Please enable JavaScript
All Books | Page 127 | LitPick Book Reviews
All Books
Super
Matthew Cody
Synopsis: A superpowered sequel to Matthew Cody’s popular debut novel, Powerless!
 
Daniel Corrigan is as regular as can be, especially when compared to the Supers: kids in his new hometown with actual powers like flight and super-strength. But Daniel’s not powerless. Only he was able to stop the Shroud, a supervillain bent on stealing his newfound friends’ powers. And thanks to him, his friends got to keep those powers.
 
Now Daniel himself is starting to display powers, while at the same time his friends are losing theirs. His friend Eric thinks Daniel is just becoming a Super himself, a late-blooming one. But Daniel worries there may be something more sinister at work, since his power-stealing ability is uncomfortably like the Shroud’s. Of course, the Shroud is gone now . . . isn't he? Or could Daniel himself be his new vessel?
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
Squish #4:  Captain Disaster
Matthew Holm, Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm, Jennifer L. Holm
Synopsis: Introducing Squish—a hilarious, action packed graphic novel series from the award-winning creators of Babymouse! Filled with superheroes, comics within comics, and gross-out science, Squish is perfect for fans of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants, Dan Gutman's Weird School, and Jarrett Krosoczka's Lunch Lady.

It's soccer season! But the Waterfleas (Hey, it could be worse—Okay, maybe it couldn't.) are getting pummelled game after game. Squish knows winning isn't everything, but it's something right? Can Squish turn the losing streak around when he becomes team captain? Will Pod figure out how to harness the power of lightning? And how can amoebas play soccer when they don't have any feet? Find out in the electrifyingly funny page-turner Squish #4: Captain Disaster—saving the world, one cell at a time!

Yowza! You can draw comics, too! Look in the back to find out how to draw one of the Squish characters! Also includes instructions for a sensational science experiment you can do at home! Shazam!

Here's what people are saying about everyone's favorite amoeba!

New York Times:
"An energetic, good-hearted escapade, one that young readers will enjoy."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews:
* "Hilarious. If ever a new series deserved to go viral, this one does."
 
The Bulletin:
"A perfect mix of writing that is simple enough for early readers but still remarkably snarky, clever, and entertaining. Kids will soak up the humor, tidbits of science instruction, and adventure."
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Manga/Graphic Novel
The City of Ember
Niklas Asker, Dallas Middaugh, Jeanne DuPrau
Synopsis: In the spring 2003, kids, parents, teachers, librarians—whole communities—discovered and fell in love with Jeanne DuPrau's story about a doomed city, and the two children who found a way out. Nearly 10 years later, that story, The City of Ember, is a bona fide classic, with over 1.7 million copies sold. Now experience Jeanne DuPrau's vision anew as artist Niklas Asker faithfully brings to life the glare of the lamps, the dinginess of the streets, and the brilliance of the first sunrise.
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Manga/Graphic Novel
Dead Strange
Matt Lamy
Synopsis:

This amazing collection contains entries on everything from the bizarre to the horrific, and from the spooky to the just plain confounding. The book gives essential background information on the events and the people involved, discusses the impact of particular myths and beliefs, and provides updates on the latest investigations being undertaken in an attempt to find answers to these baffling phenomena. From Loch Ness to Bigfoot, spontaneous combustion to Roswell, each entry is supported with sidebars related to pop culture, and comes with a wealth of photographs.

Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: Any Age
Genre: Nonfiction
October Mourning
Leslea Newman
Synopsis: A masterful poetic exploration of the impact of Matthew Shepard’s murder on the world.

On the night of October 6, 1998, a gay twenty-one-year-old college student named Matthew Shepard was lured from a Wyoming bar by two young men, savagely beaten, tied to a remote fence, and left to die. Gay Awareness Week was beginning at the University of Wyoming, and the keynote speaker was Lesléa Newman, discussing her book Heather Has Two Mommies. Shaken, the author addressed the large audience that gathered, but she remained haunted by Matthew’s murder. October Mourning, a novel in verse, is her deeply felt response to the events of that tragic day. Using her poetic imagination, the author creates fictitious monologues from various points of view, including the fence Matthew was tied to, the stars that watched over him, the deer that kept him company, and Matthew himself. More than a decade later, this stunning cycle of sixty-eight poems serves as an illumination for readers too young to remember, and as a powerful, enduring tribute to Matthew Shepard’s life.
Back matter includes an epilogue, an afterword, explanations of poetic forms, and resources.
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Poetry
Flock
Wendy Delsol
Synopsis: The climactic conclusion of a supernatural romantic trilogy starring a savvy, sharp-tongued heroine who taps into ancient Norse secrets.

