Santa Claus in Baghdad

by Elsa Marston
Eight short stories illuminate the experiences of adolescents in modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan, yet many of their conflicts and concerns are universal in nature. Touches of suspense, romance, and humor keep the pages turning in this fine collection. Themes of faith, loyalty, and coming-of-age are sensitively handled and compellingly depicted. Notes explain each story's historical, political, and social context.
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I Am Scout

by Charles J. Shields

This biography spotlights Lee's lifelong friendship with Truman Capote and the creation of To Kill a Mockingbird, showing how the publication and success of that book affected the rest of her life. Shields uses previously conducted interviews with Lee and her family, friends, and neighbors. He pulls from books, magazine articles, newspapers, and radio and television interviews to piece together this life story of the notoriously press-shy Lee. I Am Scout moves along at a good pace, and Lee's quiet life makes for a surprisingly fascinating read.

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Frost

by Wendy Delsol
This modern-day retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "Snow Queen" picks up where it left off in Stork (Candlewick, 2010), with plenty of backstory included. Kat is adjusting to her membership in the ancient Stork society that delivers souls and is still enamored with her boyfriend, Jack, descended from Jack Frost, who can control the weather. Together, their powers often have disastrous results, like an out-of-control snowstorm on Christmas Eve.  Frost sustains the momentum of the first book and effectively sets the stage for the final installment in the trilogy

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How beautiful the ordinary: Twelve stories of identity

edited by Michael CartThis collection's refreshing perspective—that gay, lesbian, and transgendered lives simply are, as Cart states in the introduction, "as wonderfully various, diverse, and gloriously complex as any other lives,"—distinguishes it. Twelve acclaimed authors contribute stories ranging from sweet and nostalgic to lyrical and desperate, capturing the blissful/painful process of self-discovery.  The formats and settings of the stories are as varied as the characters. This collection, with some detailed sexual descriptions, is sure to find its intended teen audience.

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Thunder Over Kandahar

by Sharon E. McKay

When her British and American-educated parents' return to Afghanistan is cut short by a terrible attack, 14-year-old Yasmine is sent to Kandahar for safety. Instead, the driver abandons her and her friend Tamanna along the way, and they must travel on their own through Taliban-controlled mountains. Sometimes the story focuses on Yasmine, and sometimes on Tamanna, a bright but uneducated village girl with a limp inflicted by a drunken uncle whose gambling debts are to be paid by her marriage. Toward the end of their journey, the two encounter Tamanna's twin brother, stolen years earlier and now a suicide bomber. Tamanna is shot, and Yasmine is left alone in Afghanistan, with no memory even of her own identity. Eventually she ends up in Pakistan. Though the survival story ends with the appearance of her grandfather and the return of some memories, the author provides a postscript imagining her characters' more positive futures. In spite of unrelenting violence, along with grinding poverty, restrictive customs, and the horrors of war, what shines through this sad narrative is the love Afghans have for their country.

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The steampunk bible :an illustrated guide to the world of imaginary airships, corsets and goggles, mad scientists, and strange literature

by Jeff VanderMeer with S. J. Chambers

Steampunk—a grafting of Victorian aesthetic and punk rock attitude onto various forms of science-fiction culture—is a phenomenon that has come to influence film, literature, art, music, fashion, and more. The Steampunk Bible is the first compendium about the movement, tracing its roots in the works of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells through its most recent expression in movies such as Sherlock Holmes. Its adherents celebrate the inventor as an artist and hero, re-envisioning and crafting retro technologies including antiquated airships and robots. A burgeoning DIY community has brought a distinctive Victorian-fantasy style to their crafts and art. Steampunk evokes a sense of adventure and discovery, and embraces extinct technologies as a way of talking about the future. This ultimate manual will appeal to aficionados and novices alike as author Jeff VanderMeer takes the reader on a wild ride through the clockwork corridors of Steampunk history.


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Bogus to bubbly :an insider's guide to the world of uglies

by Scott Westerfeld
The World of Uglies, set in out not-so-distant future, is a complex place filled with bubbly technology and lingo, yet bogus rules about status and appearance. That's why a guide to the world of uglies has been requisitioned from the hole in the wall. Inside you'll find:

A rundown on all the cliques, from Crims and Cutters to tech-heads and surge-monkeys

The complete history, starting with the destruction of the oil bug to the launch of Extras in space
How all those awesome gadgets came to be: hoverboards, eyescreens, skintennas, sneak suits...
PLUS an exclusive look at Scott Westerfeld's first draft of Extras -- starring Hiro, not Aya.
And so much more, it's mind-wrecking.

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Scars

By Cheryl Rainfield
Gr 9 Up-Fifteen-year-old Kendra is being stalked by someone who wants her dead, and she is overwhelmed by the compulsion to cut herself. She is dealing with shadowy memories of sexual abuse from her early childhood and wonders why she cannot recall her rapist's face. Kendra is a tough, vulnerable, troubled teen, a survivor who will win readers' hearts as she struggles to deal with her life.
This book will be a particular comfort and source of insight for teens facing any of these challenges, but whatever their life experience, they will be on the edge of their seats, rooting for Kendra to unravel the mystery that shadows her life.

