Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl–”In a small South Carolina town, where it seems little has changed since the Civil War, sixteen-year-old Ethan is drawn to Lena, a new classmate with whom he shares a psychic connection”–from jacket flap

A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper–Sophie keeps a journal while she is living in exile on an island off Spain.  While the war is brewing in Europe, it doesn’t touch her and her family’s lives until two German officers show up at the island.

The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones–Now this sounds interesting: Cassandra is masking as a high school student who does lots of volunteer work where she comforts her peers.  The truth is Cassandra is a vampire who feeds off the sorrow of others.  She needs desperation to be filled.  But when she falls in love with a human, she considers leaving the lifestyle.

More books follow

Perfect Mistake: A Privilege Novel by Kate Brian–Brian is back with a new series.  This one is called Privilege, and it sounds a lot like the Private series.  So if you like one, you will probably like the other.

Drama High: Keep it Movin’ by L. Divine–Jayd is excelling at her hair braiding techniques, but when she goes back to school it’s time for more drama

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson–Brother and sister Wisty and Wit are dragged out of their home and accused of being wizards, along with teenagers all over the country.  In addition the ruling regime is banning books, music and art.

Sharp Shot by Jack Higgins–There is another book about the Chance twins, Rich and Jade.  It’s another wild and crazy ride with a chase through an amusement park, a kidnapping, and staying one step ahead of the terrorists who are trying to kill the American President.

Queen of the Yard (Denim Diaries) by Darrien Lee–Patience is the leader of the BGR gang, the toughest female gang in the neighborhood.  When she decides to retire, the rest of her gang decides she will need to exit the way she entered:  by being subjected to a severe beating.  It’s not-quite-street lit for teens.

Breathless by Jessica Warman–Katie goes off to boarding school as a way to escape her brother’s mental illness.  At her new school, she makes friends and fits in easily, but she only feels comfortable underwater.

Charmed and Dangerous (The Clique) by Lisi Harrison–It’s more adventures for the Clique.

Click on the links to request a copy or see if it’s checked in at your local branch.

New Moon:  The Official Illustrated Movie Guide by Mark Cotta Vaz–Lots of glossy photos and behind-the-scenes info about the movie set

God Guy: Becoming the Man You’re Meant to Be by Michael DiMarco–Learn to be a God Guy and see how it could improve your life.

Click on the links to request a copy

Gentlemen by Michael Northrop–A group of boys that are thought of as “bad boys” investigate their teacher when one of the group goes missing.

The Everafter by Amy Huntley–Madison is dead, but she still has all of her possessions.  Surprisingly, she discovers she can use these artifacts to relive or even change moments in her life.  Sounds intriguing.

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst–Cassie’s long lost mother can be returned to her if Cassie agrees to marry a polar bear in this amazing journey through the Arctic.

Click here to read the rest of the new titles

Shadowland (The Immortals) by Alyson Noel–A sequel to the book Evermore

Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble–Anne wakes up in another world as Anastasia, daughter to the last tsar of Russia.

Raven Summer by David Almond–A bird leads a 14-year old boy to an abandoned boy and becomes involved in the child’s world.

Is it Still Called Cheating if I Don’t Get Caught? by Bruce Weinstein–A primer on how to hand difficult situations.  Weinstein introduces 5 simple rules he believes can be applied to any situation.

Everything Sucks: Losing my Mind and Finding Myself in a High School Quest for Cool by Hannah Friedman–The author writes a memoir of how she survived her teenage years.

Click on the links to request a copy from Wake County Libraries.

The Guidance by Marley Gibson (Ghosthuntress series)–Three members of a love triangle are impacted when one of them starts dabbling in the paranormal because of jealousy.

Devoured by Amanda Marrone–A High School senior who has been haunted by her twin for ten years has to begin to listen to those warnings when she begins working at an amusement park with an evil underbelly

Flipping the Script by Paula Chase (A Del Rio Bay Novel)–It’s the guys’ turn to shine, in this novel in a series new to Wake County.

keep reading for more titles . . .

