Waiting on Wednesday: The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliott

The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliott (Published by Hodder, July 2, 2009 in the UK and by Holiday House, November 15, 2009 in the US)

Eugenie de Boncoeur is growing up in Paris, unaware that her guardian has contracted her to marry the sinister spymaster known as 'le Fantome' when she turns sixteen. She finds herself falling for the handsome lawyer, Guy Deschamps, but there is little time for romance; France is descending into chaos as the Revolution takes hold. Soon Eugenie is fleeing for her life. Her brother Armand has become involved in a plot to save the King from the guillotine, the mob is searching for aristocrats, and le Fantome, the pale assassin, is on their trail - desperate for revenge.


I love historical fiction and the French Revolution is a great setting!! It sounds like this book will have a nice blend of history, romance, and adventure. I look forward to reading it!

Book review: My Vicksburg by Ann Rinaldi

My Vicksburg by Ann Rinaldi (published by Harcourt, May 4, 2009)

Thirteen-year-old Claire Louise Corbet, living in Vicksburg, Mississippi in the spring of 1863, struggles with the many changes the Civil War has brought to her family and her life. Her beloved older brother Landon has joined the Union Army as a doctor, leaving the Corbet family with divided loyalties - they still love him, but support the Confederate cause. Her father, also a doctor, has joined the Confederate Army. And when Vicksburg comes under siege by the Union Army, Claire Louise, her little brother James, their mother, and their household servants must leave their comfortable house to live in a cave.

Soon after, Claire Louise finds her loyalties further divided. Her brother, whom she hasn’t seen in many months, has returned to Vicksburg to care for wounded soldiers. He brings with him Robert, a wounded Confederate soldier. Landon confides in Claire Louise that Robert is a Confederate officer that was responsible for an order from General Lee that fell into Union hands, leading to a terrible Confederate defeat. Though Robert insists the order was lost accidentally, Landon feels compelled to turn him in. Now Claire Louise is forced to choose between her brother and helping Robert, which she feels is right in her heart.

I have loved most of the books I've read by Ann Rinaldi, so I really wanted to like this one as well. But in the end, I thought it was just okay, and nothing more. For starters, it was really at least a bit too short, and was missing a lot of backstory and explanation - why did Landon join the Union Army? Why was he so readily accepted back in Vicksburg after betraying his Confederate neighbors to help the enemy? The character of Claire Louise herself was inconsistent at times as well, sometimes acting very immature for her age and other times making adult decisions. My Vicksburg isn’t a terrible book, but it was disappointing compared to the author's other books. Readers who already love Ann Rinaldi’s books will likely find it an enjoyable enough way to spend a couple of hours. But for those readers looking for a really good novel about the Civil War, or who are new to this author’s books, there are much better books out there, including several others about the Civil War by Ann Rinaldi herself that I thought were much better than this book.

In My Mailbox - 4/25/09

Credit goes to The Story Siren for thinking up the In My Mailbox feature.

Here are the books I bought or received this week:

My Vicksburg by Ann Rinaldi

Claire Louise Corbett and her Confederate family flee their home as Union soldiers shell their town of Vicksburg, Mississippi. They venture out from the safety of a cave only three times a day, when the Union army takes their meals at eight in the morning, noon, and eight at night. Although many of the townspeople suffer from a lack of food, the Corbetts receive extra rations from Claire Louise's brother, Landon, a doctor with the Union army. When Claire Louise discovers her brother tending to a Confederate soldier who is responsible for Robert E. Lee's "lost order" (causing the South to lose the Battle of Antietam), she is forced to make a difficult choice between family and friends.
Award-winning historical novelist Ann Rinaldi paints a story of family, courage, and secrets during the forty-seven-day siege of Vicksburg, a battle that has sometimes been ignored in history because it ended the same day as the Battle of Gettysburg.


