What Came From The Stars by Gary Schmidt

What Came From the Stars
Gary Schmidt
Clarion Books
294p.


In a desperate attempt for survival, a peaceful civilization on a faraway planet besieged by a dark lord sends its most precious gift across the cosmos into the lunchbox of Tommy Pepper, sixth grader, of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

Splendors and Glooms
Laura Amy Schlitz
Candlewick Press
384 pgs.


When Clara vanishes after the puppeteer Grisini and two orphaned assistants were at her twelfth birthday party, suspicion of kidnapping chases the trio away from London and soon the two orphans are caught in a trap set by Grisini's ancient rival, a witch with a deadly inheritance to shed before it is too late.

Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman

Obsidian Blade (Klaatu Diskos, 1) by Pete Hautman
Candlewick Press
308pg.

After thirteen-year-old Tucker Feye's parents disappear, he suspects that the strange disks of shimmering air that he keeps seeing are somehow involved, and when he steps inside of one he is whisked on a time-twisting journey trailed by a shadowy sect of priests and haunted by ghostlike figures.

Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler

Princess of the Wild Swans
Diane Zahler
Harper Collins Children's Books
212 pg


Twelve-year-old Princess Meriel must sew shirts from stinging nettles in order to rescue her five older brothers from their evil stepmother's spell lest they remain swans forever. Inspired by the Andersen fairy tale, "The Wild Swans."

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Scholastic Press
2011
416p.

Nineteen-year-old returning champion Sean Kendrick competes against Puck Connolly, the first girl ever to ride in the annual Scorpio Races, both trying to keep hold of their dangerous water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
Scholastic Press
2011
336p.

Princess Solveig and her siblings are trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen fjord, along with her best friend and an army of restless soldiers, all awaiting news of the king's victory in battle, but as they wait for winter's end and the all-encompassing ice to break, acts of treachery make it clear that a traitor lurks in their midst.

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier

Alfred A. Knopf

2011

                     388p.

The adventures of two teenaged cousins who live in a place called The Floating Islands, one of whom is studying to become a mage and the other one of the legendary island flyers.

Wilwood by Colin Meloy

Wildwood by Colin Meloy
Balzer + Bray
2011
541p.


When her baby brother is kidnapped by crows, seventh-grader Prue McKeel ventures into the forbidden Impassable Wilderness--a dangerous and magical forest in the middle of Portland, Oregon--and soon finds herself involved in a war among the various inhabitants.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Viking
2011
349p.

Twelve-year-old Sunny Nwazue, an American-born albino child of Nigerian parents, moves with her family back to Nigeria, where she learns that she has latent magical powers which she and three similarly gifted friends use to catch a serial killer.

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine
Harper Collins Children's Books
2011
328p.

Twelve-year-old Elodie journeys to Two Castles in hopes of studying acting but instead becomes apprentice to a dragon, who teaches her to be observant and use reasoning, thus helping her to uncover who is poisoning the king.

Chime by Franny Billingsley

Chime by Franny Billingsley
Dial Books for Young Readers
2011
361p.

 In the early twentieth century in Swampsea, seventeen-year-old Briony, who can see the spirits that haunt the marshes around their town, feels responsible for her twin sister's horrible injury until a young man enters their lives and exposes secrets that even Briony does not know about.

Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

Throne of Fire (The Kane Chronicles, 2) by Rick Riordan
Disney/Hyperion
2011
452p.

Carter Kane and his sister must prevent the chaos snake Apophis from breaking free in a few days' time or the world will come to an end. To have any chance of battling these Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra.

No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko

No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko

Dial Books for Young Readers

2011

244p.

With their house in foreclosure, sisters India and Mouse and brother Finn are sent to stay with an uncle in Colorado until their mother can join them, but when the plane lands, the children are welcomed by cheering crowds to a strange place where each of them has a perfect house and a clock that is ticking down the time.

Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

Emerald Atlas (The Books of Beginning, 1) by John Stephens
Alfred A. Knopf
2011
417p



Kate, Michael, and Emma have passed from one orphanage to another in the ten years since their parents disappeared to protect them, but now they learn that they have special powers, a prophesied quest to find a magical book, and a fearsome enemy.