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The Kingdom on the Waves
M.T. Anderson
Synopsis: Sequel to the National Book Award Winner!

"A novel of the first rank, the kind of monumental work Italo Calvino called ‘encyclopedic’ in the way it sweeps up history into a comprehensible and deeply textured pattern." — THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW (Age 14 and up)

Fearing a death sentence, Octavian and his tutor, Dr. Trefusis, escape through rising tides and pouring rain to find shelter in British-occupied Boston. Sundered from all he knows — the College of Lucidity, the rebel cause — Octavian hopes to find safe harbor. Instead, he is soon to learn of Lord Dunmore's proclamation offering freedom to slaves who join the counterrevolutionary forces.

In Volume II of his unparalleled masterwork, M. T. Anderson recounts Octavian's experiences as the Revolutionary War explodes around him, thrusting him into intense battles and tantalizing him with elusive visions of liberty. Ultimately, this astonishing narrative escalates to a startling, deeply satisfying climax, while reexamining our national origins in a singularly provocative light.
Publication Date: 01/25/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
A Brush Of Darkness
Allison Pang
Synopsis: The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.

Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.
Publication Date: 01/25/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Daddy-Long-Legs
Ann M. Martin, Jean Webster, Jean Webster
Synopsis: Bright and lively Judy Abbott is an orphan who dreams of escaping the drudgery of her life at the John Grier Home. One day she receives a marvelous opportunity—a wealthy male benefactor has agreed to fund her higher education. In return, Judy must keep him informed about the ups and downs of college life. From horrendous Latin lessons to falling in love, the result is a series of letters both hilarious and poignant. Fans of L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables and Louisa May Alcott's Little Women will relish this American-girl-power coming-of-age story. This gentle romance is the seventh book in the Looking Glass Library series.
Publication Date: 01/25/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Biography
The Fallen: Raziel
Kristina Douglas
Synopsis: Kristina Douglas’s sexy new series introduces a realm of fallen angels and ruthless demons, where an eternal rebellion is brewing . . . and one unsuspecting woman can change the fate of the Fallen forever.

She was just an ordinary mortal . . .

“You’re dead” is so not what Allie Watson wants to hear. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like the dark, angelically handsome man who ferried her to this strange, hidden land. The last thing she remembers is stepping off a curb in front of a crosstown bus. Now she’s surrounded by gorgeous fallen angels with an unsettling taste for blood—and they really don’t want her around. Not exactly how she pictured heaven.

. . . until death catapulted her into a seductive world she never imagined.

Raziel is unsure why he rescued Allie from hellfire against Uriel’s orders, but she stirs in him a longing he hasn't felt in centuries. Now the Fallen are bracing for the divine wrath brought by his disobedience, and they blame Allie for the ferocious Nephilim clawing at the kingdom’s shrouded gates. Facing impossible odds at every turn, the two must work together to survive. Raziel will do anything to defend his spirited lover against the forces of darkness—because Allie may be the Fallen’s only salvation.
Publication Date: 01/25/11
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Romance
Space, Stars, and the Beginning of Time
Synopsis: Have you ever wished you could travel back in time? Or visit a galaxy light-years away? Or see a star being born? The Hubble telescope has allowed scientists to do just that. The Hubble’s dazzling images have transformed astronomy, shedding light on the deepest mysteries of the cosmos, sparking new discoveries and turning speculation into fact. Its gaze has helped astronomers find new galaxies, look back in time almost to the Big Bang, and verify the existence of dark energy, the mysterious force that is causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate. Through the eye of the Hubble, Elaine Scott skillfully guides readers along the evolution of our universe, investigating a question that was once unanswerable: “Where did we come from?”
Publication Date: 01/24/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Nonfiction
The Vault Keepers
Christine G. Broome
Synopsis: Sixty-eight seasons of darkness have now passed since the vast majority of the Earth’s population ended in an explosive holocaust. Out of the destructive chaos, a new society emerged, one that strictly forbids any knowledge of the past. This poses great danger to Kally, Quinn, Jade, and Doc, four tightly knit friends from the village of Serenity, who stumble upon a secret hidden vault buried deep in the woods. In one of its main chambers sits an old journal containing the writings of a father and son, Jason and Tad Hastings. It is through their eyes that the four friends become fascinated as they explore the details of the events leading up to the Big Occurrence. Over the next several seasons, Kally and the others continue to secretly visit the vault, gaining knowledge and understanding of their current existence. Unfortunately, they find themselves faced with a difficult dilemma for they cannot share what they have learned without risking banishment or even death. While they contemplate this challenge, Serenity experiences a formidable event in the sky...something so bizarre and mysterious that the friends find themselves caught up in a new adventure. An adventure that will take them to new worlds - worlds that are in desperate need of the knowledge contained in the Vault and the Journal.
Publication Date: 01/24/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Small Persons With Wings
Ellen Booraem
Synopsis: Ever since she was teased for believing in fairies, Mellie has adopted a strictly scientific and logical approach to life. But when her parents inherit her grandfather's inn, she learns that for generations, her family members have been fairy guardians. The fairies exchanged some of their powers for this protection but now they want their magic back. An evil temptress in disguise wants the magic too, and before she knows it, Mellie is turned into a frog, her grandfather is discovered alive, and her parents are trapped in an evil spell that only lets them see the truth (which can be awfully brutal). Thank goodness for Timmo - the cute boy next door - and Durindana, a fairy outcast, who help Mellie save the day and encourage her to loosen up her views on family, fairies, and friendship.