A Sweet Disorder by Jacqueline Kolosov

Sixteen-year old Miranda has no idea how much her life is going to change upon hearing the news of her father's death. Left with little dowry to offer, Miranda faces a broken engagement, and is sent to live with her father's cousin, the Count John Hardwood, and his wife whose primary goal is to take her to Court and marry her off to the insufferable Lord Seagrave for their own profit.
At Queen Elizabeth's court, Miranda soon learns that a large part of her survival will depend on her knowing who to trust. All the maidens at Court dream of being one of the Queen's ladies in waiting. When Miranda distinguishes herself from the rest with her exquisite sewing and embroidery skills, she gets the attention of the Queen, much to the anger and jealousy of the courtiers, ladies in waiting, and even a trusted "friend."
As Miranda begins to win the Queen's favor, she is given the ultimate test-to recreate Elizabeth's mother's (Ann Boleyn) coronation gown. Miranda knows this is her opportunity to escape the shackles of convention and get out of a marriage to Lord Seagrave and instead establish an independent life at Court as the Queen's seamstress. But how will she reunite with Henry Raleigh, the man to whom she was once promised, and has always loved?
With sophisticated writing, an eye for historically accurate detail, and a flair for suspense, Jacqueline Kolosov re-creates the intrigues of Elizabethan society with a vividness and immediacy that will make teen readers recall the pleasures and tensions of their own lives.

(Sorry for the bad cover picture, it wasn't available online so I scanned it in and it came out somewhat crooked!)


The Plague by Joanne Dahme

In a land overshadowed by death, fifteen year-old Nell’s uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan brings her to act as her double—what young girl wouldn’t want to leave a life of poverty and pretend to be a princess? But when the plague catches up to the royal entourage, thwarting the King’s plan for the princess to marry the Prince of Castile and seal an alliance between their kingdoms, Nell’s life could change forever. Princess Joan’s brother The Black Prince schemes to make the wedding go on declaring Nell will no longer double for Joan, she will become the princess and dupe Prince Pedro into marriage! With the aid and protection of a quirky band of friends—a Spanish minstrel, a monk, a gravedigger, a band of merchants—Nell must evade not only the Black Prince, a practitioner of the dark arts, but the plague as well, as she fights to return to the King and country. Based on historical truth, Dahme beautifully captures the dark terror of a Plague-infested fourteenth century Europe, while bringing to life the daily existence of medieval life for young adult readers.

(if you think this one looks familiar, it's because I already reviewed the ARC here. The hardcover was just released, and I had to buy a copy because I loved the book and the hardcover is so pretty! It has a really nice dust jacket and the hardcover book underneath has a really pretty paper-over-board cover.)


Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle

Penelope (Pen) Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister, Persy. But when the dashing Niall Keating begins to pay her court, she can’t help being distracted from her studies. Little does Pen know, Niall is acting upon orders from his sorceress mother. And although it starts as a sham, Niall actually falls deeply in love with Pen, and she with him. But even if he halts his mother’s evil plan, will Pen be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot? And what of Pen’s magic, which seems to be increasingly powerful?

(Squee! I'm really excited about this one!)

And finally one I borrowed from the library, although I'm kind of wishing I had bought it instead because I may not get to it in time:

Soldier's Secret by Sheila Solomon Klass

In the 1700s, women’s responsibilities were primarily child rearing and household duties. But Deborah Sampson wanted more from life. She wanted to read, to travel—and to fight for her country’s independence. When the colonies went to war with the British in 1775, Deborah was intent on being part of the action. Seeing no other option, she disguised herself in a man’s uniform and served in the Continental army for more than a year, her identity hidden from her fellow soldiers.
Accomplished writer Sheila Solomon Klass creates a gripping firstperson account of an extraordinary woman who lived a life full of danger, adventure, and intrigue.

(this book is a young adult historical novel based on a real person's life, although it kind of sounds like nonfiction from the summary!)

Waiting on Wednesday: Splendor: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen

Splendor: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen (published by HarperTeen, 10/27/09)

It’s a new year, and Manhattan’s favorite socialites are stirring up brand-new drama: Elizabeth uncovers a dangerous secret from her past; Diana has an opportunity to follow her heart—and claim her future, Lina discovers money can buy happiness…for a time, and Penelope finds that life without Henry brings unexpected pleasures. In this dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, old ties are broken, fresh bonds are formed, and every decision comes at a cost.


I love this series and can't wait to see how things turn out for the characters in the final book! I really wish it was coming out sooner than October. :(

In My Mailbox - 4/18/09

Credit goes to The Story Siren for thinking up the In My Mailbox feature.

Here are the books I bought or received this week:

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

Poor Creel. She can’t believe her aunt wants to sacrifice her to the local dragon. It’s a ploy to lure a heroic knight so that he will fight the dragon, marry Creel out of chivalrous obligation, and lift the entire family out of poverty. Creel isn’t worried. After all, nobody has seen a dragon in centuries.
But when the beast actually appears, Creel not only bargains with him for her life, she also ends up with a rare bit of treasure from his hoard, not gold or jewels, but a pair of simple blue slippers—or so she thinks. It’s not until later that Creel learns a shocking truth: She possesses not just any pair of shoes, but ones that could be used to save her kingdom, which is on the verge of war, or destroy it.


