F WIL	So Super Starry (age 12+) by Rose Wilkens humor Publisher comments: Octavia Clairbrook-Cleeve has a famous TV star for a mom and a very posh-sounding name, but there's no way she's anything like the shallow, A-list blondes at her private school--until she meets the son of a rock star.
F VAI	If We Kiss (age 12+) by Rachel Vail school ... humor Publisher comments: What would happen if we kiss? Kevin led me quickly around the side of the building, then stopped. I managed not to crash into him. I tried to look calm, cool, unperturbed. I told myself not to laugh, especially not a snorting kind of laugh. "Wha . . .what did . . ." And then he kissed me. If We Kiss is the story of Charlotte (Charlie to her friends), who finds herself falling for a boy who is off-limits. Her best friend is in love with him, and her mother and his father are dating. Still, Charlie can't help but wonder, what would happen if we kiss?
F SCO	I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader (age 12+) by Kieran Scott school ... humor Publisher comments: Everyone at Annisa Gobrowski's new high school in Florida is blonde. If Annisa's Jersey attitude doesn't make her stand out enough, her dark hair does. Yet no lack of golden highlights is going to stop Annisa from making the best of Sand Dune High, especially once she checks out the competition-level cheerleading squad. sequel: Brunettes Strike Back
F POL	The Pity Party: 8th Grade in the Life of Me, Cass (age 12+) by Alison Pollet humor ... friendship ... school Publisher comments: When eighth grade begins, Cass feels like the entire school is out to get her. She's stuck in classes without her closest friends Penelope and Tillie to keep her company. And as if that weren't bad enough, this is the year that students take an extended field trip to Elston Prep's nature retreat in the countryside. Cass confronts her problems with spirited resilience, and she forges an unexpected friendship with Rod Punkin, the school's biggest behavior problem. When Rod goes missing, Cass embarks on a secret rescue mission in this funny, witty, and utterly moving story about being thirteen.
F O'C	The Calypso Chronicles (age 12+) by Tyne O'Connell humor ... school ... friendship Publisher comments: When Calypso returns from Los Angeles to her English boarding school for the summer term, she is determined to fit in with the popular crowd. Her plan is to pretend her mother's gay assistant back home is her boyfriend. And to her surprise, the trick works...at least at first. She makes a whole batch of new friends, and even finds herself winning the unwritten contest to woo the prince at the boys' school next door. But one girl, Honey, undermines all her efforts. When Calypso and Prince Freddy end up in the tabloids and everything seems set to go down the drain, it's Calypso's parents and sense of humor that save her from utter humiliation. title: Pulling Princes title: Dueling Princes
F MOR	The Year of Secret Assignments (age 12+) by Jaclyn Moriarty realistic ... friendship ... humor ... school ... letters/journal Publisher comments: The Ashbury-Brookfield pen pal program is designed to bring together the two rival schools in a spirit of harmony and "the Joy of the Envelope." But when Cassie, Lydia, and Emily send their first letters to Matthew, Charlie, and Sebastian, things don't go quite as planned. What starts out as a simple letter exchange soon leads to secret missions, false alarms, lock picking, mistaken identities, and an all-out war between the schools--not to mention some really excellent kissing.
F LIM	Girl, 15, Charming But Insane (age 12+) by Sue Limb humor ... realistic ... growing up ... friendship Publisher comments: sequel: Girl, Nearly 16, Absolute Torture sequel: Girl, Going on 17, Pants on Fire sequel: Girl, Barely 15, Flirting for England
F KAN	Confessions of a Not It Girl (age 12+) by Melissa Kantor realistic ... friendship ... school ... growing up ... humor Publisher comments: Catalog: High schooler Jan Miller, hoping for a senior year romance, just cannot seem to do anything right, especially when compared to her best friend Rebecca who has just been named a New York "It Girl," but things start looking up when an old crush moves back to town.
F JUB	Miss Smithers (age 12+) by Susan Juby realistic ... letters/journal ... humor ... enterprise ... friendship ... growing up Publisher comments: In Spite of the premature publication of my 'zine and resulting renewed social ostracism, things are happening for me! I've been stood up by the coolest girl in school, I have a Jesus bracelet, I ate dinner at a steak restaurant and lived to tell, I may be a virgin until I marry, I'm a Miss Smithers candidate, and I HAVE LEATHER PANTS! Susan Juby's delightful second novel is about finding the perfect outfit and finding oneself, about winning a pageant and winning at love.
