Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

247 pages

Price: Hardcover-$17.99 U.S./$20.99 Can

    Zulaikha, a young Afghan girl with a cleft lip, wants to be normal. The boys in her town make fun of her calling her 'Donkeyface', her stepmother is nasty to her, and now her younger brother is ignoring her. The only things in life that give Zulaikha joy are her father, who loves her no matter what, and learning to read and write.

    When American soldiers come, they offer Zulaikha a wonderful gift: an operation that can make her mouth normal. She is thrilled to have the chance to finally blend in when she goes out and live a normal life. But when tragedy strikes, Zulaikha learns what is most important: love.

**Note: some material in this book may not be suitable for young children. Recommended age: Thirteen and up.

Exile by Anne Osterlund

Exile by Anne Osterlund
295 pages

Price: Paperback-$8.99 U.S./$10.50 CAN

    Aurelia has survived tons of assassination attempts and is now on an expedition with her best friend, Robert, to see her country and meet her people. But Aurelia is still not safe. One night, her royal guard tries to kill her by burning her tent. She and Robert escape and flees across the country to the frontier.

    But Aurelia is not the only one in danger. Will Aurelia and Robert be safe at Roberts home? Will the king be safe in the castle with an assassin?

How could he think of leaving without telling me? Aurelia tried to say the words aloud to Daria, and they came out, "How could he leave without me?"

    "Do you want to go?"

    "Yes." Well, there it was. The truth.

    "Then go." Daria crossed the room and opened the wardrobe. "Just"-she paused-"don't hurt him, Aurelia."

    Hurt him? Aurelia felt numb. "What do you mean?"

    Her friend returned from the wardrobe with wool stockings and Aurelia's battered riding boots. She did not release them. "You must know."

    Know what? "Daria." Aurelia's tone was threatening.

    "He's in love with you."

    The world stopped. For one long, outrageous moment, Aurelia let herself consider the statement. He had kissed her. Once. And saved her life. More than once.

    But the idea that he could be in love with her did not-could not be true. "That's nonsense." She had tried to let Robert know she wanted to spend time alone with him on the way to Sterling. And he had rejected her. He was still rejecting her.

    Daria habded her the stockings. "Honestly, Aurelia. There's nothing wrong with being in love."

    Aurelia was not at all certain of that.

                                                                                               ~Exile by Anne Osterlund

*Book 2*
Previous book: Aurelia

Sovay by Celia Rees

Sovay by Celia Rees

404 pages
Price: Hardcover-$16.99 U.S.
         Paperback-$8.99 U.S.

    Sovay Middleton is not like most girls living in 1794. Instead of sitting for portraits and going to tea parties, she would rather dress as a highwayman and rob coaches. Sovay's father has been gone for a long time and no word from her brother, Hugh, has come in a while. Sovay sets out to find her family, but instead find more trouble than she can handle.

    Her search takes her from England to France, where the people are revolting against the aristocrats. Accused of being an English spy, Sovay is caught in a web of lies and deceit. Will she and her friends have what it takes to survive the French Revolution?

    She stationed herself at the crossroads, adjusted the black eye-mask and green kerchief and loosened her weapons.

    The horses slowed as they toiled up the long hill, but as soon as they reached the summit, the driver cracked his whip, ready to make a speedy descent. Sovay rode out and the horses shied but showed no signs of stopping.

        'Stand and deliver!' she shouted.

Would you read this book? Why or why not? If you have read it, what did you think of it? Please share you opinion.

Unsinkable by Gordon Korman

Unsinkable by Gordon Korman

170 pages

    Paddy is a stowaway on the Titanic, hiding from a gangster that killed his best friend. Sophie and her mother have been arrested for starting a fight about women's rights in London. They are being sent back to their home in America. Juliana is embarrassed by her rich father who gambles and doesn't care about important things. Alfie is under-age to be working as a crew member, but he wanted to sail with his father.

    The four kids meet, but are wary of each other. But when someone is after them, will they be able to team up? Will their friendship only end in disaster?

**Book 1 in the Titanic Trilogy**

Next book: Collision Course

Would you read this book? Why or why not? If you have read it, what did you think of it? Please share you opinion.

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund
246 pages

Price: Paperback-$8.99 U.S.

    Crown Princess Aurelia of Tyralt is tired of people telling her what to do; she wants to make her own decisions. When assassination plots are attempted on Aurelia's life, Robert comes to help. Robert is the son of the king's former spy and Aurelia's friend. After a close call at the carnival, in which he and Aurelia are almost killed, Robert quickly takes takes action to save his friend's life. But Aurelia is convinced that she does not need to be saved.

