Monday Morning Book Buzz

Welcome to the Monday Morning Book Buzz, a preview of notable books being released this week. Some of them will be added to the Academy Library collection; if you read about a title that you would like added to the collection, let me know by either commenting on this post or by contacting me directly at the Library.

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This week’s releases are listed by category: Young Adult Fiction, General Fiction and Nonfiction. On-sale dates are indicated in parentheses.

Notable New Releases for the week of September 24th:

Young Adult Fiction

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (9/24/2012) — Tandy Angel is, along with her brothers, a suspect in their parents’ murder but having grown up under Malcolm and Maud Angel’s perfectionist demands, Tandy decides she must clear the family name no matter what.

Dodger by Terry Pratchett (9/25/2012) — In an alternative London ruled by a young Queen Victoria, Dodger, a resourceful, homeless boy, unwittingly prevents Sweeney Todd from committing murder. “Full of eccentric characters and carefully detailed London scenes, the tale embodies both Dickens’s love for the common man and a fierce desire for social justice.” — Publishers Weekly

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter (9/25/2012) — Alice Bell must learn to fight the undead to avenge her family and learn to trust Cole Holland who has secrets of his own. “Showalter creates an original zombie mythology and a completely new set of rules for the monsters to follow.” — Kirkus Reviews

Covet by Melissa Darnell (09/25/2012) — After breaking up with Tristan to keep from killing him with her new vampire abilities, Savannah Colbert tries to come to terms with what she is becoming and what that means for her future, and meanwhile Tristan prepares to fight for the girl he loves while forces beyond his control take him down an unexpected path.

Shadows (Ashes Trilogy Series #2) by Ilsa J. Bick (9/25/2012) — When Alex discovers that Rule is not a sanctuary, she must battle to survive against conniving adults, distrusting survivors, and the Changed, who would eat her alive. “Plenty of mysteries and betrayals set up the trilogy’s forthcoming conclusion, which fans will eagerly await.” — Kirkus Reviews

A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies (9/25/2012) — The sequel to A Beautiful Dark. In the aftermath of Devin’s shocking betrayal, Sky learns that Asher has been using her for the Rebellion. She wishes she could forget about both sides, but as war between the factions looms, Sky is forced to make a choice about where her heart and loyalties truly lie. “Although mostly exposition, this installment appears to point to plenty of action in the final book.” — Kirkus Reviews

In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz (9/27/2012) — In this companion to A Tale Dark & Grimm, Frog joins cousins Jack and Jill in leaving their own stories to seek a magic mirror, encountering such creatures as giants, mermaids, and goblins along the way. Based in part on fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. “Technically polished, and with more original content, this romp has lost none of the edge of its predecessor.” — Publishers Weekly

Hollywood High by Ni-Ni Simone and Amir Abrams (09/25/2012) — Four Hollywood High students, all rich and the daughters of celebrities, learn fame has a price as they deal with cliques, relationships, and more.

The Mephisto Kiss (The Mephisto Covenant, Book 2) by Trinity Faegen (09/25/2012) — Sasha, a descendant of Eve, and Jax, a son of Hell, must try to stop Eryx from using the President’s daughter, also a daughter of Eve, to take over the country.

The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini (09/25/2012) — Fifteen-year-old Peregrine “Perry” Eckert immerses himself in the world of Creatures & Caverns, an epic role-playing game rich with magical creatures, spell casting, and deadly weapons. When his parents ship him off to summer camp, Perry stumbles into the World of the Other Normals, where he meets one of the creators of C&C and mythical creatures from the game. “Through the protagonist’s incisive observations, rampant insecurities, and unapologetic embrace of nerd-culture, Vizzini depicts the teen male experience with authenticity and honesty.” — Horn Book

The Blessed by Tonya Hurley (09/25/2012) — Three girls who have lost their way are brought together by a mysterious young man who believes he is a saint.

Trevor by James Lecesne (09/25/2012) — Trevor is an exuberant, sociable, and witty thirteen year old. So how come, when he takes that nerve-wrecking turn toward his locker at school, does he feel scared and alone? “A compassionate but slight portrait of a likable young person whose unique, impassioned spirit is dampened by bullying and homophobia.” — Kirkus Reviews

General Fiction

The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling (9/27/2012) — When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock and the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen.

Rapture (Fallen Angels Series #4) by J. R. Ward (9/25/2012) — Reporter Mels Carmichael is shocked when a man stumbles out in front of her car near the cemetery and when he wakes up after the accident without any memory Mels decides to solve the mystery of who he is.

A Fool’s Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery (9/25/2012) — When an injury forces her to return home to Fool’s Gold, and into the fold of her estranged family, dancer Evie Stryker, who doesn’t believe in Christmas miracles, agrees to stage the winter festival and then plans to leave town, but her brother’s best friend has other plans for her. “A sweet, heartwarming Christmas romance with engaging characters, a family-redemption arc and a winning seasonal charm that will delight most genre fans.” — Kirkus Reviews

Sutton: A Novel by J. R. Moehringer (9/25/2012) — Born in the squalid Irish slums of Brooklyn, in the first year of the twentieth century, Willie Sutton came of age at a time when banks were out of control — trapped in a cycle of bank panics, depressions and soaring unemployment, Sutton saw only one way out, only one way to win the girl of his dreams. So began the career of America’s most successful bank robber. “History lovers will enjoy this fictional biography of a modern icon of crime.” — Library Journal

Founders: A Novel of the Coming Collapse by James Wesley Rawles (9/25/2012) — It’s the near future, and thanks to a perfect storm of reckless banking practices, hyperinflation, a stock market gone mad, and the negligence of our elected officials, the entire social, political, and economic infrastructure of America has collapsed.America’s fate is in the hands of those few individuals who have the survival skills, the faith, and the forethought to return this country to the state its founding fathers intended.

An Outlaw’s Christmas by Linda Lael Miller (9/25/2012) — Sawyer McKettrick leaves the Triple M family ranch in Arizona and heads to Blue River, Texas, to seek a job as marshal but is injured in a snowstorm along the way and is aided by school teacher Piper St. James.

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova (9/25/2012) — Olivia, the mother of a severely autistic eight-year-old son who has recently died, and Beth, a separated mother of three, meet by accident on a Nantucket beach and are drawn into a friendship. “In Love Anthony, readers will discover a unique portrayal of autism that is highly accessible and, at times, deeply profound.” — Booklist

Brink of Chaos (The End series, Book 3) by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall (9/25/2012) — In the third book of The End series, Joshua Jordan remains in Israel during his self-imposed ‘exile’, out of the reach of U.S. authorities who have trumped-up false criminal treason charges against him. Following the nuclear attack by Russia, Israel is cleaning up the bodies of dead enemy soldiers for 7 months and setting out on its 7 year plan—both per the prophecies in Ezekiel. ” Fans of Left Behind ought to enjoy this new blending of a familiar (to some) premillennial doctrine with new characters and complex story line.” — Publishers Weekly

Nonfiction