New series by Rick Riordan

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Book 1 in The Kane Chronicles series

May 4, 2010. 516p. Disney Hyperion, hardcover $17.99, ISBN 978-142311338-6. Gr. 5-9.

By the same author who brought you Percy Jackson and the Olympians, comes a new series of complicated hieroglyphics, strange monsters, layers of worlds, and dark Egyptian magic. A recommended read for lovers of fantasy and magic fiction, this tale takes the reader on a quest for the Red Pyramid that spans the globe and beyond into worlds that lay below the Earth’s surface. Join brother and sister duo, Carter and Sadie Kane, as they team up to tackle a whole netherworld of gods and goddesses, demons and monsters.

By joining two magical families, Carter and Sadie’s parents created the strongest generation of Kanes in millennium. Separated after their mom’s death six years ago, Carter and Sadie hardly know each other. But after their father disappears in a strange summoning ritual, they are forced to trust total strangers, and each other. After discovering they carry the blood of pharaohs they must face all the danger and expectations that entails. Readers will love the mystery and expense, the magic and the monsters Riordan creates in this new series. A different take on first person narrative, Carter and Sadie take turns dictating the book for audio preservation. Their typical teasing sibling behavior adds a dimension to the narration that is fun and unique. With characters young readers will want to befriend, realistic relationships, and a twisting plot that employs ancient and dark Egyptian magic young adult readers will find their hearts racing and imagination on fire. Even though the book is lengthy, readers will be wanting more as the book ends.

A new series about werewolves by Maggie Stifvater

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, book 2, Linger, to be released July 1, 2010.

Enjoy the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer? Or not.  Either way, this love story by Maggie Steifvater will work its way into your heart and give you goosebumps. 

     Grace was attacked by wolves when she was a little girl, dragged into the woods, and bitten over and over.  But why did she survive and why does she still love the wolves who roam the woods behind her house, especially the gray one with the yellow eyes?  Maybe Grace is a bit strange, maybe she shouldn't try to protect the wolves when a local teen is attacked and murdered by them, but Grace still stands by the wolves and swears their innocence.  When a badly injured boy with yellow eyes is found on her back porch the afternoon the townfolk have gone after the wolves, Grace's life changes forever.  She falls in love with the boy, or maybe she's loved him all along... 

A fun series by Meg Cabot. the Airhead Series

Airhead Series by Meg Cabot: book 1 Airhead, book 2 Being Nikki, book 3 Runaway

The smart, witty, and kind of frumpy Emerson becomes part of a mysterious plot when a enormous plasma flat screen TV falls on her and she is declared brain dead.  This is just the beginning of Emerson's new life as the famous supermodel Nikki Reed, into whose body her perfectly good brain has just been transplanted.  Not only can Em not tell her best friend (and love of her life) that it's really her inside Nikki's body, but she has to pretend to be Nikki with all the good and bad that entails. Em/Nikki uncovers some dangerous details as she lives Nikki's life, makes some new friends, and learns to even like modeling.  Enjoy the fun, excitment, and frustration as Em discovers how to be Nikki.

Full Tilt book trailer

Click here to view the book trailer for Full Tilt




a book trailer about a book by Neal Shusterman.

Neal was at Storybook Garden in Weslaco in March. Before his book signing, I checked out Full Tilt from Mary Hoge Middle School's library (thanks, Cynthia!) and loved it! So I took my daughters to the book signing and even though we didn't stay for very long, we loved hearing an author read his own material. I bought his book, Unwind, and I bought for Eleanor, The Schwa Was Here. We left them behind the counter, and Neal signed both of them for us; I picked them up the next morning. I loved Unwind, even more than Full Tilt, but I haven't read Eleanor's book yet. I think one of his books is being made into a movie, but not sure which one, maybe Everwild.
If you are looking for a new reading material, check out some of Neal's science fiction for young adult books, I think you will enjoy them!