Staff picks are selected each month and archived here. Check back often to find more suggestions for great reading.
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Staff Favorites of 2009: Novels and Non-Fiction
Princess of the Midnight Ball (Bloomsbury, January 2009)
Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together they seek to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. This novel is a masterful reimagining of the classic Grimm’s fairytale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
Scat (Random House, January 2009)
Hiaason's latest novel for younger readers features the endangered Florida panther and the environmental issues of the Everglades. When a biology teacher goes missing in the midst of a suspicious fire, Nick and Marta question what really happened and decide to investigate for themselves. This is a first-rate eco-thriller.
Chasing Lincoln's Killer (Scholastic, February 2009)
This young reader's adaptation of Swanson's best-selling non-fiction book Manhunt about Lincoln's assassination and the 12 day hunt for his assassins lacks none of the fascinating detail and suspense of the original while being highly accessible to readers from 5th grade and up. The text is supplemented by a number of original photographs.
Barnaby Grimes: Return of the Emerald Skull (Random House, February 2009)
Barnaby Grimes is a ticktock lad, a paid messenger in victorian London, highstacking his way around the city both day and night. The series began with Curse of the Night Wolf, but the books do not need to be read in any particular order. In Return of the Emerald Skull, something strange is happening at a local boys' school and it has something to do with the headmaster's avian obsession and his collection of taxidermy specimens.
The Problem with the Puddles (Simon and Schuster, February 2009)
The problem with Mr. and Mrs. Puddles is that they have agreed to disagree. As a result, Mr. Puddles calls his daughter Ferdinanda, Mrs. Puddles calls her Emily, and everyone else calls her Baby. When they couldn't agree on what breed of dog to get, they got two different dogs and named them both Sally. One summer day, while rushing from their country house to their city house, the Puddles forget the Sallys. Will they agree to go back for them? This book is so much fun to read, that once you've finished it, you'll want to read it all over again.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Random House, March 2009)
The Forests of Hands and Teeth is set in a post-apocalyptic world of wire-fenced communities in constant peril of being overrun by 'The Unconsecrated' (those who refuse to stay dead and who crave the flesh of living humans) whose bites are infectious. Mary grew up hearing her mother's tales of the ocean and the time before the unconsecrated, memories lost to most people. When an accident causes her own mother to become one of the unconsecrated, Mary finds herself questioning both the Sisterhood who govern her community and the traditions and laws by which the community survives. As a result of something the Sisterhood does, the community's defenses are breached, and Mary and a small band of survivors are forced to flee into a previously unknown maze of wire tunnels through the Forest of Hands and Teeth.
Marcelo in the Real World (Scholastic, March 2009)
Like the protagonist of Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Marcelo is a high-functioning, self-aware teenager with Asperger's Syndrome. Marcelo's father wants him to live more in the real world and insists on Marcelo's summer employment in his law firm's mailroom Written as a first-person narrative, the novel guides the reader through Marcelo's impressions, insights, and self-discovery as he learns that he can function in society.
If I Stay (Penguin Group, April 2009)
Mia's body lies in a coma as she tries to decide whether to live after her family's death in a terrible car accident. Mia's love of classical music, her skill as a violinist and her many friends pull her toward life as the pain of losing her beloved family pushes her to give up and let herself die. Mia's disembodied perspective (reminiscent of The Lovely Bones) allows her to examine her life and memories as well as the suffering and support of her friends and remaining family as they wait for the coma to end. This novel is a moving examination of choice, life, and love.
43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You (Harcourt, April 2009)
43 Old Cemetery Road: Over My Dead Body (Harcourt, October 2009)
Best-selling author Ignatius B. Grumply moves into the Victorian mansion at 43 Old Cemetery Road in search of a secluded and inspiring environment to break his terrible writer's block, only to find that his lease includes an eleven-year old boy named Seymour, his cat, Shadow, and his good friend and ghost, Olive, none of whom want to share their home. The story is cleverly told through illustration, correspondence, and newspaper clippings. Charming and funny. The second novel features a plot of censorship led by child advocate, Dick Tater.
