Dead, Dying and the Undead | Fame and Fortune | Journey > Destination | Spies and Intrigue
Death can be an adventure, but not everyone lives to tell about it. Join us in exploring the often mysterious world of death and those who experience it.
Jillian Suback, Chair
Karen Brooks-Reese
Kristin L. Fletcher-Spear
Megan Honig
Dawn McMillan
Ann Sloan
Melanie Wachsmann
Carlisle Kraft Webber
Anderson, M.T. Thirsty. 2003. Candlewick. 978-0-763-62014-1 $7.99
Chris is your typical guy: annoyed with his parents, irritated by his friends, ignored by girls…and rapidly turning into a vampire.
Brook, Kevin. Road of the Dead. 2007. Scholastic. 978-0-439-78624-9 $7.99
When their sister is murdered, Ruben and Cole travel to the village where she was killed to claim her body.�� There the boys discover brutal and close-minded villagers determined to cover up the cause of their sister’s death.
Cabot, Meg. Shadowland: Mediator Book One. 2004. HarperTeen. 978-0-060-72511-2 $7.99
Suze is a mediator — forcing ghosts to move on from this world — whether they want to or not.
Caine, Rachel. Glass Houses: The Morganville Vampires. 2006. Penguin Group. 978-0-451-21994-7 $5.99
Claire attends college in a town run by vampires, who would leave you alone, unless you get on their bad side.�� Claire’s friends already have issues with the local leaders and soon Claire finds herself mixed up in trouble, danger, and possibly immortality.
Colfer, Eoin. The Wish List. 2004. Scholastic. 978-0-439-44336-4 $6.99
Meg was killed while committing a crime, so to get to heaven she must first go back to Earth and complete a task. Unfortunately, hell has sent someone back also.
De la Cruz, Melissa. Blue Bloods. 2006. Hyperion. 978-1-423-10126-0 $8.99
The Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires, thought they were invincible until something starts hunting them.
Delaney, Joseph. Night of the Soul Stealer: The Last Apprentice Book Three. Illus. by Patrick Arrasmith. 2008. Harper Trophy. 978-0-060-76626-9 $7.99
Tom Ward, apprentice to the Spook who gets rid of witches, must this time face a rogue Spook turned necromancer.
Draper, Sharon. Tears of a Tiger. 1996. Simon Pulse. 978-0-689-80698-8 $5.99
A drunk driving accident causes the death of Robert Washington, captain of the basketball team at predominantly African American Hazelwood High. New articles, dialogues, and other innovative formats show how the student body reacts to the tragedy, and how Andy Jackson, who drove the car, is pulled down by his own feelings of guilt.
Freyman-Weyr, Garret. Stay with Me. 2006. Graphia. 978-0-618-88404-9 $8.99
After Leila’s sister commits suicide, Leila’s anxious to learn why and what that means to her.
Gaiman, Neil. Death, the High Cost of Living. Illus. by Dave McKean, Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham. 1994. DC Vertigo. 978-1-563-89133-5 $12.99
Death takes a holiday with a suicidal teen.
Green, John. Looking for Alaska. 2007. Penguin. 978-0-142-40251-1 $7.99
Smart loner Miles, whose hobby is to memorize famous people’s dying words, leaves home for boarding school in search of a “Great Perhaps.” There he meets his first close friends, including enticing but screwed up Alaska Young, and experiences his first great tragedy.
Hicks, Faith Erin. Zombies Calling. 2007. SLG. 978-1-593-62079-0 $9.95
Joss’s friends think her obsession with zombie movies is ridiculous, but when their college campus comes under attack they’re glad she knows the rules.
Hino, Matsuri. Vampire Knight, Volume 1. Illus. by Matsuri Hino. 2007. VIZ Media. 978-1-421-50822-1 $8.99
Yuki Cross lives at Cross Academy, where she is caught up in the struggle to keep the peace between the Day Class of humans and the Night Class of vampires.
Howard, Josh. Dead @ 17. 2006. Viper Comics. 978-0-975-41936-6 $14.95
Nara may be dead, but she’s the last hope her town has of surviving the zombie invasion.
Kagesaki, Yuna. Chibi Vampire. 2006. Tokyopop. 978-1-598-16322-3 $9.99
Karin is the middle child in a family of vampires. She is an unvampire producing blood instead of drinking it. The Vampires in this manga don’t really drink blood; they drink basically sin in the blood (i.e. lies, stress, and misfortune).
Kotegawa, Yua. Line. Illus. by Yua Kotegawa. 2006. ADV Manga. 978-1-413-90249-5 $9.99
Chiko found a cell phone and now it’s up to her to save the lives of suicidal people calling with one last plea.
Kubo, Tite. Bleach, Volume 1. Illus. by Tite Kubo. 2004. VIZ Media. 978-1-591-16441-8 $7.95
Ichigo can see ghosts, but he’s unprepared when he is forced into the world of Soul Reapers — warriors who fight Hollows, evil spirits who prey on human souls.
Leavitt, Martine. Keturah and Lord Death. 2006. Red Deer Press. 978-0-889-95370-3 $11.99
Lost and hungry after following a stately hart through the forest, Keturah encounters Lord Death, who is ready to take her. Using her storytelling skills, she persuades Lord Death to set her free if she can find her true love in one day.
