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Underwall
Jesse Gainsbrugh
Synopsis: Enter the fantasy world of Underwall! When Jack Eastman is awakened by noises in his basement, he encounters a pair of unusual creatures who will change the course of his life. They tell Jack of an impending war that will devastate the earth. They tell him that it is his destiny to join them and take his place as rightful king of the Eastern realms of Underwall. With an army of mythical creatures, he will battle the forces of the Scourge King of the West. It will be a conflict of epic proportions and an adventure that will decide the fate of the world forever.
Publication Date: 12/22/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Hunted
Cheryl Rainfield
Synopsis: Caitlyn, 15, a Paranormal, is on the run with her mom, trying to stay one step ahead of the ParaTroopers who would enslave her just like anyone who has powerful psychic abilities. Attempting to have somewhat of a normal life, Caitlyn and her mom hide in plain sight, living in a seedy hotel in a big city, where Caitlyn hopes to blend in by enrolling at the local high school. She secretly fights back against government oppression by blogging about equal rights for all Paras, protecting herself by signing them Teen Para. When she discovers her long ago kidnapped brother Daniel at school she s elated, but is saddened to find he s controlled by the government ParaTroopers as a Para-slave. As Para Cleansing Day nears, increasing numbers of Paras are turned in to the authorities and things grow tenser and more dangerous, especially at school. When a group robs a bank and threatens Normals, the shadow of guilt is cast on Teen Para. A killer, the Para Reaper, secretly goes hunting for Paras to drain the life out of them. Despite everything, Caitlyn befriends a Normal girl, Rachel, who is a Para sympathizer, and falls for a cute classmate, Alex, also a Normal, who always makes her feel so good whenever he s around. But it s not safe for Paras to date Normals, and it would put Caitlyn in grave danger of being discovered. When ParaTroopers crack down at school after several Paras are discovered, Caitlyn finds herself under increasing scrutiny. Fearing for Caitlyn, her mom is anxious to pack up and bolt, but Caitlyn s growing attachments make her reluctant to leave. Will she evade capture, or will she be caught and turned into a Para Slave? And just who is trying to frame her? A tautly written, suspenseful thrill ride, Hunted will keep readers on the edge of their seats. 

VOYA 4Q 4P review:
"Cheryl Rainfield writes a masterful dystopian fantasy novel with a gripping plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.  The story is well written and steadily paced.  Caitlyn is a daring, headstrong protagonist with enough grit to be an army of one.  Supporting characters are multi-dimensional, garnering emotional attachment from the reader.  Daniel and other secondary characters symbolize the ignorance of hatred and the persecution of people because they are different.  Rainfield's dynamic story expands on the themes of sexuality, racism, human rights and oppression.  The first in a planned series, this is a thought-provoking tale that amplifies the reader's awareness of controversial issues.  This is a marvelous read for those teens who loved The Hunger Games."--Laura Panter.

CM Magazine review:
"Cheryl Rainfield has provided young adults with an outstanding science fiction novel. There are familiar teenage themes such as romance and relationships as well as fitting in when you're the new kid in a high school. But Hunted goes far beyond this. It is a novel full of tension and suspense as the action begins on the first page and keeps pressing right until the end. ... Caitlyn is a strong female protagonist who never loses sight of what she must do to not only save her fellow Paras from destruction but also to save all of the Normals who are sympathizers for her cause. ...  Hunted is not the science fiction of spaceships and aliens but something much more subtle and so close to realistic that it is frightening. Perhaps there are no Paras in society as we know it, but we still struggle with people who are seen to be somehow different from societal norms. ... Rainfield asks many tough questions, but deciding what you truly believe in and then being willing to stand up and fight for it is the real centrepiece of this novel. Highly Recommended."
Publication Date: 12/15/11
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Sudden Flash Youth
Mark Budman, Tom Hazuka, Christine Perkins-Hazuka
Synopsis:

A unique collection. The only anthology of short-short stories to focus on youth.

In these stories of no more than 1000 words, well-known and emerging American authors spotlight crucial moments of change during coming-of-age. Their young protagonists face matters of great consequence, such as the death of a parent, unwanted pregnancy, and bullying, as well as lighter, if perplexing circumstances: how to hold a prom when being home-schooled; what to do when the babysitter suddenly sees the Rapture. The stories are of this moment--a girl who falls in love and then is pressured to lose her virginity in a cyberspace world--and they also remember the past: the Nixon era, the Vietnam War, slavery. Here is a glimpse into the way we live now from the point of view of those who will determine the future. Among the contributors are Steve Almond, Peter Bacho, Richard Bausch, Gayle Brandeis, Richard Brautigan, Ron Carlson, Kelly Cherry, Dave Eggers, Pia Z. Ehrhardt, Jim Heynen, Victor Lavalle, Meg Kearney, Naomi Shihab Nye, Maryann O'Hara, Sonia Pilcer, Pamela Painter, Bruce Holland Rogers, Robert Shapard, and Alice Walker.
Publication Date: 12/15/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
The Cage
Jacci Turner
Synopsis: Ugh, summer school! No one wants to spend the summer in school. Sam would rather be sketching. Instead, she's stuck in a group with three other students in high school English.
 