The Reformed Vampire Support Group (Harcourt, April 2009)
From the author of Evil Genius and Genius Squad comes a vampire book unlike any other vampire book. So, being a vampire sounds totally cool, right? Well, it isn't, especially when you don't suck people's blood. The Reformed Vampire Support Group meets every Tuesday night to discuss the difficulties of being a reformed vampire, and there are lots. For example, Nina Harrison was bitten at the age of 15 in 1973. She is still a vampire; she's still 15; she lives at home with her mom (but she does write exciting, if completely inaccurate, best-selling vampire novels).
When one of their number is staked, they realize they are all in danger from a dangerous unknown vampire hunter and Nina takes action to prove that not all vampires are pitiful weak creatures.
Bloodhound (Random House, April 2009)
This sequel to Beka Cooper: Terrier begins in the gritty world of the Tortall capital's lower city. Beka might be a full-fledged dog (Provost's Guard) but she hasn't had much luck in her human dog partners, although she does acquire a canine dog partner, the scenthound, Achoo. When counterfeit coins begin flooding the Corus economy and rumors of a bad harvest lead to rioting, Beka and her mentor, Clary Goodwin go undercover in Port Caynn to sniff out the counterfeiters. Although Faithful and Rosto the Piper play only small roles in this installment, Slapper the pigeon and a whole cast of Port Caynn characters keep us from missing them too much.
Enola Holmes: Case of the Cryptic Crinoline (Penguin Group, May 2009)
Living alone in London and offering her services as a private detective, Enola Holmes, younger sister of the famed Sherlock Holmes, continues her adventures. This time she finds herself delving into the dark world of smuggling during the Crimean War as she attempts to find her missing landlady. Enola Holmes is a lively, resourceful, smart heroine and the novels are full of period detail and the occasional encounter with the great detective himself. A short but satisfying mystery for readers aged 10 and up.
Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom (Simon and Schuster, May 2009)
Franklin Piccolino's alter ego Frankie Pickle (a mix of pop culture icons including Indiana Jones) has great adventures. In this first book of the series, Frankie Pickle's messy room spawns a wild adventure. Short chapters combined with black and white cartoon illustrations make for a fun read.
Suite Scarlett (HarperCollins, May 2009)
The Martin family's New York City hotel has fallen on hard times, and the Martin family children are needed to help keep the Hopewell alive. On their 15th birthday, each child inherits a suite for which they are responsible: cleaning the rooms and caring for any tenants. When Scarlett becomes responsible for an aging actress, her life becomes much more exciting. New York City, acting, romance, and family are combined in this entertaining read.
The Uninvited (Candlewick, May 2009)
Having disentangled herself from an unfortunate involvement with one of her professors at the end of her freshman year of college, Mary Shapiro needs time and space to recover and sort out her thoughts and feelings. Her artist father's remote cabin in Canada seems like the perfect place. When she arrives, the cabin is already occupied by a 20-something musician named Jay. At first, Jay accuses Mimi of leaving strange and threatening tokens in the cabin, but Mimi has only just arrived and soon she too is receiving threatening tokens. The Uninvited is a gripping thriller and a complex family drama that celebrates the intense positive bonds that exist between siblings- a somewhat uncommon theme in YA literature.
The Cats of Roxville Station (Penguin Group, May 2009)
This story of an abandoned cat joining a feral cat colony is a fascinating journey into the world of feral cats and the human-cat relationship. George manages to give the cats thoughts and language without anthropomorphizing them, so that readers can understand why cats do what they do. Tom Pohrt's lovely black and white illustrations add an extra dimension to this text.
Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Henry Holt & Co. May 2009)
Callie is the only girl in a family of seven children living in Texas at the turn of the twentieth century. Callie loves nature and science but her mother wants to mold her into a traditional young woman. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is a record of Callie's journey of self-discovery and her attempts to reconcile these two ideals.
