Sunday, September 26, 2010

Second Hand Haul (3)


THE TAKER by JM Steele

Carly Biel’s future is right on track: she’s a great student (mostly A’s and B’s); her boyfriend, Brad, is captain of the lacrosse team; and she’s a shoe-in for Princeton (her dad’s an alum – love that legacy status!). She’s never been great at standardized tests (so nerve-racking!), but she always figured she’d do well enough on the SAT to get by. Guess what? She tanks. Really tanks. Now she only has one more opportunity to take the test, and she’s sure she can’t pull her scores up by much. That’s why, when she gets a mysterious note from “The Taker,” she can’t resist. Now she’s hired someone to take the test for her – but what if she gets caught? And what if she doesn’t?

THE SWAN MAIDEN by Heather Tomlinson

In the quiet hour before dawn, anything can happen. Doucette can dream of being a creature of flight and magic, of wearing a swan skin like her older sisters. But she must run the castle household while her sisters learn to weave spells. Her dream of flying is exactly that . . . until the day she discovers her own hidden birthright. Sudden, soaring freedom—it is a wish come true. Yet, not even magic can protect against every danger, especially when the heart is involved. As she struggles to find her own way in the world, Doucette risks losing the one person she loves most of all.

THE GOODBYE SEASON by Marian Hale

Mercy Kaplan doesn’t want to be like her mother, saddled with crying kids and failing crops for the rest of her life. Mercy longs to be on her own—until her wish comes true in the worst possible way. It is 1918 and a deadly flu epidemic ravages the country, leaving her utterly alone and penniless.

Mercy soon finds a job with Mrs. Wilder. But there’s something unsettling about the woman, whose brother died under mysterious circumstances. And then there’s Daniel, who could sweep a girl off her feet if she isn’t careful.

The Chronicles of Prydain 1: THE BOOK OF THREE by Lloyd Alexander

Taran, The Assistant Pig-Keeper, longs to be a hero.

He begins his journey with a strange assortment of companions on a dangerous mission to save his beloved land, Prydain. Packed with action, humor, romance, and gallantry, Taran's adventures chronicle his beloved Prydain and his battle with the forces of evil.

OH BABY! by Randi Reisfeld and HB Gilmour

Before heading off for college, sixteen-year-old small town girls Abby and Jamie are headed for the big cities! Shy, innocent Abby will be a nanny for a posh New York City family, while smart, no-nonsense Jamie works her nanny gig in sunny, celeb-studded L.A. Talk about culture shock. And, between the eye-popping parties, hot boys, high-maintenance kids, and a heaping of drama, the girls can barely squeeze in time for e-mail catch-ups. But their wild summers on opposite coasts will teach Abby and Jamie things they never knew about love, lust, truth, lies, themselves . . . and each other.

LISTENING TO CRICKETS by David Gifaldi

With ears like a bat and webbed toes, it seems as if ten-yearold Jake could fly right out of reality into the freedom of his dreams. No more worries about asthma, special reading class, or his parents’ fighting—just sky. But Jake can’t simply fly away. There’s his little sister, Cassie, to tell stories to when the night sounds become frightening, amazing facts to learn from his best friend Luke, and a safe place—Dragon’s Nest—to build in the backyard.

This beautifully written middle grade novel tells the courageous story of Jake—a night watchman—a protector in the truest sense of the word who finds hope in crickets, friends, teachers, and dreams.

DRAWING LESSONS by Tracy Mack

Aurora is an artist, like her father. Through years of drawing lessons, he taught her about light and color, perspective and form. The great thing about art, Rory thinks, is you can bring back something you’ve lost and keep it forever. But when her father leaves the family, it’s Rory who is lost. In this exquisitely told story, a young girl must find her own way of creating, her own way of connecting, and her own way of being.

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