Just for fun: some new books for tweens

Just for fun, these books are exciting and filled with great characters who will make you laugh. Find copies at your local library using the World Catalog search box or Amazon.com link here on BookBag.

Binky the Space Cat, by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press) Graphic Novel. Binky is a cat with a mission: to protect his humans from aliens, which are everywhere (his humans call them "bugs"). His official certification as a Space Cat has just arrived in the mail from F.U.R.S.T. (Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel), and he's decided to build a rocket ship so he can explore outer space and battle aliens on their home turf. But if he blasts into space and leaves his humans behind, who will protect them while he's gone? You don't have to be a cat lover to appreciate this funny, tongue-in-cheek adventure--but if you are, you'll laugh extra-hard at Binky, the bug-munching kitty with a secret identity.

The Dream Stealer, by Sid Fleischman; illustrated by Peter Sis (Greenwillow Books) Fantasy. Zumpango is a Dream Stealer. It's his job to capture children's nightmares, but he's sick of dealing with scary monsters and has begun to steal happy dreams instead. One night, however, Zumpango steals an especially good dream from a brave and clever young girl named Susana -- and Susana decides to get her dream back. This whimsically illustrated story is a little bit funny,

a little bit scary, and a whole lot of fun to read.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano (But She Does Love Being in Recitals) by Peggy Elizabeth Gifford (Schwartz & Wade Books) Fiction. Pint-sized drama queen Moxy Maxwell is back, ready to wow the audience at her piano recital. She'll be playing a duet with her younger sister, Pansy--and she's more than a little miffed that her twin brother, Mark, gets to play a solo. Also, there was that bothersome note from her piano teacher, who says that Moxy pounds on the keys and doesn't stop playing her recital piece at the right time. But really, Moxy has far too much to do before the show for her to worry about something as silly as practicing. This 3rd book in the hilarious Moxy Maxwell series, just like the others, is illustrated with Mark's own off-kilter photos.

Two Bad Pilgrims, by Kathryn Lasky; illustrated by John Manders (Viking) Historical Fiction. If you think that all Pilgrims were prim and proper, think again. Based on the real-life story of the Billington brothers Francis and Johnny -- whose entire family was notorious for their bad behavior -- Two Bad Pilgrims tells how the boys nearly blew up the Mayflower, discovered an "inland sea," and (ironically enough) made peace with the Nauset Indians who had previously attacked the Pilgrims. Don't judge this book by its package -- it's the size and shape of a picture book, but it reads like a comic and contains lots of fascinating facts and a story that older kids, especially history buffs, are sure to enjoy.

Ottoline Goes to School, by Chris Riddell (Harper Collins) Humorous Mystery. Not quite a graphic novel but more than just a story with pictures, this is

the 2nd book about Ottoline Brown and her best-friend-slash-sidekick, the extremely hairy Mr. Munroe (who looks sort of like Cousin Itt from The Addams Family). After making a new friend who attends the Alice B. Smith School for the Differently Gifted, Ottoline decides to enroll at the school herself. Surrounded by students with special abilities, she finds it difficult to discover her own gift...but easy to stumble upon a mystery. Full of quirky characters and delightful feats of wordplay, Ottoline Goes to School is a quick, fun read.

Fact & fiction: books about history

Sometimes truth really can seem stranger than fiction! Here is a selection of books, some non-fiction and others fiction based on fact, for readers who enjoy reading about unusual history -- and the almost-unbelievable stories of some American heroes. Find these books here on BookBag by using the World Catalog and Amazon.com search boxes.

The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum, by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Ray Fenwick (Schwartz & Wade Books) Nonfiction. Lay-dees!... and!... Gentlemen! Children of All Ages!! Step right up and be AMAZED by the story of a man who hauled himself up from the depths of poverty by fooling people for a fee--and making them like it! That's right: this self-avowed "humbugger" made preposterous claims about the wonders in his traveling exhibitions, but folks still clamored to see them. He was the infamous P.T. Barnum, and among other things, he founded the circus known as "The Greatest Show on Earth." This entertaining biography presents the facts--both flattering and appalling--of Mr. Barnum's life in stories, pictures, and memorabilia that are almost as much fun as the circus that still bears his name.


Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali, by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Bryan Collier (Candlewick Press) Nonfiction. As nimble with a rhyme as he was in the boxing ring, world-champion boxer Muhammed Ali is duly honored in this collection of poems and artwork that tell his life's story. Boldly illustrated, Twelve Rounds to Glory tells about some of Ali's most famous fights--not just his rounds against opponents like Joe Frazier and George Foreman, but also his resistance to racism, his refusal to be drafted into the Vietnam war, and his ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease.

Riot, by Walter Dean Myers (Egmont USA) Historical Fiction. Desperate for more Union troops, President Lincoln has instituted a draft requiring all able-bodied men--except those wealthy enough to pay a $300 waiver--to serve in the Civil War. This doesn't settle well with Irish immigrants who can't afford the waiver and who are already angry because they believe that black people are "stealing" their jobs. On July 11, 1863, the first names are drawn for the draft in New York City, and simmering racial tensions explode--Irish mobs loot stores, set fires, and attack black people in the streets. Told in a screenplay format like the author's book Monster, this powerful story centers on 15-year-old Clare Johnson, who, as the daughter of a black father and an Irish mother, is caught between the two warring sides.

A Season of Gifts, by Richard Peck (Dial Books) Historical Fiction. When 12-year-old Bob Barnhart's family moves in next door to Mrs. Dowdel -- aka Grandma Dowdel from A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicago -- he isn't sure what to think of his grumpy and odd new neighbor. But then Mrs. Dowdel helps Bob get back at the town bullies for pulling a humiliating prank on him, and their friendship is well on its way. Chock full of memorable characters and small-town Illinois charm, this homey story brings the late 1950s (when Elvis was king and not everyone had indoor plumbing) to vibrant life.

Murder at Midnight, by Avi (Scholastic Press) Historical Mystery. Orphan and former street-urchin Fabrizio, newly apprenticed to Mangus the magician, is eager to prove his worth to his master. When Mangus is accused of treason against the king, Fabrizio gets his chance to be useful by proving the charges false--before he and Mangus are executed. Set in Italy during the Renaissance, this fast-paced and suspenseful prequel to Midnight Magic includes fascinating history about the first printing presses, which were thought by some to run on the power of evil magic. [Would-be time-travelers, take note: don't show off any modern technology to citizens of the past--they're liable to burn you at the stake for it.]


The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, by Michael Pollan, adapted by Richie Chevat (Dial Books) Nonfiction. Do you know where your dinner came from? If you'd like to find out, this is the perfect book for you. It explains how many processed foods, like chicken nuggets, "are really corn wrapped up in more corn" and that, if you wash 'em down with a soft drink, "you are drinking corn with your corn." Breaking down what most Americans eat, where their food comes from, and why it matters, author Michael Pollan also answers a nagging and fascinating question: since human beings are omnivores and can eat just about anything, what should we eat? Environmentalists, foodies, and fans of the movie Super Size Me will find plenty of food for thought in this kid-friendly version of the best-selling book, The Omnivore's Dilemma.

Barbarians, Elephants ... and Delaware

Books can excite the imagination and challenge the reader to read more, whether it's the history of barbarians or conjuring the made-up worlds of fantasy. Here are a few books that are full of fascinating ideas for all kinds of readers -- use the search boxes here on BookBag to find a copy.

Barbarians! by Steven Kroll (Dutton Children's Books). Nonfiction. So, what makes a barbarian ... well, barbaric? Does anyone rude and crude make the cut? Or is barbarism simply in the eye of the beholder? Find out for yourself in this history of Goths, Huns (as in "Attila the"), Vikings, and Mongols (such as Genghis Khan)--nomadic peoples who attacked the empires of their times. Well-illustrated and covering everything from daily life to religious beliefs to each group's conquests, Barbarians will fascinate history buffs as well as anyone interested in the ways and reasons that humans make war.

Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Delaware, by M.T. Anderson (Beach Lane Books). Adventure. In what book can you read about staring competitions, monster squids, plagues of beetles, and the untamed mountainous realms of the forbidden state of Delaware (bet you didn't know that Delaware has mountains...)? None other than this 3rd volume of author M.T. Anderson's Thrilling Tales series, in which Boy Technonaut Jasper Dash and his cohorts Lily and Katie must unravel a knotty mystery and save the world from some dastardly villains. Like an over-the-top blending of a Hardy Boys mystery and the Indiana Jones movies with a healthy dose of complete absurdity, this fun and fast-reading story is perfect for those who enjoy ridiculous humor and plenty of action.

Wild Girl, by Patricia Reilly Giff (Wendy Lamb Books). Fiction. Ever since her mother died five years ago, 12-year-old Lidie has lived with her aunt and uncle in her native Brazil. Now she is moving to Queens, New York, to join her older brother, Rafael, and her father, Pai, who train race horses for a living. Attending a new school and learning a new language are big challenges, but worst of all, Pai and Rafael still treat Lidie like a baby. Maybe if she can ride Wild Girl, a spirited filly that her father has been hired to train, Lidie can show them how strong she's become. If you love horses, emotional stories, and characters who seem real, you'll gallop through Wild Girl.

The Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press). Fantasy. Young Peter lives with an addled and strict old soldier who has told the boy that his younger sister, Adele, is dead. Hoping for a miracle, Peter uses their meager grocery money to pay a fortune teller for any news of Adele. He is told that she is, in fact, alive -- and that an elephant will lead Peter to her. This is outrageous, of course...until a local stage magician accidentally conjures up an actual elephant (he only intended to materialize a bouquet of lilies). This mysterious and enchanting story about what might be possible is full of subtle humor, fabulous description, and memorable characters.

Medusa Jones, by Ross Collins (Arthur A. Levine Books). Fiction. Medusa Jones can top anyone's bad hair day--she's got snakes on her head instead of hair! Medusa and her friends (Mino the minotaur and Chiron the centaur) are known as The Freaks and get picked on at school by the perfect, popular students, who call themselves the Champions. Medusa's parents won't let her turn anyone to stone, so she can't fight back. But when the Freaks and the Champions are teamed up on a class trip to Mount

Olympus and disaster strikes, Medusa gets a chance to be the hero for a change. If you think it would be fun to imagine what gods and goddesses might be like as kids, you'll love this quick, funny read.

Walking With the Dead, by L.M. Falcone (Kids Can Press). Fantasy/Adventure. Twelve-year-old Alex has plenty to worry about; he can't get the time of day from the girl of his dreams, and he has to pay the local bully not to beat him up. But when Alex's dad brings home a mummy to add to his museum of "oddities" and a freak lightning strike resurrects the corpse, Alex and his friend Freddie find themselves journeying to the Underworld to clear the mummy of an ancient murder charge. Bullies are nothing compared to monsters from Greek mythology! Packed with action, humor, and suspense, Walking with the Dead is a must-read for fans of Jon Scieszka's Time Warp Trio series.

Help for letter-writing, and silly word games

Sometimes books can be just silly fun to read. Playing with language can be a new way to explore words and their meanings -- here is a selection of books about language used in unexpected ways, from goofy sentences to word games. You can find these books by using the World Catalog and Amazon search boxes here on BookBag.

Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog! And Other Palindromes, by Jon Agee (Farrar Straus Giroux) Nonfiction. Palindromes are words, phrases, and sometimes whole sentences that read exactly the same backwards and forwards (read the title "Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog!" backwards). This knee-slapper of a book is jam-packed with palindromes like "Mr. Owl ate my metal worm," each of them illustrated with its own cartoon. Word aficionados may also want to check out Elvis Lives, the author's book of anagrams, and his book of oxymorons, Who Ordered the Jumbo Shrimp?


The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster; illustrated by Jules Feiffer (Epstein & Carroll) Fantasy. Milo is bored--really bored. He just can't see the point in anything, so when a tollbooth appears in his bedroom out of nowhere, he blithely pays the toll and drives his toy car through...to a completely amazing and altogether unfamiliar place. Soon he's off on an adventure filled with peril, bizarre beasts, and its fair share of outright silliness, hoping to rescue twin princesses Rhyme and Reason and unite a divided kingdom. With more puns, wordplay, and over-the-top literalism than you can shake a stick at, this wondrous story is a word-lover's dream.


