LINDA'S HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE FOR KIDS
We have dozens of great titles for kids of all ages. What follows are just a few of the highlights; for the complete list, visit our website or call the store for a hard copy.
THE GATES by John Connolly. Atria, $24.00 (signed first U.S. edition). Ages 10 to 100.
Young Samuel Johnson and his dachshund, Boswell, are trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a full three days before Halloween, which is how they come to witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Road. The Abernathys don't mean any harm by their flirtation with the underworld, but when they unknowingly call forth Satan himself. Can one small boy defeat evil and save the world as we know it? Bursting with imagination and impossible to put down, The Gates is about the pull between good and evil, physics and fantasy.
GLADIATORS: Pop-up Colosseum with Gladiator Trading Cards by Toby Forward, illustrated by Steve Noon. Candlewick Press, $27.99. Ages 9-12. Extra shipping costs will apply due to weight.
Unfold a spectacular model of the world's most awe-inspiring amphitheater – the Colosseum – and enter an ancient world where, for 300 years, gladiators pitted their strength and skill against one another. This exciting set includes: a sophisticated pop-up scale model of the Colosseum; a 40-page book describing a day at the games – for both a Roman citizen and a slave; 8 gladiator cards identifying weapons and fighting styles; a map of the streets and buildings of ancient Rome; a diagram of the Colosseum and its underground tunnels; and game pieces and rules for playing the ancient Roman game of tabula.
THE BATMAN VAULT: A Museum-in-a-Book, featuring Rare Collectibles from the Batcave by Robert Greenberger and Matthew K. Manning. DC Comics, $49.95. Extra shipping costs will apply due to weight.
Jump in the Batmobile and get ready for a wild ride – this is a complete and in-depth look at the development of America'' most popular super hero. From his vigilante days to his television stardom, from Dark Knight to mentor, this memorabilia-and anecdote-packed collection follows the masked man on his crime-fighting career, and charts the history of the comics and movies that bear his name. With removable artifacts and never-before-seen sketches, notes, and plans, The Batman Vault is the perfect gift for the genuine fan of all ages.
HOW TO COOK CHILDREN: A Grisly Recipe Book by Martin Howard & Colin Stimpson. Pavilion, $12.99. Ages 9–12.
An essential for every witch's bookshelf, by world-renowned crone Esmelia Sniff. Ms. Sniff is a traditional witch whose interests include cackling, mumbling, incontinence and licking toads. She runs the world famous restaurant – The Knife and Nursery – and also owns the world's largest gingerbread house, a 78-room mansion with an escape-proof cupboard.
TOLLINS: Explosive Tales for Children by Conn Iggulden, illustrated by Lizzy DuncanHarper, $16.99. Ages 9-12. Extra shipping costs will apply due to weight.
These are the first three stories of the Tollins. Yes, they do have wings, but no, they aren't fairies. Tollins are a lot less fragile than fairies. They are about as fragile as a house of brick. In "How to Blow Up Tollins" a fireworks factory comes to the village of Chorleywood and the Tollins find themselves being used as industrial supplies. It's up to one young Tollin to save his people from becoming an ingredient. And that's just the first of three explosive stories!
THE GIFT OF NOTHING Special Slipcased Edition, by Patrick McDonnellLittle, Brown, $19.99. All ages.
In this appealing picture book, Mooch the cat – star of the nationally-syndicated comic strip Mutts – searches for a present for his friend, Earl the dog. Earl already has everything he needs: a bowl, a bed, a chewy toy. What else could Mooch get him? This timeless tale has a heart-warming message about the most valuable gift of all – friendship – that appeals to readers of all ages. Great for a last-minute gift, this special edition includes an elegant paper slipcase designed to look like gift wrap with foil accents and an embossed bow and faux hang tag.
THE TWILIGHT JOURNALS: Four Keepsake Journals in a Collectible Tin, based on the novels by Stephenie MeyerLittle, Brown, $24.99. Extra shipping costs will apply due to weight.
Four gorgeous journals are packaged in a collectible keepsake tin, inspired by Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. Each journal features the beautiful and instantly-recognizable Twilight Saga cover art and is fully-designed throughout with images and decorative quotes from each of the books, as well as some of the classic works of literature that inspired them.
