Spine Breakers

Spotlight: The Orphan of Awkward Falls by Keith Graves

2011-12-22T16:59:00.000-08:00

The ORPHAN of AWKWARD FALLS
by Keith Graves
Available Now! Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
ISBN-13: 978-0811878142, Chronicle Books, 256 pages. Ages 12 & Up.

When thirteen-year-old Josephine moves to Awkward Falls she can t help but snoop around the dilapidated mansion next door. Inevitably, she is captured by the house s strange inhabitants: an ancient automaton who serves as a butler, a cat patched together with a few odd parts, and most surprising of all, a boy named Thaddeus Hibble. Meanwhile, Fetid Stenchley the most feared patient in the Asylum for the Dangerously Insane is on the loose after making a dramatic escape, and there is only one thing on his mind...revenge. Unfortunately for Josephine and Thaddeus, he s headed their way. Can these unlikely friends stop Stenchley before it s too late? With a penchant for spooky details, surprising twists, and haunting illustrations, Keith Graves delivers a suspenseful and engaging first novel.

Spotlight: Wildwood by Colin Melody & Carson Ellis

2011-12-22T16:49:00.000-08:00

WILDWOOD

The Wildwood Chronicles, Book One

by Colin Melody, Carson Ellis

Available Now! Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, IndieBound

ISBN-13: 978-0062024688, Balzer + Brey, 560 pages. Ages 9 and Up.

Prue McKeel’s life is ordinary. At least until her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows. And then things get really weird.

You see, on every map of Portland, Oregon, there is a big splotch of green on the edge of the city labeled “I.W.” This stands for “Impassable Wilderness.” No one’s ever gone in—or at least returned to tell of it.

And this is where the crows take her brother.

So begins an adventure that will take Prue and her friend Curtis deep into the Impassable Wilderness. There they uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval, a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much bigger as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness.

A wilderness the locals call Wildwood.

Wildwood is a spellbinding tale full of wonder, danger, and magic that juxtaposes the thrill of a secret world and modern city life. Original and fresh yet steeped in classic fantasy, this is a novel that could have only come from the imagination of Colin Meloy, celebrated for his inventive and fantastic storytelling as the lead singer of the Decemberists. With dozens of intricate and beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Carson Ellis, Wildwood is truly a new classic for the twenty-first century.

What I'm Excited About: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

2011-12-22T15:58:00.000-08:00

The HERO'S GUIDE to SAVING YOUR KINGDOM

by Christopher Healey, Todd harris (illustrator)

Ages 8 and up.

ISBN-13: 978-0062117434, Walden Pond Press, 419 pages.

Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

Newcomer Christopher Healy bursts onto the middle-grade scene with the story of four imperfect princes, four improbable princesses, and one hilariously unforgettable adventure.

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming.

But all of this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger all of their kingdoms. Now it’s up to them to triumph over their varoius shortcomings, face off against bandits, trolls, witches, and dragons, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

Debut author Christopher Healy takes us on a journey with four imperfect princes and their four improbable princesses who are all trying to become perfect heroes—a fast-paced, funny, and fresh introduction to a world where everything, even our classic fairy tales, is not at all what it seems.

What I'm Excited About: The Creepover Series

2011-08-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

TRUTH OR DARE

You're Invited to a Creepover Novel 1
by PJ Night

Coming 06/07/11 to a slumber party near you!
During a round of Truth or Dare, Abby Miller confesses her crush on Jake Chilson. The only people who know her secret are her friends at the sleepover—and whoever sent her a text message in the middle of the night warning her to stay away from Jake…or else!
But Abby isn’t going to stay away from Jake, especially not after he asks her to the school dance.
As the night of the dance comes closer, some very creepy things start happening to Abby. Someone definitely wants to keep her away from Jake. Is it a jealous classmate or, as Abby begins to suspect, could it be a ghost?

A lifelong night owl, P.J. Night often works furiously into the wee hours of the morning, writing down spooky tales and dreaming up new stories of the supernatural and otherworldly. Although P.J.’s whereabouts are unknown at this time, we suspect the author lives in a drafty, old mansion where the floorboards creak when no one is there and the flickering candlelight creates shadows that creep along the walls. We truly wish we could tell you more, but we’ve been sworn to keep P.J.’s identity a secret…and it’s a secret we will take to our graves!

YOU CAN'T COME IN HERE

You're Invited to a Creepover Novel 2

by P.J. Night

Coming 06/07/11 to your front door!

Emily Hunter loves hanging out with her new neighbors. From their decked-out rec room to their almost-professional guitar playing, Drew and Vicky Strig are super cool.

The only bummer is that Drew and Vicky are homeschooled and Emily's other friends haven't gotten to know them yet. So Emily comes up with a plan for everyone to meet--a big party and sleepover at her house!

But as Emily gets ready for the party, she begins to wonder about Drew and Vicky. They won't let Emily into certain rooms in their house. And a wolf howls on their lawn every night. Is it only Emily's overactive imagination or are the new neighbors more than just a little strange?