Regarding the Fountain: A Tale, in Letters, of Liars and Leaks, by Kate Klise (Avon Books) Fiction. Replacing a leaky water fountain should be simple, right? Dry Creek Middle School's principal thinks so when he requests a catalog from Flowing Waters Fountains, Etc. But in reply, artist and fountain designer Florence Waters informs him that all of her fountains are custom-made. Soon Ms. Waters is polling the fifth-graders for design ideas (they're in favor of auxiliary chocolate-milk dispensers) and planning an increasingly elaborate fountain ("Do you all have scuba gear?", she writes)--while a history class uncovers a sinister plot to halt the fountain's construction. Told entirely in letters, memos, transcripts, newspaper articles, and the like, this sublimely ridiculous story is filled with wordplay, puns, and clues to the mystery.


Word Nerd, by Susin Nielsen-Fernlund (Tundra Books) Fiction. As 12-year-old Ambrose's airways begin to constrict, he realizes that a trio of bullies have tampered with his sandwich and he visualizes the news headline "FRIENDLESS NERD KILLED BY PEANUT." Ambrose survives, but his panicked mom decrees that he'll be home-schooled from now on. While she works nights, Ambrose pesters their landlords' grown son, Cosmo, for lack of anything better to do. When Ambrose, who loves Scrabble and is constantly re-arranging letter combinations in his head, cons Cosmo into accompanying him to the weekly meetings of a Scrabble Club (without his mom's consent), neither of them has any idea of the misadventures ahead of them. Ambrose is a quirky, unforgettable character, and while anyone who likes a good laugh will enjoy this story, word nerds will love it.

Help for letter-writing

From Joanne Meier's weekly blog at the Reading Rockets website, here are some resources to help encourage and improve kids' letter-writing skills:

It is the time of year when many children sit down to write an important letter addressed to the North Pole. Other children pen thank you notes and party invitations during this busy time of the year. Some say letter writing is a lost art, but it doesn’t have to be!

An Introduction to Letter Writing covers activities for many common types of letter writing, including formal and informal letters, thank you notes, letters of complaint, and more. For kids who prefer to work online, or need a more step-by-step approach, try Read, Write, Think's Letter Generator. It's set up to help kids write either a friendly letter or a business letter.

For character-related fun, the Arthur section on the PBS Kids website has a Letter Writer Helper that shows kids the various parts of a "good old-fashioned" letter, an email, a greeting card, and a postcard. Staying within that site, kids can use Letters To to help them write to Arthur, Francine, Sue Ellen, or The Brain.

If you're wondering whether you have realistic expectations about your child's writing, some of the links within this section on Education.com can help you understand what to expect in writing by age and grade.

Whatever the reason for writing, hopefully these resources will help.

New fall books for young readers

Reading about the arts is a great way to inspire younger kids. Here from the Athens (Georgia) Regional Library is a selection of new books coming this fall about jazz, dance, and street theater -- and some non-fiction, too, with a book about the ocean floor and a real French artist with a very unique talent kids will find hilarious ... or ickky! Use the World Catalog search box to find library copies, or buy them using the Amazon.com box on BookBag.

New books about music, dance and theater

Stompin' at the Savoy, by Bebe Moore Campbell (Philomel Books) Fiction. Mindy is so nervous about her jazz dance recital that she's thinking about skipping it. But when a magical talking drum appears outside her window, she follows it--and is transported back in time to "the hoppingest dance club of them all," the Savoy Ballroom in 1920s Harlem. Everyone is on their feet dancing to the music of Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, and Benny Goodman, and Mindy spots three dancers who look an awful lot like younger versions of her dance-crazy great aunts. This fantastical introduction to the Savoy jazz-club scene gives readers a sense of the energy and joy of jazz.

Disappearing Act, by Sid Fleischman (Greenwillow Books) Fiction. After their archaeologist mother fails to return from an expedition and they discover that a mysterious stranger is stalking them, 12-year-old Kevin and his older sister Holly flee to Venice, California. There they hope to "hide in plain sight" by joining the oddball assortment of street performers on the boardwalk, including a watermelon juggler, a fortune teller, a human mannequin, and more. (Luckily, Holly is a talented opera singer.) This quick and unusual read will satisfy fans of colorful characters and plots filled with suspense and surprises.

