SNAPDRAGON by Kat Leyh

Is there really a witch in Snapdragon's town? Does the witch really eat pets? Snapdragon is concerned about her dog, Good Boy. He's the only good thing about her mother's ex-boyfriend, Chuck. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if Good Boy was in danger.

On her own most of the time, Snapdragon wanders the woods discovering all sorts of cool things. The day she discovers a litter of possum babies she also meets a fascinating stranger. It turns out that the stranger actually knows Snapdragon's grandmother. In fact, the two were in love long ago.

Snapdragon's new friend, Jacks, collects dead animals, reclaims their bones, and recreates their skeletons to sell on the internet. It's a strange hobby, but it fascinates Snapdragon. Other observations lead Snapdragon to ask if Jacks might be a witch. Jacks admits she is and offers to teach Snapdragon the ways of magic.

SNAPDRAGON is a graphic novel by author Kat Leyh. In this unique story, Leyh shares a tale of a lonely, yet courageous girl willing to find friendship in unlikely places. This reader hopes to read future adventures of Snapdragon, Good Boy, and Jacks.

CLOSE CALLS: How Eleven U.S. Presidents Escaped from the Brink of Death by Michael P. Spradlin

A few presidents have been assassinated, but did you know a number of others barely escaped death? Author Michael P. Spradlin has written about presidents who almost died before or while in office. This well-researched book titled CLOSE CALLS features detailed descriptions of each incident as well as side pieces about other little known historical facts.

George Washington almost wasn't our nation's first president. He escaped a plot to kill him involving poisoned peas. Harry S. Truman avoided death twice. Once involved a shoot out he watched from the White House, and the other threat came from a letter bomb intercepted in the mailroom.

Many probably know about John F. Kennedy's near death experience on PT-109, but most readers probably don't know about the history of PT boats and their role in WWII. George H. W. Bush, the youngest pilot in the U.S. Navy also barely escaped death in WWII.

All in all, Spradlin writes about eleven presidents who some believe may have cheated death. This new release is packed with historical information written in an entertaining style. It's perfect for any young history buffs and perfect for making history come alive in a classroom setting, definitely a great addition to library and classroom collections.

THIS DARKNESS MINE by Mindy McGinnis

THIS DARKNESS MINE by Mindy McGinnis features Sasha Stone. From all appearances Sasha has it all together. She is in the running for top of her class, she plays first chair clarinet, and she has her sights set on attending Oberlin Conservatory where she'll major in music. Despite all her success, Sasha's been feeling a bit strange lately.

She has been feeling light-headed, and she even blacked out. Her boy friend, Heath, seems worried about her, and probably for good reason considering Sasha has been mysteriously attracted to bad boy Isaac Harver. She's so obsessed with Isaac that she stopped practicing her clarinet and lost a challenge for first chair.

Things come to a head one night when Sasha's friends witness her fall (or did she jump) from her second story bedroom window. The resulting injuries lead doctors to discover Sasha has a heart condition that threatens her life if she doesn't get a heart transplant soon. Even though her parents are surprised by this revelation, Sasha seems to have known all along. 

Shortly before her fall, Sasha discovered that she had a twin. Her mother's pregnancy began with two babies, but somehow Sasha's twin was absorbed in the womb. This discovery explains a lot about the way Sasha has been feeling. She's convinced that she has the heart of her rejected twin. That explains her sudden attraction to Isaac and also the mysterious heart condition. Will a heart transplant fix Sasha or will she even survive until a transplant is available?

THIS DARKNESS MINE is a twisted tale of love and rejection. The unique storyline is sure to earn McGinnis fans looking for a strong female character trying to make sense of her strange circumstances.