Babylonne Catherine Jinks Candlewick, 2008 Exotic and exciting, this unflinching coming-of-age tale featuring a headstrong heroine weaves a vivid tapestry of life in the Middle Ages. Early thirteenth-century Languedoc is a place of valor, violence, and persecution. At age sixteen, Babylonne has survived six bloody sieges. She's tough, resourceful, and — now that her strict aunt and abusive grandmother intend to marry her off to a ...             Blue Flame: Book One of the Perfect Fire Trilogy K. M. Grant Walker Books for Young Readers, 2008 Many years have passed since the Occitanian knights killed Richard the Lionheart in a courageous battle to keep the Blue Flame--sparked at the moment of Christ’s death--from falling into the wrong hands. Now it is in danger once again, as enemies from the north draw near. In the midst of this looming battle, lifelong friends Raimon, son of a Cathar weaver, and Yolanda, daughter of a ...             Ranger's Apprentice: The Sorcerer of the North (Ranger's Apprentice)5 reviews John Flanagan Philomel, 2008 5th book in the Ranger's Apprentice series + An Excellent Read Will is now a full Ranger, with his own posting. But it isn't long before his friend Alyss arrives with a secret mission for him. It seems that a king of a critical fief has been poisoned. And the king's people believe a sorcerer is to blame. Will and Alyss must investigate the claims and discover ...             The Smile Donna Jo Napoli Dutton Juvenile, 2008 Hers is the most famous portrait in the world. Here, in prose as rich as the high Renaissance, is Mona Lisa’s tale—a story of passion, intrigue, loss, and, most of all, love. Elisabetta longs for romance, though she thinks she is too plain. Then, on a fateful visit to glittering Florence, she catches the eye of the great Leonardo da Vinci, and falls for a boy named Giuliano de’ Medici. It is a ...             Damosel: In Which the Lady of the Lake Renders a Frank and Often Startling Account of her Wondrous Life and ... Stephanie Spinner Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2008 WATER SPIRIT DAMOSEL, the Lady of the Lake, glides through Arthurian legend like a glamorous wraith, shimmering and shifting between the worlds of fairies and humans. Her knowledge is vast (magic, metal, men’s hearts) and leads to her greatest honor—and worst mistake. Damosel makes a promise to the wizard Merlin to protect young King Arthur, and then dares to break it—with ...             Anila's Journey Mary Finn Candlewick, 2008 Set in colonial India, this richly layered coming-of-age tale follows a spirited young artist on a journey up the Ganges — and through the enigmas of her past. How can Anila Tandy, left to fend for herself after her mother's death, dare to apply for a job that is clearly not meant for a woman? But somehow the "Bird Girl of Calcutta," art supplies in hand, finds herself on an eye-opening ...             Guardians of the Tall Stones (The Sacred Stones) Moyra Caldecott Tricycle Press, 2008 Fourteen-year-old Kyra has always felt different, but lately even her brother Karne has noticed her acting strangely--especially when she's near the ceremonial sacred stones that help guide and protect her village. When the villainous priest, Wardyke, overthrows the beloved elder, Maal, and threatens them all, Kyra must accept that her emerging psychic powers are her people's only hope. With ...             The Letter Writer (Great Episodes) Ann Rinaldi Harcourt Children's Books, 2008 Eleven-year-old Harriet Whitehead is an outsider in her own family. She feels accepted and important only when she is entrusted to write letters for her blind stepmother. Then Nat Turner, a slave preacher, arrives on her family’s plantation and Harriet befriends him, entranced by his gentle manner and eloquent sermons about an all-forgiving God. When Nat asks Harriet for a map of the county ...             The Secret Circle: The Captive Part II and The Power L. J. Smith HarperTeen, 2009             Graceling90 reviews Kristin Cashore Harcourt Children's Books, 2008 Loved It! Could Not Put It Down! + loved it! + graceling I absolutely loved it! seriously stayed up all night reading it! i just had to know what happened! You will fall completely in love with the characters, especially if you are somewhat afraid of being control by someone else! I could completely relate with the main character on how she did not want ...             Sword of Waters (The Shield, Sword, and Crown) Hilari Bell Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2008 "I'D LIKE YOU TO FIND THE SWORD FOR ME. DO YOU THINK YOU COULD HANDLE THAT?" Arisa isn't certain how to respond when her mother, the Falcon, formerly a dangerous bandit but now lord commander of the army and navy of Deorthas, entrusts her with this extremely special mission. Everything changed for Arisa when she and her friend Weasel stumbled upon the ancient shield rumored to bestow power upon ...             Far from You Lisa Schroeder Simon Pulse, 2008             Lily Dale: Connecting (Lily Dale) Wendy Corsi Staub Walker Books for Young Readers, 2008 Now that Calla has accepted her ability to communicate with the Other Side, she’s desperate to connect with the one spirit whose energy she can’t seem to feel anywhere: her late mother. As ominous supernatural signs imply that the devastating loss might not have been an accident, Calla sets out to uncover the truth, convinced that a shadowy stranger may hold the key. But she gets more ...             Creepers3 reviews Joanne Dahme Running Press Kids, 2008 great mystery for young teens + Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club.com The first thing that caught my eye about this book was its fantastic shade of green and the shiny ivy leaves crawling along the spine. Quite appropriate, since the ivy "twisting up the trunks of the trees and dribbling across the lawn" was the first thing that Courtney noticed when she arrived at ...             Everything Beautiful Simmone Howell Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, 2008 Riley Rose, atheist and bad girl, has been tricked into attending Spirit Ranch, a Christian camp. There she meets Dylan Kier, alumni camper and recent paraplegic, who arrives with a chip on his shoulder and a determination to perfect all of his bad habits. United in their personal suffering and in their irritation at their fellow campers, they turn the camp inside out as they question the meaning ...             Stolen Vivian Vande Velde Marshall Cavendish Corp/Ccb, 2008 The old witch steals children, but did she steal Isabelle?             Darkness Under the Water Beth Kanell Candlewick, 2008 This gripping, ultimately hopeful tale of an Abenaki-French Canadian girl in 1920s Vermont explores a dark episode in New England history. Just as the waters of a river roar through her town, Molly Ballou's life is riding on a swift current, where change comes faster than a spring flood. As a half - Abenaki Indian, half - French Canadian girl in Vermont, Molly is slowly realizing that her ...             Everything Beautiful in the World3 reviews Lisa Levchuk Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2008 Strong characters make for a terrific read + Channeling Holden Caulfield + A great read! Loved this book! I'm not sure why it is classified as "young adult" - although the story is focused on a young girl, it is certainly not juvenile. The characters, especially Edna, are extremely relatable and the plot is gripping. I've recommended this book to be the next selection for my book club. ...             The Teashop Girls Laura Schaefer Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2008 The Official Rules of the Teashop Girls 1. Teashop girls are best friends forever. 2. Tea is held every week, no matter what. 3. All tea and scones must be split equally at all times. Annie, Genna, and Zoe have been hanging out at the Steeping Leaf since elementary school. The Teashop Girls do everything together -- at least they used to. With the end of eighth grade approaching, Genna's too ...             Need Carrie Jones Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, 2008 Now fans of Stephenie Meyer and Melissa Marr have a new author to devour . . . Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays ...