Alford's Book Reviews

Witch and Wizard

2011-10-03T11:33:00.000-04:00

Patterson, James
Charbonnet, Gabrielle

Witch and Wizard Manga Vol. 1

Genre: manga, horror, fantasy

Imagine you wake up and the world around you has changed in an instant. That's what he has happened to Whit Allgood and his sister Whisty. They went to sleep as normal teenagers, and woke up as wanted criminals; accused of holding incredible powers they'd never dreamed possible and no, just how different they are, even if just beginning to be revealed in a strange new world.

Halo

2011-10-03T11:05:00.000-04:00

Adornetto, Alexandra

Halo

Genre: Romance

Three angels are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human. They work hard to conceal their luminous glow, their superhuman powers, and their wings. Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and they are unable to resist their attraction to each other. But the angels’ mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

I Am Number Four

2011-10-03T07:39:00.000-04:00

Lore, Patrica

I Am Number Four

Genre: Science Fiction

Nine of us came here.

We look like you.

We talk like you.

We live among you—but

We are not you.

We have powers you dream of having.

We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—

But we are real.

They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya.

They killed them all.

I am Number Four. I am next.

Crank

2011-10-03T07:26:00.002-04:00

Hopkins, Ellen

Crank

Genre: drugs

Series: Crank

This is book one in the series.

Kristina is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. Then she meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild ride turns into a struggle for her mind, her soul--her life

Glass

2011-10-02T13:13:00.002-04:00

Hopkins, Ellen

Glass

Genre: drugs

Series: Crank

This is book 2 in the series.

Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same: a monster. And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go.

Kristina thinks she can control it. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.

Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves -- her baby.

The Battle of Jericho

2011-10-02T13:08:00.000-04:00

Draper, Sharon M.

The Battle of Jericho

Genre: drama

Series: Jericho

"Do you really want to be a Warrior of Distinction?" Rick asked. Jericho nodded. He thought of the prestige of having one of those black silk jackets, the admiring glances in the halls at school, but mostly he thought of Arielle. He tried not to think of the rain and the mud and the stink of Rick's feet. "Are you willing to do anything to be a Warrior of Distinction?" Rick demanded. "You have permission to answer." "Yes, Sir! Yes, Master Senior Sharp, Sir! I am willing to do anything to be a Warrior of Distinction, Sir!" Jericho repeated the words that he and the other pledges had been chanting automatically since the whole process began. But he wasn't sure if he meant them any more. "Are you willing to do anything to help the others become Warriors of Distinction?" Rick demanded. "Anything, Sir." Jericho just wanted it to be over. "Then suck my big toe." "sir?" Jericho wasn't sure if he had heard correctly. "If you want to be a Warrior of Distinction, you must suck my big toe. Now!" Jericho looked around desperately; he had no idea what the others were being forced to do. As he lowered his head close to the mud and closer to Rick Sharp's foot, Jericho wondered miserably how he could have sunk so low.

This book has a webpage: http://sharondraper.com/bookdetail.asp?id=14

Pride and Joy

2011-10-02T13:00:00.003-04:00

Vaughan, Brian K.

Runaways: Pride and Joy

Genre: science fiction, comic, manga

Series: Runaways

This is volume one of the series

All young people believe their parents are evil ... but what if they really are? Meet Alex, Karolina, Gert, Chase, Molly and Nico - whose lives are about to take an unexpected turn. When these six young friends discover their parents are all secretly super-powered villains, the shocked teens find strength in one another. Together, they run away from home and straight into the adventure of their lives - vowing to turn the tables on their evil legacy.

Torment

2011-09-07T11:47:00.001-04:00

Kate, Lauren

Torment

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Series: Fallen

Book 2 in the Fallen series

Hell on earth.

That’s what it’s like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel.
It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts—immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn’t told her everything. He’s hiding something—something dangerous.
What if Daniel’s version of the past isn’t actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

The Host

2011-09-07T11:09:00.000-04:00

Meyer, Stephanie

The Host

Genre: Science Fiction, romance

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.
Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.

The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader

2011-09-07T10:58:00.000-04:00

Windham, Ryder

The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Star Wars

This is the legendary story of Anakin Skywalker as it's never been told before - through his eyes....

From rise to fall, from light to dark, and back again.

Bud, Not Buddy

2011-09-07T10:36:00.003-04:00

Curtis, Christopher Paul

Bud, Not Buddy

Genre: drama

It's 1936, in Flint, Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but Bud's got a few things going for him:

1. He has his own suitcase filled with his own important, secret things.

2. He's the author of Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.

3. His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: flyers of Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!!

Bud's got an idea that those flyers will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road and find this mystery man, nothing can stop him--not hunger, not fear, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself.

The Vile Village

2011-09-02T13:43:00.002-04:00

Snicket, Lemony

The Vile Village

Genre: fantasy

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Book 7 in the Series

Dear Reader,

You have undoubtedly picked up this book by mistake, so please put it down. Nobody in their right mind would read this particular book about the lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire on purpose, because each dismal moment of their stay in the village of V.F.D. has been faithfully and dreadfully recorded in these pages.I can think of no single reason why anyone would want to open a book containing such unpleasant matters as migrating crows, an angry mob, a newspaper headline, the arrest of innocent people, the Deluxe Cell, and some very strange hats.It is my solemn and sacred occupation to research each detail of the Baudelaire children′s lives and write them all down, but you may prefer to do some other solemn and sacred thing, such as reading another book instead.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Splinter of the Mind's Eye

2011-09-02T13:03:00.000-04:00

Foster, Alan Dean

Splinter of the Mind's Eye

Genre: science fiction

Series: Star Wars

This is the first non-movie book written with the Star Wars characters and comes between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back.

Stranded on a jungle planet, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia found themselves desperately racing Imperial Stormtroopers to claim a gem that had mysterious powers over the Force.

Luke Skywalker expected trouble when he volunteered to follow Princess Leia on her mission to Circarpous to enlist their Rebel underground in the battle against the Empire. But the farm boy from Tatooine hadn't counted on an unscheduled landing in the swamplands of Mimban…hadn't counted on any of the things they would find on that strange planet.

Hidden on this planet was the Kaiburr crystal, a mysterious gem that would give the one who possessed it such powers over the Force that he would be all but invincible. In the wrong hands, the crystal could be deadly. So Luke had to find this treasure and find it fast.