F JUB	Alice, I Think (age 12+) by Susan Juby realistic ... school ... letters/journal ... humor ... friendship ... growing up Publisher comments: "I grew up in one of those loving families that fails to prepare a person for real life..." A few weeks into first grade Alice's parents took her out of school and have taught her at home ever since. Now she's about to enter high school, with the stated goal of boosting the self-esteem of her counselor, Death Lord Bob. Bob is happy now. But what about Alice? Will she be able to interact with people her own age who are not home-based learners? Will she be able to survive some sort of boy-girl interaction? Or is this best left until after high school? Until middle age? What about a unique and innovative career path? A new look? (This must, like career choice, reflect uniqueness.) Alice, I Thinkis the story of a teenager attempting to survive her parents, her hometown, and her reentry into society. Told through keenly observant, satirical journal entries, Susan Juby's first novel is wise, witty, and utterly original.
F JON	Am I Right Or Am I Right? (age 12+) by Barry Jonsberg school ... realistic ... family ... humor ... growing up Publisher comments: Calma Harrison is in love. Not just with herself, but also with the handsome checkout guy at Crazi-Cheep. So stocking shelves at the Crazi-Cheep seems like the perfect job, until that annoying customer tries to hold up the store. And then there's the small matter of the rest of Calma's life, which is fast falling apart: her absent father turns up after five years and wants to "talk," her mother is clearly living a secret second life, and her new best friend is hiding something horrible. Calma is sure she knows exactly what's going on. And clearly her direct, personal intervention is required to make things right. Except, if she's wrong. And then her butting in will make everything much, much worse. Am I Right or Am I Right? is a whip-smart, wise-cracking, big-hearted novel about a girl who is learning that things are not always what they seem, and how to start again when you've gotten it all so very wrong.
F JOH	The Key to the Golden Firebird: A Novel (age 12+) by Maureen Johnson realistic ... humor ... growing up ... family ... illness/loss Publisher comments: The funny thing about stop signs is that they're also start signs. Mayzie is the brainy middle sister, Brooks is the beautiful but conflicted oldest, and Palmer's the quirky baby of the family. In spite of their differences, the Gold sisters have always been close. When their father dies, everything begins to fall apart. Level–headed May is left to fend for herself (and somehow learn to drive), while her two sisters struggle with their own demons. But the girls learn that while there are a lot of rules for the road, there are no rules when it comes to the heart. Together, they discover the key to moving on, and it's the key to their father's Pontiac Firebird. This critically acclaimed, totally compelling book is perfect for readers looking for both a fun ride and a life–changing journey from one of today's best new YA writers. And it fits perfectly in the glove compartment.
F CAB	All-American Girl (age 12+) by Meg Cabot school ... humor Publisher comments: Top Ten Reasons Samantha Madison is in Deep Trouble: 10. Her big sister is the most popular girl in school. 9. Her little sister is a certified genius. 8. She's in love with her big sister's boyfriend. 7. She got caught selling celebrity portraits in school. 6. And now she's being forced to take art classes. 5. She's just saved the president of the United States from an assassination attempt. 4. So the whole world thinks she is a hero. 3. Even though Sam knows she is far, far from being a hero. 2. And now she's been appointed teen ambassador to the UN. And the number-one reason Sam's life is over? 1. The president's son just might be in love with her.
F CAB	How to be Popular (age 12+) by Meg Cabot humor ... friendship Publisher comments: Do you want to be popular? Everyone wants to be popular, or at least, Stephanie Landry does. Steph's been the least popular girl in her class since a certain cherry Super Big Gulp catastrophe five years earlier. Does being popular matter? It matters a lot, to Steph. That's why this year, she has a plan to get in with the It Crowd in no time flat. She's got a secret weapon: an old book called (what else?) How to Be Popular. All Steph has to do is follow the instructions in The Book, and soon she'll be partying with the popular kids (including school quarterback Mark Finley) instead of sitting on The Hill Saturday nights, stargazing with her nerdy best pal Becca, and even nerdier Jason (now kind of hot, but still). But don't forget the most important thing about popularity! It's easy to become popular. What isn't so easy? Staying that way.
