Another Dystopian (and it's pretty good!)

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
Dystopian books have been coming thick and fast the past few years, so it takes something original to stand out. A few twists and turns in The Testing bring it into new territory. Cia lives in what was once the Great Lakes region of the United States, a region that is being revitalized over a century after chemical, biological, and nuclear warfare. After graduating, Cia is chosen to participate in the Testing, which selects candidates to study at the University and become society's next leaders. The Testing is an honor one can't refuse, and though there are academic tests, later stages prove to be fatal. High stakes survival is woven with science and romance in this thrilling dystopian that shows life is rarely full of black and white choices.

Remember how great Grave Mercy was?

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
I devoured Gravy Mercy, the first in Robin LaFever's His Fair Assassin Series. Dark Triumph is even better and you don't have to read Grave Mercy to plunge in. At the convent for the daughters of Death, Sybella not only learned an assassin's skills, but healed from her life. When her training was complete, the nuns sent Sybella back to the house she grew up in-- back to her terrifying father and conniving brothers. At home, there's no one she can trust and her only enjoyment comes from delivering justice-- that is until her fate is changed by the only good person in her father's house, his most prized prisoner. Sybella's story is dark and thrilling and fans of Tamora Pierce or Melina Marchetta's Finnikin of the Rock will not be disappointed.

Beautiful Fantasy

 

 

The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente
In this sequel to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, September finds herself falling back into fairyland. This time her mission is to save fairyland from her own Shadow, who is draining fairyland of its magic for frivolous reasons. Valente's delicious language and inventive settings are to be savored while her knowledge of fairy folklore will entice adult fantasy readers. An added bonus: each chapter stands alone, making for perfect bedtime reading.

Eve & Adam

by Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate
When Eve is hit by a car, suffering horrible injuries, her mother pulls her from the hospital as quickly as she can, transferring Eve to her research facility, Spiker Biopharmaceuticals. While recovering, Eve's mother has Eve test a new computer program. Her project? Create the perfect boy. But nothing at Spiker is what it seems, and a strange boy seems to know more secrets than anyone else. Grant & Applegate have written a fast-paced thriller sure to appeal to those who enjoyed The Adoration of Jenna Fox.

Funny Journal-Style Middle Grade

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Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis

Timmy Failure and his sidekick --ahem, business partner-- are like Calvin & Hobbes if Calvin was dense and Hobbes was a seal-obsessed polar bear. Together, Timmy and Total form Total Failure, Inc, a detective agency Timmy is sure will soon be an international corporation making billions-- or at least enough to pay his mom's bills. The only thing standing in Timmy's way is the CCIA or Corrina Corrina Intelligence Agency run by the evilest girl in Timmy's class. Oh, and his grade obsessed best friend (possible traitor) and an infatuated classmate (international thief). Stephan Pastis' hilarious novel is perfect for kids obsessed with Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Calvin & Hobbes. Okay, adults will laugh, too.

Under the humor are serious situations faced by many kids.
(spoilers as to what these issues are below)




Timmy's mom is finding it difficult to pay the bills and she and Timmy end up moving into an apartment. Timmy immediately dislikes his mom's boyfriend (ultimately, his mom realizes the boyfriend does not care as much about Timmy as his car and ends it). Timmy's grades are low but with the right teacher (who sees Timmy as an individual)Timmy begins to do very well. These underlying issues elevate the book to more than just another journal-style middle grade series.

Very Early Graphic Novel

Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci & Sara Varon

Theodora is a tidy duck who always follows her daily routine. While her choices may be strange for most ducks (she quilts and swims with a tea cup on her head), everything in her life fits perfectly in its' place...that is until a neighbor comes along. Chad is bizarre. He dyes his feathers and makes strange sculptures in the yard. Theodora is certain the two will never be friends but as it often happens in books for young readers, she's quickly proven wrong. Though a common story, Castellucci and Varon bring their own fun flavor. Odd Duck is filled with sweet and quirky characters children are sure to love. Perfect for an early reader audience, Odd Duck is also a great read-aloud selection for non-readers who can sit through a long story but still want lots of pictures. Hopefully we'll see more books from this quirky duo.

A top graphic novel of 2012

The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra
When Alan and his sister Leah wake, they find themselves in a magical forest. To find their way home, they must follow the path of the stone frogs. Of course, they have a few adventures along the way. Though reminiscent of both Alice in Wonderland and Little Nemo, David Nytra crafts a unique fantasy. Detailed black and white pen and ink drawings invite readers to become lost along with Leah and Alan. David Nytra keeps his text to a minimum and new new readers will be astonished that they can read a book with so many pages. All in all, The Secret of the Stone Frog is a masterpiece.