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Psycho Busters
Rando Ayamine, Yuya Aoki
Synopsis: The new action-packed fantasy novel that inspired the popular manga series!

With his family off in Hawaii for a week, fourteen-year-old Kakeru is looking forward to a little peace and quiet—until he discovers a strange, beautiful girl in his room. Her name is Ayano, and she's in big trouble. Gifted with extraordinary psychic powers, Ayano is on the run from a shadow organization that wants to exploit her talents for its own dark ends. 

But how can a short, skinny, hopelessly ordinary junior high school student help Ayano and her equally talented friends? With a gang of ruthless henchmen and dangerous psychics closing in fast, Kakeru is about to discover a few surprises about himself: Maybe he's not so ordinary after all; perhaps he's even the hero of his own dreams. He can only hope, since the biggest, baddest psychic-hunter of all is coming after him for a life-or-death showdown.
Publication Date: 04/08/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Whispers From the Bay
Synopsis: Key Biscayne, an island sitting off the coast of South Florida, it is here that young Mike Connelly realizes there is a mysterious connection between him and the dolphins living around the Key. His feelings grow stronger until one day, quite by accident, Mike discovers that he possesses a magical talent: he can communicate with dolphins. The dolphins and Mike become the best of friends, and their relationship plunges all of them into many adventures, some joyous and some frightening. After a disastrous trip to the Bahamas, Mike learns a fantastic secret that, if revealed, would change the course of world history. The dolphins, and their ancestors, have protected their secret for centuries, and now Mike faces the monumental challenge of keeping his vow of silence.
Publication Date: 04/07/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
The Oak Hotel
Walter G. Klimczak
Synopsis: Kayleigh and Lincoln don't know it, but the book they have been searching for-a book that should not exist-will ultimately lead them into an amazing parallel world... A world of secrets and danger
Publication Date: 04/02/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Knowing Joseph
Judy Mammay
Synopsis: Brian would give anything to have a normal six-year-old brother one who doesn't scream that normal sounds are too loud, or a brother who would play with other kids. Instead, he has Joseph, his autistic brother. Life with Joseph isn't easy. Brian constantl
Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Small Favor
Jim Butcher
Synopsis: THE New York Times Bestseller

Harry Dresden?s life finally seems to be calming down?until a shadow from the past returns. Mab, monarch of the Sidhe Winter Court, calls in an old favor from Harry?one small favor that will trap him between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally, and that will strain his skills?and loyalties?to their very limits.
Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Jeff Gordon
Martin Gitlin
Synopsis: Offering lively descriptions of the lives of NASCAR drivers, the reluctant reader books in this contemporary series include career statistics, a glossary, a further reading list, Internet addresses, and accounts of exciting racing action that will capture the reader's attention.
Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Biography
The Girl Who Saw Lions
Berlie Doherty
Synopsis:

"BE STRONG MY ABELA."  Orphaned by AIDS in Africa, Abela has a long journey ahead.

When Abela’s mother dies of Aids in their African village, she is left to face the lions of the world. Lions like her Uncle Thomas who has plans to sell her in Europe. Lions like his bitter white wife, whom he abandons with Abela. Abela is forced to stay indoors in a sunless London apartment, cooking and cleaning, and hopelessly dreaming of her African homeland. Meanwhile, in a London suburb, Rosa is distraught when her mother tells her she wants to adopt a child. Rosa doesn’t want a sister or brother. Things were so good, why did they have to change?

Berlie Doherty tells parallel stories, each separate and compelling in their own right, but stories that eventually tangle together bringing a message of hope and what it means to be a family.

Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Patron Saint of Butterflies
Synopsis:

Agnes and Honey have always been best friends, but they haven't always been so different. Agnes loves being a Believer. She knows the rules at the Mount Blessing religious commune are there to make her a better person. Honey hates Mount Blessing and the control Emmanuel, their leader, has over her life. The only bright spot is the butterfly garden she's helping to build, and the journal of butterflies that she keeps. When Agnes's grandmother makes an unexpected visit to the commune, she discovers a violent secret that the Believers are desperate to keep quiet. And when Agnes's little brother is seriously injured and Emmanuel refuses to send him to a hospital, Nana Pete takes the three children and escapes the commune. Their journey begins an exploration of faith, friendship, religion and family for the two girls, as Agnes clings to her familiar faith while Honey desperately wants a new future.

Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Baxter Moon Galactic Scout
Synopsis: Baxter Moon's first mission is to locate a missing Aquarian ship that has been taken over by a group of aliens whose aim is to subjugate Earth by entertaining its citizens to death. His second mission is to rescue a beautiful blue-haired Aquarian princess, known affectionately as "Your Highness." Baxter is assisted in his missions by his able but peculiar shuttle crew--a genetically modified, enormous girl who's a mechanical genius, her (genetically modified) twin, a small extremely klutzy math wizard, a genetically modified chimpanzee, and a nit-picking overly sensitive computer. Baxter's and his crew must avoid killer asteroids, elude deadly TVTrons, and, by the way, head off a possible galactic war. A funny book for would-be space cadets.
Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Twisted Sisters
Stephanie Hale
Synopsis: Revenge of the Homecoming Queen's Aspen Brooks is a freshman in college- and finding it one big fat Greek mess.

