My Reluctant Reader

Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More!

2009-06-22T01:44:00.001-04:00

Title: Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More!

Written by: David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding

Publisher: Rodale Books

Summary:

Eat what you want, when you want--and watch the pounds disappear!

Americans spend more than $400 billion a year eating out, and behind each burger, turkey sandwich, and ice cream sundae is a simple decision that could help you control your weight--and your life. The problem is, restaurant chains and food producers aren't interested in helping you make healthy choices. In fact, they invest $30 billion a year on advertising, much of it aimed at confusing eaters and disguising the fat and calorie counts of their products.

All of that has changed with EAT THIS, NOT THAT!. This book puts the entire food industry under the spotlight, and arms you with the savvy tricks and insider information it takes to eat well no matter where you are. With EAT THIS, NOT THAT! you're the expert in every eating situation, from the frozen food aisle to your favorite fast food joint to your local sports bar. You control your food universe--and lose the pounds you want--because, unlike every other customer, you'll know the smart choices to make--instantly!

How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending Planet Earth Against Alien Invaders, Ninjas, and Zombies

2009-06-22T01:41:00.000-04:00

Title: How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending Planet Earth Against Alien Invaders, Ninjas, and Zombies

Written by: Daniel H. Wilson

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Summary:

It goes without saying that robots kill. They hunt, swarm, and fire lasers from their eyes. They even beat humans at chess. So who better to stand with us when the real villains arrive? Movies instruct us that, whether we like it or not, we will one day be under siege by pirates, ninjas, zombies, aliens, and Godzilla. Also great white sharks. And—let’s face it—we’re not prepared. But with the advice contained in this brilliantly illustrated, ingenious book, you can build your own robot army to fend off hordes of bloodthirsty foes. From common-sense injunctions (“never approach an unfamiliar robot in a militarized zone”) to tactical pointers (“low-power radar beats cameras for detecting mummies in a fog-shrouded crypt”) to engineering advice (“passive-dynamic exoskeleton suits will increase sprint speeds but not leg strength”), this book contains all the wisdom you’ll need to fend off the coming apocalypse. Witty, informative, and utterly original, How to Build a Robot Army is the ideal book for readers of any age.

Ghosts Caught On Film

2009-06-22T01:39:00.001-04:00

Title: Ghosts Caught On Film

Written by: Melvyn Willin

Publisher: David & Charles

Summary:

Rise in public interest fuelled by TV shows such as Most Haunted, about to broadcast its 9th series and Afterlife, averaging 6 million viewers.

This is the only book of its kind showing the paranormal caught on camera.

Contains intriguing images investigated by the Society for Psychical Research.

Ghost Caught on Film presents an extraordinary collection of strange and unexplained photographs that offer the exciting possibility of ghosts and paranormal activity captured on film. The book features early photographs from the Society for Psychical Research of psychics and mediums producing ectoplasm, ghost pictures and other paranormal phenomena as well as celebrated modern images such as the Hampton Court ghost. Each picture is accompanied by a description of its circumstances and the steps taken by Willin, the Society for Psychical Research and the Royal Photographic Society to establish that there is no `normal' explanation for the phenomena. The incredible photographs will stimulate the interest of everyone who sees them. Whether you are a complete sceptic or a semi-believer, you can't help but be drawn into the mystery.

Appetite for Detention

2009-06-22T01:37:00.001-04:00

Title: Appetite for Detention

Written by: Sloane Tanen and Stefan Hagen

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Summary:

Following the success of Sloane Tanen’s adult books comes a title aimed directly at teens. From back-to-school anxiety and chick cliques to gym class, teachers, and other eye-rolling icons of school life, these photographic scenes of the teen experience are as ingenious as they are hilarious. Specifically concerned with the trials and tribulations of high school and teendom, this book will have teens everywhere (and more than a few adults) laughing with recognition.

Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures In Japan

2009-06-22T01:35:00.001-04:00

Title: Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures In Japan

Written by: Aimee Major Steinberger

Publisher: Go!Comi

Summary:

Accompanied by two friends, Steinberger, a professional animator and devotee of that special brand of cuteness that hails from contemporary Japan (think Sanrio’s Hello Kitty and similar artistic and commercial ventures), provides a charming recapitulation of their visit there. Steinberger’s height (she’s six feet tall), along with such things as the language barrier, immediately marked the trio as tourists, but their devotion to such Japanese-inspired pastimes as cosplay (dressing up as manga, anime, and fantasy characters) and Steinberger’s interest in Japanese Volks dolls gave them several avenues into popular culture, where they found considerable enjoyment. Steinberger tells their story largely in black-and-white, manga-style line drawings, with the occasional application of bright colors. Manga and anime fans will appreciate the gentle travelogue, and even readers unfamiliar with Japanese culture today will like Steinberger and her pals and be intrigued by their observations on what it can be like to be a tourist.

Black Metal Volume 1

2009-06-22T01:33:00.000-04:00

Title: Black Metal Volume 1

Written by: Rick Spears and Chuck BB

Publisher: Oni Press

Summary:

Twin brothers, Shawn and Sam, aren't typical kids -- their grim dedication to metal isn't that unusual but their mysterious parentage sure is! Empowered by the legendary sword of Atoll, these kids are determined to battle however many demons it takes in order to fulfill the ancient prophecy of the Hell Baron! Infused with the ancient myth and high adventure of the music that inspired it, BLACK METAL is a truly epic tale.

Custom Kicks

2009-06-22T01:30:00.000-04:00

Title: Custom Kicks

Written by: Kim Smits and Matthijs Maat

Publisher: Laurence King Publishers

Summary:

Customizing is hot. Everything can be customized: from pimped cars to retro furniture. This major trend is especially popular in footwear. Customizing your own shoes is a way of stepping out of the crowd, of showing your personality. Just about every sneaker brand has found a way to put street art into their products; rain boots have never been more hip; and there are even customize festivals and exhibitions.

By inviting 150 artists and illustrators to show/create customized shoes the book will appeal not only to sneaker freaks, fashion fetishists, and trend watchers, but also to the graphic design and art audience. The main focus is on the artwork but the text examines the trend and asks: How did it start? What materials do the artists use? There are also tips and tricks on how to create your very own unique shoes.

Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure

2009-06-22T01:28:00.001-04:00

Title: Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure

Written by: Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Summary:

Can you describe your life in six words? That's what the editors of storytelling magazine SMITH asked readers in 2006; the results, though decidedly uneven, make for compulsive reading and prove arguably as insightful as any 300+ page biography. Taken as a whole, this cascade of quotes from contributors famous and unknown creates a dizzying snowball effect of perspectives and feelings. Highlights from professional writers and artists include journalist Chuck Klosterman wondering, "Nobody cared, then they did. Why?"; pop singer-songwriter Adam Schlesinger lamenting, "We still don't hear a single"; and comic strip artist Keith Knight illustrating "I was a Michael Jackson impersonator." At their best, these nano-memoirs evoke the same kind of rich emotional responses as a good story: 9 year old Hannah Davies considers herself "Cursed with cancer. Blessed by friends"; Zak Nelson says "I still make coffee for two"; Scott Birch claims "Most successful accomplishments based on spite." Some entries read like bumper stickers (Rip Riley: "No wife. No kids. No problems"), and others are just plain weird (Amy Sedaris: "Mushrooms. Clowns. Wands. Five. Wig. Thatched"), but this compelling little book will have readers and their friends hunting for favorites and inventing six-word self-definitions of their own.

Other People's Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See

2009-06-22T01:25:00.001-04:00

Title: Other People's Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See

Written by: Bill Shapiro

Publisher: Clarkson Potter

Summary:

Fevered notes scribbled on napkins after first dates. Titillating text messages. It's-not-you-it's-me relationship-enders. In Other People’s Love Letters, Bill Shapiro has searched America’s attics, closets, and cigar boxes and found actual letters–unflinchingly honest missives full of lust, provocation, guilt, and vulnerability–written only for a lover’s eyes. Modern love, of course, is not all bliss, and in these pages you’ll find the full range of a relationship, with its whispered promises as well as its heartache. But what at first appears to be a deliciously voyeuristic peek into other people’s most passionate moments, will ultimately reawaken your own desires and tenderness…because when you read these letters, you’ll find the heart you’re looking into is actually your own.

• "i think UR great. wanna have wine & Tequila again sometime?"

• "I can't believe you're real, and I think about you constantly in some way or the other all day. I haven't given the finger to anyone driving since I met you."

• "With you I learned how to fight cleaner, how to talk things out better, and how to make a strong loving family out of nothing. These are priceless gifts that I will carry with me the rest of my life. One more thing you did for me: you left, and I had to get through it."

• "P.S. I look forward to your letters too much to call. Also, where do you stand on chains?"

SKULLS

2009-06-22T01:23:00.000-04:00

Title: SKULLS

Written by: Noah Scalin

Publisher: Lark Books

Summary:

On June 4th, 2007, artist Noah Scalin came up with an ingenious idea: he cut a skull out of orange paper and posted it online with the note, “I’m making a skull image every day for a year.” His uniquely witty works became a wild success: five months later, nearly 250,000 people have visited the site, many sending in skull photos of their own and turning Scalin’s blog into one of the world’s top sites.
Why skulls? Noah answers, “why not?” He’s always found them fascinating—and these days, they’re found on everything from t-shirts to bumper stickers. But nothing equals Noah’s incredibly beautiful, odd, and often humorous pieces: they’re made from an astounding variety of materials, from toothpaste to melted candle wax, from tea leaves to plastic straws. One is even carved into a watermelon! (Yes, it was eaten.)
Each of the 150 skulls shown is accompanied by a brief description and fun anecdotal stories. As a bonus, there are four skull projects to make. Irresistibly merging pop, Internet, and craft culture, this fantastic collection provides an inspiring example of how to find creative potential in every aspect of daily life.

Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen

2009-06-22T01:20:00.000-04:00

Title: Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen

Written by: Reymundo Sanchez and Sonia Rodriguez

Publisher: Chicago Review Press

Summary:

This is a raw and powerful memoir not only of one woman’s struggle to survive the streets but also of her ascent to the top ranks of the new mafia, where the only people more dangerous than rival gangs were members of her own. At age five Sonia Rodriguez’s stepfather began to abuse her; at 10 she was molested by her uncle and beaten by her mother when she told on him; and by 13 her home had become a hangout for the Latin Kings and Queens who were friends with her older sister. Threatened by rival gang members at school, Sonia turned away from her education and extracurricular activities in favor of a world of drugs and violence. The Latin Kings, one of the largest and most notorious street gangs in America, became her refuge, but its violence cost her friends, freedom, self-respect, and nearly her life. As a Latin Queen, she experienced the exhilarating highs and unbelievable lows of gang life. From being shot at by her own gang and kicked out at age 18 with an infant daughter to rejoining the gang and distinguishing herself as a leader, her legacy as Lady Q was cemented both for her willingness to commit violence and for her role as a drug mule. For the first time, a woman’s perspective on gang life is presented.

