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Ruby Redfort Take Your Last Breath
Lauren Child, Lauren Child
Synopsis: Crack open Ruby Redfort’s second adventure — and you will literally be on the edge of your wits.

Everyone’s favorite girl detective is back for a second mind-blowing installment, packed with all the off-the-wall humor, action, and friendship of the first book. This time, though, it’s an adventure on the wide-open ocean, and Ruby is all at sea. . . . Can she crack the case of the Twinford pirates while evading the clutches of a vile sea monster as well as the evil Count von Viscount? Well, you wouldn’t want to bet against her.
Publication Date: 05/14/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Alice Miranda Takes the Stage
Jacqueline Harvey
Synopsis: Girls who are fans of Judy Moody, Matilda and Clementine will love spunky Alice-Miranda!

Alice-Miranda is thrilled to be back at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies, where the girls are rehearsing a play with the neighboring boys' school. But it's not all glamour and stage lights: there are rumors of a witch in the woods, and Alice-Miranda's friends, Jacinta and Millie, are clashing with Sloan Sykes, a rude new student whose pushy mother comes up with a get-rich scheme that could have disastrous results. When Alice-Miranda learns of the plot, she tries to set things right--and on the night of the big performance, no less!
Publication Date: 05/14/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Mouse Bird Snake Wolf
Dave McKean, David Almond
Synopsis: The imagination of three children takes on unexpected life in a creation tale from the dream team of David Almond and Dave McKean.

The gods have created a world that is safe and calm and rather wonderful. They have built mountains, forests, and seas and filled the world with animals, people, and unnamed beasts. Now their days are fat with long naps in the clouds, mutual admiration, and tea and cake. But their world has gaps in it filled with emptiness, gaps that intrigue Harry, Sue, and little Ben until they begin to see what might fill them. One by one the children conjure, from twigs and leaves and stones, a mousy thing, a chirpy thing, and a twisty legless thing. But as the children’s ideas grow bolder, the power of their visions proves greater and more dangerous than they, or the gods, could ever have imagined. Is it possible to unmake what’s been made?
Publication Date: 05/14/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Of Giants and Ice: The Ever Afters
Synopsis: When Rory realizes fairy tales are the real deal at Ever After School, she embarks on a classic quest to fulfill her destiny in this “fast-paced combination of middle school realism and fairy-tale fantasy” (Kirkus Reviews).

Rory Landon has spent her whole life being known as the daughter of a famous movie star mom and director dad. So when she begins a new after-school program and no one knows who her family is, Rory realizes something is different. After she ends up fighting a fire-breathing dragon on her first day, she realizes the situation is more unusual than she could have imagined. It turns out the only fame that matters at Ever After School is the kind of fame earned from stories Rory thought were fictional. But as Rory soon learns, fairy tales are very real—and she is destined to star in one of her own.

This first installment of The Ever Afters series reimagines classic fairy tale characters in a modern context, merging familiar fantasy with the everyday realities of middle-grade existence.
Publication Date: 05/07/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
Wednesdays in the Tower
Jessica Day George
Synopsis:

A castle that is constantly rearranging itself, and a young royal family sworn to protect it... Celie, Rolf, and their beloved Castle Glower are back in this exciting sequel.

When her brother Rolf dares her to catch magical Castle Glower creating a new room, Princess Celie takes the challenge! No one knows the Castle better than she does. But as usual, the Castle has ideas of its own.Celie finds the new room first, and inside it is hidden a giant egg. It looks like The Castle wants Celie to care for the egg and whatever creature it hatches! Celie hadn't bargained for a pet, and caring for this one will prove to be especially tricky, once Celie and her siblings realize what else the Castle is hiding....

Publication Date: 05/07/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Storm Watcher
Maria V. Snyder
Synopsis: Lightning Never Strikes Twice, Does It?

Luke Riley is lost. His mother's recent death has set Luke and his family adrift. Even though his father, twin brothers, and their three Bloodhounds are search and rescue volunteers, they have been unable to rescue themselves and become a family again. The summer after sixth grade looms in Luke's mind as a long, lonely three months where the only thing he can look forward to is watching The Weather Channel. Luke is fascinated with the weather, but since his mother's death in a storm, he is also terrified. Even the promised 13th birthday present of a Bloodhound puppy fails to lift Luke's spirits. He would rather have a different breed - a petite Papillon, but his father insists he get a Bloodhound.

