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New and Recently Released!
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"We want to venture into the dark wood, to see the oddities and the beauties it holds, and to test ourselves against them. So we pick up a book of fairy tales. The real ones. The weird ones. The dark ones."
~ from Adam Gidwitz's The Grimm Conclusion
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| The Great American Dust Bowl by Don BrownGraphic Nonfiction. You might think that a book about dirt would be boring beyond belief, but this dramatic graphic novel history of the Dust Bowl is anything but dull. Here, you'll find out about the weird weather conditions that caused the series of raging dust storms that devastated parts of the U.S. in the 1930s; but it's really the dynamic illustrations -- people fleeing from giant dust clouds, planes being blown out of the sky, and ceilings collapsing from the weight of accumulated dirt -- that make this book uniquely compelling. If you're fascinated by this look at the "Dirty Thirties," you might also enjoy The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan. |
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| Turn Left at the Cow by Lisa BullardMystery. When 13-year-old Travis "Trav" Stoiska runs away from his home in California to his grandmother's house in rural Minnesota, he's intent on learning the truth about the father he never knew. Once he arrives, Trav learns that he's not the only one interested in his dad's past: apparently, his father robbed a bank and stashed the loot before he disappeared, and now the locals suspect that Trav holds the clues to the missing money. Authentic characters, a suspenseful mystery, and a folksy sense of humor round out this winning debut novel that's sure to satisfy fans of Sheila Turnage's Three Times Lucky. |
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| The City of Death by Sarwat ChaddaFantasy. Relentless, video game-style action powers this thrilling sequel to The Savage Fortress. After learning to channel the power of the goddess Kali, British eighth-grader Ash Mistry accompanies his half-demon friend Parvati back to India for another face-off with the wicked sorcerer Alexander Savage. Their goal is to prevent Savage from stealing the precious Koh-I-Noor diamond, but as death and betrayal claim more of the people he cares about, Ash's thoughts turn toward violent revenge. If you like the lightning-fast pace and star-crossed romance of Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles, you won't be able to resist The City of Death. |
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| The Grimm Conclusion by Adam GidwitzFantasy. Readers who were captivated by the fierce and bloodthirsty fairy tales in A Tale Dark and Grimm and In a Glass Grimmly will be pleased by this "equally gory and awesomely dark" (School Library Journal) final volume in the trilogy. This time, the focus is on twins Jorinda and Joringel as they battle for survival in a series of gruesome (and sometimes familiar) folk stories…until they find a surprising way to tell their own stories. Clever, imaginative, and laced with dire warnings from the author, The Grimm Conclusion brings a powerful series to an unexpected yet satisfying close. |
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| Unhooking the Moon by Gregory HughesFiction. After the sudden death of their single dad, 12-year-old Bob and his younger sister Marie Claire (aka "the Rat") decide to dodge the foster system and travel from Winnipeg to New York in search of their uncle, a big-time drug dealer. As the siblings hop trains, ride bikes, and hitchhike their way to the Big Apple, they meet an eccentric crew of characters, including gangsters, con men, and a popular rapper -- none of whom can resist helping Bob and the daring, dramatic (possibly psychic) Rat. Mature readers who prefer adventure with an edge should definitely pick up this quirky, bittersweet read. |
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| Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale; illustrated by Nathan HaleGraphic Novel. You probably know the story of Rapunzel: trapped in a tower by an evil witch, she hangs her impossibly long hair out the window so that a prince can climb it and save her. Well, in this Old West-style retelling of the fairy tale, Rapunzel saves herself by using her uncommonly long braids as ropes. Determined to find and free her real mother, who's been enslaved by the witch all these years, Rapunzel teams up with an outlaw named Jack (of beanstalk fame) and proceeds to braid-whip, whomp, and lasso every scallywag and evildoer who stands in her way. Funny, exciting, and even a bit romantic, Rapunzel's Revenge is a rip-roarin' good read! |
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| Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary EdghillHistorical Fantasy. In 1867 Texas, three strangers meet: Jett, a gun-slinging girl passing as a boy while searching for her long-lost brother; Honoraria Gibbons, an young inventor traveling alone; and White Fox, a scout sent to check on a settlement that has ceased all communications. After barely escaping an attack on a nearby town, the unlikely trio joins forces to investigate the zombie army that is terrorizing the West. Fans of the world-building, fantastical Western setting, and unhurried pace of Patricia Wrede's The Thirteenth Child should give this intriguing mash-up (which is more mysterious than gory) a try. |
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| Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi; translated by Cathy Hirano and illustrated by Yuko ShimizuFantasy. Martial-arts expert Balsa wanders the land, saving lives on a personal quest of atonement. After she rescues a boy from drowning, Balsa learns that the boy is Prince Chagum -- and that he's possessed by a water demon. The Empress hires Balsa as Prince Chagum's bodyguard, and the two of them set out to defeat the demon...but will the price be Chagum's life? Rich with family secrets and "complex mythologies" (Kirkus Reviews), this action-packed novel will thrill fans of its anime adaptation, who won't want to miss the book's sequel, Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness. |
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| Foiled by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Michael CavallaroGraphic Novel. Aliera Carstairs may be a star in her fencing class, but she doesn't fit into any of the cliques at school and tries to slide under people's radar most of the time. Then unbelievably handsome new student Avery Castle walks into her biology class, and Aliera finds herself distracted from her fencing coach's wise counsel to always protect her heart. Opening in a realistic high school setting and taking a surprising turn into a parallel magical world, this fantasy adventure (the 1st in a series) is a great choice for anyone who likes stories of heroic girls coming into their own. |
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| Poison by Bridget ZinnFantasy. Following a botched attempt to poison the Princess Ariana, 16-year-old Master Potioner Kyra is on the run. Once, she was Ariana's best friend, but Kyra's pesky (not to mention terrifying) visions seem to indicate that Ariana will be the kingdom's downfall. So now, with an adorable tracking pig named Rosie for company and an annoyingly attractive rogue named Fred on her trail, Kyra's got to elude the army (not to mention witches, goblins, and her ex-fiance) long enough to stop Ariana and save the kingdom. Featuring a feisty and resourceful heroine, this frothy, fast-paced fantasy is a perfect pick for fans of Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted. |
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