Beka Cooper: Terrier by Tamora Pierce

Tamora Pierce begins a new Tortall trilogy introducing Beka Cooper, an amazing young woman who lived 200 years before Pierce's popular Alanna character. For the first time, Pierce employs first-person narration in a novel, bringing readers even closer to a character that they will love for her unusual talents and tough personality.
Beka Cooper is a rookie with the law-enforcing Provost's Guard, and she's been assigned to the Lower City. It's a tough beat that's about to get tougher, as Beka's limited ability to communicate with the dead clues her in to an underworld conspiracy. Someone close to Beka is using dark magic to profit from the Lower City's criminal enterprises--and the result is a crime wave the likes of which the Provost's Guard has never seen before.


The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Calpurnia Virginia Tate is eleven years old in 1899 when she wonders why the yellow grasshoppers in her Texas backyard are so much bigger than the green ones.With a little help from her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist, she figures out that the green grasshoppers are easier to see against the yellow grass, so they are eaten before they can get any larger. As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.


How Do I Love Thee? by Nancy Moser

Elizabeth Barrett is a published poet--and a virtual prisoner in her own home. Blind family loyalty ties her to a tyrannical father who forbids any of his children to marry. Bedridden by chronic illness, she has resigned herself to simply existing. That is, until the letter arrives...
"I love your verses with all my heart," writes Robert Browning, an admiring fellow poet. As friendly correspondence gives way to something more, Elizabeth discovers that Robert's love is not for her poetry alone. Might God grant her more than mere existence? And will she risk defying her father in pursuit of true happiness?

Book review: Dear Canada: Blood Upon Our Land by Maxine Trottier

Dear Canada: Blood Upon Our Land by Maxine Trottier (published by Scholastic Canada, January 1, 2009)

Twelve-year-old Josephine Bouvier and her family are Métis, descended from Cree Indians and French Canadians. They have their own unique culture, with a mixture of Native and French traditions, and are devout Catholics. The Bouviers live a peaceful life on their farm in Batoche, Saskatchewan, after being forced to leave their previous home because of white settlers shortly before Josephine was born. Josephine’s mother died two years ago, and her biggest worry is adjusting to her new stepmother, Louise.

However, all that changes in the winter of 1885. Once again, the Métis are threatened with the loss of their homes. The Canadian government does not want to grant them title to their lands, and with white settlers beginning to move further west, the Métis fear they will lose their businesses and farms, since they have no legally recognized claim to them. The men are determined to fight for their homes, but Josephine is afraid. She knows that the soldiers will greatly outnumber her people and she fears for the lives of her family and friends.

Blood Upon Our Land was another good book from the Dear Canada series. I am so glad this series has continued now that the Dear America series is over, since I love historical fiction written in the form of a diary. As an American, I also really enjoyed learning about an event from Canadian history that I knew nothing about. I recommend this book to other readers who have enjoyed books in either the Dear America or Dear Canada series.

Book review: Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Wings by Aprilynne Pike (published by HarperCollins, May 5, 2009)

Fourteen-year-old Laurel grew up living a sheltered life in a small town, where she was home schooled by her parents. So it's a big change for her when her family moves and she begins to attend a high school. On her first day at school she meets David, a local boy who is a science nerd. Laurel and David become best friends, and Laurel wavers between being happy with that, and wanting their friendship to become something more.

Things soon become more complicated for Laurel when she appears to have begun growing wings. David, with his interest in science, tries to help Laurel figure out what is going on. Eventually, Laurel learns she is a faerie, and was left on her parents' doorstep when she was very young, and that it is up to her to help protect her world and those she cares about. She also must choose between two loves, the handsome faerie Tamani, who helps her understand who she is and where she came from, and David, who has always been there for her since her first day at school.

Wings is a promising debut by new teen author Aprilynne Pike. It's supposed to the first book in a series, and I look forward to seeing how the story continues and what happens to Laurel and her friends. I've seen this book compared to Twilight, and while there are some similarities, the fantasy elements are pretty different (I'm a much bigger fan of faeries than vampires myself). I think teen girls who love supernatural romances, as well as older readers who still enjoy teen fiction, will enjoy this book a lot.

