More New Books

Pure Red by Danielle Joseph
I, Cassia Bernard, do solemnly swear to find pure red-my passion-this summer. Dad's passion is art. When he's painting, no one can reach him, not even me. My mom's passion was the ocean. She said the ocean allows you to see whatever you want to see. That was one of the last things she ever said to me...

Sometimes what your heart desires isn't what it needs. Over the course of a hot Miami summer, sixteen-year-old Cassia discovers that sometimes it takes bullies and basketball, a best friend, and a gorgeous guy to help you understand what you actually need-and to help you see that, maybe, everything isn't so black and white.

Daniel X: Game Over by James Patterson
When Daniel X discovers that a duo of evil extraterrestrials is plotting to control kids around the world through videogames, he's determined to take them both out of commission. This pair of wicked game masters wants to destroy the human race by turning brainwashed videogamers into an unstoppable army of doom! They're also running an endangered species hunting club on the side, and their next target is none other thanDaniel. He'll have no choice but to turn to the aliens' rebellious son who needs help to stand up to his malicious parents. But can Daniel trust the progeny of this treacherous twosome? Or will it be "Game Over" for the alien hunter?

The Fox Inheritance by Mary Pearson
Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other — Jenna, Locke, and Kara. And after a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries. Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.Everyone except Jenna Fox.

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins
Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there. A riveting and startling companion to the bestselling Impulse, Ellen Hopkins’s Perfect exposes the harsh truths about what it takes to grow up—and grow into our own selves. Because everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go?

The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill by Heather Brewer
The Chronicles of Vladmir Tod is still sinking its fangs into readers. Now, "New York Times"-bestselling author Brewer brings fans the other side of the story, from the perspective of Vlad's former friend-turned-mortal enemy, vampire slyer Joss Macmillan.



Percy Jerkson and the Ovolactovegetarians by Stefan Petrucha
“Percy Jackson & the Olympians” gets carved up by Rick Parker and Stefan Petrucha in the third installment from PAPERCUTZ SLICES. The epic fantasy series is extremely popular with readers of all ages and backgrounds, making it a prime target for the parody duo of Parker and Petrucha, from whom no Young Adult Bestseller is safe!


Vanish: a Firelight Novel by Sophie Jordan
The steamy paranormal romance of "Firelight" continues in the second book of the series about a girl who can shape-shift into dragon form and the human boy she loves.




Stay with Me by Paul Griffin
Fifteen-year-olds C‚ce and Mack didn't expect to fall in love. She's a sensitive A student; he's a high school dropout. But soon they're spending every moment together, bonding over a rescued dog, telling their secrets, making plans for the future. Everything is perfect. Until. Until. Mack makes a horrible mistake, and in just a few minutes, the future they'd planned becomes impossible. In this stark new reality, both of them must find meaning and hope in the memories of what they had, to survive when the person they love can't stay.

From award-winning writer Paul Griffin, Stay with Meis both heartbreaking and uplifting, filled with characters (both dog and human) that will forever change the way you look at the world.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Set 50 years apart, two independent stories weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. Playing with the form he created in his trailblazing debut novel, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," Caldecott Medalist Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. Illustrations.


I'm Not Her by Janet Gertler
"Cute and quirky, with sentimentality reminiscent of Judy Blume, this is a book for the keeper shelf -- one that readers will devour again and again!" -- RT Book Reviews, 4.5 starsBrainy Tess Smith is the younger sibling of the beautiful, popular, volleyball-scholarship-bound Kristina. When Kristina is diagnosed with bone cancer, it drastically changes both sisters' lives. Sometimes the things that annoy us the most about our siblings are the ones we'd miss the most if we lost them. In this YA literary coming-of-age novel that will appeal to readers who love Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen, sisters Tess and Kristina discover not only who they are, but who they can become."Rich in characterization, Gurtler's novel wrestles with some serious issues and explores different means of coping (or escaping) yet manages not to be overwhelming or bleak. Just right for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jodi Picoult, this is a strong debut that attempts to answer the question, What does it really mean to live?"

New Books

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley
Ryder’s mother was once a great prophet and powerful witch, but she is slowly losing her mind to grief—and maiden’s woe, an addictive flower drug found in the Witchlands. Deadly monsters made out of dirt and sticks and stones are coming, she warns. There is an assassin in the mountains, she cautions the coven. But none believe her.

Then the monsters come. In the wake of his village’s destruction, Ryder heads into the mountains on a quest to find the assassin and destroy the creator of the ghastly monsters. When he finds his twin—a spirit twin who is not the assassin, but is a sworn enemy of the Witchlanders—Ryder and Falpian awaken a long dormant magic and become entangled in the stirrings of new war between their peoples.