After surviving her (shall we say) intense adventure in Iceland, Katla is psyched to be back for a blissfully uneventful senior year of homecoming and fashion explorations. But her hopes of dodging unfinished business are dashed by the arrival of two Icelandic exchange students: Marik, an oddly alluring merman-in-disguise, and Jinky, a tough gypsy girl. It seems Katla not only enraged the Snow Queen by rescuing her boyfriend, Jack, she also was tricked into promising her frail baby sister to the water queen — and Marik has come to collect. What’s worse, Katla doesn’t dare confide in anyone lest she endanger them, so even her soul mate, Jack, is growing suspicious. And now Katla’s stork dreams, her guide for matching babies with mothers, have become strange and menacing as well. Hold on for a thrilling finale as the heroine of Stork and Frost calls on her wits (and her wit) to protect those she loves and face a final mythic disaster.
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Paranormal
The Infects
Sean Beaudoin
Synopsis: A feast for the brain, this gory and genuinely hilarious take on zombie culture simultaneously skewers, pays tribute to, and elevates the horror genre.

Seventeen-year-old Nero is stuck in the wilderness with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents on an "Inward Trek." As if that weren’t bad enough, his counselors have turned into flesh-eating maniacs overnight and are now chowing down on his fellow miscreants. As in any classic monster flick worth its salted popcorn, plentiful carnage sends survivors rabbiting into the woods while the mindless horde of "infects" shambles, moans, and drools behind. Of course, these kids have seen zombie movies. They generate "Zombie Rules" almost as quickly as cheeky remarks, but attitude alone can’t keep the biters back. Serving up a cast of irreverent, slightly twisted characters, an unexpected villain, and an ending you won’t see coming, here is a savvy tale that that’s a delight to read — whether you’re a rabid zombie fan or freshly bitten — and an incisive commentary on the evil that lurks within each of us.
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
The High-Skies Adventures of Blue Jay the Pirate
Synopsis: Hoist the Jolly Robin! Fly with a swashbuckling crew as they soar through the air — and evade danger on the ground — in search of treasure and lofty adventure.

Captain Blue Jay, notorious and feared pirate of the skies, has a fondness for collecting treasure, especially eggs. Unfortunately, sometimes his treasure hatches, and this time the hatchling is the strangest one the Grosbeak has ever seen. No sailor is certain whether the chick is a young god or just an oversized bird who needs too much food, but one thing is clear: the winds over Thrushland are shifting, and dramatic changes are in store for all. Whether outwitting a gang of thieving crows, outrunning murderous fishers and weasels, or rallying Briarloch’s beleaguered sparrows, this motley crew must do all they can to stay together and stay alive. And that’s just the tip of the bird’s feather! Offering a bounty of illustrations and a host of memorable characters — from an endearing star-nosed mole to an unlikely little warrior with a vendetta — here is a treasure for anyone who has ever wanted to take to the skies and see where fortune blows.
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: For Reluctant Readers
Sophia's War
Synopsis: Lives hang in the balance in this gripping Revolutionary War adventure from a beloved Newbery medalist.

In 1776, young Sophia Calderwood witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale in New York City, which is newly occupied by the British army. Sophia is horrified by the event and resolves to do all she can to help the American cause. Recruited as a spy, she becomes a maid in the home of General Clinton, the supreme commander of the British forces in America. Through her work she becomes aware that someone in the American army might be switching sides, and she uncovers a plot that will grievously damage the Americans if it succeeds. But the identity of the would-be traitor is so shocking that no one believes her, and so Sophia decides to stop the treacherous plot herself, at great personal peril: She’s young, she’s a girl, and she’s running out of time. And if she fails, she’s facing an execution of her own.
     Master storyteller Avi shows exactly how personal politics can be in this riveting novel that is rich in historical detail and rife with action.
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
The Project
Brian Falkner
Synopsis:

Brian Falkner delivers in this sci-fi thriller with a Da Vinci Code twist!

It begins with a book.