Spider-Man The Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon

2009-06-22T01:16:00.001-04:00

Title: Spider-Man The Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon

Written by: Steve Saffel

Publisher: Titan Books

Summary:

THE LIFE AND TIMES
OF A POP CULTURE PHENOMENON

From his modest 1962 debut in Amazing Fantasy #15, Peter Parker — better known to readers as the web-spinning Spider-Man — has evolved from underdog to international icon. Along the way he’s thrilled entire generations through the comics, cartoons, movies, and tons of spectacular toys.

Spider-Man: The Icon traces that unlikely evolution. A lavishly illustrated chronicle, it charts the wall-crawler’s career from counter-culture figure to motion picture superstar, visually portraying every aspect of the web-spinning phenomenon. This deluxe celebration of the ultimate super hero includes insights from key comic book writers and artists, photos of rare, vintage collectibles, and a vast array of scintillating imagery from the comics, cartoons, television series, and movies.

In doing so, it also traces the history of popular culture over the last five decades. Renowned Spider-Man expert Steve Saffel combines a wealth of arcane knowledge and incredibly rare archival material to create the essential book for every Spider-fan!

Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers

2009-06-22T01:09:00.000-04:00

Title: Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers

Written by: Nancy Amanda Redd

Publisher: Gotham

Summary:

From fashion magazines to taboo Web sites, curious young women have access to tons of old wives’ tales about and thousands of airbrushed and inaccurate images of the female body—misinformation and harmful portrayals that can lead to low self-esteem, self-destructive acts, or even disturbing plastic surgery procedures. Teaming up with a leading physician specializing in adolescent health issues, Harvard graduate and former Miss Virginia Nancy Redd now offers a down-to-earth, healing, and reassuring response to those damaging myths. In Body Drama, Redd gives girls insight into the issues they’re often too ashamed to raise with a doctor or parent. She also reveals her own experiences with the culture of “American beauty,” and shows readers all the many versions of “normal.” From body hair and bras, to acne and weight issues, along with crucial issues such as the importance of a healthy self image, Body Drama is a groundbreaking book packed with informative fast facts, FYIs, how-tos, and moving personal anecdotes as well as hundreds of un-retouched photographs. A highly visual book, it’s the first of its kind for women: filled with real information and real photographs of real bodies, to celebrate all our different shapes and sizes.

Named by Glamour magazine as one of America’s top-ten college women “most likely to succeed—at anything,” Redd has spent the most recent years of her life on a mission to tackle the issues least discussed but most significant in young women’s lives. Celebrating the many versions of “normal,” and replacing seriously erroneous information with the honest, medically proven truth in a language all girls can understand, Body Drama dares to empower a new generation—with facts instead of fantasies, and the priceless gift of self-knowledge.

Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You

2009-06-22T01:07:00.001-04:00

Title: Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You

Written by: Deborah Reber

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:

Your day starts at 6am and ends at midnight--if you're lucky.
You keep up with all two hundred of your friends on Facebook.
You practically invented the word "multitasking."
Sound familiar? You're not alone. You are part of the most overscheduled, overprogrammed, and overwhelmed generation on the planet. And CHILL can help you manage it all! It's just a matter of having the right frame of mind. So relax, take a deep breath...and chill.

Skateboarding Skills: The Rider's Guide

2009-06-22T01:01:00.000-04:00

Title: Skateboarding Skills: The Rider's Guide

Written by: Ben Powell

Publisher: Firefly Books

Summary:

Skateboarding's popularity continues to soar -- it has now surpassed basketball in popularity among North American youth. Skateboarding Skills is an ideal guide both for first-time riders learning the necessary skills, and for more experienced ones wanting to perfect a maneuver or master a move.

Written in an easy-to-follow style and packed with color photographs, Skateboarding Skills features:
• A review of safety issues-from avoiding an injury to landing safely on a fall
• A guide to purchasing and maintaining equipment
• Clothing guidelines -- skate shoes, helmet, and pads for knees, elbows and wrists
• Tricks, techniques and maneuvers for all levels from powerslides to kickflips
• 37 action photo sequences graded according to level from basic to advanced
• Tips from the pros, plus a glossary of skateboarding jargon and slang.

Since the sequences progress in difficulty, skateboarders can move on to the next level when ready or return to an earlier one and practice it, making Skateboarding Skills an ideal handbook for a skyrocketing sport.

Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined

2009-06-22T00:59:00.000-04:00

Title: Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined

Written by: Aaron Peckham

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Summary:

Founded in 1999 by Aaron Peckham as a parody of the dictionary, urbandictionary.com features definitions written by people from all over the world. Since then, Urban Dictionary has been cited in court, in graduation speeches, and by countless news media outlets, including CNN and Time magazine. Today Aaron is a software engineer in Silicon Valley and San Francisco.

I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to be Destroyed by Me: Emblems from the Pentagon's Black World

2009-06-22T00:56:00.001-04:00

Title: I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to be Destroyed by Me: Emblems from the Pentagon's Black World

Written by: Trevor Paglen

Publisher: Melville House

Summary:

They’re on the shoulder of all military personnel: patches that symbolize what a soldier’s unit does. But what happens if it’s top secret?

Shown here for the first time, these sixty patches reveal a secret world of military imagery and jargon, where classified projects are known by peculiar names (“Goat Suckers,” “None of Your Fucking Business,” “Tastes Like Chicken”) and illustrated with occult symbols and ridiculous cartoons. Although the actual projects represented here (such as the notorious Area 51) are classified, these patches—which are worn by military units working on classified missions—are precisely photographed, strangely hinting at a world about which little is known.

By submitting hundreds of Freedom of Information requests, the author has also assembled an extensive and readable guide to the patches included here, making this volume one of the best available surveys of the military’s black world—a $27 billion industry that has quietly grown by almost 50 percent since 9/11.

Volcano: A Visual Guide

2009-06-22T00:53:00.001-04:00

Title: Volcano: A Visual Guide

Written by: Donna O'Meara

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary:

Through 250 spectacular full-color images, Volcano: A Visual Guide takes readers on an armchair journey to 40 of the world's most active and important volcanoes.

Informative text describes the features and structure of volcanoes, eruption dynamics, and what makes a volcano active, dormant or extinct. Fascinating details reveal how experts use technology to predict volcanic activity, and what volcanoes tell us about the geological history of Earth.

Stunning color photographs of volcanoes and volcanic eruptions showcase volcanoes worldwide and beyond, including:

The United States
Japan
Indonesia
Montserrat
Italy
The Galapagos Islands
Papua New Guinea
The Cook Islands
The Philippines
The Pacific Ocean
New Zealand
The Moon, Venus, Mars and Triton.

Volcanoes and the forces that create them produce many of our planet's most stunning natural spectacles and dramatic landscapes. Volcano: A Visual Guide provides a magical view inside the Earth's interior.

InDognito: A Book of Canines in Costume

2009-06-22T00:35:00.003-04:00

Title: InDognito: A Book of Canines in Costume

Written by: Karen Ngo

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Summary:

Hilarious, charming, and inventive, INDOGNITO is Karen Ngo's visual treat for today's breed of dog lovers. A whimsical collection of stylishly photographed dog portraits, it affectionately embraces the quirky spirit of the primped pooch. Including humorous quotations, this book is sure to delight and inspire dog-lovers of every age!

The Manga Cookbook

2009-06-22T00:35:00.001-04:00

Title: The Manga Cookbook

Written by: The Manga University Culinary Institute (and Chihiro Hattori

Publisher: Japanime Co. Ltd

Summary:

Reading manga sure can make a person hungry! Food appears frequently in Japanese comics, but what exactly is it that the characters are eating? Introducing The Manga Cookbook, an illustrated step-by-step guide to preparing simple Japanese dishes using ingredients found in every Western kitchen. Learn to identify and make the same things you see in all your favorite manga: authentic onigiri (rice balls), yakitori (skewered chicken), oshinko (pickled vegetables), udon (Japanese noodles), okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pizza) and many others! Includes sections on how to assemble bento boxed lunches and properly use chopsticks. Features original manga illustrations by Chihiro Hattori. Soon, you too can enjoy a meal fit for a manga character!

500 Manga Creatures

2009-06-22T00:30:00.000-04:00

Title: 500 Manga Creatures

Written by: Yishan Li

Publisher: Collins Design

Summary:

500 Manga Creatures is the biggest collection of manga clip art ever collected on one disc. Now stunning artwork can be created quickly and easily using this vast collection of hi-res (300dpi) JPEG images that are ready to use in any project. The book accompanying the disc teaches how to use professional coloring techniques, add figures to backgrounds, combine them into text documents, and create original manga stories!

An enormous range of creatures are included, from soft and cuddly Chibi and Kawaii characters to Digimor and Pokemon style monsters, aliens, villains, and giant mechanical robots. 500 Manga Creatures is perfect for any designer or manga fan looking to create amazing artwork without learning to draw. All illustrations are royalty-free and are also supplied as black outlines, offering endless coloring possibilities.

The book includes a complete illustrated listing of all the images on an accompanying CD. Criteria includes pose, setting, mood, appearance, expression, characteristics, and physical appearance.

No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

2009-06-22T00:28:00.000-04:00

Title: No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

Written by: Susan Kuklin

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Summary:

No Choirboy takes readers inside America’s prisons, and allows inmates sentenced to death as teenagers to speak for themselves. In their own voices—raw and uncensored—they talk about their lives in prison, and share their thoughts and feelings about how they ended up there. Susan Kuklin also gets inside the system, exploring capital punishment itself and the intricacies and inequities of criminal justice in the United States.

This is a searing, unforgettable read, and one that could change the way we think about crime and punishment.

Art of Modern Rock: Mini # 1 A-Z

2009-06-22T00:18:00.003-04:00

Title: Art of Modern Rock: Mini # 1 A-Z

Written by: Dennis King

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary:

From the coauthor of the smash success Art of Modern Rock comes its impish sibling, a compact volume of dynamic rock posters. Filled with classic hits from the original volume plus loads of new material, Art of Modern Rock Mini #1: A Z is reformatted into a witty, giftable alphabet-book package. From "Anarchy" to "Zombie," all the key poster tropes and genres are covered. Designed for rock fans, art and design aficionados, and poster collectors alike, this mini spin-off is perfectly poised to reach legions of young (and young at heart) fans and new enthusiasts for the most enduring visual artifact and collectible of current music the rock poster.

Flight, Volume Four

2009-06-22T00:18:00.001-04:00

Title: Flight, Volume Four

Written by: Kazu Kibuishi

Publisher: Villard

Summary:

The fourth opulent Flight anthology showcases 30 stories by mostly young, animation-influenced artists. If it doesn't soar quite as high as its predecessors, many of whose standout contributors have moved on, it still features plenty of top-notch talent. Highlights include another installment of animator Michael Gagné's saga of the plucky young fox Rex, Amy Kim Ganter's manga-derived tale of an epic clash between a fish seller and a clam seller, Sarah Mensinga's story about a girl who escapes grief via a magic box that can stop time, Johane Matte's delightful depiction of a comically jealous Egyptian cat, Clio Chang's media-age updating of Red Riding Hood, and Andrea Offermann's surreal account of what appears to be the end of the world by means of elephant attack and aerial invasion. In most of these stories, plots are minimal, and many are wordless. The collection's substantial appeal lies primarily in the impressive variety of often stunning artwork, presented in full color that ranges from the thoughtfully subtle to the vividly lush.