And look for Ready for a Scare, Book Three in the Creepover Series coming 08/30/11. As well as The Show Must Go On, Creepover Book Four coming 12/20/11! These books remind me of a "more mature" version of the Magic Trixie Series!

What I'm Excited About: Among the Ghosts by Amber Benson

2011-05-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

AMONG the GHOSTS
by Amber Benson
Coming 08/31/11

Noh, a slightly eccentric girl whose father is constantly traveling, moves in with her aunt, a teacher at the gothic New Newbridge Academy. The Academy has a strange, storied history but Noh feels right at home there.

She’s startled to meet several other kids while investigating an old, burned-out dormitory on the far end of campus, especially since the teachers keep telling her that no students reside at the school during the summer.

Soon, Noh discovers that these other students are actually ghosts and that she’s the only "realie" who can see them . . . and, when the ghosts start disappearing, the only one who can save them!

Amber Benson is the writer of the Calliope Reaper-Jones series, and actress most notably from Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV Series.

HOW did I miss this series? Scream Street by Tommy Donbavand

2011-05-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

Scream Street is a series of 13 comedy horror novels by Tommy Donbavand. It tells the tale of Luke Watson who, after he begins to change into a werewolf, causes his family to be moved to Scream Street – a secure location for vampires, zombies, monsters and more.

Luke quickly makes friends with a young vampire called Resus Negative, and Cleo Farr, an Egyptian mummy. His parents, however, are terrified of their new neighbours, and Luke sets out to find a way to take them out of Scream Street and back home.-- from Tommy's website.

Fang of the Vampire

Scream Street Book One

by Tommy Donbavand

After Luke Watson transforms into a werewolf for the third time, he and his parents are moved by the Government Housing of Unusual Lifeforms (G.H.O.U.L.) to Scream Street – a community of vampires, zombies, witches and more.

In Scream Street, Luke and his parents discover a nightmarish world of the undead. Luke soon makes friends with vampire Resus Negative and mummy Cleo Farr, but he remains determined to take his terrified parents home. After liberating the powerful book Tales of Scream Street from his new landlord, Otto Sneer, Luke learns that the founding fathers of the community each left behind a powerful relic. Collecting together all six is his only hope of opening a doorway out of the street, so with the help of Resus and Cleo he sets out to find the first one, the vampire’s fang. But with Otto Sneer determined to thwart him at every turn, will Luke even get past the first hurdle alive?

Blood of the Witch

Scream Street Book Two

Luke is back and on the hunt for the second relic in this spooktacular next instalment in the Scream Street series.

In Scream Street, discarded blood from cuts, grazes and nosebleeds is filtered out of the sewerage system and channelled to the vampire residents via taps in their kitchens. Urgh! In an underhand attempt to force Luke to return Samuel Skipstone’s powerful Tales of Scream Street, Sir Otto Sneer cuts off the blood supply to the house of Luke’s best friend, Resus Negative. Desperate for blood, Alston Negative, Resus’s father, enrages a group of sewer rats, inadvertently creating a swarm of vampire rodents which rise up out of the sewers to attack the residents of the street. Luke, Resus and Cleo must save Scream Street from the rats while searching for the second of the founding fathers’ relics, a vial of witch's blood – and without being turned into vampires themselves.

Heart of the Mummy

Scream Street Book Three

It's mummy madness in the third thrilling story in the Scream Street series. Will our hero Luke ever get this one wrapped up?

Scream Street has been shrouded in constant night for as long as the residents can remember, but when the streets become covered with millions of crawling spiders, suffocating everything in their path with their thick webbing, the residents realize they’ve had it easy up until now! Meanwhile Luke and his friends are searching for the third relic of the founding fathers, the heart of an ancient mummy, in their quest to return Luke’s parents to the real world. Matters are further complicated when Cleo’s mother turns up out of the blue, having been supposedly lost at sea and missing for many centuries. Luke becomes suspicious, wondering if there's more to Cleo’s mummy than meets the eye – but can he persuade Cleo and her father to believe him before it’s too late?

Flesh of the Zombie

Scream Street Book Four

Rock out with a zombie in the next spook-tacular episode of Scream Street. Bwah-ha-ha!

Party-loving zombies Doug, Turf and Berry are psyched, man! The underworld’s greatest rock festival, Deadstock, is taking place in Scream Street and the community is soon swamped with rotting revellers from across the globe. It appears that Luke, Resus and Cleo will have a soundtrack to their search for the fourth relic – a slice of flesh from a long-vanished zombie. But Sir Otto Sneer has other plans. After an unsuccessful attempt to pull the plug on the concert, he banishes the headlining band, Brain Drain, to the evil Underlands. Now the race is on for Luke and his friends to bring them back – before it's too late...

Skull of the Skeleton

Scream Street Book Five

Make no bones about it! There’s a headhunt underway — and Luke is closing in on the final relic — as the Scream Street series screeches ahead!

