Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell.
Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.
That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.
Half
the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he
starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend
broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around,
wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if
he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks,
and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.
Carry On - The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow
is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much
kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but
far, far more monsters.
Daughters Unto Devils, by Amy Lukavics.
When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner's family decides to move from
their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her
chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past
winter; of her sickly Ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries
endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to
slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the
boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain.
The boy whose baby she now carries.
When the Verners arrive at
their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they
discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is
obvious to Amanda that something isn't right on the prairie. She's heard
stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and
killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor
and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with
the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can't be sure if
the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.
Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans, by Don Brown.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina's monstrous winds and surging
water overwhelmed the protective levees around low-lying New Orleans,
Louisiana. Eighty percent of the city flooded, in some places under
twenty feet of water. Property damages across the Gulf Coast topped $100
billion. One thousand eight hundred and thirty-three people lost their
lives. The riveting tale of this historic storm and the drowning of an
American city is one of selflessness, heroism, and courage—and also of
incompetence, racism, and criminality.
Don Brown's kinetic art and
as-it-happens narrative capture both the tragedy and triumph of one of
the worst natural disasters in American history. A portion of the
proceeds from this book has been donated to Habitat for Humanity New
Orleans.
The Nest, by Kenneth Oppel. Illustrated by Jon Klassen. (Also available in audio, narrated by Gibson Frazier.)
Steve just wants to save his baby brother—but what will he lose in the bargain? This is a haunting gothic tale for fans of Coraline, from acclaimed author Kenneth Oppel (Silverwing, The Boundless) with illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen.
For
some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it’s
just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby
brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are
struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp’s nest looming ominously
from the eaves. So when a mysterious wasp queen invades his dreams,
offering to “fix” the baby, Steve thinks his prayers have been answered.
All
he has to do is say “Yes.” But “yes” is a powerful word. It is also a
dangerous one. And once it is uttered, can it be taken back?
Celebrated
author Kenneth Oppel creates an eerie masterpiece in this compelling
story that explores disability and diversity, fears and dreams, and what
ultimately makes a family. Includes illustrations from celebrated
artist Jon Klassen.
Orbiting Jupiter, by Gary D. Schmidt.
The two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the
shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his
daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he's
placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph,
damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the
account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at
any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of
family and the sacrifices it requires.
The Rest of Us Just Live Here, by Patrick Ness.
The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan. Audio only, narrated by Christopher Guetig.
Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's
mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving
by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant
officers.
One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he barely knows-a
man his mother claimed was dangerous. Uncle Randolph tells him an
impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.
The Viking myths
are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and
worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus
must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for
thousands of years.
When an attack by fire giants forces him to
choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents,
Magnus makes a fatal decision.
Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die...
(All descriptions from OverDrive.)
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