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Puttiing Makeup on Dead People

by Jen Violi

Since Donna's father died, she prefers to go inside herself to a "quiet place.... the only spot I feel at home," until she finds another comfortable place-a funeral home-and decides to become a mortician. But even as Donna applies to mortuary school after high school and starts work at Brighton Brothers Funeral Home, she must learn to connect with the living, including her well-meaning but disapproving mother and an offbeat friend who may be crushing on her. Readers will find Donna's job choice intriguing, as well as the descriptions of her education, including restorative arts class, where "people in lab coats are working with what I think is clay, shaping it into things I have to squint to realize are parts of the human face." Violi's first novel is swimming in unusual characters, from the people-both living and dead-who pass through the funeral home, to the eccentric members of Donna's church drama troupe.

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Possess

by Gretchen McNeil

Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her over-protective mom, by Matt Quinn, the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, the voices are demons—and Bridget possesses the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from. Literally.  Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. And when one of her oldest friends is killed, Bridget realizes she’s in deeper than she ever thought possible. Now she must unlock the secret to the demons’ plan before someone else close to her winds up dead—or worse, the human vessel for a demon king.

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Eona: the last Dragoneye

by Alison Goodman

Facing the ultimate battle for control of the land she calls home, Eona finds herself waging an internal battle every bit as devastating as the war threatening to break out across the kingdom.

  

Sequel to: Eon

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Return to Daemon Hall :Evil Roots

by Andrew Nance
Gr 8 Up-Horror writer Ian Tremblin has decided to hold another writing contest, which includes a frightful evening of storytelling by the competitors and judges. But unlike last year's tragic event held at Daemon Hall, this contest will be held in a secure location-Tremblin's home. What no one understands is the power of the twisted and evil Book of Daemon Hall. It is the source behind all the gruesome occurrences that have plagued this area and is now in Tremblin's possession. Each contestant spins a story using titles from its table of contents and, as a result, things quickly spin out of control. As he did in Daemon Hall (Holt, 2007), Nance weaves a gripping story full of bone-chilling horror.

by Ina Saltz The sequel to the bestselling Body Type: Intimate Messages Etched in Flesh,this second volume collects over two hundred new tattoos and explores the ideas and emotions behind this indelible commitment. This stunning photography collection features commentary on the letterforms as well as personal recollections by the tattooed on the motivations for their decided words.  Inspiring, sometimes shocking, and always voyeuristic,Body Type 2 is not only for tattoo aficionados, but also for all lovers of the written word.
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Beauty Queens

by Libba Bray

Bray follows her Printz Award-winner, Going Bovine, with an only slightly less absurd premise in this out-there satire about a planeload of teen beauty queens who crash onto a (not so) deserted island. Lord of the Flies with an evening gown competition, anyone? Led by the indefatigable Miss Texas, Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins, the 14 surviving contestants must rely on competitive moxie. Halfway through the ordeal, a boat full of shirtless, reality TV pirates runs aground, allowing for some smoking hot scenes. Fun footnotes, contestant profiles, and scripted commercial breaks are interspersed. There's a lot of message, but every time the story veers toward sermonizing, Bray corrects with another crack about our media-saturated, appearance-obsessed, consumer-driven society.

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Divorce Helpbook For Teens

by Cynthia MacGregor
Why do parents get divorced? How will the divorce change our lives? What can I do to feel less depressed? Whom can I talk with about my problems? What's likely to happen next? How do you tell absent parents that they don't visit often enough? How do you say "no" to parents who want you to carry messages to, or spy on, the other parent? What is there to talk about when you visit a parent who's moved away? Packed with vignettes, strategies, and solid advice, The Divorce Helpbook for Teens is a resource teens will keep in their backpacks, on their bedside tables, and in their hearts as they go through the difficult times surrounding a family breakup.
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Voices of the Civil War : stories from the battlefields

by Jason D. Nemeth

Can you imagine sneaking into an enemy camp to kidnap a general? Or how about caring for patients while bullets whiz by your head? These were everyday events for people during the Civil War. Experience their triumphs and defeats first-hand as you read about a Confederate colonel, a battlefield surgeon, a Union marine, and more.

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City of fallen angels

by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

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Break into modeling for under $20

by Judy GossThere's a popular misconception that breaking into the modeling business requires expensive head shots and other costly investments. Judy Goss, a former Ford model and professional with twenty years in the business, has set out to dispel that myth once and for all and tell you how you can actually launch your career for $20 or less. She breaks the process down into four simple steps: Preparation, Pictures, Promotion, and Presentation.She gives countless suggestions and tells all sorts of industry secrets, such as how to: * Determine what type of model you are * Take your own pictures at home in the right poses and clothes * Prepare what to say and do at casting calls * Avoid costly scams * And much more. Judy's expert advice will guide aspiring models of any agency through the process of finding representation with a reputable agency or manager, and it provides a valuable resource to fall back on even after models start working. This comprehensive, step-by-step guide is the only book you'll need to launch the career of your dreams.






