Do fantasy and science fiction--or their cousins, paranormal and dystopian fiction--float your boat? Climb aboard a few of these books.
CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 10, 2012
"Setting and plot are the heart and soul of this ripping space thriller, and they're unforgettable. (Science fiction. 14 & up)"
Opening soon after the bleak ending of
Across the Universe (2011), this captivating middle volume takes
Godspeed's 2,763 residents through commotion, twists and game-changers.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Feb. 28, 2012
"Readers will definitely want to have, know or be Maggie's brothers--but she herself proves to be no slouch when it comes to coping with change and taking on challenges. (Graphic fantasy. 11-13)"
Nervous, home-schooled by her absent and much-missed mom and saddled with three adored older brothers--and a ghost--Maggie starts high school.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 6, 2012
"From the grief-stricken shell of her former self to a nascent refugee and finally to a full-fledged resistance fighter, Lena's strength and the complexity of her internal struggles will keep readers up at night. (Dystopian romance. 14 & up)"
It's been six months since readers first met 17-year-old Lena Haloway, desperately in love in a world that considers such feelings an infection to be permanently and irrevocably "cured."
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 13, 2012
"This epic has everything readers can ask for: great characters and a truly spectacular plot filled with romance, suspense, friendship and betrayal. (Fantasy. 14 & up)"
With this, the second of the Lumatere Chronicles, fans will be delighted to learn more about this fantasy world and their favorite characters from
Finnikin of the Rock (2010).
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 27, 2012
"A sentimental tale of hardships, resilience and first-time experiences that illustrates a universal truism: Hope springs eternal in the young. (Fiction. 12 & up)"
Debut author Crockett's poetic first-person narrative depicts an adolescent's coming-of-age amid wartime havoc and an unforgiving, possibly post-apocalyptic winter.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: April 1, 2012
"While readers who long for concrete answers may be frustrated, those willing to go along with this captivating exploration of both individual and collective identity will find themselves pondering its implications long after the last page. (Fiction. 14 & up)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: April 1, 2012
"Part science fiction, part adventure, part mystery, but every bit engrossing; be sure to start the hold list for the sequel. (Science fiction. 12 & up) "
Vivid imagination and deft storytelling make for refreshing speculative fiction in this time-travel tale.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: April 2, 2012
"An impressive blend of biography and magical realism. (author's notes; select bibliography) (Fantasy. 14 & up)"
A 20th-century teen artist and 19th-century French poet Arthur Rimbaud transcend time and place in this luminous paean to the transformative power of art.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: April 3, 2012
"If you haven't discovered this series yet, get going; if you're already a fan, why are you even reading this review? (Urban fantasy/thriller. 14 & up)"
The conclusion to Black's brilliant and unusual Curse Workers trilogy lives up to its predecessors.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: April 12, 2012
"Rich in voice, humor and dazzling imagery, studded with edgy ideas and wildly original, this multicultural mashup--like its heroine--defies categorization. (Fantasy. 12 & up)"
Noted for her fantasy and science fiction for adults, Hopkinson jumps triumphantly to teen literature.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 1, 2012
"Inventive and hilarious, with laugh-out-loud moments on every page. (Fantasy. 8 & up)"
Instead of finding Happily Ever After with their princesses, four Princes Charming (Prince Duncan insists they pluralize the noun, not adjective) must team up on a farcical quest to save their kingdoms.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 1, 2012
"Devastating and heartbreaking, this will be a disappointment for readers looking for a conventional happy ending. But those willing to take the risk will--like Bitterblue--achieve something even more precious: a hopeful beginning. (Fantasy. 14 & up)"
Building on the plots and themes of the award-winning
Graceling (2008) and its companion
Fire (2009), this rich and poignant fantasy grapples with the messy aftermath of destroying an evil overlord.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 1, 2012
"Breathtaking. (Dystopian. 14 & Up)"
In the visceral and deeply affecting companion to the Printz Award–winning
Ship Breaker, Bacigalupi returns to a dark, war-torn dystopian future in which severe climatic change and years of political upheaval have left the United States a bloodied and ravaged landscape.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 8, 2012
"Absolutely delectable; if it has more fripperies and furbelows than are strictly speaking necessary, it makes up for that in the wizardly grace of its storytelling. (Fantasy. 12-18)"
Readers who get past the generic title and an off-puttingly generic cover will discover a fabulous fairy-tale mashup that deserves hordes of avid readers.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 15, 2012
"Space battles! Political intrigue! Engineered warriors! Techno-wizardry! Assassins! Pirates! Rebels! Duels! Secrets, lies, sex and True Love! What more can anybody ask for? (Science fiction. 14 & up)"
Exuberant and insightful, this science-fiction
bildungsroman grapples with the essential question: "Who am I?"
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 1, 2012
"Surprising, vivid and cohesive--the work of a pro. (Steampunk. 13 & up)"
A steampunk adventure in which an omniscient narrator delves into multiple heads and a quartet of friends take lurid risks to save their fifth counterpart.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 1, 2012
"As the clock ticks down on Heidi's soul, readers will be rooting for both Jerome and Heidi with all their hearts. (Paranormal adventure. 12 & up)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 19, 2012
"This smart, stylish series opener raises the bar for paranormal fiction, leaving readers impatient for the next installment. (author's note) (Urban fantasy. 12 & up)"
Crime noir meets paranormal romance in this addictive thriller about two London teens in whom the fae awakens, conferring abilities at once exhilarating and harshly stigmatized.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 26, 2012
"This cracking good mixture of magic and place will leave readers eagerly awaiting the sequel. (Fantasy. 12-14)"
A mixed-race girl in Dust Bowl Kansas discovers her long-lost father isn't just a black man: He's a fairy.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: July 3, 2012
"Laugh-out-loud funny, heart-wrenchingly sad and fist-pump-in-the-air triumphant, this sparkling gem proves that vampires, zombies and even teenagers…at heart, we're all on Team Human. (Fantasy. 12 & up.)"
Both lovers and loathers of teen vampire romance will revel in this hilarious satirical take on the genre.
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