Accompanied by Artoo-Detoo and See-Threepio—his two faithful droids—Luke and the Princess set out for theTemple of Pomojema…and a confrontation deep beneath the surface of an alien world with the most fearsome villain in the galaxy!

Darkness Becomes Her

2011-06-16T11:54:00.000-04:00

Keaton, Kelly

Darkness Becomes Her

Genre: horror

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Plague Ship

2011-06-16T11:52:00.000-04:00

Cussler, Clive
Du Brul, Jack

Plague Ship

Genre: action

Series: Dirk Pitt

Capt. Juan Cabrillo, who heads the Corporation, a covert military company for hire, and the multifaceted crew of the Oregon, a high-tech ship disguised to look like a tramp steamer, take on a group known as the Responsivists. The Responsivists publicly espouse a program of global population control, but are secretly planning a devastating attack on the human race utilizing a virulent virus found aboard an ancient ship that may be Noah's Ark.

Marked

2011-06-16T11:48:00.000-04:00

Cast, P.C.
Cast, Kristen

Marked

Genre: romance, horror

Series: House of Night

This is book 1 in the series.

Enter the dark, magical world of the House of Night, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed.

One minute, sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird is a normal teenager dealing with everyday high school stress: her cute boyfriend Heath, the school’s star quarterback who suddenly seems more interested in partying than playing ball; her nosy frenemy Kayla, who’s way too concerned with how things are going with Heath; her uber-tough geometry test tomorrow. The next, she’s Marked as a fledgling vampyre, forcing her to leave her ordinary life behind and join the House of Night, a boarding school where she will train to become an adult vampyre. That is, if she makes it through the Change—and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come bloodlust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint with Heath, who just doesn’t know how to take “no” for an answer. To add to her stress, she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers: when she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny—with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

Betrayed

2011-06-16T11:41:00.000-04:00

Cast, P.C.
Cast, Kristen

Betrayed

Genre: horror, romance

Series: House of Night

This is book 2 of the series.

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite group. Best of all, Zoey’s made some new friends and she finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. And despite the best efforts of her mother and step-loser John to humiliate her publically during parent visitation, she’s earned the respect of her professors and High Priestess, Neferet.

Then the unthinkable happens: human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night, straining human-vamp tensions in Tulsa to a breaking point. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she finds herself drawn into an intoxicating forbidden flirtation that threatens to distract her from the growing crisis. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night. Too late, Zoey begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves, and she must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

www.houseofnight.com

Chosen

2011-06-16T11:21:00.000-04:00

Cast, P.C.
Cast, Kristen

Chosen

Genre: horror, romance

Series: House of Night

This is book 3 in the series.

Bloodlust and dark forces are at work at the House of Night…

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school are about to take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be her friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover about the secretive and sinister power that’s turning dead fledglings into bloodsucking monsters must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity.

Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected position of having three boyfriends. Mix in more than a little forbidden desire to the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster of massive proportions. Then, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-loser in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends find out, things are not always what they seem…

www.houseofnight.com

~

Untamed

2011-06-16T09:53:00.001-04:00

Cast, P.C.
Cast, Kristen

Untamed

Genre: horror, romance

Series: House of Night

This is book 5 of the series.

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you.

Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an undisputed expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a tight-knit group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. And the worst part is, she knows it’s her own fault. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead, unMarked, and unable to stop bickering with each other. So who can blame her for befriending the House of Night’s newest transfer student, the majorly hot Olympic archer, James Stark?

Meanwhile, Neferet has declared a war on humans after it appears that the People of the Faith have murdered two vampyres. But Aphrodite’s latest visions show a world completely different from the High Priestess’s promises, a world full of violence, hatred, and darkness, all because of Zoey’s death—and the only way it seems she can prevent it from happening is to make things right with her friends. Zoey knows in her heart that fighting with humans is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel.

www.houseofnight.com

Hunted

2011-06-16T09:50:00.000-04:00

Cast, P.C.
Cast, Kristen

Hunted

Genre: horror, romance

Series: House of Night

What if the hottest guy in the world was hiding a nameless evil, and all he wanted was you?
At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with an unexpected danger that might bring them all down. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, who looks gorgeous and has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading power, but what if it shows Zoey truths she can’t face? Meanwhile, the red fledglings have cleaned up well, but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to fix things with super-hot ex-, Erik, but she can’t stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms, and she is driven to save him from Neferet’s sinister influence. Will anyone believe the power evil has to hide among us?

Dare to enter the House of Night: www.houseofnightseries.com

Tempted

2011-06-16T09:46:00.000-04:00

Cast, P. C.
Cast, Kristen

Tempted

Genre: horror, romance

Series: House of Night

This is book 6 of the series

Dark secrets and unspoken suspicions come between Zoey and Stevie Rae, putting their friendship – and the House of Night – at risk.

After Zoey Redbird and her gang have banished Kalona and Neferet, the fallen High Priestess, from Tulsa, you’d think they’d catch a break. But with Zoey and her sexy Warrior Stark both recovering from a brush with death, and the fledglings struggling to deal with the fallout from Neferet’s reign of terror, a break is just not in the forecast. Zoey is haunted by her confusing yet elemental connection with A-ya, the ancient Cherokee maiden who was the only human able to tempt Kalona’s body and soul. How will A-ya’s pull on her affect Zoey’s ability to resist the dangerously seductive immortal?

Meanwhile, Stevie Rae, with her super red vamp powers, always thought she could handle the stuff she’s been keeping from her BFF. But the mysterious, threatening force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading; Stevie Rae won’t confide where she’s been and what she’s doing, and Zoey is beginning to wonder just how much she can trust the person she always thought would have her back.

Will their choices destroy them and will darkness consume the House of Night?

This series has a web site: www.houseofnightseries.com

Burned

2011-06-01T16:11:00.000-04:00

Cast, P. C.
Cast, Kristin

Burned

Genre: horror, romance

Series: House of Night

Book 7 in the series.

When friends stop trusting each other, Darkness is there to fan the flames….

Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left…

Enter BFF Stevie Rae. She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own. The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences. Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good. The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world.

In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it). She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not. Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance.

Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.

This series has a website: http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Thirteenth Child

2011-06-01T15:42:00.000-04:00

Wrede, Patricia C.

Thirteenth Child

Genre: fantasy

Series: Frontier Magic

This is book #1 of the series.