McKinley, Robin. Sunshine. 2004. Jove. 978-0-515-13881-8 $7.99
Sunshine, a young woman with powers yet unknown, must pair up with an ostracized vampire to help defeat an evil force in a post-Voodoo Wars world.
Marrone, Amanda. Uninvited. 2007. Simon Pulse. 978-1-416-93978-8 $8.99
Jordan’s ex-boyfriend keeps trying to get in her window at night — she’d be thrilled, if he wasn’t dead.
Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. 2006. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 978-0-316-01584-4 $10.99
Bella moves from Phoenix to Forks, Washington and finds her life in danger when she falls in love with a vampire named Edward. Luckily for Bella, the vampires in Edward’s coven only drink the blood of animals, not human blood. While their passion for each other grows, so does the danger when another vampire coven passes through town setting their sights on Bella.
Musk, Justine. Uninvited. 2007. MTV Books. 978-1-416-53827-1 $8.99
Kelly’s brother Jasper disappears after a car wreck that killed two other people. One night, Jasper returns, but someone else has followed him home.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Jade Green: A Ghost Story. 2001. Simon Pulse. 978-0-689-82002-1 $5.99
Orphaned Judith gets caught up in a series of mysterious events which may be tied to a previous orphan who lived in her house — a girl who died by cutting off her own hand.
Nix, Garth. Sabriel. 2008. Eos. 978-0-061-47435-4 $9.99
When the dead cease to stay dead, budding necromancer Sabriel must take the place of her father, a necromancer who has journeyed too far into the land of the dead and becomes trapped.
Ohba, Tsugumi. Deathnote, Volume 1. Illus. by Takeshi Obata. 2005. VIZ Media. 978-1-421-50168-0 $7.99Light, a bored high school genius, finds a notebook that gives him the power of death. Soon he finds himself on the run from a special police task force, but they can’t prove that he’s the killer.
Peach-Pit. Zombie-Loan, Volume 1. Illus. by Peach-Pit. 2007. Yen Press. 978-0-759-52353-1 $10.99
When rings that foretell their death appear on the necks of two boys at Michiru’s school, she becomes caught in a struggle between the living and the dead.
Pfeffer, Susan Beth. Life As We Knew It. 2008. Harcourt Children’s Books. 978-0-152-06154-8. $6.95
Tsunamis, earthquakes, massive floods, volcanic eruptions, increasingly hazardous air quality are just the beginning. Millions of people just within the U.S. are dead in the first week. With electricity completely off line and warnings of oil and gas shortages, Miranda and her family must depend on each other if they have any hope of surviving the record breaking cold winter to come.
Price, Charlie. Dead Connection. 2006. Roaring Brook Press. 978-0-312-37966-7. $7.99
A loner, who communes with the dead in the town cemetery, hears the voice of a murdered cheerleader and tries to convince adults of what happened to her.
Qualey, Marsha. Come in from the Cold. 2008. Graphia. 978-0-547-01439-5 $7.99
Maud’s sister died protesting the war, Jeff’s brother died fighting it. Now they’re both trying to make sense of their world — and each other.
Richardson, E.E. Devil’s Footsteps. 2006. Random House Children’s Books. 978-0-440-23916-1 $5.99
Five years ago, Bryan lost his brother Adam to the Dark Man who haunts the town of Redford, England. Now another boy has seen the grim legend come to life, and the teens team up to bring down the Dark Man for good.
Shan, Darren. Lord Loss. 2006. Little, Brown. 978-0-316-01233-1 $8.99
Grubbs Grady thinks he’s a normal middle schooler until he comes home to find his family killed by demons. Suddenly, he’s plunged into a world of werewolves, magic, and horror.
Shiomi, Chika. Canon, Volume 1. Illus. by Chika Shiomi. 2007. CMX. 978-1-401-21163-9 $9.99
Canon survived a vampire attack that wiped out her entire class. Now she fights the undead from the inside as one of them.
Shiomi, Chika. Yurara, Volume 1. Illus. by Chika Shiomi. 2007. VIZ Media. 978-1-421-51350-8 $8.99
Yurara thinks she’s alone in her ability to see ghosts. When she starts high school, however, she meets two handsome guys who also have powers and discovers a mysterious protector living inside herself.
Shusterman, Neal. Everlost. 2006. Simon Pulse. 978-0-689-87238-9 $6.99
After dying in a car crash, Nick and Allie are on course towards an eternal light, but instead, they are detoured to a parallel universe known as Everlost. Determined to escape, they have to enlist the help of shady and dangerous souls.
Spears, Rick. Black Metal, Volume 1. Illus. by B.B. Chuck. 2007. Oni Press. 978-1-932-66472-0 $11.95
Metal head twins Shawn and Sam Stronghand are outcasts wherever they go, but the appearance of a mysterious sword shows that their rightful place is in the Underworld.
Stolarz, Laurie Faria. White is for Magic. 2004. Llewellyn Worldwide. 978-0-738-70443-2 $8.95
Seventeen-year-old Stacey is having nightmares again — creepy dreams where she is haunted by the ghosts of people who have been brutally murdered.�� Dreams that can clue her into potentially saving the lives of others.