F BRI	The Princess and the Pauper (age 12+) by Kate Brian humor ... identity ... princesses Publisher comments: Shabby...chic? Carina, a real European princess, is dying to hook up with the sexy American rock star she met online. Too bad about all those bodyguards watching her every move. Then Carina spots her down-and-out near-twin, Julia. For a fast ten grand, Julia grabs the gown and the crown, and the girls swap identities for a day. Before long Princess Carina is trapped on a skeevy bus full of roadies, and Pauper Julia is jetting off to...some small foreign country? Only a storybook ending can get these two posers back to where they belong.
F BRA	24 Girls in 7 Days (age 12+) by Alex Bradley humor ... traditions ... school Publisher comments: Jack Grammar, average American senior, has no date to the prom. Or so he thinks. Percy and Natalie, Jack's so-called best friends, posted an ad in the classified section of the online version of the school newspaper. They figured it couldn't hurt; after all, there's not much in this world sadder than Jack's love life. Soon Percy and Natalie have assembled a list of girls eager to go to the prom with Jack, including one mysterious girl known only as FancyPants. He has just seven days to meet and date them before he will ask one special girl to the prom. Newcomer Alex Bradley shares a fresh and funny boy perspective in a genre dominated by girls. With snappy dialogue and hip, smart writing, this is a hilarious take on the trauma and pageantry that is prom.
F ABB	The Bridesmaid (age 12+) by Hailey Abbott humor ... traditions ... family Publisher comments: After years of watching couples come to blows over ice sculptures, Abby wants no part of the family business. She'd rather spend weekends kicking a soccer ball or antagonizing Noah, the cute son of a famous pastry chef, not doing the Electric Slide. Then Abby's barely legal sister, Carol, does the unthinkable. She announces she's getting married and wants Abby to be her maid of honor. Clearly, Carol has lost her mind! Will Abby soon lose hers? So what if Carol turns into Bridezilla? So what if the dresses are hideous? So what if the invitations get messed up? So what if Noah looks extra hot with frosting in his hair? Abby can handle it. After all, it's just one day. Right?
F MLY	Magic in Manhattan Series (age 12+) by Sarah Mlynowski magic ... school ... humor ... fantasy Publisher comments: What if all your wishes could come true? Blink your eyes, drink a fizzing pink potion, and poof! Life is perfect. That's Rachel's situation. Except she's not the one who suddenly has magical powers. Her younger sister is. And as Rachel would tell you, spellbooks are wasted on the young! Yes, yes, of course world peace and cures for horrible diseases are important. But so is dancing without looking like she's being electrocuted, winning back her best friend, stopping her dad's wedding, and finding a date for Spring Fling. title: Bras and Broomsticks title: Frogs and French Kisses title: Spells and Sleeping Bags title: Parties and Potions
F HOW	Blue Avenger Series (age 12+) by Norma Howe growing up ... adventure ... humor Publisher comments: On his sixteenth birthday, David Schumacher changes his name to Blue Avenger. . . And things start to happen. Within twenty-four hours, David becomes a national hero, starts dating an extraordinary girl named Omaha Nebraska Brown, and bakes an imperfect pie. And that's not all. A tiny sow bug is injured by a lawn mower, some killer bees make their home at San Pablo High School, and there is some activity in the earth's crust. The connection? No one knows for certain. At first, it seems that David's own free will is guiding his momentous decision. But maybe it's something else. Maybe it's the inevitable result of everything that has ever happened to him since his miraculous birth. To find out more about life and death, romance, gun control, lemon meringue pie, and world peace, you'll have to read this book. The decision is yours. title: The Adventures of Blue Avenger title: Blue Avenger Cracks the Code title: Blue Avenger and the Theory of Everything
F ASI	I, Robot (age 12+) by Isaac Asimov humor ... science fiction ... short stories Publisher comments: The three laws of Robotics: 1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2) A robot must obey orders givein to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. With this, Asimov changed our perception of robots forever when he formulated the laws governing their behavior. In I, Robot, Asimov chronicles the development of the robot through a series of interlinked stories: from its primitive origins in the present to its ultimate perfection in the not-so-distant future--a future in which humanity itself may be rendered obsolete. Here are stories of robots gone mad, of mind-read robots, and robots with a sense of humor. Of robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world--all told with the dramatic blend of science fact & science fiction that became Asmiov's trademark.
