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The Severed Tower
J. Barton Mitchell
Synopsis:

J. Barton Mitchell's sci-fi tour de force Conquered Earth series set in an alien-invaded post-apocalyptic world returns as the children forge deeper into the most dangerous lands in search of The Severed Tower

Holt, Mira, and Max have fled Midnight City with Zoey after watching her repel an entire Assembly army. Zoey's powers are unlocked, but who and what she is remains a mystery. All she knows is that she must reach the Severed Tower, an infamous location in the middle of the world's most dangerous landscape: The Strange Lands, a place where the laws of physics have completely broken down. But the closer they get to the Tower, the more precarious things become. The Assembly has pursued Zoey into the Strange Lands. Among them is a new group, their walkers and machines strangely bereft of any color, stripped to bare metal, and whose agenda seems to differ from the rest. To make matters worse, the group hunting Holt are here, too, led by a dangerous and beautiful pirate named Ravan. So is Mira's first love, Benjamin Aubertine, whose singular ambition to reach the Tower threatens to get them all killed.

Then there's the Strange Lands themselves. They have inexplicably begun to grow, spreading outwards, becoming more powerful. Somehow, it all seems tied to Zoey herself, and the closer she gets to the Tower, the weaker she becomes.

Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Nashoga: Book 1 of the Redstone Series
Synopsis: Nashoga, the alpha of the Redstone Pack, has been run off. While in exile, Nashoga meets Buck, an elk with an attitude, and the two are thrust into a dire situation. Will the two be at each others' throats or will they learn to work together to defeat this new threat? Will Nashoga reunite with his pack and his love? Only time will tell in this story of power struggles, love and friendship.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Adventure
The Next Big Thing
Sadie Hayes
Synopsis:

The Next Big Thing is the second page-turning installment in Sadie Hayes' Start-Up series, following twin college students Amelia and Adam as they attempt to make it in the competitive world of Silicon Valley.

Amelia and Adam's new company, Doreye, may have won over Silicon Valley, but the trouble is far from over. After facing down skepticism, a meddler from their past and a saboteur who makes their app malfunction right when it matters most, drama suddenly seems to be brewing within the ranks. While Adam has money signs in his eyes and enough charm to win over the investors, Amelia decides she wants to give away their app for free, leading to discord and a separation of responsibilities—and power.

As if that weren't hard enough on their relationship, Adam and Amelia are both keeping secrets from each other, the kinds of secrets that could change everything if revealed. As they grow farther apart, others grow closer together. Patty finds a new boyfriend—and a fascinating new job—to distract her from Chad; Adam becomes involved with an older woman who seems to be as interested in Doreye as he is; and TJ starts to notice that Amelia is more than just a computer nerd with the tensions running high, Adam makes a decision that topples Amelia's carefully constructed life and sets off a chain of events that could threaten the future of Doreye. Can Amelia find a way to save their company before it's too late?

Publication Date:
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Series
Killer of Enemies
Joseph Bruchac
Synopsis: Years ago, seventeen-year-old Apache hunter Lozen and her family lived in a world of haves
and have-nots. There were the Ones—people so augmented with technology and genetic
enhancements that they were barely human—and there was everyone else who served them.

Then the Cloud came, and everything changed. Tech stopped working. The world plunged
back into a new steam age. The Ones’ pets—genetically engineered monsters—turned on them
and are now loose on the world.

Lozen was not one of the lucky ones pre-C, but fate has given her a unique set of survival
skills and magical abilities. She hunts monsters for the Ones who survived the apocalyptic events
of the Cloud, which ensures the safety of her kidnapped family. But with every monster she takes
down, Lozen’s powers grow, and she connects those powers to an ancient legend of her people.
It soon becomes clear to Lozen that she is not just a hired gun.

As the legendary Killer of Enemies was in the ancient days of the Apache people, Lozen is
meant to be a more than a hunter. Lozen is meant to be a hero.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
The Monster in the Mudball
Synopsis: A monster is loose in England! And it’s kind of Jin’s fault that Zilombo, the monster, got
loose. Jin tracks the monster, but he can’t figure out how to get her back into the artifact from
which she hatched. Then Jin meets Chief Inspector of Ancient Artifacts A. J. Zauyamakanda—
Mizz Z, for short—who has arrived to inspect the artifact. She and Jin team up to find Zilombo.

Joining them is Frankie, Jin’s older sister, who has lost their baby brother—and Zilombo is
the most likely culprit for his disappearance. Zilombo gains new, frightening powers every time
she hatches. Now the monster is cleverer than ever before . . . and she likes to eat babies!