A Young Dancer: The Life of an Ailey Student, by Valerie Gladstone (Henry Holt) Nonfiction. Renowned African-American dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey founded the American Dance Theater in 1958 and established a school of dance 11 years later. Narrated by 13-year-old Iman Bright, this book shows what it's like to be a student at the Ailey School--where students learn African and Latin dance in addition to ballet and modern styles--today. Packed with photos and in-studio details, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the art of movement.

Fartiste, by Kathleen Krull (Simon & Schuster) Fiction. Talk about an unusual talent: real-life Frenchman Joseph Pujol entertained late 19th-century audiences with his musical (and otherwise impressively controlled) farts. Pujol discovered his unique ability to bend his wind to his will when he was just a kid, and later turned to performing in order to support his large family. He could use his rear end to shoot fireworks, blow out a candle, play a tune, or make animal noises (please, kids, don't try this at school). This uproariously funny picture book sticks mostly to the true story of "the man who made his pants dance" and provides further facts about the "fartiste" at the end.

Oye, Celia! by Katie Sciurba (Henry Holt) Fiction. Cuban-born singer Celia Cruz, who died in 2003 at the age of 77, was internationally known as the "Queen of Salsa" (the style of music and dance, not the food!). In this poetic and gorgeously illustrated tribute to the beloved performer, a young girl explains how Celia's music makes her feel. For kids who want to learn more about Celia's life, Booklist magazine recommends Victoria Chambers' Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa or, if you know Spanish, iAzucar! by Ivar Da Coll.


Other new books for kids

Surviving the Applewhites, by Stephanie S. Tolan (HarperCollins) Fiction. Juvenile delinquent Jake Semple is well on his way to a life of crime when he gets one last chance to reform: he's sent to live with the Applewhites, a big, nutty, artistic family who live on a farm in North Carolina with a maniacal goat, a foul-mouthed parrot, and a loveable, pudgy basset hound. Thirteen-year-old E.D. Applewhite--the only sensible member of the family--thinks that her folks are making a huge mistake by agreeing to homeschool Jake, and Jake fully intends wear out his welcome quickly. But when the entire Applewhite clan gets involved in a local production of The Sound of Music, the results are a surprise to everyone.

Bettina Valentino and the Picasso Club, by Niki Daily (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Fiction. Fifth-grader Bettina Valentino adores art--the kind of art that "jumps off the wall and hits you in the eye like a wound-up ninja"--but persnickety Miss Pyle, her school's art teacher, cramps her style. When a daring new teacher replaces Miss Pyle, Bettina is thrilled. Now her class gets to learn about artists who rebelled against the norm, and "Mr. Popart" (the new teacher's nickname) even lets them paint on the walls! But some parents aren't happy with Mr. Popart's unconventional ideas, and it's up to Bettina and her friends to keep him from getting fired.


Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel, by Nikki Grimes (G.P. Putnam's Sons) Fiction. Smart, confident, and friendly Dyamonde Daniel is getting used to her new school, but she hasn't made a best friend yet. She certainly doesn't expect to become friends with the other new kid, a really grumpy boy named Free (whom Dyamonde secretly refers to as "Rude Boy"). But when Free's surly attitude frightens one of the younger kids, Dyamonde takes him to task...and the two of them discover that they actually have a lot in common. Kids who like plucky girl characters such as Sharon Draper's Sassy (Little Sister is Not My Name) will want to get to know Dyamonde Daniel and her new friend, Free.

Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea, by Steve Jenkins (Houghton Mifflin) Nonfiction. There are a lot of weird and wonderful creatures living in the ocean, and this book offers an up-close-and-personal introduction to more than 50 of them! In addition to stunning collage illustrations of lizardfish, hairy anglers, giant squid, bizarre species of jellyfish, and more, Down, Down, Down provides fascinating factual information about life from the ocean's surface all the way down to its deep, deep floor. Junior scientists, budding artists, and fans of books like The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, the DK Guide to the Oceans, or Sharks and Other Sea Monsters will be hooked.


Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin (Little, Brown) Fantasy. Young Minli and her parents live in China's valley of Fruitless Mountain and, although they all work very hard, are terribly poor. Enchanted by the folktales that her father tells every night and weary of her mother's bitter complaining, Minli--aided by a talking goldfish, a dragon who cannot fly, and others--embarks on a long journey to find the mythical Old Man of the Moon and change her family's fortune. While Minli's grand and exciting adventure is distinctively Chinese, it will thrill fans of other quests with girl heroes, such as The Wizard of Oz or Isobelle Carmody's Gateway trilogy (which starts with Night Gate).

Pharoah's Boat, by David Weitzman (Houghton Mifflin) Nonfiction. Thousands of years ago, subjects of the Pharaoh Cheops carefully constructed an enormous and majestic boat for their ruler's journey into the afterlife...and then they just as carefully took it apart and buried it with him. Modern archaeologists discovered the disassembled boat while excavating the Pharaoh's tomb, and this amazing, beautifully illustrated book shows how Egyptologist Ahmed Youssef Moustafa--in an effort that spanned many years--finally solved the riddle of how to put it back together.

Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom, by Eric Wight (Simon & Schuster) Graphic Novel. Franklin Lorenzo Piccolini--aka "Frankie Pickle"--loves to imagine himself as an adventurer like Indiana Jones or a superhero like Batman. He doesn't love housecleaning. When his exasperated mom gives up and tells him that, as long as he can deal with the consequences, he doesn't have to clean his room anymore, Frankie is overjoyed. Little does he know how the filth surrounding him will take on a terrifying life (and a really strong smell) of its own... If you like the hilarious, wacky adventures of Captain Underpants or space-pirate Sardine (of Sardine in Outer Space), you'll love Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom.

September fiction, and Teens' Top Ten vote

YALSA Teens' Top Ten & Teen Read Week

The Young Adult Library Services Association will announce its Teens' Top Ten list soon. Teens can vote online through September 18 at www.ala.org/teenstopten for their favorite books of the past year. The winners of the 2009 Teens' Top Ten will be announced in a webcast featuring WWE Superstars and Divas during Teen Read Week, Oct. 18-24. Tell your book group, youth organizations you work with, and any other teen groups you know to visit www.ala.org/teenstopten through September 18 and vote. The more teens who participate, the more accurately the winning list will reflect the reading tastes of teens all over the country!

This year's nominating committee is made up of members of teen book groups in fifteen schools and public libraries around the country. Nominations are posted on Support Teen Literature Day during National Library Week, and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year. Readers ages twelve to eighteen can vote online anytime between Aug. 24 and Sept. 18; the winners will be announced in a webcast featuring WWE Superstars and Divas during Teen Read Week.

New September fiction

Pop, by Gordon Korman (Balzer & Bray) Fiction. Lonely after a midsummer move to a new town, sixteen-year-old high-school quarterback Marcus Jordan becomes friends with a retired professional linebacker who is great at training him, but whose childish behavior keeps Marcus in hot water.

Diary of a Witness, by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Alfred A. Knopf) Fiction. Ernie, an overweight high school student and long-time target of bullies, relies on his best friend Will to watch his back until Will, overwhelmed by problems at home and guilt over his brother's death, seeks a final solution.

Viola in Reel Life, by Adriana Trigiani (HarperTeen) Fiction. When fourteen-year-old Viola is sent from her beloved Brooklyn to boarding school in Indiana for ninth grade, she overcomes her initial reservations as she makes friends with her roommates, goes on a real date, and uses the unsettling ghost she keeps seeing as the subject of a short film--her first.

Recipe for Disaster, by Maureen Fergus (KCP) Fiction. Francie's life is almost perfect before new girl Darlene shows up. She has her own business as a weekend baker, a best friend named Holly, and a crush on Tate Jarvis. But Darlene thinks Francie's obsession with baking is weird, she acts like Holly is her best friend, and she's somehow managed to steal Tate's attention away. Just as Francie's pastry-filled dreams are starting to slide, she gets a chance to meet celebrity baker Lorenzo LaRue. Francie is sure that if Lorenzo could only see how passionate she is about baking, he would help launch her career and possibly marry her.

