Random/Knopf/Delacorte.

Random/Knopf/Delacorte

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Jeanne DuPrau's THE PROPHET OF YONWOOD (0375875263, $15.95) represents the third 'Book of Ember', and familiarity with the others is recommended for maximum appreciation and understanding, here. Pre-teen Nickie sees many possibilities for her trip to Yonwood, North Carolina where her family's just inherited an old mansion from her great-grandfather--and she's ready to get away from the city. But it's not a haven, it's a disaster: a local woman's vision of doom and confusion among the people of Yonwood draw her into problems she can't control--including a possible war. Graham Salisbury's HOUSE OF THE RED FISH (0385731213, $16.95) provides a companion novel to UNDER THE BLOOD-RED SUN, so familiarity with the prior story will lend uniformity and smooth transition to this ongoing tale of Tomi Nakaji. Here it's a year after his father and grandfather were arrested after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and everyone's waiting for another attack. Japanese American Tomi and his family discover new enemies among old friends as they face new challenges. John Feinstein's VANISHING ACT (037583592X, $16.95) is set in new York City, where a hundred athletes are competing for millions in prizes--and where a kidnapping changes the nature of the game. Everyone's looking for Nadia--but two eighth-grade rookies have the best chance of finding her--if they're in time. A satisfying mystery evolves. Geraldine McCaughrean's SMILE! (0375836403, $14.95) tells of a boy who survives a plane crash in the wilderness to find himself alone with only a camera. His visit to a remote village, where people have never met a photographer or seen a photo, changes not only his life, but those he encounters in this gentle story of survival and change. Mary Pope Osborne's BLIZZARD OF THE BLUE MOON (0375830375, $11.95) provides a Magic Tree House #36 addition, with Jack and Annie off on another Merlin Mission. Here they are to rescue a beautiful magical unicorn -in New York City during the Depression of the 1930s nonetheless. Where will they find a unicorn in the big city? Another fine Magic Tree House tale. E. Lockhart's THE BOY BOOK: A STUDY OF HABITS NAD BEHAVIORS, PLUS TECHNIQUES FOR TAMING THEM (0385732082, $15.95) tells of Seattle teen Ruby Oliver, who appeared in the prior THE BOYFRIEND LIST: this time Ruby's junior year marks the past loss of best friends, her boyfriend, and new friendships. Ruby has a job and a new driver's license: neither of which seem to be helping her decipher her boyfriend's psyches in this funny analysis of boy problems. Brian Meehl's OUT OF PATIENCE (0385732996, $15.95) tells of pre-teen Jake's father's dream of opening the American Toilet Museum. The town they are in is cursed with obscurity and bad history and Jake's tired of waiting for it to dry up and blow away--he wants out. When his father brings home a relic to fulfill the town curse's last prophecy, trouble and mystery begins in this fun story of baseball and intrigue. Lee Weatherly's BREAKFAST AT SADIE'S (0385750943, $15.95) tells of Sadie who can't seem to get anything to go right. School is too hard, her mother's in the hospital and may not come out, and Sadie's aunt vanishes, leaving Sadie to run the family business by herself. Can things get any worse? A fine story of courage and change evolves. John Boyne's THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS (0385751060, $15.95) provides the moving, memorable story of a boy whose life is changed by his father's new job. His longing for his Berlin home will only be changed by new responsibilities and challenges. Kirby Larson's HATTIE BIG SKY (0385733135, $15.95) provides a fine historical novel set on a homestead in rural Montana and telling of an orphan coming of age during World War I. Hattie's life is unstable and she longs for a permanent home, so when she learns she's inherited her uncle's claim in Montana, she leaves Iowa to fulfill her dreams, only to discover she can't escape the world turmoil. Niguel Richardson's THE WRONG HANDS (0375834591, $15.95) tells of a teen with big hands and a big secret. It's setting is modern England and Graham keeps his talents hidden until an emailer seems to have learned it. An excellent mystery evolves. Joaquin Dorfman's PLAYING IT COOL (0375836411, $15.95) presents one Sebastian, a problem solver who gets in over his head when he's asked to track down a friend's birth mother--by switching identities. A dangerous series of events evolves from his idea in this fast-paced thriller. Edward Bloor's LONDON CALLING (0375836357, $16.95) comes from the best-selling author of TANGERINE and provides a satisfying blend of time travel, ghosts, and mystery. Martin's meeting with a young British boy who magically appears in his bedroom will lead him to London on the adventure of his life--which may or may not be the product of a dream. Catherine Ryan Hyde's BECOMING CHLOE (0375832580, $15.95) tells of two street teens who meet when sleeping in the same cellar in New York. Jordy is a gay 17-year-old, Chloe is 18 and a runaway from the public welfare system. Their very different reactions to abuses of the past may change their futures in this delicate story mature teens will appreciate. Cat Weatherhill's BARKBELLY (0375833277, $15.95) tells of a wooden boy, an accident, and a race for his life which leads Barkbelly into confrontation with a circus, a pirate ship, and more. The world is filled with dangers for a wooden boy--but his dreams may ultimately rescue him in this engaging tale. Caroline B. Cooney is well known for her compelling young adult sagas and in A FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT (0385733267, $15.95) she's created another winning leisure read for grades 6-9. Lily hates her father: her brother went to live with him after the divorce and came back with a secret only Lily knows. Part of her wants to honor her father; part of her wishes to judge him in this poignant, realistic story. Lurlene McDaniel's BRIANA'S GIFT (0385731604, $10.95) tells of an older sister who runs away with an older boy, then returns home alone and pregnant. When Briana becomes ill, Sissy sees her mother's choice as wrong--but can she advocate a different course at the holidays? Another warm McDaniel story of life-threatening problems and new beginnings. Patricia Reilly Giff's WATER STREET (0385730683, $15.95) is set in 1875 Brooklyn: Bird Mallon wishes to be a healer like her mother, and longs for a friend to move in the empty apartment upstairs; but neither of her dreams seem to come true; especially when Thomas and his father move in. Fans of Giff's prior 'Nory Ryan's Song will welcome a new generation in Bird, daughter of Nory and Sean. Iain Lawrence's GEMINI SUMMER (0385730896, $15.95) tells of a family filled with dreams: a father builds a fallout shelter in event of the 'end of everything', his wife is writing her own version of 'Gone with the Wind', an older son aspires to be an astronaut, and Danny wants a dog. In 1965 tragedy will change all their agendas and will introduce new directions into set paths--some for better, some for worse. Young adult leisure readers will find this a satisfying, very different kind of story of a family's struggles.