The Quiz Life

2009-06-22T00:16:00.001-04:00

Title: The Quiz Life

Written by: Marina Khidekel

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary:

What’s your life like right now? Are you wondering if the guy you like likes you back? Trying to be a great friend? Obsessing over who you really are and what kind of person you’re meant to become? Just hoping to have some fun? If you answered yes to any of these, you’re living The Quiz Life! Marina knows what it’s like to want to know where you fit in with guys, with your friends, within the bigger world out there. And quizzes can let you do all that–and have fun too! Each quiz–and there are forty!–has five questions with three choices.

The Band Name Book

2009-06-21T23:11:00.000-04:00

Title: The Band Name Book

Written by: Noel Hudson

Publisher: Boston Mills Press

Summary:

best-named bands in history got their names. Those names are profound, clever, silly, provocative or downright obscure. This entertaining book is full of information and trivia about bands from the dawn of rock 'n' roll right up to today's Internet-based independents.

The Beatles are here, as well as Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails and the Goo Goo Dolls. But the best fun is found with rock history's lesser-known groups, in Web-savvy contemporary bands, and with true originals. Among their names:
Atomic Rooster
Arctic Monkeys
The Lemonheads
The Formaldebrides
The Soup Dragons
Pavlov's Woody
Arcade Fire
Big Al and the Kaholics
Hectic Watermelon
Smorgasborgnine.

The Band Name Book includes entries on thousands of bands from more than 30 countries, divided into dozens of entertaining and irreverent categories with special notes on name origins, genres and best album titles. There are profiles of notable bands. And there's even a list of "Names Still Available" for each category.

Point Blank: The Graphic Novel

2009-06-21T23:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Point Blank: The Graphic Novel

Written by: Anthony Horowitz and Antony Johnston

Publisher: Philomel

Summary:

The Alex Rider Adventures are #1 bestsellers the world over, and following in the footsteps of the graphic novel adaptation of Stormbreaker comes the second book in this phenomenal series. Like Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel, this edition features bold, edgy, manga-like illustrations that make the graphic novel form so immensely popular, and brings the young spy to life in a whole new way. For existing fans of Alex Rider, this will be a must-have; for those yet to discover the series, this will be the perfect introduction.

Take Me to Your Leader

2009-06-21T22:57:00.000-04:00

Title: Take Me to Your Leader

Written by: Ian Harrison

Publisher: DK ADULT

Summary:

From recipes for the world's biggest sushi roll to a survey of man-made islands to the surprising mating habits of animals around the world, author and "part-time inventor" Harrison (The Book of Firsts) doesn't leave anything out of this illustrated roundup of the strange and unlikely. Filled with all kinds of photos, charts, diagrams and illustrations, the volume contains entries on a number of broad subjects: food and drink, customs and etiquette, sports and leisure, myths and legends, technology and communication. The book's structure is itself amusingly bizarre: none of its seven chapters are named, or even themed, but rather used as a placeholder for a list of trivia on that chapter's number (which jump from three to seven to nine to 12). Though it's not entirely appropriate for the whole family-parents may want to keep young children away from sections on "90's Booty" and "Backhanders" (an index of volleyball behind-the-butt hand signals)-this colorful book makes up in presentation and scope what it lacks in restraint, and makes for great coffee table browsing. Color illus. throughout.

In the Small

2009-06-21T22:56:00.000-04:00

Title: In the Small

Written by: Michael Hague

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

Summary:

When a mysterious cataclysmic event, "the blue flash," causes the population of the earth to shrink in size to six inches tall, suddenly humanity has the tables turned on itself: The very civilization it has created becomes its greatest obstacle to survival. Animals and the environment, which have long suffered under the rule and/or destruction of humans, are now some of their most feared enemies.

Amid the confusion and turmoil, two strong teenagers, 18-year-old Mouse and his younger sister Beat, emerge as the most promising leaders, eventually setting out on a quest to discover the secret that could redeem this strange new world.

Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots, and More!

2009-06-21T22:53:00.000-04:00

Title: Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots, and More!

Written by: Christen Haden

Publisher: Quirk Books

Summary:

If you're a fan of amigurumi, you already know that super-sweet crocheted bunnies and kitties and pandas have taken the indie craft world by storm. Well, the dolls in Creepy Cute Crochet eat your typical amigurumi for breakfast.

This unique craft book contains more than 25 patterns for zombies, ninjas, Vikings, vampires, aliens, robots, and even Death himself. Each easy-to-follow pattern is presented with step-by-step diagrams, hilarious commentary, and full-color photographs of the creatures in their natural environments. Plus each pattern is ranked according to difficulty so that even beginners can share in the fun.

The scary-cute photographs, accessible text, and illustrated patterns are sure to be a hit with indie crafters, angsty teens, and hip moms everywhere.

Gadget Nation: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention

2009-06-21T22:42:00.000-04:00

Title: Gadget Nation: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention

Written by: Steve Greenberg

Publisher: Sterling

Summary:

Featuring more than 100 quirky innovations and inventions, this visual showcase captures a great can-do spirit and creative energy. All the clever amateur creators profiled here brought their ideas to life right in their own homes; the fruits of their imagination range from the useful (a "Finger Shield" for when you're chopping food) to the offbeat (a nappy for your pet bird). There are items for people on the go, to help you look your best and to make life easier at home - and electronics too. Get the background story on every invention, along with a statistics-filled sidebar, photographs, illustrations and diagrams to add to the fun!

More Stuff on My Cat: 2x the Stuff + 2x the Cats = 4x the Awesome

2009-06-21T22:39:00.000-04:00

Title: More Stuff on My Cat: 2x the Stuff + 2x the Cats = 4x the Awesome

Written by: Mario Garza

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary:

Chasing the tail of the best-selling Stuff on My Cat: The Book (more than 100,000 copies sold!) comes this super-sized sequel from Stuffonmycat.com, the phenomenally successful Web site where millions of people from around the world post photographs of cats with unbelievably varied things on them. Bigger and better than the original, this witty follow-up has twice as many all-new photographs, commentary from contributors explaining how in the world they were able to stack 40 pillows on their feline, plus hilarious captions by the site's creator. Any cat lover (or hater) won't be able to resist.

Permanence: Tattoo Portraits by Kip Fulbeck

2009-06-21T22:37:00.000-04:00

Title: Permanence: Tattoo Portraits by Kip Fulbeck

Written by: Kip Fulbeck

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary:

Once a fringe phenomenon, tattooing is now a full-blown cultural fact. More than 40 million people in the U.S. alone have tattoos, all with unique stories about why they chose to indelibly mark their bodies. Permanence combines photographic tattoo portraits with these stories, told in the subjects' own words and handwriting. Kip Fulbeck brings together young and old of all races, religions, and political persuasions—from celebrities to suburban moms to Hells Angels. Including interviews with celebrity tattooers Kat Von D and Oliver Peck (Miami Ink), hardcore legend Evan Seinfeld, and some regular folks, Permanence is an entertaining and enlightening portrait of the tattooed population today.

One Hundred Young Americans

2009-06-21T22:34:00.000-04:00

Title: One Hundred Young Americans

Written by: Michael Franzini

Publisher: Collins Design

Summary:

Photographer and Emmy-winning director Franzini explores the lives of the "instant access generation" by profiling 100 teenage Americans in this dynamic, brilliantly colored volume. Consulting census data and conducting research to find the "top 50 niches in youth culture," Franzini selects a group of teenagers that effectively represents the diversity of American youth, encompassing "cheerleaders, jocks, student body presidents, prom queens, nerds, band geeks, gamers, skaters, stoners, goths, punks, druggies and kids who defy all labels." Each teen is photographed in the setting and pose of his or her choice, often to revealing effect, while the text provides information on subjects' lives, struggles and dreams: 18-year-old Kammie is an anime-loving college freshman who lost a cat to Hurricane Katrina; 15-year-old Josh from South Dakota describes the difficulties of being openly gay in high school; April Luv, the youngest prostitute at the World Famous Bunny Ranch, wants to start her own business someday; 16-year-old Joel "says his mother wants him to spend more time with girls and less time with robots." Other profiles reveal tales of foster home hopscotch and meth addiction as well as unimpeachable high school popularity and Beverly Hills designer living. Funny, heartbreaking, inspirational and illuminating, this countrywide cross-section provides one of most complete, accesible and stereotype-defying looks at American youth yet produced.

Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers

2009-06-21T22:20:00.000-04:00

Title: Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers

Written by: Betsy Franco

Publisher: Candlewick

Summary:

The poets are straight, gay, lesbian, bi, or transgender. They live next door or across an ocean; they are innocent or experienced; their lyric explorations range from new love to stale love, obsession to ennui, ecstasy to heartbreak, and every nuance in between. Whether the romantic escapades described are touching, comical, or tragic, whether the feelings expressed are tender and sweet or brutal and biting, readers will find the love these young poets openly share to be exquisitely, excruciatingly, endlessly fascinating. Here is a collection to turn to again and again, because life and love keep on changing.

Do Not Open

2009-06-20T06:43:00.000-04:00

Title: Do Not Open

Written by: John Farndon

Publisher: DK CHILDREN

Summary:

In the groundbreaking tradition of DK's New York Times bestseller Pick Me Up, this book uses the same irreverent style to explore all the things THEY don't want you know about. From the Mona Lisa's hidden past to the history of Area 51, Do Not Open explores lost worlds, unravels secret codes, and lets readers step through the looking glass to see if they can handle the truth!

The Way I Am

2009-06-20T06:41:00.000-04:00

Title: The Way I Am

Written by: Eminem

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Summary:

For the first time, one of music’s most popular—and headline-making—rap artists shares his private reflections, drawings, handwritten lyrics, and never-before-seen photographs.

Fiercely intelligent, relentlessly provocative, and prodigiously gifted, Eminem is known as much for his enigmatic persona as for being the fastest-selling rap artist and the first rapper to ever win an Oscar. Now, in The Way I Am, he shares his private thoughts on everything from his inner struggles, to the trials of being famous, to his love for his daughter, Hailie, creating a book that is every bit as raw and uncensored as the man himself.

Illustrated with never-before-seen photographs of Eminem’s home and life along with original drawings, The Way I Am is filled with reflections on his greatest hits, previously unpublished lyric sheets, and other rare memorabilia. Providing his millions of fans with a personal tour of Eminem’s creative process, it is poised to be hailed in much the same way as Tupac’s The Rose that Grew from Concrete, Bob Dylan’s Chronicles, and Journals by Kurt Cobain.

