Please enable JavaScript
All Books | Page 41 | LitPick Book Reviews
All Books
Finnikin of the Rock
Melina Marchetta
Synopsis: 2008 Printz Award Winner Melina Marchetta crafts an epic fantasy of ancient magic, exile, feudal intrigue, and romance that rivets from the first page. (Age 14 and up)

Finnikin was only a child during the five days of the unspeakable, when the royal family of Lumatere were brutally murdered, and an imposter seized the throne. Now a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere’s walls, and those who escaped roam the surrounding lands as exiles, persecuted and despairing, dying by the thousands in fever camps. In a narrative crackling with the tension of an imminent storm, Finnikin, now on the cusp of manhood, is compelled to join forces with an arrogant and enigmatic young novice named Evanjalin, who claims that her dark dreams will lead the exiles to a surviving royal child and a way to pierce the cursed barrier and regain the land of Lumatere. But Evanjalin’s unpredictable behavior suggests that she is not what she seems — and the startling truth will test Finnikin’s faith not only in her, but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.
Publication Date: 08/09/11
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
The Undrowned Child
michelle Lovric
Synopsis: Teodora has always longed to visit Venice, and at last she has her chance. But strange and sinister things are afoot in the beautiful floating city. Teo is quickly subsumed into a secret world in which salty-tongued mermaids run subversive printing presses, ghosts good and bad patrol the streets, statues speak, rats read, and librarians fluidly turn into cats. And where a book, The Key to the Secret City, leads Teo straight into the heart of the danger that threatens to destroy the city to which she feels she belongs. An ancient proverb seems to unite Teo with a Venetian boy, Renzo, and with the Traitor who has returned from the dark past to wreak revenge. . . . But who is the Undrowned Child destined to save Venice?
Publication Date: 08/09/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
All You Desire
Kirsten Miller
Synopsis: Haven Moore and Iain Morrow have been living a blissful life in Rome, an ocean way from the Ouroboros Society and its diabolical leader. But paradise is not to last. The mysterious disappearance of Haven's best friend, Beau, sends the pair running back to New York, where they encounter the Horae, an underground group of women who have spent centuries scheming to destroy Adam Rosier. Only they can help Haven uncover the secret to Beau's whereabouts in one of her past lives. But their help comes at a price: Haven must infiltrate the Ouroboros Society, charm Adam Rosier, and lure him into a trap. It's a plan the Horae believe will save the world-but Haven and Iain fear that it may destroy the happiness they've been chasing for two thousand years.
Publication Date: 08/09/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Juliet Immortal
Stacey Jay
Synopsis: Fans of Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush will relish this intense paranormal love story featuring Romeo and Juliet, literary history's most tragic couple, who meet again, not as true lovers, but truly as enemies.

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Publication Date: 08/09/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25
Synopsis: The electrifying #1 New York Times bestselling first installment of the action-packed Michael Vey series from author Richard Paul Evans.

My name is Michael Vey, and the story I’m about to tell you is strange. Very strange. It’s my story.

To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing that seems to set him apart is the fact that he has Tourette’s syndrome. But Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers. Electric powers.

Michael thinks he's unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor also has special powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up this way, but their investigation brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric children – and through them the world. Michael will have to rely on his wits, powers, and friends if he’s to survive.
Publication Date: 08/09/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Path of the Sun
Violette Malan
Synopsis: On their search for two missing Mercenary Brothers, Dhulyn Wolfshead and Parno Lionsmane must track a serial killer into the Path of the Sun-an ancient labyrinth from which few people return...
Publication Date: 08/02/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Always A Witch
Carolyn MacCullough
Synopsis: Since the gripping conclusion of Once a Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother’s prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady’s maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

 



Book Details:Format: HardcoverPublication Date: 8/1/2011Pages: 288Reading Level: Age 12 and Up
Publication Date: 08/01/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Touch of Frost
Jennifer Estep
Synopsis: My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy -- a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why – especially since I should have been the one who died . . .

"Touch of Frost is an intriguing start to an exciting new series!" --Award-winning author Jeri Smith-Ready

". . .surviving high school means staying alive!" --New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks
Publication Date: 08/01/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes
Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Night Gardener, Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is the utterly beguiling tale of a ten-year-old blind orphan who has been schooled in a life of thievery. One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher—a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island where he is presented with a special quest: to travel to the dangerous Vanished Kingdom and rescue a people in need. Along with his loyal sidekick—a knight who has been turned into an unfortunate combination of horse and cat—and the magic eyes, he embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to discover his true destiny.

Be sure to read the companion book, Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard.

Praise for Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes
“Auxier has a juggler’s dexterity with prose that makes this fantastical tale quicken the senses.” 
–Kirkus Reviews

Publication Date: 08/01/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book
Synopsis: The hilarious, clever, and much-anticipated follow-up to the breakout hit, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda!

It is a dark time at Ralph McQuarrie Middle School. After suffering several Origami Yoda–related humiliations, Harvey manages to get Dwight suspended from school for being a “troublemaker.” Origami Yoda pleads with Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by making a new case file—one that will show how Dwight’s presence benefits McQuarrie. With the help of their friends, Tommy and Kellen record cases such as “Origami Yoda and the Pre-eaten Wiener,” “Origami Yoda and the Exploding Pizza Bagels,” and “Origami Yoda and Wonderland: The Musical.” But Harvey and his Darth Paper puppet have a secret plan that could make Dwight’s suspension permanent . . .