THE VAMPIRE IS JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU by Vlad MezrichScholastic, $7.99
Are you in love with a vampire? Are you worried that you might not be his (blood) type? Do you wonder whether that cold stare means he isn't interested, or if it's because he's been dead for three centuries? Sometimes he's simply holding back his true feelings, and other times – well, he's just not that into you. How can you tell? Undead dating specialist Vlad Mezrich uses quizzes, Top Ten lists, language analysis, real-life (and real-death) testimonials, and fancy charts to show you what you need to do in order to get your vampire and keep him forever.
AGES 3-8
GUESS AGAIN! by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam RexSimon & Schuster, $16.99. Ages 4-8.
Illustrator Adam Rex is absolutely a favorite of Linda's. In Guess Again!, witty illustrations are accompanied by verbal riddles – and clever writing is met with quizzical pictures. Guess the answer, then guess again!
SNOW BUGS: A Wintery Pop-Up Book by David A. CarterSimon & Schuster, $11.99. Ages 3 and up.
This next installment of the wildly popular Bugs series captures what everyone loves about chilly weather! From snowflakes and ski lifts to hot chocolate and snow angels, this new title is a perfect way to stay warm during the cold days of winter! With pop-ups on every spread.
ONE TRUE BEAR by Ted DewanWalker, $14.99. Ages 4-8.
In the tradition of The Velveteen Rabbit, with adorable classic art, comes the story of Darcy Brewster, one brave teddy-bear cub, who accepts a real challenge – to be a true friend to Damian, a boy who has a long history of destroying his toys. Darcy is ready, willing, and able to love and comfort Damian, even if it means putting his own fur on the line.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Brett HelquistHarper Collins, $17.99. Ages 4–8.
In this luminous picture book adaptation of Charles Dickens' immortal classic, the story of Ebenezer Scrooge leaps off the page to warm the soul of one and all. From Scrooge's first "Bah, humbug!" to the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Past; from the courage of Tiny Tim to the glory of Christmas morning, Brett Helquist's art bursts with spirit, humor, and an irresistible attention to detail. Here is a treasure for the whole family to share, year after year. A merry Christmas, everyone!
BIG FUN! (Adventure of Meno) by Toni & Angela DiTerlizziSimon & Schuster, $9.99. Ages 4-8.
GREETINGS EARTHLINGS! I AM MENO, ELF OF SPACE, HERE TO VISIT HUMAN RACE! Tony DiTerlizzi is the #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the Spiderwick Chronicles, Kenny & the Dragon, and the 2003 Caldecott Honor Book The Spider and the Fly. Here he teams with wife and partner in publishing, Angela, to inject the standard sweetness of books for tots with a family-friendly dose of BIG FUN!
WET FRIEND! (Adventure of Meno) by Toni & Angela DiTerlizziSimon & Schuster, $9.99. Ages 4–8.
GREETINGS, EARTHLINGS! MENO AND FRIEND YAMAGOO WANT FRIEND TRIO. YES, WE DO! The DiTerlizzis return, this time to make sure every child gets his or her wish, especially if that wish is for a WET FRIEND!
WHERE'S WALDO? THE INCREDIBLE PAPER CHASE by Martin HandfordCandlewick, $14.99. Ages 5–8.
In this new classic title, fans follow the wily guy through more astounding scenes, each containing a maddeningly hard-to-find piece of paper torn from his sketchpad. Add in an exciting parade, a confounding maze, the trickiest spot-the-difference challenge in history, and Martin Handford's incomparable artwork, and you've got one extraordinary hands-on expedition. Waldo lovers will have tons of fun with a fold-out Muddy Swampy Jungle Game with press-out counters and tongue-twisting forfeit cards, and a press-out circus for fans to put on their very own show.
HAVE YOU BEEN NAUGHTY OR NICE? by Ethan LongLittle, Brown, $10.99. Ages 4–6.
