Crown of Midnight

The Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas, 2013 Bloomsbury

      After several months acting as King's Assassin and running the king's errands Celaena Sardothien finds it necessary to step up her game. With murder after murder Celaena becomes more detached and her friends become concerned as the Celaena they've known disappears and the heartless creature which is Ardalan's Assassin.
     Celaena cannot stand her friends discovering the dangerous path she treads. She offers each assigned target the option to flee and become another person, never use their real name again, or die at the hands of Ardalan's Assassin. She hasn't killed a single target; while the king believes she does his bidding he maintains her secrets and discovers a few belonging to her captor.
   The ancient Queen Elena's ghost appears to Celaena, but she hasn't appeared since the creature attacked Celaena in Throne of Glass. When a cloaked creature appears in the castle near the library Celaena seeks the queen's wisdom, but discovers - from the talking doorknocker, Mort - Elena is weakened from her prior appearances. Between assignments Celaena is surrounded by the Wyrd and finally asks Nehemia to teach her to read Wyrdmarks.
     The two begin, but the king assigns Celaena to kill a prominent courtesan and childhood companion: Archer Finn. Archer is highly recognizable and in the capital surrounding the Glass Castle - Celaena's prior tactics will not work to convince the king of his death. Celaena cancels her lessons to work the problem. Believing her friend will murder the young man against her own will, an argument between the two creates a rift in their friendship. When Nehemia is brutally murdered in her rooms Celaena retreats into Ardalan's Assassin and seeks vengeance.
     Choal and Prince Dorian are worried for their friend. Dorian still hopes to tie Celaena to him romantically, but she cannot allow the king to believe his heir may betray him. Chaol does form a romantic connection with elaena, one she allows until the betrayal of Nehemia's death. The two men have concerns in other arenas when Dorian's cousin appears and suddenly is thick as thieves with the king and his chief advisor Duke Perrington.
     The rebel threat becomes more prominent throughout the novel, Celaena does not want to associate with it, but her actions aid the group. Archer becomes a figurehead from the King's perspective and becomes the target of his paranoia. Celaena must muddle through any clues she can gather and the information hidden from her to escape the all-powerful Wyrd.
     Celaena must choose to lose the self which keeps her from sinking into the Assassin and embrace the role, or to grasp the self which keeps her from becoming the monster she believes herself to be and continue to fight the forces at war within Ardalan. With Choal and Dorian to stand behind her Celaena must discover what gives the king his inhuman control over all around him. She must figure out how to make a stand. Celaena's story is still one of survival, one mature readers will enjoy.

Silver on the Tree

Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper, 1977 Atheneum Books

     Will Stanton is still waiting for the days the Dark and Light will clash in their final battle. He accepts the invitation of his aunt and uncle to return to Wales and the Old Magic found there. His companions from previous adventures reappear and meet, a good thing too, because Will is going to need all the help he can find.
     Simon, Jane, and Barnabas Drew are on holiday with their parents when they follow the sound of a hunting horn to the top of a hillside to find Will. Will has brought Bran along. When they first meet Bran puts the Drew Children on edge - something about the young man is eerily different.
     Bran doesn't appear to understand why the three Drews should come along on their adventure. His quest is all-consuming and only Will's temperance keeps Bran from thriving the three allies from their place in the quest.
     With the Dark steadily gaining strength--Will, Bran, Simon, Jane, and Barney search to solve the ancient riddle found in Over Sea, Under Stone. At the completion of their search will be the last great battle between Light and Dark. Between the Welsh hills mortals and Old Ones alike muddle through the most ancient myths and stories of the British Isles.
     In the conclusion to Cooper's saga the parts of the tale become whole. Arthurian legends meld with ancient Rome in a clash of histories where men decide the end of the day. Readers who enjoyed Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydian and Madeleine L'Engle's young adult fiction will find similarities in Cooper's work.

The Course of True Love

The Course of True Love by Betty Neels, 1988 Harlequin

     Claribel Brown was waiting for the bus when she was knocked off the sidewalk and injured her ankle. Fortunately Dr. Marc van Borsele was driving past and helps the young woman home and checks her ankle. When she meets him again at the hospital where she works as a physiologist Claribel is annoyed by the arrogant doctor.
     Marc helps Claribel get home to her family's country home, but on the way the two encounter a terrible car accident. A young girl who simply must return to her parents before they discover she was out with a boy-friend latches on to the doctor. Young Irma flirts and makes a nuisance of herself as Claribel and Marc give her a ride home.
     Though Marc and Claribel continue to see each other, the girl returns repetitively, first visiting Marc at hospital. Later following him about town, and she even appears at his home. When Marc asks her for to participate in a false engagement to hold off the other girl Claribel is at first vehemently opposed. Eventually she gives in and the visits for a snack after work become elaborate visits to popular nightspots. Claribel wears his great-grandmother's ring and flashes it about as Irma follows the couple around town.
     When Irma is relentless. In a last ditch effort to convince her Marc is beyond her reach he invites Claribel to his home in Holland. When Irma follows them it appears to Claribel Irma's attempts to draw Marc from their engagement are succeeding and she wishes the fake engagement was real.
     Like any good romance The Course of True Love includes a dashing hero, clueless heroine, the evil stalker, and an international vacation to bring the two lead characters together. Claribel Brown and Marc van Borsele find a grudging friendship and a little something more. Appropriate for romance readers of all ages, this story is a quick and quirky read.

Seaward

Seaward by Susan Cooper, 1983 Margaret K McElderry Books

     West and Cally are swept into a strange world where the beauty is mesmerizing and dangerous. Lady Taranis tempts the youths to stay in her kingdom forever while Lugan, her male counterpart, urges the two forward and to the end of their journey.
     West is an enigma to Cally, from a different part of the world with a different outlook and native language. The seeming magic surrounding West gets them through various different terrain and confrontations with creatures of all shapes and sizes.
     Cally appears to be a naive child to West's jaded eyes. She adores the beauty around her and trusts most of the characters they meet, but as they head Westward to the sea West finds the girl more and more enchanting. His mother's warning before he arrived in the lost world: To trust the man with an owl's eyes, the girl with selkie hands, and the creature at the top of the world; allow West to bend to Cally's simple joy and uncomplicated trust. The two balance each other as they progress and become something more than friends.
     West and Cally discover that some things in life are worth the pain of loss, especially to feel love. They persevere and are rewarded for their efforts. While their adventures are appropriate for a broad audience, some scenes and moments are aimed at more mature readers.