Eff was born a thirteenth child. Her twin brother, Lan, was born the seventh son of a seventh son. This means he's supposed to possess amazing talent — and she's supposed to bring only bad things to her family and her town. Undeterred, her family moves to Frontier, where her father will be a professor of magic at a school perilously close to the magical divide that separates the settlers from the beasts of the wild.

Blue Moon

2011-06-01T15:37:00.001-04:00

Noel, Alyson

Blue Moon

Genre: horror, romance

Series: The Immortals

This is book 2 in the series.

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him. As Ever's powers are increasing, Damen's are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.

Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen's past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

This book has a website: http://www.alysonnoel.com/immortals/blue-moon.php

Evermore

2011-06-01T15:35:00.000-04:00

Noel, Alyson

Evermore

Genre: horror, romance

Series: The Immortals

Book 1 in the series.

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire life story by touch. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen.

Damen Auguste is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head—wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can see straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. She has no idea just who he really is—or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

This book has a website: http://www.alysonnoel.com/immortals/evermore.php

The Princess Plot

2011-06-01T15:29:00.000-04:00

Boie, Kirsten

The Princess Plot

Jenna just won the starring role in a movie about a princess--sweet! In the wink of an eye, she's whisked off to the remote, romantic kingdom where the story takes place. But something's amiss: Instead of being on a shoot, suddenly she's being shot at!

The legit princess--to whom Jenna bears a suspiciously striking resemblance--has gone AWOL on her whole real-life royal gig, and soon Jenna's swept up in a treacherous rebel plot. Lies, camera, action, this is no dress rehearsal. The girl has got to act to save her life!

The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion

2011-06-01T14:34:00.000-04:00

Smith, L. J.

The Vampire Diaries: The Fury
The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion

Genre: Romance, Horror

Series: Vampire Diaires

Books 3 and 4 of the series

Elena: transformed, the golden girl has become what she once feared and desired.

Stefan: tormented by losing Elena, he's determined to end his feud with Damon once and for all—whatever the cost. But slowly he begins to realize that his brother is not his only enemy.

Damon: at last, he possesses Elena. But will his thirst for revenge against Stefan poison his triumph? Or can they come together to face one final battle?

Collected here in one edition are the third and fourth volumes of The Vampire Diaries, a riveting conclusion to the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.

This series has a TV show. Check out the website at: http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2011-06-01T14:21:00.000-04:00

Rowling, J. K.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Genre: fantasy

Series: Harry Potter

This is the sixth book in the series.

The war against Voldemort is not going well: even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of The Daily Prophet looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

And yet...

As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate--and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort--and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2011-06-01T14:14:00.000-04:00

Rowling, J. K.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Genre: fantasy

Series: Harry Potter

Book 5 of the series.

There is a door at the end of a silent corridor. And it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?

Here are just a few things on Harry's mind:

* A Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey.

* A venomous, disgruntled house-elf

* Ron as keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team

* The looming terror of the end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level exams

* . . . and of course, the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Harry Potter is faced with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts.

Despite this (or perhaps because of it), he finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew, boundless loyalty; and unbearable sacrifice.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2011-06-01T12:42:00.000-04:00

Rowling, J. K.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Genre: fantasy

Series: Harry Potter

Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2011-06-01T12:35:00.001-04:00

Rowling, J. K.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Genre: fantasy

Series: Harry Potter

This is book 2 of the series

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike is does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageous stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone--or something--starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself?

A Study in Scarlet / The Hound of the Baskervilles

2011-06-01T12:22:00.000-04:00

Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan

A Study in Scarlet

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Genre: mystery

A Study in Scarlet

A Study in Scarlet is a detective mystery novel written by Scottish author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which was first published in 1887. It is the first story to feature the character of Sherlock Holmes, who would later become one of the most famous literary detective characters, with long-lasting interest and appeal. The book's title derives from a speech given by Holmes to his companion Doctor Watson on the nature of his work, in which he describes the story's murder investigation as his "study in scarlet": "There’s the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it."

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table. I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before. It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a "Penang lawyer." Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across. "To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.," was engraved upon it, with the date "1884." It was just such a stick as the old-fashioned family practitioner used to carry--dignified, solid, and reassuring.

"Well, Watson, what do you make of it?"

Holmes was sitting with his back to me, and I had given him no sign of my occupation.

"How did you know what I was doing? I believe you have eyes in the back of your head."

"I have, at least, a well-polished, silver-plated coffee-pot in front of me," said he. "But, tell me, Watson, what do you make of our visitor's stick? Since we have been so unfortunate as to miss him and have no notion of his errand, this accidental souvenir becomes of importance. Let me hear you reconstruct the man by an examination of it."

"I think," said I, following as far as I could the methods of my companion, "that Dr. Mortimer is a successful, elderly medical man, well-esteemed since those who know him give him this mark of their appreciation."

You may review just one or both of these novels.

The Navigator

2011-05-23T11:49:00.000-04:00

Cussler, Clive
Kemprecos, Paul

The Navigator

Genre: action, adventure

Series: Dirk Pitt

Years ago, an ancient Phoenician statue known as the Navigator was stolen from the Baghdad Museum, and there are men who would do anything to get their hands on it. Their first victim is a crooked antiquities dealer, murdered in cold blood. Their second very nearly is a UN investigator who, were it not for the timely assistance of Austin and Zavala, would now be at the bottom of a watery grave.
What's so special about this statue? Austin wonders. The search for answers will take the NUMA team on an astonishing odyssey through time and space, one that encompasses no less than the lost treasures of King Solomon, a mysterious packet of documents personally encoded by Thomas Jefferson, and a top secret scientific project that could change the world forever.

And that's before the surprises really begin . . .

The Last Patriot

2011-05-23T11:15:00.000-04:00

Thor, Brad

The Last Patriot

Genre: action, spy

June 632 A.D.: Deep within the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat in Mecca, the Prophet Mohammed shares with his closest companions a final and startling revelation. Within days, he is assassinated.
September 1789: U.S. Minister to France Thomas Jefferson, who is charged with forging a truce with the violent Muslim pirates of the Barbary Coast, makes a shocking discovery - one that could forever impact the world's relationship with Islam.
Present day: When a car bomb explodes outside a Parisian café, Scot Harvath is thrust back into the life he has tried so desperately to leave behind.

Saving the intended victim of the attack, Harvath becomes party to an amazing and perilous race to uncover a secret so powerful that militant Islam could be defeated once and for all without firing another shot, dropping another bomb, or launching another covert action.

