Anna to the Infinite Power by Mildred Ames

Ever since she first started school, Anna Hart was never really like other kids. She was a mathematical genius, a frequent shoplifter, a girl with no friends. Then comes the day when she bumps into a girl exactly like her. Exactly. Same name, hair, intelligence - everything. And then she meets more girls...until Anna's life spins out of control, raising along questions too: Who are these girls- all these Annas- and why are they are unusually identical? And why is she suddenly being stalked by scientific organizations?

A gripper from first page to last, Anna to the Infinite Power is both haunting and inspring. All at the same time Anna is struggling to gain an identity for herself while getting closer to her older brother and loved ones around her. Truly, this is one of the best sci-fi novels of all time.

Seriously. Read it.

Note: This book isn't avalible at the Walsh library. Try requesting it through inter-library loan.

Mystery of the Burmese Bandicoot by Judy Cox

Two rat brothers, Frederick and Ishbu, formerly classroom pets, escape their cage and are commanded to steal a valuable statue by the evil Big Cheese, who wants to inflict his revenge on humans. The brothers escape only to find themselves thrown into an adventure including sinking ships, balloon rides, and an Indian temple dedicated to rats as they rush to save mankind by thwarting the plans of the Big Cheese.

A sweet story about two rats who become unlikely heroes, this tale is packed with action and adventure. Frederick is brave and athletic and wanting to pursue adventure, while the smart, intuitive Ishbu wants only to return to his cage where he can live a quiet, comfortable life. Though both brothers are very different, they are extremely loyal to each other and to the humans they care about. The author has added factual notes about rats and the various events they encounter during their journeys. This story is sure to appeal to adventure readers.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies is about a girl named Tally in a town called "Uglyville". She soon meets this girl named Shay, and that's when the trouble begins. You see, when you turn 16 you get an operation turning you into a pretty. Shay doesn't want to do that and runs away. On Tally's 16th birthday, she is faced with a decision. Find and turn Shay in, or never be pretty. The decision she makes may change her life. What does she choose? Read the book and find out.

This book is really good because it takes place in the future and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I recommend it with 2 thumbs up. There are 3 more in the series. Pretties, Specials and Extras. If I were you, I would seriously consider reading the next 3. They are all great. If you like Science fiction novels, make sure to read this. You wouldn't want to miss it.

How the Hangman Lost his Heart by K.M. Grant

When her Uncle Frank is executed for treason and his head mounted on a pike, Alice determines to reunite his head with his body so that he can rest in peace. While trying to retrieve his head, however, she runs afoul of the law herself and sets off on an adventure to complete her mission with the help of the executioner and a soldier, both of who have fallen in love with the feisty Alice.

This historical romp by the author of The De Granville Trilogy is based on a tale from her own family history. The determined Alice retrieves her uncle’s head from the pike on which it has been displayed as a warning to other traitors and carries it across the land first in a wig bag, then in a hat box as she flees from a cruel officer with the help of her uncle’s executioner, Dan Skinslicer. The two find themselves in one pickle after another as they try to reach Alice’s family home and along the way, Dan falls in love with Alice, despite the differences in their social standing. A young soldier also falls for Alice, and he, too, risks his life to help her achieve her goal. Melodramatic and filled with gallows humor, readers will enjoy the fast-paced action.

Kotuku by Deborah Savage

Savage's most recent novel, Kotuku begins with 17 year old Charlotte Williamson Thorpe (a.k.a Wim,) mourning over the recent loss of a best friend; depressed, Wim plans to spend her summer working at the local stables tending to horses. Suddenly, the sighting of a rare great white egret brings along many events that disturb her lonley,quiet life: the visit of a great-aunt whose mind is haunted by dark memories, and the arrival of two strangers from New Zealand who've come to visit. One by one, secrets about the Thrope family begin to unfold, and Wim learns to love again.

Although the story seems to "run off" at times, Kotuku is a awesome blend between mystery, historical fiction, the traditional horse-story, and romance; also a perfect introduction to the Maori culture of New Zealand. Like many of Savage's works, Kotuku is a beautiful and moving novel.

Little Audrey by Ruth White

Eleven-year-old Audrey lives in a coal mining town in Virginia in 1948 and her family’s troubles are numerous. They are very poor and struggling to survive, which is compounded by her father’s drinking binges where he spends their meager food budget on alcohol. Her mother is mourning the loss of one of her daughters and after a battle with scarlet fever; Audrey is rail-thin and needs to wear glasses.

In this mostly autobiographical account of her early life in a mining town, White shares the hardships through the voice of her eleven-year-old sister. The characters are well developed, from her often emotionally distant mother to her hard-drinking father. Each is struggling to survive in a desperate situation. Audrey does more than just survive; she chooses to have hope even against difficult odds. A photograph of her mother with the children in 1944 can be found at the beginning of the book. The black-and-white photograph on the cover will probably not appeal to many readers in the intended age group, but the rewards will be worth the effort for those who chose this book.

More Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World

Drawn from around the world, these 22 selections range from traditional stories featuring witches and magic, to tales about ghosts and corpses. Black and white drawings accompany each story and a list of sources is included at the end.

A sequal to Ask the Bones, this collection of short stories will appeal to fans of Schwartz’s other books. Some of the stories end somewhat abruptly, but are short enough so that readers will not get too frightened. The illustrations are very chilling and in some cases, scarier than the story.

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

While visiting an ancestor’s grave, Princess Benevolence’s mother and uncle are killed and her father disappears. Her aunt Sophia is determined to mold Ben, the new heir, into a proper, and thinner, princess while trying to protect the kingdom from outside threats. Ben refuses to be malleable and is locked in a chamber where she discovers a hidden wizard’s room where she begins to teach herself magic. With her newfound knowledge, Ben flees the castle and faces numerous dangers while finding the truth about her father and gaining a new understanding of herself.

Murdock, author of Dairy Queen, has scored another touchdown in this fantasy about a strong-willed girl who refuses to conform to the dictates of her culture. As the head-strong Ben moves from one unpleasant situation to another, she finally comes to terms with both herself and her haughty aunt. Laugh-out-loud moments, romance, and a heroine determined to be herself will grab readers right from the start.