Another Faust, by Daniel Nayeri (Candlewick Press) Fiction "On a single night, five children suddenly vanish from their homes in Paris, Glasgow, Rome, and London. Years later, five enigmatic teenagers make an impressive entrance at an exclusive New York holiday party with their strange but beautiful governess, Madam Vileroy. Rumor and intrigue follow the Faust children to the elite Manhattan Marlowe School, where their very presence brings unexplainable misfortune..."--dust cover flap.

The Vast Fields of Ordinary, by Nick Burd (Dial Books) Realistic Fiction. Stifled and stuck in an Iowa suburb until he leaves for college in the fall, Dade is weary of his bickering parents, his lame job at Food World, and most especially of pining after Pablo, his "friend" and (even though Pablo has a girlfriend) regular hook-up. Then Dade meets handsome, enigmatic, and somewhat dangerous Alex Kincaid--and falls in love. Fans of Brian Sloan's Tale of Two Summers, Peter Cameron's Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You, and other novels with true-to-life, well-drawn characters won't want to miss this one.

The Stolen One, by Suzanne Carlisle Crowley (Greenwillow Books) Historical Fiction. Sixteen-year-old Katherine ("Kat") Bab lives with her kind but secretive foster mother, Grace. Kat is restless in their peaceful valley home and dreams of leaving it for London to discover the truth of her parentage. When Grace dies, Kat does go to London and is surprisingly invited into the court of Queen Elizabeth, where two devastatingly handsome men vie for her attention. Soon, Kat's fiery red hair and her favor in the court cause rumors to fly: is she the secret daughter of the Virgin Queen? Those fascinated with the customs and fashions of Tudor England--as well as fans of romance, scandal, and palace intrigue--will be entranced by The Stolen One.

Vamped, by Lucianne Diver (Flux) Urban Fantasy. One of fledgling vampire Gina Covello's first thoughts when she realizes that she has been "turned" is that--since she can no longer see her own reflection--she needs to make her personal stylist into a vampire in order to "stop the downward spiral from chic to eek." But while maintaining her status as a fashion plate may be Gina's biggest priority, it's far from her biggest problem. Not only is vampire vixen Mellisande after Gina's new boyfriend Bobby, she's also building an army of teenage vampires in order to dominate the world of the undead. This saucy vampire novel is a quick, fun read that's heavy on the witty banter and action and light on brooding and gore.

Either You're In or You're In the Way: Two Brothers, Twelve Months, and One Filmmaking Hell-Ride to Keep a Promise to Their Father, by Logan and Noah Miller (Harper Collins) Nonfiction. "Our father died penniless in jail, and a movie star has resurrected him" (author and filmmaker Noah Miller, quoted in The San Francisco Chronicle). Noah and his identical twin Logan shared a fierce, conflicted love of their father, a homeless alcoholic, and vowed upon his death to tell his story in the movie they planned to make. But the brothers had no money, no experience, and virtually no Hollywood contacts. Here, they share the story of their bumpy ride to success against incredible odds--including how they convinced award-winning actor Ed Harris to sign onto a project led by complete novices and play the role of their dad. Anyone with a seemingly impossible dream can get a boost from reading Either You're In or You're In the Way.

No Such Thing as the Real World: Growing Up and Getting a Life, various authors (Harper Teen) Short Stories. A driver's license. High school graduation. Your 18th birthday. The first apartment you pay for all on your own. These are all tangible steps from childhood into the "real" adult world--but what truly marks the transition between being a kid and having your own life? And what if it's nothing like what you expected? Six popular authors ponder these questions in No Such Thing as the Real World, a thought-provoking, revelatory collection of stories that don't pull any punches.

The Uninvited, by Tim Wynne-Jones (Candlewick) Fiction. Fleeing NYU after her affair with a professor ends badly, Mimi Shapiro heads for her artist father's isolated cottage in Canada. But when she arrives, she discovers that the cabin isn't empty--and that Jay, the young musician living there, is her half-brother. At first, Jay believes that Mimi is responsible for a recent rash of break-ins at the cottage. However, after the two of them reach a truce and agree to share the house, the break-ins escalate in both frequency and creepiness. Mimi and Jay are sure that they're being watched. But by whom? And why? The tension builds slowly to a "truly heart-pounding" (Kirkus Reviews) climax in this literary thriller that fans of family dramas and well-wrought settings are sure to enjoy.