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Kids' Next List

Top Ten -- Spring 2012

Same Sun Here (Hardcover)

$15.99
ISBN-13: 9780763656843
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Candlewick, 2/2012

In this stunning epistolary novel, Meena, an Indian immigrant living in New York City's Chinatown, and River, a boy growing up in rural Kentucky, first become pen pals and then best friends. Through warm, rich imagery Vaswani and House create a story of unlikely resonant rhymes in human lives across seemingly divergent circumstances. The authors integrate the complex political issues of immigration and mountaintop removal, which Meena and River face, with so much dexterity and heart that the reader will feel called to activism. I fell completely in love with these voices and know that they'll stay with me for a while to come.

Hannah Manshel, 57th Street Books


Under the Never Sky (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780062072030
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: HarperCollins, 1/2012
“Aria was born into a world of Dwellers and leads a life that is comfortable and free of fear. Perry lives in a wasteland called the Death Shop and needs to constantly fight for survival. When they first meet, they instantly hate each other, but as they travel together they realize how each of their lives depends on the strengths of the other. Their journey will determine the fate of both worlds. A stunning debut novel for teens of both genders who love adventure, action, romance, and unforgettable characters. Highly recommended!”
—Karen Briggs, Great Northern Books and Hobbies, Oscoda, MI

$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547628349
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 4/2012
“In the name of St. Mortain, the god of Death, killing a man is justified. Each with their own special ability, girls from around the land are called upon to train to be assassins in his name. Ismae has her own power, one very useful for killing men who have sinned, especially those who have wronged women. Full of intrigue, romance, and blood-racing action, Ismae's journey is one to remember. The next book in this series cannot come fast enough!”
—Hallie Wilkins, Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL

$15.99
ISBN-13: 9780763649463
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Candlewick, 2/2012
“Van Dusen's latest is children's book perfection, blending baseball with robots to tell the story of a science whiz who desperately wants to excel at baseball and ends up saving the day in a truly unique fashion. Van Dusen combines his distinctive rhyming verse with wonderfully brilliant illustrations for a humorous, touching, cheer-worthy read. Absolutely irresistible!”
—Katherine Osborne, Kennebooks, Kennebunk, ME

The False Prince (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780545284134
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Press, 4/2012
“Led by the intimidating but brilliant Connor, four orphans are forced to compete for the essential role in a treasonous plot -- that of impersonating the long-disappeared Prince Jaron of Carthya. Set in the Middle Ages, this tale invites readers to follow 15-year-old Sage, a defiant and witty orphan, through a twisted, dangerous, and all-consuming journey that, if unsuccessful, will result in his death. Full of suspense and dark humor, The False Prince is a compelling read. I look forward to Book Two”
—Stephenie McCollum, Copperfield's Books, Santa Rosa, CA

Partials (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780062071040
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Balzer + Bray, 2/2012
“Kira barely remembers the world before the RM virus decimated the human race. It is getting harder to see a better future, or any future at all, because the virus continues to kill all newborn infants. Kira's friend is pregnant and Kira is desperate to find a cure. She talks a couple of her friends into trying something drastic to find a cure, but instead they find so much more. This is a fast-paced novel with a big surprise, and readers will be clamoring for the sequel.”
—Margaret Brennan Neville, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT

Chomp (Hardcover)

$16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375868429
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 3/2012
“Working on a TV show called Expedition Survival! is no picnic for Wahoo and his dad, a professional animal wrangler. Set in Florida, this spoof of 'reality' TV shows is both hilarious and suspenseful. Dealing with the self-centered star, Derek Badger, anything can and does happen. Joining the mayhem is Tuna, a girl trying to get away from her abusive father. The blend of animals, great characters, and action make this a unique page-turner.”
—Barbara Katz, Next Chapter Bookshop, Mequon, WI

Fever (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9781442409071
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2/2012
“Picking up where Book I, Wither, left off, Fever is a non-stop thrill ride. Rhine, devastated by the life she has been forced into, makes a life-altering decision affecting not just her, but her sister wives and Gabriel as well. Rhine's journey to freedom and her struggle with who ultimately decides one's fate makes readers question their own mortality. DeStefano has written one of the strongest female characters in young adult fiction today.”
—Alexis Duell, Market Block Books, Troy, NY

I Hunt Killers (Hardcover)

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780316125840
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 4/2012
“Growing up the son of one of the country's most notorious serial killers, 17-year-old Jasper 'Jazz' Dent has an intimate understanding of how killers think, and sometimes it scares him just how much he knows. Determined to use his knowledge for good, Jazz tries -- uninvited -- to help the local police solve a murder. When the bodies start to pile up, and it becomes clear that the town has another serial killer on its hands, Jazz realizes he has put himself and his friends in harm's way. Fast-paced, funny, and utterly original, I Hunt Killers marks the start of an electric new teen series.”
—David Mallmann, Next Chapter Bookshop, Mequon, WI

$17.99
ISBN-13: 9780803737204
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Dial, 2/2012
“Brie dies of a broken heart -- literally. Her heart spontaneously severs in half when her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her. What follows is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Heaven turns out to be a pizza parlor filled with others who lost their lives too soon, where Brie finds a guide who just might be able to sew the pieces of her heart back together.”
—Maggie Carr, Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord, MI

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