Ask CosmoGIRL! About Beauty: All the Answers to Your Questions About Hair, Makeup, Skin & More

2009-06-20T06:34:00.000-04:00

Title: Ask CosmoGIRL! About Beauty: All the Answers to Your Questions About Hair, Makeup, Skin & More

Written by: The Editors of CosmoGIRL

Publisher: Hearst

Summary:

Skin, hair, teeth, nails: every CosmoGIRL! has a question about how to keep them healthy and great-looking. Is it true that toothpaste makes your zits go away? Lately my eyes look bloodshot. What can I do? I color my hair on my own. How can I make it look like I went to the salon? Fortunately, their favorite magazine has all the answers, from how to avoid a mascara mess to how to give yourself a professional-quality manicure. And it’s all here, in the latest Ask CosmoGIRL! guide. Every page is filled with invaluable advice for taming tresses, creating lush lashes and fuller-looking lips, shaping brows that wow, and getting a smoother, more even complexion. Top makeup artists and hairstylists offer their smartest tips, and the book’s multicultural approach addresses the concerns of all girls.
Plus, this is one book that understands beauty isn’t just about keeping up appearances: it’s about taking care of yourself and staying safe, too. There is crucial information on the dangers of tanning, the negative effects of certain cosmetic regimens, and when it’s best to get professional help.

Faces of Sunset Boulevard: A Portrait of Los Angeles

2009-06-20T06:27:00.000-04:00

Title: Faces of Sunset Boulevard: A Portrait of Los Angeles

Written by: Patrick Ecclesine

Publisher: Santa Monica Press

Summary:

Faces of Sunset Boulevard: A Portrait of Los Angeles is a collection of photographs of the people who live, work, play, and shape Los Angeles. Some are making fortunes along the route; others are just trying to survive to see another day. Patrick Ecclesine captures the city’s dreams, dreamers, and, at times, nightmares using the most famous boulevard in the world as the setting for his photographs.

The individuals featured range from the famous (Governor Schwarzenegger, Larry King, Fernando Valenzuela) to the unknown (a street vendor, an undocumented worker, a bus driver) to the unwanted (a homeless man, a single mother on welfare, a drug addict).

Other archetypal Angeleno figures—from a television weathergirl sensation to a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon to surfers in Pacific Palisades to the eccentric and outlandish denizens of the Sunset Strip—stand side by side in these pages, capturing the eclectic nature of the City of Angels and its most colorful thoroughfare, Sunset Boulevard.

Freestyle Soccer Tricks: Tricks, Flick-ups, Catches

2009-06-20T06:24:00.000-04:00

Title: Freestyle Soccer Tricks: Tricks, Flick-ups, Catches

Written by: Sean D'Arcy

Publisher: Firefly Books

Summary:

How to master amazing freestyle soccer tricks.

Freestyle soccer is the art of juggling a soccer ball by using feet, knees, chest, shoulders and head while simultaneously performing creatively skillful moves to keep the ball airborne. Young soccer players everywhere copy the freestyle skills of heroes like Ronaldo and Beckham.

Freestyle hit big after Nike's Joga Bonito ("play beautiful") ad campaign, which featured soccer icons executing amazing freestyle tricks. In rapid succession YouTube uploaded videos of youth doing tricks, and XBox and Playstation 2® released freestyle soccer games. Now the sport is recognized with a governing body, there are freestyle shoes, and organized competitions take place worldwide.

In Freestyle Soccer Tricks, world-renowned soccer juggler Sean D'Arcy starts with the basics and moves on to impressive kicks, flick-ups, rolls and catches. Fortunately for the inexperienced, many of these tricks can be done without knowing how to juggle the ball. Hundreds of color photos show how each trick is done, with "Common Problem" and "Tip" sidebars providing further instructions.

Colorful, portable and designed for its youth market, Freestyle Soccer Tricks meets the increasing demand by participants of this rapidly growing sport.

Uncool: A Girl's Guide to Misfitting In

2009-06-20T06:22:00.000-04:00

Title: Uncool: A Girl's Guide to Misfitting In

Written by: Erin Elisabeth Conley

Publisher: Orange Avenue Publishing

Summary:

For teenagers who didn't make the cheerleading squad or simply wouldn't be caught dead in one of those too-short pleated skirts anyway, this insightful assortment of stories and quotes from real teens is a must-have for getting through the horrors of clone-happy high school. Featuring analyses of what "cool" really means, creative activities for alternative thinkers, trendy fashion pointers, and good old-fashioned cool-kid advice, this often comedic commentary on the conundrum of not being one of the gang—whether a little darker, a little brighter, a bigger laugher, or a bigger loner—shows just how cool being uncool can be.

Comickers Art 2: Create Amazing Manga Characters

2009-06-20T06:19:00.000-04:00

Title: Comickers Art 2: Create Amazing Manga Characters

Written by: Comickers Magazine

Publisher: Collins Design

Summary:

Comickers Art: Create Amazing Manga Characters delves deep into the creative process of manga and shows how to transform two-dimensional sketches into detailed, life-like characters. With beautiful full-color art from cover to cover, this second volume in the Comickers Art series showcases authentic instructions and original advice from the best manga creators—along with finished illustrations from each featured artist. Both visually-stunning and extremely informative, this book is an essential guide for all aspiring manga artists.

Sentences: The Life Of M.F. Grimm

2009-06-20T06:16:00.001-04:00

Title: Sentences: The Life Of M.F. Grimm

Written by: Percy Carey

Publisher: Vertigo

Summary:

Underground hip-hop icon Percy Carey, a.k.a. M.F. Grimm, tells the true story of his life in the game, from dizzying heights to heartbreaking losses, in this raw, brutally honest graphic novel memoir.

In SENTENCES, Carey chronicles his life in the sometimes glamorous, often violent, world of hip-hop, from the first time he picked up a microphone at a block party to the day he lost the use of his legs to gang violence, from his incarceration to his rise to the top of his game as a hip-hop grandmaster. No questions are left unanswered and no apologies are made, resulting in a truly groundbreaking graphic novel.

It's Complicated: The American Teenager

2009-06-20T06:11:00.001-04:00

Title: It's Complicated: The American Teenager

Written by: Robin Bowman

Publisher: Umbrage Editions

Summary:

Robin Bowman’s five-year journey into the heart of teenage America created a series of 414 “collaborative portraits,” wherein she shares her discoveries of a generation now coming of age. In searing and intimate photographs, presented alongside the young people’s voices of passion, pride, embarrassment, lust, pain, bewilderment, anxiety, joy, uncertainty, and rage, the book charts the coming of age of the largest generation in America—77 million strong—in every region of the country and every socioeconomic group: from a Texas debutante to teenage gang members in New York City, from a drag queen in Georgia to a coal miner in West Virginia.

Bowman’s intimate photographs ask us to reconcile preconceived ideas and stereotypes of teenagers with the diversity of individuals in the portraits. This book and the traveling exhibition it accompanies are about the inside lives of these kids and how they see their reality in their own voices.

Farts: A Spotter's Guide

2009-06-20T06:09:00.001-04:00

Title: Farts: A Spotter's Guide

Written by: Crai S. Bower

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary:

Sure, everyone does it; but everyone tries to hide it a little differently. "Farts: A Spotter's Guide" will help you pinpoint he (or she) who dealt it every time. In the spirit of the famous and bestselling "Fart Machine" (No 2), this hilarious book features an attached battery powered fart machine that accurately reproduces ten common wind breakers, from the gentle hiss of the Silent-but-Deadly to the rip-roaring flatulation of the Seismic Blast. The text describes the habitat, range, voice, and 'field marks' of each emanation, and grossly hip 2-colour illustrations by The Fudge Factory's Travis Millard depict the offenders and offenders in brilliant detail. Printed on durable card stock, this is pure, unbridled entertainment for the giggling child in all of us. Let 'er rip!

Swords: An Artist's Devotion

2009-06-20T06:03:00.001-04:00

Title: Swords: An Artist's Devotion

Written by: Ben Boos

Publisher: Candlewick

Summary:

Be smitten by the sword! An extraordinary young artist brings the history of this noble weapon — and its skillful masters — into stunningly sharp relief.

Brave men and women have taken up the sword since ages of old, and a fascination with this formidable weapon grips dedicated followers to this day. Here is a celebration of swords and swordsmen that spans time and place — from ancient warriors such as Beowulf to medieval knights; from stealthy ninja and samurai to legendary maidens of war. Illustrated with breathtaking intricacy, SWORDS reflects the passion of a true devotee, offering lavish background details on design and use as well as exquisite spreads showcasing specimens in all their shining glory.

Kin (The Good Neighbors, Book 1)

2009-06-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Kin (The Good Neighbors, Book 1)

Written by: Holly Black and Ted Naifeh

Publisher: GRAPHIX

Summary:

Rue Silver's mother has disappeared . . . and her father has been arrested, suspected of killing her. But it's not as straightforward as that. Because Rue is a faerie, like her mother was. And her father didn't kill her mother -- instead, he broke a promise to Rue's faerie king grandfather, which caused Rue's mother to be flung back to the faerie world. Now Rue must go to save her -- and must also defeat a dark faerie that threatens our very mortal world.

Skateboarding: Legendary Tricks

2009-06-20T05:56:00.001-04:00

Title: Skateboarding: Legendary Tricks

Written by: Steve Badillo

Publisher: Tracks Publishing

Summary:

A comprehensive guidebook that details dozens of spectacular skateboarding stunts, this resource combines invaluable technical information with insightful historical perspectives. Each trick is captured in action sequence and captioned so that aspiring riders can learn how each trick is performed. A history of the tricks, featuring their legendary inventors, is also included. This blend of background and how-to ensures that riders not only learn the tricks but also gain respect for the legends that made skateboarding the worldwide passion it is today.

Life Sucks

2009-06-20T05:54:00.000-04:00

Title: Life Sucks

Written by: Jessica Abel

Publisher: First Second

Summary:

Dave is a poor vampire, working the night shift at the 24-hour convenience store run by his vampire master, Lord Radu Arisztidescu, who thinks Dave is pretty much a wuss as a bloodsucker. Truth is, Dave would rather steal his nutrition from a blood bank than kill the innocent. But this choice leaves him weak and vulnerable to more predatory types like alpha-vampire surfer dude Wes, who's making a move on Rosa, the Latina gothic babe Dave has his eye on. There's plenty of humor with Dave's friend Jerome acting as a Clerks-like foil, coming over to Dave's work at night when the black-eyeliner crowd comes by (the Running of the Goths). Life Sucks also gets a good deal of mileage out of the ironic distance between the romantic visions that Rosa and her mortal crowd have of the vampire lifestyle and the grimy reality of Dave's life as an eternal wage slave. Even if it doesn't pan out satisfactorily (the conclusion seems particularly truncated), Abel and Soria's light approach, combined with Pleece's bright, Technicolor art, gives the book an entertaining Joss Whedon gloss to its Gen-Y bloodsucking melodrama.