But as desperate as the American government is to have the information brought to light, there are powerful forces aligned against it - men who are just as determined that Mohammed's mysterious final revelation continue to remain hidden forever.

Bad Girls Don't Die

2011-05-17T14:52:00.000-04:00

Alender, Katie

Bad Girls Don't Die

Genre: horror

Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister...more Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude.
When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in.
Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

The Insiders

2011-05-17T14:51:00.000-04:00

Minter, J.

The Insiders

Genre: drama

Meet the INSIDERS, the coolest, hottest guys in New York City:

MICKEY: Romeo never fell off a roof impressing Juliet ... did he?
DAVID: How sensitive can one jock be?
ARNO: When are studs just sluts?
PATCH: Does he even know he's missing?
JONATHAN: He's the glue that holds them all together.

They're having the time of their lives until they meet KELLI:-She's the new girl who crashes the party and won't stop until she conquers their world.

Know the rules. Be on the list. Get INSIDE.

This book also has a web page: http://www.insidersbook.com/

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit

2011-03-24T10:36:00.000-04:00

Danziger, Paula

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit

Genre: drama

Marcy Lewis is bored by school, she knows she’s never going to be thin, and her family life’s a nightmare. Then Marcy meets Ms. Finney, an English teacher who will try anything in the classroom. Finally, Marcy’s life in and out of school begins to have a purpose. But when Ms. Finney is suspended, Marcy knows she’s got to take a stand, no matter the price she must pay.

There's a Bat in Bunk Five

2011-03-24T10:25:00.000-04:00

Danziger, Paula

There's a Bat in Bunk Five

Genre: humor, romance

Marcy Lewis is thrilled when Ms. Finney asks her to be a junior counselor at a creative arts camp. Finally, she’s on her own for the first time, away from family and school. It’s her big chance to reinvent herself in a place where no one knows how insecure she used to be. This could be the perfect summer, but will nosy, noisy campers ruin it all?

The Pistachio Prescription

2011-03-17T15:14:00.000-04:00

Danziger, Paula

The Pistachio Prescription

Genre: drama, humor

Cassie Stephens is dealing with a lot. She’s got asthma. World War III is waged daily in her home, beginning at the breakfast table and ending with slammed doors at night. She’s running for freshperson class president. The pressure is mounting, and there’s only one thing that can make Cassie feel better. Pistachio nuts. No matter how weird it sounds, those little red nuts are just the prescription for Cassie’s troubles.

This Place Has No Atmosphere

2011-03-17T10:47:00.000-04:00

Danziger, Paula

This Place Has No Atmosphere

Genre:drama, science fiction, humor

It’s the year 2057 and fourteen-year-old Aurora couldn’t be happier with her life on Earth—she’s part of the "in" crowd, her best friend is a celebrity, and Matthew has asked her to Homecoming. But Aurora’s parents have new jobs on the moon, and she and her little sister must leave their friends and schools to go with them. Aurora is sure she will hate life on the moon, because there are only 750 people in the whole colony. What if none of them is a cute boy her age?

Skateboarding Ramp Tricks

2011-03-12T11:32:00.000-05:00

Goodfellow, Evan

Skateboarding Ramp Tricks

Genre: sports, skateboarding

Party Summer

2011-03-12T11:30:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

Party Summer

Genre: Horror

Series: Fear Street

There's no vacation from the terrors of Fear Street.

Kiss of Death

2011-03-11T21:32:00.000-05:00

Beere, Peter

Kiss of Death

Genre: crime

Series: Point Crime

Sadie Ross is finding life difficult and a little scary because she cannot stand her stepsister, her boyfriend is away at college and now, someone is stalking her enemies and everyone is calling her the ""kiss of death.""

Hulk

2011-03-11T21:28:00.000-05:00

David, Peter

Hulk

Genre: comic book

The novel adaptation of the movie

The Thrill Club

2011-03-11T21:24:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

The Thrill Club

Genre: horror

Series: Fear Street

They're dying to join.

Everyone admires Talia Blanton's frightening stories, in which her friends play starring roles, until they start coming true.

Wielding a Red Sword

2011-03-11T21:18:00.000-05:00

Anthony, Piers

Wielding a Red Sword

Genre: fantasy

Series: Incarnations of Immortality

Book 4 of the series

Mym was a dutiful son, but rather than agree to his father's choice for his marriage, he took up the Red Sword, symbol of office of the Incarnation of War, in order to ameliorate some of the suffering caused by Earth's constant petty wars. But Mym discovered that Satan was waiting to trap him, and he must now take desperate measures to outwit the evil genius who aimed to destroy the world....

Broken Hearts

2011-03-11T21:11:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

Broken Hearts

Genre: horror, holiday

Series: Fear Street

Valentine's Day can be a killer.

When Josie and Melissa receive threatening Valentine's Day messages, and then the girls of Shadyside High begin turning up dead, the two friends are certain that they will be the next victims.

Dragons of Winter Night

2011-03-11T21:07:00.000-05:00

Weis, Margaret
Hickman, Tracy

Dragons of Winter Night

Genre: fantasy, adventure

Series: Dragon Lance

Now the people know that the dragon minions of Takhisis, Queen of Dragons, have returned. The people of all nations prepare to fight to save their homes, their lives, and their freedom. But the races have long been divided by hatred and prejudice. Elven warriors and human knights fight among themselves. It seems the battle has been lost before it begins.

The companions are separated, torn apart by war. A full season will pass before they meet again--if they meet again. As the darkness deepens, a disgraced knight, a pampered elfmaiden, and a rattle-brained kender stand alone in the pale winter sunlight.

Not much in the way of heroes.

Dragons of Spring Dawning

2011-03-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

Weis, Margaret
Hickman, Tracy

Dragons of Spring Dawning

Genre: fantasy, adventure

Series: Dragon Lance

The war against the dragon minions of Queen Takhisis rages on. Armed with the mysterious, magical dragon orbs and the shining, silver dragonlance, the companions bring hope to the world. But now, in the dawn of a new day, the dark secrets that have long shadowed the hearts of the friends come to the light. Betrayal, treachery, frailty, and weakness will nearly destroy all that they have accomplished.

The greatest battle they have left to fight is within each of them.

Yet, in the end, they will be heroes.