None other than the Headless Horseman, the world’s most famous ghost, is appearing at Everwell’s Emporium to launch his new perfume, “Decapitation pour l’Homme.” Unfortunately, the celebrity’s head is stolen during the event, and his overbearing gargoyle manager is not amused. Eefa Everwell recruits Luke, Resus, and Cleo to help with the search, but Luke is on a headhunt of his own: he’s searching for a skull left behind by Scream Street’s first skeleton resident. Of course, Sir Otto Sneer is determined to thwart the trio — and when he launches a Frankenstein-esque monster, it’s all they can do to keep their own heads!

Claw of the Werewolf

Scream Street Book Six

Make no bones about it! There’s a headhunt underway — and Luke is closing in on the final relic — as the Scream Street series screeches ahead!

Luke is just one relic away from opening the doorway back to his own world and taking his parents away from the terrors of Scream Street! But the final search threatens to plunge him into the most dangerous adventure yet. With the help of Resus and Cleo, Luke is desperately hunting for the claw of a werewolf — and in the process he learns something most unexpected about Samuel Skipstone, the author who has helped them so much on their quest. This forces the trio into making a difficult decision, made harder by the witch convention taking place on Scream Street. The sixth and final relic is almost in Luke’s grasp, but will it ever be his?

Invasions of the Normals

Scream Street Book Seven

The spine-tingling seventh book in the Scream Street series.

Now that Luke and his parents have decided to stay, their quest to open a doorway out of Scream Street seems but a distant memory. Finally, it's time to just sit back and relax...Or is it? Luke, Resus and Cleo soon discover, to their horror, that the doorway cannot be closed - and not only that, but others from the real world are pouring in by the dozen. Eager to witness the 'freaks' in action, the crazed normals are frightening the residents of the street out of their wits. Luke and his friends need to work out how to close the doorway, and fast - but despite their best efforts, the solution seems to elude them. As Sir Otto continues to reap the benefits of this lucrative new freak-tourism, things look increasingly grim for the community. Is this the end for Scream Street as we know it? Four full-colour collector's cards are there inside!

Attack of the Trolls

Scream Street Book Eight

The eighth crazy adventure in this hugely popular comedy horror series for ghouls and girls!

Now that Luke, Resus and Cleo have learnt how to rid Scream Street of invading normals, they're keen to begin their new quest right away. First stop, Count Negatov's castle! As the trio make their way through the bleak, mucky wilds of Transylvania, it seems that this adventure will be dull, but easy. Until, that is, they're kidnapped by trolls. 'Exactly the sort of grisly, gross and hilarious stuff that kids will love!' - Eoin Colfer. 'Lightning-paced, bloodcurdling fun. I wish I'd been able to visit Scream Street as a kid!' - Darren Shan. This title includes four free collector's cards inside. Wickedly funny Scream Street website is updated regularly with competitions, short stories and new issues of Scream Street's own newspaper, "The Terror Times".

Terror of the Nightwatchmen

Scream Street Book Nine

The Nightwatchman: striking fear into the hearts of dreamers…

When Luke and Resus wake up to discover that Cleo has been kidnapped, the intrepid pair follow a perplexing trail into a strange new GHOUL community. Here they stumble upon a terrible plot involving the much feared Nightwatchman, who feeds on children's dreams in order to satisfy his own evil thirst for power. Can the boys continue the quest and return the second relic, while rescuing Cleo from her greatest nightmare? The ninth crazy adventure in this hugely popular comedy horror series for ghouls and girls.

Rampage of the Goblins

Scream Street Book Ten

Goblins: mean, smelly … and full of gas! Life in Scream Street is becoming unbearable and Luke, Resus and Cleo need to speed up their quest to save the street.

This time Luke, Resus and Cleo find themselves in Egypt, land of the pharaohs, on the hunt for their old friend Heru to return his heart. However, what they hadn't reckoned on was their old enemies the goblins getting there first! With a shoal of vicious scaremaids on the warpath and an ancient curse looming, there's only one thing that could make things worse ... those pesky goblins! Intent on stealing the priceless treasure from the ancient mummy’s resting place, the goblins are wreaking havoc – and if Luke and his friends don’t stop them, the mighty curse of the pharaohs will be unleashed…

Hunger of the Yeti

Scream Street Book Eleven

Yetis: fierce, hairy … and ready to eat anything!

Given that rock zombie Vein is now living in deepest darkest Tibet, the quest to return his tongue proves surprisingly easy for Luke, Resus and Cleo. What the trio hadn't bargained on, however, was a ravenous baby yeti stowed away in Resus's cloak and following them home! When the yeti's angry mother appears in Scream Street in search of her missing offspring, things really start to get hairy. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking...

The eleventh crazy adventure in this hugely popular comedy horror series for ghouls and girls.

The Secret of the Changeling

Scream Street Book Twelve

Coming July 07, 2011

What IS the changeling’s secret…?

Just as Luke, Resus and Cleo are working out how to return the fifth relic, a whole new problem presents itself: Eefa Everwell's toddler niece, Poppy, has been replaced by a changeling! And the real Poppy is being held captive in the fairy realm by the evil Crimson Queen... Eefa and her sister are inconsolable, and the three friends vow to rescue the child and bring her safely back to Scream Street. However, the fairy realm holds plenty of surprises – most of them bad. And when Resus becomes tempted to change sides, things get a whole lot more complicated...