Saturday Night Dirt: A MOTOR Novel

2009-06-20T03:57:00.001-04:00

Title: Saturday Night Dirt: A MOTOR Novel

Written by: Will Weaver

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Summary:

It’s a sizzling summer Saturday, and Headwaters Speedway has suddenly become the place to be. Thanks to rainouts across the state, this small-town dirt track is drawing both big-time stock cars and local drivers. There’s Trace Bonham, whose Street Stock Chevy is acting up in a big way. And Beau Kim, whose “stone soup” Modified has been patched together from whatever parts he could scrape up. And no one could forget Amber Jenkins, a strawberry blonde who has what it takes to run rings around them all. Keeping everyone on track is Melody Walters, who knows that the impending rain might be exactly what they need to keep her father’s speedway afloat—or sink it for good.

In Will Weaver’s high-revving novel, the first in the Motor series, a cast of car-obsessed teens and adults are all out to prove themselves, both on and off the quarter-mile track, as they move through their day on a collision course to meet on Saturday night dirt.

Fakie

2009-06-20T03:55:00.000-04:00

Title: Fakie

Written by: Tony Varrato

Publisher: Lobster Press

Summary:

At first glance, Alex Miller seems like a typical teen, typical hair, typical clothes, typical hobbies. Look closer, and you'll see that his life is anything but typical. For Alex, fitting in has become a matter of life and death. The unfortunate witness to a murder, Alex can't forget the things he has seen, and neither can the man he helped put in jail. The Witness Relocation Program has changed the identities of Alex and his mother repeatedly, and they need to keep running to stay one step ahead of his enemies. His latest identity as a skateboarder in Virginia Beach is no easy ride, nosegrabs, ollies, and kickflips are all new to him. Alex has to catch on quickly to blend in, but the biggest trick he'll have to master is staying alive. Ideal for reluctant readers, this short novel is full of action, intrigue, and relatable teen characters.

Kaput and Zosky

2009-06-20T03:54:00.000-04:00

Title: Kaput and Zosky

Written by: Lewis Trondheim

Publisher: First Second; 1st American Ed edition

Summary:

Kaput and Zösky are out to conquer the universe one planet at a time. The problem is that the universe just doesn’t recognize their right to rule with an iron fist. They travel from alien landscape to alien landscape—Zösky poised to try every devious strategy to seize power; Kaput ready to go in guns-ablazing. Their lack of planning and agreement accounts for their lack of success, but they still keep on trying. As usual, Trondheim is both hilarious and irreverent; Kaput and Zösky might even be offensive if they weren’t so comically bad at being evil. Cartier’s art is a lively match for the quirky story. His simply designed characters are expressive and fresh, and he’s equally skilled at presenting the bombastic action, which he delivers with humor and wonderful comic timing. Fast-paced, quick-witted, and lots of fun.

Undone

2009-06-20T03:51:00.001-04:00

Title: Undone

Written by: Brooke Taylor

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Summary:

When Kori Kitlzer, the “dark angel” of the 8th grade, tells Serena Moore that they are more alike than she thinks, Serena is instantly intrigued. As their friendship solidifies and their lives entwine, Serena tries to become more like the fearless, outspoken, and ambitious Kori. Soon Serena doesn’t know where she begins and Kori ends. But when a twist of fate yanks Kori away from Serena, she will need to find a way to complete her best friend’s life left undone.

Undone is a striking debut novel about friendship, family, and the secrets we keep from the people to whom we are closest.

Project 17

2009-06-20T03:48:00.001-04:00

Title: Project 17

Written by: Laurie Faria Stolarz

Publisher: Hyperion Book Children

Summary:

High atop Hathorne Hill, near Boston, sits Danvers State Hospital. Built in 1878 and closed in 1992, this abandoned mental institution is rumored to be the birthplace of the lobotomy. Locals have long believed the place to be haunted. They tell stories about the unmarked graves in the back, of the cold spots felt throughout the underground tunnels, and of the treasures found inside: patients' personal items like journals, hair combs, and bars of soap, or even their old medical records, left behind by the state for trespassers to view.

On the eve of the hospital's demolition, six teens break in to spend the night and film a movie about their adventures. For Derik, it's an opportunity to win a filmmaking contest and save himself from a future of flipping burgers at his parents' diner. For the others, it's a chance to be on TV, or a night with no parents. But what starts as a playful dare quickly escalates into a frenzy of nightmarish action. Behind the crumbling walls, down every dark passageway, and in each deserted room, they will unravel the mysteries of those who once lived there and the spirits who still might.

Switch

2009-06-20T02:39:00.001-04:00

Title: Switch

Written by: Carol Snow

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary:

Claire Martin has some serious body issues.

Not much happens in Claire's sleepy beach town, but that's okay. All she wants is to hang out with her best friend, make the high school swim team, and convince Nate, the guy of her dreams, to stop calling her "Dude." And, oh—she'd really, really like to stay in her own skin.

Ever since Claire hit her teens, electrical storms have been making her switch bodies. Usually she's back to her old self in no time. But when something goes terribly wrong, she finds herself stuck as another girl. And not just any girl, but the icy beauty who has caught Nate's eye.

Suddenly Claire goes from being Miss Average to Miss Gorgeous—the model-thin blonde that every girl wants to look like and every guy wants to date. Will she ever figure out how to get back to her old life? More importantly, will she want to?

The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez

2009-06-20T02:38:00.001-04:00

Title: The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez

Written by: Alan Lawrence Sitomer

Publisher: Hyperion Book Children

Summary:

Sonia Rodriguez was born in the United States, but her parents are Mexican immigrants who came to California before she was born. Her father has three Social Security numbers, her mother is pregnant (again), and neither of them speaks English. Sonia's mother spends most of her time in bed, watching soap operas, and letting Sonia clean up after her brothers. Sonia's father works dutifully to support his family, but he knows that his daughter's dreams are bigger than making tamales for family get-togethers. When Sonia attempts to put school work before her familia, her mother decides that it's time for Sonia to visit her grandmother in Mexico to learn "the ways of the old world." While in Mexico, Sonia spends time with her wise grandmother and her cousin Maria who teach her that while familia is important, the most important thing is to follow your heart. Sonia returns to the States determined to succeed in school, but the birth of her new twin siblings, inappropriate advances from her drunk uncle (Drunkle), and a forbidden relationship with an El Salvadorian boy push school to the back burner. If only Sonia can find the time to cook dinner, secretly meet with her boyfriend, avoid her Drunkle, AND finish her homework, she just might be able to graduate from high school...

Retaliation: A Novel

2009-06-20T02:33:00.000-04:00

Title: Retaliation: A Novel

Written by: Yasmin Shiraz

Publisher: Rolling Hills Press

Summary:

Violence runs rampant on the streets of Washington, DC, and on one seemingly quiet day, the Odom family finds its world destroyed when seventeen-year-old Tashera is brutally attacked by a group of high school girls. Retaliation exposes the corrupting existence of violence in our communities and the retaliatory measures families go through to protect themselves and their children.

Living Dead Girl

2009-06-20T02:29:00.001-04:00

Title: Living Dead Girl

Written by: Elizabeth Scott

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:

Fans of Scott's YA romances Perfect You or Bloom may be unprepared for the unrelieved terror within this chilling novel, about a 15-year-old girl who has spent the last five years being abused by a kidnapper named Ray and is kept powerless by Ray's promise to harm her family if she makes one false move. The narrator knows she is the second of the girls Ray has abducted and renamed Alice; Ray killed the first when she outgrew her childlike body at 15, and now Alice half-hopes her own demise is approaching (I think of the knife in the kitchen, of the bridges I've seen from the bus... but the thing about hearts is that they always want to keep beating). Ray, however, has an even more sinister plan: he orders Alice to find a new girl, then train her to Ray's tastes. Scott's prose is spare and damning, relying on suggestive details and their impact on Alice to convey the unimaginable violence she repeatedly experiences. Disturbing but fascinating, the book exerts an inescapable grip on readers—like Alice, they have virtually no choice but to continue until the conclusion sets them free.

Black Box

2009-06-20T02:27:00.001-04:00

Title: Black Box

Written by: Julie Schumacher

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary:

Elena and her older sister Dora are opposites—Elena is quiet and stoic; Dora is funny and unpredictable—but they are still best friends. After Dora is hospitalized for depression, Elena can’t understand why she didn’t confide in her. While her parents spend their nights arguing, Elena does her best to deal, finally striking up a quirky relationship with the school bad boy, Jimmy, who says his older brother went through the same thing. Dora returns from the hospital a different person, one who skips class, hoards her pills, and lies to her parents. Elena can’t reconcile this new sister with the one she’s always known, especially when glimpses of the old Dora surface, but she’s determined to save her, even if that means taking responsibility for Dora upon herself. Schumacher beautifully conveys Elena’s loneliness and guilt as she tries to protect her sister without betraying her, as well as the emotional release she experiences upon finding someone to trust with her own feelings. The spare prose is loaded with small, revealing details of the relationships that surround Elena and how they change through Dora’s illness. This novel is a quick read, but it will leave a lasting and ultimately hopeful impression.

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

2009-06-20T02:18:00.001-04:00

Title: I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Written by: Lisa Schroeder

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:

Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear hisvoice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she'scrazy, but she knows he's here.

Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds.

Unleashed

2009-06-20T02:15:00.000-04:00

Title: Unleashed

Written by: Kristopher Reisz

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:

What lies beneath

Daniel Morning seems perfect -- handsome, charismatic, intelligent. But living up to everyone's expectations has cost him the right to make his own decisions. The urge to shatter those expectations is beginning to gnaw at his insides.

Then Daniel meets Misty. She's smoky, rebellious, tender...and much more. She decides to let him into her pack of outcasts -- and in on their little secret: She and her friends have learned to shapeshift, and have been prowling the night as wolves.

Daniel soon falls in love with the primal sensation of shifting, just as he's falling in love with Misty. The freedom to follow his most basic instincts is like nothing he's ever felt. But Daniel will slowly come to realize that such freedom comes at a price....

Dead Is the New Black

2009-06-20T02:12:00.001-04:00

Title: Dead Is the New Black

Written by: Marlene Perez

Publisher: Harcourt Paperbacks

Summary:

Welcome to Nightshade, California—a small town full of secrets. It’s home to the pyschic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom-shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends to a clue-spewing jukebox. With their psychic powers and some sisterly support, they can crack any case!
Teenage girls are being mysteriously attacked all over town, including at Nightshade High School, where Daisy Giordano is a junior. When Daisy discovers that a vampire may be the culprit, she can’t help but suspect head cheerleader Samantha Devereaux, who returned from summer break with a new “look.” Samantha appears a little . . . well, dead, and all the most popular kids at school are copying her style.
Is looking dead just another fashion trend for Samantha, or is there something more sinister going on? To find out, Daisy joins the cheerleading squad.

Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe)

2009-06-20T02:08:00.001-04:00

Title: Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe)

Written by: Kimberly Pauley

Publisher: Mirrorstone

Summary:

Mina Hamilton's parents want her dead. (Or undead to be precise.) They're vampires, and like it or not, Mina must decide whether to become a vampire herself. But Mina's more interested in hanging out with best friend Serena and trying to catch the eye of the too-hot-for-high-school Nathan Able than in the vampire training classes she's being forced to take. How's a girl supposed to find the perfect prom date and pass third-year French when her mom and dad are breathing down her neck--literally?

