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Write On!
Hermine Brindak
Synopsis: Write On! presents the winners of the site’s many competitive writing contests—all voted best by visitors to the site. Friendships and family, school, crushes, adventure, and more are the topics of these remarkable stories and poems, creating an inspiring, endearing compilation in the tradition of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Written by girls, for girls, the book’s positive message, attractive format, and affordable price will delight girls everywhere.




• Features the winners of the writing contest from Miss O's website

• Low price, high quality, real girls, empowering message
Publication Date: 06/01/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Short Story
Lorenzo and the Turncoat
Rick Guzman, Lila Guzman
Synopsis: In Lorenzo Bannister’s latest adventure, he is living in New Orleans and working as a medical doctor. Between his promising medical practice and his love for his fiancée Eugenie, Lorenzo is finally happy and at peace after working for the Continental Army. But his happiness is short lived.

A hurricane sweeps through New Orleans two days before Lorenzo and Eugenie’s wedding, leaving the town severely damaged and Eugenie missing. Frantic with fear and worry, Lorenzo searches the flooded, demolished city for his fiancée. It is Lorenzo’s friend and mentor, Colonel De Gálvez, who must tell Lorenzo the shocking news: Eugenie has been seen in Baton Rouge in the company of a British man.

Lorenzo is determined to find answers to the puzzling questions about Eugenie’s departure from New Orleans. Facing the possibility that she may be a traitor to the Spanish cause, Lorenzo joins the Spanish Army and makes his way to Baton Rouge along with the troops Colonel De Gálvez has assembled to attack the British. Once again, Lorenzo finds himself on a dangerous mission, this time in desperate pursuit of his fiancée while waging war on the Redcoats.

Publication Date: 05/31/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston
Synopsis:

A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick

“A deeply soulful novel that comprehends love and cruelty, and separates the big people from the small of heart, without ever losing sympathy for those unfortunates who don’t know how to live properly.” —Zadie Smith

One of the most important and enduring books of the twentieth century, Their Eyes Were Watching God brings to life a Southern love story with the wit and pathos found only in the writing of Zora Neale Hurston. Out of print for almost thirty years—due largely to initial audiences’ rejection of its strong black female protagonist—Hurston’s classic has since its 1978 reissue become perhaps the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature.

Publication Date: 05/30/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Romance
Timer Dancers
Steve Cash
Synopsis: Steve Cash created “an absorbing [and] intriguing saga” (The San Diego Union-Tribune) in his debut novel, The Meq. Outwardly indistinguishable from human beings, but with abilities no human can claim, the Meq search for their lost history and face a mysterious prophesied reckoning. . . .

It has been thirty-eight years since Zianno—known as Z—turned twelve. In appearance, he has not aged a day. Like all Meq, Z has become accustomed to a near immortal existence, possessing an uncanny ability to recuperate from injury and resist disease. Like only four others of his kind, he holds one of the fabled Stones, the Stone of Dreams. These bearers believe it is their destiny to guide the Meq toward and through the Remembering, where it is said that they will recall their long-forgotten origins and purpose.

But the rogue Meq assassin called the Fleur-du-Mal threatens their efforts and their lives. Pursuing rumors of a lost Sixth Stone, he is intent on finding the legendary talisman and eliminating anyone, Meq or human, who stands in the way.

Z and his allies—Opari, Sailor, Geaxi, Nova, Ray, Mowsel, Carolina, Jack, and others—embark on a desperate quest spanning decades and continents to track down the stone before their lethal adversary gets to it first. Along the way, every belief they have about themselves will be challenged and shaken—and a new, even deadlier enemy will arise.
Publication Date: 05/30/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Chasing the Jaguar
Michele Dominguez Greene
Synopsis:

Girl next door . . . or Mayan sorceress ?

Martika Gálvez's "To Do" list:

1. Research final project for art class–on the jaguar

2. Study the arts of telepathy (ESP) and pyrokinesis (starting fires at will)

3. Build an altar and pray to Mayan deities

4. Use psychic powers to recover stolen ancient statue and help rescue abducted teen girl...

5. and convince Mom I'm really studying at the library

Introducing Martika Gálvez, the Latina Nancy Drew of the new millennium.

