Torn

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Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Still reeling from their experiences in Roanoke in 1600, Jonah and Katherine arrive in 1611 only moments before a mutiny on Henry Hudson’s ship in the icy waters of James Bay. But things are messed up: They’ve lost the real John Hudson, and they find what seems to be the fabled Northwest Passage—even though they are pretty sure that route doesn’t actually exist. Will this new version of history replace everything they’ve ever known? Is this the end of time as we know it? With more at stake than ever before, Jonah and Katherine struggle to unravel the mysteries of 1611 and the Hudson Passage...before everything they know is lost.

Running from the Deity

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Running from the Deity by Alan Dean Foster

From science fiction legend Alan Dean Foster comes a thrilling new Pip and Flinx adventure, wherein a certain red-haired, green-eyed young man blessed (or cursed) with strange powers finds himself and his mini-dragon sidekick on a top-secret mission concerning deep space, alien worlds . . . and a primordial horror intent on devouring all of it.

In the outer depths of the universe lies the Great Emptiness, where something dreadful lurks, hidden behind a great gravitational lens of dark matter. Something horrific that howls and writhes and rages across three hundred million light-years of space–and is now heading straight for the Commonwealth and moving faster all the time.

One slim chance exists to avert catastrophe, and only Flinx can take it. Roaming the galaxy is a conscious planet-size weapons system, the legacy of a long-extinct race. As Flinx is the only one who has ever experienced mental contact with the machine, it is his job to find the powerful alien artifact and coax it into joining the battle against the behemoth from beyond.

So Pip and Flinx valiantly sail into the unknown aboard their little spaceship, which is immediately forced down for emergency repairs on planet Arrawd, home to less advanced sentients and therefore off-limits to space travelers. But what with Arrawd being very beautiful, and Flinx being Flinx, this particular rule doesn’t stand a chance.

Now, Flinx is no stranger to murderous attacks and stalking assassins–evading them occupies most of his waking hours–but to be besieged by hordes bent on worshipping him as a god? Worse still, escaping this fate is going to be as impossible as fulfilling his dire mission. What’s a deity to do? (From Amazon.com product listing.)

The Guide to Amateur Astronomy

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The Guide to Amateur Astronomy by Jack Newton & Philip Teece

A reference work to all aspects of amateur astronomy, introducing the fundamentals of astronomy, the solar system and deep space and how to start observing. (From Amazon.com product listing.)

The Chronicles of Riddick

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The Chronicles of Riddick by ALan Dean Foster

Riddick has spent the last five years on the move among the forgotten worlds on the outskirts of the galaxy, eluding mercenaries bent on collecting the price on his head. Now, the fugitive finds himself on planet Helion, home to a progressive multicultural society that has been invaded by the Lord Marshal, despot who targets humans for subjugation with his army of warriors known as Necromongers.

In the ensuing chaos, Riddick is captured by Toombs, a tenacious mercenary, and taken to a subterranean prison on Planet Crematoria where extremes of temperature range from arctic nights to volcanic days. Here Riddick encounters Kyra, a survivor from an earlier chapter in his life. his efforts to free himself and Kyra lead him to the Necromonger command ship, where he is pitted against the Lord Marshal in an apocalyptic battle with possibly the fate of all beings-- both living and dead-- hanging in the balance. (From back cover of book.)

High School Musical Awesome Eats From East High

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High School Musical Awesome Eats From East High by Meredith Books

Hey, Wildcats! Join the kids from East High as they help you whip up awesome eats! You'll be the star of the kitchen when you make Get'cha Head in the Game Bars, Sharpastries, Lava Springs Club Sandwiches, Chewy Jazz Squares, & Wildcat Red & White Bites. With dozens of crowd-pleasing recipes, everyone will want a front-row seat at your dinner table - you can 'Bet On It'! Loo inside to find more than 50 'Fabulous' recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks & desserts, a picture of every recipe, trivia from all three 'High School Musical' movies, fun food facts & cool ideas to keep you active & fit, tips to plan the ultimate 'High School Musical' party. (From Amazon.com product listing.)

Camp Rock Rockstar Recipes

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Camp Rock Rockstar Recipes Published by Meredith Books

More than 40 recipes for meals and snacks, Cooking tips for success in the kitchen, "Make it Yours" recipe variations, Ideas for making your own unique autograph (From Amazon.com product listing.)