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

2011-05-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

The GIRL who CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND in a SHIP of HER OWN MAKING

by Catherynne M. Valente
Available May 10, 2011

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland.

The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.

The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman

2011-05-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

THE SECRET LIFE OF MS. FINKLEMAN
by Ben H. Winters
Paperback Coming 09/20/11
Hardcover Available Now!

Combine the middle school appeal of Andrew Clements with the madcap adventure of School of Rock and you get Ben H. Winters’ irresistible tween novelThe Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman!

It all starts with a special project in Mr. Melville’s history class: Solve a mystery in your own life. For seventh grader Bethesda Fielding, one mystery is too tempting to ignore—Ms. Finkleman. Bethesda is convinced that her mousy music fundamentals teacher is hiding a secret life, but no one is prepared for what she learns. Ms. Finkleman used to be...a rock star?! But the case isn’t quite closed, and Bethesda and her friend Tenny won’t stop until they solve the Finkleman mystery once and for all!

Part rollicking adventure, part quirky mystery, and 100 percent fun, The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman is a perfect story for both boys and girls. Readers will wish they were in this seventh grade class, and will long to ROCK like Bethesda and her friends.

“With The Secret Life, Winters applies a light touch that fuses youthful, scholarly exuberance with the inspirational power of rock ’n’ roll. A fast-paced and unjaded book that is sure to delight.”
—Los Angeles Times Book Review

I've always wanted a continuation to the movie School of Rock. I remember seeing the credits roll and thinking that I needed more. So in a way, I feel like I'm getting that with this book, SLoMF, sounds like a rollicking good time. I can't wait! We can also look forward to the upcoming sequel, The Mystery of the Missing Everything coming September 20, 2011- details to follow.

What I'm Excited ABout: Liesel & Po by Lauren Oliver

2011-05-01T06:03:00.000-07:00

LIESL & PO
by Lauren Oliver, illustrated by Kei Acedera
Coming to haunt you 10/04/11

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a spectacular and luminous middle-grade novel of ghosts and magic, friendship and homecoming.

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother, Augusta. Lonely and grieving for her recently deceased father, Liesl is surprised one evening by Po, a ghost who suddenly appears in her room. The two instantly become friends, and it is because of Po that Liesl manages to escape from the attic and embark on an extraordinary journey.

But the journey is not without danger. Augusta won’t allow Liesl to slip away so easily. Due to a string of coincidences and mix-ups, Liesl comes into possession of a box that contains much more than she realizes: It holds the most powerful magic in the world. And the alchemist who created that magic desperately wants it back.

In her first middle-grade novel, Lauren Oliver magnificently blends the otherworldliness of The Graveyard Book, the bravery of The Tale of Despereaux, and the emotional resonance of Charlotte’s Web into a wholly new and unforgettable story that glows with its own rare magic. Breathtaking black-and-white illustrations by Kei Acedera evoke the wonder and poignancy of Lauren Oliver’s writing, and together the words and images combine to create an ineffably remarkable book.

Lauren Oliver is the author of the fantastic and unique dystopian YA novel, Delirium. It's an absolute must read, I cannot wait to see what she's created with Liesl and Po!

What I'm Excited About: City of Orphans by Avi

2011-04-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

CITY of ORPHANS
by Avi, illustrated by Greg Ruth
Coming 09/06/11

The streets of 1893 New York are full of life: crowded, filthy, dangerous. If you are a newsboy like thirteen-year- old Maks Geless, you need to watch out for Bruno, leader of the Plug Ugly Gang whose shadowy, sinister boss is plotting to take control of all the newsies on the lower East Side. With Bruno’s boys in fierce pursuit, Maks discovers Willa, a strange girl who lives alone in an alley. It is she, stick in hand, who fights off the Plug Uglies--but further dangers await. Maks must find a way to free his sister Emma from The Tombs, the city jail where she has been imprisoned for stealing a watch at the glamorous new Waldorf Hotel. Maks, believing her innocent, has only four days to prove it.

Fortunately, there is Bartleby Donck, the eccentric lawyer (among other employments) to guide Maks and Willa in the art of detection. Alive with the sights, the sounds of tenement New York, Maks, as boy detective, must confront a teeming world of wealth and crime, while struggling against powerful forces threatening new immigrants and the fabric of family love.

What I'm Excited About: The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

2011-04-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

The UNWANTEDS
by Lisa McMann
Coming 08/30/11

Quill prevails when the strong survive. Using this notion as the core of their society, the people of Quill partake in a yearly ceremony, wherein children at the age of thirteen are divided into three categories--the Wanteds, the Necessaries, and the Unwanteds. Wanted children will move on to schooling and training to join the Quillitary and fufill their roles in maintaining an efficient life for all, while Necessaries will take on farm work and similar duties. Any child who has shown a propensity toward emotion or creativity is deemed Unwanted, and sent for elimination.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret--behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime, where every Unwanted child has been welcomed by a man named Mr. Today. Artime is a special place full of art, music, theater, and magic, where each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments.

Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation. But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

What I'm Excited About: The Juniper Berry

2011-04-26T06:03:00.000-07:00

The Juniper Berry
by M.P. Kozlowsky
Out Today April 26, 2011

uniper's parents have not been themselves lately. In fact, they have been cold, disinterested and cruel. And lonely Juniper Berry, and her equally beset friend, Giles, are determined to figure out why.

On a cold and rainy night Juniper follows her parents as they sneak out of the house and enter the woods. What she discovers is an underworld filled with contradictions: one that is terrifying and enticing, lorded over by a creature both sinister and seductive, who can sell you all the world's secrets in a simple red balloon. For the first time, Juniper and Giles have a choice to make. And it will be up to them to confront their own fears in order to save the ones who couldn't.

M.P. Kozlowsky's debut novel is a modern-day fairy tale of terror, temptation, and ways in which it is our choices that make us who we are.

What I'm Excited About- The Hunter Chronicles: Return to Exile by E.J. Patten

2011-04-25T06:06:00.000-07:00

RETURN TO EXILE
The Hunter Chronicles
by E.J. Patten
Coming 09/06/11

ONE BOY. UNTOLD ENEMIES. A WHOLE WORLD TO SAVE. TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

Eleven years ago, a shattered band of ancient hunters captured an unimaginable evil and Phineas T. Pimiscule rescued his nephew, Sky, from the wreckage of that great battle. For eleven years, Sky Weathers has studied traps, puzzles, science, and the secret lore of the Hunters of Legend, believing it all a game. For eleven years, Sky and his family have hidden from dark enemies while, unbeknownst to Sky, his uncle Phineas sacrificed everything to protect them. For eleven years, Sky Weathers has known nothing of that day. But on the eve of Sky’s twelfth birthday and his family’s long-awaited return to Exile, everything changes. Phineas has disappeared, and Sky finds himself forced to confront the mysterious secrets he’s denied for so long: why did his family leave Exile on that day so long ago? What, exactly, has Phineas been preparing him for? And, the biggest mystery of all, who is Sky really and why does everyone want to kill him?!

What I'm Excited About: The Girl with the Silver Eyes

2011-04-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

The GIRL with the SILVER EYES
by Wilo Davis Roberts
New Reprint Version Available Now

Katie Welker is used to being alone. She would rather read a book than deal with other people. Other people don’t have silver eyes. Other people can’t make things happen just by thinking about them!

But these special powers make Katie unusual, and it’s hard to make friends when you’re unusual. Katie knows that she’s different but she’s never done anything to hurt anyone so why is everyone afraid of her? Maybe there are other kids out there who have the same silver eyes . . . and the same talents . . . and maybe they’ll be willing to help her.

Just Being Audrey

2011-04-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Just Being Audrey
by Margaret Cardillo, illustrated by Julia Denos
Available Now!

A stunning picture-book tribute to one of America’s most beloved fashion, cinematic, and philanthropic icons—Audrey Hepburn

From Roman Holiday to Breakfast at Tiffany’s, when Audrey Hepburn starred in a movie, she lit up the screen. Her unique sense of fashion, her grace, and, most important, her spirit made her beloved by generations. But her life offscreen was even more luminous. As a little girl growing up in Nazi-occupied Europe, she learned early on that true kindness is the greatest measure of a person—and it was a lesson she embodied as she became one of the first actresses to use her celebrity to shine a light on the impoverished children of the world, through her work with UNICEF.

"Audrey Hepburn proves as irresistible a character in the pages of a children's book as she is in those soigné roles of the silver screen." - Publishers Weekly

This is a beautiful for adults and children alike. I was blown away by the the gorgeous illustrations, in fact I wish they were available as pictures to frame.

This is Audrey Hepburn as a little girl, an actress, an icon, an inspiration; this is Audrey just being Audrey.

2010-09-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Wings
Mysterious Mr. Spines Book 1
by Jason Lethcoe, Scott Altmann (Illustrator)

When Edward’s mother dies, his aunt sends him to a school for troubled youths. There, Edward develops an itch in his back that he can’t scratch, and when he gets angry it seems like he can move things with his mind. When the itch erupts into a set of wings, an evil teacher tries to cut them off. Edward is rescued by Mr. Spines, who reveals that Edward is a Guardian, a magical being who guards and guides souls in the Woodbine, a stopover between life and death.

Edward will now have to battle the most evil force in the Woodbine, the Jackal, and his army of fallen Guardians. They have destroyed the bridges that lead to the afterlife, trapping countless souls. Edward is unprepared for so much responsibility and he runs away and becomes lost in the Woodbine. There he must find his own voice and learn to master his powers as he is pulled from side to side by magical forces he is only beginning to understand.