F SCH	Teenage Mermaid (age 12+) by Ellen Schreiber fantasy ... humor Publisher comments: Out of nowhere she appeared-a golden yellow and sun-fire orange hair aparkled like tiny stars and flowed in the glistening water. The most wonderful pink-lipped smile flashed before me. Her angelic skin glowed; her piercing ocean-blue eyes stared through meand touched my soul. She floated majestically before me, a silver locket in the shape of a heart dangled from her lovely neck. This had to be a dream, or a sure sign that I had already died and gone to heaven!
F DES	Born Confused (age 12+) by Tannuja Desai-Hidier realistic ... growing up ... identity ... humor Publisher comments: Dimple Lala doesn't know what to think. Her parents are from India, and she's spent her whole life resisting their traditions. Then suddenly she gets to high school and everything Indian is trendy. To make matters worse, her parents arrange for her to meet a "suitable boy." Of course it doesn't go well, until Dimple goes to a club and finds him spinning a magical web. Suddenly the suitable boy is suitable because of his sheer unsuitability. Complications ensue. This is a funny, thoughtful story about finding your heart, finding your culture, and finding your place in America.
F DES	That Summer (age 12+) by Sarah Dessen growing up ... realistic ... humor Publisher comments: For fifteen-year-old Haven, life is changing too quickly. She's nearly six feet tall, her father is getting remarried, and her sister, the always perfect Ashley, is planning a wedding of her own. Haven wishes things could just go back to the way they were. Then an old boyfriend of Ashley's reenters the picture, and through him, Haven sees the past for what it really was, and comes to grips with the future.
F DES	This Lullaby: A Novel (age 12+) by Sarah Dessen growing up ... realistic ... humor Publisher comments: When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about? From acclaimed author Sarah Dessen, this is a captivating novel about a tough-as-nails girl and the unexpectedly charming boy who's determined to soften her up.
F COR	Fifteen Love (age 12+) by Robert Corbet the arts ... humor Publisher comments: Mia thinks boys are immature. They only talk about cars and sports. They only think about sex. Will has no idea what girls talk about. He wishes he were a fly on the wall. He wishes he had a tape recorder and a hidden microphone .... Fifteen Love is a funny up-and-down story about a boy and a girl, a viola and a tennis racquet; about family and friends, flirting and true love.
F BUR	Royally Jacked (age 12+) by Niki Burnham humor ... family Publisher comments: Valerie's life is pretty good. While she's not the most popular girl in school, she does have decent grades, great friends, and a potential boyfriend. All a girl could want. Then her mother announces that (1) she's gay, and (2) she's leaving Valerie's dad for her girlfriend. Not what Valerie envisioned for her future. And just when Valerie is getting over this bombshell, her father tells her he's gotten a new job as protocol chief for the royal family of some obscure European country. Valerie's world has come unglued. She can either stay in Virginia with her mom and her uber-organized, veggie-burger-eating girlfriend, or go with her dad, leaving everything she knows for some place she's never heard of. Valerie opts to go, and quickly discovers that it was a mistake, until she meets the prince, and all bets are off! sequel: Spin Control
F SCH	Vampire Kisses (age 12+) by Ellen Schreiber humor ... fantasy Publisher comments: In her small town, dubbed Dullsville, sixteen-year-old Raven, a vampire-crazed goth-girl, is an outcast. But not for long... The intriguing and rumored-to-be haunted mansion on top of Benson Hill has stood vacant and boarded-up for years. That is, until its mysteriously strange new occupants move in. Who are these creepy people, especially the handsome, dark, and elusive Alexander Sterling? Or rather, what are they? Could the town prattle actually ring true? Are they vampires? Raven, who secretly covets a vampire kiss, both at the risk of her own mortality and Alexander's loving trust, is dying to uncover the truth. Ellen Schreiber's spooky and stirring romance tells the story of two outsiders who fall in love in a town where conformity reigns, and ends with a shocking surprise.