Doon

Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon, 2013 Zondervan

     The Legend of Brigadoon tells of an enchanted land beyond the reach of the mortal world. Veronica Welling and Mackenna Reid are interested in the story but the best friends disagree to its veracity. Vee has been seeing visions of a brawn Scotsman from as far away as her high school parking lot in Indiana: she believes Doon is as real as Kenna standing next to her. Kenna believes the story if just a fairy tale her aunt used to share.
     When Kenna must visit the cottage her aunt left her in Scotland, the girls encounter the truth of Doon. In the middle of the night Vee drags Kenna to the edge of the legend and right onto the page. THey discover an evil witch is bent on destroying Doon and the ties it has to her magic. The people of the mythical land are hesitant to believe these girls bode well, but they are placed in the keeping of Jamie and Duncan MacCrae--the royal heirs.
     Jamie is the young man Veronica has been seeing and her instant attraction to the real thing does not appear to be reciprocated. Duncan, however, is immediately smitten by Kenna. On the other hand, Kenna is more focused on her Broadway career and an upcoming internship in Chicago.
     The friends are to be held until the Bridge of Doon opens to return them to the mortal world. With two weeks Vee and Kenna search for an answer to their passage over the bridge. The Doonian's worries appear to be worthwhile when black flowers appear around the ancient witch's cottage where the land has been barren for centuries. Veronica and Mackenna must show they aren't just visiting this beautiful land, but mean to help solve any trouble which may have followed them over the border.
     Romance and the troubles of teen love abound in Doon and the friendship between Mackenna and Veronica is an anchor for the girls as they deal with angry mobs, curses, and reluctant suitors. Based on the musical Brigadoon by Lerner and Loewe this reimagining of Doon is a fantastical adventure more appropriate for mature teen readers.

Liar's Moon

Liar's Moon by Elizabeth C. Bunce, 2011 Arthur A Levine

     Digger has returned to the capital and, though it is not exactly the same, slipped back into her old life. Staying above a bakery in Seventh Circle allows the young woman access to gossip from all areas of town and strata of society. She has left espionage behind after a quick look into Sarist activity shows any news has been successfully hushed or evacuated from Gerse.
     Durrel Decath, the nob who saved Digger as Celyn from Greenmen and brought her to his family in Starcrossed, is imprisoned for his wife's murder. At first the thief-girl swears to find who has put her friend under the spotlight of blame, and when all evidence points to Durrel she refuses to take the case. When Raffin - a mutual friend, nob, and Greenman - gives her no choice, Digger reluctantly searches for the answer.
     But the truth is more difficult than it may appear - with a magical rebellion and civil war marching on Gerse, the king tightening his fist on any who gainsay him, and the Celystra with her Greenmen burning innocents in the streets Digger has a hard time keeping her nose clean. When the High Inquisitor repeatedly appears to beg Digger return and use her magic for the Celystra, she rejects her brother and the world she was once suffocated by to find the real young woman at the heart of the thief.
     Digger's story is intricate and complicated. She cares for the people of her country, though they may belittle her and attempt to use her and her skills. Emotions between Durrel and Digger become heated the more she learns about herself and the world Durrel comes from. Older teens will enjoy Bunce's descriptive prose, and the unconventional heroine who just might save the nob from the gallows.

Promise Me Something

Promise Me Something by Sara Kocek, 2013 Albert Whitman & Company

     Reyna Fey has always gone to school with her three best friends, but when they transition from middle school to high school she is on her own at a new school. Reyna has the chance to make friends with Olive, another freshman who doesn't make sense. At first Reyna is annoyed by this girl who is completely normal one minute and in the next says something so out of the ordinary Reyna is at a loss.
     The less she sees her middle-school friends Reyna spends more and more time with Olive. The two girls develop a close friendship and Reyna introduces her new friend to the old clique when Olive points out the injustices around their school, Reyna is disconcerted. Distracted by romance with a boy in their history class and the history teacher's obvious bigotry toward a fellow, openly-gay classmate, Reyna cares little about what is not directly in front of her.
     In the midst of her drama at school Reyna's father is recovering from a car accident which nearly took his life. Reyna struggles with the anger she feels toward her father's girlfriend, her soon-to-be step-mother, for causing the wreck.
     When Olive shares her secret with Reyna, she doesn't know how to handle it. But she just learn whether a true friendship with an outcast is worth the cost or settle for fake friendships with the popular clique. Reyna is forced to grow up, as many high school students are, and her struggles are those of a real person in a difficult situation. With themes of suicide, sexuality, peer pressure, and perception versus reality Promise Me Something is appropriate for more mature readers - high school and older.

City of Secrets

City of Secrets by Mary Hoffman, 2008 Bloomsbury

   Matt Wood follows his friends, Nick and Georgia, into an antique store where he finds a book which somehow speaks to him. Matt rarely finds a connection with books as he is dyslexic, but this book is different. When he falls into a stress-induced sleep holding the book, Matt awakens in the scriptorium at the university in Padavia; a city much like Renaissance Padua.
     The man who introduces him to this strange world is Professor Constantin. Constantin explains the Scriptorium to Matt and describes Stravagation. The professor believes Matt is meant to help him print outlawed anatomy manuscripts and disperse them throughout Talia. Nick and Georgia are Stravagante too--they help Matt balance the two parts of his life and to grow with his responsibilities in Talia.
     At the Scriptorium Matt meets Lucien, a fellow classmate who has transferred into Talia and is studying at the university. Luciano's fiancee is Arianna, the Duchessa of Bellezza, and Matt struggles to deal with the rediscovery. Meanwhile, Arianna's enemies and the enemies of the Stravagante, the di Chimici, continue to use social unrest in an attempt to unite Talia and gain both the political power and ability to travel between worlds which is unavailable to them.
     When danger strikes his newfound friends, Matt finds he is the only one who can assist. He finds faith in himself enough to stand up to the di Chimici and risk his life for his beliefs. Matt struggles with his abilities and trying to be like others; early teen readers will relate to his experience in balancing the adventure and the responsibility of growing up.

The Grey King

The Grey King by Susan Cooper, 1975 Margaret K. McElderry Books

     Young Will Stanton has had a nasty illness, when he finally recovers his doctor suggests he take a holiday with family in Wales. Little does the young man know that he is drawn to this ancient place by forces more powerful than the country doctor. While in his fevered delirium Will has forgotten something he meant to keep forever.
     In Wales at his aunt and uncle's farm Will becomes stronger. Under the crags of the Grey King, a local name for the mountain, snippets of a poem return to Will. He meets Bram, a curious boy and the Raven Boy from his poem. With the new friend and ally Will remembers his mission and his place as an Old One in the cosmos.
     The quest set before Will, and inclusive of his new friend, is for a Thing of Power, a magical harp which will help him wake the Sleepers and bring aid to the Light in the upcoming ultimate battle with the Dark. But finding the harp is just the beginning.
     With his returning memories Will attracts the notice of the Lord of Darkness: the Grey King. The Grey King raises his minions to combat Will at each turn. Through the Dark the local sheepherding peoples become violent and oppose the boys and their galavanting. A neighbor to Will's uncle, Pritchard, becomes a nuisance; eventually he creates the greatest hurdle in Will's quest. Will and Bram are persistent, but will they manage to install one more stone in the wall of humanity's defense against the Dark?
     Like the previous installments of the Dark is Rising Sequence, The Grey King is high fantasy mixed with the solid traditions of the local peoples. Will is an outsider who finds his place with the help of another outsider - the albino boy Bram - and fights for the future he believes is right. Readers who enjoyed the Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia will enjoy this young adult fantasy.

Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, 2012 Bloomsbury Children's

     Celaena Sardothien is an assassin. She is spirited away from the Endovier salt mines, a prison where she has the last of her eighteen years rotting, to compete against twenty-three other assassins for the post of King's Champion. If Celaena survives and becomes the Champion she will be free from imprisonment. And beholden to the king.
     The king she will serve rules with an iron fist, and would not be her first choice of employer. Celaena was once the Assassin of Adarlan and has the chance to serve the position again, with a catch: Celaena must compete against men sponsored by the king's council to be the last assassin standing and become the King's Champion.
     When Celaena agrees Crown Prince Dorian transports her to the Glass Castle at Rifthold. There she is placed under house arrest and the supervision of Captain Chaol Westfall. As one of the Empire's most talented assassins Celaena doesn't worry about losing in the competition. It is when assassins start dropping dead outside the competition that she begins to worry. Celaena must find the culprit before they get to her, or her new friends in the castle.
     Celaena was an orphan raised to her talents by an infamous assassin, while she is morally ambiguous she does have a strong sense of right and where she wants to be in her life. The friendships Celaena develops give her something beyond the thrill of the next challenge. The danger is more than the usual risks of such a competition, and Celaena has more to lose than most.
     Celaena's adventures are more suited to high school and older readers with violence and mature tension. Readers who enjoyed A Girl of Fire and Thorns, the Grisha series, and the Lunar Chronicles will find a similar style in Maas's Throne of Glass.

Always a Witch

Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, 2011 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

     After being raised without knowledge of her magic, Tamsin Greene is getting a grasp of her power, learning to enjoy it and how to manage it when Alistair Knight again threatens to destroy her family. The centuries-old rivalry between the two families is about to be upset when Alistair flees into the past hoping to alter it. When her grandmother reminds Tamsin of the prophecy surrounding her fate, and that of the family, the young witch agrees to follow Alistair into the past.
     In the seventeenth century Tamsin uses a fake name to find a position as lady's maid in the Knight household. Alistair attempts to warn his ancestors of their danger from the Greene family, but La Spider (the matriarch) is not at home to receive him. La Spider's son, Liam Knight, decides Alistair could be useful in his experiments for immortality. The Knight daughter, Jessica, strikes up a friendship with her new maid and shows the young woman her power for healing - which La Spider and Liam force her to use against her will in their quest.
     Tamsin attempts to find her ancestors in the 1800s, and after some searching it appears they don't believe the girl who claims to be from their future. Thomas Greene sees Tamsin as the harbinger of his death and struggles to accept the future of their family may depend on his own sacrifice. The Greene family battles the Knights, leading to Thomas's death. It is with freely given sacrifice that the Greenes are able to bind the Knights' power into the Domani, Tamsin's friendship with Jessica Knight allows the family to cease Liam's despicable experiments and lock the Knight power safely away.
     The conclusion of Tamsin's story is fraught with danger, sacrifice and the knowledge that what is right is not the easiest or most desirable path. Always a Witch is a modern gothic aimed at high school readers.

A Fistful of Charms

A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison, 2008 Harper Voyager

     Rachel Morgan has just finished dealing with one supernatural problem in the Hollows when another slinks its way into her life. David is a werewolf who agrees to form a pack with Rachel--for insurance purposes only. He also happens to be an insurance adjuster. Rachel is challenged for her place as Alpha female, and she must learn to fight as the weres do to maintain her place.
     But something is happening with the Weres. They've been creating larger and larger packs and the infighting which keeps packs to a manageable level is quelled. When Rachel steps in to investigate, her ex--Nick--rises to the front of the queue.
     Nick is on an island which appears to be the center of the normal pack dynamics breakdown. When Rachel sneaks her way past the militant guards she discovers Nick has, not surprisingly, gotten himself involved with demon artifacts which cause these weres to form a single pack.
     With David's help, and some iffy magick of her own, Rachel wrests the magic away from the weres who hired Nick to retrieve it. Then Rachel must discover a way to protect the artifact and keep its uncertain power from tipping the balance of power in the Hollows.
     Away from Ivy's influence and with a human-sized Jenks, Rachel is a loose cannon. Her already unconventional way of surviving the feuds of the Hollows has begun to chafe by this, her fourth adventure. While she still maintains that her magic practice is morally good vampires, weres, and even demons are knocking on Rachel's door with more and more forceful offers of employment. Rachel Morgan continues to fight back and mature readers who enjoy a strong yet imperfect female lead will enjoy Rachel's sassiness. 

Among the Hidden

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix, 1998 Simon & Schuster

     Luke has never had a friend, he's never had the chance. Luke is a third child, one of the illegal Shadow Children born against the Population Police's edicts. When a housing development goes up replacing the woods behind Luke's family farm even Luke's ability to go outside is taken from him.
     Trapped inside Luke spends his time watching the world which has been taken from him. In looking out the window Luke discovers a face in one of the new homes across the way - another third child.
     While the world in their sleepy suburb is away at work Jen and Luke meet and become friends. Jen will do anything to escape the shadows, but is Luke willing to go with her? When the Population Police appear in the neighborhood Jen and Luke are both at risk, as are their families.
     Sheltered by his very existence as a third child in a world which only allows two children in each family Luke is easily excited by someone and something new. Like a small child Luke latches onto his new friend and attempts to adapt to the world her presence creates.
     Among the Hidden is the beginning for Luke; his entire life has been surrounded by family and the open air, with the addition of hundreds of eyes the idea of living in hiding becomes a reality. Luke must grow and learn to become a fugitive in truth and in doing so undertakes a dangerous journey. Readers who enjoy suspense will find Luke's adventure thrilling while still mild enough for younger readers.

Sir Thursday

Sir Thursday by Garth Nix, 2006 Scholastic Books

     Returning from the Border Sea with Leaf, Arthur doesn't make it through the door. It appears something has been slowly taking over his life on Earth. While Leaf attempts to banish the Nithling creature and allow Arthur back home, he is drafted for his required 100 years into Sir Thursday's Glorious Army of the Architect.
     Dame Primus reveals Mister Monday and Grim Tuesday have been assassinated then Arthur is spirited away to a chessboard-like portion of the House where the Army battles the Piper to possession of the Fourth Key. Mistaken for one of the Piper's children, Arthur has his memory wiped and only begins to recall portions of his life months later.
     On Earth Leaf tries to find the Nithling impersonating Arthur. She discovers the hospital they were taken from to the Border Sea has been infected with a fungoid which allows the creature to read and control the minds and bodies of those infected. The hospital believes the fungus to be a biological weapon and sets up a quarantine.
     When Leaf is infected she manages to call Arthur's friend Suzy Q Turquoise for help, just before she is overtaken. Suzy escapes the House to aid Leaf, and returns to find Arthur. Arthur, with his memory slowly returning, is glad to see Suzy and it is with her aid he manages his final battle for the Will.
     Memory and identity play a significant role in Sir Thursday. Thursday is governed by the sin of wrath and finds wiping the Piper's Children's memories hinders their allegiance to the Piper. Arthur is less and less hesitant to become the Heir as he loses and regains his identity, and fights for justice. Adventure pervades Arthur's fourth foray into the House and he again finds his friends are his greatest asset. Readers of all ages can access the language and content of Sir Thursday.