Middle Row

2009-06-20T02:00:00.001-04:00

Title: Middle Row

Written by: Sylvia Olsen

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Summary:

Vince and Raedawn have been riding the same bus to school their entire lives. There is a social seating hierarchy involved in most bus riding, and theirs is no exception. There are the back seat riders - usually the cool kids, and the front seat riders - usually the less secure or nerdy type.

The middle rows can be easily ignored and that is just the problem when Dune suddenly stops riding the bus. There are only two people who even notice that the quiet loner has not gotten on the bus since the first day of school, and they also seem to be the only ones concerned.

Raedawn convinces Vince that something needs to be done. They start asking questions - of the bus driver, the school counselor, and then the administration. No one knows anything and the tendency is to brush the whole issue under the rug. Finally, Raedawn enlists the help of her Uncle Dave, and long-hidden secrets begin to emerge.

MIDDLE ROW provides a mystery that unfolds at a fast pace in this 100-page book. Readers will easily become intrigued by the missing Dune, as well as the personal stories connected to Vince, Raedawn, and Uncle Dave. An added criminal element also helps hold the attention of most readers.

Chess Rumble

2009-06-20T01:58:00.001-04:00

Title: Chess Rumble

Written by: G. Neri

Publisher: Lee & Low Books

Summary:

“Lotsa things make me mad,” says young African American Marcus, who gets into fights at school and at home. Violence is all around: “In my ‘hood, / battles is fought every day.” And when he is hassled by bullies or by his little brothers, Marcus responds with his fists. Then his teacher sends him to the library, where he meets CM, a local chess master who teaches students to fight their battles on the board instead of the streets. In this strong debut, Marcus’ authentic voice narrates in potent, free-verse poetry. With minimal, direct words, Neri makes clear, without overstating, how Marcus’ sense of being misunderstood amplifies his frustrations and how, through chess, he learns to take responsibility for his feelings and actions. Watson effectively echoes each scene’s mood in small gray-tone paintings that employ dramatic shading. A deeply shadowed portrait of Marcus’ absent dad is particularly moving. Readers of all backgrounds will find themselves here, but this will have particular appeal among reluctant readers and young, inner-city teens.

Hotlanta, No. 1

2009-06-20T01:54:00.001-04:00

Title: Hotlanta, No. 1

Written by: Denene Millner

Publisher: Point

Summary:

The Duke twins, Sydney and Lauren, live the life: They attend the fanciest school in Atlanta, they live in Buckhead, the most exclusive neighborhood, and they only date the hottest guys. And their secrets? Are the darkest of all. When their estranged father is released from prison and a murder is committed, their lives are plunged into a whirlwind of tabloid scrutiny, vicious gossip, and shocking revelation. Lauren, always such a party girl, and Sydney, bent on perfection by way of the Ivy League, can't trust anyone. Not their mother, not their rich stepfather. Maybe not even each other.

Frostbite

2009-06-20T01:48:00.001-04:00

Title: Frostbite

Written by: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Summary:

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians--including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks....This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

Wake

2009-06-20T01:45:00.001-04:00

Title: Wake

Written by: Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

Torn to Pieces

2009-06-20T01:41:00.001-04:00

Title: Torn to Pieces

Written by: Margot McDonnell

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary:

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD ANNE ALWAYS thought her mother was kind of quirky. In fact, her mom’s taste in 70s-esque furniture and mysterious frequent business trips were just the tip of the quirky iceberg. When her
mom doesn’t come home on time from one of her long jaunts, Anne isn’t too surprised. But when a day late turns into a few days late, Anne knows something is very wrong.

She tries the hotel number that her mother left her, but it has been disconnected. Then a strange man keeps leaving messages on their answering machine, looking for a woman who doesn’t even live there. However, when Anne discovers a lengthy letter from her mother explaining why she has disappeared, the fabric of Anne’s relatively normal life is torn to pieces. Despite her shock, Anne must pull herself together and protect herself—from people who want to find and hurt her mother, and the strange new boy who may change everything.

Prey

2009-06-20T01:35:00.001-04:00

Title: Prey

Written by: Lurlene McDaniel

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary:

A teacher is supposed to impart a love of learning and a thirst for knowledge. It’s a bit different with Ms. Lori Settles. All the kids are talking about how hot she is–and she is especially interested in Ryan Piccoli. When she starts giving Ryan extra attention, he’s feeling more than happy–at first. He’s used to being the class clown, but really he’s a loner. One day after school, the friendship with Lori Settles goes farther than he ever expected. She’s his teacher. She’s at least twice his age. Intimacy with a teacher is wrong, yet it feels so good in every way. Soon, Lori is making demands and Ryan begins to feel overwhelmed, but Ryan refuses to even admit anything is going on. Something immoral is going on and before too long the choices made will change lives forever.

Gamer Girl

2009-06-20T01:28:00.000-04:00

Title: Gamer Girl

Written by: Mari Mancusi

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Summary:

After her parents’ divorce, Maddy has to leave her ultra-hip Boston life for a New Hampshire suburb, where she, her mother, and her sister stay with Grandma. Not only does Maddy have to deal with missing her friends and father, but Grandma ruins her first day at school by insisting she wear a unicorn sweatshirt and then by embarrassing a popular boy with stories of his childhood bed-wetting. Bullied by the in-crowd (“the Haters”), crushing on the wrong guy, and stuck with the nickname Freak Girl, Maddy escapes into her drawing and the online game Fields of Fantasy, where she can vanquish enemies and make friends far easier than at school. After encouragement from a sympathetic teacher, Maddy makes friends by starting a manga club. But just when things are improving, the Haters strike again. Mancusi believably captures the hopes, disappointments, and awkwardness of high school life. While the trendy elements may eventually become dated, the story of a girl finding her inner strength will always resonate.

Pain & Wastings

2009-06-20T01:25:00.000-04:00

Title: Pain & Wastings

Written by: Carrie Mac

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Summary:

Ethan Mingus Kirby was born to a mother whose life became filled with heroine, poverty, and prostitution. They lived in the ghetto neighborhood at Main and Hastings, nicknamed Pain and Wastings. At the tender age of six, Ethan witnessed his mother's brutal murder.

This short novel picks up after Ethan has spent years in numerous foster homes and developed a bitter attitude toward life in general. He has a run-in with the law and is given the choice of a five shift ride-along with the local paramedics or a stint in juvie.

Ethan chooses the paramedic adventure, never dreaming that he will be reliving that horrible time in his past when his mother died.

One of the high-interest, lower-reading level series by Orca Book Publishing, PAIN & WASTINGS is one young man's emotional journey into the past to deal with his demons. It is hoped that by doing so he can build a more successful future.

Schooled

2009-06-20T01:21:00.001-04:00

Title: Schooled

Written by: Paul Langan

Publisher: Townsend Press

Summary:

There's no backing down for Lionel Shephard. With a dream of joining the NBA, all he wants to do at Bluford High is play basketball. But everyone's trying to stop him. His father thinks basketball is a waste of time; his teachers don't know he can barely read and threaten to fail him; and his dropout friend Jamar wants him to quit school. Unsure where to turn, Lionel must make a choice. Will he pursue his dream or get caught in a nightmare?

Venomous

2009-06-20T01:14:00.000-04:00

Title: Venomous

Written by: Christopher Krovatin

Publisher: Ginee Seo Books

Summary:

Locke Vinetti is a high school junior, disenchanted and more than a little hostile. In fact, for years he's had a lousy social life because of a problem he has with his anger--a force he calls "the venom." Ever since he was eight years old and bit off a piece of a classmate's nose, he's been something of a loner. But all that is about to change when he goes out with his one friend, Randall, to meet some of Randall's crew hanging out at Riverside Park. Because in addition to meeting his kindred spirit, Casey--who has his own problems with his own kind of venom--Locke meets the spikey blue fairy-haircut Goth girl of his dreams. And if their relationship is going to work, he knows he has to rid himself of the venom once and for all. Interspersed with comic book adventures of the fantasy anti-hero alter-ego Locke has invented for himself, Venomous is a fast-paced, funny, and ferocious read about one teenage boy's struggle with his inner demons.

No Way Out

2009-06-20T01:08:00.001-04:00

Title: No Way Out

Written by: Peggy Kern

Publisher: Townsend Press

Summary:

Bluford High freshman Harold Davis is trapped. Medical bills for his sick grandmother are piling up, and a social worker has threatened to put him in a foster home. Desperate for money, he reluctantly agrees to work for Londell James, a neighborhood drug dealer. The choice leads him into a world of dangerous streets where no one is safe. Will Harold escape the violence that surrounds him, or will he become its next victim?

Hot Girl

2009-06-20T01:05:00.000-04:00

Title: Hot Girl

Written by: Dream Jordan

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Summary:

It’s summertime in Bed-Stuy “Do or Die” Brooklyn, and Kate is feeling down in the dumps. Not only is she tired of her raggedy, tomboy image, but she’s also missing her best friend, Felicia, who’s away for the summer. Lonely and not exactly getting along with her new foster mother, Lynn, Kate so badly wants to be out and about, twirling pretty, and partying---and maybe catching the attention of her longtime crush, Charles.

Opportunity knocks one hot summer day when fly-girl Naleejah struts her stuff straight up to Kate and takes a seat. Full of smiles, Naleejah tells Kate that she remembers her from school, but Kate can’t remember ever having such a fabulous chick trying to befriend her. Kate’s suspicion turns to trust once Naleejah gives her a much-needed makeover.

Now a brand-new Kate suddenly has the attention of her dream boy. But is Naleejah checking for him, too? Against Kate’s better judgment, she ignores the warning signs, and continues to let Naleejah lead her down a treacherous path. Soon, what seems like a fun and exciting summer ends up being a harsh reality check. Now Kate must decide how to get back on the right track . . . or is it already too late?

Thief

2009-06-20T01:03:00.002-04:00

Title:Thief

Written by:Brian James

Publisher:Push

Summary:

Elizabeth is a pickpocket and thief living on the edge in New York City. She and her foster sister, Alexi, are living with Sandra—a modern-day Fagin who takes in foster children and then forces them to steal things for her. Even though she’s sick of it, Elizabeth doesn’t really question her life…until Sandra takes in a third foster child, this time a boy. Dune is a completely lost soul, and Elizabeth begins to see the limits of her life. Sandra is not going to let her go easily—but Elizabeth knows she has to find a way out. With brutal honesty and striking lyricism, Brian James has created a character you’ll never forget, trapped in a situation that’s frighteningly real.

Identical

2009-06-20T01:00:00.001-04:00

Title:Identical

Written by:Ellen Hopkins

Publisher:Margaret K. McElderry

Summary:

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical down to the dimple. As daughters of a district-court judge father and a politician mother, they are an all-American family -- on the surface. Behind the facade each sister has her own dark secret, and that's where their differences begin.

For Kaeleigh, she's the misplaced focus of Daddy's love, intended for a mother whose presence on the campaign trail means absence at home. All that Raeanne sees is Daddy playing a game of favorites -- and she is losing. If she has to lose, she will do it on her own terms, so she chooses drugs, alcohol, and sex.

Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept -- from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious that neither sister can handle it alone, and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is -- who?

Planet Pregnancy

2009-06-20T00:57:00.001-04:00

Title:Planet Pregnancy

Written by:Linda Oatman High

Publisher:Front Street

Summary:

If you’re a mom / can you still / go to the prom? Pregnant at 16, Sahara, a former Dixie Queen pageant winner, considers her choices in her small Texas town: adoption, abortion, or keeping the child. No way will she marry the baby’s father: He’s a bum. / He doesn’t work. / He’s a jerk. / He’d be / a bad dad, just like the dad / I never had. She lies to her mom and says her pregnancy resulted from date rape, but Mom is not supportive, at least at first, and Sahara worries that her religious best friend will reject her as a knocked-up sleaze. There is too little about what it is like to go to school after a pregnancy begins to show. But true to the teen’s voice, the gripping narrative, written in very short lines of free verse with occasional rhyme, makes for a roller-coaster read. Even teens who do not agree with Sahara’s final choice will be caught up in the rising tension as she copes with her guilt, regret, despair, and hope.

Suckerpunch

2009-06-20T00:52:00.001-04:00

Title:Suckerpunch

Written by:David Hernandez

Publisher:HarperTeen

Summary:

In the summer before his senior year, Marcus and his friends escape their troubles at parties involving sex, drugs, and alcohol (all detailed in some explicit passages). At the background of Marcus’ angst is the physical abuse that his younger brother suffered from their father, who then left the family. Now, Dad wants to come back, and Marcus’ mother is considering the possibility. This sends Marcus, his brother, and his brother’s girlfriend on a road trip to track down their father in San Francisco, where they hope to exact their own psychological revenge on Dad. The episodic, first-person narration powerfully captures Marcus’ scattered, adolescent thoughts, and many young readers will recognize his raw, unvarnished voice. The end provides a rather heavy-handed symbol of Marcus coming to terms with his past, but this is only a minor quibble about this otherwise realistic, affecting coming-of-age debut from a poet known for his adult works.

Poison Ink

2009-06-20T00:49:00.001-04:00

Title:Poison Ink

Written by:Christopher Golden

Publisher:Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary:

SAMMI, TQ, CARYN, Letty, and Katsuko are floaters. None of them fits in with any particular group at Covington High School—except each other. One night, to cement their bond, the girls decide to get matching, unique tattoos. But when Sammi backs out at the last minute, everything changes. Faster than you can say “airbrush,” Sammi is an outcast, and soon, her friends are behaving like total strangers. When they attack Sammi for trying to break up a brawl, Sammi spies something horrible on her friends’ backs: the original tattoo has grown tendrils, snaking and curling over the girls’ entire bodies. What has that creepy tattoo artist done to her friends? And what—if anything—can Sammi do to get them back? This deliciously creepy psychological thriller is the perfect summer read.

Right Behind You

2009-06-20T00:22:00.001-04:00

Title:Right Behind You

Written by:Gail Giles

Publisher:Little, Brown Young Readers

Summary:

After setting his seven-year-old neighbor in Alaska on fire, Kip McFarland spends four years in a facility for violent juvenile offenders. When he is released at the age of 14, he, his father, and his new stepmother move to Indiana, with new names. For a while, Wade enjoys a normal life. Eventually, however, despite the warnings of his therapist, he sabotages his happiness in a drunken fit of rage. After he reveals his identity, the town turns on him and his family. Now, a coastal Texas town is their final shot at starting over. The cozy community appears to be a perfect haven, but Wade feels compelled to reveal his past to Sam, the beautiful and mysterious neighbor who is winning his heart—and has a story of her own. Will she still accept him once she finds out he is a murderer? This quick read has a compelling story line, but the characters, especially the adults, are at times one-dimensional, with voices that are somewhat indistinguishable from one another. Reluctant readers will be drawn to the story's accessibility, and many teens will be pulled in by the larger questions the novel poses about innocence and acceptance. Despite its flaws, this book will be a hit with Giles's fans.

My Father's Son

2009-06-20T00:18:00.002-04:00

Title:My Father's Son

Written by:Terri Fields

Publisher:Roaring Brook Press

Summary:

WHAT IF YOUR FATHER ISN’T WHO YOU THOUGHT HE WAS?

“I turn up the volume as a woman at a news desk announces, ‘This just in…the alleged DB25 monster has been arrested.’ Good. The camera switches from the anchor to a mug shot…and it is my face—or at least my face as it will look thirty years from now…A new image replaces the full-screen mug shot as I see two cops hustling my handcuffed father into the back of a police car.” Kevin has to face the worst imaginable possibility: that his father may be the man responsible for a series of vicious killings. How much does he really know about his father?

The Unspoken

2009-06-20T00:15:00.000-04:00

Title:The Unspoken

Written by:Thomas Fahy

Publisher:Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Summary:

Teeth-clenchingly suspenseful at times and deliciously creepy at others, Fahy (Night Visions) delivers a classic horror story with his YA debut, about a religious cult destroyed by a fire and the six teens who escape. He pulls out all the necessary stops as he constructs the terrifying story of what comes to pass five years later as the surviving teens are being murdered one by one, according to the cult leader's prophecy. The author gives readers gory visual descriptions of the crime scenes, tension-building cliffhangers and the type of unexpected surprises that if translated to film would make moviegoers scream, and he nails each device beautifully. An element of genre-specific camp attaches to some of the scenes; for example, the main character, Allison, has epileptic seizures during which she envisions each murder before it happens; and in a pivotal sequence, Allison assumes the killer is dead, but readers know otherwise. Executed with panache, these familiar elements only add to the overall thrill. A page-turner that just might keep readers up at night--especially given the loosely resolved ending.

Lady J (Drama High)

2009-06-20T00:08:00.000-04:00

Title:Lady J (Drama High)

Written by:L. Divine

Publisher:Dafina

Summary:

For South Bay High's bold, beautiful Jayd Jackson, drama has reached record-breaking heights as she finds herself on the defensive at home, work, and school. Maybe it's time to take her destiny--and her power--into her own hands...

Her relationship with now-ex boyfriend Jeremy behind her, Jayd realizes drama is just a never-ending part of daily life. Even so, she's reached her limit, battling with her new boss, jealousies at school, and tensions at home. To deal with it all, Jayd is ready to give some attention to her legacy as one in a long line of conjure women. But that legacy comes with a line of rivals too--and a couple of them are much too close to home.

First, there's Misty, Jayd's enemy #1 and current girlfriend of Jayd's other ex, KJ. Then there's Jayd's neighbor, Esmeralda, a conjurer from Louisiana whose crystal-clear blue eyes are said to be deadly. When Jayd spots Misty's mom visiting Esmeralda, she knows something's up and it's time for Mama to fill her in. Turns out there's a history between these families, and if Jayd wants to keep the drama under control, she'll have to learn to use her power like never before--and become the woman she was born to be.

The Hunger Games

2009-06-20T00:03:00.000-04:00

Title:The Hunger Games

Written by:Suzanne Collins

Publisher:Scholastic Press

Summary:

This is a grand-opening salvo in a new series by the author of the Underland Chronicles. Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation’s annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially concocted weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem’s districts. District 12’s second “tribute” is Peeta, the baker’s son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five. Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents’ next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance.

Kendra

2009-06-19T23:58:00.000-04:00

Title:Kendra

Written by:Coe Booth

Publisher:Push

Summary:
Kendra's mom, Renee, had her when she was only 14 years old. Renee and her mom made a deal -- Renee could get an education, and Kendra would live with her grandmother. But now Renee's out of grad school and Kendra's in high school ... and getting into some trouble herself. Kendra's grandmother lays down the law: It's time for Renee to take care of her daughter. Kendra wants this badly -- even though Renee keeps disappointing her. Being a mother isn't easy, but being a daughter can be just as hard. Now it's up to Kendra and Renee to make it work.

The Compound (Hardcover)

2009-06-19T23:32:00.005-04:00

Title:The Compound (Hardcover)

Written by:S. A. Bodeen

Publisher:Feiwel & Friends

Summary:

Ever since their world was destroyed by a nuclear attack, 15-year-old Eli and his family have lived in the Compound, a state-of-the-art bomb shelter built by his billionaire father. Despite having every comfort, Eli is haunted by the fact that his twin and his grandmother were left behind. He also begins to question his father’s sanity after an inventory miscalculation threatens their survival, and his dad hatches a morally corrupt plan to “enhance their food supply.” Eli’s worst suspicions are confirmed when he discovers a live Internet signal using an old laptop. Did the world really end six years ago? Why else would Eli’s father want to keep his family underground? Debut novelist Bodeen effectively builds the claustrophobic suspense with each chapter as readers slowly discover the Compound is not the refuge it seems..

War Is...Soldiers, Survivors, and Storytellers Talk About War

2008-12-12T02:15:00.001-05:00

Title: War Is...Soldiers, Survivors, and Storytellers Talk About War

Written by: Marc Aronson

Publisher: Candlewick

Summary:

Marc Aronson thinks war is inevitable. Patty Campbell thinks war is cruel, deceptive, and wrong. But both agree on one thing: that teens need to hear the truthful voices of those who have experienced war firsthand. The result is this dynamic selection of essays, memoirs, letters, and fiction from nearly than twenty contributors, both contemporary and historical - ranging from Christian Bauman's wrenching "Letter to a Young Enlistee" to Chris Hedges's unfl inching look at combat to Fumiko Miura's Nagasaki memoir, "A Survivor's Tale." Whether the speaker is Mark Twain, World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle, or a soldier writing a miliblog, these divergent pieces look war straight in the face - and provide an invaluable resource for teenagers today.

The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West

2008-12-12T02:14:00.001-05:00

Title: The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West

Written by: Sid Fleischman

Publisher: Collins

Summary:

"Mark Twain was born fully grown, with a cheap cigar clamped between his teeth." So begins Sid Fleischman's ramble-scramble biography of the great American author and wit, who started life in a Missouri village as a barefoot boy named Samuel Clemens.Abandoning a career as a young steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River, Sam took a bumpy stagecoach to the Far West. In the gold and silver fields, he expected to get rich quick. Instead, he got poor fast, digging in the wrong places. His stint as a sagebrush newspaperman led to a duel with pistols. Had he not survived, the world would never have heard of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn-or red-headed Mark Twain.Samuel Clemens adopted his pen name in a hotel room in San Francisco and promptly made a jumping frog (and himself) famous. His celebrated novels followed at a leisurely pace; his quips at jet speed. "Don't let schooling interfere with your education," he wrote.Here, in high style, is the story of a wisecracking adventurer who came of age in the untamed West; an ink-stained rebel who surprised himself by becoming the most famous American of his time. Bountifully illustrated.

Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs

2008-12-12T02:12:00.000-05:00

Title: Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs

Written by: Jonathan Hillstrand

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Summary:

"Many brave hearts are asleep in the deep, so beware, beware," goes the chorus of an old sailors' sing-along that celebrates the allure and danger of the seafaring life. But make no mistake-there truly is much to beware for those who are drawn to risk their lives and seek their fortunes upon the waves. And perhaps none take more chances than the men and women who brave the tempestuous, bountiful waters of the Bering Sea. Season after season, they bond and battle with its icy depths, determined to reap yet one more rewarding harvest while eluding the ever-present threat of sudden, certain death. And among the rapidly diminishing ranks of these die-hard salts, brothers Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand have forged a reputation as fierce masters of their treacherous, enthralling trade. If you've watched their exploits on TV's Deadliest Catch, you've only scratched the surface. To read Time Bandit is to step into their skins, smell the sea air, feel the frigid wind, and know with all your senses the exhilarating, and terrifying life on the edge.Natives of tiny, fishing hamlet, Homer, Alaska; sons of a hard-bitten, highly successful fisherman; and born with brine in their blood, the Hillstrand boys couldn't imagine a life without a swaying deck underfoot and a harvest of mighty Alaskan king crabs waiting to be pulled from the ocean floor. In pursuit of their daily catch, the brothers brave ice floes and heaving waves 60 feet high, the perils of 1000-lb steel traps thrown about by the punishing wind, and the constant menace of the open, hungry water.Even the brothers' downtime on land-where the deadly realities of the unforgiving sea are never far from their minds-is lived as if borrowed: fast and hard, haunted by the knowledge that the next season at sea could end asleep in the deep.Here is the Hillstrands' own heartfelt hymn to the brutally hard, gloriously independent, and mysteriously soul-satisfying life that has earned them their daily bread and defined their existence. By turns raucous and reflective, exhilarating and anguished, enthralling, suspenseful, and wise, Time Bandit chronicles a larger-than-life love affair as old as civilization itself-a love affair between striving, willful man and inscrutable, enduring nature.

No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

2008-12-12T02:11:00.001-05:00

Title: No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

Written by: Susan Kuklin

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Summary:

No Choirboy takes readers inside America's prisons, and allows inmates sentenced to death as teenagers to speak for themselves. In their own voices-raw and uncensored-they talk about their lives in prison, and share their thoughts and feelings about how they ended up there. Susan Kuklin also gets inside the system, exploring capital punishment itself and the intricacies and inequities of criminal justice in the United States.This is a searing, unforgettable read, and one that could change the way we think about crime and punishment.

Ain't Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry

2008-12-12T02:10:00.001-05:00

Title: Ain't Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry

Written by: Scott Nelson

Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books

Summary:

Who was the real John Henry? The story of this legendary African-American figure has come down to us in so many songs, stories, and plays, that the facts are often lost. Historian Scott Nelson brings John Henry alive for young readers in his personal quest for the true story of the man behind the myth. Nelson presents the famous folk song as a mystery to be unraveled, identifying the embedded clues within the lyrics, which he examines to uncover many surprising truths. He investigates the legend and reveals the real John Henry in this beautifully illustrated book.Nelson's narrative is multilayered, interweaving the story of the building of the railroads, the period of Reconstruction, folk tales, American mythology, and an exploration of the tradition of work songs and their evolution into blues and rock and roll. This is also the story of the author's search for the flesh-and-blood man who became an American folk hero; Nelson gives a first-person account of how the historian works, showing history as a process of discovery. Readers rediscover an African-American folk hero. We meet John Henry, the man who worked for the railroad, driving steel spikes. When the railroad threatens to replace workers with a steam-powered hammer, John Henry bets that he can drive the beams into the ground faster than the machine. He wins the contest, but dies in the effort.Nelson's vibrant text, combined with archival images, brings a new perspective and focus to the life and times of this American legend.

Punk Rock Etiquette: The Ultimate How-to Guide for DIY, Punk, Indie, and Underground Bands

2008-12-12T02:09:00.001-05:00

Title: Punk Rock Etiquette: The Ultimate How-to Guide for DIY, Punk, Indie, and Underground Bands

Written by: Travis Nichols

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Summary:

Looking to start an underground band? Don't make a move until you've read this book!So you KNOW you are destined to rock... well you're in luck -- all you need is this book! (Please note musical talent, bandmates, a car for touring, and an uncle who owns a record label might also help.) An original blend of nonfiction how-to's about all things DIY rock created by an indie-circuit veteran with a knack for hysterical snark, PUNK ROCK ETIQUETTE teaches you everything from how to pick your bandmates and choose a name (Never deliberately misspell your band's name. C how lame it lookz?), to detailed guides on screenprinting your own merch, and interviews and advice from studio owners about the do's and don'ts of recording. PUNK ROCK ETIQUETTE is an unfiltered peek backstage that will appeal to aspiring musicians and anyone who's curious about what goes on in the hours between the last chord and the next big show.

Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide To Living an Eco-Friendly Life

2008-12-12T02:07:00.001-05:00

Title: Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide To Living an Eco-Friendly Life

Written by: Linda Sivertsen

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:

We all know about the Earth's environmental crisis, but there is someone who can truly make a difference: you. If you text your friends or chat with them online, download music to your iPod, or toss bottles and papers into recycling bins, you're already more eco-savvy than you think. It's just as easy to do even more to help save the earth, and Generation Green shows you how. This book: * Lays out the inside scoop on the biggest issues affecting our planet, such as global warming and overflowing landfills * Offers dozens of tips on how to shop, dress, eat, and travel the green way * Includes interviews with teens like you who are involved with fun, innovative green causes * Shows that being environmentally conscious can be a natural part of your life -- and your generation's contribution to turning things around.It doesn't matter if you can't vote or drive. Your efforts -- big or small -- will contribute to saving the planet. It's time for all of us to take action. It's time to go green!

Students on Strike: Jim Crow, Civil Rights, Brown , and Me

2008-12-12T02:06:00.001-05:00

Title: Students on Strike: Jim Crow, Civil Rights, Brown , and Me

Written by: John Stokes

Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books

Summary:

John Stokes has waited more than 50 years to give his eyewitness account of "The Manhattan Project." This was the name he and a group of fellow students gave their strike at R.R. Moton High School that helped to end separate schooling for blacks and whites, not only in his home state of Virginia, but throughout America. Told in Stokes' own words, the story vividly conveys how his passion for learning helped set in motion one of the most powerful movements in American history, resulting in the desegregation of schools-and life-in the United States.As a child tending crops on the family farm, John Stokes never dreamed that one day he would be at the center of the Civil Rights Movement. Yet, on April 23, 1951, he and his fellow students walked out of the school and into the history books. Their school was built to accommodate 180 students, yet over 400 black students attended classes in leaky buildings with tar paper walls. A potbelly stove served as the only source of heat, and the school lacked running water, indoor plumbing, and a cafeteria. Yet to Stokes and his fellow students, it was their path to a better life.Students on Strike is an evocative first-person narrative from a period of radical change in American history. Stokes recounts the planning of the student walkout, the secret meetings, the plot to send the principal on a wild goose chase after "truant" students, and the strategy to boycott classes until conditions improved. The author recalls the challenges in persuading teachers and parents to support the strike, and the intimidation that came in the form of threats and a cross-burning on school grounds. Archival illustrations from Stokes' scrapbook add to the emotional impact of his story. The narrative follows the course of the lawsuits filed by the NAACP, which would became part of the historic Brown v Board of Education ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court and the subsequent end to segregation in America.Young readers will relish this inspirational account of the heroic struggles of John Stokes and his fellow students; they will also learn a timeless lesson that people with little influence-but with great determination-can make a difference.

Far From Home: Latino Baseball Players in America

2008-12-12T02:03:00.001-05:00

Title: Far From Home: Latino Baseball Players in America

Written by: Tim Wendel

Publisher: National Geographic

Summary:

From Argentina and Venezuela to the Dominican Republic and the rest of the Caribbean, thousands of boys grow up playing sandlot ball and planning a big-league career. Inspired by Latino greats who paved the way, young men head north in hopes of baseball success-but often find themselves in far different situations. Photographer José Luis Villegas and sportswriter Tim Wendel dramatically reveal the energy, talent, and hard-driving ambition of these determined players, both the few who make it and the many who don't. Yet this isn't just another compendium of highlights-it's a bold and sometimes heartbreaking look at the ups and downs of chasing a dream.The book captures all the flash and glory of being a major-league star at the top of his game...as well as the struggles faced by other hopefuls who have to take a longer, tougher road. For many of these men, the realities of the system-and the tension of illegal immigration-intrude on the dream. Discover what becomes of them, and explore the rich background of baseball and the Latin American world, in Far From Home. With sports interest for the baseball fan...timely issues for the history buff...and great images for the photography enthusiast...it is perfectly positioned for Father's Day and a must-read for all who love the national game.

I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee

2008-12-12T02:01:00.001-05:00

Title: I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee

Written by: Charles Shields

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Summary:

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most widely read novels in American literature. It's also a perennial favorite in highschool English classrooms across the nation. Yet onetime author Harper Lee is a mysterious figure who leads a very private life in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, refusing to give interviews or talk about the novel that made her a household name. Lee's life is as rich as her fiction, from her girlhood as a rebellious tomboy to her days at the University of Alabama and early years as a struggling writer in New York City. Charles J. Shields is the author of the New York Times bestseller Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, which he has adapted here for younger readers.What emerges in this riveting portrait is the story of an unconventional, high-spirited woman who drew on her love of writing and her Southern home to create a book that continues to speak to new generations of readers. Anyone who has enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird will appreciate this glimpse into the life of its fascinating author.

Three Little Words: A Memoir

2008-12-12T01:59:00.001-05:00

Title: Three Little Words: A Memoir

Written by: Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Publisher: Atheneum

Summary:

"Sunshine, you're my baby and I'm your only mother. You must mind the one taking care of you, but she's not your mama." Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent nine years of her life in fourteen different foster homes, living by those words. As her mother spirals out of control, Ashley is left clinging to an unpredictable, dissolving relationship, all the while getting pulled deeper and deeper into the foster care system.Painful memories of being taken away from her home quickly become consumed by real-life horrors, where Ashley is juggled between caseworkers, shuffled from school to school, and forced to endure manipulative,humiliating treatment from a very abusive foster family. In this inspiring, unforgettable memoir, Ashley finds the courage to succeed - and in doing so, discovers the power of her own voice.

Thoreau at Walden

2008-12-12T01:58:00.001-05:00

Title: Thoreau at Walden

Written by: John Porcellino

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Summary:

"I am convinced, both by faith and experience, that to maintain one's self on this earth is not a hardship, but a pastime, if we will live simply and wisely." So said Henry David Thoreau in 1845 when he began his famous experiment in living on Walden Pond. In this graphic masterpiece, John Porcellino uses only the words of Thoreau himself to tell the story of those two years off the beaten track. The pared-down text focuses on Thoreau's most profound ideas, and Porcellino's fresh, simple pictures bring the philosopher's sojourn at Walden to cinematic life. For readers who know Walden intimately, this graphic treatment will provide a vivid new interpretation of Thoreau's story. For those who have never read (or never completed!) the original, it presents a contemporary look at a few brave words to live by.