Pierce Oliviera knows all about dying – she did it when she was 15, at the bottom of their pool in the middle of winter, tangled up in her red scarf. But since the doctors brought her back, nothing has really been the same and trouble is a constant companion. Now, almost two years later, her parents are divorced and Pierce and her mother have relocated to Isla Huesos, the Island of Bones. But a fresh start is hard to find when your past follows, showing up in the island cemetery and calling your name. (By the way, his name is John, and he just might be the ruler of the Underworld.). Pierce has lots of questions about her NDE (near-death-experience) and absolutely no answers as trouble starts anew on the island. With death all around and love lurking in the shadows, Pierce must tread carefully – there may not be a next time. This is the first book in the Abandon trilogy, a modern re-telling of the myth of Persephone and the Underworld. – Amanda H, Book Fair Director

June 14, 1941: a lovely summer evening in Lithuania. In many homes like Lina's, families go about their perfectly normal activities until thunderous yelling shatters their lives forever. Soldiers inform them they are now enemies of Stalin's Russian state. The dreaded NKVD storm through their apartment, ordering them to pack their possessions. How do you decide what to pack in twenty minutes? How do you begin to think? And where is Lina’s father? Lina’s family joins many others on an overcrowded cattle train rolling northwards. It's now obvious to Lina that the recent whispered meetings in their home were dangerous, and why her mother sewed family valuables into her winter coat. Their only chance of survival will be through cunning, bravery, and pride. Moving from rail stations to work camps and north toward the Siberian Arctic, the cattle car families must continually find ways to survive. Together, they build a steely resolve to never bow to the tyranny of Stalin's Russia. This novel is based on real people exiled from the Baltic states. Unlike Lina and the remaining lucky few from her boxcar, many never survived. – Marilyn S, Book Fairs

Calla has grown up with one destiny. As the young alpha wolf of the Nightshade pack, she was promised to Ren, young alpha of the Bane pack. Together, they would protect the Keepers from the Searchers. That was who she was: a Guardian. But Shay changed everything, and now Calla’s future is uncertain and her history in question. When she finally wakes from the nightmare of that terrible night, she finds herself alone and at the mercy of her captors. Are they who they claim to be? What of her pack, of Shay, or Ren? With the war between the Keepers and Searchers escalating, Calla must choose which side to believe, and redefine what alpha means without a pack. She must also answer the question hammering at her heart – Shay or Ren? The second in the Nightshade novels, Wolfsbane continues the saga of Calla's world, keeping the reader captive with the suspense and romance of this wolf pack. It is time for Jacob to step aside. – Amanda H, Book Fair Director

Alex, I wanted you to walk away and live a normal life. But MI6 made it impossible for you to say no – again. This time it all starts with the extraordinary Elgin Marbles, which are housed in the British Museum. The British government has consistently refused to give them back to the Greeks. But Scorpia has a plan to force the government’s hand and, of course, it involves you. Getting you undercover again, this time in Egypt. And Alan Blunt falls for the whole scheme. This time everyone on your team is working in the dark. The plot is as clever as ever, with some great new characters, the reemergence of an old enemy, an extraordinary reveal (you really can’t see it coming!), and a tragic loss. I won’t give it away, but ah, this adventure is just as adrenaline-soaked and fast-paced as your previous escapades, but darker, edgier, sadder. It is a book to read in one sitting, a wonderful ending to a great series, but Alex, I shall miss you. – Angela M, Youth Events Coordinator

Only a week has passed since Sophie and Josh first fled across the Golden Gate Bridge with Nick Flemming. Only a week and their entire world is different. Nick Flemming is the 14th-century alchemist Nicholas Flamel. World mythologies have converged as the twins learn of ancient gods and those supposed to be long dead who have achieved immortality – John Dee, Machiavelli, Billy the Kid, Shakespeare, Joan of Arc, Virginia Dare... And Josh and Sophie have had their own powers awakened over the past week. One is destined to save the world, the other to destroy it. At the end of The Necromancer, Machiavelli and Billy the Kid are waiting on Alcatraz, Josh leaves with John Dee and Virginia Dare, Scatty and Joan are still stranded 10,000 years ago, and Sophie is devastated by Josh's betrayal. Now, Nicholas Flamel is dying, John Dee is hunted, and Mars Ultor is free. With twists and turns throughout, this is a roller coaster of a read with a shocking climax, and I can't wait for The Enchantress in May 2012! – Antonia S, Children’s Buyer

Jacob Wonderbar is that kid we all remember from elementary school. You know the one…. the guy who could reduce a substitute teacher to tears while his classmates attempted to stifle their laughter at his antics. Jacob is quite content in his slacker role and even has the begrudging approval of his best friends and partners in crime, Dexter and Sarah. However, everything changes when they meet a silver space traveler and trade him a corn dog for his space ship. From that point forward, all bets are off, and Jacob and his friends must rally together to save themselves and the universe. This is a very clever book, chock full of zany characters, witty banter, and planets with inhabitants beyond our imagination. It is sure to delight both parents and kids with its subtle (and sometimes not so subtle!) humor. While some may feel that the title character is one we’ve met time and again in children’s literature, I think this book has refreshing twists that will appeal to 3rd-5th graders, boys and girls alike. – Julie B, Book Fairs

Squish is an amoeba ( uh-MEE-buh), a creature made out of a single cell. Squish likes comic books and Taco Day at school. He does NOT like detention or paying attention (too much time away from reading comic books!). But then the class bully decides to eat Squish's best friend, Peggy. This happens sometimes with one-celled organisms (you will learn this and many other really cool facts when you read about Squish). Squish know he needs to get his head out of the books and find the courage to do what's right. But will it be too late? Illustrated in slime-mold green, this new graphic novel by the brother-sister duo behind Babymouse combines science and humor in a story that kids will be sure to enjoy. It even comes with instructions for your very own science project – growing mold can be fun! – Amanda H, Book Fair Director

Huck is a mountain goat who loves to eat flowers, but so do all the other goats. What is a flower loving goat to do when all the flowers on the mountains are gone? Go into town of course, and this is where the mayhem and hilarity begin. Because what Huck thinks are flowers may actually be a flowery nightgown on a line, or a flowery hat on a lady's head. In fact, during all of Huck's shenanigans in town, he never manages to find an actual flower. But Huck is a goat and, as far as he is concerned, just looking like a flower is good enough for him. Yum! – Antonia S, Children’s Buyer

This is a delightful, playful book that teaches young children numbers, opposites, colors, weather, and other concepts that they need to know. Boldly colored photographs clearly illustrate ideas in fun ways that children will relate to. A wonderful addition to any young child's library. – Judi E, Staff Designer

What is a robot to do when he’s only programmed to play music and make toast? And not just any music either... no, Clink can only play polka. These days, not many people really want a polka-playing, toast-making robot! They want cool robots that do cool things, with cool accessories and cool abilities. Clink tries to be like the other robots, desperately searching for the one thing that will make someone like him, want him, take him home; but what he comes to realize is that the things that make him a laughing stock are the very things that will make one special boy think Clink is the robot for him. Funny and heartwarming, with delightful illustrations, this book is an absolute must have. – Antonia S, Children’s Buyer