When Luke decides to get the Bloodhound from Willajean, a dog breeder who owns Storm Watcher Kennel, he works out a deal to help at her kennel in exchange for the expensive dog. Thrilled to have a summer with a purpose, Luke befriends Willajean's daughter, Megan and together they plan how Luke can get a Papillon puppy instead of a Bloodhound. But nothing seems to work as they struggle with stubborn fathers, summer storms, unhelpful siblings, and hidden guilt. Can one little white dog really save both families?
Publication Date: 05/05/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Chosen at Nightfall
C. C. Hunter
Synopsis:

Don't miss this magnificent final chapter in the breathtaking Shadow Falls series! Kylie's epic journey is about to lead her exactly where she belongs…

When Kylie Galen entered Shadow Falls Camp, she left her old life behind forever and discovered a world more magical than she ever imagined. A place where you're two best friends can be a witch and a vampire…and where love doesn't happen the way you'd expect.

When Kylie's most powerful enemy returns to destroy her once and for all, there's only one way to stop him―to step into her full powers and make a stunning transformation that will amaze everyone around her. But her journey won't be complete until she makes one final choice…which guy to love. Should she choose to the werewolf who broke her heart but will give anything to win her back, or the half-fae who ran from their attraction before they had a chance? Everything she's learned at Shadow Falls has been preparing her for this moment―when her fate will be revealed and her heart claimed forever.

From author C. C. Hunter comes Chosen at Nightfall, the final book in the New York Times bestselling Shadow Falls series about a camp for paranormal teens.

Publication Date: 04/23/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
Glimpse (The Dean Curse Chronicles)
Synopsis: "Save them, Dean. Save them all...."

Dean Curse avoids attention the way his best friend Colin avoids common sense. Which is why he isn't happy about being Abbotsford's latest local hero - having saved the life of a stranger, he is now front page news. Dean's reason for avoiding the limelight? Ever since his heroic act, he's been having terrifying visions of people dying and they're freaking him out so badly his psychologist father just might have him committed. Dean wants nothing more than to lay low and let life get back to normal.

But when Dean's visions start to come true, and people really start dying, he has to race against the clock - literally - to figure out what's happening. Is this power of premonition a curse? Or is Dean gifted with the ability to save people from horrible fates? The answer will be the difference between life and death.

Get your copy to day and experience this edge-of-your-seat adventure series that's perfect for fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, the Ranger's Apprentice, and Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series.

More by Steven Whibley

The Cambridge Files:
Book 1: Disruption
Book 2: Abduction (pre-order coming soon)

The Dean Curse Chronicles:
Book 1: Glimpse
Book 2: Relic
Book 3: Impact

6th Grade Revengers:
Book 1: Cat Crimes and Wannabes
Book 2: The Substitute Criminal
Book 3: A Game of Thorns
Book 4: Cinephiles and Hamster Hunters
Book 5: Super Trooper
Book 6: Secrets and Spies (Coming soon)
Publication Date: 04/16/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys
Synopsis: One troubled, the other trouble One regrets, the other hates One builds, the other destroys Their parents are kidnapped in a home invasion and Christopher and Michael must unite or die in their quest to find them. Adventure turns to mystery when the brothers follow a hunch leading them over the Pacific Coast Mountains, across the ocean, and to a fortified island where they fight for their lives with tragic results.
Publication Date: 04/11/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Ruby Redfort Look Into My Eyes
Lauren Child, Lauren Child
Synopsis: "Sardonic narration will grab readers from the get-go, and puzzles laced throughout will intrigue those who share Ruby’s passion for solving mysteries." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Everyone knows that Clarice Bean is exceptionordinarily keen on the Ruby Redfort books. Now in her own starring role, Ruby, a genius code-cracker and daring detective, along with her sidekick butler, Hitch, work for a secret crime-busting organization called Spectrum. Ruby gets into lots of scrapes with evil villains, but she’s always ice-cool in a crisis. Just take a classic screwball comedy, add heaps of breathtaking action, and multiply it by Lauren Child’s writing genius, and what have you got? Only the most exciting new middle-grade series since, like, ever.
Publication Date: 04/09/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Nine Days
Fred Hiatt
Synopsis: A fast-paced contemporary thriller in the vein of James Patterson and Anthony Horowitz set against the bustling backdrop of Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the border of China. This heart-pounding adventure takes place as two teens, an American teenage boy and his friend, a Chinese girl from his Washington, DC-area high school, must find her father who has been kidnapped—and they only have nine days. Although the characters in the novel are fictionalized, they are based on a real Chinese family who were part of the Chinese Democracy Movement and inspired this story.


"Few mysteries combine cultural diversity, politics and physical danger with a lighthearted friendship. This engaging mix will have great appeal."—Kirkus Reviews

"A captivating thriller grounded in real-world problems."—Publishers Weekly

"A rollicking and fast-paced young adult adventure novel."—South China Morning Post

"Hiatt...offers middle-school-aged readers an appealing mix of action and friendship, with lessons about world events and human rights woven throughout."—Washington Post Book World

“A compelling, teen-centric political thriller . . . inspired by actual events.”—BooklistOnline.com

A NCSS/CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
Publication Date: 04/09/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
Hammer of Witches
Shana Mlawski
Synopsis: Baltasar Infante can weasel out of any problem with a good story.

But when he encounters a monster straight out of stories one night, Baltasar faces trouble even he can't talk his way out of. Captured by the Malleus Maleficarum, a mysterious witch-hunting arm of the Spanish Inquisition, Baltasar is put to the question. The Inquisitor demands he reveal the whereabouts of Amir al-Katib, a legendary Moorish sorcerer who can bring myths and the creatures within them to life.

Now Baltasar must escape, find al-Katib, and defeat a dreadful power that may destroy the world.

As Baltasar's journey takes him into uncharted lands on Columbus's voyage westward, he learns that stories are more powerful than he once believed them to be--and much more dangerous.
Publication Date: 04/09/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Mojo
Tim Tharp
Synopsis: All Dylan wants is mojo. What is mojo? It's power. The ability to command respect. It's everything Dylan doesn't have. He gets no respect at school, and when he finds the dead body of a classmate, even the police push him around. All the thanks he gets for trying to help the investigation with his crime drama skills is a new nickname at school: Body Bag. So when Dylan hears about a missing rich girl from the other side of town, he jumps at the chance to dive into this mystery. Surely if he cracks a case involving a girl this beautiful and this rich, he'll get not only a hefty cash reward, but the mojo he's looking for. 

His investigation takes him into the world of an elite private high school and an underground club called Gangland. As Dylan—along with his loyal friends Audrey and Randy—falls down the rabbit hole, lured by the power of privilege, he begins to lose himself. And the stakes of the game keep getting higher.
Publication Date: 04/09/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Inferno
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Synopsis:

The heat is on, and a new threat to humanity has risen . . .

Nick has his driver's license and he's not afraid to use it. But turning sixteen isn't what he thought it would be. While other boys his age are worried about prom dates and applying for college, Nick is neck deep in enemies out to stop him from living another day. No longer sure if he can trust anyone, his only ally seems to be the one person he's been told will ultimately kill him.

But life spent serving the undead is anything except ordinary. And those out to get him have summoned an ancient force so powerful even the gods fear it. As Nick learns to command and control the elements, the one he must master in order to combat his latest foe is the one most likely to destroy him. As the old proverb goes, fire knows nothing of mercy, and if Nick is to survive this latest round, he will have to sacrifice a part of himself. However, the best sacrifice is seldom the sanest move. Sometimes it's the one that leaves your enemies confused.

And sometimes, you have to trust your enemy to save your friends. But what do you do when that enemy is you?
Inferno is the fourth book in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Chronicles of Nick.

Publication Date: 04/09/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
Crypto-Punk
George Traikovich
Synopsis: Quiet was the default setting in the teacher's lounge, and quiet was nice,
but a new and different kind of quiet had taken hold in the weeks since
school began. This quiet was not an absence of conversation, but a
conspiracy of silence. The distinction wasn't lost on Bixby's veteran
teachers who knew the difference. Something was lurking beneath the
surface that nobody seemed willing to talk about, though some were less
afraid than others.

Kids are disappearing at Bixby Elementary, and no one knows why. But that's only the second strangest thing happening inside the school.

Who's responsible? That's just what Drew and the rest of the Zero Avenue brats want to know, but are they ready for what they'll find? Because finding out means unraveling the threads of a conspiracy that blurs the line between myth and science, and between friends and enemies. Because finding out draws them into an adventure that tests their character, and their loyalties to each other.

Seeing Harley selected for the Vice-Principal's Special Studies program triggers Drew's suspicions--and his jealousy. Digging deeper, he traces the program's tangled roots to clandestine research carried out during WWII. Driven by their sense of loyalty, Drew and the rest of the brats follow the program's long shadow from the war's twilight, to the present day and the abandoned amusement park where their fight for the future might just heal their wounded past. 
Publication Date: 03/29/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Home To Oblivion
Roger Whittlesey
Synopsis: HOME TO OBLIVION leads the reader from a pivotal Revolutionary War sea battle to a mysterious island where time seems irrelevant. Narrator Prescott Fielding, a 12-year-old ship's boy from 1779, meets and befriends Caleb Thompson, a 17-year-old U. S. Marine, who was fighting on the rice paddies of Vietnam, in 1968, before suddenly appearing on the island. Later, Julian Woodgate, a young World War I British Army code-breaker, appears and upsets the comfortable routine that Prescott and Caleb have created. How can people born 200 years apart exist together at one time? Are they living in a time warp? Outside of time? Is it the afterlife? A series of events--both natural and unnatural--convince the characters to travel inland to seek answers. Prescott soon discovers the island is far more dangerous than he ever could have imagined, and standing between him and his dream to go home is a powerful and evil force.
Publication Date: 03/28/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure

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