Ages 12+

Publication Date: 05/30/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
How to Be a Budget Fashionista
Synopsis: Good news: You don’t have to sacrifice style just to pay your electric bill. Kathryn Finney, a.k.a. the Budget Fashionista, is the expert on all things chic and cheap. Now she opens up her Prada bag of shopping and style tips to make you fashionably frugal, with change to spare. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Know your budget: Learn innovative, money-saving ways to increase your clothing funds.
2. Know your style: Get helpful hints from fashion insiders and use them to develop your own mode of self-expression.
3. Know your bargains: Discover the art of scoring exclusive friends-and-
family coupons for your favorite department stores

Whether you’re a homemaker from Houston, a grandma from Grand Rapids, or an M.D. from Manhattan, you don’t need to break the bank to look your best. With great cost-cutting tips, at-home spa secrets, designer discount websites, and access to exclusive deals, The Budget Fashionista is like having your own personal stylist at your beck and call. So before you go out and commit the eighth deadly sin–buying a fake Louis Vuitton–read this must-have guide and learn to be style-smart and budget-wise!
Publication Date: 05/30/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Nonfiction
Keeper of the Flames
Jenna Solitaire
Synopsis: My name is Jenna Solitaire, and I am the Keeper of the Boards. With the elements of Air and Water at my command, I now go in search for the most dangerous Board I have sought so far--the Board of Fire.

From the searing desert of the Middle East, Jenna and Simon travel to the ancient city of Pompeii, following the clues to the hiding place of the Board of Fire--also known as the Board of the Flames. But Peraud is hot on their trail, and is more determined than ever to claim the two Boards the Keeper already possesses. Jenna must also contend with her growing attraction to Simon, who is torn by his desire for her--and his sacred duty to the Church.
Publication Date: 05/30/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Tyler & His Solve-A-Matic Machine: Future Business Leaders
Guy Smalley, Jennifer Shelley, Jennifer Bouani
Synopsis: Every so often a new writer surfaces who along with the company of the likes of Roald Dahl, EB White, CS Lewis and others has the talent to speck to children about things adult in a manner that is not only informative and correct intelligently, but at the same time keeps in mind the importance of molding the realm of fantasy and tales that still focus the attention of all of us. Jennifer Bouani has the gift and in TYLER & HIS SOLVE-A-MATIC MACHINE she bows on stage as a skilled thinker and a consummate communicator. Billed as a part of a series for 'Future Business Leaders', this story is told through the palpably real ten year old orphan Tyler Sogno who dreams of sailing around the world to meet all peoples. His daydreaming for his lost sailor father distracts him form his studies and he comes up with the idea of building a machine that will make homework a snap - the Solve-a-matic machine. Tyler 'meets' the spiritual guardian Soté, the Great Spirit of the Entrepreneurs form the land of Profits, who introduces Tyler to the prospects of becoming an entrepreneur, instructing and supporting him as to how to accomplish his dream. Then with a deft hand at creating whimsy that is pertinent and smart (Tyler lives in a metropolis called 'Nessibus', a reconstructed version of 'Business' - for example) Bouani sets tasks using the elevators of skyscrapers on top of which are penthouses to aid Tyler and friends on the journey to success. In the end Soté congratulates Tyler on his perilous adventure: You have succeeded in creating your Solve-a-matic company before sunrise. You have learned many lessons along the way. You have found your confidence, learned to be organized, and devoted yourself to your work. You have learned to be resourceful and have unleashed your imagination on the world. You've learned to lead and to take risks; And the lessons learned are soundly basic and richly entertaining in the introduction of all manner of animal life and wild adventures. This book is aimed at the age 9 to 12 group, but the book is so full of well-conceived steps to take in making something of a dream that it is fodder for much older wannabe entrepreneurs! Highly sophisticated writing and a true pleasure to read. --Amazon.com Top 10 Reviewer: Grady Harp
Publication Date: 05/30/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Maximum Ride: Schools Out Forever
Synopsis: In this eagerly awaited follow-up, brave bird-kid Max and her flock are discovered by an FBI agent and forced to go to "school." There is no such thing as an ordinary day as Max deciphers how and when she's supposed to save the world, and she faces her greatest enemy--a clone of herself. Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: 05/23/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
Theodora Twist
Melissa Senate
Synopsis: “I’m going to have to come up with something really good to get you back into the public’s good graces. I have no idea what, but trust me. I’ll think of something.”