This is the second case file in the blockbuster bestselling Origami Yoda series, written by Tom Angleberger, author of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side,  showcasing his proven knack for authentically capturing the  intrigues, fads, and dramas of middle school in “a satisfying tale of friendship and just resistance to authority” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

Praise for Darth Paper Strikes Back

STARRED REIVEW“Angleberger’s just-as-funny follow-up to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda delves deeper into the mystery of the helpful paper Yoda in a satisfying tale of friendship and just resistance to authority.Pitch-perfect middle-school milieu and enough Star Wars references (and laughs) to satisfy fans and win new ones.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review “In this imaginative sequel…author Tom Angleberger has his finger puppet squarely on the erratic pulse of middle-school life, with its shifting allegiances, squeals, moans and misgivings.”—Washington Post    “As with this story’s predecessor, the well-observed middle-school dynamics (and Angleberger’s sharp sense of humor) are greatly amplified by the book's design, which includes faux wrinkled pages, abundant doodles, and other scrawled marginalia. It's a natural step up from the Wimpy Kid series, with more text and narrative complexity, but just as much on-target humor and all-around fun.” —Publishers Weekly    “This book is honest, funny, and immensely entertaining. The illustrations and design will engage readers. Based on the positive reception Origami Yoda has received, kids will be clamoring for this sequel. They won’t be disappointed.”   —School Library Journal  “The Force is with Tom Angleberger in this sequel to his funny and clever novel/comics hybrid, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. A sequel to equal the funny and clever novel/comics debut of the Origami Yoda, as Dwight’s friends try to save him from reform school.—Shelf Awareness    

“With the same deft touch that made The Strange Case of Origami Yoda a pleasure, Angleberger takes readers through the ups and downs of adolescence.”   —Portland Book Review  

 “Darth Paper offers further proof that Angleberger really understands middle-schoolers and the daily dramas that engulf them, while still finding the humor inherent in their situations.—Scripps News  
Publication Date: 08/01/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
The Life in the Angel Carving
Synopsis: Miranda is a bright spirit who is trapped inside an angel carving on an English church. When disaster strikes her city, she falls through a gateway into the beautiful world of Arbarron in the Artex galaxy. There, the power of the twin suns turns her stone body into a flesh and blood one. Arbarron's very existence is threatened by a mysterious dark force and Miranda races to find a solution. Her perilous quest takes her on an amazing adventure through Arbarron and into the far reaches of outer space. Can she discover how to save her new home in time?
Publication Date: 07/26/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Shadow Fall
Seressia Glass
Synopsis: Truth is the most dangerous weapon of all . . .

Kira Solomon’s life has never been simple. Battling against the Fallen, serving the Egyptian goddess Ma’at, becoming romantically involved with a 4,000-year-old Nubian warrior—these are now everyday realities. But something is changing. Kira’s magic is becoming dangerously unpredictable, tainted by the Shadow she has been trained to destroy.

Matters grow worse when an Atlanta museum exhibit based on the Egyptian Book of the Dead turns out to have truly sinister properties. As the body count rises, even long-trusted allies start to turn against Kira. She can hardly blame them—not when the God of Chaos is stalking her dreams and the shocking truth about her origins is finally coming to light. As one of the good guys, Kira was a force to be reckoned with. But if the only way to stop a terrifying adversary is to fight Shadow with Shadow, then she’s ready to find out just how very bad she can be. . . .
Publication Date: 07/26/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
The Life in the Angel Carving
Synopsis: Miranda is a bright spirit who is trapped inside an angel carving on an English church. When disaster strikes her city, she falls through a gateway into the beautiful world of Arbarron in the Artex galaxy. There, the power of the twin suns turns her stone body into a flesh and blood one. Arbarron's very existence is threatened by a mysterious dark force and Miranda races to find a solution. Her perilous quest takes her on an amazing adventure through Arbarron and into the far reaches of outer space. Can she discover how to save her new home in time?
Publication Date: 07/26/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Dragon's Oath
Kristin Cast, P. C. Cast
Synopsis:

Book Details:Format: HardcoverPublication Date: 7/12/2011Pages: 160Reading Level: Age 12 and Up
Publication Date: 07/12/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Starstruck
Cyn Balog
Synopsis: Gwendolyn "Dough" Reilly doesn't think she has much going for her--she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman--or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.
At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish--according to his Facebook photos--has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.
But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati--an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be--or are they star-crossed?
Publication Date: 07/12/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Shadow Magic
Joanna Harrison, Kitty Wells
Synopsis: This second book in the exciting new middle-grade series about the adventures of a little girl and her three tiny Pocket Cats is sure to delight young independent readers.

When Maddy discovers another one of the cats has come to life, she can't wait to get to know Nibs and start using her new magical power. But Nibs doesn't seem very friendly, and she's here for a reason—there's a new problem to be solved.  It doesn't take long for Maddy and Nibs to figure out who needs their help. Maddy's cousin Chloe is having trouble settling into her new school. She's so miserable that she's decided to run away. Can Maddy and Nibs use their Shadow Magic to stop her?
Publication Date: 07/12/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy

Pages



RECENT BOOK REVIEWS