Takami, Koshun. Battle Royale. 2003. VIZ Media. 978-1-569-31778-5 $15.95
One ninth grade class, three days, only one can survive or else they all die.
Whitcomb, Laura. A Certain Slant of Light. 2005. Graphia. 978-0-618-58532-8 $8.99
Sex, drugs and restless spirits.
Willis, Connie. Passage. 2002. Bantam. 978-0-553-58051-8 $7.99
Dr. Joanna Lander is determined to figure out the truth behind why people have near-death experiences, but she never expected so many people to see the same thing…the Titanic?
Woodson, Jacqueline. If You Come Softly. 2006. Penguin. 978-0-142-40601-4 $5.99
Ellie is Jewish; Miah is black. Both teens believe their love can overcome obstacles, even if their families don’t agree. But after tragic, racially motivated violence, there are some hard truths to face.
Wright, Eric. My Dead Girlfriend, Volume. 1. 2007. Tokyopop. 978-1-598-16996-6 $9.99
Very much alive Finney falls in love with ghostly Jenny.
Zevin, Gabrielle. Elsewhere. 2007. Square Fish. 978-0-312-36746-6 $6.95
Liz lives Elsewhere, aging backwards and waiting to be reborn. Can she leave her old life behind and embrace the new one?
Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. 2007. Knopf. 978-0-375-84220-7 $11.99
Death narrates the tale of Liesel and her experiences during World War II.
Stardom! Wealth! Notoriety! Read all about teens aspiring to make it big.
Todd Krueger, Chair
Teresa Allen
Elizabeth Schneider
Elizabeth Mary Saxton
Melanie Wachsmann
Carlisle Kraft Webber
Snow Wildsmith
Barnholdt, Lauren. Reality Chick. 2006. Simon Pulse. 978-1-416-91317-7 $8.99
Ally finds her calling, falls in and out of love, and survives her freshman year of college — all on reality TV.
Blatt, Jessica. The Teen Girl’s Gotta-Have-It Guide to Money:�� Getting Smart about Making It, Saving It, and Spending It! 2008. Watson-Guptill Publications. 978-0-823-01727-0 $8.95
Covers financial basics, including how to enter the workforce and avoid economic pitfalls.�� Scenarios help illustrate wise decision-making.
Bradley, Alex. 24 Girls in 7 Days. 2006. Speak. 978-0-142-40543-7 $5.99
In an effort to “help” him find a prom date, Jack’s friends write a personal ad which changes his life.
Burgess, Melvin. Sara’s Face. 2008. Simon Pulse. 978-1-416-95815-4 $7.99
Sara’s quest for notoriety leads her to be taken under the wing of Johnathan Hunt, a bizarre pop star.
Burleson, Kimberly Spinks. Prepare to be a Teen Millionaire. 2008. Health Communications, Inc. 978-0-757-30723-2 $16.95
Teen entrepreneurs discuss the methods they have used to become millionaires at a young age.
Cabot, Meg. Teen Idol. 2004. Harper Trophy. 978-0-060-09618-2 $8.99
Nice girl Jenny Greenley finds her world turned upside down when she has to play school hostess for undercover Hollywood hunk Luke Striker.
Calonita, Jen. Secrets of My Hollywood Life. 2007. Poppy. 978-0-316-15443-7 $7.99
Teen television starlet tells all. Oh, and she wants a normal life.
Cohn, Rachel. Pop Princess. 2005. Simon & Schuster. 978-1-416-90263-8 $6.99
Wonder Blake, small town girl with a big voice, is singing to herself in a Dairy Queen when a talent agent “discovers” her. Is she ready for pop stardom and everything it entails?
Davis, Joyce E. Can’t Stop the Shine. 2007. Kimani Tru Harlequin. 978-0-373-83078-7. $9.99
Kalia and Mariama are sisters with nothing in common but when a nationwide singing competition comes to their hometown, they agree that this could be Kalia’s chance at stardom.
Dessen, Sarah. Just Listen. 2008. Puffin., 978-0-142-41097-4 $8.99
Annabel Greene, a 16-year-old model, has everything — popularity, lots of friends, and a great family. After a misunderstanding with her ex-friend Sophie, she finds that she has lost it all.
Diamond, Cheryl. Model: a memoir. 2008. Simon Pulse. 978-1-416-95904-5. $9.99
Cheryl Diamond was a young teen that arrived in New York in hopes of becoming the next supermodel.�� What follows is her account of the ups and downs of this fascinating, fast-paced career.
Douglas, Lola. More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet. 2006. Razorbill. 978-1-595-14129-3 $6.99
Morgan’s secret is out, and now she has to balance stardom with high school.
Ferrer, Caridad. Adios to My Old Life. 2006. MTV. 978-1-416-52473-1 $9.95
Ali Montero, 17, has been brought up by her father, a music professor in Miami, to be a good Cuban American girl as well as a talented singer and guitarist. But he’s not pleased when she makes the finals in a nationwide TV competition to find the “next Latin superstar.”
Godbersen, Anna. The Luxe. 2008. HarperCollins. 978-0-061-34568-5 $9.99
Gossip Girls set among the rich and famous of NYC society in 1899.