Magnolia

Magnolia by Kristi Cook, 2014 Simon & Schuster

     In small-town Magnolia Branch Mississippi the Marsden and Cafferty families have been friends and neighbors since the American Civil War. They've been talking about uniting their families for generations. So when one family has a son and the other a daughter at the proper ages to marry, the families spend their entire lives throwing them together.
     Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden cannot stand each other. Jemma has spunk and Ryder always seems too good to be true. It doesn't help that at every turn their parents try to convince Jemma and Ryder into a relationship.
     When Jemma's older sister has an incident at school and both sets of parents go to her, Jemma and Ryder are left alone to deal with an approaching hurricane. When the road washes out the two teens huddle in Jemma's home fighting the elements, wild snakes, and their sudden attraction to each other.
     In a new take on the Romeo and Juliet story these not-so-star-crossed lovers go from hate to something much different. Magnolia is an example of contemporary young adult romance and appeals to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction.

StarCrossed

StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce, 2010 Arthur A. Levine

     In Llyvaraneth's capital city, Gerse, Digger is a young woman who's been working as a thief. After escaping the Convent of Celys she finds work as a thief. Her greatest enemies are the Greenmen -- guards at Celys's temple who have banned magic and scour the city to eliminate any trace. When a routine job goes horribly wrong, Digger loses everything she has: her partner and lover Tegen and any sense of safety.
     With only the scraps from that last job and a cursed tingling of magic Digger finds herself taking on the guise of Celyn Contrare aboard a boat of nobles (nobs). One of the young men introduces Celyn to his family and Digger becomes maid to Lady Merista Nemair.
     As Digger attempts her escape from any taint of the King's hunt for magic her luck does not last long--a family friend joins the Nemair in the winter home and discovers the young woman in the midst of stealing from him. Remy Daul blackmails the thief, hoping she will spy on her benefactors for his gain.
     Daul's treachery solidifies Digger's resolve to leave behind the life which has cost her so much, but can she escape. The sixteen-year-old finds herself at the heart of another rebellion when it appears so much of the world around her and of her life with the Nemair is artifice.
     Digger-as-Celyn is a talented thief with a sense of honor which compels her to find truth. Whether it is at her own behest or the convoluted direction of those attempting to use her skills for their benefit, Digger gets to the root of her search and uses her discoveries to advance her own beliefs. Readers who enjoy action and adventure will find Digger's journey interesting. Her story is more appropriate for mature readers in style and content.

Over a Thousand Hills, I Walk with You

Over a Thousand Hills, I Walk with You by Hanna Jansen, 2003 Carolrhoda Books

     In 1994 Rwanda, Jeanne d'Arc Umubyeyi is a girl just like any other. But when the political and racial turmoil races though her country Jeanne is the only member of her Tutsi family to survive the genocide. She flees to her mother's home village and discovers two sisters who also wish to escape. The girls find protection and a path from their turbulent homeland with the rebellion forces.
     Written by her adopted mother, Over a Thousand Hills, I Walk with You is Jeanne's story of escape. The story is written in verse, based on the young woman's own words to describe the terror she witnessed. While passionately descriptive, Jeanne's story may be beyond younger readers' grasp.

Greenwitch

Greenwitch by Susan Cooper, 1974 Margaret K. Elderry Books

   Simon, Jane, and Barney Drew with their mysterious uncle Merriman Lyon return to a small coastal town to rediscover the Golden Grail lost by the Dark. Reinforcements have been called, but the children are unaware of their new companion's role in this great quest. Will Stanton is loathe to tell the Drew children his status as an Old One. Like Merriman he is more than he appears.
     But Jane is the one invited to join the local women in their creation of the Greenwitch--an ancient superstition and offering to the sea for a plentiful harvest. Though the form is sinister, Jane finds a sadness about the creature made of branches and leaves. Her kindness in the meeting is returned when Will and Merriman seek the manuscript which wil translate the magical Grail.
     After the Greenwitch is cast into the sea, a strange lackey of the Dark reaches beyond his grasp to struggle the creature's stolen "treasure" from it, only to be destroyed as the spirits of the sea are released. The Old Ones step up to stand between the people of town and the destructive force of the greatest bounty - the ocean.
     Merriman, Will, Simon, Jane, and Barney realize the war they wage is one of moral struggle, not physical. A war which allows a warm bed through the night and the habitual cup of cocoa to soothe battle-weary soldiers. The high fantasy of Greenwitch draws the reader further into the war between Light and Dark as it nears it's inevitable and ultimate clash. Aimed at young readers, Cooper's style is most suited to pre-teen and early teen readers; though anyone can enjoy her vivid imagination.

City of Flowers

City of Flowers by Mary Hoffman, 2005 Bloomsbury

     A perfume bottle is the talisman which draws Skye Meadows across the veil between modern London and Renaissance Talia. Skye lands in Giglia, much like Italy's Florence. There he meets and is embroiled in a feud between the two ruling families: the di Chimici and Nucci.      At home Skye is shy and withdrawn--intent on protecting his mother as she recovers from a longtime illness. When he arrives in Talia he is linked with Friar Sulien -- also a pharmacist for the rich and Stravagante.
     When Arianna, Duchessa of Bellezza, and Lucien Mulholland, a transfer Stravagante from London, arrive Skye (known in Talia as Celestino) is drawn into the preparation for four di Chimici weddings. He learns to trust the people around him and also himself. Will his new-found strength be enough when the floodgates open in Talian nobility?
     Skye learns trust, he learns to change with his changing world, he learns skills in Talia which help him to become the young man he wants to be in London. The high intrigue and adventure adds to the fantasy of royal families. Older elementary school readers will enjoy the espionage which brings familiar characters back into play.

The Secret of Shadow Ranch

The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene, 1965 Grosset & Dunlap

     Nancy is called to Shadow Ranch, a horse ranch in Arizona, to help discover the truth of a ghost horse that's been appearing throughout the valley. She follows her friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne to help their cousin Alice discover the mystery of her amnesiac father.
     When the girls arrive they search for the treasure left by an outlaw who was one of the original residents, they help Bess and George's aunt run the dude ranch, and they look into the mysterious horse. Nancy and her friends enjoy the mountainous Arizona wilderness and the western lifestyle away from River Heights.
     Life at Shadow Ranch is not without the danger which seems to follow Nancy, but the four young women manage to survive their journey and even enjoy the mysteries they encounter. Nancy Drew's story is appropriate for readers of all ages.

