New Children's Books Published in the US - October 2011 Choice Picks

book cover of 

The Apothecary 

by

Maile Meloy
                             
Maile Meloy - The Apothecary - Published by Putnam Juvenile (October 4, 2011)
It's 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. Here, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin Burrows - a fascinating boy who's not afraid to stand up to authority and dreams of becoming a spy. When Benjamin's father is kidnapped, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary's sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia, in order to find him, all while keeping it out of the hands of their enemies - Russian spies in possession of nuclear weapons. Discovering and testing potions they never believed could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous race to save the apothecary and prevent impending disaster.



book cover of 

Tuesdays at the Castle 

by

Jessica Day George                    
                                
Jessica Day George - Tuesdays at the Castle - Published Bloomsbury (October 25, 2011)
Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie's favorite days. That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it's up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle's never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.


book cover of 

Sammy Keyes and the Night of Skulls 

 (Sammy Keyes, book 14)

by

Wendelin Van Draanen
                              
Wendelin Van Draanen - Sammy Keyes and the Night of Skulls - Knopf Books (October 11, 2011)
In her newest adventure, junior high detective Sammy Keyes and her friends take a detour through a graveyard on Halloween night and find themselves in the middle of a mystery. Sammy must figure out how three missing people, two human skulls, and one ghoulish embalmer add up before she winds up six feet under herself!
And school presents its own set of tricks and treats. Sammy knows that a classmate is guilty of beating up a man on Halloween night. Should she obey the law and tell Officer Borsch? Or should she obey the junior high code and keep quiet?

Life and death and truth and justice have never been so tangle.


book cover of 

Icefall 

by

Matthew J Kirby
                              
Matthew J kirby - Icefall - Published by Scholastic Press (October 1, 2011)

Trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen sea, Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an army of restless warriors, anxiously awaits news of her father's victory at battle. But as winter stretches on, and the unending ice refuses to break, terrible acts of treachery soon make it clear that a traitor lurks in their midst. A malevolent air begins to seep through the fortress walls, and a smothering claustrophobia slowly turns these prisoners of winter against one another.
Those charged with protecting the king's children are all suspect, and the siblings must choose their allies wisely. But who can be trusted so far from their father's watchful eye? Can Solveig and her siblings survive the long winter months and expose the traitor before he succeeds in destroying a kingdom?

Comments

Jill the OWL said…
I want all of these!!!!! Thanks for highlighting some great MG books!
serendipity_viv said…
I love the sound of Tuesdays At The Castle. Going to add that one to my list.