New tween reads: the Titanic sinks, time-travel, and the Amazon

Every month the number of fascinating books for tween readers to explore grows larger. Here, for example, are just a few of the new books recently released -- from real-life stories to funny high-school fiction, there's lots to keep up with!

Titanic Sinks! Experience the Titanic's Doomed Voyage, by Barry Denenberg (Viking) Nonfiction. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the disaster, this attention-grabbing book in the form of a newspaper tabloid presents the history of the building, launching, and sinking of the Titanic in a fascinating narrative. Archival photographs, survivor's accounts, and re-creations of Titanic memorabilia accompany the well-researched facts that the author weaves into a riveting story. Those who can't get enough about the Titanic should also check out Allan Wolf's The Watch that Ends the Night, and fans of historical page-turners in general might also try Jim Murphy's gripping Blizzard!

We Dine with Cannibals, by C. Alexander London; illustrated by Jonny Duddle (Philomel Books) Adventure. Last heard from in We Are Not Eaten by Yaks, twins and reality-television junkies Oliver and Celia Navel are -- much to their dismay -- off adventuring again in this exciting and frequently ridiculous sequel. Traveling from the ruins of ancient temples to the shadowy forests of the Amazon, Celia and Oliver ride a llama, race rapids, fly an airplane, and learn the proper etiquette for a cannibal feast before all is said and done. Blending mystery and adventure with silliness and attitude, this second Accidental Adventure is a blast!

The Inquisitor's Apprentice, by Chris Moriarty; illustrated by Mark Geyer (Harcourt Children's Books) Historical Fantasy. In this fast-paced novel set in an alternate version of early-20th-century New York City, people practice magic in secret and Inquisitors investigate magical crimes and attempt to stamp out enchantment. When his ability to see spells being cast is discovered, young Sacha Kessler becomes the apprentice of the New York Police Department's star Inquisitor, Maximilian Wolf -- and his career as a detective begins with the case of the attempted murder of Thomas Edison. This sophisticated mystery brings both New York and the period to life and features other historical figures as well, making it a good bet for fans of Scott Mebus' Gods of Manhattan.

The Crazy Things Girls Do for Love, by Dyan Sheldon (Candlewick Press) Fiction. In this hilarious novel, attendance is up at Clifton Springs High School's environmental club since the drop-dead gorgeous new guy, Cody Lightfoot, joined. As vegan eco-friendly girls, previously eco-hostile queen bees, and girls from across all social boundaries compete to out-green each other leading up to the Earth Day fair that Cody is organizing, life at Clifton Springs gets a little crazy. This wry, fun, and deceptively deep novel about romance, friendship, and saving the Earth will keep you laughing and is a great pick for fans of Jennifer Cowan's slightly edgier Earthgirl.

Beswitched, by Kate Saunders (Delacorte Press) Time-Travel Fantasy. On her way by train to a school she does not want to attend (even temporarily), spoiled 21st-century English girl Flora Fox is transported not to posh Penrice Hall in the here-and-now, but to St. Winifred's boarding school ... in 1935. At first shocked by the prospect of life without a smartphone, regular hot showers, and lattes, Flora soon warms up to her roommates -- and learns that they have a mission for her to fulfill. First published in the UK in 2010, this highly entertaining novel is one that fans of memorable characters (and magic) should not miss.

Problems, problems: teen stories about coping with real life

Stepping into someone else's shoes can help you see your own life more clearly. The characters in the books below -- whether as a result of their own mistakes or due to circumstances totally beyond their control -- all find themselves in chaotic, seemingly unworkable situations. Look for copies of these books using the Amazon and WorldCatalog search boxes here at BookBag; their methods for coping with the chaos, getting a grip, and taking control of their lives make for some great stories.

Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork (Arthur A. Levine Books) Fiction. Marcelo Sandoval isn't interested in sticking even a big toe out of his comfort zone; he'd be happy forever just listening to the music in his head, obsessively reading books about religion, and caring for the ponies in his special school's stables. But his dad, a high-powered attorney, insists that Marcelo take a summer job in his law firm's mailroom to get a dose of "the real world." There, Marcelo has to let go of his familiar routines and face challenges: having to tell true friends from false ones, doing the right thing even if it's dangerous, and taking the risk of loving someone. Unpredictable, moving, and memorable, Marcelo in the Real World offers a unique view of life.

Hot Lunch, by Alex Bradley (Dutton Children's Books) Fiction. When blue-haired, smart-mouthed Molly is paired up with her nemesis--blonde, perky Cassie--for a class project, they clash. And clash again. Then they get lunch duty and end up in a food fight, causing the lunch lady to quit. At their private, hippie-run school, punishment fits the crime, so Cassie and Molly have to take over for the lunch lady--but besides not being able get along, neither of them can cook! The two of them find out whether they should spend time around sharp knives together. Hot Lunch is a fast-paced, funny read with some great recipes,


Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World, by Joan Druett (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill) Adult Nonfiction. This slice of history shows how the way people react to a drastic situation can make a huge difference in its outcome. In 1864, two ships, the Grafton and the Invercauld, wrecked on opposite ends of the same remote South Pacific island. The Grafton's five-man crew, through determination and sheer force of will, overcame the harsh environment and eventually built a small ship to carry them to New Zealand -- but the crew of theInvercauld descended into anarchy. After a year and a half, only three of theInvercauld's original 25-man crew survived to be rescued by a passing ship. Fans of adventure and survival stories (or TV shows) will find this descriptive history
fascinating.

Keesha's House, by Helen Frost (Frances Foster Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Novel in Verse. Keesha's father gets violent when he drinks (which is often), but she has finally found a safe place to live--a house owned by a man whose aunt took him in when he was young and in trouble. Keesha, in turn, invites other teens to take refuge and start fresh there: Stephie, who's pregnant and terrified; Harris, whose dad kicked him out after Harris revealed that he's gay; Katie, whose stepfather crossed a line but whose mother won't believe her; and several others. Heartbreaking yet hopeful and with painfully realistic characters, Keesha's House will mesmerize readers who like emotionally intense, brutally honest books like E.R. Frank's Life is Funny.

Nation, by Terry Pratchett (HarperCollins) Fiction. Mau is headed home in a canoe, ready to take part in the ritual that will make him a man, when a tsunami kills every member of his island nation but him. The deadly wave also wrecks an English ship on the island's shore, depositing a girl named Ermintrude there. Soon, refugees from nearby islands begin to arrive, and Mau and Ermintrude must take the lead in establishing a new nation if they hope to survive. But Mau isn't sure who he is without his people, Ermintrude no longer knows what to believe about the world, and great danger awaits them both. Part survival adventure, part fantasy, and full of marvelous characters and comic relief, Nation is a riveting and memorable read.

Koalas, coral reefs, a trip around the world: new kids' books for the winter blahs

When it's cold and wintry outside, books can give kids a chance to escape the bad weather without leaving the house. Here's a group of fantasy, non-fiction, and picture books for young readers that will help warm up the imagination!

Coral Reefs, by Jason Chin (Roaring Brook Press) Nonfiction. In this follow-up to the award-winning Redwoods, a girl pulls a book about coral reefs off of a library shelf and, as she reads its ordinary yet informative text, experiences something quite marvelous. As in Redwoods, this book's words present interesting facts about a particular ecosystem -- while its illustrations tell a completely different story (here's a hint: in Redwoods, a bustling city corner changes into a forest right before the reader's eyes). If you like nature, science, or art, there's something in Coral Reefs just for you.

Killer Koalas from Outer Space: And Lots of Other Very Bad Stuff that Will Make Your Brain Explode! by Andy Griffiths; illustrated by Terry Denton (Feiwel & Friends) Graphic Novel. Sensitive readers who aren't fond of random violence or jokes about poop should just skip right to the next book in this list. The rest of you are going to enjoy Killer Koalas from Outer Space! It's a collection of short, ridiculously funny tales in comics form by the best-selling Australian author of The Day My Butt Went Psycho. Yes, there are killer koalas, but there are also killer giraffes -- as well as an abundance of gross-out moments and several fiendishly fractured fairy tales -- and it's all zany, wacky, icky fun.

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World, by Giles Laroche (Houghton Mifflin) Picture book. Are you fascinated by different types of houses? This book presents intricate, nearly-3D collage illustrations of dwellings from many regions of the world and throughout history -- from a Southern U.S. "dogtrot log house" to a Chilean palafitos (a house raised on stilts) to a Mongolian yurt and more! In addition to describing a wide variety of dwellings, this unusual book also briefly explains how different people live -- and why they live the way they do. For another book that compares life in different cultures (and has a similar style of pictures), check out Jeannie Baker's award-winning Mirror.

Secrets at Sea: A Novel, by Richard Peck; illustrated by Kelly Murphy (Dial Books) Fantasy. It's the late 1880s, and house-mouse Helena and her siblings have a dilemma: the human family whose home they occupy is making a voyage overseas -- meaning that crumbs will be in short supply for a while -- but mice are terrified of water. As head of her household since her parents' demise, Helena makes the bold call to stow away in the Cranstons' luggage, and many ship-board adventures follow. Clever, fun, and packed with memorable characters, this animal fantasy should be a winner with fans of other mousy tales like Lois Lowry's Bless This Mouse or Avi's Poppy.

Around the World, by Matt Phelan (Candlewick Press) Graphic Novel. This exciting true story in comic-book form traces the paths of three 19th century adventurers who, inspired by Jules Verne's fictional Around the World in Eighty Days, each travel around the world solo. Thomas Stevens, once a miner, rides a bicycle from California to Massachusetts and then (after crossing the ocean on a ship) all the way to Japan; fearless reporter Nellie Bly aims to circumnavigate the globe faster than her fictional counterpart; and retired sea captain Joshua Slocum attempts to become the first person ever to sail all the way around the world alone.

Strange places, strange stories, and runaway adventure

Sometimes it's good to get away -- even if it's just to get lost in a book. Here are some great recent stories that will make the reader keep turning the pages with anticipation of what happens next! Find them here using the Amazon and World Catalog search boxes on BookBag.

Everwild, by Neal Shusterman (Simon & Schuster) Fantasy. Sometimes, children lose their way to the afterlife and end up--at least temporarily--in the bizarre in-between world of Everlost. In this second volume of the Skinjacker Trilogy (after Everlost), deceased teens Allie and Nick are waging a sort of war against Mary Hightower, who wants to keep all of the children of Everlost with her forever. Packed with twists and turns, startling revelations, and even some laughs and a bit of romance, Everwild is a mesmerizing story set in a uniquely creative imaginary world.


Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick (Simon & Schuster) Paranormal Romance. Smart, responsible Nora Grey is irritated by mysterious transfer-student Patch when they first meet, but it isn't long before she finds herself irresistibly attracted to him (despite her persistent doubts about his character). After extremely frightening things begin happening to Nora, she decides to investigate Patch ... and discovers that he is one of the Nephilim, a fallen angel. And he wants very badly to be human. Hush, Hush is a haunting and tantalizingly sexy read that will have you on the edge of your seat--and hoping for a sequel.

The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (Delacorte Press) Science Fiction. Thomas wakes up in a metal box that's lurching upward, and the only thing he can remember about himself is his first name. Deposited in the central courtyard of an enormous maze, he meets the boys who were delivered there before him. They've developed a society based on two goals: survival--the maze is populated by deadly mechanical monsters--and escape. But soon after Thomas' arrival, things change, and the need to find a way out of the maze takes on new urgency. This suspenseful novel establishes a fascinating and enigmatic world that's suffused with a creeping sense of doom. Fans of dystopian stories will be riveted--and desperate to learn what happens next.