Struck

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth, 2012 Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

     Mia Price and her family moved to Los Angeles where lightning rarely strikes. Mia is a lightning addict. She has risked her life and the lives of people around her in her pursuit of the strike's thrill.
     An earthquake caused by massive lightning strkes reduces the massive city to a minefield of rubble and refugees. The beaches become cities of displaced and the shattered downtown becomes a hazard. Two factions rise to power, both share strange powers and believe Mia the key to success.
     But Mia wants nothing to do with either the Followers or Seekers. She wants to believe the handsome but enigmatic Jeremy and trust him when he says he wants to protect her from his fellow Followers. She wants to protect her younger brother who makes a decision to fight with the Seekers. Mostly Mia just wants life to return to a semblance of normal.
     When she becomes the answer to the city's impending disaster, Mia makes a stand ignoring those who claim to have her best interests at heart and forges her own path. Maybe the girl who's been struck by lightning is the only one to solve its problems.
     The romance plot has moments where it could be realistic, but the relationship between Mia and her family - her PTSD-stricken mother and rebellious brother - is multi-faceted and creates a depth in Mia that her relationship with Jeremy does not have. Struck was written for older teen readers, though the themes of independence and self-reliance transcend age.

The Agency: The Body at the Tower

The Body at the Tower by Y. S. Lee, 2010 Candlewick Press

     Construction on Parliament's clock tower is twenty-five years behind schedule and set to be delayed even further when a body is found in the work yard at the base of the clocktower. Mary Quinn makes a reappearance in her first case as a real agent.
     Mary disguises herself as a boy to get a job on the construction site. She must battle the memory of childhood hunger, poverty, and the danger of an unprotected young woman in the streets of Victorian London to be successful in her mission.
     Shuttled from job to job, Mary's supposed age and inexperience makes her fit for little more than errand-boy or work in the site office. She becomes an outsider and has difficulty working the case until a character from her past comes back.
     James Easton went to India as head engineer ending a burgeoning relationship. With James's return Mary is again thrown into emotional turmoil whether or not to accept the friendship he offers.
     With James's help, Mary is able to link the threads of the murderer and bring an answer back to the Agency. Mary nearly loses herself undercover on the construction site, but her friendships and the will to move ahead ground her. The tension between James and Mary is different between the first and second installments of The Agency series adding a new layer to the suspense.
     The Agency is a new type of investigative service; readers of all ages can enjoy the logical progression of Mary's investigation and the suspense of finding a murderer. Written at a late elementary level The Body at the Tower is a new kind of young adult mystery.

Curse of the Blue Tattoo

Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being the Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady by L.A. Meyer, 2004 Harcourt

     After being dropped in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls Mary "Jacky" Faber is climbing the walls to get back to her adventurous life at sea. But Jacky was found out and there's no place for a girl aboard His Majesty's Dolphin or any sailing ship. The crew drops their favorite ship's boy at the young ladies' academy with directions to try to become a lady.
     Miss Miranda Pimm is the girls' headmistress and despairs of Jacky's wild ways and unacceptable jewelry. When she meets the girls Jacky finds the majority exclude her; all except Amy Trevelyne. The popular girls are led by Clarissa Worthington Howe, who becomes Jacky's nemesis.
     During a walk through the school's graveyard Amy and Jacky discover and unmarked grave, and Jacky suspects the rather strange Reverend Mather had something to do with it. Jacky soon skips class to enjoy Boston and is arrested for dancing in the streets. She meets a prostitute while in jail and is saved by the local populace's disparaging opinion of Miranda Pimm.
     Jacky Faber is returned to the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls and expelled. There she creates several true friendships and begins the unravel the mystery surrounding Reverend Mather. Jacky's promiscuous behavior get her into several scrapes, but her quick thinking and general good luck keep her from getting to far into harm's way. Though rarely apologetic, Jacky maintains that her heart is in the right place, even as she bucks convention. Younger readers will enjoy the adventure, but some of Jacky's exploits are more suitable for readers in middle school or older.

Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry, 2000 Delacorte Press

     Kira was born with a deformed leg and, in a society which casts out any imperfection into the Fields to die of exposure and the Beasts, her leg is a liability. When Kira's mother dies the ruling Council of Edifice comes to her home in the slums and brings her to the ceremonial audience chamber so Kira may prove her worth before the Council sends her to the Fields and certain death.
     Jamison, a member of the council, defends Kira and her needlework skill using an old acquaintance with her long-dead father to find the girl work. Jamison and the council set Kira to work with aged Annabella on the embroidery of a beautiful robe which shows their history. The robe is worn annually at the Gathering where the history of the people's struggle is retold by the Singer and their belief in brute superiority is reinforced when imperfection drives their society from its glory of old to this new existence of bickering and infighting.
     Annabella teaches Kira the magic of dyes and helps her improve her needlework. Kira begins to believe the idyllic life she leads when the begins to make friends in her new home. Matt is a young orphan who lives in the elaborate palace with Kira and the other orphans. Thomas is a woodworker who helps repair the staff the Singer uses to remember the songs of their history. Jo is a young girl whose talent with song secures her a place as the next Singer.
     But Annabella doesn't allow Kira to believe her world is as she dreams. When Annabella dies her offhand comments and pointed remarks make Kira look deeper at the people and events around her. After the annual Gathering Matt disappears. When he finally returns he brings a strange blind man from the Village of Healing. This man's appearance brings the subtle injustices to the forefront and encourages not only Kira but also Thomas and Jo to use their exalted places to alter expectations.
     In his attempt to gather blue for Kira and her needlework Matt links Gathering Blue to The Giver and The Messenger in this post-apocalyptic world. Inability and physical weakness do not determine the fates of Kira, Matt, Thomas, and Jo. Readers of middle ages can easily access this story of hope despite the hard truths revealed.

The Amaranth Enchantment

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry, 2009 Bloomsbury Publishing

     Lucinda Chapdelaine is the daughter of a noble house, until her parents don't come home from a ball at the palace. Since then she has worked in her uncle and aunt's jewelry store, her uncle is kind, but Lucinda must accept terrible treatment at the hands of her aunt in exchange for food and shelter.
    Until the day Beryl, the Amaranth Witch, walks in. Beryl is rumored to be a witch in the village and she has a task for the family gold shop. The witch brings a beautiful and unusual gem to be made into a necklace, even offers fifteen-year-old Lucinda employment, until her aunt's reaction causes Beryl to rescind the offer. In a day full of surprises, Beryl is not the only unusual visitor -- the prince too, walks in looking for a trinket for his betrothed.
    When a pickpocket, Peter, seeks shelter in Lucinda's closet bedroom the kind girl lends the space. But Beryl's unusual stone disappears with Peter in the morning light. So too does Lucinda's uncle leave her, and with his death her aunt ejects Lucinda from the only home she's known.
     Lucinda turns to the town's witch, Beryl with hopes of finding a place to land, but with the theft of her gem, Beryl requires something from the young woman. Lucinda agrees to find the gem, only to discover Peter has sold it to the prince. She convinces the pickpocket to teach her how to steal it back, but discovers her parent's carriage accident may not have been simply an accident. Now, someone is after Lucinda.
    The Amaranth Enchantment was a quick and vivid tale of a young woman who takes charge of her life to survive, and in doing so discovers secrets in her past. Lucinda faces a world which wants to place her in the role of servant, yet she doesn't take it sitting down. A quick romance with the prince and a mystery round out the Cinderella story and create something more. A YA novel for middle readers, the story is enjoyable for all ages.

