| City of saints & thieves by Natalie C. AndersonBesides protecting her younger sister, 16-year-old Tina doesn't care about anything other than revenge for their mother's death. Having fled from Congo to urban Kenya, Tina lives by a strict set of self-imposed rules while working as a thief for a street gang and planning her takedown of Mr. Greyhill, her mother's former boss and likely killer. When her plan goes awry, Tina has to break one of her rules ("thieves don't have friends") in favour of a risky partnership that might help her finally discover the truth about her mother's death. Smart, suspenseful, and gritty, City of Saints & Thieves will keep you riveted from the first page. |
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| Caraval by Stephanie GarberFleeing an abusive father and an arranged marriage, Scarlett and her sister Tella arrive at Caraval expecting to be dazzled: for years, they've heard astonishing stories about the magical circus/live action game run by enigmatic mastermind Legend. Their expectations turn to terror, however, when Legend kidnaps Tella and makes her the subject of that year's Caraval. To win her back, Scarlett will have to play for five nights, facing down seductive enchantments and her own deeply hidden fears, all while dealing with her growing feelings for her sailor companion, Julian. The lush language and imaginative world-building in this series debut are sure to keep fantasy fans spellbound. |
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| The edge of everything by Jeff Giles A bounty hunter from hell isn't the likeliest of rescuers, but considering that Zoe and her brother are trapped and under attack in the middle of a brutal Montana blizzard, they're not in a position to complain. Supernaturally powered X was sent from the hellish Lowlands to collect the soul of Zoe's attacker, but the immediate and powerful attraction between him and Zoe makes X reconsider his duty, just as Zoe reconsiders what she thought she knew about her father's recent death. Combining star-crossed romance, offbeat dialogue, and high-stakes action, The Edge of Everything will leave paranormal fiction fans eager for the next book in the series. |
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Traitor to the throne by Alwyn HamiltonThis is not about blood or love. This is about treason. Nearly a year has passed since Amani and the rebels won their epic battle at Fahali. Amani has come into both her powers and her reputation as the Blue-Eyed Bandit, and the Rebel Prince's message has spread across the desert - though some might say out of control. But when a surprise encounter turns into a brutal kidnapping, Amani finds herself betrayed in the cruelest manner possible. Stripped of her powers and her identity, and torn from the man she loves, Amani must return to her desert-girl's instinct for survival. For the Sultan's palace is a dangerous one, and the harem is a viper's nest of suspicion, fear and intrigue. Just the right place for a spy to thrive...But spying is a dangerous game, and when ghosts from Amani's past emerge to haunt her, she begins to wonder if she can trust her own treacherous heart.
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| The you I've never known by Ellen HopkinsAlternating between free verse and diary-style prose, popular author Ellen Hopkins carefully unspools the stories of two teen girls trying to find themselves outside of their toxic families. The poems follow Ariel, who's worried about how her controlling, volatile father might react to her newly realised bisexuality. The diary is written by Maya, who believes that marrying and having a baby with an older man will help her escape from her Scientologist mother. The farther you get in this "sharp, gripping read" (School Library Journal), the more clues you get about how the two stories intertwine. For a different perspective on a similar situation, try Robin Benway's Emmy and Oliver. |
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You in five acts by Una LaMarcheA group of friends at a performing arts school train throughout the high-pressure months leading up to a performance that will determine their futures while reflecting on an unexpected event that has upended everything. By the author of Five Summers.
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Crystal storm by Morgan RhodesWhen Mytica is threatened by an epic clash between gods and mortals, Magnus and Cleo are forced to test the strength of their love in the face of a redemption-seeking Gaius. By the best-selling author of A Book of Spirits and Thieves.
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Focus on: Canadian Authors |
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| Through the woods by Emily CarrollA dismembered bride. A sinister smile. A monster in human skin. A wolf outside your bedroom window. These themes, all familiar to fans of fairy tales and Gothic ghost stories, are given a visually arresting new spin in this collection of horror comics. Canadian artist Emily Carroll -- you might be familiar with her webcomics -- illustrates each chilling tale with bold colors (emphasis on the blood red), careful period details, and masterful pacing, creating suspense with each turn of the page. If you love the eerie atmosphere of Edward Gorey's art but prefer stories with an unsettling edge, don't miss this shiver-inducing journey Through the Woods. |
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| The story of Owen: Dragon slayer of Trondheim by E.K. JohnstonOnce, dragon slaying was a noble calling, with slayers guarding their neighbours from ferocious, carbon-hungry dragons. These days, however, most slayers work for big cities and corporations. That's why the citizens of Trondheim, a tiny town in rural Ontario, are so grateful for the protection of a renowned family of slayers like the Thorskards. It's also why Siobhan, a gifted musician, agrees to become bard (and algebra tutor) to trainee slayer Owen Thorskard and to join his family's campaign to return dragon slaying to its roots. Along with its sequel, Prairie Fire, this inventive spin on dragon lore will enchant readers with its strong characters, quirky humor, and intricate world-building. |
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| The truth commission by Susan JubyTo complete a "creative nonfiction" project for their Vancouver Island art school, Normandy Pale and her friends form the Truth Commission: each week, they ask students or faculty members to reveal the facts behind a piece of gossip. The results are both enlightening and unsettling, and Normandy realises that there are times when she'd rather not know the truth -- especially if it involves her sister Keira, who's suddenly back from college and just as hostile as ever. "Hilarious, deliciously provocative and slyly thought-provoking" (Kirkus Reviews), The Truth Commission will remind readers that honesty is rarely as simple as it seems. |
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| The unlikely hero of room 13B by Teresa TotenFrom the very first moment he sees her in Young Adult OCD Support Group, 14-year-old Adam knows that he has to save Robyn Plummer. True, the need to protect people -- like his struggling divorced mom and his anxious younger brother -- drives many of Adam's habits and rituals, but he's sure he can do better where Robyn is concerned. A connection as powerful as theirs has got to be stronger than either of their compulsions…doesn't it? Similar to Corey Ann Haydu's OCD Love Story, The Unlikely Hero of Room 13 B offers a complex, first-person look at falling in love while living with mental illness. |
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| Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-JonesForced to leave home in order to escape his abusive stepfather, homeless teen Brent -- aka "Blink" due to a facial tic -- is scavenging for room-service leftovers in a hotel hallway when he witnesses the kidnapping of an oil company's CEO. Another street kid, Kitty (nicknamed "Caution, as in Toxic"), stays with her violent, drug-dealer boyfriend because she doesn't believe she deserves any better. After Blink leaves the scene of the kidnapping and Caution flees from her boyfriend, the two of them are drawn together -- and may end up being each other's salvation. Set in Toronto and narrated alternately by various characters, Blink & Caution is a gritty, fast-paced, and beautifully written novel with more than a tinge of noir. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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