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.

THE UNTEACHABLES by Gordon Korman

Kiana is leaving California and moving across the country to live with her father and stepmonster. Thankfully, it's only temporary. Her mother will be acting in a movie for several months making Kiana a short-time resident of Greenwich.

Due to a registration mix-up, Kiana finds herself in classroom 117 with a teacher named Mr. Kermit. The small group of eighth graders in this remote classroom are known as "the unteachables." They have learning problems, anger issues, and troubled home lives, and are taught by Mr. Kermit who has his own unfortunate reputation. Kiana figures she can handle anything since it won't be for long.

When you have a teacher hoping to survive the year and collect on his early retirement, no one expects much in the way of an education. The group of misfit students don't put forth any effort, and neither does their teacher. It's a surprise to everyone when things begin to turn around for the kids, and the teacher, in room 117. Can they earn passing scores on the state science test and redeem their teacher's reputation? Is it possible for a burned out educator to find a reason to care again?

Author Gordon Korman does it again in THE UNTEACHABLES. His trademark humor, nonstop action, and likeable characters will have readers begging for more. This is a must-have for middle grade classrooms and libraries.

LAURA DEAN KEEPS BREAKING UP WITH ME by Mariko Tamaki

Frederica "Freddy" Riley loves Laura Dean. The only problem - Laura has broken up with Freddy three times. Freddy isn't sure what wrong with her, but every time Laura looks her way, her heart beats and she knows she'll follow Laura anywhere.

Freddy's best friend Doodle has problems of her own. She usually counts on Freddy when she needs support, but this whole Laura Dean thing has turned Freddy into a pretty unreliable friend. She takes Freddy to a local psychic hoping a peek into the future will reveal a solution to the Laura problem. 

An advice column, Anna Vice, does provide some interesting advice that makes sense to Freddy. Does she really love Laura? Does her relationship with Laura make Freddy a better person? Hopefully, she can figure out the answers before she loses her best friend.

Author Mariko Tamaki and illustrator Rosemary Valero-O'Connell make Freddy's story come alive. Diverse characters facing real problems make this graphic novel a winner.

THE DETOUR by S. A. Bodeen

Livvy is only seventeen, but she has earned fame as the author of a YA trilogy titled The Caul and the Coven. On her way to a camp for hopeful, would-be novelists, her car runs off the road leaving her hurt and unconscious. 

When Livvy regains consciousness, she realizes she is being held prisoner in someone's basement. A woman and her strange daughter took Livvy from her wrecked car and locked her in a sparsely furnished room. The woman insists Livvy should apologize for some transgression. Unfortunately, Livvy has no idea what she is supposed to feel guilty about and the woman refuses to explain further.

After Livvy successfully escapes her captors, she learns things about her life that leave her shocked and not sure how to carry on. Her experience opens her eyes to the fact that her early success is not the only thing that defines her. 

THE DETOUR by S. A. Bodeen shamelessly resembles MISERY by Stephen King. Teens are sure to enjoy this thrilling page-turner and look for other S. A. Bodeen books like THE COMPOUND and THE RAFT.

FRIENDS WITH BOYS by Faith Erin Hicks

After having always been homeschooled by her mother, Maggie is starting high school. She hopes her three older brothers will be there to help her navigate this new world, but she quickly learns she's on her own. 

Eventually, Maggie connects with two loners, Lucy and Alistair. They eat lunch together and hang around before and after school. Despite the fact that Maggie's brother Daniel warns her to watch out for Alistair, the three become fast friends. 

Life at home also has its challenges. Maggie mother left the family leaving Maggie and her brothers confused about her reasons. There's also the ghost in the nearby graveyard that keeps haunting Maggie. Can Lucy and Alistair help her solve the ghost problem? Can her father help her understand why her mother abandoned the family? 

FRIENDS WITH BOYS is a fast-paced graphic novel by Faith Erin Hicks. Readers will quickly fall in love with Maggie and root for her as she deals with her many challenges.