This is a hilarious, irreverent, and highly sarcastic take on fairies-who, by the way, just hate to be called fairies.
Publication Date: 01/20/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
The Witch's Daughter
Paula Brackston
Synopsis:

My name is Elizabeth Anne Hawksmith, and my age is three hundred and eighty-four years. Each new settlement asks for a new journal, and so this Book of Shadows begins…

In the spring of 1628, the Witchfinder of Wessex finds himself a true Witch. As Bess Hawksmith watches her mother swing from the Hanging Tree she knows that only one man can save her from the same fate at the hands of the panicked mob: the Warlock Gideon Masters, and his Book of Shadows. Secluded at his cottage in the woods, Gideon instructs Bess in the Craft, awakening formidable powers she didn’t know she had and making her immortal. She couldn't have foreseen that even now, centuries later, he would be hunting her across time, determined to claim payment for saving her life.

In present-day England, Elizabeth has built a quiet life for herself, tending her garden and selling herbs and oils at the local farmers' market. But her solitude abruptly ends when a teenage girl called Tegan starts hanging around. Against her better judgment, Elizabeth begins teaching Tegan the ways of the Hedge Witch, in the process awakening memories--and demons--long thought forgotten.

Part historical romance, part modern fantasy, The Witch’s Daughter is a fresh, compelling take on the magical, yet dangerous world of Witches. Readers will long remember the fiercely independent heroine who survives plagues, wars, and the heartbreak that comes with immortality to remain true to herself, and protect the protégé she comes to love.

Publication Date: 01/18/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Half Moon
Jordan Deen
Synopsis: I'd been a fool for coming here with them, and now... no one would come to save me. The world that hid in the shadows of humanity was full of enemies. Faced with death, Lacey Quinn ran away from the only family she'd ever known. That... was just the beginning. As the decision she's made sinks in, Lacey struggles to fit in with the pack and find the key to bonding with her werewolf soul mate, Brandon. But, lies can only be concealed for so long. Adjusting to a powerful new best friend, a twelve-year-old roommate with a nauseating Barbie fetish, and a lost love that won't stop haunting her dreams, she knows she has no hope of having a normal future-ever again. After a long talk with the dead mother she never knew, and an almost deal-breaking night out with Brandon, Lacey starts spiraling into the underworld-a place where all things are possible and everyone is out to kill her. With mysterious legends of witches and sorcery marring her past and clouding her future, she quickly learns-were
Publication Date: 01/13/11
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Romance
Snakes and other Reptiles
Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca, Natalie Pope Boyce
Synopsis: The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system! Getting the facts behind the fiction has never looked better. Track the facts with Jack and Annie!!
 
When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #17: A Crazy Day with Cobras, they had lots of questions. Can snakes really be charmed? What reptile has the deadliest venom? What do Komodo dragons eat? How do you tell alligators and crocodiles apart? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts.

Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures. And teachers can use Fact Trackers alongside their Magic Tree House fiction companions to meet common core text pairing needs.