Revelations

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Revelations byu Melissa De La Cruz

Have you ever wondered what secrets lurk behind the closed doors of New York City’s wealthiest families? They're powerful, they're famous... they're undead.

Schuyler Van Alen’s blood legacy has just been called into question—is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When one of the Gates of Hell is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Carnavale rages on. And in the end, one vampire’s secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone. (From Amazon.com product listing.)

The Paradise People

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The Paradise People by David Lytton

"... I give you the valley at the end of the red road that made its first discoverer sufficiently poetical to call it Paradise....
"The valley is in the northwest Cape Province. The homestead and the church of the mission stand at the northern end of the valley, on the highest ground. My grandmother stands at the center of the mission and therefore at the center of the life of the valley.
"In the beginning for me was my grandmother, as vast and lawful as creation, looming in the first light of memory.
"My mother had died in the bush when I was two weeks old. My father had brought me to his home in a sheepskin cradle slung from his horse. There he had left me and returned to his private quarrel with the blank spaces in the map of Africa. My grandmother had reared me along with the various other forms of life she was perpetually coaxing into growth: pig, of which she was fond, especially at Christmas basted with butter; foals, turkeys and two young ostriches which became a nuisance later.
"She was an enormous woman, smelling of lemons. She softened her large hands with them and would rub the juice of them into her face last thing at night..."

  In this poetic vein, the life and legend of the Boers at the turn of the century is here re-created, in a sensitive novel about a boy growing up in frontier country. The author calls them simple, earth-stained people of the an era that has passed away; he has made them meaningful and memorable in any age.
(From inside cover jacket of book.)

Space a Visual Encyclopedia

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Space a Visual Encyclopedia Published by DK Publishing

Space: A visual encyclopedia reveals everything you need to know about the universe. Hundreds of stunning images combine with illuminating descriptions to transport you to the depths of space.
Discover the history of space travel, the latest information on space-faring countries, and exciting possibilities fo future missions. Explore the solar system and the universe in incredible detail, encountering high-speed comets, extreme temperatures, and storms that rage for centuries. Then find out what it's like to be an astronaut, from space walks to keeping animals on board!
Packed with facts, timelines, and world-class photography, this encyclopedia really brings outer space to life.
(From back cover of book.)

Star Trek The Next Generation Crossover

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Star Trek The Next Generation Crossover by Michael Jan Friedman

In the bestselling tradition of Federation, this new adventure brings Spock, McCoy, and Scotty together with Jean-Luc Picard and his crew. Deep in Romulan territory, Starfleet Ambassador Spock aids in a daring underground movement to reunite the Vulcan and Romulan empires. When a Romulan spy joins the ranks and betrays the group, Starfleet dispatches the Enterprise, commanded by Jean-Luc Picard, to effect a rescue.

White Heat

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White Heat by Cherry Adair

Never have the stakes been higher. Never have two people faced greater risks or grappled with deeper desire. Never has Cherry Adair–award-winning author of Hot Ice–burned the pages with so much blazing action and blistering passion.

Professional art restorer Emily Greene is in no mood to see the devil-may-care Max Aries. She hasn’t forgotten–or forgiven–the way Max dropped into her life a year ago, stole her heart, then vanished without a word. Max hadn’t kept in touch with his father, Daniel, either. Daniel Aries had been a master of art restoration and reproduction, and not only Emily’s longtime mentor, but a trusted friend. His unexpected suicide devastates her. And when the prodigal playboy Max returns, her welcome is less than warm–even though his timely arrival in her bedroom saves her from a lethal intruder. But her fury gives way to fear when Max reveals that his father’s death was actually murder . . . and that Emily’s life is now in danger. Like it or not, to stay alive, Emily must put herself in Max’s hands. And once upon a time, that wasn’t such a bad place to be.

