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LATEST ISSUE OF
Kirkus Reviews
Best-seller Jeannette Walls talks about mining her own history for her new novel, The Silver Star.
Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS



New and Notable October Titles for Teens

Cover art for THE INQUISITOR'S APPRENTICE
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 3, 2011
Kirkus Star THE INQUISITOR'S APPRENTICE
by Chris Moriarty, illustrated by Mark Edward Geyer
"A marvelous, mystical romp that doesn't ignore reality. A hint of a possible sequel whets readers' appetite for more: Yes, please! (author's note) (Fantasy. 12 & up)"
Thirteen-year-old Sacha lives in New York City's Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century. Or does he? Read full book review >
Cover art for VIRTUOSITY
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 18, 2011
Kirkus Star VIRTUOSITY
by Jessica Martinez
"Former child violin prodigy Martinez brings this overwrought world to tense, quivering life and guides readers through it confidently. A brilliant debut. (Fiction. 14 & up)"
Grammy-winning, world-touring violinist Carmen Bianchi, 17, has outgrown child-prodigy status. To transition to an adult career as a virtuoso soloist, she must win the Guarneri Competition. If she loses, she'll be just another former prodigy. Read full book review >
Cover art for AROUND THE WORLD
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 11, 2011
Kirkus Star AROUND THE WORLD
by Matt Phelan, illustrated by Matt Phelan
"Three true tales of adventure as grand and admirable in the telling as they were in the doing. (Graphic nonfiction. 10-13)"
With uncommon perception and a flair for visual drama, Phelan tracks three intrepid souls' solo journeys around the world. Read full book review >
Cover art for ASHFALL
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2011
Kirkus Star ASHFALL
by Mike Mullin
"In this chilling debut, Mullin seamlessly weaves meticulous details about science, geography, agriculture and slaughter into his prose, creating a fully immersive and internally consistent world scarily close to reality. (author's note) (Speculative fiction. 14 & up)"
"The pre-Friday world of school, cell phones, and refrigerators dissolved into this post-Friday world of ash, darkness, and hunger." Read full book review >
Cover art for STEAMPUNK!
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2011
Kirkus Star STEAMPUNK!
edited by Kelly Link, Gavin J. Grant
"An excellent collection, full of unexpected delights. (introduction, author biographies) (Anthology. 12 & up)"
You can't have steampunk without steam (and maybe some gears), but in the hands of a stellar cast of authors, everything else is open to interpretation. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE WATCH THAT ENDS THE NIGHT
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2011
Kirkus Star THE WATCH THAT ENDS THE NIGHT
by Allan Wolf
"A lyrical, monumental work of fact and imagination that reads like an oral history revved up by the drama of the event. (Historical fiction. 14 & up)"
Twenty-four voices--of passengers, rats and even the iceberg--evoke the human tragedy of the ill-fated voyage. Read full book review >