Kaleidoscope Eyes (Random House, May 2009)
This verse novel set in a small town in 1968, narrates the adventures of three friends and their hunt for Captain Kidd's pirate treasure using information left to Lyza by her grandfather. Mixed with the adventure are the real social issues of the time, including War, from which some boys never return and others return changed forever.
Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Perceval: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone (Houghton Mifflin, June 2009)
Shortly before Petronella's birthday party, her guardian and uncle accidentally swallows a beetle that causes him to have an insatiable appetite for everything creepy and crawly. If anyone finds out, Petronella's chances in society will be destroyed, not to mention that her overbearing aunts will use her uncle's condition to prove him an unfit guardian for both Petronella and her significant fortune. To make matters worse, a foreign notable and a member of the aristocracy are kidnapped during her birthday party. Enter the detectives, who aren't the brightest of all men (in traditional detective fiction form). Petronella, with the help of her loyal and dependable butler, her bug-eating uncle, her best friend Sarah and Sarah's handsome older brother James, set out to solve the mystery themselves.
When You Reach Me (Random House, July 2009)
When You Reach Me has just been awarded the prestigious Newbery medal. Miranda is a sixth-grader living in New York City in 1978, and Madeleine L'Engle’s novel A Wrinkle in Time is her life compass. Miranda's sense of safety and security in her neighborhood begins to unravel after her best friend, Sal, shuts her out of his life and someone steals the apartment key her mother keeps hidden for emergencies. When Miranda begins receiving a series of mysterious notes, she comes to believe that only she will be able to prevent a future tragedy.
The Poisons of Caux: The Hollow Bettle (Book 1) (Random House, August 2009)
Told with wry humor, The Hollow Bettle is the first installment in the Poisons of Caux trilogy, an astonishing tale of herbs and magic, tasters and poisoners.
The Clockwork Dark: Nine Pound Hammer (Random House, August 2009)
This tale of magic and railroads is well-rooted in American folklore traditions and is an excellent addition to the small catalog of truly American fantasy novels. When Ray's father left, eight years earlier, he gave Ray a special lodestone, instructing him to keep it safe until his father's return. But he doesn't return and Ray and his little sister Sally find themselves heading south on an orphan train. In addition, Ray's been having strange dreams about his father and his lodestone is pulling him to some unknown destination. Knowing Sally's chances of adoption will be better without him, Ray leaves the train to follow the mysterious pull of the lodestone which leads him to CORNELIUS T. CARTER'S MYSTIFYING MEDICINE SHOW AND TABERNACLE OF TACHYCARDIAL TALENT, where he finds a home, friends, and answers to some of his questions. He also learns of a terrible evil known as the Gog and the terrible clockwork machine with which he threatens the world.
Ruined: A Ghost Story (Scholastic, August 2009)
When Rebecca befriends Lisette in a New Orleans cemetery, she begins a path of discovery that exposes unpleasant truths about her own history. This is a first-rate ghost story with lots of New Orleans atmosphere.
Skullduggery Pleasant Book 3: The Faceless Ones (HarperCollins, August 2009)
This third book in the series heightens the suspense and raises the odds considerably. The skeleton wizard cum detective is back with his sassy teenage sidekick fighting evil. In the past, everything has been alright in the end, but not this time. This cliffhanger sequel will leave readers anxious for the fourth volume.
Going Bovine (Random House, September 2009)
This one is great, but difficult to describe. "Kid with Mad Cow Disease goes on roadtrip with hypochondriac dwarf and garden gnome who is actually a norse god" is a start, but it leaves out so much: fire giants, missing quantum scientists, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, punk angels who might be hallucinations, a happiness obsessed cult… I could go on for awhile, but you're better off reading this outstanding book. (High School and older)
Murder at Midnight (Scholastic, September 2009)
Murder at Midnight, prequel to Avi's outstanding novel Midnight Magic, is set in the medieval Italian City-State of Pergamontio. Fabrizio (a streetwise orphaned servant boy) and his master, Mangus the magician are arrested for plotting to assassinate King Claudio. Fabrizio must unravel the plot against them and discover the true criminal before Mangus is executed. Suspense, adventure, and historical detail combine in this fast-paced novel.