But what killer would target professional restorers of Renaissance artworks? Max suspects that a pencil sketch found in his father’s studio, inscribed with a cryptic code, may hold the key. His hunch is confirmed when intel from his control at the counterterrorist organization T-FLAC reveals that the Black Rose terror cell is involved–a chilling revelation that elevates the threat level almost as high as the tension that’s bristling between Max and Emily. Max isn’t about to take his eyes off Emily–though only partly for professional reasons–and even Emily’s rage over Max’s take-charge attitude can’t compare to her anger at herself for so long denying the truer, deeper feelings she has for him. As they crisscross Europe, piecing together the shocking clues to an insidious international plot, dodging increasingly lethal traps, and passionately making up for too much lost time, they realize that–in more ways than one–they can’t live without each other. With no chance of turning back, Max and Emily must put their lives on the line, put their true feelings to the test . . . and get ready to take the heat.
(From Amazon.com product listing.)

Turbo Twenty-Three

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Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In the heart of Trenton, N.J., a killer is out to make sure someone gets his just desserts.

Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Larry is just stupid enough to attempt almost the exact same crime again. Only this time he flees the scene, leaving behind a freezer truck loaded with Bogart ice cream and a dead body—frozen solid and covered in chocolate and chopped pecans.

As fate would have it, Stephanie’s mentor and occasional employer, Ranger, needs her to go undercover at the Bogart factory to find out who’s putting their employees on ice and sabotaging the business. It’s going to be hard for Stephanie to keep her hands off all that ice cream, and even harder for her to keep her hands off Ranger. It’s also going to be hard to explain to Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, why she is spending late nights with Ranger, late nights with Lula and Randy Briggs—who are naked and afraid—and late nights keeping tabs on Grandma Mazur and her new fella. Stephanie Plum has a lot on her plate, but for a girl who claims to have “virtually no marketable skills,” these are the kinds of sweet assignments she does best.
(From Amazon.com product listing.)

Small Farm Business

Small Farm Business by Sarah Beth Aubrey (Contains Affiliate Link)

Running your own small farm is demanding enough, but making it profitable presents a host of further challenges. In this business-savvy guide to farming on a small scale, Sarah Aubrey covers everything from financial plans and advertising budgets to web design and food service wholesalers. Learn how to isolate your target audience and craft artisanal products that will delight and amaze customers. With a solid business strategy in place, you can confidently turn your passion into a productive and profitable venture. (From Amazon.com product listing.)

State of Wonder

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (Contains Affiliate Link)

“Expect miracles when you read Ann Patchett’s fiction.”—New York Times Book Review
Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett returns with a provocative and assured novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice set in the Amazon rainforest. Infusing the narrative with the same ingenuity and emotional urgency that pervaded her acclaimed previous novels Bel Canto, Taft, Run, The Magician’s Assistant, and The Patron Saint of Liars, Patchett delivers an enthrallingly innovative tale of aspiration, exploration, and attachment in State of Wonder—a gripping adventure story and a profound look at the difficult choices we make in the name of discovery and love (From Amazon.com product listing.)

Cross Bones

Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs (Contains Affiliate Link)

A gripping and explosive new thriller from internationally acclaimed forensic anthropologist and New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs, featuring Temperance Brennan and Detective Andrew Ryan on the trail of a modern murder and an ancient biblical mystery...
When an Orthodox Jewish man is found shot to death in Montreal, Temperance Brennan is called in to examine the body and to figure out the puzzling damage to the corpse. Unexpectedly, a stranger slips her a photograph of a skeleton and assures her it is the key to the victim's death. Before she knows it, Tempe is involved in an international mystery as old as Jesus, and one that could lead to the rewriting of two thousand years of religious history.
As Tempe investigates, she learns that the stranger's picture shows bones uncovered during an archaeological dig. She discovers the Montreal shooting victim ran an import business that just might have been a front for the trading of black market antiquities. Along with Detective Andrew Ryan and biblical archaeologist Jake Drum, Tempe travels to Israel to probe the origins of the skeleton and the ancient crypt in which it was found. Together they make a startling discovery that raises radical questions about Christ's death and places them squarely in the middle of a swirling controversy. Could one of the tombs really be Christ's last resting place? Are the bones in the ancient ossuary the last remnants of James, the brother of Jesus, as the inscription claims? Or has someone concocted an elaborate hoax?
Using her skills as a forensic scientist, Tempe plunges into the most controversial case of her career. The stakes have never been higher -- the more she learns, the greater the danger. And though Ryan is sexier and more engaging than ever, he may not be able to protect Tempe in this place where there seem to be so many foes.
Cross Bones, with its lightning pace, intricately plotted story, riveting and state-of-the-art forensic detail, is Kathy Reichs's most compelling and dramatic novel yet. (From Amazon.com product listing.)