Once a Witch

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, 2009 Clarion Books

     The Greene family has old magic. On the day of her birth Tamsin Greene is prophesied to be the most powerful of them all, but her magic has never showed up. To avoid being the magical outsider in her family, Tamsin spends most of her time at a boarding school in Manhattan. During the summer she helps out in the family Bookstore/Magic Store and it is there, one summer night, a professor from New York mistakes Tamsin for her Talented sister Rowena and enlists her help.
     At first the quest seems conventional: Tamsin searches for the professor's heirloom. She enlists her friend Gabriel whose Talent is finding things and time travel, but events soon begin to cause problems for the Greene Family.
     Rowena seems to have succumbed to a magic no one can name and the Greene family matriarch has been bespelled, supposedly by Rowena. Their less-than sterling past is brought to the forefront and Tamsin learns more about what brought her family into its prominent place among local society.
     Along the way small events seem to reveal more about Tamsin than she was aware. The search for the professor's heirloom appears to be something much more sinister than Tamsin first thought, and when it unleashes a power more dangerous than she expected the Greene Family stands together to solve their troubles.
     Stereotypes abound throughout the story, though some are shifted from normal expectations. Rowena is perfect in nearly every way, Gabriel is a goody-two-shoes, and Tamsin is the misunderstood younger sister. Yet, most of the characters step outside their allotted roles to become more complete personifications. Once a Witch is followed by Always a Witch, both aimed at high school readers.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, 2007 Arthur A. Levine Books

     In the final book of the series, Harry is back at Privet Drive and preparing to leave as the Dursleys go into hiding. The Order of the Phoenix arrives to transport Harry to safety beginning a battle with Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
     With losses to their list of allies, Harry, Ron, and Hermione begin travelling the countryside looking for Voldemort's horcruxes. After a meeting with the new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, to receive their inheritance from Dumbledore and a Weasley wedding the trio flee to complete their quest.
     Death Eaters follow and the friends finally find temporary sanctuary in Harry's house, left to him by Sirius: Number 12 Grimmauld Place. There Harry, Ron, and Hermione discover Sirius's brother had stolen a locket-horcrux from Voldemort and left a fake one in its place. The house-elf Kreacher tells Harry that Mundungus Fletcher recently stole the horcrux and lost it to Dolores Umbridge.
     Harry, Ron, and Hermione infiltrate the Ministry to steal the locket back and bring a Death Eater within the protective magics of Grimmauld Place. On the run in forests around Britain Harry continues to have visions of Voldemort. Eavesdropping on a group of goblins helps him realize the Sword of Gryffindor (which Harry had inherited from Dumbledore, but the Minister had refused him) could destroy horcruxes.
     The search for the Sword of Gryffindor frustrates the three friends and Ron loses patience, abandoning Harry and Hermione. Hermione is hurt by Ron's abandonment and suggests they search out Bathilda Bagshot in Godric's Hollow with the hope she will give them the Sword. Bathilda, unfortunately, has been killed and her body inhabited by Nagini, Voldemort's snake. Harry and Hermione barely escape her attack and Harry's wand is destroyed.
     While on watch a doe patronus appears to Harry and leads him to the Sword of Gryffindor at the bottom of a pond. The locket horcrux attempts to strangle Harry, but Ron reappears and saves his best friend, using the Sword to destroy the horcrux. Hermione, again takes the lead and directs her friends to Luna Lovegood's father for an explanation of a symbol she found in Dumbledore's book. Luna's father betrays the trio in hopes of getting his imprisoned daughter back from the Ministry, but first he tells them the story of the Deathly Hallows -- three magical items which can stave off death.
     Captured during their escape, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are taken to Malfoy Manor where Bellatrix interrogates Hermione about the Sword of Gryffindor. They are rescued, along with Luna, Ollivander the wandmaker, and the goblin Griphook, by Dobby the Free House-elf. Bellatrix's behavior indicates something of interest in her vault at Gringotts and the trio finds Hufflepuff's cup, another horcrux.
     The final horcrux leads Harry, Ron, and Hermione back to Hogwarts where they infiltrate the borders through Dumbledore's brother. Aberforth connects the trio with Neville Longbottom who has taken over Dumbledore's Army and been training in the Room of Requirement. Harry enlists the D.A.'s help in finding the final horcrux, they indicate Ravenclaw's Diadem missing for decades.
     While Harry searches, Hogwarts prepares for Voldemort's arrival. With the destruction of Voldemort at hand a massive battle wages over the school, but Harry must sacrifice himself before victory is at hand.
     The conclusion of Harry's seven-year battle with the being who attempted to kill him as an infant is elaborate and the final book in the series illustrates the qualities which allow Harry to survive to adulthood. This novel is aimed at older readers, high school-aged and adults with rampant violence as in any war. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ties many of the loose ends together, ending the saga. Readers who enjoyed the Harry Potter series to this point will find many of their questions answered, and those who enjoy fantasy will enjoy the Harry Potter series.

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan, 2009 Hyperion

     In the last of Percy's adventures against Kronos the battle for Olympus has moved to New York City. Chiron shares with Percy the prophecy which has driven the Olympians and the son of Poseidon understands the role he is to play in the battle ahead.
     Percy and Nico di Angelo, son of Hades, travel to the Underworld for a chance to make Percy indestructible. The campers of Camp Half-Blood (without the Ares cabin) join the forces of Olympus with Percy Jackson at their head and the battle wages on.
     Elizabeth Dare, a mortal Percy, Annabeth, and Grover met at the Hoover Dam, appears and reveals Percy is not the hero of the great prophecy. She doesn't know who it is, but promises to help as best she can. She explains a monster brought by the Titans can only be defeated by a child of Ares--heralding the arrival of the Ares cabin.
     As Kronos inhabits Luke Castellan's body he must fight Luke himself to maintain the semi-mortal form. When Annabeth shocks Luke back to his normal self the demi-gods have a chance to defeat the Titan. Percy's decision to allow Luke to destroy the vessel Kronos has stolen from him has the power to turn the tide for or against the demigods and Olympians, and only he can make the decision.
     With the final battle Percy and his closest friends lose companions, friends, and great warriors. They face insurmountable odds in the hope they can maintain the world they've come to protect. Percy learns to respect the forces around him and recognize that he can share the burden and glory of his responsibilities. Intermediate through high school readers can enjoy Percy's adventures, as well as readers of all ages.