Cat

2011-03-11T20:41:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

Cat

Genre: horror

Series: Fear Street

Accidentally killing the cat that kept getting in his way during basketball practice, Marty believes that cats everywhere are seeking revenge against him when he sees cats wherever he goes and begins having terrible nightmares.

Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul

2011-03-11T20:39:00.000-05:00

Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul

Genre: sports

Inca Gold

2011-03-11T20:34:00.000-05:00

Cussler, Clive

Inca Gold

Genre: action, adventure

Series: Dirk Pitt

When a tsunami hit a Spanish treasure galleon, all trace of a golden hoard greater than that of any pharaoh's vanished into history. Until NUMA agent DIRK PITT® dives into an ancient sacrificial pool far into the Andean jungle in order to rescue two archaeologists, and plunges into a vortex of corruption, betrayal, and death. A sinister crime syndicate has traced the long-lost treasure -- worth almost a billion dollars -- from the Andes to the banks of a hidden underground river flowing beneath a Mexican desert. Nothing will stop their ruthless and murderous drive to recover the gold. Nothing, that is, until Pitt and his team place themselves square in the path of danger....

Shock Wave

2011-03-11T20:31:00.000-05:00

Cussler, Clive

Shock Wave

Genre: action, adventure

Series: Dirk Pitt

A Mysterious Plague in the Antarctic...
A Diamond Empire Run by an Evil Genius...
A Devastating New Technology...

NUMA agent DIRK PITT® is investigating the baffling deaths of thousands of Antarctic marine animals when he stumbles on something even more chilling. The passengers and crew of a cruise ship all died simultaneously and instantly, leaving stranded on a remote island whaling station a small party of tourists led by the beautiful Maeve Fletcher. And the carnage is just beginning, as Pitt's investigation leads him to Maeve's estranged father and sisters, owners of the global diamond cartel Dorsett Consolidated Mining. From a chilling escape at a high-security Canadian mine to a tiny boat adrift on lonely, shark-infested seas, the ingenious Pitt is racing to thwart Dorsett's ruthless plans -- before an unthinkable disaster claims millions of innocent lives!

Prince Caspian

2011-03-11T20:27:00.000-05:00

Lewis, C. S.

Prince Caspian

Genre: fantasy

Series: Chronicles of Narnia

Book 2 (or 3 in some numberings) in the series

Reluctantly returning to boarding school, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are suddenly summoned to Narnia from a train station--by Susan's own magic horn! An urgent mission awaits them because Narnia is in trouble. All the magical creatures and Talking Animals have been forced into hiding by an evil king. Fortunately, young Prince Caspian, the true king, escapes in time to lead the Old Narnians in the fight for their freedom. But the battle is not going well, and in desperation, Caspian blows an enchanted horn. In a race against time and with the aid of the Great Lion, Aslan, they join Caspian and his army in a battle to restore peace throughout Narnia.

Sanctuary

2011-03-11T20:09:00.000-05:00

Asprin, Robert Lynn (Editor)

Sanctuary

Genre: Fantasy, Short Stories

Series: Thieves World

One world, one city, many authors. This book puts together the first three books of the Thieves World series. These books are a collection of short stories written by different authors but set in the same world. The characters sometime interact with each other. Especially good book if you like dragons and magic type stories.

The Dead Lifeguard

2011-03-11T19:54:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

The Dead Lifeguard

Genre: Horror

Series: Fear Street

No one can save her now!

The young lifeguards at North Beach Country Club discount stories about a curse until, one by one, they fall victim to horrible deaths.

The Eternal Enemy

2011-03-11T19:51:00.000-05:00

Pike, Christopher

The Eternal Enemy

Genre: Horror

Rela just bought a new VCR. When she goes to play back a movie she taped, Rela ends up watching the news--tomorrow's news!

Sports Know It All

2011-03-11T18:56:00.000-05:00

Postman, Andrew
Stone, Larry

Sports Know It All

Genre: sports

Everything you would want to know about sports.

Hard Contact

2011-03-11T18:51:00.000-05:00

Traviss, Karen

Hard Contact

Genre: science fiction

Series: Star Wars Republic Commando

As the Clone Wars rage, victory or defeat lies in the hands of elite squads that take on the toughest assignments in the galaxy–stone-cold soldiers who go where no one else would, to do what no one else could. . . .

On a mission to sabotage a chemical weapon research facility on a Separatist-held planet, four clone troopers operate under the very noses of their enemies. The commandos are outnumbered and outgunned, deep behind enemy lines with no backup–and working with strangers instead of trusted teammates. Matters don’t improve when Darman, the squad’s demolitions expert, gets separated from the others during planetfall. Even Darman’s apparent good luck in meeting an inexperienced Padawan vanishes once Etain admits to her woeful inexperience.

For the separated clone commandos and stranded Jedi, a long, dangerous journey lies ahead, through hostile territory brimming with Trandoshan slavers, Separatists, and suspicious natives. A single misstep could mean discovery . . . and death. It’s a virtual suicide mission for anyone–anyone except Republic Commandos.

The Hobbit

2011-03-11T18:48:00.000-05:00

Tolkien, J. R. R.

The Hobbit

Genre: fantasy

Series: Lord of the Rings

This book takes place before Lord of the Rings. It is much easier to follow than the other three.

Bilbo Baggins gets a surprise adventure and finds out that there is more to him than anyone thought. In this story, Bilbo finds the ring that eventually leads to the Lord of the Rings.

High Tide

2011-03-11T18:05:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

High Tide

Genre: Horror

Series: Fear Street

Tormented by terrifying visions of the night his girlfriend, Mitzi, died, lifeguard Adam Malfitano becomes horrified when he also begins to see her when he is awake and sets out to find out what she wants from him

Call Waiting

2011-03-11T18:03:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

Call Waiting

Genre: horror

Series: Point Horror

A killer who phones his victims before murdering them is stalking Karen, and if Karen cannot trace the caller, she will become his next conquest.

Bathroom Books

2011-03-11T17:57:00.000-05:00

Kreismer, Jack
Murphy, John
Heldt, Steve

The Bathroom Basketball Book
The Bathroom Baseball Book
The Bathroom Football Book

Genre: sports

Three different books

Pretend You Don't See Her

2011-03-11T17:52:00.000-05:00

Clark, Mary Higgins

Pretend You Don't See Her

Genre: mystery

Mary Higgins Clark sends chills down readers' spines with the story of Lacey Farrell, a rising star on the Manhattan real estate scene. One day, while showing a luxurious skyline co-op, Lacey is witness to a murder -- and to the dying words of the victim.... The dying woman is convinced that the attacker was after her dead daughter's journal -- which Lacey gives to the police, but not before making a copy for herself. It's an impulse that later proves nearly fatal.