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The vegan girl's guide to life : cruelty-free crafts, recipes, beauty secrets, and more

by Melisser Elliot

Vegan women everywhere are banding together in their efforts to be healthy, cruelty free, and environmentally responsible. This is their handbook. Melisser presents the basics of veganism for the newbies, lots of DIY craft projects, cruelty-free beauty tips, travel advice, recipes, and more. Full of photos and quirky illustrations, this is useful information with a punk rock attitude.

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Fledgling Handbook

by P.C. CastThis might seem like a scary time, Fledgling, but never fear! As you start your journey through the ancient halls of the House of Night, this indispensable handbook will aid you in your transition from human to fledgling. Within these pages you will find invaluable information about the history of vampyres. You will also come to a better understanding of your body's transformation, as well as read words of hope from great vampyres of the past and learn essential foundations of rituals and lore. Now, Fledgling, read on. A new life awaits you; your path to that magickal future begins here!

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I Am Number Four

by Pitticus Lore

In rural Ohio, friendships and a beautiful girl prove distracting to a fifteen-year-old who has hidden on Earth for ten years waiting to develop the Legacies, or powers, he will need to rejoin the other six surviving Garde members and fight the Mogadorians who destroyed their planet, Lorien.

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Teen Cuisine

by Matthew Locricchio

Provides over fifty recipes designed for introducing adolescents to a variety of dishes, including breakfast items, soups, snacks, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, sides, entrees, and desserts, with tips on safety, equipment, and utensils, and other resources.

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Angel : a Maximum Ride novel

by James PattersonIn the seventh book in the bestselling series, evil scientists are still trying to convince Max that she needs to save the world, this time by providing the genetic link in speeding up the pace of evolution.
And this time, the true heroine, for once, might just be little Angel.

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Leven Thumps and the wrath of Ezra

by Obert SkyeThe dreams of mankind are in grave danger. The Dearth, the true evil beneath the soil, rises above ground and gains the strength he needs to defeat Leven Thumps. Lev, now the Want, is also gaining strength and must discover his new power before the Dearth finds him.


Meanwhile, Sycophant Run is on the brink of war, and the secret of the sycophants' vulnerability is more of a threat than ever -- can Clover and the sycophants protect the only gateway to Reality? And speaking of Reality, Terry and Addy are about to join forces with a onetime janitor and the angriest, most confused toothpick alive: Ezra. What kind of power is raging inside that sliver of wood?


In this fourth volume in the Leven Thumps series, Leven continues his quest to save the imaginations and dreams of all mankind

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House of Dead Maids

by Clare Dunkle
If the prospect of a prequel to Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights won't exactly set most kids' hearts aflutter, the chilling jacket illustration of a pale girl without eyes might do the trick.  Eleven-year-old Tabby Aykroyd (modeled after the real-life servant of the Brontës, who allegedly told the sisters many a terrifying tale) is hired out to Seldom House, a moody estate in need of a nursemaid for the new master, a feisty young boy (Heathcliff of Wuthering Heights). Ghosts are afoot in Seldom House, but that doesn't flap the unflappable Tabby.

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Latte Rebellion

by Sarah Jamila Stevenson

Stevenson takes on the issue of multiracialism in her debut novel The Latte Rebellion. Told in first person through the voice of multiracial high school senior, Asha Jamison, the story revolves around the obstacles she and her multiracial friends confront daily.

Stevenson presents believable supporting characters and a protagonist with whom readers will identify and empathize. The novel speaks directly to teenagers who are beginning to find their place in their world and figuring out how to make the world a better place for others.

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The unofficial Harry Potter cookbook : from cauldron cakes to knickerbocker glory--more than 150 magical recipes for wizards and non-wizards alike

by Dinah Bucholz Bangers and mash with Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the Hogwarts dining hall. A proper cuppa tea and rock cakes in Hagrid's hut. Cauldron cakes and pumpkin juice on the Hogwarts Express. With this cookbook, dining a la Hogwarts is as easy as Banoffi Pie! With more than 150 easy-to-make recipes, tips, and techniques, you can indulge in spellbindingly delicious meals drawn straight from the pages of your favorite Potter stories, such asTreacle Tart--Harry's favorite dessert, Molly's Meat Pies--Mrs. Weasley's classic dish, Kreacher's French Onion Soup, Pumpkin Pasties--a staple on the Hogwarts Express cart. With a dash of magic and a drop of creativity, you'll conjure up the entrees, desserts, snacks, and drinks you need to transform ordinary Muggle meals into magickal culinary masterpieces, sure make even Mrs. Weasley proud!

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Behemoth

by Scott WesterfeldThis dynamite novel incorporates factual events of the early months of World War I: the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, Churchill's confiscation of an Ottoman Empire warship, and the instability and revolution within the Empire. However, the elements of steampunk, biological and mechanical technology, sheer over-the-top adventure, and great storytelling make this a must-have addition to any speculative fiction collection. Thompson's sumptuous full-page illustrations capture the goings-on and contribute to the cinematic feel of the book.-

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