Flight
Mysterious Mr. Spines Book 2
by Jason Lethcoe, Scott Altmann (Illustrator)

Edward McLeod has had his world turned upside down. He-s grown wings, escaped from the clutches of Whiplash Scruggs, a fallen Guardian bent on cutting off those same wings, and, with the help of the mysterious Mr. Spines, ended up in a section of the afterlife known as the Woodbine. Now, with the help of his new friends,

Edward must master his Guardian powers and set off on his journey to rescue his mother-s soul from the most evil force in the afterlife, the Jackal. Along the way he-ll discover that Mr. Spines is actually his father and that he really is the only one who can restore peace to the Woodbine. In the end, he makes it to the Jackal-s fortress and is ready to fight his final battle in the last installment of the trilogy

2010-09-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

Little Hands Clapping

by Dan Rhodes

In a room above a bizarre German museum, and far from the prying eyes of strangers, lives the Old Man. Caretaker of the museum by day, by night he enjoys the sound of silence, broken by the occasional crunch of a spider between his blackened teeth.

Little Hands Clapping brings together the Old Man with the respectable Doctor Ernst Frohlicher, his greedy dog Hans and a cast of grotesque and hilarious townsfolk, all of whose lives are thrown together as the town uncovers a crime so outrageous that it will shock the world.

From its sinister opening to its explosive denouement, Little Hands Clapping blends lavishly entertaining storytelling with Rhodes's macabre imagination, entrancing originality and magical touch.

2010-09-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

The Secret of Zoom
by Lynne Jonell

Can two friends foil a dastardly plan and save orphans from a fate worse than death?

Christina lives in a big old house on the edge of a dark forest. Deep within the forest is the laboratory where her father works—and where her mother was blown to bits years ago. Christina has always envied the orphans who live down the road, so she’s thrilled to meet Taft and help him escape through a secret tunnel. But soon, she discovers there’s more to the orphanage, the lab, and the mystery of her mother’s accident than she ever suspected. Sinister things are in the works—and the secret of zoom is the most dangerous secret of all!

A Junior Library Guild Selection and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.

Spellbinder
by Helen Stringer

A girl who sees ghosts must fi nd out why all of them—including her dead parents—have suddenly disappeared.

Belladonna Johnson can see ghosts, but what twelve-year-old wants to be caught talking to someone invisible? It is convenient, though, after Belladonna’s parents are killed in a car accident. They can live with her the same as always. Nothing has changed . . . until everything changes. One night, they vanish into thin air—along with every other ghost in the world. With the help of her classmate Steve, a master of sneaking and spying, Belladonna sets out to learn what’s happened to the spirits and tries to navigate a whole
world her parents have kept hidden. If she can’t fi nd her way, she’ll lose them again—this time for good. In her sparkling debut novel, Helen Stringer spins a ghost story that’s spine-tingling, sensitive, and dead funny.

From Spellbinder:
“She’s home!”
Belladonna’s father poked his head out of the sitting room. And that was the problem
right there, really. Where most fathers would have poked their heads out of the sitting room door, Mr.Johnson poked his right through the middle of the wall. “Did you bring the paper?”
Belladonna looked at him reprovingly. He immediately vanished back into the sitting
room and reappeared in the doorway.
“Sorry,” he said. “I forgot. Did you bring the paper?”
“Honestly, Dad, anyone passing by could’ve seen you through the window!”
He took the paper and turned back into the sitting room with a shrug. “No one can see me. Only you.”

Belladonna followed him in, exasperated. “Gran can see you. Lots of people can see ghosts; you see them talking about it on the telly all the time.”
“Charlatans,” muttered her father, settling down an inch above his favorite chair.

2010-09-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

Reckless
by Cornelia Funke
09/14/10

For years, Jacob Reckless has been secretly disappearing to the world behind the mirror, the world for which his father abandoned his family. Jacob’s secret seems safe, until one day his younger brother Will follows him, with disastrous consequence. Faced with a curse that is quickly turning Will to stone, the brothers are thrust into a race against time to find a cure before Will is lost forever. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, master storyteller Cornelia Funke introduces a lush, enchanting world, filled with danger, mystery, and magic, with fairy tales and legends re-imagined as never before.

Excerpt

The mirror. He still remembered very well the day his father had mounted it on the wall. It hung between the shelves like a shimmering eye, a glassy abyss that cast back a warped reflection of everything John Reckless had left behind: his desk, the old pistols, his books—and his elder son.

The glass was so uneven one could barely recognize one’s own reflection, and it was darker than other mirrors, but the rose tendrils winding across the silver frame looked so real they seemed ready to wilt at any moment.

Jacob closed his eyes.

He turned his back to the mirror. He felt behind the frame for some kind of lock or latch.

And every time, his reflection was looking him straight in the eye.

It took a while before Jacob understood.

THE MIRROR WILL OPEN ONLY FOR HE WHO CANNOT SEE HIMSELF

June 1st through July 31!

2010-06-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

What am I looking forward to? Suddenly Supernatural: Crossing Over

2010-05-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

05/01/10

Suddenly Supernatural:

Crossing Over

by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Medium-in-training Kat is one year older and feeling a whole lot wiser when it comes to healing the living dead. But when her spirit-seeing mother volunteers to chaperone her class trip to Old Montreal, Kat’s problems become drop-dead serious. From dealing with French Canadian ghosts to trying to win the heart of her former bio lab partner and top-secret crush, Kat is finding beaucoup drama on this border and boundary-crossing adventure. Elizabeth Cody Kimmel channels her inner middle-school self as she captures the challenges of surviving middle school with supernatural charm. A career children’s book author, Elizabeth lives in Cold Spring, New York. You can visit her online at www.codykimmel.com.

