Publisher: HarperTeen
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/03/2012
ISBN-13: 9780062089649
ISBN-10: 0062089641

Urban Fantasy. Mel and her best friends Cathy and Anna all live in New Whitby, a Maine town that was founded by vampires, but despite the night-creatures' government status as a protected group, Mel believes that vamps and humans shouldn't mix. When Francis, a 150-year-old vampire, enrolls at their school -- and Cathy starts falling for him -- Mel realizes that it's up to her to save Cathy from a mistake she might literally regret for eternity. Smart, laugh-out-loud funny, and as much a commentary on the teen vampire romance genre as an example of it, this irreverent parody is also an insightful and captivating story of friendship, romance, family, and what it means to be on "team human."

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/05/2012
ISBN-13: 9780312569037
ISBN-10: 0312569033

Suspense Fiction. When a monster hailstorm hits their town, 14 kids of all ages are trapped inside a superstore to weather it. But, as they learn from the sole TV that's still working, their nightmare has only begun. A volcanic eruption has triggered a massive chain of apocalyptic events, including a mega-storm that destroyed a research facility and released a poison cloud of experimental toxins into the atmosphere. This intense, dramatic, and often violent read delves into social and survival dynamics and will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Fans of Stephen Wallenfels' POD, Will Weaver's The Survivors, or Susan Pfeffer's Life as We Knew It, this is for you.

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Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/01/2012
ISBN-13: 9780545399326
ISBN-10: 0545399327

Nonfiction. Have you ever written a letter to your future self as a school assignment -- a letter that's meant to stay sealed until you reach 30 or 40? Well, in this anthology, 65 gay, lesbian, and bisexual authors do the opposite. They've written heartfelt, candid letters to their teenaged selves (and to GLBT teens today) to send the message that, as the well-known video project promises, things do get better. Ranging from heartbreaking to funny to wise and always hopeful, The Letter Q is powerful encouragement for queer kids who may be struggling with family issues, bullying, or just being true to themselves.

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Publisher: Viking
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/14/2012
ISBN-13: 9780670013326
ISBN-10: 0670013323

Mystery. Sixteen-year-old Violet doesn't have any exciting plans for the summer -- that is, until her dad is commissioned to paint a mural in Tokyo, and Violet, who is heavily into manga and Japanese culture, gets to tag along. And when her dad's clients are the victims of a major art theft, Violet veers into dangerous territory by attempting to find and foil the culprits herself. While there are no drawings in Tokyo Heist, the story has a distinct manga sensibility and lots of details that will lure Japanophiles, and it's a thrilling, twist-filled caper with plenty to please action and romance fans as well.

Publisher: Random House
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/26/2012
ISBN-13: 9780375969386
ISBN-10: 0375969381

Historical Fantasy. Mixed-race Callie LeRoux has always passed for white in her Depression-era Kansas town. But after her mother disappears in a huge dust storm, Callie meets a stranger who reveals that Callie's father (whom she's never met) is not only a black man, but a fairy -- and that Callie may be instrumental in a burgeoning war between the courts of the fae. Setting out on a quest to find her parents with a young hobo named Jack, Callie faces magical dangers at every turn. Packed with atmospheric period details, intriguing characters, action, and suspense, this is a good pick for fans of Arthur Slade's Dust.

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Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 02/08/2011
ISBN-13: 9780763645625
ISBN-10: 0763645621

Short Stories. There's a basketball court known as "The Cage" at the corner of New York City's West 4th Street and Sixth Avenue; it's busy all day with fiercely competitive pick-up games. That real-life court is the setting for these nine fictional stories that share many of the same characters (but are written by different authors). With drama both on and off the court, these realistic vignettes have action that will thrill hoops fans and great characters to draw in those who know nothing about the game.

Publisher: Atheneum Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 5/20/2008
ISBN-13: 9781416947325
ISBN-10: 1416947329

Fiction. After graduating from high school, best friends Win and Chris take a cross-country bicycle trek from West Virginia to Washington state, during which they discover amazingly beautiful places, meet fascinating people...and have a nasty fight. Win abandons Chris in Montana with no explanation, so Chris finishes the trip solo and returns home to start college...and until an FBI agent shows up to question him about the details of their trip, Chris has no idea that Win never made it back. Outdoor types, armchair travelers, and mystery fans won't be able to flip these pages fast enough.

Publisher: Viking
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/13/2010
ISBN-13: 9780670011858
ISBN-10: 0670011851

Fiction. Desperate to escape being sent to boarding school, 16-year-old P.K. runs away from home to have rock-climbing adventures with a guy she just met, Critter. He's on the run, too -- from a mental institution -- but the experience that landed Critter in the hospital changed him for the better, and he and P.K. embark on a journey that is dangerous, enlightening, and passionate. Told from both characters' viewpoints in alternating chapters, this fast-moving, exhilarating love story balances action-packed climbing and chase sequences with vulnerable characters and emotional depth.

Publisher: Atheneum Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/25/2009
ISBN-13: 9781416947455
ISBN-10: 1416947450

Fiction. Sophomore defensive back Jomo Rogers trains hard to be the best -- but is it enough? Discouraged by his football coach and friends' constant comments about his size, Jomo loses patience and considers using steroids to bulk up, despite the risks. More than a play-by-play of gridiron action, this is a story about difficult choices and their effects on other people, especially loved ones. But don't worry, Shooting Star isn't sentimental or overly dramatic -- it's an honest, layered novel about complex, believable characters grappling with real-life issues.

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Publisher: Atheneum Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/21/2009
ISBN-13: 9781416911777
ISBN-10: 1416911774

Fiction. When he was 12 years old, Wyatt left his neglectful parents and went on the road with his traveling-salesman uncle, Spade. Their life is unpredictable, poor, and more than a little sketchy. Always looking for a way to make a buck, Uncle Spade hits on the idea of promoting Wyatt -- who is big, strong, and has a violent temper -- as a bare-knuckle fighter, and for a while it seems as though Wyatt will never lose. No ordinary sports novel, Why I Fight is a gritty, disturbing read that digs deep into Wyatt's tortured psyche and yet offers hope that he can create a better life on his own terms.

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