The local graveyard might not be most people's preferred place to walk their dog, but Emma likes it for the quiet, and because she can visit her boyfriend's grave. On one of her evening walks there, she has a chilling encounter with the ghost of an old woman. From then on she can see and hear ghosts, and if she touches them, other people can see the ghosts, too. Emma is a necromancer. But being a necromancer is dangerous. Some people want to kill her for being one, and other necromancers want to kidnap her. All Emma wants is to help the ghost of a little boy who burned to death in a house fire, and who is reliving his death in an endless loop.
I listened to the audiobook version of this. I found the narrator to be a rather slow reader, but I was able to get past that and enjoy the story despite her pacing.
Suggest to teens looking for ghost stories, creepy books, or an interesting magic system. Kirkus recommends this for ages 12+.
Lo-Melkhiin has had three hundred wives, and all of them have died; some lasted only one night. When he comes to her village, she knows Lo-Melkhiin will take her beloved sister, the most beautiful girl there. So she takes her sister's place, expecting to die. But she survives the first night. Still, the palace is a dangerous place; her husband even more so. Her only chance of survival lies in the stories she spins, which, fuelled by her sister's prayers, keep coming true. The magic behind the stories has kept her alive so far, but is it enough to defeat the monster inside her husband?
Antimony's new school, Gunnerkrigg Court, is a strange place where science and magic coexist, just not peacefully. During her first week there, Anitmony acquires a second shadow, a best friend, and a mischievous fox spirit, which accidentally possesses her stuffy, putting itself entirely under Antimony's control. Together with her new best friend, Kat, Antimony tries to unravel the various mysteries around the school and in the magical Gillie Woods across the bridge. Life at Gunnerkrigg Court is usually dangerous, but never dull.
Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell's names on the front is a must read, right? The language is beautiful, the illustrations are gorgeous, and why aren't you getting your hands on a copy right now? What are you waiting for? Go read!
Anise was given a choker by her father and told never to take it off or she would be punished horribly. But when a small, bat-like creature knocks her over, the choker comes off. Now she is the Rose Princess, and holder of four cards with which she can summon her four Rose Knights. The Rose Knights happen to be the four hottest guys in her school, and when she commands them, they are compelled to obey her every word. Together it's their duty to keep a magical seal from being opened and releasing the demon lord trapped by it.
I've been getting requests for this title from my anime club for months, so I was thrilled when I spotted it in amongst the new books at work.
Jake lives at the Institute, a national park/reserve for dragons. Like everyone who lives or visits the Institute, however, the closest he's ever come to a dragon is the lizards in the Institute's zoo. But on his first solo visit out into the reserve (away from all the tourists), Jake sees his first dragon. She's dying. A poacher killed her while she was in the midst of giving birth, but one of her babies is still alive.
There are a number of graphic novel versions of The Odyssey. This one stands out for being pure fun. That Tim Mucci dedicates the book to his parents, who "never told me to stop being weird," and Ben Caldwell (pencils) to his mother, who "let me read the weirdest books as a kid" should tell you something about their approach to the story
Clay is a only rookie golem molder, but with some soil and a few ingredients, including his own blood, he can create a golem capable of anything from heavy labour to flight. He and his three overly-protective companions (amazingly life-like golems) are newly arrived in town, and determined to win a golem-building contest. If Clay succeeds, the golems he makes will protect the town treasury. Unfortunately for Clay, his talents attract the attention of some unsavoury people who'd love to get their hands on his powerful blood.