Hogan, Mary. Susanna Sees Stars. 2006. Delacorte. 978-0-385-73513-1 $7.99
Susanna wants to make it big as a celebrity — celebrity reporter that is! Now if she can just survive her summer internship with Scene magazine.
Kiyosaki, Robert T.�� Rich Dad, Poor Dad:�� the secrets about money — that you don’t learn in school!�� 2004.�� Warner Books.�� 978-0-446-69321-9 $14.99
Simple, straight-forward tips and tactics to get teens on the right financial path, with a basic overview of economics.
Lockhart, E. Dramarama. 2007. Hyperion. 978-0-786-83817-2 $7.99
Sadye and Demi find their friendship strained at a summer theater camp where he shines and she rebels.
Manning, Sarra. Guitar Girl. 2005. Puffin. 978-0-142-40318-1 $6.99
Molly and her friends start a band, but when two older guys join the group, it really takes off and Molly has to deal with being famous.
Mendle, Jane. Better off Famous? 2007. St. Martin’s Griffin. 978-0-312-36903-3 $8.95
Who knew auditioning at Julliard for violin could land you an acting job?
Millner, Denene and Mitzi Miller. Hotlanta. 2008. Point. 978-0-545-00308-7 $8.99
Twins Sydney and Lauren enjoy an upscale, lavish Atlanta lifestyle, but their mother’s roots are in a much poorer neighborhood.�� After their biological father is released from prison, family secrets come bubbling to the surface.
Nakamura, Yoshiki. Skip Beat, Volume 1. Illus. by Yoshiki Nakamura. 2006. VIZ Media. 978-1-421-50585-5 $8.99
Nakamura, Yoshiki. Skip Beat, Volume 2. Illus. by Yoshiki Nakamura. 2006. VIZ Media. 978-1-421-50586-2 $8.99
Nakamura, Yoshiki. Skip Beat, Volume 3. Illus. by Yoshiki Nakamura. 2006. VIZ Media. 978-1-421-50587-9 $8.99
Nakamura, Yoshiki. Skip Beat, Volume 4. Illus. by Yoshiki Nakamura. 2007. VIZ Media. 978-1-421-50588-6 $8.99
Kyoko decides that best way to get revenge on her ex is to become an even bigger celebrity than he is, but how can she do that if she can’t love anyone — even potential fans?
Pagliarulo, Antonio. The Celebutantes: on the avenue. 2007. Delacorte. 978-0-385-73404-2 $9.99
The Trump kids meet Paris Hilton meet Nancy Drew in this tale of murder, high fashion, and family.
Perkins, Mitali. First Daughter:�� Extreme American Makeover. 2008. Puffin. 978-0-142-41154-4 $7.99
Sameera’s dad is running for president, but his campaign staff is worried that a Pakistani daughter may not be “All-American” enough.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. 2002. Scholastic. 978-0-439-13960-1 $9.99
When Harry’s name is mysteriously entered in the Tri-Wizard tournament, he finds that the pressures of fame may be the least of his problems.
Scorgie, Lesley. Rich by Thirty: A Young Adult’s Guide to Financial Success. 2007. Key Porter Books. 978-1-554-70038-7 $12.95
A comprehensive plan for how to start young to become wealthy early.�� Encourages number-knowledge and organization.
Senate, Melissa. Theodora Twist. 2007. Delacorte. 978-0-385-73302-1 $7.99
New Jersey-born starlet Theodora moves back to her hometown to star in a reality show.
Shigematsu, Takako. Tenshi Ja Nai!! I’m No Angel! Volume 1. Illus. by Takako Shigematsu. 2005. Go Comi! 978-0-976-89571-8 $9.99
Hikaru was happy to leave her old school, where she’d been bullied for being a child model. The private girl’s boarding school she’s attending now would be perfect if it weren’t for her roommate — famous idol Izumi, who’s more than “she” seems.
Shin, Ji-Sang and Geo. Chocolat, Volume 1. Illus. by Ji-Sang and Geo Shin. 2005. Yen Press. 978-8-952-74453-1 $10.95
Shin, Ji-Sang and Geo. Chocolat, Volume 2. Illus. by Ji-Sang and Geo Shin. 2006. Yen Press. 978-8-952-74472-2 $10.95
Kum-Ji is too late to join the official fan club for the band she loves, so she decides to join the fan club for an up-and-coming band that often plays the same shows as her favorites.
Shull, Megan. Amazing Grace. 2006. Hyperion. 978-0-786-85691-6 $6.99
Tennis star Grace Kincaid walks away from celebrity to try to experience real life, and love, in a small Alaskan town.
Souljah, Sister. The Coldest Winter Ever. 2006. Simon & Schuster. 978-1-416-52169-3 $7.99
Winter Santiaga is the spoiled daughter of a drug dealer.�� But when the Feds arrest her father and seize his assets, Winter has to fend for herself.�� Can she use her street smarts to stay alive and still maintain her luxurious lifestyle?
Strasser, Todd.�� Mob Princess:�� For Money and Love.�� 2007.�� Simon Pulse.�� 978-1-416-93533-9 $8.99
Kate’s dad is a “businessman,” but when her mother, the brains behind the organization, leaves, Kate finds that she might be able to put her skills to use for the family.