After Aspen Brooks's senior year of slashed tires and kidnapping, college seemed like the dream deal of the decade-especially with Detective Harry Malone footing Aspen's tuition and paying her to join the most elite sorority, The Zetas. To top it off, Aspen's hottie bf Rand is at the same school! If only she had time to hang out. Instead, she has to investigate the mysterious attempted suicide of the detective's niece, Mitzi.

Harry suspects foul play, and judging by some of the secrets Aspen's sorority sisters are hiding, she has to agree. Rand is jealous of her newfound Greekdom and is spending a lot of time with a skank-ilicious redhead. Meanwhile his rich roommate has fallen psychotically in love with Aspen. She's starting to get the idea that not everyone appreciates her fabulous presence. Even some people that call themselves her 'sisters' could be out to get her.

Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Romance
Wish You Were Here
Catherine Clark
Synopsis:

The next morning we meet at the world headquarters of Leisure-Lee Tours.

Which is a sentence I never thought I'd write.

Ariel Flack never thought she'd write a postcard saying "Wish you were here," especially to Dylan, the boy she's had a crush on forever and is finally (sort of) dating. She also didn't know she'd be sending that postcard from the family vacation from hell—a two-week geriatric bus tour with her crazy mom, annoying sister, embarrassing uncle, and frighteningly energetic grandparents.

As South Dakota rolls by at five miles an hour, Ariel begins to learn that sometimes life is just too complicated to fit on a postcard. Sometimes your parents let you down (and sometimes they don't). Sometimes you meet an unexpected fellow traveler. And sometimes you just have to go where the road takes you—even if the tour bus won't.

Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Nebula Awards Showcase 2008
Synopsis: This annual tradition from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America collects the best of the year's stories, as well as essays and commentary on the current state of the genre and predictions for future science fiction and fantasy films, art, and more.

This year's award-winning authors include Jack McDevitt, James Patrick Kelly, Peter S. Beagle, Elizabeth Hand, and more. The anthology also features essays from celebrated science fiction authors Orson Scott Card and Mike Resnick.
Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Side by Side
Jan Greenberg
Synopsis: From the winner of the Michael L. Printz Honor Award comes a poetry anthology inspired by poets and artists from around the globe.

In the groundbreaking tradition of Heart to Heart, this collection examines the connections between an artist’s work and a poet’s response, putting the artist and poet literally on the same page. With an English translation accompanying each poem in its original language, this is a novel, illuminating way to discover poetry and art together. The poems, most published or translated for the first time in the United States, are surprising and engaging, helping us see art from a fresh perspective.