Book review: Two Girls of Gettysburg by Lisa Klein

Two Girls of Gettysburg by Lisa Klein (published by Bloomsbury, October 14, 2008)

Fifteen-year-old Lizzie Allbauer lives in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1861, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. When her sixteen-year-old cousin Rosanna McGreevey comes to visit from Virginia, Lizzie thinks the girls couldn't be more different. Lizzie is shy and doesn't feel she is pretty, while Rosanna is beautiful, outgoing, and flirtatious. However, the two girls develop a friendship. When war breaks out, Lizzie's father and brother enlist in the Union Army, and Rosanna returns to her home in Richmond, Virginia.

From that point on, their lives diverge sharply. Lizzie helps support the Union cause that her father and brother are fighting for, and helps run the family business while the men are at war. Meanwhile, Rosanna marries a handsome young Confederate soldier and follows him to war, nursing the wounded soldiers. Eventually the girls reunite and witness the Battle of Gettysburg.

Two Girls of Gettysburg is a wonderful historical novel that does a good job at showing both sides of the Civil War and how the conflict destroyed lives and tore families apart. The novel is told through the alternating voices of the two girls. Lizzie's chapters are told from a standard first-person point of view, while Rosanna's are told through diary entries, similar to a Dear America book. As a result Lizzie's story was more detailed and her character was a bit more developed than Rosanna`s as a result. I highly recommend this novel to teens with an interest in history, as well as older readers who still love young adult historical fiction.

Book review: Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund (Published by Penguin Books, May 14, 2009)

Aerin Renning and Dane Madousin are both seventeen-year-old freshmen at the universe’s most exclusive school, Academy 7. But aside from that, they couldn’t be more different. Aerin has had a very hard life. She has never known her mother, and her father died when she was just eleven, after which Aerin was captured and forced into slavery for six long years, until she finally was able to escape. Dane Madousin was born to privilege, the son of an esteemed general. But the only thing he really wanted was his father’s love, which no matter how hard he tried, he never seemed to be able to earn.

When Dane, in an attempt to rebel against his father, plays a prank at school, he gets Aerin in trouble as well. Resenting him for his easy life and for causing her to be punished as well, at first she resolves that she will have nothing to do with him. But against her better judgment, they become close friends, and she shares the secrets of her past with him. And soon Aerin and Dane begin to suspect that an even bigger secret is being hidden at the school.

Academy 7 is one of my favorite teen fiction reads so far this year. Aerin and Dane, although they live in a futuristic world, are easy to relate to and have many of the same problems teens today face - Aerin struggles to blend in at school as she struggles emotionally with her past, while Dane longs for acceptance from his father and acts out rebelliously as a result of never gaining it. Throughout the novel they grow both as individuals and in their growing relationship with each other. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy teen fiction. It honestly has something in it for everyone - science fiction, fantasy, adventure, and a story of friendship and romance.

Book review: Josephine by Beverly Jenkins

Josephine by Beverely Jenkins (published by Kimani Tru, February 1, 2009)

Josephine Best is seventeen years old, and she has a different plan for her life than most young women her age in 1864. Raised in a progressive free black family that ran a station on the Underground Railroad, Josephine has been encouraged since she was a child to follow her dreams, even if they were not traditional ones for a girl to have. Josephine has attended the Women's Program at Oberlin College and now runs her own hairdressing shop in her hometown. Most of the girls her age are thinking about marriage. Josephine would be thinking about marriage, but she fears that if she marries she will be forced to give up her business. Then Adam Morgan returns injured from the war. Adam was one of her older brother Daniel's childhood friends, and tormented her mercilessly when they were both children. But now they're both all grown up and discovering feelings for each other that they never would have expected.

I highly recommend this book to teenage girls who enjoy historical romances, as well as older readers who enjoy a sweet love story. It is a nice follow up to the author's previous young adult book, Belle, set several years earlier, in which Josephine made an appearance as a young girl. The romance is very cute and sweet, and the historical setting isn't extremely detailed, but creates an interesting background for the story while teaching a few historical facts. I read this book as part of the Avon True Romance series, when it was first published, and I was pleased to see it has been re-released, so more readers can enjoy it.