Tamaki, Mariko. Emiko Superstar. Illus. by Steve Rolston. 2008. Minx. 978-1-401-21536-1 $9.99
Boring, geeky Emiko discovers a way to be a new person when she starts hanging out at The Factory, a hot-spot for young performance artists.
Tashjian, Janet. The Gospel According to Larry. 2003. Dell Laurel-Leaf. 978-0-440-23792-1 $6.50
Josh starts an anonymous website ranting against consumerism, but as his identity becomes impossible to hide, he has some hard choices to make.
Taylor, Chandra Sparks. Spin It Like That. 2007. Kimani Tru. 978-0-373-83080-0 $9.99
Jasmine loves music and she loves to spin records.�� But when her skills start getting her attention from the record industry, she discovers what really matters is who she is.
Tharp, Tim. Knights of the Hill Country. 2008. Laurel Leaf. 978-0-553-49513-3 $6.99
Hampton Green, star linebacker for the Kennisaw Knights, is incredibly focused and talented on the football field — but his personal life is changing, some for the better, some for the worse.
von Ziegesar, Cecily. Gossip Girl. 2002. Little, Brown. 978-0-316-91033-0 $10.99
Being a rich kid in high school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side can be rough, without your every move being watched and blogged.
Walker, Melissa. Violet on the Runway. 2007. Berkley Trade. 978-0-425-21704-. $9.99
Violet is tall, skinny and often overlooked until she’s discovered by a modeling agent.
Watsuki, Nobuhiro. Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 1. Illus. by Yoshiki Nakamura. 2003. VIZ Media. 978-1-591-16220-3 $7.95
During the wars that closed the Bakumatsu Era, there was a famed assassin — Hitokiri Battosai. Eleven years after he disappeared, a mysterious wanderer appears at a young woman’s dojo, bringing with him the baggage of his past.
White, Ellen Emerson. The President’s Daughter. 2008. Feiwel & Friends. 978-0-312-37488-4 $8.99
Meg Power’s mother is running for President and the spotlight is on the entire family.
Zindel, Lizabeth. Girl of the Moment. 2008. Puffin. 978-0-142-41104-9 $8.99
Academic Lily works as an intern to Hollywood hottie Samantha.
Acampora, Paul. Defining Dulcie. 2008. Puffin. 978-0-142-41183-4 $6.99
After the death of her father and a trip cross-country with her mother, Dulcie decides to steal the last thing she has of her father — his pick-up truck, to make the long journey back home.
Barnholdt, Lauren. Two-Way Street. 2007. Simon Pulse. 978-1-416-91318-4 $8.99
When Courtney made plans to take a road trip to college with her boyfriend, Jordan, she had no idea he’d dump her three weeks before their trip. But does Jordan have secrets to reveal?
Bauer, Joan. Rules of the Road. 2005. Penguin. 978-0-142-40425-6 $7.99
Jenna drives her elderly boss cross country to help save a shoe store and help Jenna live with the reality of her alcoholic father.
Brashares, Ann. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. 2004. Laurel Leaf. 978-0-440-22970-4 $6.99
Before four friends split up for the first time one summer, they discover a magical pair of pants that looks good on each of them.
Carlson, Melody. Road Trip: diary of a teenage girl Chloe No. 3. 2003. Multnomah. 978-1-570-52142-3 $12.99
Chloe and her bandmates Allie and Laura go on a tour as the opening act for a popular Christian band.
Cassidy, Cathy. Dizzy: A Novel. 2005. Puffin. 978-0-142-40474-4 $6.99
Dizzy is nabbed by her Mom and heads out on the festival circuit for the summer.
CLAMP. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. 2004. Del Rey. 978-0-345-47057-7 $10.95
A sorcerer, warrior, archaeologist, and a princess from different dimensions begin a journey across the worlds in search of the girls’ memories which are manifested as magical feathers.
Cooney, Caroline B. Hit the Road. 2008. Laurel Leaf. 978-0-440-22929-2 $6.50
Brit’s on an adventure with a bunch of senior citizens.
Creech, Sharon. The Wanderer. 2000. Harper Trophy. 978-0-064-41032-8 $6.99
Thirteen-year-old Sophie and her cousin Cody record their transatlantic crossing aboard the Wanderer, a sailboat, which, along with uncles and another cousin, is en route to visit their grandfather in England.
DeKeyser, Stacy. Jump the Cracks. 2008. Flux. 978-0-738-71274-1 $9.95
When she spots an abused little boy left alone on the train, 15-year-old Victoria decides it is her responsibility to see that he doesn’t fall through the cracks.
DuPrau, Jeanne. Car Trouble. 2006. Harper Teen. 978-0-060-73675-0 $6.99
Duff has it all planned out: his car, his laptop, and a fantastic job waiting for him in California. But when his car breaks down less than a hundred miles from home, he’s got to find a way to continue the road trip that will change everything for him.
Ehrenhaft, Daniel. The After Life. 2006. Razorbill. 978-1-595-14080-7 $8.99
Liz and Kyle and their half-brother Will embark on a roadtrip from Florida back to New York, following the directions of the will, read after their father’s sudden death.