In Have You Been Naughty or Nice? the duck excitedly awaits a visit from Santa Claus until he eats all of Santa's snacks and realizes he just put himself on the naughty list. But never fear, because the duck has a clever plan to get himself back on the nice list. This fourth book in Ethan Long's duck series features a cloth Santa cap on the cover and a fold-out letter to Santa, and is filled to the brim with holiday hilarity that will keep kids entertained for hours.
WAG by Patrick McDonnellLittle, Brown, $15.99 (signed first edition) Ages 4-8.
The creator of the comic strip Mutts asks, "What makes Earl's tail wag?" Mooch the cat knows. Do you? It seems that everything gets Earl's tail wagging-a bowl of food, a field of flowers, long walks, and belly rubs. But Mooch, Earl's best friend, knows what all of these things have in common: love is what makes Earl's tail wag, wiggle, fwip and fwap.
AUNTIE CLAUS, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Elise PrimaveraSimon & Schuster, $17.99. Ages 4-8.
Sophie Kringle had always dreamed of being the Sugar Plum Fairy in the school play. After all, Sophie is a Kringle. Her family lives at the Bing Cherry Hotel, and her favorite aunt, Auntie Claus, serves Christmas cookies at teatime – even in July. When Auntie Claus hears that Sophie will make her debut in the school play, she decides to have her cake and eat it too – this year Auntie Claus will be home for the holidays and the North Pole will move south to New York! Finally getting to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, the department store windows, and the 57th Street Snowflake with Auntie Claus – Sophie will have a Christmas that she never could have imagined!
THE SECRET PLAN by Julia Sarcone-RoachKnopf, $16.99 Ages 4-8.
Milo and his kittycat neighbors have noticed that bedtime always seems to come just when they are having the most fun. So they hatch a secret let's fool Mommy-and-Daddy plan and find the "most perfect no bedtime ever place" to have just a little more fun before sleep. Then, a let's-all-pile-in-together slumber party proves to be the perfect nightcap. Kids will enjoy all the charm of this lovely let's-not-go-to-bed-yet book-which does end with everyone fast asleep!
SKIPPYJON JONES: LOST IN SPICE by Judy SchachnerDutton, $16.99 Ages 4-8.
Buckle up, amigos – everyone's favorite kitty boy is about to lift off. You'll want to be there when the brave Skippito gets lost in spice! That's right, spice. Skippyjon knows – from his big ears to his toes – that the planet Mars is red because it's covered in spicy red pepper. To prove it, he's off on a space jaunt replete with craters, crazies, and creatures from Mars. His new adventure is packed with witty wordplay, Spanish phrases, and Judy Schachner's trademark hilarity. (With audio CD, narrated by the author.)
JINGLE BELLS: A Pop-Up Holiday Song, illustrated by Eren Blanquet Unten, paper engineering by Michael CaputoPrice Stern Sloan, $12.99 Ages 3 and up.
The holiday classic "Jingle Bells" is now a pop-up book! Riding through the snow has never been so much fun!
THE BOG BABY by Jeanne Willis & Gwen MillwardSchwarts & Wade, $16.99 Ages 4-8.
When two small sisters go fishing in a magic pond, they find something much better than a frog or a newt. They find a Bog Baby. Small and blue, with wings like a dragon, the girls decide to take him home with them and keep him a secret. But the Bog Baby is a wild thing, and when he gets sick, the girls turn to their mother for help. She teaches them the greatest lesson of all: sometimes if you really love something, you have to let it go.
MY CHANUKAH PLAYBOOK by Salina YoonSimon & Schuster, $10.99 Ages 3–5.
Celebrate Chanukah by learning about the holiday's traditions and foods. With eight play pieces that can be used on every page and a full-size menorah at the very end, this interactive book is sure to light up your holiday fun!
AGES 9-12
THE BRIXTON BROTHERS #1: THE CASE OF THE CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY by Mac Barnett, illustrations by Adam RexSimon & Schuster, $14.99 Ages 8–12.
Steve Brixton always wanted to be a detective – until he found out he already WAS one. It all starts here: The thrilling story of Steve Brixton's first case. Our hero has a national treasure to recover, a criminal mastermind to unmask, and a social studies report due Monday – all while on the run from cops, thugs, and secret-agent librarians. Since when can librarians rappel from helicopters? We think you'll agree: Steve Brixton's first adventure is his best adventure yet.