The most boring book in the world. A book so boring no one could ever read it—the perfect place to hide a dangerous secret.

When best friends Luke and Tommy volunteer to help move books from their library's basement to higher ground during a quick-rising flood, they discover the only surviving copy of the world's most boring book: Leonardo's River, lost for over a hundred years. Mysteriously connected to Leonardo da Vinci, the book is worth millions, so Luke and Tommy return that night to steal it. Unfortunately, they're not the only ones with that plan. . . .

Brian Falkner, author of The Assault, Brain Jack, and The Tomorrow Code, weaves another page-turning thriller full of heart-pounding action--this time, with a secret from Leonardo da Vinci that could determine the fate of history.

Hand this to a reluctant boy reader or any reader who loves action and mystery.

"Falkner delivers a thriller that melds humor, danger and history. . . . The result is an entertaining mystery with plenty of enjoyable twists and turns." —Publishers Weekly

"[The Project] reads like an action movie, with plenty of chases, explosions, and by-a-hair escapes." —School Library Journal

Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Stanlin and Sylvia
Cynthia Hey
Synopsis: A novel for teens and adults who like fantasy/sci-fi with a tinge of horror. Multiple plots are entwined: A deranged killer is destined to spread a lethal pandemic; a child is kidnapped; and Stanlin, a teenage alien from planet Capton, falls for an Earth girl named Sylvia, and tries to save her and Earth from impending doom. See how all of their lives interplay to form Earth's destiny...
Publication Date: 09/19/12
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Is That a Word?
Dave Hopkins, David Bukszpan
Synopsis: Scrabble® aficionados may know that both "Brr" and "Brrr" are legitimate plays, but what about everyday names like Peter, Carl, and Marge? They're not listed as proper nouns, but they are certainly playable. For lovers of Scrabble®, Bananagrams®, and Words with Friends®, this lively guide helps readers make the most out of word games, packed with new ways to remember the best words alongside tips for improving game play and much more. Part strategy guide and part celebration of all things wordy, this collection of facts, tips, and surprising lists of playable words will instruct and delight the letterati.
Publication Date: 09/19/12
Age Level: Any Age
Genre: Nonfiction
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien
Synopsis: The first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

“A unique, wholly realized other world, evoked from deep in the well of Time, massively detailed, absorbingly entertaining, profound in meaning.” – New York Times
Publication Date: 09/18/12
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Super-Scary: Mochimochi
Anna Hrachovec
Synopsis: Toys to Scare You Silly!
What creatures lurk in the darkest shadows of Mochimochi Land? Only the most adorable assortment of knitted monsters, such as tiny vampire brats, a teenage werewolf, and a miniature gang of killer bees. They may be more cute than scary, but try not to bruise their egos. These toys think they’re terrifying!
You’ll find 20 patterns for big beasties, tiny critters, and even goblins that will gobble up your iPad, all rendered in Anna Hrachovec’s quirky signature style. Or create your own mix ʼn’ match monster with more than 20 customizable body parts and features that you can assemble any way you want. After all, nothing is scarier than a clever knitter armed with yarn, needles, and a wild imagination.
Whether you’re already a devoted fan of mochimochi, love scary stuff, or just need a good laugh, Super-Scary Mochimochi offers everything you need to knit your own world of creatures that will go bump in the night in the cutest way possible.
Publication Date: 09/18/12
Age Level: Any Age
Genre: Nonfiction
The Crown of Embers
Rae Carson
Synopsis: She does not know what awaits her at the enemy's gate.

Elisa is a hero. She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country's ruler should be secure. But it isn't.

Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from both foreign realms and within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled.

To conquer the power she bears once and for all, Elisa must follow the trail of long-forgotten--and forbidden--clues from the deep, undiscovered catacombs of her own city to the treacherous seas. With her goes a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man who--despite everything--she is falling in love with.

If she's lucky, she will return from this journey. But there will be a cost.
Publication Date: 09/18/12
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Burn For Burn
Siobhan Vivian, Jenny Han
Synopsis: Payback is paradise in this start to a trilogy from New York Times bestselling author of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (soon to be a major motion picture!), Jenny Han, and New York Times bestselling author of The List, Siobhan Vivian.

Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.

KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.

LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.

MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.

None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.

With an unlikely alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.
Publication Date: 09/18/12
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction

Pages



RECENT BOOK REVIEWS