Me, My Elf and I by Heather Swain

Swain, Heather Me, My Elf and I, 279 p. Speak (Penguin), 2009. $7.99. Content: PG (18 swears, no “f’). Zephyr is so excited to be starting a high school for the performing arts in Brooklyn, NY– she is tired of the same old plays, songs and dances from her elf village in upper Michigan. Her sweet, stumbling attempts to learn about and act like erdlers (humans), endears her to a couple of good friends right from the start. But Zephyr’s stunning elf looks catch the ire of the school’s resident “mean girl”, who will happily use Zephyr’s naiveté against her. Zephyr is clueless about erdlers, but her charm makes everyone around her want to help her out – and teens will flock to that. I would happily read another Zephyr adventure after this one – the author’s first for teens. MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Kitty, Kitty by Michele Jaffe

Jaffe, Michele Kitty, Kitty, 320 p. Harper Collins, 2009. $16.99. Jasmine’s father and her new stepmother have forced her to join them in Venice while dad researches the history of soap – and really in order to keep Jas out of mortal danger. But wherever Jas is, that’s where danger will be – and her friends will rush to her side to not only make sure she stays alive, but to also make sure she is fashionable and cute while running out of danger! Jaffe continues her tongue-in-cheek series of stylish and resourceful investigator. While I didn’t ove this one as much as I did the first (some of the original conventions come off a bit forced this time around), it is still fun to watch Jas waltz into and out of danger. MS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

St. Crow, Lili Strange Angels, 293 p. Razorbill (Penguin), 2009. $9.99. Language: R (200 + swears, 12 “f”); Violence: PG-13. Dru’s dad didn’t return home last night, but tonight he’s back – as a zombie whose mission it is to kill Dru. Dru used to use her powers to help her dad fight creatures of the night, or The Real World, as they call it. Now, however, she needs to use those powers to find out who did this to her dad and why – all while keeping herself and her unwanted guest out of the clutches of various monsters. St. Crow’s book is action-packed and dangers continues to the very last page. This is a definite plus to the latest trend of dark fiction for teens, but the large amount of swears will keep it out of most schools. HS or PUBLIC. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Bobby Bramble Loses His Brain by Dave Keane

Keane, Dave Bobby Bramble Loses His Brain, illustrated by David Clark. Clarion, 2009. $16.00. PICTURE BOOK. Daredevil Booby is always being warned that his high-flying escapes are putting his brain at risk – and one day his brain does escape and runs off, avoiding capture from even the most ingenious pursuers. There may only be one person who can recapture Bobby’s brain – but can the boy actually do it? Pictures and texts work well together for a fast and fun ride, just like Bobby’s antics! Adults will have to read this book with a healthy dose of sarcasm, because it is a whacky odd one –but it’s final message (wear a helmet!) may actually come through loud and clear to young ones! EL – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Darwin by Alice B. McGinty

McGinty, Alice B. Darwin, illustrated by Mary Azarian. Houghton Mifflin, 2009. $18.00. PICTURE BOOK (42 p). While this looks like a picture book, there is quite a bit of information, including short quotes from Darwin’s personal journal and letters. SO much text, in fact, that it is much more a book for a short research project than one to read aloud to a class. This one, or Lasky’s One Beetle Too Many, are a good choice for a Darwin book in your library. EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

The Immortal Fire by Anne Ursu

Ursu, Anne The Immortal Fire, 510 p. Atheneum (Simon), 2009. $16.99. The gods of Mount Olympus seem bent to extracting revenge on Charlotte and Zee for interfering in their business and making Hades and Poseidon look bad. Philonecron has possession of Poseidon’s trident and is creating havoc everywhere he goes – with his ultimate aim to take out Charlotte and to wrest control of Olympus away from the gods. Meanwhile, the Prometheans are trying to keep Charlotte and Zee out of their way, while hiding an even deeper secret. Charlotte and Zee will have to take matters into their own hands in order to save the world – and the danger and excitement are palpable! At 500 plus pages, this may seem like a hefty tome, but it reads like a dream! While Rick Riordan’s Mount Olympus books may be more popular – Ursu’s are just as good, if for a slightly (but not much) younger audience. Have at ‘em! EL, MS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

The Eyeball Collector by F.E. Higgins

Higgins, F.E. The Eyeball Collector, 272 p. Feiwel and Friends, SEPTEMBER 2009. Violence: PG. Hector Fitzbaudly was raised in luxury, but everything comes crashing down when an evil man, with only one eye, blackmails his father and then destroys their lives. Now Father is dead and Hector is in pursuit of revenge. Hector finds a way to worm himself into his objective’s life, but his new life at Lord and Lady Mandible’s castle is fraught with peril, intrigue and out-right creepiness! Though the old-fashioned setting may put off some, but the cover art will catch some eyes (whoops! No pun intended!). EL, MS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

FYI - this is the UK cover, as I could not find a copy of the U.S. cover.