My Gift to You ~ New Books for December (part 6)

My Secret to Tell by Natalie Richards

Mystery 

Emerson May is "the good girl." She's the perfect daughter, the caring friend, the animal shelter volunteer. But when her best friend's brother breaks into her room, his hands covered in blood, she doesn't scream or call the cops. Because when Deacon smiles at her, Emmie doesn't want to be good...

The whole town believes notorious troublemaker Deacon is guilty of assaulting his father. Only Emmie knows a secret that could set him free. But if she follows her heart, she could be trusting a killer...

Need by Joelle Charbonneau

Mystery 

Teenagers at Wisconsin's Nottawa High School are drawn deeper into a social networking site that promises to grant their every need . . . regardless of the consequences. Soon the site turns sinister, with simple pranks escalating to malicious crimes. The body count rises. In this chilling YA thriller, the author of the best-selling Testing trilogy examines not only the dark side of social media, but the dark side of human nature.

Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix

Historical Fiction 

After the Newington Emerald is stolen at the height of a conjured storm, eighteen-year-old Lady Truthful Newington goes to London, disguised as a man, to search for the magical heirloom of her house, and is soon caught up in a dangerous adventure where she must risk her life, her reputation, and her heart.

Ouran High School Host Club vol 1 by Bisco Hatori

Graphic Novel (Manga) 

One day, Haruhi, a scholarship student at exclusive Ouran High School, breaks an $80,000 vase that belongs to the 'Host Club', a mysterious campus group consisting of six super-rich (and gorgeous) guys. To pay back the damages, she is forced to work for the club, and it's there that she discovers just how wealthy the boys are and how different they are from everybody else.

Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott

Historical Fiction 

Amid the brutality of Auschwitz during the Holocaust, a forbidden gift helps two teenage girls find hope, friendship, and the will to live in this novel in verse that's based on a true story. An act of defiance. A statement of hope. A crime punishable by death. Making a birthday card in Auschwitz was all of those things. But that is what Zlatka did, in 1944, for her best friend, Fania. She stole and bartered for paper and scissors, secretly creating an origami heart. Then she passed it to every girl at the work tables to sign with their hopes and wishes for happiness, for love, and most of all--for freedom. Fania knew what that heart meant, for herself and all the other girls. And she kept it hidden, through the bitter days in the camp and through the death marches. She kept it always. This novel is based on the true story of Fania and Zlatka, the story of the bond that helped them both to hope for the best in the face of the worst. Their heart is one of the few objects created in Auschwitz, and can be seen today in the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre.

July New Books (Part 8)

Our Brothers at the Bottom of the Bottom of the Sea by Jonathan David Kranz

Contemporary Fiction 

Don't fall, Ethan scrawls in red permanent marker across the rides and signs of Sea Town. Since his brother Jason's death, Ethan can't let go of his big brother.

Don't fall, Rachel reads as she prepares to dump back into the ocean the shells her brother Curtis collected. Curtis had Down syndrome, but that isn't why he plummeted to his death from the Rock-It Roll-It Coaster.Together, Ethan and Rachel are about to discover just how far a man will go to protect his kingdom.

Owning It: Stories About Teens with Disabilities by Donald Gallo

Contemporary Fiction

Presents ten stories of teenagers facing all of the usual challenges of school, parents, boyfriends and girlfriends, plus the additional complications that come with having a physical or psychological disability.

Painless by S. A. Harazin

Contemporary Fiction 

After eighteen years of dealing with CIPA, which allows him to feel no pain or temperature, David Hart sets out with new friend Luna to complete his "bucket list," starting with finding the parents who abandoned him.

The Prophecy by Lily Blake

Historical Fiction 

An original novel based on the hit television series, Reign.

Since Mary, Queen of Scotland was a child, the English have wanted her country and her crown. She is sent to France to wed its next king--to save herself and her people. It's a bond that should protect her, but there are forces that conspire...forces of darkness, forces of the heart. Mary's rule, and her life, has never been safe.

Find out what happens to Mary, Francis, Bash, and the rest of the French court after the season one finale.

Long may she reign.

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

Contemporary Fiction 

When her identical twin sister, Maddy, is killed in a car accident, seventeen-year-old Ella assumes Maddy's life, only to discover that it was filled with dark secrets.

July New Books (Part 2)

Bloodkin by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Fantasy 

When a shapeshifter/vampire nation is charged with a crime against Midnight that sixteen-year-old Kadee and her friend Vance played a hand in, Kadee feels compelled to return to the Shantel forest where she must confront her past and the decisions she has made in the pursuit of freedom.