Laced with rich, imagined histories, miles of catacombs, and prophecies true and false, Lena Coakley’s debut novel is a lush, chilling story in the tradition of Nancy Farmer and Garth Nix.

Age of Reptiles: Omnibus by Ricardo Delgado
Forget the Silver Age, and bag the Golden Age - this is the Age of Reptiles! Ricardo Delgado, winner of the Eisner Award for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition, and a prolific development and storyboard artist (Men in Black, The Incredibles, WALL-E, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and The Matrix series) has crafted epic tales about the most unlikely cast of characters: dinosaurs! This volume collects long-out-of-print Age of Reptiles miniseries Age of Reptiles and Age of Reptiles: The Hunt, the never-before-collected third series, Age of Reptiles: The Journey, and a wide assortment of bonus material, including supplementary text pieces, a cover-art gallery, and sketchbook material.

Witch and Wizard Volume 2: Operation Zero by James Patterson
Whit and Wisty get the shock of their lives when a member of the New Order's inner circle, The One Who Bans Books, contacts them with a clandestine proposal: he wants their help in removing The One Who Is The One from power! He confesses to having grown disgusted with the N.O., and reveals that he's aware of an ancient book of the occult that holds a spell for stripping an individual of all their magic. Unfortunately, the book is in a heavily-guarded N.O. bunker that's shielded against magic portals from Shadowland. But more importantly, can the Allgood siblings even trust this man who is willing to commit treason, or is his offer just an elaborate trap?

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
The follow-up to the #1 "New York Times" bestseller "I Am Number Four." John Smith is Number Four. He has just met Number Six, and he knows the survival and the fate of Lorien--and Earth--now rest in their hands.



Pink by Lili Wilkinson
Debut author Wikinson takes a lighthearted but timely and resonant look at a teen's attempts to don a new personality and figure out who she really wants to be.




My Boyfriend is A Monster: Made For Each Other by Paul D. Storrie
Maria McBride is a little shy and a little awkward. So when she runs smack into--literally--the new guy at school, she doesn't know quite what to do. Tom's kind, good-looking, and well-built. And he's clearly drawn to Maria. But he turns down her tentative invites and seems very reluctant to talk about his past and his family--especially his father, the town's new funeral director. What is Tom's mystery? What's up with his dad's creepy assistant, Graves? What's going on at the family funeral home? And what is Maria getting herself into?

Wildefire by Karsten Knight
Ashline and her wild-child sister, Eve, never appeared too remarkable, besides being Polynesian in a white suburban town. That is, until a petty schoolyard quarrel escalates to violence, during which Eve kills a rival of Ashline’s in cold blood. Shocked, Ashline moves across the country to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start doesn’t go as planned. After a series of dangerous and mysterious occurrences—an attempted kidnapping, the appearance of paranormal beasts in the local forest—Ashline learns that she and four of her classmates are actually demigods who were summoned to this middle-of-nowhere school by an enigmatic blind girl. As a war between the gods looms over the campus, two very powerful organizations—with very different ideas on how the demigods should use their powers—are vying for control. Both groups want Ashline and her newfound abilities on their side…and some are willing to kill for her.

Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog by Garth Stein
Adapted from the author's adult novel: The art of racing in the rain.





The Philosophy Book by DK Publishing
An innovative and accessible guide to more than 2,000 years of thought
To the complete novice learning about philosophy can be daunting & The Philosophy Book changes all that. With the use of powerful and easy to follow images, succinct quotations, and explanations that are easily understandable, this book cuts through any misunderstandings to demystify the subject.
Each chapter is organized chronologically, and covers not only the big ideas, but the philosophers who first voiced them, as well as cross-referencing with earlier and later ideas and thinkers. The Philosophy Book untangles knotty theories and sheds light on abstract concepts, and is perfect for anyone with a general interest in how our social, political, and ethical ideas are formed, as well as students of philosophy and politics.

Danger! by Laura Buller
Warning! Open this book at your own risk. Inside, you'll encounter animals armed with sharp claws and killer jaws, deep-sea monsters, poisonous plants, and frogs falling from the sky, not to mention some of the world's most accident-prone humans. Explore the hottest and highest places on Earth, get lost in Antarctic wastes, and consider the end of the world and whether or not it's near. And just when you think you're done, you'll come face-to-face with the most dangerous mathematical formula in history.