Encyclopedia of the Victorian Era

Encyclopedia of the Victorian Era by James Eli Adams

Designed with a broad audience in mind, this interdisciplinary encyclopedia edited by Adams (associate professor of English, Cornell) and two experienced reference book editors is "intended to provide sweeping coverage of the social, political, and intellectual landscape of the British-dominated world during the years of the reign of Queen Victoria, 1837-1901." Though the emphasis is British, coverage extends to places around the globe where Victorian culture made a mark. Thus, the discussion in Agriculture is not confined to Britain but also considers India and America.
More than 620 alphabetically arranged entries vary in length from 500 to 4,000 words and cover topics such as Child labor, Crimean War, Domestic workers, East India Company, Electricity, Gardens and garden design, Gothic revival, Music halls, Race and racism, Railways, and Sanitation. The preface explains that, since biographical information is generally so easy to find, subject-based essays were favored over biographies in the selection of topics, but some individuals are included because they were "inarguably important" or because they "represented a tendency." Approximately one-third of the entries are biographical, covering Alexander Graham Bell, Julia Margaret Cameron, Lewis Carroll, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and others. Among the Americans who are included are Horatio Alger, Susan B. Anthony, John James Audubon, and P. T. Barnum.
The 350 black-and-white illustrations are generally well chosen. Further reading lists attached to entries include primary as well as secondary material and some Web pages, many from the Victorian Web [http://www.victorianweb.org]. Appendixes provide an undated map of the British Isles (a map of Victorian London would have been a nice addition), selected primary documents, and selected Web resources. See also references facilitate access, as does a "Synoptic Table of Contents" that classifies entry headings under broad topics such as "Biographies" and "Sexuality and Gender." The index is quite detailed. For example, under diseases and epidemics, in addition to the main entry, there are 37 other page references, from Boer War to worldwide smallpox outbreak (1871-73), along with see also references to cholera and venereal disease.
Though a few contributors employ academic jargon, writing is very accessible on the whole. Adding to the set's readability is the strong emphasis on matters of daily life. Entries such as Cabs and omnibuses, Governesses, Hair, Lighting, and London Season provide value for fans of Victorian fiction, as well as for students and researchers. The encyclopedia is recommended for academic and large public libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
(From Amazon.com product listing.)

Insects and Other Invertebrates

Insects and Other Invertebrates by Amy-Jane Beer

These volumes compose the third cluster of the five-set World of Animals collection, so far joining Mammals (2003) and birds [RBB Mr 1 04]. Insects continues set numbering where birds left off and is numbered volumes 21-30. Libraries that shelve by Dewey decimal number will find that this new set is shelved prior to both previously released clusters, even though the volume numbers indicate a continuing set.
Geared to middle- through high-school students, the set groups species that share similar characteristics or have similar lifestyles, such as simple and wormlike animals, crustaceans, arachnids, mollusks, and echinoderms. Six of the ten volumes are devoted to insects. Because the set contains a huge diversity of animal types, a "Find the Animal" guide is included in each volume. Much like Birds and mammals, each 128-page volume presents information in two types of articles. The first introduces and provides a general overview of major groups (mollusks, insects, flies, jelly animals). The second type, which constitutes the majority of the text, concentrates on describing important groups in detail (jellyfish, sea anemones, corals).
Well-written entries range in length from two to six pages and include numerous full-color photographs and illustrations. These detailed, vivid, and captioned pictures enhance the highly appealing and browsable layout. Many entries have highlighted boxes that offer interesting side notes, for example, the deadly effectiveness of the Australian Box Jellyfish toxin. Cross-referencing in the bottom margin includes related animal or topic, with volume and page number. Each volume concludes with a volume-specific glossary, lists of further reading and Web sites, and a set index.
An additional noteworthy feature is the "data panel" found at the beginning of each entry. Data found here include common name, phylum, number of species, size, key features, habits, diet, breeding, habitat, and distribution. School and public libraries alike will find that this set contains sufficient information to serve the needs of a variety of student users and will appeal to the casual browser as well. Shauna Yusko
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Marine Sciences

Marine Sciences Edited by James W. Nybakken and William W. Broenkow (Contains Affiliate Link)