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman

Contemporary Fiction 

Caden Bosch is on a ship that's headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench. Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior. Caden Bosch is designated the ship's artist in residence, to document the journey with images. Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head. Caden Bosch is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny. 

Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel

Mystery 

Told in separate voices, Lena and Aubrey, each hiding her own secrets, set off in search of the truth about Charlie, including if he is really dead, after meeting at his funeral and learning that he was dating both of them.

Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge

Paranormal 

In post-World War I England, eleven-year-old Triss nearly drowns in a millpond known as "The Grimmer" and emerges with memory gaps, aware that something is terribly wrong, and to try to set things right, she must meet a twisted architect who has designs on her family.

Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan

Action/Adventure 

At fourteen, Frances survived a slaughter that claimed the lives of her parents and best friend, Libby, but she took on Libby's identity and wealth while plotting revenge against the powerful Wells family and now, at age eighteen, is ready to destroy them, including her first love, Grey.

MAY I have some New Books please? (May new books part 10)

US Government Through Infographics by Nadia Higgins

Nonfiction 

Trying to comprehend the US government can almost make your mind shut down. You need to understand how it stacks up to governments around the world (from democracy to dictatorship), how systems and laws change over time (years ago, women couldn't vote!), and who holds the power today (how do big decisions get made?). 

What If I'm a(n) Atheist?: A Teen's Guide to Exploring a Life without Religion by David Seidman

Nonfiction 

Can you have guidance without God? This thoughtful, one-of-a-kind guide offers answers to all of your questions about atheism and nonbelief. Have you ever wondered what religion and belief means for your life? Maybe you believe in nothing at all. Does that mean you're an atheist? What does atheism even mean? Regardless of the religious background you grew up with, it's natural to question what you believe...or what you don't. Establishing your views about religion and spirituality is part of becoming an individual, but outside pressures can make it tough to know what is right for you. What If I'm an Athiest? offers a thoughtful exploration of how atheism or the absence of religion can impact your life. From discussing the practical significance of holidays to offering conversation starters and tips, this guide is an invaluable resource about religion, spirituality, and the lack thereof. This compassionate, nonjudgmental guide includes peer interviews featuring both religious and atheist teens and provides a safe space to find answers to the questions you may not want ask out loud, so you can decide what you believe-or don't-for yourself.

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Fantasy 

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria's crown prince is the event of a lifetime, but to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making, so as she aches to tell the truth about her engagement, she becomes a skilled practitioner of deceit and as a spy passes information and gets close to uncovering a shocking secret.

Wonder Woman vol 4: War by Brian Azzarello

Graphic Novel 

Wonder Woman's world is shocked to its core when her eldest brother, the First Born, is freed from his slumber. Now, with her family in ruins and her friends scattered, she must turn to Orion and the New Gods of New Genesis to save herself and Zola's newborn from the First Born's wrath! Collects Wonder Woman #19-23.

Zeroboxer by Fonda Lee

Science Fiction 

As seventeen-year-old Carr 'the Raptor' Luka rises to fame in the weightless combat sport of zeroboxing, he learns a devastating secret that jeopardizes not only his future in the sport, but interplanetary relations.

MAY I have some New Books please? (May new books part 8)

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Contemporary Fiction 

Sixteen-year-old, not-so-openly-gay Simon Spier is blackmailed into playing wingman for his classmate or else his sexual identity--and that of his pen pal--will be revealed.

The Star Wars Cookbook: Wookie Cookies and other Galatic Recipes by Robin Davis

Nonfiction 

Boba Fett-Uccine and Princess Leia Danish Dos are just the beginning when the Force is with you in the kitchen. Wookiee Cookies is your invitation to fine culinary experiences in the Star Wars frame of mind. From C-3PO Pancakes to Jedi Juice Bars, this intergalactic Star Wars cookbook features healthy snacks, delicious dishes, sweet treats, and easy main courses no Rebel can resist. With hilarious photos and safety tips for cooking on Earth as well as in most space stations, Wookiee Cookies even includes a sheet of shiny Star Wars stickers. Age is no issue when it comes to Star Wars cuisine-kids as well as adults will have a great time with this book. Whether you drove to your first Star Wars flick or just had your fifth birthday, there's no reason you can't whip up some Crazy Cantina Chili at near light speed.

