsis: Winner at The Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the London Book Festival -- and Bronze Medalist in the Readers' Favorite Book Reviews & Awards Contest!

History isn't names and dates -- it's an adventure story.

And so is The Jericho River. It's a young adult fantasy about history: a wild ride for all and a treasure trove of knowledge for teachers and students.

The Jericho River flows through a magical world shaped by myth and history. Young Jason Gallo sails the river on a dangerous quest to rescue his estranged father. He battles minotaurs and pirates, flees barbarians, stumbles into mummies' tombs, and outwits fairies, philosophers, and scientists.

But Jason's tale is more than an adventure story. The river flows like a timeline, carrying the young man through historic lands -- Sumer, the pharaoh's Egypt, ancient Greece, Medieval Europe, and many others -- all in chronological order, tracing the history of Western Civilization, from its Middle Eastern origins to modern times. Professor Gallo, Jason's father, is a historian, and his notes outline the journey, revealing the truth about Cleopatra, King Arthur, and the fall of the Roman Empire. He explains how Snow White began as a goddess and how a French lawyer's son became king of Sweden, as well as the origins of coffee, the cat, chivalry, the Internet, Atlantis, and much more.
 
You've never read a story like this ...
Publication Date: 08/04/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Kissing Atticus Primble
Stephanie Hoina
Synopsis: Like any other girl her age, Kathleen was ready for the excitement of a first love. What she wasn't ready for was Atticus. He had been her best friend for as long as she could remember, and the subtle change in their relationship as they started high school caught her off guard.

Turns out, the switch from best friend to boyfriend was so natural, and being with Atticuswas so wonderful, Kathleen didn't even think about the challenges dating someone like Atticus presented.

When Bobby O'Hare, the most popular boy in school, sets his sights on Kathleen, she is torn between her love and loyalty to Atticus and the excitement, popularity, and ease of being Bobby's girlfriend. She needs to make a decision. The question is...will it be the right one?

About the Author: Stephanie Hoina

As a young girl, Stephanie would write about anything and everything simply because it made her happy. She parlayed her love of the written word into a successful marketing and communications career, while a host of never submitted or unfinished picture book and romance novels clogged up her computer's hard drive. Stephanie resides in her hometown of the Bronx, NY, with her son, husband and crazy boxer pup named Bella. She continues to write simply because it makes her happy. Kissing Atticus Primble-which made a daring escape from her computer's hard drive-is her first published novel.
Publication Date: 08/02/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Romance
Truth and Kisses
Laurie B. Friedman
Synopsis: April has a New Year's resolution to start the year off right—get back together with sweet, funny Billy. They've been friends forever, her family loves him, and he's even class president this year. But she keeps getting stuck on several questions: What does Billy think about her? What's going on between Billy and their friend Brynn? And why does she feel she needs to keep her friendship with Matt Parker, her hot neighbor, a secret? When Cupid throws April a curve ball, she's faced with a new problem: how does a girl follow her heart when old friendships, new friendships, and her family's trust are on the line?
Publication Date: 08/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Bridge Through Time
Scott Spotson
Synopsis:
Publication Date: 08/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Bridge
Patrick Jones
Synopsis: José can't keep up. As the only English speaker in a family of undocumented immigrants, he handles everything from taking family members to the doctor to bargaining with the landlord. Plus he works two jobs. With all this responsibility, he's missing a lot of school. When he does make it, he falls asleep in class. José knows he has to turn things around if he wants to graduate from Rondo Alternative High School. Can he raise his grades enough to have a shot at college and a better life? Or will he be forced to drop out of school for good?
Publication Date: 08/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: For Reluctant Readers
Controlled
Patrick Jones
Synopsis: Rachel's junior year is going to be perfect—she's taking AP classes, is first-chair viola, and is busy planning her college visits. Then Misty, Rachel's wild and unpredictable cousin, lands on her parents' doorstep and turns Rachel's orderly world upside-down. Rachel's family hopes enrolling Misty in Rondo Alternative High School will help with her behavior issues, but her rough past and reckless choices make her a force to be reckoned with. As Rachel gets pulled deeper into Misty's dark secrets, she'll have to figure out if can she transform the uncontrollable Misty—or will it be Misty who transforms her?
Publication Date: 08/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: For Reluctant Readers
Outburst
Patrick Jones
Synopsis: After serving time for assault, Jada lands in foster care and a new school to try to turn her life around. She knows she has to control her bursts of anger if she wants to go home to her mom. But the Markhams' house rules are unbearable. And what makes the staff at Rondo Alternative High School any different from the teachers who've written her off before? When tensions flare, Jada is put to the test. Can she find the strength to make the right decisions and regain her mom's trust—before it's too late?
Publication Date: 08/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Out of the Tunnel
Patrick Jones
Synopsis: In Troy, Ohio, there's Trojan football and then there's everything else. It's been that way as long as anyone can remember. But it's been more than a decade since Troy took home the state title. This season, they finally have a chance to end the drought.



Brian Norwood is the son of a Trojan football legend. His father starred on the last championship team—an undefeated team. And it seems like every sacred Trojan tradition began with his dad. Now Brian is the starting tight end—a member of the team's inner circle. He's finally living up to his father's expectations. But being one of Troy's privileged few is not at all what Brian expected.
Publication Date: 08/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: For Reluctant Readers
Breakthrough
A. L. Priest
Synopsis: Efram is new to Troy, Ohio, a town where football is everything. And as soon as he sets foot in Troy Central High, the school's head coach takes notice of Efram's perfect football build. Suddenly Efram is gearing up for practice—even though he has never played the game.



Flick is too small to run for a touchdown or sack a quarterback. And with his mohawk and outsider attitude, he's not exactly a team player. But he notices things on the football field that most people can't see. When Flick and Efram team up, they'll show Troy Central High a whole new way to win.
Publication Date: 08/01/14
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: For Reluctant Readers

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