Visit the Suddenly Supernatural series website at www.suddenlysupernatural.com.

Creepy Cinderella!

2010-04-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

Cinderella Skeleton
by Robert D. San Souci

Meet Cinderella Skeleton,
the sweetest, foulest ghoul in the land.

Poor Cinderella! She has no one to help her hang cobwebs and arrange dead flowers- certainly not her evil step sisters. But the Halloween Ball is just around the corner....

Will Cinderella find happiness at last?

Cinderella Skeleton's
Stepsisters dressed in fancy cloths;
But she had only hand-me-downs,
The other's torn and tattered gowns.
Her shoes had worn-out tops and soles-
In fact, they were so full of holes
They showed off all her boney toes.

Cinderella Skeleton
Asked for help with household chores
But Stepmother Skreech began to shout,
"You're lucky I don't throw you out!
My girls are gems! You're common clay!
How dare you even think that they
Should streak the windwos and strew the floors!"

Dreaming outside the box

2010-03-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

Ballerino Nate
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
pictures by R.W. Alley
--------------------------------
Nate has the heart of a dancer, and he is determined to learn ballet. Even his older brother, Ben, can't change his mind with his claims that "boy's don't." Or can he?

"Nate loved the ballet. He loved the fluttery costumes that the dancers wore. He loved the way the dancers jumped and leaped and spun. He Loved the way their movements looked like music."

When Ben tells Nate that he'll have to wear pink shoes and a dress, Nate becomes awfully worries. And when he's the only boy in his ballet class, he begins to think that Ben is right: Maybe boys don't dance.

"Nate hated shoes. He hated pink. He hated dresses. All summer long he had
danced in bare feet and shorts.He started to cry."

Exuberant and true-to-childhood, this is a warm and funny story about sibling sqabbles, the joy of ballet, and best of all, grabbing hold of your dreams.

Be careful what you wish for...

2010-02-18T13:30:00.001-08:00

The Garden of Eve

by K.L. Going

Read chapter One

When Evie reluctantly moves with her father to upstate New York, where he has bought an apple orchard, they dismiss rumors that the trees haven't borne fruit in decades because the town is cursed. After all, Evie doesn't believe in things like curses or fairy tales anymore. If fairy tales were real, her mom would still be alive. But then Evie receives a mysterious seed as an eleventh-birthday gift and meets a boy who claims to be dead. When planted, the seed grows into a tree before their eyes, but only Evie and the boy can see it - or go where it leads.

The Garden of Eve mixes eerie magical realism with a deeply resonating story that beautifully explores grief, healing, and growth.

“We’re almost there,” he said, real soft. “I’d guess another five miles will get us to Beaumont, provided we pick the right road.” He paused, then looked over, catching Evie’s eye.
“You pick, Evie.”
Even now her stomach still turned somersaults.
“You pick, Tally.”
It was Mom’s job to pick. Always had been. Father said she had a perfect sense of direction, but Mom always said the wind told her which way to go.
Evie could picture her mother getting out of the truck to inspect the fork where the roads met. She would stand still and tall, her spiraled hair pulled back in a headband. She’d be wearing the cargo pants Evie loved, with all the pockets in them, and the thick leather sandals she wore all year long, even in the winter. Then she’d wait, breathing long and full until she knew which choice to make.
“The answers are always out there, Evie,” she used to say. “You just have to wait until they whisper in your ear.”
Evie wanted to get out and stand in the exact spot where she’d pictured her mom standing. The wind was blowing strong and seemed to have something to say, as if this time when Evie stood still, she might hear something other than deafening silence. She wanted it so badly her insides stung like scraped knees on pavement, but already she could feel her muscles tightening and her ears closing until even the sound of the crows faded into the distance.
“Go on,” Father nudged, but Evie shook her head.
Father’s hands gripped the steering wheel. Then at last he turned the key in the ignition and the old truck rumbled to life. He breathed out long and loud until it seemed that all the air had escaped his lungs.
“Left it is then,” he said at last. “One choice is as good as another.”

He'll huff, and he'll puff, but will it be enough?

2009-11-18T18:54:00.000-08:00

There's a Wolf at the Door: Five Classic Tales

Retold by Zoe B. Alley

With pictures by R.W. Alley

You may think you know The Three Little Pigs, but did you know that their names were Alan, Gordon, and Blake?

Or that Little Red Riding Hood was a fashion victim?

Or that the Boy Who Cried Wolf was really just desperate for some decent conversation?

Here are five riotous retellings of well-known nursery tales, all starring the very same dastardly wolf, who is just trying to get a meal. They are presented with vim and verve in comic panels and puns by the spousal duo of Alley and Alley.