Star Wars Origami: 36 Amazing Paper-Folding Projects from a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Chris Alexander

Nonfiction 

Kids love origami--and what could be cooler than transforming a piece of paper into Boba Fett, Princess Leia, Yoda, or R2-D2? And not just any paper, but custom-designed paper illustrated with art from the movies. Star Wars® Origami marries the fun of paper folding with the obsession of Star Wars . Like The Joy of Origami and Origami on the Go , this book puts an original spin on an ancient art. And like Star Wars® Scanimation® and Star Wars® Fandex® , it's a fresh take on Star Wars mania. Chris Alexander is a master folder and founder of the popular website StarWarsOrigami.com, and here are 36 models, clearly explained, that range in difficulty from Youngling (easy) to Padawan (medium), Jedi Knight (difficult), and Jedi Master (tricky!). A front section introduces origami definitions and basic folds. Bound in the back is the book's unique folding paper, two sheets for each figure. Illustrated with original art, it makes each creation--the essential lightsabers, the Death Star, and much more--true to the movies. 

There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake

Paranormal 

Shelby Cooper, nearly eighteen, has been overprotected by her single mother all her life but after a car accident, Shelby's mother steals her away from the hospital, revealing that Shelby's father is not dead, but rather a violent man who promised to hunt them down.

Thor: God of Thunder: vol 4: The Last Days of Midgard by Jason Aaron

Graphic Novel 

Thor battles on two fronts to save the Earth! Thor has always fought to save his adopted home of Earth. But who can he fight when the planet itself is dying? Thor's ally, environmental secret agent Roz Solomon, has a few ideas... namely the world's most nefarious energy company, Roxxon and its ruthless new CEO known as 'the Minotaur!' Meanwhile, many millennia from now, a future Thor faces a very different battle to save what remains of the Earth - a battle against Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds!

April Books bring May...more books! (April new books part 5)

Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan

Contemporary Fiction

Brilliant fifteen-year-old Josie has a knack for languages, but her sister's engagement has Josie grappling with the nature of true love, her feelings for her best friend Stu, and how anyone can be truly herself, or truly in love, in a social language that is not her own.

Made for You by Melissa Marr

Paranormal

Southern small town darling Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital with the frightening ability to see through the eyes of the victims of a serial killer, and realizes that she, too, is a target of the depraved stalker.

Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Contemporary Fiction

When she learns that her mother is sick in Ohio, Mim confronts her demons on a thousand-mile odyssey from Mississippi that redefines her notions of love, loyalty, and what it means to be sane.

The Number 7 by Jessica Lidh

Historical Fiction

When sixteen-year-old Louisa moves from North Carolina to her father's childhood home in Pennsylvania, a phone call from the grave brings a buried family secret to life.

The Oathbreaker's Shadow by Amy McCulloch

Fantasy

Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world where you tie a knot for every promise that you make. Break that promise and you are scarred for life, and cast out into the desert.

Raim has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. No one knows where it came from, and which promise of his it symbolises, but he barely thinks about it at all—not since becoming the most promising young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard. But on the most important day of his life, when he binds his life to his best friend (and future king) Khareh, the string bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin.

Scarred now as an oath-breaker, Raim has two options: run, or be killed.

New books to read during those April showers! (Part 3)

DIY Dye: Bright and Funky Temporary Hair Coloring You Do at Home by Loren Lankford

Want an accent streak of fire-engine red? How about forest-green tips? Or maybe you’re daring enough to transform your locks into a rainbow of bright colors? It’s all up to you!

With DIY Dye and some imagination, you can easily personalize your hair with any color and style imaginable. This comprehensive guide offers step-by-step instructions on every aspect of at-home hair coloring including:

• Picking the right dye

• Concocting original hues

• Adding highlights

• Getting an ombre in any color

Whether you’re looking to add color for a day, week, month or longer, DIY Dye shows you how to fashion the look you want using affordable options like coloring kits, chalks, henna, food coloring and even Kool-Aid packets.

No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale

As sixteen-year-old Kippy of Friendship, Wisconsin, reads her best friend Ruth's diary, she is shocked at what she learns and spurred to solve Ruth's murder, certain that the boy who was arrested is innocent.

Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera

Khalid, a Muslim boy from England, is kidnapped during a family trip and imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he is held for two years suffering interrogations, water-boarding, and isolation for reasons unknown to him.

Zero Fade by Chris Terry

Thirteen-year-old Kevin Phifer has a lot to worry about. His uncle Paul is coming out, Tyrell the bully throws lit Black 'n' Milds at him, Demetric at school has the best last-year-fly-gear and Aisha's attention, girls prefer his nerdy friend David, his sister Laura is suddenly ignoring him, Mama is dating, and to top it off ... he's grounded.