Don't let the encyclopedic structure, funky mixed-media designs, facts, stats, and stories lull you into a false sense of security. Danger! is filled with peril, risk, and suspense. Open with extreme caution.

Supernaturally by Kiersten White
The thrilling sequel to the "New York Times" bestseller "Paranormalcy." Just when Evie thinks she's left behind her not-so-normal past, she finds herself caught once again in a dark web of faerie deceit.

First Sneak Peak at the Hunger Games

Hunger Games Movie Countdown

Men of the Hunger Games

Check out the July 29th Entertainment Weekly for coverage on the March 23 release of the Hunger Games Movie: http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/07/27/hunger-games-first-look-peeta-gale-exclusive/

Book Trailer for Meg Cabot's Abandon

Upcoming YA Book Releases

Check out YA Lit to see what young adult books are coming out soon. It is not totally complete, but a very good start to see when your possible next favorite book will be published.

Just finished Anya's Ghost, a graphic novel by Vera Brosgol. Anya Borzakovskaya is a teen struggling with her identity. She worries she's too fat, hates her Russian heritage, and has a crush on a boy that may not even know she exists. Then one day she falls into an old well and meets a new friend in the ghost of Emily, who fell down the well a century ago. Anya soon finds out that even though there are benefits to having a friend who's a ghost (she can go through lockers, and help Anya to cheat on tests), Emily is much more trouble than she's worth. Recommended for grades 7 and up.

New Books

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert
A teen struggles to hold onto her memories—and her identity—in a world that wants everyone to forget—and keep on shopping.




Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
How do you defy destiny? Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is--no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history. As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together--and trying to tear them apart.

In the Shadow of the Lamp by Susanne Dunlap
It's 1854 and sixteen-year-old Molly would give anything to change her circumstances as a lowly servant in a posh London house. So when she hears of an opportunity to join the nurses who will be traveling with Florence Nightingale to the Crimea, she jumps at the chance. The work is grueling, the hospital conditions deplorable, and Miss Nightingale a demanding teacher. Before long, the plight of British soldiers becomes more than just a mission of mercy as Molly finds that she's falling in love with both a dashing young doctor and a soldier who has joined the army to be near her. But with the battle raging ever nearer, can Molly keep the two men she cares for from harm? A love story to savor, and a fascinating behind-the-scenes imagining of the woman who became known as "the lady with the lamp."

Divergent by Veronica Roth
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue-Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are - and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves... or it might destroy her. Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series - dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Corsets and Clockwork: 13 Steampunk Romances edited by Trisha Telep
Dark, urban fantasies come to life in the newest collection of Steampunk stories,Corsets & Clockwork. Young heroes and heroines battle evils with the help of supernatural or super-technological powers, each individual story perfectly balancing historical and fantastical elements. Throw in epic romances that transcend time, and this trendy, engrossing anthology is sure to become another hit for the fast-growing Steampunk genre!

This collection features some of the hottest writers in the teen genre, including: Ann Aguirre, Jaclyn Dolamore, Tessa Gratton, Frewin Jones, Caitlin Kittredge, Adrienne Kress, Lesley Livingston, Dru Pagliassotti, Dia Reeves, Michael Scott, Maria V. Snyder, Tiffany Trent, and Kiersten White.

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn’t kidding about the “Forever” part...

Of all the things Anya expected to find atthe bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century.

Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya’s normal life might actually be worse. She’s embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she’s pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend ”even a ghost ”is just what she needs.

Or so she thinks.

Spooky, sardonic, and secretly sincere,Anya’s Ghostis a wonderfully entertaining debut from author/artist Vera Brosgol.

Queer: the Ultimate LGBT Guide for Teens by Kathy Belge

Teen life is hard enough with all of the pressures kids face, but for teens who are LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender), it’s even harder. When do you decide to come out? To whom? Will your friends accept you? And how on earth do you meet people to date.

Queer is a humorous, engaging, and honest guide that helps LGBT teens come out to friends and family, navigate their new LGBT social life, figure out if a crush is also queer, and rise up against bigotry and homophobia.

Queer also includes personal stories from the authors and sidebars on queer history. It’s a must-read for any teen who thinks they might be queer, or knows someone who is.