Well that’s what Theodora pays her agent $100,000 a year for, isn’t it? Theodora Twist is the girl everyone wants to be. She’s Hollywood’s hottest young actress. Producers court her, fans mob her, and the tabloids cover everything.

Emilys life is Boring with a capital B. She’s a 16-year-old nobody to everyone, including her own mother. The only thing remotely interesting about Emily? She lives in Theodora Twist’s former house. But she’s about to get Twisted.

How? On a reality show meant to clean up Theodora’s party girl rep—with Emily’s family as host. It’s just another role for Theodora. Emily is in panic mode. This isn’t just a part . . . it’s her life.
Publication Date: 05/23/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
Playing it Cool
Joaquin Dorfman
Synopsis: “I always know what I’m doing.”
So says 18-year-old Sebastian Montero, who is famous around town as a problem solver of the subtlest kind. Want a date with the girl of your dreams? Bastian can make it happen. Have a friend threatening suicide? Baz can talk him off the ledge. But as popular as Sebastian is, no one really knows him. Thanks to his intricate network of favors and debts Sebastian controls the world, manipulates it—and hides from it. It isn’t until his best friend asks him to track down his long-missing father that Sebastian is forced to face the most challenging problem of all, the solution to which will change his life forever.
Publication Date: 05/23/06
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Fiction
My Summer Vacation
Hannah Goodman
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old, Maddie Hickman is desperately seeking solace from her sophomore year of high school, a year of broken hearts, torn friendships, and family secrets revealed. Thanks to a position as a CIT (counselor-in-training) at Caleb's Rock, a hippy, artsy-fartsy summer camp, as her mother calls it, solace has been found--or so she thinks.

Maddie begins her summer at the pub shop writing short stories and poems, trying to recover from a terrible breakup with her first love and her family's struggle with her alcoholic sister. To maintain inner peace, Maddie swears off cute boys. Although working alongside Noah, a fellow pub shop CIT, whose hot, nerd-boy looks and ability to quote Shakespeare at just the right moment makes her swoon.
 
Maddie decides a friendship with camper Zak is safe enough and can help her avoid the temptation of Noah, since Zak isn't as cute and is a year younger. But when Zak asks her for kissing lessons so he can make the move on another girl, Maddie finds herself wondering if she should have sworn off not-so-cute boys, too.
Publication Date: 05/19/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Pucker
Melanie Gideon
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Thomas Quicksilver, an outsider who was disfigured by a childhood fire, has a chance to be magically healed and made beautiful, but only at a terrible price.
Publication Date: 05/18/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Black Duck
Janet Taylor Lisle
Synopsis: Years afterwards, Ruben Hart tells the story of how, in 1929 Newport, Rhode Island, his family and his best friend's family were caught up in the violent competition among groups trying to control the local rum-smuggling trade.
Publication Date: 05/18/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls From Jersey
Synopsis: While fighting over the last copy of Queen of Twilight, mortal enemies Veronica Lopez and Heather Simms find themselves transported into the story, where, after accidentally killing the story's heroine, they must find a way to the end of the story without killing anyone else, especially each other. Original.
Publication Date: 05/18/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
LBD: Friends Forever
Synopsis: Now sixteen years old, Ronnie, Fleur, and Claude try to repair an unexpected rift in their friendship by getting summer waitressing jobs together at a seaside resort.
Publication Date: 05/18/06
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit

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