MAX FINDER MYSTERY COLLECTED CASEBOOK, Volumes 1 and 2, by Liam O'Donnell and Michael ChoOwl Kids, $9.95 each (soft cover) Ages 9-12.
Crack the case with a collection of graphic mystery stories starring popular amateur detectives Max Finder and Alison Santos. Featuring 10 solve-it-yourself stories originally published in OWL Magazine, as well as new puzzles and illustrated character profiles. The vibrant comic illustrations and witty dialogue will have readers on the edge of their seats. Parents will be excited to have quality full-color comic content that will keep pre-teens reading for hours.
MAX FINDER COLLECTED CASEBOOK, VOLUME 2. Owl Kids, $9.95
SEPTIMUS HEAP: THE MAGYKAL PAPERS by Angie Sage, illustrated by Mark ZugHarperCollins, $17.99 (first edition, signed by Angie Sage) Ages 9–12.
Enter the world of Septimus Heap with this collection of previously unpublished papers. This rich compendium includes: The private journals of Septimus, Jenna, and Marcia Overstrand; the best – and worst – places to eat as described in The Egg-on-Toast Restaurant Guide; Sirius Weazal's Speedy Guides to the Palace, the Wizard Tower, and Wizard Way; excerpts from the Pigeon Post Biography series and the Heaps of History series; Alther Mella's Guide to Being Dead: Ten Handy Rules for New Ghosts; beautiful maps, quirky flyers, funny letters, and much more!
SEPTIMUS HEAP BOOK 5: SYREN, by Angie Sage Harper Collins, $17.99 (signed first edition) Ages 9–12.
In this fifth book in the Magykal series, Septimus ends up on a captivatingly beautiful island, one of seven set in a sparkling sea. He's stranded there with his badly injured dragon, along with Jenna and Beetle. There are some strange things about the island, including a Magykal girl named Syrah, a cat-shaped lighthouse that has lost its Light, and an eerie presence that sings to Septimus. Trouble is also brewing for Lucy and Wolf Boy, who have become entangled with some nefarious sailors at sea, and for Milo Banda, Jenna's father, who is harboring a mysterious treasure chest in his ship's hold.
THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PRISONER'S DILEMMA by Trenton Lee Stewart Little, Brown, $16.99. Ages 9-12.
Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance embark on a daring new adventure that threatens to force them apart from their families, friends, and even each other. When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, the foursome must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before.
SPELLBINDER by Helen StringerFeiewel and Friends, $17.99 Ages 9-12.
Belladonna Johnson can see ghosts. It's a trait she's inherited from her mother's side of the family, like blue eyes or straight hair. And it's a trait she could do without, because what twelve-year-old wants to be caught talking to someone invisible? It is convenient, though, after Belladonna's parents are killed in a car accident. They can live with her the same as always, watching the same old TV shows in their same old house. Nothing has changed – until everything changes. One night, with no warning, they vanish into thin air. With the help of her classmate Steve, Belladonna is left to uncover what's become of the spirits and to navigate a whole world her parents have kept well-hidden.
LEAVING THE BELLWEATHERS by Kristin Clark Venuti Egmont, $15.99 Ages 9–12.
The young Bellweathers—fourteen-year-old Spider, thirteen-year-old Ninda, and the ten-year-old triplets, Brick, Spike, and Sassy – and their equally peculiar parents have brought constant chaos to the once-peaceful village of Eel-Smack-by-the-Bay. Still, no one has suffered more than their loyal butler, Benway, who has finally had enough. He is secretly writing his tell-all memoirs, packing his bags, and planning his move to a tropical location, Far, Far Away. But when the siblings discover Benway is preparing to leave their lighthouse home, they band together to prove how much he's needed. Full of comic capers and close calls, an art heist and albino alligators, and good intentions gone wrong, this hilarious debut novel introduces a new family that is absolutely unforgettable.
CRIME SCENE SCIENCE by Karen Romano Young, illustrated by David GoldinNational Geographic, $12.95 Ages 9-12.