F REE	Vampire High (age 12+) by Douglas Rees fantasy ... humor ... school Publisher comments: It doesn't take long for Cody Elliot to realize that his new high school is a little different. The other students are supernaturally strong, don't like the sunlight, and are always placing orders at the local blood bank. When his new friend shows him his fangs, Cody doesn't need any more clues; these kids are vampires! As Cody struggles to fit into this secretive community, he disrupts centuries of human-vampire segregation, with some serious (and some seriously funny) consequences. In sharp, humorous, and insightful prose, Douglas Rees creates a world of vampires where the real issue for humans is not the fear of being bitten, but the need to get along.
F WIL	The Girls Quartet (age 12+) by Jacqueline Wilson humor ... friendship ... growing up Publisher comments: Ellie's starting ninth grade and she's got some very definite goals. She'll stay best friends with Magda and Nadine. She'll go on a diet and stick to it. She'll get a glamorous hairstyle. And she'll get a boyfriend. Even if she has to settle for one who likes her more than she likes him. Any guy will do, right? title: Girls in Love title: Girls Under Pressure title: Girls Out Late title: Girls in Tears
F CHO	If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period (age 12+) by Gennifer Choldenko realistic ... humor ... friendship ... school Publisher comments: Kirsten's parents are barely speaking to each other, and her best friend has fallen under the spell of the school's queen bee, Brianna. It seems like only Kirsten's younger science-geek sister is on her side. Walker's goal is to survive at the new white private school his mom has sent him to because she thinks he's going to screw up like his cousin. But he's a good kid. So is his friend Matteo, though no one knows why he'll do absolutely anything that hot blond Brianna asks of him. But all of this feels almost trivial when Kirsten and Walker discover a secret that shakes them both to the core. Fast paced, marvelously funny, and brutally honest, If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period touches on universal truths about human nature.
F BRO	Magic Kingdom of Landover Series (age 12+) by Terry Brooks humor ... fantasy Publisher comments: After Ben Holiday purchased Landover, he discovered the magic kingdom had some problems. The Barons refused to recognize a king and the peasants were without hope. To make matters worse, Ben learned that he had to duel to the death with the Iron Mask, the terrible lord of the demons--a duel which no human could hope to win.... title: Magic Kingdom For Sale...Sold! title: Wizard at Large title: The Tangle Box title: Witches' Brew title: The Black Unicorn
F BAU	Thwonk (age 12+) by Joan Bauer humor ... adventure Publisher comments: Catalog: A cupid doll comes to life and offers romantic assistance to A.J., a teenage photographer suffering from unrequited love.
F BAU	Squashed (age 12+) by Joan Bauer humor ... enterprise Publisher comments: Ellie's life would be just perfect if Max, her giant pumpkin, put on about two hundred pounds before the weigh-in contest.
F BAU	Rules of the Road (age 12+) by Joan Bauer adventure ... growing up ... humor Publisher comments: Gawky 5'11", 16-year-old Jenna joins her crusty old employer at Gladstone's Shoe Store for an eye-opening cross-country adventure. sequel: Best Foot Forward
F BAU	Hope Was Here (age 12+) by Joan Bauer growing up ... family ... humor Catalog: When sixteen-year-old Hope and the aunt who has raised her move from Brooklyn to Mulhoney, Wisconsin, to work as waitress and cook in the Welcome Stairways diner, they become involved with the diner owner's political campaign to oust the town's corrupt mayor.
F FRE	The Possibilities of Sainthood (age 12+) by Donna Freitas humor ... growing up Publisher comments: Antonia Lucia Labella has two secrets: at fifteen, shes still waiting for her first kiss, and she wants to be a saint. An official one. Seem strange? Well, to Antonia, saints are royalty, and she wants her chance at being a princess. All her life she's kept company with these kings and queens of small favors, knowing exactly whom to pray to on every occasion. Unfortunately, the two events Antonia's prayed for seem equally unlikely to happen. Its not for lack of trying. For how long has she been hoping to gain the attention of the love of her life: the tall, dark, and so good-looking Andy Rotellini? Too long to mention. And every month for the last eight years, Antonia has sent a petition to the Vatican proposing a new patron saint and bravely offering herself for the post. So what if shes not dead? But as Antonia learns, in matters of the heart and sainthood, things are about as straightforward as wound-up linguini, and sometimes you need to recognize the signs.