Placed in the witness protection program and sent to live in the Minneapolis area, Lacey must assume a fake identity, at least until the killer can be brought to trial. There she meets Tom Lynch, a radio talk-show host whom she tentatively begins to date -- until the strain of deception makes her break it off. Then she discovers the killer has traced her to Minneapolis. Armed with nothing more than her own courage and clues from the journal, Lacey heads back to New York, determined to uncover who's behind the deaths of the two women -- before she's the next casualty.

Hornet's Nest

2011-03-11T17:49:00.000-05:00

Cornwell, Patricia

Hornet's Nest

Genre: mystery

It's a city of ambition and pride, a city long ago dubbed "the hornet's nest of America." A swarming symbol dominates the badge of the police department that protects it--the image of a darting, restless fighter: the whirling dervish of a hornet. Like the violence that swirls around Charlotte during a long, hot summer, the hornet traces a dark, angry path, touching down unexpectedly, bringing stings of surprise wherever it lands.

Patricia Cornwell's brilliant new novel carries its own surprises. The creator of Kay Scarpetta, the most fascinating character in contemporary crime fiction, now cunningly reveals the heart and soul of a metropolitan police department. With Charlotte as her simmering background, she propels us into the core of the force through the lives of a dynamic trio of heroes: Andy Brazil, an ambitious young reporter for The Charlotte Observer and an eager--sometimes too eager--volunteer cop; Police Chief Judy Hammer, the professionally strong yet personally troubled guardian of Charlotte's law and order; and her deputy chief, Virginia West, a genuine head-turner who is married to her job. To walk the beat with Hammer, West, and Brazil is to learn the inner secrets of police work--the tensions and the tedium, the hilarity and the heartbreak, the unexpected pump of adrenaline and the rush of courage that can lead to heroics...or death.

The Best of Sports Illustrated: 1

2011-03-11T17:45:00.000-05:00

The Best of Sports Illustrated:1

Genre: sports, nonfiction

The Olympics

2011-03-11T17:43:00.002-05:00

Johnson, William Oscar

The Olympics

Genre: Sports, Nonfiction

Sports Illustrated celebrates the Olympics in an illustrated coffee-table tribute to the games that includes articles by William Oscar Johnson, a detailed appendix, and 140 photograph

Final Grade

2011-03-05T21:40:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

Final Grade

Genre: Horror

Series: Fear Street

An innocent girl's reputation for her competitive edge causes her classmates to become suspicious when an obnoxious rival is murdered, and one particularly obsessed individual is out to see that Lily pays a deadly price.

Dune

2011-03-05T21:34:00.000-05:00

Herbert, Frank

Dune

Genre: Science Fiction

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, DUNE is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family and would bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.

Cheerleaders

2011-03-05T21:24:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

Cheerleaders Collector's Edition

Genre: horror

Series: Fear Street

This book collects all three Cheerleader books (The First Evil, The Second Evil, and The Third Evil).

There's nothing to cheer about when an evil spirit is unleashed in this Fear Street trilogy. The First Evil: The Shadyside cheerleaders accidentally release an ancient evil spirit from the Fear Street cemetery. The Second Evil: Just when the cheerleaders thought they had stopped the evil, the murders begin--again! The Third Evil: Cheerleader Corky Corcoran holds the key to destroying the ancient evil forever--unless the spirit destroys her first.

Scavenger Hunt

2011-03-05T21:11:00.000-05:00

Pike, Christopher

Scavenger Hunt

Genre: Horror

With school nearly over, a scavenger hunt planned for the senior class is transformed into a nightmare for Carl Timmons, a troubled young man, when he is lured away from his friends by his love for a mysterious girl, a journey that leads to a confrontation with a haunted past.

The Mind Reader

2011-03-05T21:08:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

The Mind Reader

Genre: horror

Series: Fear Street

Terrified by ghostly visions that lead her to a shallow grave, Ellie Anderson is stunned when she discovers the body of a girl had been was murdered two years earlier and finds herself drawn further along the path of the killer.

X-Men

2011-03-05T21:06:00.000-05:00

Rusch, Kristine Kathryn
Smith, Dean Wesley

X-Men

Genre: action, comic

Outcasts from society, the X-MEN are genetic mutants, born with superhuman powers, who harness their special abilities for the greater good. But the human race they fight to protect rejects and fears--even hates--them.

Not all mutants seek to protect mankind. One terrorist group--led by the supremely powerful Magneto--seeks to strike first. Battling against prejudice and agents of intolerance, the X-MEN must establish a peaceful coexistence between mutant and mankind or they will surely perish . . .

Remember Me

2011-03-05T20:11:00.000-05:00

Pike, Christopher

Remember Me

Genre: Horror

SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT SHE WAS DEAD.

When Shari Cooper awoke at home after being at her girlfriend's birthday party, her family acted like she wasn't there. They didn't hear a thing she said. They wouldn't even look at her. Then the call came from the hospital. Her father and brother paled. Her mother started to cry. Shari didn't know what was wrong. Not until she followed them to the hospital. There she found herself lying on a cold slab in the morgue. The police said that it was suicide.

Shari knew she had been murdered. Making a vow to herself to find her killer, Shari embarks on the strangest of all criminal investigations: one in which she spies on her friends, and even enters their dreams -- where she comes face-to-face with a nightmare from beyond the grave. The Shadow -- a thing more horrible than death itself -- is the key to Shari's death, and the only thing that can stop her murderer from murdering again.

Beach Thrillers

2011-03-05T20:08:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

Beach Thrillers

Series: Fear Street

Genre: Horror

Beach Party

Beach House

Life's a beach . . . until you die.

The sun is hot. The water's cool. And the beaches are bone-chilling. Summer is supposed to be about beach parties and fun in the sun. But someone's out to spoil the summer, and the results could be deadly. Friends become enemies, and dangerous strangers are watching. Enjoy the sunlight while you can because things are about to get awfully dark

The Fellowship of the Ring

2011-03-05T20:02:00.000-05:00

Tolkien, J. R. R.

