Amid the turbulence of World War II, a young German woman finds a precarious haven closer to the source of danger than she ever imagined--one that will propel her through the extremes of privilege and terror under Hitler's dictatorship . . . In early 1943, Magda Ritter's parents send her to relatives in Bavaria, hoping … Continue reading THE TASTER, by V.S. Alexander, Kensington Fiction
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WONDERBLOOD, by Julia Whicker, Random House Canada
Set 500 years in the future, a mad cow-like disease called "Bent Head" has killed off most of the U.S. population. Those remaining turn to magic and sacrifice to cleanse the Earth. Wonderblood is Julia Whicker's fascinating literary debut, set in a barren United States, an apocalyptic wasteland where warring factions compete for control of … Continue reading WONDERBLOOD, by Julia Whicker, Random House Canada
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THE FIRE WISH, by Amber Lough, Random House Publishing
Najwa is a jinni, training to be a spy in the war against the humans. Zayele is a human on her way to marry a prince of Baghdad—which she’ll do anything to avoid. So she captures Najwa and makes a wish. With a rush of smoke and fire, they fall apart and re-form—as each other. … Continue reading THE FIRE WISH, by Amber Lough, Random House Publishing
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A SKINFUL OF SHADOWS, by Frances Hardinge, Amulet
This is the story of a bear-hearted girl . . . Sometimes, when a person dies, their spirit goes looking for somewhere to hide. Some people have space within them, perfect for hiding. Twelve-year-old Makepeace has learned to defend herself from the ghosts which try to possess her in the night, desperate for refuge, but … Continue reading A SKINFUL OF SHADOWS, by Frances Hardinge, Amulet
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JELLY BEAN SUMMER, by Joyce Magnin, Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky
Living on the roof to escape her crazy family works…until reality pulls Joyce back to the ground Joyce has had it with her family (especially with UFO-sighting Elaine who loves her guinea pig more than her own sister). Her solution? Move out of the house and pitch a tent on the roof for the summer. … Continue reading JELLY BEAN SUMMER, by Joyce Magnin, Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky
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THE BREADWINNER, by Deborah Ellis, Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, 11-year-old Parvana has rarely been outdoors. Barred from attending school, shopping at the market, or even playing in the streets of Kabul, the heroine of Deborah Ellis's engrossing children's novel The Breadwinner is trapped inside her family's one-room home. That is, until the Taliban hauls away her father and … Continue reading THE BREADWINNER, by Deborah Ellis, Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
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SAMSON, Sneak Preview Granted Me, by Boomtown Films
PREMISE: Samson THOR had his hammer. SUPERMAN had his cape. TONY had an iron suit. SAMSON had long hair and the power of God - and he dramatically defeated his enemies with supernatural strength! Samson was the ORIGINAL SUPERHERO. Flawed, yes. He made mistakes and failed badly. Then he turned back to the Source … Continue reading SAMSON, Sneak Preview Granted Me, by Boomtown Films
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THE QUEEN’S RISING, by Rebecca Ross, Harper Teen, ARC Review
Description: When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. Growing up in the southern Kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her for such a life. While some are born with an innate talent for one of … Continue reading THE QUEEN’S RISING, by Rebecca Ross, Harper Teen, ARC Review
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HITLER, STALIN and I, An Oral History, Heda Margolius Kovaly and Helena Trestikova, Translated by Ivan Margolius, Doppelhouse Press
Heda Margolius Kovály (1919–2010) was a renowned Czech writer and translator born to Jewish parents. Her best-selling memoir, Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague, 1941–1968 has been translated into more than a dozen languages. Her crime novel Innocence; or, Murder on Steep Street—based on her own experiences living under Stalinist oppression—was named an … Continue reading HITLER, STALIN and I, An Oral History, Heda Margolius Kovaly and Helena Trestikova, Translated by Ivan Margolius, Doppelhouse Press
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ARC Review, The Initiate Crucible, by Brett J. Baker, The Freeworlds Chronicles, Vol. I, A Royal Crown Press Book
Abby Ashford was a student at the Psion Academy, a school dedicated to training the young and talented to become Psion's - telepathic and telekinetic warriors who dedicate their lives in service to the United Freeworlds. However, Abby proved to be a bit of a handful at the academy, and her life took a dramatic … Continue reading ARC Review, The Initiate Crucible, by Brett J. Baker, The Freeworlds Chronicles, Vol. I, A Royal Crown Press Book
MY BOOK ABYSS 