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Virginia White
H.L. Cricket
Synopsis: Virginia White is an average teenage girl excited to start high school. She thinks her town of Compass is a place where nothing unexpected ever happens. Then one afternoon eerie dark clouds move in over her neighborhood and abruptly turn her world upside down. Now Virginia is being chased by a storm of evil that is relentless in its pursuit. Tossed into a world of unknown, she’s desperately searching for answers, barely staying ahead of those who will stop at nothing to control her. Will Josh, the attractive and tough outsider, help her find her way? Will the feelings between the two grow from their unlikely encounter? Or is he just another member of the Worshipers wanting nothing more than to use Virginia? She’s running from those who want her, and she’s running out of time. Virginia White is desperate for answers, she needs help, and more than anything else, she wants everyone to stop telling her…she’s dead.
Publication Date: 08/17/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Famous For Nothing
T/James Reagan
Synopsis: T/ James Reagan's Famous For Nothing, is a post-Empire novel that explores the lives of five socialites as they search for meaning in a landscape populated with harsh critics and soft jail sentences. The problem with Famous For Nothing is that it's a book. No one reads books anymore. You probably read a couple blogs a day. When things get challenging, you're like, "Four straight paragraphs? Really? When did I sign up to a be an English major?" Famous For Nothing is a novel for the blog generation. It makes you feel guilty and inferior and superior at the same time. Hopefully, it also makes you laugh. It's about socialites. It's about wanting to be a better person. It's about wanting to be something more. It's about five girls. It's about new wave music. It's about second chances. It's a guilty pleasure that can be picked up in the waiting period between peeing on the pregnancy test and checking to see what your future is- then you can put it down again. Maybe in the waiting room of Planned Parenthood, you'll read more of it on your phone. This is a novel for people scared of books. This is a novel for socialites, about socialites. So if the invites don't come in tonight, Famous For Nothing is here for you.
Publication Date: 08/16/13
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Chick Lit
The Problem With Being Slightly Heroic
Uma Krishnaswami, Abigail Halpin
Synopsis: Dini is back from India—with Bollywood star Dolly in tow! But life in the States isn’t all rose petal milk shakes…

Dini and Maddie, very best friends, are back in the same country at the same time! Better still, Dolly Singh, the starriest star in all of Bollywood, is in America too. Dini’s only just returned from India, and already life is shaping up to be as delicious as a rose petal milk shake. Perfect. Then why can’t she untie the knot in her stomach? Because so much can go wrong when a big star like Dolly is in town. All Dini has to do is make sure Dolly has everything she needs, from a rose petal milk shake to her lost passport to…a parade? And an elephant?

Uh-oh… It’s time to think. What Would Dolly Do? If Dini can’t figure it out, Dolly might take matters into her own hands—and that will surely lead to the biggest mess of all!

Uma Krishnaswami has concocted a delicious sequel to her multiple star-reviewed The Grand Plan to Fix Everything, which Kirkus Reviews called “a delightful romp.”
Publication Date: 08/13/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Where Beauty Lies
Blair Fowler, Elle Fowler
Synopsis:

Step behind the velvet ropes of Fashion Week and enter an exclusive world of opulent parties, hot guys, designer style…and new lies.

In Hollywood, there's no such thing as bad press, especially when you're Sophia and Ava London. Despite their very public scandal, the London sisters are hotter than ever. Sophia's finally in the perfect relationship with the perfect guy…even if can't she get the memory of Giovanni out of her head. And Ava's taking a break from dating to focus on her career―while a new love interest is trying to disrupt her carefully laid plans. Best of all, Sophia and Ava have just been given a chance to create their own fashion line for New York Fashion Week. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity… but only if their ruthless rivals don't destroy them first.

The same unseen enemies who tried to ruin them back in L.A. are in New York to finish the job. And a new competitor is hiding in the shadows of the runway, waiting for a chance to steal everything Sophia and Ava have worked so hard for. In the cutthroat world of high fashion, it's impossible to know who your real friends are. At least Sophia and Ava can count on each other―but will it be enough to keep them from losing it all?

From internet sensations Elle and Blair Fowler comes Where Beauty Lies, the dazzling sequel to Beneath the Glitter

Publication Date: 08/13/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
The Prince
Colin J.E. Lupton, Niccolo Machiavelli
Synopsis: A new edition of the highly exalted and infamous discourse containing observations and instructions on the significance of a rise to power. For nearly half a millennium, its logical and direct analysis of diplomacy, war-craft, and human nature has commanded a wise ruler in all who read it. No collection of political philosophy and history is complete without it.
Publication Date: 08/09/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Macadoo of the Maury River
Synopsis: A sequel to Chancey of the Maury River, this heart-tugging story focuses on Macadoo — the gentle giant of the Maury River Stables.

When Macadoo is just a colt, he challenges his father — a huge Belgian stallion — in order to protect his dam. From that moment on, Mac knows that his purpose in life is to help others. From surviving a kill auction to learning how to be a vaulting horse to giving therapeutic riding lessons, Mac is always patient and never loses hope in his mission to serve others — and he finds the courage to “walk on” through even the most difficult circumstances. Told with insight and compassion from Macadoo’s point of view, this is a story that all horse lovers will cherish.
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Elegy
Amanda Hocking
Synopsis:

In a frightful world of dark magic and savage beauty, two sisters are about to discover that love is the most powerful weapon of all. Don't miss Elegy, the mesmerizing final chapter of the Watersong series!



An ancient curse robbed Gemma Fisher of everything that matters most―her friends, her family and the guy she loves. But now that she found the scroll that binds the curse, she finally has a chance to get her old life back. She just needs to destroy the scroll―but it's not as easy as she hoped. Protected by ancient magic, it seems utterly indestructible. Making matters worse, Penn has grown even more obsessed with stealing Daniel for her own…and she's about to succeed.

Gemma's frantic search leads her to someone who might be able to help―the mysterious immortal who cursed Penn and her sisters thousands of years ago. As Gemma and her friends unravel the tragic history of the curse, they plunge deeper into a world of shocking secrets and twisted vendettas―and it'll take all their courage, love and the power of their friendship just to survive. Gemma has so much to fight for and she's never wanted anything more, but will it be enough to stop her enemies?

Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Lulu in LA LA Land
Elisabeth Wolf
Synopsis:

Lights! Camera! ACTION!

Lulu in LA LA Land
A screenplay by Lulu Harrison

Scene 1:

ZOOM IN on Hollywood mega stars LINC and FIONA HARRISON singing happy birthday to their daughter LULU. Lulu blows out the candles, and they all gather for a group hug―

CUT!

If only real life were like the movies. Instead, Lulu Harrison's massively important eleventh birthday is just three weeks away―and her parents still haven't RSVPed!

Lulu's not like the rest of her glamorous Hollywood family. She likes tamales and they like tofu. She likes gardening and they like grooming. But all she wants for her birthday is for her whole family to be there. Together. So this year she's planning a super fabulous SPA-tacular party. But what if trying to fit in leaves Lulu feeling even more like she was cast in the wrong family?

Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
North of Nowhere
Liz Kessler
Synopsis: From the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Windsnap series comes a captivating adventure about family, friendship, and the bonds that bridge time.

The sleepy seaside village of Porthaven hides a mystery: Mia’s grandad has vanished, and nobody knows why. When Mia and her mom rush to Porthaven to help her grandmother, Mia imagines long dreary days with no one to talk to except for the old-time fisherman at her grandparents’ pub. But that’s before Mia finds a diary on an empty, docked fishing boat and starts exchanging notes with a local girl named Dee, a girl who seems much like her. Mia is excited about having a new friend, but why do their plans to meet each other never materialize? And why does Dee claim to be stuck at home due to violent storms when Mia sees only sunny skies? Will Mia be able to solve the mystery of where — and when — her grandfather and friend might be before time and tide forever wash away their futures?
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas
David Almond, Oliver Jeffers
Synopsis: A boy escapes home to seek his own way in the world in a whimsical new outing by the award-winning David Almond, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.

Stanley Potts’s uncle Ernie has developed an over-the-top fascination with canning fish in the house, and life at 69 Fish Quay Lane has turned barmy. But there’s darkness in the madness, and when Uncle Ernie’s obsession takes an unexpectedly cruel turn, Stan has no choice but to leave. As he journeys away from the life he’s always known, he mingles with a carnival full of eccentric characters and meets the legendary Pancho Pirelli, the man who swims in a tank full of perilous piranhas. Will Stan be bold enough to dive in the churning waters himself and choose his own destiny?
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: For Reluctant Readers
The Golden Day
Ursula Dubosarsky
Synopsis: When their teacher goes missing during an outing, eleven girls grapple with the aftermath in this haunting, exquisitely told psychological mystery.

The Vietnam War rages overseas, but back at home, in a year that begins with the hanging of one man and ends with the drowning of another, eleven schoolgirls embrace their own chilling history when their teacher abruptly goes missing on a field trip. Who was the mysterious poet they had met in the Garden? What actually happened in the seaside cave that day? And most important — who can they tell about it? In beautifully shimmering prose, Ursula Dubosarsky reveals how a single shared experience can alter the course of young lives forever. Part gripping thriller, part ethereal tale of innocence lost, The Golden Day is a poignant study of fear and friendship, and of what it takes to come of age with courage.
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Gated
Amy Christine Parker
Synopsis: A fast-paced, nerve-fraying contemporary thriller that questions loyalties and twists truths.
 
Appearances can be deceiving.
 
Lyla Hamilton is a loyal member of the Community. Her family was happy to be chosen by Pioneer to join such an lovely gated neighborhood. Here, life seems perfect.
 
But after meeting Cody, an outsider boy, Lyla starts questioning Pioneer, her friends, her family--everything. And if there's one thing not allowed in the Community, it's doubt. As Pioneer cleverly manipulates his flock toward disaster, the real question is: Will Lyla follow her heart or follow Pioneer over the edge?

From the outside looking in, it's hard to understand why anyone would join a cult. But Gated tells the story from the inside looking out, and from behind the gates things are not quite so simple. Amy Christine Parker's beautiful writing creates a chilling, utterly unique YA story. Perfect for fans of creepy thrillers and contemporary fiction alike.

"A tense psychological thriller that will leave you gasping for breath as you race to the very last page." --Gretchen McNeil, author of Ten

HelloGiggles.com, August 3, 2013:
"When I found out that there was a YA book about cults, of course I had to read it. As it turns out, Amy Christine Parker’s Gated is an awesome, creepy book that reminds me of my favorite cult films while still being surprising."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2013:
"Parker doesn’t pull punches, indicating a level of brutality that will appropriately disturb even as it successfully conveys Lyla’s complete entrapment in the Community. Compelling and not that distant from real-world cults that have ended in tragedy."

Publishers Weekly, June 10, 2013:
"Parker skillfully explores the mindset and inner workings of an apocalyptic cult, steadily building toward the inevitable moment of truth...As for the apocalypse itself, Parker keeps things suitably ambiguous, resulting in a complex, intriguing tale rooted in real-world events."

School Library Journal, October 2013:
"This well-plotted tale will allow readers a glimpse into the possible world of a doomsday cult...The language is accessible, making it a good choice for reluctant readers. After the last page is turned, the question will linger: 'Could I ever be deceived like this?'"

Examiner.com
"A well-rounded and thorough look into cults while still remaining entertaining throughout. I look forward to reading more of Parker's works in the future."
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
Sister Mischief
Laura Goode
Synopsis: A gay suburban hip-hopper freaks out her Christian high school - and falls in love - in this righteously funny and totally tender YA debut, for real.
(Age 14 and up)

Listen up: You’re about to get rocked by the fiercest, baddest all-girl hip-hop crew in the Twin Cities - or at least in the wealthy, white, Bible-thumping suburb of Holyhill, Minnesota. Our heroine, Esme Rockett (aka MC Ferocious) is a Jewish lesbian lyricist. In her crew, Esme’s got her BFFs Marcy (aka DJ SheStorm, the butchest straight girl in town) and Tess (aka The ConTessa, the pretty, popular powerhouse of a vocalist). But Esme’s feelings for her co-MC, Rowie (MC Rohini), a beautiful, brilliant, beguiling desi chick, are bound to get complicated. And before they know it, the queer hip-hop revolution Esme and her girls have exploded in Holyhill is on the line. Exciting new talent Laura Goode lays down a snappy, provocative, and heartfelt novel about discovering the rhythm of your own truth.
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Fiction
Nobleheart
K. A. Thomas
Synopsis: The kingdom of Loria has been torn apart by 15 years of war and the bravest of warriors seem to have lost all hope. On the eve of a desperate battle, Keeper Kelvin rallies his men and a messenger is sent to save a hidden child, the last of the legendary Guardians. Before her power can be realized, an ancient evil stirs awake under the mesmerized eyes of a young girl, and seeks to claim the hearts of those who would betray their heritage. Salvation for Kelvin and the child rests miles away, inside the castle at Northwood. But, as the evil spreads, even the stone walls of the ancient keep may not give them enough protection to make their final stand.
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
Keeper Of The Lost Cities
Shannon Messenger
Synopsis: A New York Times bestselling series
A USA TODAY bestselling series
A California Young Reader Medal–winning series

In this riveting debut, a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world—before the wrong person finds the answer first.

Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. The reason? Sophie’s a Telepath, someone who can read minds. No one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks…

But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

But Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean life or death—and time is running out.
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Trevor: A Novella
James Lecesne
Synopsis: Trevor is an exuberant, sociable, and witty thirteen year old. So how come, when he takes that nerve-wracking turn toward his locker at school, he feels scared and alone? Shunned by his friends, misunderstood by his parents, and harrassed at school for being different, Trevor goes from wondering what color glitter to choose for his Lady Gaga costume at Halloween, to wondering why some feelings "are so intense it makes you just want to lay down and die rather than go on feeling it," and making an attempt on his life. Trevor mixes humor and realism in an urgent look at what it is like to feel alienated from everything around you. And more importantly, what critical ties can step in at the most unlikely moment, to save you from despair, and give you reason to go on living. 

Trevor is an update of the film version of the story, directed by Peggy Rajski, which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short in 1994. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youth. As the recent attention to youth suicides has received increased media attention, and Dan Savage's IT GETS BETTER campaign has gone viral around the world, the public is finally beginning to face hard facts. Thirty-three percent of suicides among teenagers involve LGBTQ youth, one-third of all LGBT kids report having attempted suicide, and nine out of ten report overt harassment at school. Trevor is an effort to make those kids feel loved and supported, so they will find the strength to go on living.
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction

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