Sweet Tooth 2: In Captivity by Jeff Lemire
Following on the heels of THE NOBODY, his Vertigo graphic novel debut, writer/artist Jeff Lemire pens his very first ongoing series SWEET TOOTH. A cross between Bambi and Cormac McCarthy's The Road, SWEET TOOTH tells the story of Gus, a rare new breed of human/animal hybrid children, has been raised in isolation following an inexplicable pandemic that struck a decade earlier. Now, with the death of his father he's left to fend for himself . . . until he meets a hulking drifter named Jepperd who promises to help him. Jepperd and Gus set out on a post-apocalyptic journey into the devastated American landscape to find 'The Preserve' a refuge for hybrids. In this second volume, Lemire explores the heartbreaking story of Jeppard and how he went from a devoted husband to the ruthless mercenary he is now. Meanwhile, Gus is captured in a camp with other hybrid creatures where he meets Dr. Singh, a scientist studying the plague that's wiped out so much of the world. By traveling more into Gus' past, Singh will learn more about the plague, as well as clues at how some of it might relate to Gus and his father.

Everlasting by Alyson Noel
In the dazzling sixth and final book of Noel's #1 "New York Times"-bestselling Immortals series, Ever and Damen's destiny will finally be revealed.

Film and Media Art Classes at the Jacob Burns Film Center

Are you interested in pursuing a career in film, or have you ever just wondered what the film process is like? Check out these classes in film and other media arts at the Jacob Burns Film Center. There are classes for all ages. http://www.burnsfilmcenter.org/education/fall11courses_main/fall11_14-18years

Finally Some New Books

Pride of Baghdad by Brian Vaughan and Niko Henrichon
From one of America's most acclaimed comics writers a startlingly original look at life on the streets of Baghdad during the Iraq War inspired by true events. In the spring of 2003, a pride of lions escaped from the Baghdad Zoo during an American bombing raid. Lost and confused, hungry but finally free, the four lions roamed the decimated streets of Baghdad in a desperate struggle for their lives. In documenting the plight of the lions, Pride of Baghdad raises questions about the true meaning of liberation - can it be given, or is it earned only through self-determination and sacrifice? And in the end, is it truly better to die free than to live life in captivity? Based on a true story, Vaughan and Henrichon have created a unique and heartbreaking window into the nature of life during wartime, illuminating this struggle as only the graphic novel can.

Passion by Lauren Kate

Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something-or someone-in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Sweeping across centuries, PASSION is the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Gr 6 Up-A beloved story is now a graphic novel in this excellent adaptation. A unicorn leaves her forest home to find out if she is the last of her kind, befriending Schmendrick, a hapless magician, and Molly Grue, a bandit leader's runaway wife. These are vivid and lovable characters, and the story is filled with action, romance, and humor. Much of the original novel's lyrical language has been included, and readers will be eager to find out if the unicorn will give up her quest for love, or if any of Schmendrick's spells will ever turn out right. The legendary creature resembles the one in the film, but De Liz's artistic vision is original. This unicorn shimmers and glows, her mane framing her face with Art Nouveau-style tendrils. The illustrations are graceful and detailed, and inked in warm, glowing colors. This is a worthy successor to the classic novel and film.-Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman
It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Wentexplores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Fins are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs

On Lily Sanderson's eighteenth birthday she'll become just a girl-still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she's almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily's father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily's former crush, Brody?

The seafoam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily's past shows up-Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There's a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?

Tera Lynn Childs's sequel to Forgive My Fins offers another tail-flicking romance with plenty of fun, sun, and underwater adventure

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-S0-Talented Pop Star by Rachel Rene Russel
Nikki Maxwell has been doing everything she can to keep everyone at school from learning the truth--that she's there on scholarship in exchange for her Dad working as the school's exterminator. The last thing Nikki needs is having her friends and--worst case scenario--her crush, Brandon, associating her with the humongous roach on top of her Dad's van! Now it looks like her secret could be about to come out, and Nikki's willing to go to any zany and wacky length to prevent that from happening. The timing seems perfect when a major talent competition is announced with a school scholarship offered as the top prize. Nikki loves to sing and dance and now she gets to have tons of fun with her friends while competing for a chance to free her Dad from his obligation! (And free herself from all that potential damage to her reputation . . .) Once again, hijinks and misunderstandings aplenty ensue, as well as more hilarious and heartwarming moments with Nikki and her friends.

Boyfriends with Girlfriends by Alex Sanchez

Lance has always known he was gay, but he's never had a real boyfriend. Sergio is bisexual, but his only real relationship was with a girl. When the two of them meet, they have an instant connection--but will it be enough to overcome their differences?

Allie's been in a relationship with a guy for the last two years--but when she meets Kimiko, she can't get her out of her mind. Does this mean she's gay? Does it mean she's bi? Kimiko, falling hard for Allie, and finding it impossible to believe that a gorgeous girl like Allie would be into her, is willing to stick around and help Allie figure it out.