Friedman, Aimee. South Beach. 2005. Scholastic Point. 978-0-439-70678-0 $8.99
Spoiled diva Alexa and sporty, sheltered Holly are unlikely travel companions to Miami’s hottest spring break destination. But maybe the two girls aren’t as different as they think — especially when it comes to their taste in boys.
Gallo, Donald R. (editor). Destination Unexpected. Candlewick. 978-0-763-63119-2 $8.99
Discoveries and transformations follow for teens on journeys both real and figurative in this outstanding short story collection.
Gerber, Linda. S.A.S.S.: Now and Zen. 2006. Speak. 978-0-142-40657-1 $6.99
Nori may look Japanese, but she’s as American as apple pie. Will being an exchange student in Japan bring her Zen?
Green, John. An Abundance of Katherines. 2008. Puffin. 978-0-142-41070-5 $7.99
Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in life while also trying to create a mathematical formula to explain his relationships.
Hyde, Catherine Ryan. Becoming Chloe. 2008. Knopf. 978-0-375-83260-4 $8.95
Two brutally scarred and homeless older teens, Jordan and Chloe, embark on a cross-country road trip to get to know each other and heal some of their countless wounds.
Johnson, Maureen. Girl at Sea. 2007. Harper Teen. 978-0-060-54146-0 $8.99
High school junior Clio Ford reluctantly gives up her dream job and a potential first kiss to take a working vacation with her estranged father on a yacht in Italy.
Johnson, Maureen. 13 Little Blue Envelopes. 2006. Harper Teen. 978-0-060-54143-9 $8.99
After the death of her aunt, Ginny receives $1,000, a plane ticket to London, and 13 letters of instructions written by her aunt before her death, sending Ginny on a quest all over Europe.
Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. 1957. Penguin. 978-0-140-04259-7 $15.00
Sal and Dean take a road trip across America.
Kiyuduki, Satoko. Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro, Volume 1. 2008. Yen Press. 978-0-759-52897-0 $10.99
Wanderer Kuro travels with a coffin strapped to her back, accompanied by a sarcastic bat and two young cat-girls on a rambling journey, but no one knows what she is searching for.
Korman, Gordon. Born to Rock. 2008. Hyperion. 978-0-786-80921-9 $8.99
When he stands up for another student and the resulting scandal loses him his free ride to Harvard and gets him kicked out of the Young Republicans, Leo knows he only has one place to turn for tuition money — his father, punk rock god, King Maggot. But Maggot insists that Leo spend the summer on tour with his band Purge, a trip that teaches Leo a lot about family, friends, and himself.
Kurata, Hideyuki. Train + Train, Volume 1. Illus. by Tomomasa Takuma. 2007. Go Comi! 978-1-933-61718-3 $10.99
Deloca educates students from all over the galaxy on trains that traverse the planet. Reiichi’s plans for a quiet study on the General Studies train are derailed when he gets involved with the impulsive Arena, a girl bound for the infamous Special Train.
Let’s Go. Let’s Go Europe 2009: on a budget. 2008. Let’s Go. 978-0-312-38708-2 $15.99
A comprehensive, budget-focused guidebook for American teens and collegiate traveling in Europe.
Levithan, David. Are We There Yet? 2007. Knopf. 978-0-375-83956-6 $8.99
Danny and Elijah have been tricked by their parents into taking a trip to Italy together. What will they discover about themselves — and each other?
McKernan, Victoria. Shackleton’s Stowaway. 2006. Laurel Leaf. 978-0-440-41984-6 $5.99
This work of historical fiction tells the story of a young man who stows away on Ernest Shackleton’s fateful attempted voyage to the South Pole.
Reeve, Philip. Larklight. 2007. Bloomsbury. 978-1-599-90145-9 $7.95
Art and his sister Myrtle are in for some high adventure when their house in the ether is attacked by space spiders, they are rescued by alien pirates, and they have to save the Victorian Empire from destruction.
Rivers, Karen. The Quirky Girls’ Guide to Rest Stops and Road Trips. 2006. Polestar/Raincoast. 978-1-551-92907-1 $10.95
A VW van, a laptop named “Junior,” and a stalkerish frenemy: let the road trip begin!
Sanchez, Alex. Rainbow Road. 2007. Simon & Shuster. 978-1-416-91191-3 $8.99
“Rainbow Boys” Kyle, Jason and Nelson drive from Virginia to California for the opening day of a gay high school. On the way, they discover diverse aspects of the LGBTQ experience — Radical Faeries, a transgender Britney impersonator, and a gay couple who’ve been together for decades — as well as the limitations and possibilities of their own friendships and loves.
Sheldon, Dyan. Sophie Pitt-Turnbull Discovers America. 2007. Candlewick Press. 978-0-763-63295-3 $7.99
Sophie goes from her home in London to Brooklyn for an eye-opening summer stay.
Simmons, Michael. Finding Lubchenko. 2006. Penguin. 978-1-595-14075-3 $8.99
Smarmy, entitled Evan is making a killing selling laptops from his CEO dad’s company on eBay. Then his dad is framed for murder and the computer that should contain exonerating evidence is “missing”…in Evan’s best friend’s garage. Now Evan can either turn himself in…or fly to Paris to solve the mystery himself.