    As the mystery thickens, Robert realizes that the assassin may not be who they expect it to be. He sets the trap, but will things go as planned?

Aurelia beamed with anticipation and graced Robert with a smile.

    At that moment he knew he was in trouble.

    "Yes, tomorrow night is Carnival, the Night of the Masks. We're old enough to go out in disguise now," Aurelia said. "You must wait for me before you go." She frowned. "It's no fun alone."

    A trace of sadness in her voice made Robert promise despite misgivings. "All right, it's not like I can refuse the order of the princess."

    Her voice fried him to ash. "It's not an order, Robert, but even if it was, I expect my friends to have enough courage to refuse an invitation."

    Nothing had lengthened her temper over the last four years. He resorted to humor, the only defence available, and swept her a mocking bow. "I'll be your lifelong friend then, since I won't put up with being pushed around.

    "Really?" Her eyes danced. She splayed  her hands against his chest and pushed, hard.

    Robert held his footing without giving ground. "Yes, and thank you for the invitation." He encircled her waist with his hands and twirled  her toward her anxiously waiting friends. His mind spun as he looked down at her laughing face. He could not imagine why someone was trying to kill her.

                                                                                   ~Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

**Book 1**

Next book: Exile

Would you read this book? Why or why not? If you have read it, what did you think of it? Please share you opinion.

Upcoming Releases for 2011

August:

23-Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix

30-The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman

September:

2-Diviner by Bryan Davis

October:

4-The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

11-Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

November:

8-Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

15-The Always War by Magaret Peterson Haddix

December:

6-A King's Ransom by Jude Watson

If I am missing any, please let me know so I can add them.

Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac

Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac
333 pages
Price: Hardcover-$16.99 U.S./$19.50 Canada

    Prince Rashko's parents, the king and queen, are missing. When Rashko finds an enchanted invitation in their room that says they are invited to a party, he knows something strange is going on. Soon after, the evil Baron Temny arives at the castle gate saying that his parents invited him to stay as long as he wanted. He also tells Rashko that his daughter is to marry Paulek, Rashko's older brother. Paulek quikly falls under their spell, but Rashko is not so easily deceived. With the help of his friends, the prince discovers the legend of Prince Pavol, a dragon, and the history of the castle. Untangling the secrets of Dragon Castle might be the only way to save his family and the kingdom from the Baron.

Would you read this book? Why or why not? If you have read it, what did you think of it? Please share you opinion.

Low Prices on Bryan Davis ebooks

Starlighter, Beyond the Reflection's Edge, and Eternity's Edge ebooks are 99 cents each at all ebook vendors, including Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), & Christianbook.com (epub). The sale lasts until August 1. Please repost this wherever you can.

Previously posted by Bryan Davis.

Secrets of Tamarind by Nadia Aguiar

Secrets of Tamarind by Nadia Aguiar

365 pages

Price: Hardcover- $16.99 U.S./$19.50 Canada

          Paperback-

    Four years have passed since the Nelson children returned from the island of Tamarind. Simon, now thirteen, wants to hhelp stop the Red Coral Project, the group that wants Tamarind's secret and magical mineral, but he knows his parents are keeping secrets from him. One night, Helix secretly tells them that he is going back to Tamarind. Simon, Maya, now sixteen, and their young sister, Penny, sneek off to Tamarind with Helix.

    Once there, the four children are taken prisoner. When they escape, Maya Simon and Penny realize that the Red Coral Project has already found the island. Simon must gather the secrets that can help save the island from destruction. If he fails, the island and all its inhabitants will die.

Previous book: The Lost Island of Tamarind

Would you read this book? Why or why not? If you have read it, what did you think of it? Please share you opinion.

The Lost Island of Tamarind

The Lost Island of Tamarind by Nadia Aguiar

    Maya and Simon Nelson and baby Penny are lost at sea without their parents. When they end up on a mysterious island that is not on the map, Maya and Simon know they are in for an adventure that they could never have imagined. They explore the island with the help of Helix, an island boy.

    Finding there parents turns out to be hard than they thought. They must avoid vines that grab you if you run, hungry jaguars, and an evil women who captures children to work in mines. All the while, the mystery of their parents disappearence grows deeper when they discover a magical mineral that lives deep under the soil of the island. Can the Nelson children find their parents? Will they be safe anywhere on the island of Tamarind?

Next book: Secrets of Tamarind

Would you read this book? Why or why not? If you have read it, what did you think of it? Please share you opinion.