Crime Scene Science that puts you inside the head-and the toolbox-of modern-day experts in crime solving. Slip under the yellow crime-scene tape to conduct your own experiments: you'll soon be detecting, inspecting, and connecting the dots of forensic science. Investigate rates of human decomposition; find out what makes fingerprints unique; identify handwriting traits; and discover the secrets of paper fiber analysis. Talk the talk, and walk the walk, your crime scene is this way, Detective.
YOUNG ADULT
PETER AND THE SWORD OF MERCY (Starcatchers series) by Dave Barry & Ridley PearsonHyperion, $18.99. Young Adult.
The year is 1901 – it's been 23 years since Peter and the Lost Boys returned from Rundoon. Since then, nobody on the island has grown a day older, and the Lost Boys continue their friendship with the Mollusk tribe, and their rivalry with Captain Hook. Meanwhile in London, Molly has married George Darling and is raising 3 children: Wendy, Michael, and John. One night a visitor appears at her door; it's James, one of Peter's original Lost Boys. He is now working for Scotland Yard and suspects that the heir to England's throne, Prince Albert Edward, is under the influence of shadow creatures. When Molly suddenly goes missing, it is up to her 11-year-old daughter, Wendy, to continue the mission. She has heard her mother's stories of a flying boy named Peter Pan, and he may be her only hope in saving the world from a shadowy doom.
PASTWORLD by Ian BeckBloomsbury, $16.99. Young Adult.
What if all of London was an amusement park-a whole city returned to Victorian times to entertain visitors from the twenty-first century? Eve is a lifelong resident of Pastworld who doesn't know she's living in a theme park until a mysterious threat forces her to leave home. Caleb is a visiting tourist who finds the lawlessness of the past thrilling-until he suddenly becomes a fugitive from an antiquated justice system. And in the midst of it all, in the thick London fog a dark and deadly figure prowls, claiming victim after victim.
THE LOOKING GLASS WARS #3: ARCHENEMY by Frank BeddorDial Books, $17.99 (signed first edition). Young Adult.
Discover the fate of Wonderland – and imagination itself – in this riveting conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy of The Looking Glass Wars. The Heart Crystal's power has been depleted, and Imagination along with it. The people of Wonderland have all lost their creative drive, and most alarmingly, even Queen Alyss is without her powers. There is some comfort in the fact that the vicious Redd Heart seems to be similarly disabled. Amazingly, she is attempting to team up with her enemy, Alyss, in order to reclaim Wonderland from King Arch.
THE SPLENDOR FALLS by Rosemary Clement-MooreDelacorte Press, $17.99. Young Adult.
Can love last beyond the grave? Sylvie Davis is a ballerina who can't dance. A broken leg ended her career, but what broke her heart was her father's death, and what's breaking her spirit is her mother's remarriage. Shipping her to Alabama is her mother's solution for Sylvie's unhappiness, wher her father's cousin is restoring a family home. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can't stop thinking about. Shawn, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys – a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin's – has a hold on her that she doesn't quite understand. Then she starts seeing things. Sylvie's lost nearly everything – is she starting to lose her mind as well?
CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne CollinsScholastic Press; $17.99. Young Adult.
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion This is the exciting sequel to THE HUNGER GAMES.
THE MAZE RUNNER by James DashnerDelacorte Press, $16.99. Young Adult.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade – a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. No one knows why or how they got to the Glade; all they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up – the first girl to ever arrive in theGlade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
LIAR by Justine LarbalestierBloomsbury, $16.99. Young Adult.
Micah will freely admit that she's a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she'll ever tell you. Over the years she's duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she's always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them – and herself – that she's finally come clean, Liar is a bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly.
THE DOOM MACHINE by Matt TeagueBlue Sky Press, $17.99. Young Adult.
When a spaceship lands in Vern Hollow, Jack's hometown, he and his no-account inventor-uncle Bud are busy trying to fix a car driven by Dr. Shumway and her daughter, Isadora. Although Uncle Bud secretly knows the aliens are after one of his inventions, everyone is surprised when the space aliens capture seven of Vern Hollow's residents and take them into outer space on a wild adventure.