The Fellowship of the Ring

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Lord of the Rings

This is book 1 of the Lord of the Rings

he dark fearsome Ringwraiths were searching for a hobbit. Frodo Baggins knew they were seeking him and the Ring he bore---the Ring of Power that would enable the Dark Lord Sauron to destroy all that was good in Middle-earth. Now it was up to Frodo and his faithful servant Sam, with a small band of companions, to carry the Ring to the one place it could be destroyed---Mount Doom, in the very center of Sauron's dark kingdom.

Thus begins J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings, considered by millions of readers to be the greatest epic fantasy ever written.

The Two Towers

2011-03-05T19:59:00.000-05:00

Tolkien, J. R. R.

The Two Towers

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Lord of the Rings

he Fellowship was scattered. Some were bracing hopelessly for war against the ancient evil of Sauron. Some were contending with the treachery of the wizard Saruman. Only Frodo and Sam were left to take the accursed Ring of Power to be destroyed in Mordor---the dark Kingdom where Sauron was supreme. Their guide was Gollum, deceitful and lust-filled, slave to the corruption of the Ring.

Thus continues the magnificent, best-selling tale of adventure begun in The Fellowship of the Ring, which reaches its soul-stirring climax in The Return of the King.

The Return of the King

2011-03-05T19:42:00.000-05:00

Tolkien, J. R. R.

The Return of the King

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Lord of the Rings

This is Book 3 in the series

While the evil might of the Dark Lord Sauron swarmed out to conquer all of Middle-earth, Frodo and Sam struggled deep into Mordor, seat of Sauron's power. To defeat the dark Lord, the accursed Ring of Power had to be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. But the way was impossibly hard, and Frodo was weakening. Weighed down by the compulsion of the Ring, he began finally to despair.
The awesome conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, called by millions of readers to be the greatest epic fantasy ever written.

The Silmarillion

2011-03-05T19:39:00.000-05:00

Tolkien, J. R. R.
Tolkien, Christopher

The Silmarillion

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Lord of the Rings

Those interested in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth should not be without this grand volume that tells the tragic tale of the struggle for control of the Silmarils, a struggle that would determine the history of the world long before the War of the Ring. — The Silmarillion is Tolkien's first book and his last. Long preceding in its origins The Lord of the Rings, it is the story of the First Age of Tolkien's world, the ancient drama to which characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in which some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. The Silmarillion was begun in 1917, and Tolkien worked on it, changed it, and enlarged it throughout his life. Edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien, the book finally appeared four years after the author's death.

The Baby-Sitter

2011-03-05T19:31:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

The Baby-Sitter: Books I and II

Genre: Horror

Series: Point Horror

This has the first two books of the Baby-Sitter stories.

Jenny just wanted to make a little extra cash. And baby-sitting seemed like the perfect solution. How hard could it be? Play with the kids, sing them a lullaby, put them to sleep...But Jenny had it all wrong. The house is dark and creaky. The crank calls are terrifying. And there is a strange man lurking just outside. Someone knows Jenny is baby-sitting. He knows that the baby is asleep. That Jenny is all alone. And now he's coming for he

The Baby-Sitter

2011-03-05T19:28:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

The Baby-Sitter: Books III and IV

Genre: Horror

Series: Point Horror

This book has the last two books of the Baby-Sitter stories.

Jenny is trying to escape her past. Forget about those terrifying baby-sitting jobs and the man who murdered all the other baby-sitters. He is dead now. He can't hurt her anymore.

But if that's true, why is the phone ringing? And why does the voice at the other end say what he always said:

"Hi Babes. I'm back."

Shadows of the Empire

2011-03-05T19:13:00.000-05:00

Perry, Steve

Shadows of the Empire

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Star Wars

This book takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi

It is a time of crisis. Han Solo, frozen in carbonite, is being taken to the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt. As Princess Leia mounts a rescue mission including Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, and a brilliant young pilot, Darth Vader pits himself against a cunning and ruthless rival. Xizor is the leader of a powerful crime syndicate who seeks to supplant Vader for the favor of their mutual master, the dreaded Emperor. Their target: Luke Skywalker. Suddenly Luke finds himself the potential prize of the two most evil entities in the galaxy - one who wants him alive...and one who wants him dead.

Prey

2011-03-05T19:08:00.000-05:00

Crichton, Michael

Prey

Genre: Science Fiction

In the Nevada desert, an experiment has gone horribly wrong. A cloud of nanoparticles -- micro-robots -- has escaped from the laboratory. This cloud is self-sustaining and self-reproducing. It is intelligent and learns from experience. For all practical purposes, it is alive.

It has been programmed as a predator. It is evolving swiftly, becoming more deadly with each passing hour.
Every attempt to destroy it has failed.

And we are the prey.

Witch and Wizard

2011-03-02T10:51:00.000-05:00

Patterson, James
Charbonnet, Gabrielle

Witch and Wizard

Genre: fantasy

Series: Witch and Wizard

The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

2011-03-02T10:47:00.000-05:00

Meyer, Stephanie

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Genre: horror, romance

Series: Twilight

This book takes places DURING Eclipse.

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

Fallen

2011-03-02T10:43:00.000-05:00

Kate, Lauren

Fallen

Genre: Horror, Romance,

Series: Fallen

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Thirst No. 1

2011-03-02T09:51:00.000-05:00

Pike, Christopher

Thirst No. 1

Genre: horror

Series: Thirst

As to blood --

ah, blood, the whole subject fascinates me. I do like that as well, warm and dripping, when I am thirsty. And I am often thirsty....

Alisa has been in control of her urges for the five thousand years she has been a vampire. She feeds but does not kill, and she lives her life on the fringe to maintain her secret. But when her creator returns to hunt her, she must break her own rules in order to survive.

Her quest leads her to Ray. He is the only person who can help her; he also has every reason to fear her. Alisa must get closer to him to ensure her immortality. But as she begins to fall in love with Ray, suddenly there is more at stake than her own life....

Marvel Essentials: Spider-Man vol 9

2011-02-10T15:36:00.000-05:00

O'Neil, Denny
Stern, Roger
Wolfman, Marv
Mantlo, Bill

Marvel Essentials: The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 9

Genre: comic, action, science fiction

Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #186 - 210, Annual #13-14 and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man Annual 1

Maximum Ride: The Manga part 3

2011-02-10T15:27:00.000-05:00

Patterson, James
Lee, NaRae

Maximum Ride: The Manga part 3

Genre: manga, science fiction, action

The Flock members are taken under the wing of an FBI agent and try to live "normal" lives by going to school, making friends--and continuing their relentless search for their parents. But the Erasers return, forcing the Flock to abandon their search and make their escape once again. It's also becoming more obvious to Max that her destiny is to save the world, and this is especially challenging to do when she is faced with her ultimate match: a newer and better version of herself, Maximum Ride II.