Ascendant

Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund, HarperTeen 2010

     After she has accepted her role as a Hunter, Astrid Llewelyn continues to live in Rome and hunt unicorns. Fully trained and enjoying life when her boyfriend decides to leave Rome and go back to school in New York, and when Cornelia's Unicorn powers suddenly and slowly fade away.
     Cornelia decides to return to England and hopes to figure why her power is fading. Astrid goes with her, but they are side-tracked in Paris when Astrid comes up against a corporation trying to figure out the magic of unicorns. The corporation gives Astrid the chance to apply her talents to finding the Remedy--a cure for any illness. Her ex-boyfriend is staying with the company and creates tension between Astrid and Giovanni, her current boyfriend.
   When the bond Astrid forms with the unicorn herd on company land begins to prevent her from killing the unicorns Astrid becomes concerned with the mission placed before her. The comfort of working with a pharmaceutical company and the isolation from her friends and family changes Astrid into someone she doesn't recognize.
     When an encounter with a rogue unicorn nearly kills Astrid, her world turns upside down. The unicorns become more than just her life's work. How will Astrid handle her life depending on the magic of the unicorns?
      The transition from reluctant hunter to diligent caretaker is characterized by a significant change in Astrid's personal outlook. Ideas of chastity and the personal right of choice are addressed with the mythology of unicorns. High school readers and those who enjoy Young Adult fiction will enjoy Ascendant.

The Wells Bequest

The Wells Bequest by Polly Shulman, 2013 Nancy Paulsen Books

   Leo Novikov is just goofing around with his video game controller when suddenly a miniature version of himself appears in his bedroom. The six-inch Leo suggests H. G. Wells's Time Machine and the girl with him rambles about a strange contraption belonging to Nikola Tesla. Before normal-sized Leo can figure out the encounter, they're gone.
     The strange vision has Leo questioning his sanity, but when he meets Jaya Rao at the New York Circulating Material Repository she believes his strange and impossible story. Leo is plunged into a world of impossible things, none as amazing as a full-sized version of H. G. Wells's time machine.
     Soon enough the strange and impossible produce an evil scientist intent on destroying New York City if he doesn't get what he wants. Leo and Jaya travel through time and space to save the world as they know it. Throughout their adventures Leo becomes more confident in his place within the world, and his ability to affect change on his role in the world.
     Leo and his fascination with science drives the plot and is relatable to readers who enjoy science fiction. Written at a fourth grade level, The Wells Bequest is enjoyable for readers of all ages.

Revolutionary War on Wednesday

Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne, 2000 Random House Books

     Morgan le Fay has sent Jack and Annie to the Revolutionary War for an ingredient in her spell: something to send. The siblings find themselves in December 1776 in George Washington's camp as the Continental Army plans to cross the Delaware River.
     When the weather turns sour the General is hesitant to put his people in danger with an uncertain crossing. Jack and Annie have their own part in helping the Continental Army with their Christmas Eve push toward success in the Revolutionary War.
     The Magic Tree House series examines moments in history and different cultures. In easily accessible language, Revolutionary War on Wednesday is written for early readers.

So You Want to be a Wizard

So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane, 1983 Delacorte Press

     Juanita Callahan is hiding from bullies in the library when she discovers a book titled So You Want to be a Wizard from which she disbelievingly takes a Wizard's Oath. When she wakes up Nita's name is included on a list of wizards in the back of the book, so she decides to try out her new powers. She meets Christopher Rodriguez--Kit--another new wizard testing his power. The two conjure an alternate Manhattan with a dangerous power-hungry darkness. Their call for help brings an intelligent white hole nicknamed Fred.
     The three wizards work together to retrieve a space pen the bullies have stolen from Nita, but Fred mistakes the gravity needed and swallows it. The trio meet their local Advisories who explain how to retrieve Nita's pen. Fred also brings news of two important books, one of which is missing. "The Book of Night with Moonlight" catalogues the true nature of everything, it's mirror is a catalogue of all things perverted "The Book Which is Not Named". If the darkness which Kit and Nita met when Fred appeared, the Lone Power, were to read from the unnamed Book while the Book of Night with Moon is missing the world would be irreparably altered.
     In their quest to retrieve Nita's pen from inside Fred, the three wizards fall through a world gate into the alternate New York where Nita and Kit first met the Lone Power. The alternate world is shadowed in the Lone Power's evil. In order to return home Nita, Kit, and Fred search for the two books and are faced with dragon-like creatures, an eight-legged skull-faced beast, the destruction of the Sun, and the loss of a good friend.
     So You Want to be a Wizard deals directly with the issue of good and evil. Kit and Nita find a friendship which helps them through the frustrations of public school and changing lives. Readers of all ages will enjoy the friendship between Kit and Nita as the discover themselves and their magic.

The One

The One by Kiera Cass, 2014 HerperTeen

     America Singer has come a long way since the reluctant potential princess who left Carolina. Making it to the Elite was fraught with the los of friendships, Rebel attacks and personal revelations, but America stands with three other young women for Prince Maxon's decision.
     With Aspen still hovering in the background the relationship America has with Maxon becomes strained. Having her old friend to fall back on allows America to avoid a true commitment to Maxon and his kingdom even as she waits for a sign of his commitment.
     The parties vying for Illea intensify their battles. King Clarkson attempts to use America's growing popularity to further separate the castes. The Southern Rebels again and again attack the palace in Angeles, tehn extend their violence to the people of Illea themselves. The Northern Rebels connect with Maxon and America in an attempt to forge an alliance.
     The Selection draws to a close and tensions rise as lives and futures are threatened. Can America decide what she wants before time runs out? With this princess story of an everyday young woman is aimed at readers who enjoy young adult fiction.

The Agency: A Spy in the House

A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee, 2010 Candlewick Press

     Mary Lang is a half-caste Chinese-Irish girl living in Victorian England. From a childhood of crime she is rescued from the gallows by the women of Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. Nearly five years of schooling have created a confident young woman capable of handling nearly anything.
     Bored by the typical life planned out for her, Mary asks Miss Treleaven and Mrs. Frame for something with a little more variety--and gets more than she expected. Anne Treleaven and Felicity Frame are the leaders of the Agency, a secret investigative unit which is composed entirely of women. The Agency functions on the premise that women of the time are overlooked or discounted.
     Mary's first assignment takes her into the home of a prominent merchant, Henry Thorold, as his daughter's paid companion. The merchant is suspected of smuggling and insurance fraud. While searching for documentation of his perfidy Mary meets James Easton in the wardrobe of the home office.
     James's older brother George is infatuated with Angelica, the daughter of the house, and James has begun his own investigation into Henry Thorold. When the two join forces Mary is reluctant to trust this young man and his fascinating view of the world. As they suffer through London's worst heat wave in years, James and Mary search for evidence to support or disprove their theories, and fight the strange feelings they begin to feel for each other.
     Blooming romance threads through the mounting intrigue possibly turning an unwilling friendship into an unexpected relationship. The blend builds on the tension of their investigation. Written for middle school-aged students, The Agency is a full-fledged mystery and readers of all ages can find something to capture their attention

First Test

First Test by Tamora Pierce, 1999 Random House

     After Alanna the Lioness hid her sex for eight years to become Tortall's first female knight King Jonathan proclaimed girls welcome to train as knights along with their brothers. In the ten years since no noble family has had a daughter willing or desirous of going through such trials, so when Keladry of Mindelan and her parents petition the crown it is a battle to allow her tutelage under the Training Master. Alanna champions the girl, but is forbidden meeting her or showing such support.
     Kel idolizes Alanna and has only dreamed of following her footsteps. When she is notified of the Master at Arms' condition Kel is furious, but her time as a diplomat's daughter has trained her well. Lord Wyldon gives Kel one year--if she proves herself up to snuff she may stay, but the entire academy seems to be looking for any excuse to throw her out.
     With the threat hovering constantly, and the very obvious absence of her hero, Kel must prove to herself and her classmates that she can make it in the men's world as a girl.
     Kel is a powerful young woman, as many of pierce's protagonists, her resourcefulness and tenacity earn her respect and friends in the all-male world. Readers of all ages will enjoy her spirit.

