June


 * __ THE SWEETHEART OF PROSPER COUNTY __**** by Jill Alexander ** (September 2009): Austin Gray is tired of standing at the curb and watching the parade pass her by. Literally. She decides this is the year she'll ride on the hood of a shiny pickup truck in the annual parade, waving to the crowd and finally showing the town bully that she's got what it takes to be the Sweetheart of Prosper County.

But far from simply being a beauty contest, becoming Sweetheart involves participation in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), raising an animal, and hunting or fishing. Austin will do almost anything to become Sweetheart, and has the support of her oldest friend, Maribel, her new FFA friends (including the reigning Sweetheart, and a quiet, cute cowboy), an evangelical Elvis impersonator, a mysterious Cajun outcast, and a rooster named Charles Dickens. If only her momma would stop overprotecting her, and start letting Austin live her own life. But Austin can't move on until Momma moves on, too-and lets the grief of losing Austin's daddy several years before out into the open. Here is a bighearted story that will leave readers agreeing with Austin that sometimes, it's not what you ride, it's how you roll.


 * __ INTO THE WILD NERD YONDER __**** by Julie Halpern ** (October 2009): Jessie has always hung out with best friends Bizza and Char. But when they transform themselves into faux-punks (faux because their clothes are from the mall, not from thrift stores like real punk kids) Jessie, a self-professed "mathelete," isn't sure where she belongs. Her beloved, punk rocker older brother shaves his Mohawk and dates the homecoming queen, and her longtime crush, a drummer in her brother's band, hooks up with . Bizza. Jessie's quest for new friends is an LOL tour through high-school clique-dom, with a surprising stop along the way - the D&D crowd, who out-nerd everyone. Will hanging out with them make her a nerd, too? And could she really be crushing on a guy with too-short pants and too-white gym shoes?

If you go to the dorkside, can you ever come back? Here are the trials of high school, made fresh and hilariously familiar by the singular voice of Julie Halpern.

The man is crazy. The girl is desperate. This violent ride is only just beginning. And it will leave the brothers taking cover from hard truths about loyalty, love, and survival that crash into their lives.
 * __ IN THE PATH OF FALLING OBJECTS __** ** by Andrew Smith ** (October 2009): Jonah and his younger brother, Simon, are on their own. They set out to find what's left of their family, carrying between them ten dollars, a backpack full of dirty clothes, a notebook, and a stack of letters from their brother, who is serving a tour in Vietnam. And soon into their journey, they have a ride. With a man and a beautiful girl who may be in love with Jonah. Or Simon. Or both of them.

One more thing: The brothers have a gun. They're going to need it.


 * __THE PALE ASSASSIN__ by Patricia Elliott - **She's spoiled. She's beautiful. Fourteen-year-old Eugénie de Boncoeur is accustomed to outrageous privilege. Soon the French Revolution rages around her. What Eugénie doesn't know is that their guardian has promised her in marriage to the vengeful Le Fantome, a revolutionary nursing a secret grudge against her family. As the Revolution becomes increasingly more dangerous, Eugénie finds herself in the thick of turmoil and romance, confronting spies, secret agents, and double-crossing suitors in her quest to get out of France alive. But will she make it?

They're searching for one fair day—a day where the good guy wins and everything adds up to something just and right. Their destination: Langdon, a town that Destiny’s unsuspecting companions simply hope will hold a day of fun. But, as Destiny says, “Things are not always what they seem.” Only she knows it holds far more than that—a deep secret she has never shared with anyone.
 * __ THE MILES BETWEEN __** by Mary E. Pearson ( September 2009): Destiny Faraday makes a point of keeping her distance from her classmates at Hedgebrook Academy. Her number one rule: Don’t get attached. But one day, unexpectedly finding a car at their disposal, Destiny and three of her classmates embark on an unauthorized road trip.

Buckle your seatbelts! THE MILES BETWEEN is a wild ride that explores the wonder and magic of a very real world where chance, mystery, and secrets abound.


 * __ A BANQUET FOR HUNGRY GHOSTS __** by Ying Chang Compestine ( October 2009): According to Chinese tradition, those who die hungry or unjustly come back to haunt the living. Some are appeased with food. But not all ghosts are successfully mollified. In this chilling collection of stories, Ying Chang Compestine takes readers on a journey through time and across different parts of China. From the building of the Great Wall in 200 BC to the modern day of ipods, hungry ghosts continue to torment those who wronged them.

At once a window into the history and culture of China and an ode to Chinese cuisine, this assortment of frightening tales—complete with historical notes and delectable recipes—will both scare and satiate!


 * __ THE GOODBYE SEASON __** by Marian Hale ( October 2009): Mercy Kaplan doesn’t want to be like her mother, saddled with crying kids and failing crops for the rest of her life. Mercy longs to be on her own—until her wish comes true in the worst possible way. It is 1918 and a deadly flu epidemic ravages the country, leaving her utterly alone and penniless.

Mercy soon finds a job with Mrs. Wilder. But there’s something unsettling about the woman, whose brother died under mysterious circumstances. And then there’s Daniel, who could sweep a girl off her feet if she isn’t careful. . ..


 * __ MY INVENTED LIFE __** by Lauren Bjorkman ( October 2009): With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, and pull off the craziest prank. Still they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk email for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about slipping bovine growth hormone into their Gatorade.

Roz has a suspicion about Eva. In turn, Eva taunts Roz with a dare. Which leads to an act of total insanity.

Drama geeks clamor for attention, Shakespearean insults fly, and Roz steals the show in Lauren Bjorkman’s hilarious debut novel.


 * __ DEMON CHICK __** by Marilyn Kaye ( September 2009): Jessica Hunsucker may not have the warmest relationship with her mother, aspiring presidential candidate Margaret Hunsucker, but it still comes as something of a shock when she discovers, on her sixteenth birthday, that she’s been sold to the devil. Will she have to spend eternity in hell living in a dreary suburban ranch house with one of Satan’s minions, a demon named Brad? Brad takes pains to explain that this is one of hell’s better neighborhoods, and he seems like a nice enough guy, but still! And things only get worse when Jessica learns (via hell’s own version of reality television) of the full extent of her mother’s evil plans. Can she and Brad come up with a plan to save the world from Margaret Hunsucker? Is there any way for Jessica to get back to earth and live a normal life? And what’s Brad doing in hell anyway, if he’s such a nice guy?

These and other pressing questions (like, what is there to eat in hell?) are all answered in Marilyn Kaye’s delightfully satirical DEMON CHICK.


 * __ RUNNING ON THE CRACKS __** by Julia Donaldson ( September 2009): Leonora Watts-Chan is missing, and she’ll do just about anything to stay that way. Leo has no idea how she’s going to find the grandparents she’s never met, or even a place to sleep, but she knows she can never go back. Leo’s running from her past. Finlay’s running into trouble. Together, they stumble into a crazy new world of secrets, lies, and Chinese food. But someone is on Leo’s trail . ..

Eccentric, unforgettable characters and genuine, heart-pounding suspense make for a stunning combination as celebrated author Julia Donaldson expands her talents in her first novel for young adults.

With overtones of Jane Austen’s Emma and brimming with humor and heart, this sweet, frothy debut will be savored by readers.
 * __ THE ESPRESSOLOGIST __**** by Kristina Springer ** (Fall 2009): What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?


 * __ EPISODES: MY LIFE IN SYNDICATION __**** by Blaze Ginsberg: ** EPISODES is a memoir like no other. Debut writer, Blaze Ginsberg, offers a unique perspective on his life as a highly-functioning autistic 21 year old. Inspired by the format of the Internet Movie Database, Blaze organizes his life events as a collection of episodes. Some episodes are still running, some are in syndication, and some have sadly come to an end. With an innovative style and approach that is all its own, EPISODES reinvents the traditional memoir; and it will inspire young readers to see the world as they've never seen it before.

**__Coming Soon__**


 * __ALIEN FEAST: CHRONICLES OF THE FIRST INVASION__ by Michael Simmons, illustrated by George O'Connor:** The aliens have reduced William's step-parents to a pile of unsavory feet, but they go too far when they kidnap his long-time crush Sophie's scientist parents. The government won't help, so it's up to William, Sophie, and William's bizarre Uncle Maynard to save her parents.and perhaps the rest of the world while they are at it. A hysterically twisted adventure that will knock your feet off!


 * __ CREATURE OF THE NIGHT __**** by Kate Thompson: ** Bobby's mother has moved the family from Dublin to the country, renting a quaint cottage, all to keep Bobby off the streets. A neighbor says a child had been murdered there, and the more time Bobby spends in the old house, the more convinced he becomes that something very strange is going on. Was there really a murder? Who is the Creature in the Night?


 * //__THE ETERNAL KISS: 13 VAMPIRE TALES OF BLOOD AND DESIRE__ ://** A YA vampire romance short story collection written by some of today's hottest authors: Featuring //New York Times// bestselling authors: Libba Bray (//A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angel)//, Holly Black (//The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tithe),// Melissa De La Cruz (//Blue Blood)//, Cassandra Clare (//City of Bones),// Rachel Caine (//Morganville Vampires)//, Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie (//Wicked)//, Cecil Castellucci (//Boy Proof//, //Queen of Cool), and// Kelley Armstrong (//Women of Otherworld).//