Please enable JavaScript
All Books | Page 436 | LitPick Book Reviews
All Books
Will in Scarlet
Matthew Cody
Synopsis: This reimagining of the Robin Hood legend tells the story of the young boy behind the bandit hero's rise to fame.
 
Will Shackley is the son of a lord, and though just thirteen, he’s led a charmed, protected life and is the heir to Shackley House, while his father is away on the Third Crusade with King Richard the Lionheart.
 
But with King Richard’s absence, the winds of treason are blowing across England, and soon Shackley House becomes caught up in a dangerous power struggle that drives Will out of the only home he’s ever known. Alone, he flees into the dangerous Sherwood Forest, where he joins an elusive gang of bandits readers will immediately recognize.
 
How Will helps a drunkard named Rob become one of the most feared and revered criminals in history is a swashbuckling ride perfect for anyone who loves heroes, villains, and adventure.


From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
The Templeton Twins Make a Scene
Jeremy Holmes, Ellis Weiner
Synopsis: With its kid-perfect humor and dynamic illustrations, Book 1 of the hilarious Templeton Twins series left young readers clamoring for more. This time, Abigail and John Templeton find themselves at TAPAS (the Thespian Academy of the Performing Arts and Sciences) where their father, the illustrious Professor Templeton, has been hired to invent a groundbreaking theatrical device. Once again, there is drama (of course!), silliness, and suspense, as the twins (and their ridiculous dog) must thwart the dastardly Dean brothers in order to save the invention as well as their father (and the dog). Oh yes, there is sure to be another recipe. This time for guacamole. Or is it coleslaw?
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The League
Thatcher Heldring
Synopsis: "This book is a solid choice for reluctant readers who also happen to love football."--School Library Journal 


Just when it seems that his football dreams are history, Wyatt's older brother, Aaron, makes an unexpected offer: If Wyatt ditches golf camp, he can play with Aaron in the League of Pain: the roughest and most secretive rogue football league in town.

Now Wyatt has a choice. He can play by the rules like he always does, or he can follow his heart—even if it means lying to the people he cares about the most. 

But if Wyatt wants to play in the league, he must learn to accept the penalties.


From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: For Reluctant Readers
The Rivalry for Alsatia
Reggit Dogger, Justice Shepherd
Synopsis: Magic is a limited resource in Alsatia, where the friction between order and chaos is fraying the fabric of reality and forcing everyone to pick sides. Take Catalina Dewin, an aspiring mage who is confronted with a series of complex choices about which of her future selves she will become. When she accidentally pulls her long-lost brother through a hole in space and time, she gets kicked out of school and apprentices with the eccentric Archmage Kalron Castellan.

At Kalron’s keep, Catalina meets a temperamental fire-wright, a failed paladin, a bookish illusionist and an undead knight. Together, this unlikely band of heroes faces off with influential wizards with opposing ideas about the nature of security, freedom and the purpose of power.

As tensions escalate, Catalina and her friends face down brazen attacks from trolls, golem and a rogue mage during a wild adventure that spans barren desert, ancient burial grounds, desolate caves and the lawlessness of Tacabre, a town where everything is for sale. The race is on to find an enchanted key that will protect the world from the forces of chaos – or that just might unravel it all.

Complete in itself, The Rivalry for Alsatia is the first of an epic seven-novel series where every decision matters, and nothing is quite what it seems.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Indiana Bones and the Pile of Poop!
Wendy Carty, Tammy Rekito
Synopsis: An inquisitive little dog named Indiana Bones helps his friends the alley cats to find out who the culprit is that pooped on the fishman's door step. In the end, he helps to get his friends out of trouble, gains a new friend and teaches a valuable lesson... to always tell the truth and accept the blame for things you have done.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 5 - 8
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Starshot Chronicles: Royal Pains
Synopsis: Douglas and Querilla spend the day together in harmony. But that is not to be. The princess gets abducted. Douglas has to save her. That is only the beginning of a journey that takes them to other planets and finding out familial history.

Meanwhile, a revolution is happening on Varia where the Varians are trying to free themselves from the tyranny of the Coaltion.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Summer of Elves
Joanne Vruno
Synopsis: Summer of Elves is an enchanting fantasy about a twelve-year-old girl thrust into a magical world she knew nothing about. Trained by her grandmother, Aly must learn how her new-found talent and embrace the responsibility of seeing a mythical world that most humans never will see. In this coming-of-age novel, our heroine needs to embrace these powers so that good conquers evil.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
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: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Alfred C. Bogeyman
Synopsis: Three friends, Adrian, Sean and Ralph, set out to find the boogieman and make him stop scaring Adrian's younger brother. With the help of Ralph's Dog, Socks, the boys track and battle the boogieman living behind the park.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Paranormal
Devin Rhodes Is Dead
Jennifer Wolf Kam
Synopsis: Told in alternating "Before" and "After" chapters, Kam's novel focuses on the events leading up to and just after Cass's best friend Devin's body is found at the bottom of a local ravine.  Part realism, part ghost story, and part coming-of-age tale, this young adult novel will draw you in and keep you turning pages until the dramatic conclusion.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Take Chances
K.C. Sprayberry
Synopsis: Military brat, Julie Bond, survived school violence as a small child. As a teen nearing graduation at a high school in Landry, GA, she puts down the flashbacks to that time as pre-graduation jitters. Her attempt to convince herself it can’t happen again fails, as she continually sees herself caught up in the madness of that day…