The Grimm Legacy

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman, 2010 G.P. Putnam's Sons Books

     When Elizabeth Rew is suggested for an internship at the New York Circulating Material Repository she is intrigued. Instead of books, the library lends objects: a tea set, carpentry tools, children's toys. The items lent from the library range from simple, everyday objects to rare or complex tools and antiquities. 

     Deep in the warren-like basement Elizabeth discovers the Collections. Her first glimpse that the library is more than it seems is the disappearance of an entry in the Grimm Legacy, items straight out of the fairy tales. 

      But along with the mystical seven-league boots, neverending feast, and Little Red Riding Hood's cloak are more sinister magical items--and items which allow someone sinister action. Magical items begin to disappear. 

     Elizabeth and her new friends at the Repository decide to embark on a quest worthy of the Grimm Brothers to find the mysterious thief before they are blamed for the crime. And before they're the ones disappearing. 

     Hidden behind the simple facade of an old victorian home, the New York Circulating Material Repository houses magic. Elizabeth is an ordinary girl hoping to live an ordinary life, until the extraordinary plucks her into a world swirling with action and adventure. Readers of all ages will enjoy the effects of fantastic items from some of the best-known fairy tales in western culture. 

Storyteller

Storyteller by Edward Myers, 2008 Clarion Books

     In this framed story an old man tells his grandson the story of Jack. Jack is a farmboy from a small town on the edge of Sundar--but not a simple farmboy. Jack must tell stories as they bubble up from inside him. While still at home Jack meets the mysterious Woman in the Woods and discovers her kingdom in the forest outside town. When he turns seventeen Jack leaves home to seek his fortune.
     On his journey simply Jack becomes Jack Storyteller. He finds that stories are his life's purpose and meets several new friends. Loquasto is a talking bird who has fallen in love with the fish princess Artemisia; one-eyed Garth Golden-Eye is a Robin Hood-like outlaw; the Princess Stelinda is the love of Jack's life, and the daughter of King Alphonse, older sister to Prince Yoss.
     When Yoss, with the help of illusionist Zephyrio, takes Stelinda's throne at their father's death his rule plunges Sundar into depression, both economic and psychological. Stelinda and Jack Storyteller are roped into Yoss's menagerie, driving them apart.
     Jack discovers that his life is a story he has allowed to run free. The storyteller must discover a way to re-harness his tale and put his life back on the track he planned. Storyteller is a new sort of fairytale, accessible to readers as young as elementary school while still able to capture older readers' attention.

The Secret of Red Gate Farm

The Secret of Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene, 1961 Grosset & Dunlap

     Nancy Drew and her friends find it strange when an exotic saleswoman refuses to sell Bess a particular fragrance while shopping. On their way home Nancy, Bess, and George encounter a young woman looking to find work in the city. The girls become friends and decide to help Joanne in whatever way they may. When Nancy joins Joanne on a job interview she finds what appears to be a mysterious code.
     Nancy sets aside the code until, when visiting Joanne's grandmother for a working vacation, she and her friends discover a mysterious secret society on Red Gate Farm. The "Black Snake Colony" is a nature cult residing on the outlying edges of the farm.
     All is not as it seems, when Nancy is accused of counterfeiting money. She presents the code she discovered and the strange cult to the authorities. The four girls are asked to go undercover in aid of the federal agents on the case.
     Nancy and her friends find adventure in seemingly simple situations. Readers become more acquainted with Bess and George through the book, with mystery and adventure around the corner.

Revenge of the Witch

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney, 2004 Harper Trophy

     Old Gregory has been hunting the things that go bump in the night for years. He is aging past his prime, but there is no one to take his place as twenty-nine apprentices have failed, fled, or died.
     Thomas Ward is the seventh son of the seventh son, and the year he turns thirteen he is apprenticed to the Spook. He follows old Gregory from his home and discovers a world of Ghosts, Ghasts, Witches, Boggarts, and other creepy-crawlies in the darkness. The work is difficult - learning the skills specific to the Spooks as well as more traditional learning in Latin and Greek.
     The apprentice is old Gregory's last chance and after a month's trial Tom is allowed to return home before making the commitment to his task. The young man hopes his mother will welcome him, but is surprised when it is revealed his Mam has planned his apprenticeship since Tom's birth.
     Being the seventh son of the seventh son gives him abilities few others possess, but it is his mother's heritage which makes Tom different. Old Gregory acknowledges Mam's ability, but only after tragedy strikes their family and Tom must make a difficult decision concerning a new friend.
     While his trials are dangerous, both to Tom and the people he cares about, he perseveres. Tom matures with the tests old Gregory administers, he stays long after he's already decided to go home, and when it comes to the most difficult choices of his young life, Tom acts with integrity and trusts his instincts. As he is fond of saying - somebody's got to do it, might as well be me.

The Princess and the Bear

The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison, 2009 HarperTeen

     The Princess has been returned to her normal, human form. Also returned to her natural form is the Hound. Prince George has used what little magic he possessed and the help of the Bear to return the two, but once they've been released to go their own ways, the Hound and Bear discover something isn't right in the forest.
     Spots of un-life or un-magic seem to be spreading through the woods. These pockets aren't like water where the effect lessens, rather they continue to steal the life-force from any living thing caught in the path. They use their understanding of magic to fight the spreading spots, but there comes a point where a bear and hound can only do so much to stem the tide of death through the forest.
     Returning to Princess Marit and Prince George, they describe the strange cat-man who has been leaching life from the forest. George sends the pair into the mountains where they hope to find the Wild Man who can help. The Wild Man sends the Bear and the Hound into the past before being magic became danger to stop this creature from destroying their future.
     The Bear is transformed back into his form of King Richon and the Hound becomes the woman Chala. Through their quest to find the source of un-magic Richon discovers that his bigotry against animal-magic is the root of the un-magic's strength. The pair continue to fight, yet must deal with the consequences of Richon's actions. Eventually the pair discover their place and are hopeful of saving their world.
     Magic and an appreciation of nature abound in this story of righting wrongs and finding home. Richon and Chala begin with only a vague idea of what they hope to accomplish, but as they journey and see the injustice in the kingdom a plan forms and change is evoked. Younger readers will enjoy the quest story as the Bear and Hound learn to be human and fight for the success of their plans.