The Fourth Apprentice by Erin Hunter (Warriors: Omen of the Stars series)–A new novel in the popular series.

Devious by Cecily Von Ziegesar (And It Girl novel)–Another supplement to the world of gossip, friends, and hot guys at Waverly Academy.

Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson–Five short stories feature the passion and mythology of fire.

Click on the links to request a copy from your local Wake County Library.

Destiny’s Path by Frewin Jones (Warrior Princess, Book 2 of series)–Do you like your princesses tough?  This may be the book for you.  Branwen has a prophecy hanging over her head that she will save her country from the Saxons, but she’s not ready to take on that responsibility.  When she sees a vision of the future without her intervention, though, Branwen must choose if she is willing to allow that future to happen.  It’s got a great cover, too. 

The Shadow Dragons by James A. Owen (The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica; book 4)–In an alternate universe set during World War II, the Caretakers of past and present go on a quest to stop the evil.  The Caretakers include Don Quixote and people from the Grail myth. 

Click on the links to request your copy or see where it’s checked in.

White-Out by Walter Sorrels (Hunted series)–mystery thriller that takes place during a blizzard

Why I Fight by J. Adams Oaks–At the age of 12, Wyatt begins traveling the country with his uncle and earning money by fighting.  After six years away, Wyatt finally confronts his parents

Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser–The day after an anonymous blogger writes that he wishes Lucy were dead, Lucy vanishes from school–a thriller in the vein of I Know What you Did Last Summer.

Access Denied by Denise Vega–Eighth grade isn’t as easy as what computer whiz, Erin, had hoped.

On Viney’s Mountain by Joan Donaldson–”Reminiscent of  a Jane Austen novel, this sparkling historical romance, set in late 19th-century Appalachia, features a confirmed spinster transformed by the power of love.”–Jacket flap

The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner–During the French Revolution, Yann uses his magical skills to help refugees escape.

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima–A war between the clans and the wizard; fantasy

Splendor by Anna Godbersen (A Luxe novel)–In 1900 New York City, fashionable debutante Diana Holland and married soldier Henry Schoonmaker flaunt the rules of society to be with one another.

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr–As the tragedy of a missing girl enfolds in her small town, fifteen-year-old Samara, who feels emotionally abandoned by her parents, begins to question her faith.

Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Benjamin Alire Saenz–Eighteen-year-old Zach does not remember how he came to be in a treatment center for alcoholics, but through therapy and caring friends, his amnesia fades and he learns to face his past while working toward a better future.

Who You Wit’? by Paula Chase–When Mina Mooney betrays the clique’s year-long virginity pact, she fears that her best friend Lizzie will never forgive her, while Kelly is only too happy to take things slowly with Greg, and Jacinta has a pregnancy scare.

That’s What’s Up! by Paula Chase–Spring break means all sorts of trouble for Mina Mooney and her friends, including Mina’s enemy calling a truce that is merely a disguise for what she really has in store for Mina, and Lizzie developing an interest in boys.

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough–Born into a family of witches, seventeen-year-old Tamsin is raised believing that she alone lacks a magical “Talent,” but when her beautiful and powerful sister is taken by an age-old rival of the family in an attempt to change the balance of power, Tamsin discovers her true destiny.

The Dying Breath by Alane Ferguson–When her ex-boyfriend starts stalking her, seventeen-year-old Cameryn must use her knowledge of forensic sciences to protect herself.

Gateway by Sharon Shinn–While passing through the Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, a Chinese American teenager is transported to a parallel world where she is given a dangerous assignment.

Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle–In 1838, Penelope Leland goes to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister Persy, but when Niall Keating begins to pay her court, she cannot help being distracted.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink–In late nineteenth-century New York state, wealthy sixteen-year-old twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe find that they are on opposite sides of an ancient prophecy that has destroyed their parents and seeks to do even more harm.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow by Marilyn Kaye–Emily’s classmates lack faith in her ability to see the future and when her premonitions become more clear and certain, she has trouble convincing them to heed her warnings about a dangerous event that will soon take place.