Sloan, Brian.�� A Really Nice Prom Mess.�� 2008.�� Simon & Schuster.�� 978-1-416-95389-0 $8.99
Cameron and his boyfriend Shane aren’t out as a couple, so they bring female dates to the prom.�� Cameron’s date figures out she’s not getting any action on prom night and starts off the evening rip-roaringly, puking-in-the-fishtank drunk…and that’s just the beginning of the group’s madcap, high-speed journey from pool party to dance floor to go-go bar to D.C. landmarks, one step ahead of the police.
Steinberger, Aimee Major. Japan Ai: A tall girl’s adventures in Japan. Illus. by Aimee Major Steinberger. 2007. Go Comi! 978-1-933-617831 $16.99
Steinberger, an animator, cosplayer, and anime/manga fan, tells and draws the story of her trip to Japan.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit or There and Back Again. 2002. Houghton Mifflin. 978-0-618-26030-0 $10.00
Bilbo Baggins, an ordinary Hobbit, gets swept up in a grand adventure involving wizards, dragons, elves, and trolls.
Vincent, Caitlin Claire. Let’s Go Roadtripping USA on a Budget:�� the Complete Coast-to-Coast Guide to America. 2007. Let’s Go. 978-0-312-36182-2. $24.99
The where and how to budget road-tripping in the United States, by a “shoestring” publisher.
Vorwald, John. MTV Roadtrips U.S.A. Go Stay Play. 2007. Wiley Publishing. 978-0-764-58776-4 $21.99
MTV Travel Guide of hip spots in the U.S.A.
Weeks, Sarah. So B. It. 2005. Harper Trophy. 978-0-064-41047-2 $6.99
Heidi lives with her disabled mother, but starts to wonder about her past.
Political intrigue, daring deeds, great escapes, and more in this thrilling list of fiction and nonfiction about those who operate within the world of shadow.
Snow Wildsmith, Chair
Teresa Allen
Karen Brooks-Reese
Kristin L. Fletcher-Spear
Jane Ellen Gibson
Dawn McMillan
Shauna Yusko
Allen, Tomas B. George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans outspied the British and won the Revolutionary War. Illus. by Cheryl Harness. 2007. National Geographic. 978-1-426-30041-7 $5.95
Describes how George Washington and other American spies used various espionage techniques to trick and evade the British during the Revolutionary War.
Barnes, Jennifer Lynn.�� The Squad:�� Perfect Cover. 2008. Random House Children’s Books. 978-0-385-73454-7. $6.99
Bayport High’s Varsity Cheer Squad is made up of the hottest of the hot.�� But this A-list is dangerous in more ways than one.�� The Squad is actually a cover for the most highly trained group of underage government operatives the United States has ever assembled.�� They have the perfect cover, because, beyond herkeys and highlights, no one expects anything from a cheerleader.
Brown, Dan. Angels and Demons. 2006. Pocket Books. 978-1-416-52479-3. $9.99
Symbologist Robert Langdon must hunt down a bomb hidden under the Vatican on the eve of the selection of a new Pope.
Carter, Ally. I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You. 2007. Hyperion. 978-1-423-10004-1 $8.99
Cammie learns a lot of things at her top-secret boarding school for female spies in training, but romance isn’t one of those things.
Cole, Stephen. Thieves Like Us. 2007. Bloomsbury. 978-1-599-90041-4 $7.95
Jonah, teenage hacker, is broken out of prison to join a group of talented teens scouting the world for ancient treasures.
Colfer, Eoin and Andrew Donkin. Artemis Fowl: the graphic novel. Illus. by Giovanni Rigano. 2007. Hyperion. 978-0-786-84882-9 $9.99
No one steals from the fairies and gets away with it…not even a twelve-year-old genius.
Cooney, Caroline B. Code Orange. 2007. Laurel Leaf. 978-0-385-73260-4 $6.50
Matt finds one hundred year old smallpox scabs and thinks he may have just infected New York City.
Craig, Joe. Jimmy Coates: Assassin? 2006. Harper Trophy. 978-0-060-077265-9 $7.99
When the government comes for him, Jimmy finds out that not only is he not his parents’ son — he isn’t even completely human.
Flewelling, Lynn. Luck in the Shadows: Nightrunner Volume 1. 1996. Spectra. 978-0-553-57542-2 $7.50
Orphan Alec is drawn into the world of spying and court intrigue by the charming Seregil at a time his country, Skala, is facing an old enemy with a new, supernatural threat.
Greenland, Shannon. The Specialists: Model Spy. 2007. Speak. 978-0-142-40849-0 $6.99
She’s a genius, gorgeous, and totally alone in the world. When she commits a crime, Kelly has no choice but to become a spy.
Higgins, Jack (with Justin Richards). Sure Fire. 2008. Putnam. 978-0-142-41213-8 $7.99
Jade and Rich don’t have any family left after their mother’s death, until their mysterious father shows up.�� But when he’s kidnapped, they discover that his profession is much more than just “oil man.”