She instantly butts heads with Tyrell, but Tiffany and Javier are friendly and hard to ignore. Then Tyrell reveals a recurring nightmare and strange things start to happen.

Sam soon discovers a world of supernatural giftings she never knew existed. Are her sketches a supernatural gift as well? With these gifts, can she and her new friends work together to save the mysterious girl who is caught in THE CAGE?
Publication Date: 12/15/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
True Intentions
Lisa Kuehne
Synopsis: Ava O'Brian is dealing with more than a teenager's typical temptations of right versus wrong. Ava is unaware she possesses a rare and unique gift, a soul with the ability to influence. Unfortunately, Satan will stop at nothing to gain control of her special ability. Ava's faith is seriously shaken when she is the sole survivor of the car accident that kills her father and twin brother. When she relocates and faces the ultimate temptation in Samuel Perry, her mysterious classmate living on earth since 1798 to tempt and damn mankind, Ava isn't sure she can resist. Sam must decide if he will lead Ava straight into the devil's trap or place his immortal existence on the line in order to keep her alive. What ultimate price is Ava willing to pay for love? What if it means giving up her life or turning over her soul straight into Satan's hands for the boy of her dreams?
Publication Date: 12/13/11
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Romance
The New Kid
Mavis Jukes
Synopsis: Newbery Honor Award—winning author Mavis Jukes is back with a lovable new character named Carson. His father moves him to a new town in Northern California, where he'll be the new kid in class—friendless and alone, except for his beloved stuffed moose (named Moose, of course). As Carson settles into his new surroundings, a series of delightful mishaps start to occur: the class pet, a rat named Mr. Nibblenose, gets lost to surprising results; the culprit of a mysterious lunch theft might actually be something that's not human at all; and when his beloved Moose goes missing, Carson makes his first new non-stuffed animal friend. Told with childlike charm and wit, The New Kid is perfect for newly independent readers.
Publication Date: 12/13/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Beswitched
Kate Saunders
Synopsis: A magic spell has spun Flora into the past. She's mysteriously swapped lives with a schoolgirl in 1935! No iPod? No cell phone? No hair products? How will she survive?
Now Flora's a new girl at St. Winifred's, where she has to speak French at breakfast, wear hideous baggy bloomers, and sleep in a freezing dormitory.
But lots of adventures in the past are amazing even if they are not forever. How will she find her way back to the 21st century?
Publication Date: 12/13/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
The Storm Before Atlanta
Karen Schwabach
Synopsis: At a time when most people have grown weary of the war between the states, two young children are desperate to find their way to the battlefields. Jeremy DeGroot wants nothing more than to join a troop as a drummer boy. For Dulcie, a runaway slave, freedom means she must head directly toward the fighting in the hopes that she'll become "contraband," that is, property of the Union troops. Both Jeremy and Dulcie find a place with the 107th New York Volunteer Regiment and even start to forge a friendship. But all that is threatened when they cross paths with the mysterious Charlie, a young Confederate soldier, who may look like the enemy but feels more like a friend.

