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Best Children's Books of 2012: Fiction (page 2)

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Cover art for THE REVOLUTION OF EVELYN SERRANO
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
Kirkus Star THE REVOLUTION OF EVELYN SERRANO
by Sonia Manzano
"A stunning debut. (author's note, recommended reading) (Historical novel. 12 & up)"
Set in 1969, Manzano's first novel offers a realistically mercurial protagonist struggling with her identity in Spanish Harlem. Read full book review >
Cover art for SHADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
Kirkus Star SHADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN
by Margi Preus
"A morally satisfying page turner. (author's note, archival photographs, maps, timeline, selected bibliography) (Historical fiction. 10-14)"
A teenage boy becomes a spy in Nazi-occupied Norway. Read full book review >
Cover art for LEGENDS OF ZITA THE SPACEGIRL
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 4, 2012
Kirkus Star LEGENDS OF ZITA THE SPACEGIRL
by Ben Hatke, illustrated by Ben Hatke
"Imaginative and utterly bewitching. (Graphic science fiction. 9-12)"
Lovable Zita returns in a charmingly dashing interplanetary adventure to save yet another doomed planet from impending peril. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE SEVEN TALES OF TRINKET
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 4, 2012
Kirkus Star THE SEVEN TALES OF TRINKET
by Shelley Moore Thomas
"Though it's filled with incident, emotion, magic and adventure, what stands out most is Trinket's clear voice and loving heart, both of which will endear her to readers. (Fantasy. 8-12)"
Like her main character, Trinket, Thomas clearly loves storytelling, and she has a real talent for it, too. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE SPINDLERS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 18, 2012
Kirkus Star THE SPINDLERS
by Lauren Oliver, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno
"Richly detailed, at times poetic, ultimately moving; a book to be puzzled over, enjoyed and, ideally, read aloud. (Final illustrations not seen.) (Fantasy. 8-12)"
Liza must venture Below to rescue her little brother's soul, stolen by evil, power-hungry spider people called spindlers, in this refreshingly creepy, intricately woven tale. Read full book review >
Cover art for IN A GLASS GRIMMLY
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 27, 2012
Kirkus Star IN A GLASS GRIMMLY
by Adam Gidwitz
"Not so much a set of retellings as a creative romp through traditional and tradition-based story-scapes, compulsively readable and just as read-out-loudable. (source note) (Fantasy. 11-14)"
The author of A Tale Dark and Grimm (2010) starts over--sending young Jack and Jill on a fresh quest for self-knowledge through trials and incidents drawn (stolen, according to the author) from a diverse array of European folk and fairy tales. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE DOGS OF WINTER
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
Kirkus Star THE DOGS OF WINTER
by Bobbie Pyron
"Terrifying, life-affirming and memorable. (author's note, bibliography) (Adventure. 10-14)"
An orphaned boy in Russia survives as a member of a pack of dogs. Read full book review >
Cover art for SON
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 2, 2012
Kirkus Star SON
by Lois Lowry
"Bravo! (Fiction. 12 & up)"
In this long-awaited finale to the Giver Quartet, a young mother from a dystopian community searches for her son and sacrifices everything to find him living in a more humane society with characters from The Giver (1993), Gathering Blue (2000) and Messenger (2004). Read full book review >
Cover art for "WHO COULD THAT BE AT THIS HOUR?"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 23, 2012
Kirkus Star "WHO COULD THAT BE AT THIS HOUR?"
by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Seth
"Fans of the Series of Unfortunate Events will be in heaven picking out tidbit references to the tridecalogy, but readers who've yet to delve into that well of sadness will have no problem enjoying this weird and witty yarn. (Mystery. 8-12)"
Young Mr. Snicket seems to always ask the wrong questions. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE VENGEKEEP PROPHECIES
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 23, 2012
THE VENGEKEEP PROPHECIES
by Brian Farrey, illustrated by Brett Helquist
"Bangers! (Fantasy. 8-12)"
There couldn't be a more likable family of thieves. Read full book review >
Cover art for BELLY FLOP!
CHILDREN'S
Released: Dec. 6, 2012
Kirkus Star BELLY FLOP!
by Stephen McCranie, illustrated by Stephen McCranie
"This emotional honesty alone is a reason to buy this book; the giraffe and Einstein are the icing on McCranie's cake. (Graphic fiction. 8-11)"
It's hard not to like a main character who brings a lab coat and briefcase to elementary school. Read full book review >