Goth Girl Rising, by Barry Lyga (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Fiction. Kyra, the girl from The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, has spent the last six months in a mental institution, and Fanboy didn't visit or contact her once. Maybe he was too busy managing his sudden popularity -- the result of publishing his comic in the school's literary magazine while Kyra was away -- but whatever the reason, Kyra is angry, and she's going to get revenge. If you like believable characters and stories filled with raw emotion, don't miss Goth Girl Rising.

How to Say Goodbye in Robot, by Natalie Standiford (Scholastic) Fiction. Beatrice Szabo, forced to start her senior year in a new place because of her father's job, is the new girl at a Baltimore, Maryland private school where everyone else has known each other since kindergarten. She's so emotionally deadened that her mother declares her a robot ... but something tugs at her wiry heartstrings when she meets tortured, antisocial Jonah, aka Ghost Boy. Witty, emotionally intense, and at times startlingly funny, How to Say Goodbye in Robot is the perfect novel for proud misfits; fans of quirky, character-driven stories; and anyone looking for an unconventional love story.

We Were Here, by Matt de la Peña (Delacorte Press) Fiction. Miguel Casteñeda has been sentenced to a year in a group home for a crime that he won't talk about--and honestly, he figures it's better than living at home, where his mother won't even look him in the eye anymore. Then Miguel runs away from the group home with two other residents, Mong and Rondell, with a half-baked plan to go to Mexico. Still keeping the journal that he was required to start in juvie, Miguel relates the hardships, adventures, and epiphanies that the trio have along the way. Part survival tale and part friendship story, We Were Here is a gripping, suspenseful read.

LeBron James, Batso the biker, and other real-life stories

Real life can seem stranger than fiction. Here are some real-life stories that may surprise you, from the lives of NBA superstars to going-green experimenters driving cross-country in their french-fry oil-powered car. Looks for these non-fiction reads here on BookBag using the World Catalog / Amazon.com search boxes and fasten your seatbelts for some wild rides!

Shooting Stars, by LeBron James and H. G. Bissinger (Penguin Press) Adult Nonfiction. You probably know NBA superstar LeBron James is busy packing his bags for Miami -- but what do you know about where he came from? Writing in cooperation with the author of Friday Night Lights, James tells about growing up poor in Akron, Ohio and later playing killer basketball with his best friends, "the Fab Five," on the Shooting Stars amateur youth team and at St. Vincent-St. Mary's high school. Fans of on-the-court action will especially enjoy this exciting and timely memoir.

Rescue Ink: How Ten Guys Saved Countless Dogs and Cats, Twelve Horses, Five Pigs, One Duck, and a Few Turtles, by Denise Flaim (Viking) Adult Nonfiction. With their combined 1700 pounds of muscle and their blunt, in-your-face approach, the heavily tattooed members of the animal-rescue group Rescue Ink can seem a pretty intimidating bunch. After all, do you really expect a biker nicknamed "Batso" to have a soft spot for kittens? Maybe you should: these New Yorkers have made it their mission to improve the lives of abused and neglected animals. This inspirational book gives background information on each fascinating member of the organization and tells the stories of many of their rescue adventures.


My Name is Jason. Mine Too. - by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin (Joanna Cotler Books) Nonfiction. Two guys named Jason, former college roommates, chase their dreams and ponder the meaning of their lives in this mélange of verse and artwork that, in two distinct voices, tells about a single, universal journey. The Jasons--one a poet, one a painter--struggle financially after moving to the Big Apple to seek their fortunes, and just when one of them is ready to give up hope, the other buoys him up. Just the thing for artists, free thinkers, and philosophical types, this tale of The City is a quick and inspiring read.

Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, One Fry-Oil-Powered Car, and a Cross-Country Search for a Greener Future, by Greg Melville (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill) Adult Nonfiction. Who needs gasoline? Not Greg Melville--and, if you ask him, "nearly anyone can operate and maintain a french-fry car." To prove it, he converted a dilapidated old Mercedes from a diesel-powered car into one that uses recycled grease as fuel and drove it from Vermont to California with his old college buddy Iggy riding shotgun. Collecting fuel from restaurant dumpsters along the way, Greg and Iggy also tour a number of sites powered by green energy (including geothermally heated Fort Knox and Google's solar-powered headquarters). The New York Times calls this book "an entertaining combination of On the Road and An Inconvenient Truth."

Three Little Words, by Ashley Rhodes-Courter (Atheneum) Nonfiction. This powerful and harrowing real-life story traces author Ashley Rhodes-Courter's painful childhood and offers a challenging look at the U.S. foster-care system. Taken from her neglectful mother as a toddler, Ashley endured more than a dozen foster families--ranging from benevolent to apathetic to downright cruel--over the next nine years. Written to inspire hope in children who have, like the author, fallen through the cracks in the system, Three Little Words is a captivating, disturbing, and (ultimately) encouraging story.

I'm Down: A Memoir, by Mishna Wolff (St. Martin's Press) Adult Nonfiction. At one point or another, most of us struggle to feel like we fit in--and humorist Mishna Wolff's story is a prime example of that struggle. In the 1980s, Wolff and her family, all of them "white Americans of European ancestry," moved to a poor black neighborhood in Seattle, where Wolff's father--who truly wanted to be black--could embrace African-American culture. Wolff tried desperately to fit in with her classmates, but she wasn't "black enough"; then, after her mother had her transferred to a private school, she found she wasn't quite white enough, either. Check out I'm Down for Mishna's hilarious, absorbing, and bittersweet story.

New fiction and non-fiction for teens

From Stonehenge to baseball, alchemy to fantasy, there's bound to be a book here to keep you turning the pages! Here's a wide selection of new fiction and non-fiction books for teens -- look for any of them on the World Catalog / Amazon search boxes here at BookBag ....


If Stones Could Speak, by Marc Aronson with Mike Parker Pearson (National Geographic) Nonfiction. When author Marc Aronson was in middle school, he was entranced by archaeologists and their adventures in digging up history's secrets, but he feared that "everything important [...] had already been found." However, in this clearly written and fascinating book, Aronson explains archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson's work interpreting Stonehenge and uses it as an example of how scientists are constantly looking for (and often find) information that adds to or completely changes our understanding of historical artifacts. So, what IS Stonehenge? Is it a Druid temple? A calendar? Or something else? Read the evidence presented in If Stones Could Speak and decide for yourself.


The Line, by Teri Hall (Dial Books) Science Fiction. Rachel and her mother live and work on a property that abuts the Line, an invisible barrier between the totalitarian Unified States and the no-man's land known as Away. Populated by the mysterious Others, the forbidden land has always fascinated Rachel...and when she stumbles upon a desperate message from an Other, she can't resist trying to help. This suspenseful story of a frightening possible future starts out slowly, but it builds to a cliffhanger ending that will have science fiction and thriller fans alike clamoring for the next volume in this new series.

Alchemy and Meggy Swann, by Karen Cushman (Clarion Books) Historical Fiction. After living with her indifferent mother in a small English village for 13 years, Margret ("Meggy") Swann has come to grimy, bustling London to live with her father, an alchemist whom she's never met--and who, as it turns out, doesn't want her any more than her mother did. But despite her father's rejection and a physical disability that makes people wary of her, Meggy is determined to make a better life for herself. Combining a resilient heroine, vivid depictions of Elizabethan England, and a bit of a mystery (plus loads of colorful period insults!), Alchemy and Meggy Swann is a memorable tale that history buffs will savor.