Will Jin’s baby brother be next on Zilombo’s menu? As the monster’s powers continue to
grow, Jin, Frankie, and Mizz Z must find a way to outsmart Zilombo!
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Too Cool For This School
Kristen Tracy
Synopsis: A terrific novel about middle school friendship, family, fitting in, and finding out who you are when no one's looking. 

Lane Cisco loves, loves, loves her life at Rio Chama Middle School—until her offbeat cousin comes for an extended visit and turns everything upside down. With her individual sense of style and nonconformist attitude, Angelina "Mint" Taraval is everything Lane isn't. And instead of branding her a loser the way Lane and her friends expect, people actually want to hang out with her. Including the boys Lane and her best friend, Ava, like. 

When Ava comes up with a plan to ruin Mint, Lane feels stuck. She doesn't want to be mean . . . but she doesn't really want to stick up for her weird cousin either. Why can't things go back to the way they were before Mint arrived? 

And don't miss Kristen's other cool books:
PROJECT (UN)POPULAR
PROJECT (UN)POPULAR: TOTALLY CRUSHED
CAMILLE MCPHEE FELL UNDER THE BUS
THE REINVENTION OF BESSICA LEFTER
BESSICA LEFTER BITES BACK

“Believable and drily funny . . . an empathetic and entertaining read.” —Publishers Weekly
  
“High drama so compelling middle school readers won't realize they're being exposed to a lesson in ethics.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“Snappy, intelligent prose . . . an excellent title.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Kristen Tracy reminds us of our best and worst moments in middle school, handling both the triumphs and the mortifying moments with just the right mix of surprise and worry.” —readergirlz.com
 
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Milo and Jazz Mysteries: The Case of the Diamonds
Synopsis:
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Mystery
Chasing Shadows
Craig Phillips, Swati Avasthi
Synopsis:

“A superb novel about grief, friendship, and mental illness, mixing in graphic-novel elements and themes from Hindu mythology.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred
 
Corey, Holly, and Savitri are closer than family until a random act of violence shatters their world. A gunman shoots at their car, leaving Corey dead, Holly in a coma, and Savitri the sole witness to the crime.
 
When Holly wakes up, she is changed—determined to hunt down Corey’s killer, whatever the cost. Savitri fears that Holly is running wild, losing her grip on reality. Friends should stand by each other in times of crisis. But can you hold on too tight? Too long?
 
Swati Avasthi delivers a riveting novel that will appeal to fans of Laini Taylor and Laurie Halse Anderson.
 
“Haunting, mesmerizing and intense.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred
 
“[A] visceral story of love, grief, and madness that is both action-packed and psychologically acute.” —The Horn Book




From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date:
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Fiction
Untold
Giorgio Fochesato, Sarah Rees Brennan
Synopsis: A modern, magical twist on the Gothic romance and girl detective genres, the Lynburn Legacy books will appeal to fans of both Beautiful Creatures and the Mortal Instruments series. Reviewers have praised the take-charge heroine and the spellbinding romance.
 
It’s time to choose sides. . . .
 
On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy little town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission by killing human sacrifices for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so the town can return to the old ways.
 
But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers around. The town must make a decision: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love whomever she chooses. But who should that be?
 
As coauthor with Cassandra Clare of the bestselling Bane Chronicles, Sarah Rees Brennan has mastered the art of the page-turner.


"A sparkling fantasy that will make you laugh and break your heart." --Cassandra Clare, New York Times bestselling author

"A darkly funny, deliciously thrilling Gothic." --Kelley Armstrong, New York Times bestselling author

"Readers will laugh, shiver, and maybe even swoon over this modern Gothic novel." --Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author

"Breathtaking--a compulsive, rocketing read."--Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author

"Captures the reader with true magic."--Esther Friesner, author of Nobody's Princess

"A laugh-out-loud delight." --Publishers Weekly


From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Joshua Dread
Lee Bacon
Synopsis: The second book in the series! From the moment Joshua Dread receives an invitation to Gyfted & Talented, the mysterious program for kids with superpowers, his plans for a normal summer turn upside down. Evil maniac Phineas Vex is still alive—and he wants Joshua dead. So if G&T can help prepare Joshua for battle, he's all in. And so are Sophie and Milton.

Except they get more than they bargained for. The truth is that Joshua and his friends have been chosen to form the greatest superhero team of all time. That is, if they make it through G&T's rigorous training.