Zom-B Baby by Darren Shan

Grateful for the company of The Angels, B nevertheless questions their mission to eradicate the living dead from the face of the earth, and encounters a horror beyond imagining.

Happy Holidays ~ New Books for December (Part 3)

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter

Five tales retelling the Persephone legend and the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus.

 Regine's Book: A Teen Girl's Last Words by Regine Stokke

Regine Stokke began to blog about her day-to-day life shortly after she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008. Regine's stated purpose with her posts was to give people a sense of "what it's like to live with" such a serious illness, and her blog became an almost instant classic. It was first adapted into book form in 2010, and became a best seller in Norway. Regine was also a very gifted photographer, and had her photos exhibited at both the 2009 and the 2010 Nordic Light photography festivals in Kristiansund.

Burned by Sara Shepard

It's spring break, and the pretty little liars are trading in Rosewood for a cruise vacation. They want nothing more than to sail into the tropical sunset and leave their troubles behind for one blissful week. But where Emily, Aria, Spencer, and Hanna go, A goes, too. From scuba diving to tanning on the upper deck, A is there, soaking up all their new secrets. 

The Lost Files: The Legacies by Pittacus Lore

I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: The Legacies contains three action-packed novellas that give the heart-pounding backstories of some of your favorite Loriens. Originally published as the e-novellas Six's Legacy , Nine's Legacy , and The Fallen Legacies , now, for the first time ever, their backstories are together in one volume. 

The Boy Recession by Flynn Meaney

When all the boys start transferring out of Julius P. Heil High, a lovable slacker becomes a hot commodity much to his best friend's bewilderment.

New November Books~ Part 5

High School of the Dead vol. 3 by Daisuke Sato

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The high school escapees are joined by elementary-schooler Alice and a brave little dog as they make their way to the next safe house, not a soul (or corpse) in sight. The Alice's presence eases the tension, but as Marikawa-sensei drives farther into the neighborhood, "they" seem to be out in greater numbers. The car struggles to shake the relentless zombies while Takashi and Rei cling perilously to the roof. The group has been lucky so far, but will their determination and makeshift arsenal be enough to make it to safety alive?

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

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Alice Bell must learn to fight the undead to avenge her family and learn to trust Cole Holland who has secrets of his own.

One Moment by Kristina McBride

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Rising high school senior Maggie remembers little about the accidental death of her boyfriend, Joey, but as she slowly begins to recall that day at the gorge with their long-time friends, she realizes he was keeping some terrible secrets.

 Nail Art Sourcebook: Over 500 Designs for Fingertip Fashions by Pansy Alexander-Potter

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With the current movement for extreme and individualistic beauty, nail art is a way to make your own personal statement as well as turn your nails into the hottest fashion accessories around. In "The Nail Art Sourcebook", you will find hundreds of ideas for designs using a full range of effects, all of which you can do yourself or take to a nail technician to execute professionally. The sourcebook opens with an introduction that covers the basic techniques and tools you'll need to re-create the designs, including how-to steps on adding adornments such as glitter, gemstones and foils as well as methods for stencilling, stamping and three-dimensional work. A nail art gallery of over 500 designs, organized thematically, follows, with themes that vary from graphic stripes, chevrons and dots to floral and nature motifs, as well as tribal patterns and animal prints. 

 Vampire Knight vol. 15 by Matsuri Hino

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With Kaname missing, Yuki must now step in as acting head of her clan to maintain the fragile peace between the human and vampire societies. Will she be able to regain the trust of the vampire aristocrats, much less Aido?

New November Books~ Part 2

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

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In the aftermath of a cataclysmic event, sixteen-year-old Evie, from a well-to-do Louisiana family, learns that her terrible visions are actually prophecies and that there are others like herself--embodiments of Tarot cards destined to engage in an epic battle.

 Survive by Alex Morel

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A troubled girl is stranded in an arctic winter terrain after a plane crash and must fight for survival with the only other boy left alive.

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano

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It is 1969 in Spanish Harlem, and fourteen-year-old Evelyn Serrano is trying hard to break free from her conservative Puerto Rican surroundings, but when her activist grandmother comes to stay and the neighborhood protests start, things get a lot more complicated--and dangerous.

Burning Blue by Paul Griffin

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When beautiful, smart Nicole, disfigured by acid thrown in her face, and computer hacker Jay meet in the school psychologist's office, they become friends and Jay resolves to find her attacker.

34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues

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After Ellie dies of a drug overdose, her brother, her best friend, and her best friend's sister face painful secrets of their own when they try to uncover the truth about Ellie's death.