Falling In, by Frances O'Roark Dowell (Atheneum Books) Fantasy. When she is sent to the principal's office one day for daydreaming in class, oddball sixth-grader Isabelle Bean opens a supply-closet door...and falls into a completely different world! More curious than frightened, she begins exploring and meets a group of children who are fleeing from a supposedly murderous witch. Isabelle, intrigued, marches off in the exact direction that the children warned her to avoid, hoping that she will meet the witch. Suspenseful, often funny, and (like Isabelle) surprising, Falling In is a novel that even those who don't typically like fantasy might enjoy.

Roberto & Me, by Dan Gutman (Harper) Fiction. In this 10th volume of the Baseball Card Adventures series (which began with Honus & Me), Joe "Stosh" Stoshack uses a baseball card to travel back in time to 1969. He means to prevent the untimely death of baseball legend Roberto Clemente by warning him not to board a plane that's doomed to crash, but there are surprises in store for Stosh -- as well as for series fans -- on this journey. With exciting on-field action, humor, and tantalizing bits of history, this fun, fast-paced read knocks it out of the park.


Forget-Her-Nots, by Amy Brecount White (Greenwillow Books) Fiction. Laurel, a new student at Avondale boarding school, has been studying the Victorian language of flowers and handing out bouquets that have ... consequences. The flowers that she arranges for a class project seem to cause her spinster teacher to fall in love, while a classmate starts attracting boys like crazy after receiving one of Laurel's "tussie-mussies." And, as Laurel tries to harness her newfound power, she stirs up enough chaos to make for an extremely interesting prom. This light romance has a magical feel and will charm anyone with an interest in flowers' hidden meanings.

Don't just sit there! Stuff to do this summer

If you and your friends are sitting around this summer looking for something exciting to do, here's a group of books with some big ideas. From making money to photography, summer's a great time to try something new! Be sure to look for these books with the World Catalog and Amazon search boxes here on BookBag, and discover your own new talents -- or explore ones you already have!


Quick Cash for Teens, by Peter G. Bielagus (Sterling) Nonfiction. Are you looking for ways to make some money this summer? Quick Cash for Teens tells how to discover your niche and create a business that is simple, makes use of your skills, and is what author Peter Bielagus calls a "self-seller." Providing details about how to create business and marketing plans, win customers, account for business finances, and more, this book is a great resource for aspiring entrepreneurs. And, if you aren't sure what sort of business you might start, there's a list of 101 of them complete with the required materials, timeline information, start-up costs, and basic things you need to learn for each one.

Teens Cook, by Megan and Jill Carle, with Judi Carle (Ten Speed Press) Nonfiction. If you'd love to learn to cook but don't know where to start, give this basic and fun book a try. Including recipes for both meat-eaters and vegetarians that range from steak fajitas and baked mac and cheese to loaded potato skins, soups, desserts, snacks, cookies, breakfast, and more, Teens Cook offers clear instructions, loads of photos, and advice on avoiding kitchen disasters. For more great cookbooks geared toward teens but that offer somewhat lighter, healthier fare, try Sam Stern's Cooking Up a Storm or Rozanne Gold's Eat Fresh Food.

Digital Photo Madness, by Thom Gaines (Lark Books) Nonfiction. If you have access to a digital camera and a computer, there's a lot you can do with the pictures you take -- and Digital Photo Madness tells you how. First, author Thom Gaines covers the basics of photography, so you'll start out with better photos. Then he moves on to instructions for a wealth of creative projects, such as altering images to make pop art, combining multiple photos in cool ways, and fiddling with the colors in your shots. This book will put you well on your way to becoming a 21st-century shutterbug!

Show Off: How to Do Absolutely Everything One Step at a Time, by Sarah Hines-Stephens and Bethany Mann (Candlewick Press) Nonfiction. This hilarious book provides simple, step-by-step instructions (in pictures!) for how to do "224 fun, freaky, and fabulous things." Some of them are art projects, like making your own manga, and others involve science, culinary adventures, physical prowess (for walking on your hands or running a ninja obstacle course), or just pure awesome-ness. Special icons throughout the book indicate how long each activity takes, whether it makes a mess, and so on. Amuse yourself--and amaze your friends!--with this surprising and slightly kooky manual on "how to do absolutely everything."