Maximum Ride: The Manga part 2

2011-02-10T15:24:00.000-05:00

Patterson, James
Lee, NaRae

Maximum Ride Manga part 2

Genre: science fiction, manga, action

Having recovered Angel, Max and the flock head to New York City to pursue a lead regarding their true identities. But where the flock goes, erasers are sure to follow! Even more troubling, though, is the voice that's begun whispering in Max's head. Is it really her destiny to save the world?

Maximum Ride: The Manga part 1

2011-02-10T15:22:00.001-05:00

Patterson, James
Lee, NaRae

Maximum Ride The Manga part 1

Genre: science fiction, manga, action

Hiding out in the wilderness of Colorado, Max Ride, 14, and her ragtag family of mutant kids think they're safe from the clutches of "The School," a secret government lab that has erased their memories and turned them into human/bird creations. When Angel, the youngest of them, is kidnapped by the Erasers–cruel half-man/half-wolf enforcers for The School–Max and several of the kids set off in search of her. Despite outwitting them in several instances, the Erasers are able to intercept them. But all is not as it seems when Max is released from her confinement only to be told the secret of her origin–that she was created to save the world.

Twilight

2011-01-28T13:14:00.000-05:00

Meyer, Stephani

Twilight: The Graphic Novel vol.1

Genre: horror, romance, comic

Series: Twilight

When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret...

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

2011-01-28T13:10:00.000-05:00

Riordin, Rick

The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel

Genre: mythology, adventure, comic

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

The first book in the blockbuster best-selling series...like you've never seen it before.

Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking out of the pages of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson's textbooks and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, he and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.

Series creator Rick Riordan joins forces with some of the biggest names in the comic book industry to tell the story of a boy who must unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Redwall

2011-01-28T13:07:00.000-05:00

Jacques, Brian

Redwall: the Graphic Novel

Genre: comic, animal, adventure

Matthias wishes to be more strong and courageous like how the legends speak of Martin, the warrior mouse who gave the mice of Redwall Abbey their true vocation, but peaceful times do not require such martial skills. Home to a peace-loving order of mice (and one faithful badger), Redwall falls under siege from Cluny the Scourge and his band of bloodthirsty rats, weasels, foxes and the like. With the situation so dire, and the attackers so ruthless, the Abbey is a dangerous place to be, but Matthias discovers what seems to be his destiny - a destiny seemingly linked with Martin himself! But he has a long way to go before that destiny is realized.
While the Abbey's defenses are challenged from both inside and outside the walls, Matthias starts his search for the military items that Martin used during his campaigns. Journeying both far from the Abbey as well as in its deepest recesses, Matthias encounters friends of the mice, enemies of Cluny, and other hazards that Matthias might be able to turn against the foe, but he must survive them first.

Pride of Baghdad

2011-01-28T13:03:00.000-05:00

Vaughan, Brian

Pride of Baghdad

Genre: comic, historical, animal

A heartbreaking look at what it's like to live in a war zone. Inspired by true events, this story tells of four lions that escape from the Baghdad Zoo during a bombing raid in 2003 and encounter other animals that offer unique perspectives, such as a tortoise that survived World War I. They begin to question the nature of freedom. Can it be achieved without being earned? What is its price? What do the lions owe the zookeepers who took care of them at the cost of keeping them in captivity? Where should they go? What should they eat? The four lions soon realize that a desert city is nothing like the grassy savannas of their memories. Their experiences mirror those of the Iraqi citizens displaced by the conflict.

Frankenstein

2011-01-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

Shelley, Mary

Frankenstein: The Graphic Novel - Original Text

Genre: comic, horror

It was the dawn of science and technology. Anything seemed possible - even the creation of life itself. Victor Frankenstein becomes obsessed with this idea and works relentlessly to prove his theories; but the glory he imagined becomes a living nightmare - not only for him, but for his friends and family too...

Mary Shelley's gothic horror story Frankenstein was first published in 1818 and has been the inspiration behind numerous stage productions and films - many of which strayed a long way away from her original masterpiece. Classical Comics present a full-colour graphic novel remains true to this classic tale, bringing the original story to life like never before.

Marvel Team Up

2011-01-28T11:41:00.000-05:00

Conway, Gerry
Wein, Len

Marvel Team Up # 1 - 24

Genre: action, comic

This is a collection of Marvel Team-Up comics. These comics usually featured Spider-Man teaming up with some other hero in the Marvel Universe. In this book, Spidey teams up with The Human Torch, Mr. Fantastic, Ghost Rider, Ka-Zar, Submariner, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, the X-Men, and more. There are also two Human Torch comics where he teams up with the Hulk and with Ice Man.

You can read these comics individually and do not have to read the whole book.

The Secret Admirer

2011-01-18T12:27:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

The Secret Admirer

Genre: Horror

Series: Fear Street

Selena has it all. She just scored the lead in her high school play, and everyone adores her. So when she starts receiving dead flowers from a secret "admirer" named The Sun, she just assumes it's a harmless fan.

But Selena soon realizes that The Sun is serious...dead serious. First, her understudy is injured in a suspicious accident. Then, a speeding car almost kills her! Selena doesn't know what this psycho wants.... All she knows is that her number-one fan has become her number-one nightmare.

The Perfect Date

2011-01-18T12:20:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

The Perfect Date

Genre: Horror

Series: Fear Street

Fear Street -- Where your worst nightmare lives...

After his girlfriend's gruesome death a year ago, Brady is finally ready to get on with his life. He's met Rosha and he's completely smitten.

But something weird is going on. Terrible accidents seem to happen whenever Rosha's around. And a strange figure with a scarred face is following Brady everywhere he goes.

Is Rosha really Brady's dream girl, his perfect date? Or has she brought his worst nightmare back to life?

Bad Dreams

2011-01-18T11:33:00.000-05:00

Stine, R. L.

Bad Dreams

Genre: horror

Series: Fear Street

Every night, Maggie Travers has the same horrible dream in which a girl cries out for help as she is murdered, and when this terrifying nightmare begins to come true, Maggie tries to stay awake.