TWEEN BOOKS
WINGS: A FAIRY TALE, by E.D. Baker, Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books, $16.99; ages 9-12.
Tamisin always felt a little out of place. The Halloween she was 11, she was sure she saw very odd creatures running around that no one else could see. By high school, she began dancing under the full moon with the fairies. Then, weirdest of all, one day she sprouted wings. She was kidnapped, taken to a land of fairies and goblins and told to seek out the Fairy Queen.
Tamisin discovers the truth about her existence, the real meaning of love and how wonderful it is to fly.
THINGS HOPED FOR, by Andrew Clements, Puffin, paperback $6.99; ages 9-12.
Gwen has left West Virginia to live with her grandfather in New York so she can concentrate on her violin and her upcoming audition for the Manhattan School of Music. School, family, friends and violin combine to be so much to handle.
Have you read Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements? The surprise will leave you happily amazed.
GUINEVERE’S GIFT (CHRYSALIS QUEEN QUARTET), by Nancy McKenzie, Knopf Books for Young Readers, $15.95; ages 12 and up.
At Guinevere’s birth a prophecy was told that she would one day be the highest lady in the land. Guinevere, an orphan living with her aunt and uncle, does not think much of the prophecy or even believe in it, but then she meets a tribe in the woods. The tribe’s sole mission is to protect her. As Guinevere’s heritage becomes clearer, trouble is brewing in the castle.
FABLEHAVEN: GRIP OF THE SHADOW PLAGUE (book 3), by Brancon Mull, Shadow Mountain, $18.95; ages 9-12.
Kendra and Seth are living with Grandma and Grandpa, but summer is almost over and soon it will be time to go home. Seth discovers an evil force turning all the light creatures into dark. It soon becomes clear that this evil is taking over Fablehaven and Grandpa is becoming helpless to keep them all safe. In the meantime Kendra is invited to become a member of the Night of the Dawn and is asked to go on a dangerous mission. Will Kendra’s wisdom and Seth’s bravery be enough?
MELTDOWN, by Andy McNab and Robert Rigby, Putnam Juvenile, $16.99; ages 12 and up.
Danny and his grandfather are alone in the cabin in the woods. A top M15 agent tracks them down and makes an offer: One last mission and Grandpa Fergus’ name will be cleared and Grandpa and Danny can stop hiding. But this mission is a very perilous one. The most dangerous drug ever made is being manufactured somewhere in Europe. Danny and his grandfather must infiltrate and destroy the drug before it takes over mankind.
This is the final book in the series and the most exciting of them all.
Sandi Pedersen is the mom of four and the Web mistress for Chicago Parent.