Amazing Rubber Band Cars, by Mike Rigsby (Chicago Review Press) Nonfiction. Got a pencil, some cardboard, and a rubber band? You can make your own race-worthy model car (the simplest design in this book). With a little patience and some additional components, such as old computer CDs, you can make other types of moving vehicles, too--including a life-sized rubber band car (that is, one that's big enough for a person to ride in it). With clearly written instructions and some projects that are sophisticated enough to be used for science class, Amazing Rubber Band Cars is just one of many antidotes to boredom that you can find at the library.

Stuff to Hold Your Stuff, by Ellen Warwick; illustrated by Bernice Lum (Kids Can Press) Nonfiction. If you have conquered the basics of using a sewing machine, this book will show you how to translate those skills into a variety of fantastic bags, totes, travel accessories, school gear, and more--like the title says, all kinds of "stuff to hold your stuff." For different ways to make bags, purses, and accessories, check out Shannon Okey's Knitgrrl and especially Knitgrrl 2; for more sewing and fashion ideas, check out Sheila Zent's Sew Teen.

Books by Native Americans for older teen readers

Here are books written by Native American authors that older readers might enjoy -- fiction as well as essays and short stories that don't shy away from some serious topics. Locate these by using the World Catalog (for library copies) or Amazon search boxes here on BookBag.

Flight: A Novel, by Sherman Alexie (Black Cat) Adult Fiction. In this tragic, hilarious, and unapologetically graphic story, part-Irish, part-Indian foster kid Zits has an out-of-body experience (several, in fact) just as he is about to commit a horrendously violent act. Spun through time and successively into the bodies of a white FBI agent in the 1970s, an Indian child during the battle of Little Big Horn, a 19th-century Indian-tracker, a homeless alcoholic, and finally an airline pilot, Zits emerges from his journey transformed. Fans of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five or Octavia Butler's Kindred will be mesmerized by this brutal yet ultimately hopeful novel.

Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today, edited by Lori M. Carlson (HarperCollins) These ten stories written by contemporary Native American authors including Cynthia Leitich Smith, Louise Erdrich, Richard Van Camp, Joseph Bruchac, and National Book Award-winner Sherman Alexie (for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian) are beautiful and intense. With themes ranging from painful tales of divorce, poverty, and addiction to proud celebrations of American Indian identity, strength, and humor, this collection "reminds us that the American Indian story is far from over."

Power, by Linda Hogan (W.W. Norton) Adult Fiction. When 16-year-old Omishto sees Ama, an elder from her Taiga tribe, kill a panther, she doesn't understand why her friend and mentor would slay an endangered animal, especially one that the Taiga hold sacred. Regardless, Omishto ("the One Who Watches") stands by Ama throughout her criminal prosecution--and her banishment by the Taiga people. This leisurely, lyrical story, which connects Native cultures' struggle to survive in the modern world with the destruction of the environment, is a haunting and memorable read.

Genocide of the Mind: New Native American Writing, by MariJo Moore (Thunder's Mouth Press/Nation Books) Adult Nonfiction. This collection of essays by Native Americans from more than 25 different nations explores the experience of "urban Indians," people who struggle to live in the two different worlds of their traditional heritage and modern society. Writing on topics ranging from identity and languages to Indian mascots and misconceptions of what it means to be Native American, the contributors to Genocide of the Mind bring serious current issues into stark focus and yet also offer hope and ideas for the future.

The Trap, by John E. Smelcer (Henry Holt) Adventure. Ahtna Athabascan poet and author John Smelcer spins a tale of survival in the cruelly beautiful Alaskan wilderness. Native Alaskan Johnny Least-Weasel's stubbornly traditional grandfather Albert has gone out to check his trapline, and he's been gone far too long. Johnny's grandmother urges him to go looking for her husband, but Johnny's uncles on the tribal council aren't concerned. Meanwhile, Albert Least-Weasel has his leg caught in one of his own traps and must fend off wolves, hunger, and bitter cold. This taut, suspenseful story will keep you turning the pages.