Boyfriends with Girlfriends is Alex Sanchez at his best, writing with a sensitive hand to portray four very real teens striving to find their places in the world--and with each other.

Die for Me by Amy Plum
After their parents are killed in a car accident, sixteen-year-old Kate Mercier and her older sister Georgia, each grieving in her own way, move to Paris to live with their grandparents and Kate finds herself powerfully drawn to the handsome but elusive Vincent who seems to harbor a mysterious and dangerous secret.



Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
Derting is back with a follow-up to "The Body Finder," and there's more paranormal suspense and romance in store for Violet and Jay.




My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody
From the author of "The Karma Club." Brooklyn Pierce is notorious for making bad decisions. Now she's putting her fate in the hands of readers of her anonymous blog.




The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks
When Tobias Richard Vandevelde wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the night before, his horrified mother tells him that he was found unconscious. At Featherdale Wildlife Park. In a dingo pen. He assumes that his two best friends are somehow responsible, until the mysterious Reuben turns up, claiming that Toby has a rare and dangerous condition. Next thing he knows, Toby finds himself involved with a strange bunch of sickly insomniacs who seem convinced that he needs their help. It's not until he's kidnapped and imprisoned that he starts to believe them and to understand what being a paranormal monster really means.

Book Review

Hold Me Closer Necromancer by Lish McBride

Sam’s a college dropout who leads a pretty uneventful life as a fry-cook at the local burger joint. One day after work he and his friends are playing potato hockey in the parking lot, and he sends a potato into the taillight of a Mercedes, that shouldn’t have even been parked there. When the owner of the car, Douglas Montgomery, shows up at the restaurant, Sam’s life changes forever. Douglas is a necromancer, and interrogates Sam as to why he hasn’t registered with the council. Apparently Sam is a necromancer too, and one with huge potential However, one thing Douglas doesn’t like is competition. How will Sam cope with his new not-so-uneventful life as a person who can raise the dead? This is a great-quick read with lots of humor along with the supernatural elements, which you won’t want to put down.

–Recommended for Grades 7 and up

Check these Out!

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
As a fourteen-year-old who just moved to a new town, with no friends, an abusive father, and a louse for an older brother, Doug Swieteck has all the stats stacked against him until he finds an ally in Lil Spicer--a fiery young lady. Together, they find a safe haven in the local library, inspiration in learning about the plates of John James Audubon's birds, and a hilarious adventure on a Broadway stage.

Rosebush by Michele Jaffe
The morning after an epic Memorial Day party on the Jersey shore, Jane Freeman wakes up paralyzed, lying in a rosebush after a hit-and-run. Everyone believes it was an accident, but as friends come to visit in the hospital Jane's memories begin to surface, not just from the party but from deeper in her past, including the night her best friend Bonnie died.


The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird
In seventeenth-century Scotland, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged as a witch but escapes to the home of her uncle, placing him and his family in great danger as she risks her life to save them all from the King's men.



Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer
Two high school rivals compete in a prestigious singing competition while reflecting on the events that turned them from close friends to enemies the year before.




Lost and Found by Shaun Tan
Three stories explore how we lose and find what matters most to us, as a girl finds a bright spot in a dark world, a boy leads a strange, lost being home, and a group of peaceful creatures loses its home to cruel invaders.



Ancient Werewolves and Vampires: the Roots of the Teeth by Adelaide Bennett
Explores the earliest tales and folklore about werewolves and vampires.




Teen Cyberbullying Investigated: Where Do Your Rights End and Consequences Begin by Judge Tom Jacobs
How do teens know when they might be "one click away from the clink"? In Teen Cyberbullying Investigated, Judge Tom Jacobs presents a powerful collection of landmark court cases involving teens and charges of cyberbullying, which includes: sending insulting or threatening emails, text, or instant messages directly to someone; spreading hateful comments about someone through emails, blogs, or chat rooms; stealing passwords and sending out threatening messages using a false identity; and building a Web site to target specific people. Each chapter features the seminal case and resulting decision, asks readers whether they agree with the decision, and urges them to think about how the decision affects their lives. Chapters also include related cases, important facts and statistics, and suggestions for further reading. With an ever-increasing number of serious cases of cyberbullying and school violence, this book is needed more urgently than ever.

This video was created and submitted by teen Lucas Ruderman to be entered into the “You Are Here” Teen Video Challenge 2011. It was chosen as the winner for New York State and you can see other winners here: http://www.summerreadingnys.org/index.php/Teens/menu/category/video_challenge_winners/