Book review: Belle by Beverly Jenkins

Belle by Beverly Jenkins (published by Kimani Tru, January 1, 2009)

Belle has lived all her sixteen years in slavery. As a young girl she lost her mother, who was sold away. Her father has decided that he wants a better life for himself and his daughter, so they flee Kentucky, hoping to reach freedom in Canada. But the two are separated, and Belle finds herself lost and alone in Michigan. She is found by the side of the road by Daniel and Josephine Best, the children of free black parents who operate a station on the Underground Railroad. Belle finds herself taken in by the Bests, being treated like a member of the family. But while enjoying her newfound freedom, she also longs for news of her father. And though she doesn't mean to, Belle finds herself falling in love with Daniel, even though he is already engaged to another. Can they ever be together, and will Belle ever find her father again?

I highly recommend this book to teenage girls who enjoy historical romances, as well as older readers who enjoy a sweet love story. The romance is very cute and sweet, and the historical setting isn't extremely detailed, but creates an interesting background for the story while teaching a few historical facts. I read this book as part of the Avon True Romance series, when it was first published, and I was pleased to see it has been re-released, so more readers can enjoy it.

Book review: Horse Diaries - Elska by Catherine Hapka

Horse Diaries: Elska by Catherine Hapka (published by Random House, March 24, 2009)

In Iceland, around the year 1000 A.D., most Icelandic horses spend their summers roaming free and their winters on farms working for humans. This book is the story of one young Icelandic filly. She is born in the summer, and a few months later when fall arrives, she and part of her herd are brought to the farm of a human family. The family's young daughter, Amma, becomes very close to the filly, and names her Elska. The horse and the young girl develop a strong bond. However, Amma's father decides to trade Elska to a neighbor, confusing Elska and breaking Amma's heart. Will they ever be reunited again?

Told from the point of view of Elska, this was a cute story that is sure to appeal to young girls who love horses, particularly those who also enjoy historical fiction. The book teaches some interesting facts about life for both horses and humans in Iceland in this time period. The illustrations were very well done and were adorable. I would definitely recommend this book to the target audience.

In My Mailbox - 4/11/09

Credit goes to The Story Siren for thinking up the In My Mailbox feature.

Well I had a pretty slow week, I guess with how good last week was, it balances out.

The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

At a young age, Mary is rescued from the gallows by a woman masquerading as a prison warden. She is taken to Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. The school, Mary learns, is a front for a private investigation agency and, at 17, she is taken on as an agent. In her new role she is catapulted into the family home of the Thorolds to investigate the shady business dealings of Mr Thorold.


Far From Home by K.M. Peyton

Passion, courage and determination burn brightly in Roman servant-girl Minna's final heart-rending adventure. When Minna's true love Theo sets off north to battle, commanding an army that includes her brother, her friends and her beloved horse, Silva, Minna cannot bear to see them all leave her. Regardless of the dangers she will be facing, she joins the baggage train and becomes a Roman spy. Army life is hard and brutal, yet her growing closeness with Theo makes it bearable. Could he finally admit his love for her? But when Theo is wounded in battle and Silva is stolen by the enemy, Minna must throw off all her romantic dreams and set off alone on a life-or-death mission to save her horse.


The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated polygamous community without questioning her father’s three wives and her twenty brothers and sisters. Or at least without questioning them much—if you don’t count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her 60-year-old uncle—who already has six wives—Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family.

(I wouldn't usually buy this kind of book, but it was being offered on Amazon Vine and it looked interesting so I decided to request it)


Pirate Hannah Pritchard: Captured by Bonnie Pryor

Aboard the Sea Hawk, Hannah Pritchard and her fellow pirates are sailing home to share the treasure they took from the British. But, during their journey, a British frigate attacks the Sea Hawk, destroying the ship. Hannah and a few crewmates narrowly escape with the treasure chest. Marooned on an island, Hannah and her friends are captured by the British. Follow Hannah Pritchard in her second pirate adventure as she faces brutal conditions as a British prisoner during the American Revolution; sequel to Hannah Pritchard: Pirate of the Revolution, published in 2008. (I couldn't find the cover for this book anywhere online, my scanner refused to work, I finally took this crappy picture with my digital camera)

And a few I bought used or got through Paperbackswap or Bookmooch:























Anyway hopefully next week will be better, and be sure to check out the contest one post below this!

In My Mailbox - 4/4/09

Credit goes to The Story Siren for thinking up the In My Mailbox feature.

I had a very good week, but now I'm not sure what I want to read first! Ack.

Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede

Eff was born a thirteenth child. Her twin brother, Lan, is the seventh son of a seventh son. This means he's supposed to possess amazing talent — and she's supposed to bring only bad things to her family and her town. Undeterred, her family moves to the frontier, where her father will be a professor of magic at a school perilously close to the magical divide that separates settlers from the beasts of the wild.

With wit and wonder, Patricia Wrede creates an alternate history of westward expansion that will delight fans of both J. K. Rowling and Laura Ingalls Wilder.


Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell

In the small Puritan community of Stoneybrooke, Massachusetts, Susannah Phillips stands out both for her character and beauty. She wants only a simple life but soon finds herself pursued by the town's wealthiest bachelor and by a roguish military captain sent to protect them. One is not what he seems and one is more than he seems.

In trying to discover true love's path, Susannah is helped by the most unlikely of allies, a wounded woman who lives invisible and ignored in their town. As the depth, passion, and sacrifice of love is revealed to Susannah, she begins to question the rules and regulations of her childhood faith. In a community where grace is unknown, what price will she pay for embracing love?


Horse Diaries: Elska by Catherine Hapka

Iceland, circa AD 1000

Elska is a silver dapple Icelandic filly. She spends summers frisking about the countryside and winters in the farmyard, where the girl human Amma takes special care of her. But when a powerful neighbor notices Elska, her contented life suddenly changes. Here is Elska’s story . . . in her own words.


Horse Diaries: Bell's Star by Alison Hart

Vermont, 1850s

Bell’s Star is a brown Morgan colt with a white star and two white stockings. He was bred for hard work, yet he longs to run free with his human friend, Katie, on his back. But when Star helps rescue a runaway slave girl, his ideas about freedom may change forever. Here is Star’s story . . . in his own words.


The Way Lies North by Jean Rae Baxter

This young adult historical novel focuses on Charlotte and her family, Loyalists who are forced to flee their home in the Mohawk Valley as a result of the violence of the "Sons of Liberty" during the American Revolution. At the beginning, fifteen-year-old Charlotte Hooper is separated from her sweetheart, Nick, who sympathizes with the Revolutionaries. The war has already taken the lives of her three brothers, and it is with a sense of desperation that Charlotte and her parents begin the long trek north to the safety of Fort Haldimand (near present-day Kingston). The novel portrays Charlotte’s struggle on the difficult journey north, and the even more difficult task of making a new home in British Canada.


Wicked: Resurrection by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Who is Alex Carruthers? That is the question Wicked fans have been asking for nearly six years. Spellbound, the fourth and seemingly last book in the Wicked series, which was originally published in 3002, left readers on the edge of their seats with a classic cliff-hanger ending. But now, as new fans of the bind-up editions of the series begin to ask the same question, the true and final conclusion to the Wicked series will emerge. And all their questions will be answered in this heart stopping, magical adventure about witches, destiny, and the beyond.


Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Things aren't pretty for Emerson Watts.
Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac the body of a teenaged supermodel.
But it turned out she was wrong. Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who's gone mysteriously missing, a brother who's shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who's intent on destroying Stark Enterprises to avenge the death of his lost love, and a British heartthrob who's written a song about her that's topping the charts.
How can Em balance all that with school, runway shows, and weekend jaunts to St. Johns - especially when she's got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op; a sister who is headed to the high school cheerleading championships; a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side...
Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren't really airheads after all...especially one model in particular.
But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.


Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.
There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.
Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?


Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.
That is, until now.
Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.


Wicked Will by Bailey MacDonald

Performing in the English town of Stratford-on-Avon in 1576, a young actress (disguised as a boy) and a local lad named Will Shakespeare uncover a murder mystery.







And from Bookmooch, Paperbackswap, or used bookstores:

Waiting on Wednesday: Daughters of the Sea #1: Hannah by Kathryn Lasky

Daughters of the Sea #1: Hannah by Kathryn Lasky (Published by Scholastic, September 1, 2009)

Daughters of the Sea tells the story of 3 mermaid sisters who are separated at birth by a storm and go on to lead three very different lives. Book 1 is about Hannah, who spent her early days in an orphanage and is now a scullery maid in the house of rich, powerful family. She is irresistibly drawn to the sea and through a series of accidents and encounters discovers her true identity. Hannah relizes that she must keep the truth a secret but she also knows that soon she will have to make the choice - to be a creature of the land or the sea.


Kathryn Lasky wrote many books in the Royal Diaries and Dear America series that I loved. This sounds like it will be a really interesting and enjoyable blend of historical fiction and fantasy. I can't wait to read it!