Suddenly Joshua is thrust into the media spotlight, and it's not as glamorous as people think. And what will happen if his supervillain parents find out that the new celebrity superhero is . . . Joshua? 

No one ever said fighting evil would be easy.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Dragon at the North Pole
John Shroades, Kate Klimo
Synopsis: Perfect for readers who’ve finished Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series but who aren’t quite ready for Harry Potter, this accessible fantasy series is imaginative and adventure-filled!
 
“Funny and wonderfully written. A tall-tale adventure that will grab readers!” —Mary Pope Osborne, author of the Magic Tree House series
 
In The Dragon at the North Pole, Dragon Keepers Jesse and Daisy wake on Christmas morning to a winter wonderland—it snowed overnight! Knowing that their dragon, Emmy, has never seen snow before, they hurry to the barn only to discover that she’s disappeared. She’s left a note behind: “Gone to help Santa.” Santa?! Can it be true? With the help of two pairs of magic snowshoes, Jesse and Daisy visit the North Pole to find out!


From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
Lion
Jeff Stone
Synopsis: Road bike racing rules in this action-packed adventure perfect for cycling fans, readers of the popular Five Ancestors series, and anyone who loves a fast-paced page-turner.
 
Ryan Vanderhausen is psyched. After his mountain biking disaster, he discovers that his size and strength make him a natural for road bike racing. So he and his friends Phoenix, Jake, and Hú Dié head to California to train with Ryan’s cousin Peter. But right away, things get weird. Experienced cyclists are dropping dead, and someone from the kids’ past pays them a very unwelcome visit. Then Peter is kidnapped in the middle of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Can the kids save Peter, evade the bad guys, and still manage to compete in their biggest race yet?


From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Sky Jumpers
Peggy Eddleman
Synopsis: In this thrilling sci-fi adventure, epic danger and impossible odds are no match for one girl's courage!
  
Twelve-year-old Hope lives in White Rock, a town of inventors struggling to recover from World War III. But adventurous Hope is terrible at inventing. She would much rather sneak off to cliff dive into the Bomb’s Breath, the deadly band of air that surrounds the town.

When bandits invade White Rock to steal its greatest invention—priceless antibiotics—the town is left with a heartbreaking choice: hand over the medicine and die from disease, or die fighting the bandits. Help lies in a neighboring town, but the bandits count everyone fourteen and older each hour. Now Hope and her friends Aaren and Brock are only ones who can escape through the Bomb’s Breath.

For once, the daring and rebelliousness that usually get Hope into trouble might just save them all.


A Texas Library Association’s Bluebonnet Award Selection

“Eddleman brings a strong sense of atmosphere to this post-apocalyptic coming-of-age piece, and the underlying message—that it’s possible to contribute in unexpected ways—is a positive one.” —Publishers Weekly
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel: Volume 1
Synopsis:
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Manga/Graphic Novel
Modern Cartooning
Christopher Hart
Synopsis: Aimed at beginner artists interested in cartooning and at the countless fans of cartoons, animation, and comics. Not only are cartoons a form of entertainment, but they're an incredibly popular style of drawing! With a fresh and easy-to-follow approach to cartooning, Christopher Hart shows readers basic tips for creating a cast of the most hilarious, outrageous characters inspired by today's cartoons. Chock-full of tips, hints, and step-by-step illustrations, Modern Cartooning gives artists of all ages the tools they need to let their imaginations run wild.
Publication Date:
Age Level: Any Age
Genre: Nonfiction
Revealed
Kristin Cast, P. C. Cast
Synopsis:

Revealed is the spellbinding eleventh and penultimate installment in the #1 New York Times bestselling vampyre series by PC and Kristin Cast.

Drastically altered after her fall at the end of Hidden, Neferet is now more dangerous than ever—and her quest for vengeance will wreak havoc on humans, as well as Zoey and her friends. Chaos is loosed in Tulsa and the House of Night is blamed. Can Zoey stop Neferet in time to keep her anger from escalating to full-on war? Or will someone else have to step in to take the fall?

The House of Night series is an international phenomenon, reaching #1 on U.S., German, and UK bestseller lists, and remaining a fixture on The New York Times Children's Series bestseller list for nearly 150 weeks and counting. With more than 12 million copies in print, rights sold in thirty–eight countries to date, and relatable, addictive characters, this series is unstoppable. Now, in the eleventh and penultimate installment of the series, the action is more intense and the stakes even higher as Zoey and her friends battle to protect their school and home from devastating evil—all while balancing romances, precarious friendships and the daily drama of the House of Night's halls.

Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Paranormal

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