Higson, Charlie. SilverFin: A James Bond Adventure. 2006. Hyperion. 978-0-786-83866-0 $6.99
Young James Bond is just a schoolboy in this, his first adventure.
Horowitz, Anthony. Stormbreaker. 2006. Puffin. 978-0-142-40611-3 $7.99
Alex Rider must continue his uncle’s work as a MI6 spy.
Horowitz, Anthony and Antony Johnston. Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel. Illus. by Kanako Damerum. 2006. Philomel. 978-0-399-24633-3 $14.99
Adaptation of the novel where Alex Rider finds out his dead uncle is a super spy and must become one himself.
Jinks, Catherine. Evil Genius. 2008. Harcourt. 978-0-152-06185-2 $7.95
Cadel Piggott is different. Starting his career in crime by hacking computers at age seven, by age 13 he’s enrolled in the Axis Institute, where all of the other students (and teachers!) are evil geniuses too.
Jolley, Dan. Alex Unlimited:�� The Vosarak Code. 2007. Tokyopop. 978-1-427-80122-7 $7.99
Working for a top-secret government agency should be cool.�� But Alex never gets in on the action — only her parallel universe version does.
Lisle, Janet Taylor. Black Duck. 2006. Puffin. 978-0-142-40902-2 $6.99
No Internet. No cell phones. Just a dead body, crates of rum, and a ship that can’t be caught.
McNab, Andy & Robert Rigby. Traitor. 2006. Puffin. 978-0-142-40727-1 $6.99
Danny’s dreams of joining the British military are shot when it is revealed that his grandfather, a former SAS agent, is a traitor.
Miller, Kirsten. Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City. 2006. Bloomsbury USA. 978-0-599-90092-6 $7.95
Renegade Girls Scouts explore a hidden city beneath Manhattan.
Miyuki, Takahashi. Musashi #9, Volume 1. Illus. by Takahashi Miyuki. 2005. CMX. 978-1-401-20540-9 $9.95
There is an organization that operates in secret to protect the world in times of greatest peril. The organization has nine operatives that are the best, and the best of the best is #9 — Musashi.
Moore, Alan. V for Vendetta. Illus. by David Lloyd. 1995. Vertigo. 978-0-930-28952-2 $19.99
Is anarchy justified against an unjust government?
Moran, Lindsay. Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy and Other Misadventures. 2005. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. 978-0-425-20562-4 $14.00
Moran’s life as an applicant, a trainee, and a CIA case officer — and it’s all true.
Muchamore, Robert. CHERUB, Mission 1: The Recruit. 2005. Simon Pulse. 978-0-689-87779-7 $6.99
James is an orphan and well on his way to being a career criminal when he’s offered a shot at a most unusual branch of MI5 — a unit completely comprised of children.
Newcomb, Rain. The Master Spy Handbook: Help Our Intrepid Hero Use Gadgets, Codes & Top-secret Tactics to Save the World from Evil Doers. Illus. by Jason Chin. 2008. Lark Books. 978-1-600-59289-8 $7.95
Learn to makes disguises, decipher codes, and other spy techniques while Agent O tries to thwart criminal masterminds.
Rucka, Greg. Queen and Country: Definitive Edition Volume 1. Illus. by Steve Rolston et al. Oni Press. 978-1-932-66487-4 $19.95
Minder two, Tara Chace, is a SIS field agent working in the world of terrorism and espionage.
Spradlin, Michael. Spy Goddess, Book One: Live and Let Shop. 2005. Avon Books. 978-0-060-59409-1 $5.99
Spradlin, Michael.�� Spy Goddess, Book Two: To Hawaii with Love. 2005. Avon Books. 978-0-060-59412-1 $5.99
Beverly Hills teenager Rachel Buchanan gets in trouble with the law and winds up at Blackthorn Academy, where she uncovers secrets about the school and becomes entangled in a case of international espionage.
Spradlin, Michael and Rachel Manija Brown. Spy Goddess, Volume 1. Illus. by Rainbow Buddy. 2008. Tokyopop. 978-0-061-36299-6 $9.99
Spy goddess in training Rachel returns in her third adventure and first manga as she and her fellow students journey to Japan in search of a lost artifact.
Stewart, Trenton Lee. The Mysterious Benedict Society. Illus. by Carson Ellis. 2007.�� Little, Brown. 978-0-316-00395-7 $7.99
A weird ad in the newspaper brings four unlikely genius heroes together to save a plot to control the world through the TV and the radio, and also through the minds of the entire population.
Turner, Megan Whalen. The Queen of Attolia. 2006. Eos. 978-0-060-84182-9 $6.99
Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis, finds that political intrigue and espionage will force him to pay a high price for a treasure he might not be good enough to steal.
Walden, Mark. H.I.V.E.: The Higher Institute of Villainous Education. 2008. Aladdin. 978-1-416-93572-8 $6.99
Otto Malpense is kidnapped and taken to the Higher Institute of Villainous Education where he and other pupils learn to become the super-villains of tomorrow.
Yancy, Rick. The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp. 2006. Bloomsbury. 978-1-599-90044-5 $7.95
If James Bond were an awkward, oversized teenage orphan boy thrown into the middle of a life-or-death search for the sword Excalibur, he’d be Alfred Kropp.