She walks into her classroom, prepared for a last assignment…

And hears a strange voice…

She’s no longer living in the past…

And her present promises she may not survive!

Can she overcome evil once again?
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fiction
Spartanica
Powers Molinar
Synopsis: Ty and Marcus Mitchell are average middle school brothers growing up in a suburb north of Chicago until one night when they’re hurtled through an inter-dimensional gateway to a parallel world defined by its multiple moons and planet-wide apocalypse.

As they struggle to figure out where they are and how to get home, the boys encounter refugees of “the last day” from the distant city of Atlantis and a mysterious girl called Bellana, the sole survivor and resident of the devastated metropolis of Spartanica.

Ty and Marcus soon learn they only have seven days to get home. But before they can leave, they must battle through long-extinct deadly predators, find the elusive Professor Otherblood (if he’s still alive), and rescue a new friend from certain death.

Is all of this insanity just Ty’s overactive imagination or are the brothers truly on the brink of being stranded in the brutal wasteland known as Spartanica?
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Science Fiction
Addy the Bat and a Visit to Cat
Lily Lee, Lily Lee
Synopsis: This is the first in a series about Addy the Bat and her friends. In this adventure, Addy goes to visit Cat with her friend Josie and what an amazing time they have!

With whimsical painted cut-out created pictures, this book is sure to delight children of all ages and bring imagination to life!
Publication Date:
Age Level: 5 - 8
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Returner's Wealth
Chris Riddell, Paul Stewart
Synopsis: From the creators of the internationally bestselling Edge Chronicles comes an epic story of dragons!
The wyrmeweald is a hostile place, an arid wasteland where man is both hunter and hunted, and where the dragon-like wyrmes reign supreme. Seventeen-year-old Micah enters the wyrmeweald intent on stealing a wyrme egg to sell for a bounty. With the riches such an egg will bring—returner’s wealth—Micah can go home to a life of luxury, and win the hand of the girl he loves. But the wyrmeweald is a treacherous place, and Micah quickly finds himself in mortal danger. When a tracker named Eli rescues him, Micah is forced to prove his worth, and together he and Eli defend a rare wyrme hatchling from kith bandits intent on stealing and selling wyrme eggs. As Micah soon discovers, this hatchling has a guardian already—the beautiful, brave, and dangerous Thrace. Micah and Thrace make the worst possible match: Micah is a would-be bandit, and Thrace is a wyrme rider-assassin, devoted protector of the wyrmeweald. Yet their chemistry is undeniable, and soon Micah and Thrace join forces to protect the rare wyrme and battle the evil forces that encroach on their native habitat. But is there anything left in the devastated wyrmeweald to be saved?
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
My Date From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book Two)
Synopsis:

Breaking up is easy. Dating is deadly. 


Sophie has to unlock Persephone’s memories if she has any hope uncovering the ritual to stop Zeus and Hades from taking over the world.


Even if it means striking a deal with the Goddess of Love. What choice does she have?


The mission: stop Hermes from turning mean girl Bethany into a global mega-celebrity.


The catch? Work with the Prince of the Underworld.


With the Goddess of Love involved, and being forced to work with her ex, Sophie has her hands full.


How hard could it be?


Get it now. 

Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold
Synopsis: Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is the thrilling first installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This first book of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series introduces Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot with her own De Havilland Beaver seaplane and a nose for mystery and intrigue. A cross between Amelia Earhart, Nancy Drew and Pippi Longstocking, Kitty is a quirky young heroine with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into all kinds of precarious situations.

After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty's adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada and as the plot continues to unfold this spirited story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climactic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada's Yukon, the harsh land made famous in the stories and poems of such writers as Jack London, Robert Service and Pierre Berton. It is a riveting tale that brings to glorious life the landscape and history of Alaska's inside passage and Canada's Yukon, as Kitty is caught up in an epic mystery set against the backdrop of the scenery of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is a perfect book to fire the imagination of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn and experience more for themselves as Kitty prepares for her next adventure - flying around the world!
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure

Pages



RECENT BOOK REVIEWS