Catching Fire (The Second Book of The Hunger Games) (Scholastic, September 2009)
Having survived the Hunger Games and tricked the Game Masters into letting both of them live, Katniss and Peeta are sent on a victory tour through the land of Panem and its districts. The two teens lives are even more dangerous now that they have become a symbol to rebels against Panem. This book has lots of substance but is clearly a set-up for the next installment in the series.
The Magician's Elephant (Candlewick, September 2009)
This insightful modern fairy tale from diCamillo is accented with the atmospheric illustrations of Yoko Tanaka. Peter Augustus Duchene's life is inexplicably connected to an elephant conjured by a magician. The story examines the intertwined lives of the many people affected by the appearance of the magician’s elephant, as well as Peter’s search for his missing sister.
The Indigo Notebook (Random House, October 2009)
Every year, Zeeta's mother chooses a new country in which to live. While in Ecuador, Zeeta befriends an adopted boy named Wendell and agrees to help him find his Ecuadorian birth parents. Their journey leads them into life-threatening danger. Resau's gift of examining foreign cultures through her literature shines through in this latest novel.
Treasure Island: Candlewick Illustrated Classic (Candlewick, October 2009)
This classic novel is presented in its entirety with bold woodcut illustration by John Lawrence.
Leviathan (Simon and Schuster, October 2009)
Best-selling author Scott Westerfeld has brought his insight into the lives of young people and his talent for creating worlds to this new Steampunk alternate history novel set during WWI. Alex is the fugitive orphaned son of the assassinated Archduke Ferdinand. As an Austrian, he is commonly known as a Clanker, the word for those whose science and technology depends on machinery. Daryn Sharp is a girl disguised as a boy and is an airman for the British Aerial Service. She, like the rest of the British, is a Darwinist. Their science and technology is based on the manipulation of genetics to create new species, such as the vast Leviathan, a living whale airship. Keith Thompson’s detailed illustrations bring Westerfeld's bizarre imagined beasts and frightful Clanker machines to visual reality.
The Maze Runner (Random House, October 2009)
Thomas wakes in a metal box remembering nothing about himself and his life aside from his name. The box proves to be a lift that releases him into an enclosure populated by teenage boys and surrounded by a massive moving labyrinth. Thomas is incorporated into the society the boys have formed to meet their needs and attempt to find an escape from the labyrinth and its vicious guardians. Although the boys' isolation in the artificial world of the maze is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, their society does not degrade into the horrific dystopia of Golding's novel. Yet, The Maze Runner is a dystopian futuristic novel, pitting the boys' against their imprisoners as well as their environment. This is a novel equally complex in character and society to Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games in a world just as threatening and well-imagined.
Ice (Simon and Schuster, October 2009)
With its modern teenage heroine and its brutal Arctic setting, Ice adds a new dimension to the classic fairy tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon."
39 Clues Series (Scholastic)
These four books continue the scavenger hunt for fame and fortune conceived by Rick Riordan and launched in the first 39 clues book: The Maze of Bones. Book 3: The Sword ThiefBook 4: Beyond the Grave is by Jude Watson and finds the siblings in Egypt exploring ancient tombs and discovering their family's connections to Napoleon, Edison and Marie Curie. In Book 5: The Black Circle, best-selling author, Patrick Carman, takes up the story with Dan and Amy missing, possibly captured after traveling to Russia in search of a clue related to the last of the Russian royalty. Book 6: In Too Deep is Jude Watson's second contribution to the 10 book series, takes the children to Australia in search of information about their deceased parents and what they knew of the 39 clues.
Books 7, 8, 9, and 10 written respectively by Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman, Linda Sue Park, and Margaret Peterson Haddix are scheduled for release during 2010.