Books for the winter blahs

Looking for something new to take your mind off the winter blahs? Here's a group of books ranging from fact to fiction that will keep readers turning the pages! Look for them using the WorldCat and Amazon search boxes here on BookBag.

The Year of the Dog: A Novel, by Grace Lin (Little, Brown) Fiction. Pacy's mom is Taiwanese and her dad is Chinese. So what does that make her--Taiwanese-Chinese-American? Not completely sure who she is or what she wants to be, Pacy is determined that the Year of the Dog, meant to be a year of finding one's self and making friends, will be lucky for her. If you enjoy The Year of the Dog, be sure to check out the next book about Pacy and her family, The Year of the Rat.

100-Year-Old Secret, by Tracy Barrett (Henry Holt) Mystery. Soon after Xena Holmes and her brother Xander arrive in London, where they'll be living with their parents for the next year, a strange man on the street slips a note into Xena's hand. It's a message inviting Xena and Xander to a meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Famous Detectives...where the siblings find out that they are direct descendants of none other than the great Sherlock Holmes, and they've inherited the files from all of his unsolved cases. So of course they're going to try to crack one of them! This first volume in the fast-paced Sherlock Files series (followed by The Beast of Blackslope) is a great pick for kids who liked Ron Roy's A to Z Mysteries.

Keep Your Eye on the Kid: The Early Years of Buster Keaton, by Catherine Brighton (Roaring Brook Press) Picture-Book Biography. Joe "Buster" Keaton -- nicknamed for tumbling down a flight of stairs by none other than Harry Houdini -- was famous for being able to take a fall. A "backstage baby" whose parents had a vaudeville act, Keaton eventually went on to make silent movies in Hollywood and became famous for his deadpan physical comedy. This story, written as if Keaton himself were telling it, stretches the truth a bit in places (as he might have) but is the mostly true tale of his younger years and his start in show biz.

The Porcupine Year, by Louise Erdrich (HarperCollins) Historical Fiction. In 1852, forced by the United States government to leave their beloved island home, 12-year-old Omakayas and her Ojibwe family (whom readers met in The Birchbark House and The Game of Silence) travel in search of a place to live. Heading north in hopes of joining Omakayas' aunt in a new settlement, the family faces violent raids, freezing weather, and near-starvation--but they never lose hope. This sad, beautiful, and at times even funny story explains pieces of American history that you may not know about and is a must-read for Little House on the Prairie fans.

The Year the Swallows Came Early, by Kathryn Fitzmaurice (Bowen Press) Realistic Fiction. On a day when Eleanor ("Groovy") Robinson's horoscope tells her to "expect the unexpected," she gets it: her father is arrested as Groovy is walking with him to his job. It turns out that he's stolen money that was supposed to put Groovy, who wants to be a chef, through culinary school--and Groovy's mom is the one who called the police! Groovy isn't sure she'll ever forgive either of her parents, and now that her dream seems impossible, she doesn't know what the future holds. With great, true-to-life characters and lots of interesting details about cooking, The Year the Swallows Came Early is a good choice for fans of family dramas.

Fooled You! Fakes and Hoaxes through the Years, by Elaine Pascoe; illustrated by Laurie Keller (Henry Holt) Nonfiction. People like to believe that extraordinary things can happen, so it's easier than you might think to convince them that outright falsehoods are gospel truth. This fascinating book explores various hoaxes that people have bought hook, line, and sinker during the 19th and 20th centuries--including "alien" crop circles, fairies on film, and circus master P.T. Barnum's infamous "mermaid." How were people duped? Fooled You! goes beyond mere lists of lies to explain how hucksters, charlatans, and quacks through the years have managed to pull the wool over people's eyes.