F HAU	The Bloodwater Mysteries (age 12+) by Pete Hautman adventure ... humor ... mystery Publisher comments: When high school student Alicia Camden suddenly disappears, the small town of Bloodwater is in shock. And it's up to Roni Delicata, reporter for the school's Bloodwater Pump, and her brilliant sidekick, Brian Bain, to figure out whats going on. With suspects all around them and suspicions high, Roni and Brian risk their lives, and a few groundings from their parents, to get to the bottom of things. But can they find Alicia and solve the mystery before its too late? Full of suspense and humor, readers will love to watch the hilarious relationship between Roni and Brian as they save the day. title: Snatched title: Doppelganger
F HUR	Ghostgirl (age 12+) by Tonya Hurley friendship ... humor ... school Publisher comments: Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. And if I should die before I awake, I pray the popular attend my wake. Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, and then one day she really is invisible. Even worse: she's dead. And all because she choked on a gummy bear. But being dead doesn't stop Charlotte from wanting to be popular; it just makes her more creative about achieving her goal. If you thought high school was a matter of life or death, wait till you see just how true that is. In this satirical, yet heartfelt novel, Hurley explores the invisibility we all feel at some times and the lengths we'll go to be seen.
F KAI	The Social Experiments of Dorie Dilts (age 12+) by P. G. Kain humor ... math/science/technology ... friendship ... school ... brilliant protagonist Publisher comments: Objective: Be Selected to Present at Academy Day. Process: Scientific Method. Step 1: Formulate a Question. What would it take to get Tiffany to notice Igor? Dorie is in science geek heaven at the National Academy for Gifted Youth's science program until she realizes she has gone from being a big fish in a small pond to a typically sized Amphiprion percula in a hyperacclimated environment of equally skilled Amphiprion percula. More simply, Dorie no longer rules the lab. Igor Ellis, however, does. Unlike popularity, being cool isn't about fitting in - it's about standing out. This eureka discovery leads Dorie to the solution of her latest puzzle. Eager to prove her science skills, Dorie is conducting a new social experiment. With assistance from her fabulous and fashionable best friend, Dixie, she's about to take Igor from geek to chic. title: The School For Cool title: Dumped by Popular Demand
F CAB	The Princess Diaries (age 12+) by Meg Cabot princesses ... letters/journal ... growing up ... authorship ... school ... humor Publisher comments: She's just a New York City girl living with her artist mom... News Flash: Dad is prince of Genovia. (So that's why a limo meets her at the airport!) Downer: Dad can't have any more kids. (So no heir to the throne.) Shock of the Century: Like it or not, Mia Thermopolis is prime princess material. Mia must take princess lessons from her dreaded grandmere, the dowager princess of Genovia, who thinks Mia has a thing or two to learn before she steps up to the throne. Well, her father can lecture her until he's royal-blue in the face about her princessly duty, no way is she moving to Genovia and leaving Manhattan behind. But what's a girl to do when her name is Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo? title: The Princess Diaries title: Princess in the Spotlight title: Princess in Love title: Princess in Waiting title: Project Princess title: Princess in Pink title: Princess in Training title: Party Princess title: Valentine Princess title: Princess on the Brink title: Sweet Sixteen Princess title: Perfect Princess title: Princess Mia title: Forever Princess title: The Princess Present: A Princess Diaries Book title: Holiday Princess
F PRA	Nation (age 12+) by Terry Pratchett survival ... growing up ... adventure ... fantasy ... humor Publisher comments: The sea has taken everything. Mau is the only one left after a giant wave sweeps his island village away. But when much is taken, something is returned, and somewhere in the jungle Daphne, a girl from the other side of the globe — is the sole survivor of a ship destroyed by the same wave. Together the two confront the aftermath of catastrophe. Drawn by the smoke of Mau and Daphne's sheltering fire, other refugees slowly arrive: children without parents, mothers without babies, husbands without wives, all of them hungry and all of them frightened. As Mau and Daphne struggle to keep the small band safe and fed, they defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down.