Magic Trixie

2009-09-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

Magic Trixie
by Jill Thompson

Magic Trixie doesn't understand why no one will take her seriously! First, she's not allowed to do anything fun, while her baby sister gets away with everything, and then she needs to come up with a trick that's really special to impress her friends. Luckily Trixie has the best plan ever. . . .

Magic Trixie Sleeps Over

by Jill Thompson

She's smart.
She's sassy.
She has magic powers.

And she's not going to bed!

Magic Trixie's had enough of her parents insisting she brush her teeth, take a bath, and go to bed on time...

Especially since no one else in her class has to put up with that nonsense. So Magic Trixie's leaving! Instead of letting her family boss her around, she'll stay over at each of her friends' houses and see what other young masters do when the sun goes down. Will Magic Trixie ever find the perfect nighttime haunt?

Magic Trixie and the Dragon
by Jill Thompson

She's smart.
She's sassy.

And she has a big problem!

Magic Trixie is excited. When she goes to the circus, she gets to see DRAGONS! And she gets a real dragon scale as a special present. But now her friends think she is bragging that she has a real dragon as a pet. when she accidentally turns her baby sister into a dragon and then loses her, Trixie's in a scaly situation!

Darling Ottoline

2009-05-07T15:33:00.001-07:00

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
by Chris Riddell

The first adventure starring Ottoline and her hairy best friend, Mr. Monroe.

Strange things happening in Big City. There has been a strong of high-profile burglaries and a number of high-society pet-nappings. Could these crimes be connected? Ottoline and Mr. Monroe turn detective and go undercover to expose a furry feline mastermind bent on robbing the rich right from under their perfumed and pampered noses....

Ottoline Goes to School
by Chris Riddell

Ottoline is off to the Alice B. Smith School for the Differently gifted. She is rather worried about the ghosts who haunt the halls at night. Does Ottoline discover her gift, and can they uncover the spook?

Once Upon a Time...

2009-04-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

Cinderella
by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Mary Blair

This is a story about darkness and light, about sorrow and joy, about something lost and something found. This is a story about Love.
Cinderella's story has been told over and over, but never has it been touched by the kind of magic found in this book. Mary Blair painted the original pictures for Walt Disney's incomparable animated film, and here her elegant art is gathered together as a picture book for the first time. Cynthia Rylant's stories about hardscrabble lives have won not only awards and honors, but hearts. Who better to take a young girl from the darkness of her garret room to the light and brilliance of a ballroom?

Together these two great artists have created something quite astonishing: a Cinderella that is breathtaking, heartrending, and joyous, both for those who are coming to the tale for the very first time, and for those who think they know it well

.

Alice in Wonderland
by Jon Scieszka illustrated by Mary Blair

The fantastical tale of a young girl chasing her White Rabbit has delighted children since Lewis Carroll wrote it generations ago. Here his Wonderland shines anew, viewed through the looking glasses of two incomparable artists.
Mary Blair's vibrant art helped shape the look of Walt Disney's classic animated film. Collected in a picture book for the first time, her illustrations capture the essence of such memorable characters as the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter with stunning immediacy.
Jon Scieszka's captivating text celebrates all that is curious--and all that is nonsensical--about the world that holds Alice spellbound, from a deliciously absurd tea party to the spectacle of a kingdom of playing cards.
Brimming with wit and wonder, this sparkling retelling will enchant readers from the moment Alice falls down the rabbit hole, whether or not they've made the journey before.

The Octonauts by Meomi

2009-01-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

The Octonauts & The Lonely Monster
By Meomi
ISBN: 1-59702-005-2

THE OCTONAUTS are a crew of adorable animals who roam the ocean in search of adventure and fun! From their undersea "Octopod" base, the eight talented critters (including a valiant polar bear, daredevil kitten, and big-hearted penguin) are always ready to embark on new exciting missions.In their debut episode, the Octonauts encounter a lonely sea monster out looking for others of its kind. As the Octonauts help him search the four corners of the ocean, everyone learns the special value of friendship and individuality.
FOR A PEEK INSIDE THIS BOOK CLICK HERE & HERE.

The Octonauts & the Sea of Shade
by Meomi
ISBN: 978-1-59702-010-7

THE OCTONAUTS are a crew of cute critters who love to explore the big blue ocean. From their undersea "Octopod" base, the eight talented animals are always ready for fun and excitement. In their second adventure, all the shadows in the world have gone missing! The Octonauts must travel to the mysterious Sea of Shade to learn why. Can the Octonauts convince the great Shade King to return everyone's shadows?
FOR PREVIEW CLICK HERE & HERE!
TO ORDER THIS ITEM FROM SDCL CLICK ON THE BOOK TITLE.

The Octonauts & the Frown Fish
By Meomi
ISBN: 978-1-59702-014-5

In their third storybook, the crew meets a fish with a giant frown on his face. He looks so glum, he's causing everyone around him to feel down also. Our heroes need to find a way to cheer him up! The Octonauts try music making, field trips, miniature golf, and even a baking marathon but can they make their new friend smile?
FOR A PEEK INSIDE THIS BOOK CLICK HERE & HERE.
TO ORDER THIS BOOK FROM SDCL, CLICK ON THE BOOK TITLE.