Hailing from thirty-three countries on six continents, the artists and poets included in this collection represent a sampling of the world’s diverse art history, from an ancient Egyptian mummy case to a huge contemporary artwork that takes over an entire museum in Sweden. But they also emphasize the universal appeal of art and poetry. In this kaleidoscope of voices and visions, seeing a painting through another person’s eyes and understanding a stranger’s point of view, shows how similar we all are. REVIEWS: BOOKLIST STARRED: Following a similar format to her 2002 Printz Honor Book, Heart to Heart, Greenberg offers another anthology of accomplished poems inspired by artworks. In this volume, Greenberg extends the book’s geographical reach beyond the U.S., bringing together the work of poets and artists from around the globe. As in her Heart to Heart, the poems are grouped loosely into categories, defined in Greenberg’s inspirational introduction. Some tell stories; some speak in the voice of an object in the artwork; some explore the interaction between a viewer and an art object; and some focus on the elements of an artwork’s composition. Each spread features a poem in its original language, the English translation, and an artwork, usually from the same country or culture as the poem. With few exceptions, the reproductions of the art, which ranges from ancient to contemporary work, are sharp and clear, and the moving, often startling poems invite readers to savor the words and then look closely art each image. Teen will easily connect with the poems’ universal themes, including identity, childhood memories, nature’s mysterious power, and the powerful emotions and experiences that link us all. Biographical information about both poets and the artists concludes this welcome title, which makes a natural partner to Naomi Shihab Nye’s This Same Sky (1992). –Booklist, starred review Children's Literature--A great introduction to the study of cultural arts is through ekphrasis: poetry inspired by art. This is a terrific way to expose anyone to multiple foreign languages and different types of artifacts. Thirty-three countries are represented from six continents to bring together an extraordinary variety of art and poetry. Poems are shown in their native language―and how often does anyone get to compare written Swedish to Navajo? There is also an astounding assortment of art, from classic paintings such as Botticelli's Portrait of a Young Man, and Matisse's Woman in Blue, to Mexican Musicians, made of ceramic and painted wooden figurines, and a mixed media piece entitled The Malmo Experience by Ernesto Neto. The book has four sections determined by the contents of each poem: "Stories," "Voices," "Expressions," and "Impressions." "Stories" includes poems that tell a story about what is occurring in the art. "Voices" narrates the poem from the subject's point of view. "Expressions" is the bond between the viewer and the art, and "Impressions" is the poet's description of the art. The layout of every page displays both poems and its matching artwork for the best and easiest way to comprehend all pieces as one. There are even biographies of the artists, poets, and translators, as well as a labeled world map to further appreciate the work and diversity that made this book. Reviewer: Renee Farrah  Alan Review--In her previous anthology, Heart to Heart, Jan Greenberg collected American poems inspired by works of art. Side by Side continues this tradition from a global perspective. Works of art are reprinted and paired with poetry inspired by the art. The poems are printed both in their original language and in English translation. The poetry and art collected are grouped into chapters: Stories, Voices, Expressions, and Impressions. Additionally, the book contains brief biographies of the artists, authors, and translators, as well as a map of the world identifying the countries reflected in the collection Side by Side is an excellent addition to any classroom or library. It is useful first as a book of fine poetry but also as a supplement to multicultural studies and as a model for the use of art as a prompt for writing. Reviewer: F. Todd Goodson
School Library Journal--Gr 6 Up- Continuing in the vein of Heart to Heart (Abrams, 2001), Greenberg invited poets from around the world to identify a work of art and create a poem about it. In doing so, she not only gathered poetry and art, but also connects readers to global cultures and traditions. Many of the selections were written in languages other than English, and the original and translated poems share center stage, side by side, with the artwork that inspired the verse. This stellar anthology is arranged in four categories. In "Stories," the poet looks at art and imagines a story. In "Voices," the poet speaks as a subject depicted in the poem; "Expressions" explores the process of looking at, asking questions, and interpreting the art, and in "Impressions," the poet describes the artwork and elements of the composition. The careful arrangement seamlessly draws readers' focus to the themes of art and literature, as in Günter Kunert's poem "Der Schre i/The Scream" (translated by Gerald Chapple) about Edvard Munch's painting. Poets and artists who are familiar to Western readers, such as Pat Mora, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso, appear side by side with poets and artists who are less widely recognized. The book includes biographies of all the poets, translators, and artists and a world map that identifies each contributor's native country. This sophisticated book is ideal for literature, art, and foreign-language curricula. It creates cultural bridges and celebrates the genius of inspired translation.-Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI

Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Anthology
The Man Who Turned Into Himself
Synopsis:

In the middle of an important meeting, businessman Rick Hamilton has a terrible premonition: His wife is about to die. Racing to save her, he finds her lifeless body in the road, her car crushed by a truck. The light dwindles from his eyes . . . and then she is alive again, begging for help, and Rick Hamilton no longer is himself, but another man with another life, and a different history.

Based on the "many worlds" theory of quantum physics, which posits the existence of parallel universes, The Man Who Turned Into Himself is a suspenseful, mind-bending mystery that addresses our deepest questions about reality, death, identity, and the mind.

Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Escape the Mask
David Ward
Synopsis: The first in a new adventure trilogy full of danger, bravery, and unexpected friendships

Welcome to Grassland, where the only hope of freedom is to go beyond the reach of sinister, silent masters, and the only family you know are your fellow captives. Coriko has never known a world beyond his cell and the fields where he toils all day. He does what he’s told and tries not to anger the Spears, the cruel, masked jailers who guard him and the other child slaves. If he gathers baskets of shards and keeps quiet and orderly, then he can spend time with his cellmate and best friend, Pippa.

But without warning, the children’s orderly lives begin to change—slowly at first, with the arrival of a pair of siblings who speak Coriko and Pippa’s language. Soon after, violent events shake up the quiet world of Grassland, and Coriko must find the strength to grasp his freedom. Full of heartstopping action, Escape the Mask introduces Coriko, Pippa, and their friends—and begins the journey of The Grassland Trilogy.

F&P level: X
F&P genre: F
Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Saturday Night Dirt
Will Weaver
Synopsis:

It’s a sizzling summer Saturday, and Headwaters Speedway has suddenly become the place to be. Thanks to rainouts across the state, this small-town dirt track is drawing both big-time stock cars and local drivers. There’s Trace Bonham, whose Street Stock Chevy is acting up in a big way. And Beau Kim, whose “stone soup” Modified has been patched together from whatever parts he could scrape up. And no one could forget Amber Jenkins, a strawberry blonde who has what it takes to run rings around them all. Keeping everyone on track is Melody Walters, who knows that the impending rain might be exactly what they need to keep her father’s speedway afloat—or sink it for good.

In Will Weaver’s high-revving novel, the first in the Motor series, a cast of car-obsessed teens and adults are all out to prove themselves, both on and off the quarter-mile track, as they move through their day on a collision course to meet on Saturday night dirt.

Saturday Night Dirt is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Publication Date: 04/01/08
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction

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