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-More than 800 alphabetical entries vary in length from 250 to 2500 words and discuss topics ranging from "Abyssal Gigantism" to "Zooxanthellae." The informative articles cover the subdisciplines of oceanography (biological, chemical, geological, and physical) in addition to economics, marine life, and ecology of the oceans. Technologies used to explore this environment and biographies of important individuals are also included. Each accessible, signed entry concludes with a list of related articles and suggestions for further reading that will be useful for students. Volume one offers a complete contents list and the final volume concludes with a descriptive directory of research centers and educational institutions, a bibliography subdivided into disciplines, a synoptic outline, and a comprehensive index. More than 200 average-quality, black-and-white diagrams and photographs appear throughout the set. There is no pronunciation guide. This broad yet thorough resource will be useful in large public libraries and high schools with a marine science curriculum.
Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, WA
(From Amazon.com product listing)

Under the Microscope Science Tools

Under the Microscope Science Tools by John O.E. Clark (Contains Affiliate Link)

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A survey of the scientific instruments and methods used to observe and measure the world around us. Volumes are divided by subject: Length and Distance, Measuring Time, Force and Pressure, Electrical Measurement, Using Visible Light, Using Invisible Light, Using Sound, Scientific Analysis, and Scientific Classification. Each book begins with a brief introductory paragraph and general overview on the units of measure. The short chapters range in length from two to six pages. For example, Length and Distance includes information on rulers and tapes, measuring long distances, angles and heights, area, volume, and making maps. Brief biographical sketches of one or two scientists are included in each title along with a volume-specific glossary, a set index, and the same list of resources for further reading and research. Numerous color photographs, well-drawn illustrations, and charts and tables enhance the usefulness of this resource.
Shauna Yusko, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA

From Booklist

Gr. 6-8. The nine volumes of the Science Tools set cover a broad range of topics and are arranged conceptually and applied to different branches of science. Each book begins with the same double-page spread on units of measurement, which includes names and symbols within the International System of measures as well as a conversion table relating customary units to metric units. From there, the interpretation of the term Science Tools is broad. A presentation might involve the ways in which scientists use visible or invisible light, the understanding and application of water pressure, or even tools of organizing knowledge, from the periodic table of chemical elements to the classification of plants, animals, blood types, and galaxies. This British series does not talk down to young people, and long sentences are not uncommon. Though the texts may include terms, such as monocotyledons, that are unfamiliar to many students at this level, the explanations within the text and definitions in the glossaries at the end of each volume make the meanings clear. Other additions to each volume include lists of books suggested for further reading and recommended Web sites. The many color illustrations include photographs and exceptionally clear diagrams that heighten the books' visual appeal and usefulness to students. An interesting and potentially helpful addition to reference or circulating collections. Carolyn Phelan
(From Amazon.com product listing)

Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn (Contains Affiliate Link)

Vince Flynn's thrillers, featuring counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp, dominate the imagination of the readers everywhere. In them, Flynn captures the secretive world of the fearless men and women who, bound by duty, risk their lives in a covert war they must hide from even their own political leaders.
     Now, Rapp and his agency colleague Mike Nash may have met their match. The CIA has detected and intercepted two terrorist cells, but a third is feared to be on the loose. Led by a dangerous mastermind obsessed with becoming the leader of al-Qaeda, this determined and terrifying group is about to descend on America.
     Rapp needs the best on his assignment, and Nash, who has served his government honorably for sixteen years- first as an officer in the Marine Corps and then as an operative in an elite counterterrorism team run by Rapp- is his choice. Together, they have made careers out of meeting violence with extreme violence and have never wavered in the fight against the jihadists and their culture o death. Both have fought the was on terrorism in secret without accolades or acknowledgement of their personal sacrifices. Both have been forced to lie to virtually every single person they care about, and both have soldiered on with the knowledge that their hard work and lethal tactics have saved thousands of livers.
     But the political winds have changed in America and certain leaders on Capitol Hill are pushing to have men like Rapp and Nash put back on a short leash. And then on spring afternoon in Washington, D.C., everything changes.
     Using his insider knowledge of intelligence agencies and the military, Flynn once again delivers no all-too-real portrayal of a war that is waged every day by a handful of brave, devoted souls. Smart, fast-paced, and jaw-droppingly realistic, Extreme Measures is the political thriller of our time. (From cover flap of book)