To request any of these books, click on the links.

Forest Born by Shannon Hale–fantasy involving plants and magic

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick–horror that sounds similar to Wicked Lovely: Nora Grey finds herself attracted to Patch

War Games by Audrey and Akila Couloumbis–Historical fiction set in 1941 World War II Greece; maybe a good choice for boys who need to read historical fiction

Click on the links to request the titles and to see book covers

These just in:

Click: The Ultimate Photography Guide for Generation Now by Charlie Styr

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (steam punk)

New Alex Rider:  Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz (spy thriller)

The Van Alen Legacy: a Blue Bloods novel by Melissa De La Cruz (vampire)

Tempted by P.C. and Kristin Cast: House of Night series (vampire)

Click on the titles to request your copies, see book covers and read a summary.

Okay, FTS Readers!  We are going to try our first ever giveaway on the blog.  I just listened to the best audiobook, and I want to pass along the wealth.  One lucky winner will get to own this audiobook.  You can play it on a CD player or copy onto an MP3.  Do you listen to audiobooks?  They are supposed to be great for literacy and can really bring a book to life.  The audiobook I listened to is Feed By M.T. Anderson.  Now, the book is already fantastic, but the audiobook is something else.  I have never listened to an audiobook like this before.  Let me explain.

In The Feed, our narrator, Titus, lives in a world where the sign of being upper middle class is being the proud owner of the feed.  The feed is attached to the brain and is like your own personal internet.  The good thing?  You are never without your portal to the world.  The feed gives you a constant track of TV shows, news, information, and commercials for products.  Sound familiar?  The bad thing?  The feed so consumes your thoughts that basically people have forgotten how to think for themselves.  The word most often used by Titus is “thing” and “stuff.”  His friends are all made out to be mindless bimbos and jerks that have to constantly be given more and more stimulation to feel anything.

The pivotal moment in our story comes when Titus’s friends go to the moon to hang out (“turned out to totally suck”) and meet Violet, a girl who didn’t receive her feed until she was six.  She’s the equivalent of that kid at school that has just received cable TV and wears the same dress every day.  The kids are fascinated by her and invite her to tag along.  But when they are out dancing at a club, they are “hacked” by a man and forced to say the same words over and over again.  To clear the system, the government decides to turn off their feeds and take them to the hospital.  For the first time ever, Titus and his friends (except for one of the girls) is without a feed and very much lost without it.  Titus forms a relationship with Violet during the hospital stay and the two become inseparable.  Violet begins to challenge the feed and ask questions Titus has never thought of before.  He begins to come alive, and this “pebbles in the water” type of disturbance begins to alienate him from his friends.  Titus will have to choose who he wants to be, a mindless drone or an outsider who challenges the status quo.

So the really cool thing about this audiobook you get to hear the feed.  In the book, there are many times where the author interrupts the story to write an excerpt that the feed is saying.  In the audio track, they actually create the tracks, including songs with lyrics that are so bad they will make you puke.  So you get to experience the feed for yourself.

The really scary thing about this book is that it was written in 2002, at least 7 years ago, and Anderson has painted a world that is creepy in its similarity to our own world.  We now have Ipods and Iphones and portable devices that plug us into the world anytime, anywhere just like the feed.  And also, the commercials on the feed do what Amazon and other marketing sites do, take our orders and make suggestions as to what we might want to buy next.  It’s downright creepy.

Wake County owns the book in the system, but we do not own the audiobook.  The contest is open to Wake County library card holders only.  To win, just write a comment below.  One winner will be drawn at random on Friday, October 9th, and will be sent to the Wake County library of your choice for pickup.  Make sure you list a way to contact you in your comment.  If you have a wordpress account, that will work.

David Gill, author of Soul Enchilada, will be at the Eva Perry Library on Sunday, September 27th, from 3-4 pm to discuss his book.

To request a copy of the book for check out, click here.