Young readers who like their fiction filled with exciting historical details, rich characters, and action-packed adventures will be drawn to The Storm Before Atlanta.
Publication Date: 12/13/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Historical Fiction
Quests of Shadowind: Sky Shifter
Synopsis: Abducted...to an Alien World! Logan and Mindy Oakes wake up to discover everything has changed. Wrong beds, wrong clothes, wrong house. And, worst of all, their parents are missing. When they go outside, they run into a friend whose parents are also gone. In fact, all the grownups in town have inexplicably vanished. Then along comes a spider a giant, monstrous, mechanical horror. And that s the least of the nightmares that will befall the brother and sister in Shadowind, a dangerous, otherworldly dimension inhabited by ghostly creatures, cyborg animals and virtual humans a land where anything is possible, including being downloaded into a cryptic, evil role-playing game. In order to survive, Logan and Mindy band together with other kids determined to find a way back to the life they knew and loved. Ultimately they must battle the sinister cyber-lord for the Staff of the Sky Shifter, a powerful weapon that could destroy the universe...but might also be the key to getting back home.
Publication Date: 12/12/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
The Probability of Miracles
Synopsis: Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page..
Publication Date: 12/08/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Romance
How to Date an Alien: My Alien Romance
Synopsis: High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war?
Publication Date: 12/06/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Humor
When Copper Suns Fall
KaSonndra Leigh
Synopsis: It has been fifty-five years since the angels of the Apocalyptic War attempted to wipe out humanity. Now a new nation has been built where alchemy is forbidden, and angels fear for their lives as they hide among the mortals. The city’s leaders share one view on the ancestors of angels: shoot first, no questions. When her twin brother falls into a strange coma, sixteen-year-old Chela Prizeon vows to discover her role among these exiles, the royal angels known as the Lost Immortals. Chela’s only hope lies with the mysterious, but infuriating leader of a rebel group. But can she trust this boy, someone who can control her dreams and her heart. Escape into a world filled with celestial creatures, fascinating villainy, high-stake choices, and forbidden romance. What reviewers are saying: "I fell in love with this story right away. The author's writing is so expressive, it wasn't hard to fall into her world and get wrapped up in the mystery and suspense surrounding Chela." - Addicted to Reading Blog Spot "It is heavily intriguing and a wonderfully written story about Seraphim, Cherubim, the Caduceans and the Tainted. Her world seems almost magical in thinking that there is a world beyond what we know and perceive. I'd tell you more, but this is one I would recommend reading to get the whole story first hand." - Picked by Poison Reviews "KLeigh's Angels are spectacular! They are hardly feathered but more like those warrior angels from the movie Legion (2009). This is not a Nephilim story either, KLeigh created a world of her own, she owns Corunum the same way Suzanne Collins owns Panem (Hunger Games). That's how vivid and detailed the story is." --Talk Supe Blog Spot.
Publication Date: 12/06/11
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Pharmacology
Christopher Herz
Synopsis:

1993. San Francisco. The digital and pharmaceutical industries are booming. They're looking for the young, the hip, and those on the counterculture fringe to be both the face and consumer of their new world order. Recruited by an advertising agency focused on targeting a new drug to her own age demographic, Sarah Striker is grateful for the steady income, but she begins to question the side effects of the products she's pushing.

A kinetic, hyper-stylized jolt of pure energy, Herz delivers a strong follow-up to his debut novel, The Last Block in Harlem. Full of vibrant characters and razor-sharp dialogue, Pharmacology captures the voice of the Internet generation with style, heart, and soul.
Publication Date: 12/06/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Alien Proliferation
Synopsis: Sci-fi action meets steamy paranormal in Gini Koch’s Alien novels, as Katherine “Kitty” Katt faces off against aliens, conspiracies, and deadly secrets. • “Futuristic high-jinks and gripping adventure.” —RT Reviews 

After the wildest wedding ever, Katherine "Kitty" Katt-Martini and her Alpha Centaurion husband Jeff are hoping life will settle down. But alien attacks are on the increase, and someone is testing a  dangerous new drug on unwilling subjects within their group. As if that's not enough, they discover that their newborn's talents are off the charts—and the bad guys want their baby.

The last thing anyone in Centaurion Division needs after that is a conspiracy to kill the heads of the C.I.A.'s Extra-Terrestrial Division and the Presidential Terrorism Control Unit, otherwise known as Charles Reynolds and Kitty's mother, Angela Katt. Then, suddenly, key members of Alpha and Airborne start vanishing.

Can Kitty, her remaining team members, friends old and new, and a totally unexpected new partner rescue everyone and figure out why Kitty's become a superhuman? Most importantly, can they pull it all off before the event Kitty dreads most—her Alpha Centaurion baby shower?

Alien Proliferation is the fourth installment of the thrilling Alien novels.
Publication Date: 12/06/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Under the Vale
Mercedes Lackey
Synopsis: In March 1987, a young author from Oklahoma published her first novel, Arrows of the Queen. This modest book about a magical land called Valdemar was the beginning of a fantasy masterwork series that would span decades and include more than two dozen titles. Now readers can travel to the world of Valdemar with Tanya Huff, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Fiona Patton, Rosemary Edghill, Judith Tarr, and others in these original stories, including an all-new novella from Mercedes Lackey.
Publication Date: 12/06/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Human For A Day
Jennifer Brozek, Martin H. Greenberg
Synopsis: Here's an anthology that examines what it means to be human in all its positive and negative aspects. If you were an intelligent robot, would the opportunity to become human for a day be worth the risks? If a magic spell switched the bodies of a vampire and a teenage girl, would both savor the experience or search for a way to undo the enchantment? What tests would an angel face if transformed into a mortal for a day? These are just a few of the inventive stories-some humorous, some sad, many thought-provoking, and all unique-to be found in Human for a Day.
Publication Date: 12/06/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Anthology

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