Did you know that there’s a Magic Tree House book for every kid?

Magic Tree House: Adventures with Jack and Annie, perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books
Merlin Missions: More challenging adventures for the experienced reader
Super Edition: A longer and more dangerous adventure
Fact Trackers: Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures

Have more fun with Jack and Annie at MagicTreeHouse.com!
Publication Date: 01/11/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Poetry
A Crazy Day With Cobras
Sal Murdocca, Mary Pope Osborne
Synopsis: The  Magic Tree House series is back, but with the magic tree house comes terrible news: Merlin’s beloved penguin, Penny, has been put under a spell! Jack and Annie must find four things to break the spell. The first is a rare and precious emerald. When the magic tree house whisks them back to India over four hundred years ago to search for the jewel, they discover an amazing and exotic world filled with great danger.

Will Jack and Annie find what they’re looking for? Will they avoid the wrath of the all-powerful Great Mogul, survive a crazy ride on a wild elephant, escape an attack by king cobras—and make it back to the magic tree house alive?

Mary Pope Osborne brings together just the right combination of history, magic, and fast-paced adventure to satisfy kids, parents, teachers, and librarians. Magic Tree House books are known around the world as books that inspire reading.
Publication Date: 01/11/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Badd
Tim Tharp
Synopsis: Ceejay has never been pretty or popular, but she knows who she is: she's younger sister to Bobby, the most charming bad boy in town. Bobby's a bit wild, but with his big heart and sense of fun, everybody loves him. And nobody understands Ceejay like Bobby.

Now, Ceejay can't wait for Bobby to return home from his tour in Iraq. But then he turns up unannounced and seems to be avoiding his family. And he's so different. His wild streak has become reckless. His sense of fun has become desperate. And seeing this, Ceejay's own tough shell begins to crack. How can she believe in being strong when her hero is broken?

As she tries to get Bobby back, Ceejay begins to reexamine her family, her community, and everyone in her life. What she finds is that true strength is not quite what she thought it was.
Publication Date: 01/11/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Other Words For Love
Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Synopsis: When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future.
When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?
Publication Date: 01/11/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Romance
The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter
Synopsis: After an unfortunate incident at the hair salon, Bessica is not allowed to see her best friend, Sylvie. That means she's going to start middle school a-l-o-n-e. Bessica feels like such a loser. She wants friends. She's just not sure how to make them.
It doesn't help that her beloved grandma is off on some crazy road trip and has zero time to listen to Bessica. Or that Bessica has a ton of homework. Or that gorgeous Noll Beck thinks she's just a kid. Or that there are some serious psycho-bullies in her classes. Bessica doesn't care about being popular. She just wants to survive—and look cute. Is that too much to ask when you're eleven?
Publication Date: 01/11/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Ultimate Guide To Basketball
James Buckley Jr.
Synopsis: Thank goodness for Dr. James Naismith. If you don't know who he is, you'll find out in this awesome new fact-filled book. (Okay, we'll tell you: He invented basketball. Thanks, Doc!) In this book, you'll find page after page of awesome stuff about basketball, a sport that is now popular worldwide. Read about how the first pro leagues began; meet the greatest stars of past and present, and dig into basketball plays, slang, positions, stats, and much more. The Ultimate Guide to Basketball is the one-stop shopping spot for hoop heads everywhere! Your favorite pro team is in here. There is a special two-page section on every pro team. Read about Jerry West, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and dozens more. Learn why basketball players are called cagers, what a trey is, and why it's okay to be a gym rat! Whether you follow college or pro hoops, this fact-packed, buzzer-beating book will be a slam dunk.
Publication Date: 01/11/11
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Nonfiction
Kickers: Book 4 Game-Day Jitters
Jimmy Holder, Rich Wallace
Synopsis: Filled with on-the-field soccer scenes, black-and-white artwork, and sports statistics throughout, this short novel—ideal for newly independent readers, athletes, and all sports fans—follows nine-year-old Ben and his fourth-grade team, the Bobcats, as they race to the Kickers League playoffs. Ben knows he's one of the team's strongest players, but he's been struggling with the jitters. He's just freezing up on the field. Can he pull through for his teammates now that they really need him?
Publication Date: 01/11/11
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction

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