F PRA	The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (age 12+) by Terry Pratchett folklore ... adventure ... fantasy ... humor Publisher comments: One rat, popping up here and there, squeaking loudly, and taking a bath in the cream, could be a plague all by himself. After a few days of this, it was amazing how glad people were to see the kid with his magical rat pipe. And they were amazing when the rats followed hint out of town. They'd have been really amazed if they'd ever found out that the rats and the piper met up with a cat somewhere outside of town and solemnly counted out the money. The Amazing Maurice runs the perfect Pied Piper scam. This streetwise alley cat knows the value of cold, hard cash and can talk his way into and out of anything. But when Maurice and his cohorts decide to con the town of Bad Blinitz, it will take more than fast talking to survive the danger that awaits. For this is a town where food is scarce and rats are hated, where cellars are lined with deadly traps, and where a terrifying evil lurks beneath the hunger-stricken streets....
F REN	Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (age 12+) by Louise Rennison growing up ... letters/journal ... humor Publisher comments: Angus: My mixed-breed cat, half domestic tabby, half Scottish wildcat. The size of a small Labrador, only mad. Likes to stalk Mr. and Mrs. Next Door's poodle. I used to drag him around on a lead, but, as I explained to Mrs. Next Door, he ate it. Thongs: Stupid underwear worn by old Swotty Knickers, Lindsay What's the point of them, anyway? They just go up your bum, as far as I can tell. Full-Frontal Snogging: Kissing with the trimmings, lip to lip, open mouth, tongues...everything (apart from dribble, which is never acceptable). As taught to me by a professional snogger. In this wildly funny journal of a year in the life of Georgia Nicolson, British author Louise Rennison has perfectly captured the soaring joys and bottomless angust if being a teenager. This fresh, irreverent, and simply hilarious book will leave you laughing out loud. As Georgia would say, it's "Fabbity fab fab!" title: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson title: Away Laughing on a Fast Camel: Even More Confessions of Georgia Nicolson title: Dancing in my Nuddypants: Even Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson title: Knocked Out By My Nunganungas: Further, Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson title: Love is a Many Trousered Thing: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson title: On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God: Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson title: Startled by His Furry Shorts title: Stop in the Name of Pants: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson title: Then He Ate My Boy Entrancers: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson
F SPR	Spy Goddess Series (age 12+) by Michael Spradlin humor ... adventure ... action ... mystery Publisher comments: Blackthorn Academy, meet Rachel Buchanan. I'm not a delinquent...I'm just misunderstood. Of course, the judge didn't see it that way. She gave me a choice: juvenile detention or boarding school in Pennsylvania, of all places. That's how I wound up at freaky Blackthorn Academy. This school is clearly hiding some major secrets. And here's something you should know about me: Rachel Buchanan never gives up when there are secrets to uncover. Watch out, Blackthorn Academy! The hilarious new series Spy Goddess brings you a witty combination of espionage, action, mystery, and girlpower. title: Live and Let Shop title: To Hawaii With Love
F VAI	Lucky (age 12+) by Rachel Vail realistic ... humor ... friendship Publisher comments: It's all good, and lucky Phoebe Avery plans to celebrate by throwing an end-of-the-year bash with her four closest friends. Everything will be perfect, from the guest list to the fashion photographer to the engraved invitations. The only thing left to do is find the perfect dress, until Phoebe goes from having it all to hiding all she's lost. Phoebe's older sisters warn her to keep the family's crisis totally secret. Unfortunately, her alpha-girl best friend looks increasingly suspicious, and Phoebe's crush starts sending seriously mixed signals. Phoebe tries hard to keep smiling, but when her mother is humiliated in Neiman Marcus while buying Phoebe that perfect dress and her father decides to cancel her party, she panics. How far will she go to keep up her image as a lucky girl? sequel: Gorgeous
F ALE	The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (age 12+) by Sherman Alexie humor ... growing up ... letters/journal ... identity Publisher comments: Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.
F ADA	The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (age 12+) by Douglas Adams humor ... science fiction Publisher comments: One Thursday lunchtime Earth is unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this is already more than he can cope with. Sadly, however, the weekend has only just begun. And the Galaxy is a very, very large and startling place indeed . . . The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy became a massive cult success when it was first published and continues to sell all over the world. It introduced such memorable characters as Arthur Dent, Marvin the Paranoid Android, Zaphod Beeblebrox and, of course, the Vogons, and remains one of the funniest, most irreverent and entertaining novels ever. title: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy title: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe title: Life, the Universe, and Everything title: So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish title: The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul
F COL	La Ultima Oportunidad (age 12+) by Eoin Colfer adventure ... action ... humor ... growing up Meg Finn is in trouble, unearthly trouble. Cast out of her home by her stepfather after her mother's death, Meg is a wanderer, a troublemaker. But after her latest stunt, finding a place to sleep is the least of her worries. Belch, her partner in crime, has gotten her involved in the attempted robbery of an elderly man, Lowrie McCall. And things go horribly wrong. After an accidental explosion, Meg's spirit is flung into limbo, and a race begins between the demonic and the divine to win her soul. Irreverent, hilarious, and touchingly hopeful, The Wish List takes readers on a journey of second chances, where joy is found in the most unexpected places.
F COL	The Wish List (age 12+) by Eoin Colfer adventure ... action ... humor ... growing up Meg Finn is in trouble, unearthly trouble. Cast out of her home by her stepfather after her mother's death, Meg is a wanderer, a troublemaker. But after her latest stunt, finding a place to sleep is the least of her worries. Belch, her partner in crime, has gotten her involved in the attempted robbery of an elderly man, Lowrie McCall. And things go horribly wrong. After an accidental explosion, Meg's spirit is flung into limbo, and a race begins between the demonic and the divine to win her soul. Irreverent, hilarious, and touchingly hopeful, The Wish List takes readers on a journey of second chances, where joy is found in the most unexpected places.
F STR	The Bartimaeus Trilogy (age 12+) by Jonathan Stroud humor ... adventure ... action ... fantasy ... magic Nathaniel is a young magician's apprentice, taking his first lessons in the arts of magic. But when a devious hotshot wizard named Simon Lovelace ruthlessly humiliates Nathaniel in front of everyone he knows, Nathaniel decides to kick up his education a few notches and show Lovelace who's boss. With revenge in his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all: summoning the all-powerful djinni, Bartimaeus. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand, Nathaniel finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder, blackmail, and revolt. title: The Amulet of Samarkand title: The Golems Eye title: Ptolemy's Gate
F SHU	Antsy Does Time (age 12+) by Neal Shusterman school ... humor ... friendship Fueled by friendship and sympathy, Antsy Bonano signs a month of his life over to his adyinga classmate Gunnar Umlaut. Soon everyone at school follows suit, giving new meaning to the idea of aliving on borrowed time. But does Gunnar really have six months to live, or is news of his imminent death greatly exaggerated? When a family member suffers a heart attack after donating two years to Gunnar, Antsy wonders if he has tempted fate by playing God. Fans of the Schwa will welcome favorite and new characters in this wholly fresh tale, which is as touchingly poignant as it is darkly comical.
F SHU	The Schwa Was Here (age 12+) by Neal Shusterman humor ... friendship A Brooklyn eighth-grader nicknamed Antsy befriends the Schwa, an "invisible-ish" boy who is tired of blending into his surroundings and going unnoticed by nearly everyone.
F LOW	Taking Care of Terrific (age 12+) by Lois Lowry humor ... adventure Taking her overprotected young charge to the public park to broaden his horizons, fourteen-year-old baby sitter Enid enjoys unexpected friendships with a black saxophonist and a bag lady until she is charged with kidnapping.
F WRE	The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (age 12+) by Patricia C. Wrede princesses ... knights/castles/dragons ... fantasy ... humor This series begins with Dealing With Dragons. Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons and soon becomes involved with fighting against some disreputable wizards who want to steal away the dragons' kingdom. title: Dealing With Dragons title: Searching For Dragons title: Calling on Dragons title: Talking to Dragons

Sat Aug 25 11:55:25 2012 Other themes and genres