LEVIATHAN by Scott Westerfield, illustrated by Keith ThompsonSimon Pulse, $19.99. Young Adult. Extra shipping charges will apply due to weight.
Steampunk at its finest! It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered. Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure.
THE MIDNIGHT CHARTER by David WhitleyRoaring Brook Press, $16.99. Young Adult.
In a society based on trade, where everything can be bought and sold, the future rests on the secrets of a single document-and the lives of two children whose destiny it is to discover its secrets. In this spellbinding novel, newcomer David Whitley has imagined a nation at a crossroads: misshaped by materialism and facing a choice about its future. He has brought to life two children who will test the nation's values-and crafted a spellbinding adventure story that will keep readers turning the pages until the very end. For readers who love Philip Pullman, THE MIDNIGHT CHARTER combines great storytelling with a compelling vision – a many-layered adventure with powerful and timely implications.
MIRRORSCAPE by Mike WilksEgmont, $16.99. Young Adult.
Melkin Womper is thrilled to escape his dull future as a village weaver and develop his artistic talent when he's apprenticed to Ambrosius Blenk, one of Vlam's most famous masters. Instead, his dreams are quickly crushed by the reality of days filled with unimportant tasks and bullying by the other apprentices whose wealthy families have purchased their positions. But when Mel and his new friends, Ludo and Wren, inadvertently stumble into a battle between the Fifth Mystery and the Rainbow Rebellion, an underground band fighting to make Pleasures affordable for all, the trio must step through Blenk's paintings into the Mirrorscape. In this alternative world, the friends encounter monsters, mazes, talking houses, angels, and more.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
HATTER M. VOL. 2: MAD WITH WONDER Graphic Novel by Frank Beddor and Liz Cavalier, illustrations by Sami MakkonenAutomatic Pictures, $24.99 (hardcover) or $14.95 (soft cover) (signed first edition, simultaneous release). Ages 9-12.
It's a mad, mad, mad world as Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan's maniacal quest to find Alyss continues! In Volume 2, Hatter follows the Glow from London to the battlefields of America's Civil War in search of the Princess who must someday be Queen. The America that Hatter encounters is a sprawling, wounded, boiling landscape of innocence and energy run amok. The war is tearing the country apart, yet Hatter must maintain his sanity in this maelstrom of holy rollers, child healers, prophetic snake handlers, deranged outlaws, and passionate southern belles.
KITH (The Good Neighbors) by Holly Black & Ted NaifehGraphix, $16.99. Young Adult.
Rue Silver's life is not what it appears to be. Her mother is a faerie, and has been taken back to the faerie realm. As Rue goes to bring her back, she must travel deep into an inhuman world. At the same time, the faerie realm is venturing into our world too, and taking its toll on those Rue loves. When her grandfather's plans threaten Rue's city, she realizes that she's the only one who can stop him. Holly Black is co-creator of the popular Spiderwick series.
ARTEMIS FOWL : THE ARCTIC INCIDENT – The Graphic Novel, adapted by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin; art by Giovanni RiganoDisney/Hyperion, $9.99 (first trade paperback edition) Ages 9-12.
In this second graphic novel installment of the Artemis Fowl series, fans can follow along as the world's youngest criminal mastermind rushes to save a man who has been kidnapped by the Russian Mafiya: his own father. Eoin Colfer has once again teamed up with acclaimed comic writer Andrew Donkin to adapt the text for this action-packed, brilliantly illustrated adventure in the Artemis Fowl series.
RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE by Shannon and Dean Hale; illustrated by Nathan HaleBloomsbury, $14.99 (soft cover) Ages 9-12.
Once upon a time, in a land you only think you know, lived a little girl and her mother – or the woman she thought was her mother. Every day, when the little girl played in her pretty garden, she grew more curious about what lay on the other side of the garden wall – a rather enormous garden wall. And every year, as she grew older, things seemed weirder and weirder, until the day she finally climbed to the top of the wall and looked over into the mines and desert beyond. Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale teams up with husband Dean Hale and brilliant artist Nathan Hale (no relation) to bring readers a swashbuckling and hilarious twist on the classic story as you've never seen it before.