Welcome to the Monday Morning Book Buzz. Every week we take a look at some notable new books being released in the coming days.

If you would like to subscribe to the CA Library Blog, click the Entries (RSS) button at the top of the menu on the right and add the link to your favorite news aggregator. You can also follow us on Facebook by visiting http://www.facebook.com/calibrary and hitting the ‘Like’ button.

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 December 5th:

Young Adult Fiction

• Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices Series #2) by Cassandra Clare (12/6/2011) — The situation at the London Institute has never been more precarious. With Mortmain and his clockwork army still threatening, the Council wants to strip Charlotte of her power and hand the running of the Enclave over to the unscrupulous and power-hungry Benedict Lightwood. In the hope of saving Charlotte and the Institute, Will, Jem, and Tessa set out to unravel the secrets of Mortmain’s past—and discover unsettling Shadowhunter connections that hold the key not only to the enemy’s motivations, but also to the secret of Tessa’s identity.

• Deadly Little Voices (Touch Series #4) by Laurie Faria Stolarz (12/6/2011) — High school junior Camelia thought her powers of psychometry only gave her the ability to sense the future through touch. But now she’s started to hear voices. Mean voices. Berating her, telling her how ugly she is, and that she’d be better off dead. It’s a troubling development that has Camelia terrified for her mental stability.

• The Fire (Witch and Wizard Series #3) by James Patterson (12/5/2011) — Whit and Wisty Allgood have sacrificed everything to lead the resistance against the merciless totalitarian regime that governs their world. Its supreme leader, The One Who Is The One, has banned everything they hold dear: books, music, art, and imagination. But the growing strength of the siblings’ magic hasn’t been enough to stop the One’s evil rampage, and now he’s executed the only family they had left.

• A King’s Ransom (The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers Series #2) by Jude Watson (12/6/2011) — Amy and Dan are in a race for their lives . . . and the enemy may be even closer than they think. When seven members of their family were kidnapped by a sinister organization known as the Vespers, thirteen-year-old Dan Cahill and his older sister, Amy, vowed they’d stop at nothing to bring the hostages home. Now they are on a desperate search that will lead them to the Nazis, spies, a mad king and some of history’s dirtiest secrets. It’s the race of their lives . . . and one misstep will mean certain death for the hostages.

• Obsidian (Lux Series #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (12/6/2011) — “When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.”

• The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder (12/8/2011) — Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine – a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. “The surreal proceedings—along with some potential miracles, depending on one’s belief in such things—explore the subjects of death and life with sensitively honed humor, examining what it means to live.” — Publishers Weekly

• Ruthless (Pretty Little Liars #10) by Sara Shepard (12/6/2011) –For years scandal has rocked Rosewood, Pennsylvania—and high school seniors Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer have always been at the center of the drama. They’ve been keeping their darkest secret yet, and now the mysterious A is determined to make them pay for their crime–and the only thing scarier than A is the fear that maybe, just maybe, they deserve what’s coming to them. “Shepard does a fine job of writing an intriguing tale full of provocative exploits and adventure…It will not disappoint the fans.” — Voice of Youth Advocates

• Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey (12/8/2011) — Lenzi hears voices and has visions – gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can’t help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she’s a reincarnated Speaker – someone who can talk to and help lost souls – and that he has been her Protector for centuries. “[Lindsey’s debut] breathes energy into realistically flawed characters and smoothly builds to the book’s intense climax.” — Publishers Weekly

• Winging It: The Dragon Diaries by Deborah Cooke (12/6/2011) — Zoë Sorensson yearns to come into her powers as the only female dragon shifter. But being part of two worlds is more complicated than she expected. It’s bad enough that she’s the target of the Mages’s plan to eliminate all shifters-but she also has to hide her true nature from her human best friend.

• Winter Town by Stephen Emond (12/5/2011) — Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent’s divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she’s changed. The former “girl next door” now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, “Old Lucy” still exists, and he’s determined to find her… even if it means pissing her off. “Though there are many fun moments, sharply observed interactions, and smart insights along the way, the overall vibe is moody and pensive, as Lucy and Evan try to find their way and handle the pressures coming at them from every angle.” — Publishers Weekly

General Fiction

• Double Booked for Death (Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series #1) by Ali Brandon (12/6/2011) — As the new owners of Pettistone’s Fine Books, Darla Pettistone is determined to prove herself a worthy successor to her late great-aunt Dee…and equally determined to outwit Hamlet, the smarter-than-thou cat she inherited along with the shop. Darla’s first store event is a real coup: the hottest bestselling author of the moment is holding a signing there. But when the author meets an untimely end during the event, it’s ruled an accident-until Hamlet digs up a clue that seems to indicate otherwise…

• Dragon Fate (Age of Fire Series #6) by E. E. Knight (12/6/2011) — The fiery conclusion to Knight’s epic dragon saga. Scattered across a continent, three dragon siblings are among the last of a dying breed-the final hope for their species’ survival. After fighting a war that cost each of them kingdoms, friends and family, and their honor and glory, they have removed themselves from the troubles of the world. But the order they fought to establish is falling apart.

• The Forgotten Affairs of Youth (Isabel Dalhousie Series #8) by Alexander McCall Smith (12/6/2011) — In this latest installment of the beloved Isabel Dalhousie series, our inquisitive heroine helps a new friend discover the identity of her father. Isabel and her fiancé know who they are and where they come from. But not everybody is so fortunate. “Isabel a heroine worth following, even through this more quiet, reflective foray.” — Publishers Weekly

• Red Mist (Kay Scarpetta Series #19) by Patricia Cornwell (12/6/2011) — Determined to find out what happened to her former deputy chief, Jack Fielding, murdered six months earlier, Kay Scarpetta travels to the Georgia Prison for Women, where an inmate has information not only on Fielding, but also on a string of grisly killings.

• Soft Target: A Thriller by Stephen Hunter (12/6/2011) — Black Friday — America’s largest shopping mall — 3:00 P.M. Ten thousand people jam the aisles, the corridors, the elevators, and the escalators of the Mall of America. Most have come to shop, but twelve have come to kill. Hunter’s new thriller chronicles the day when the unthinkable happens: gunmen open fire in a crowded mall.

• Vigilante by Stephen J. Cannell (12/6/2011) — In the last novel by acclaimed producer and New York Times bestselling author Stephen J. Cannell (who died in 2010), LAPD detective Shane Scully and his partner Sumner Hitchens investigate a crime with ties to the sometimes violent world of reality television. “Cannell’s sturdy just-the-facts style and intimate knowledge of L.A. police venues and procedures unflinchingly ring true.” — Publishers Weekly

Nonfiction

• December 1941: 31 Days That Changed America and Saved the World by Craig Shirley (12/6/2011) — Traces, day-by-day, the most important 31 days in the history of America’s participation in WWII, which snuffed out the lives of millions and changed history forever.

• Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil by Tom Mueller (12/5/2011) — Starting with an explosive article in The New Yorker, Tom Mueller has become the world’s expert on olive oil and olive oil fraud-a story of globalization, deception, and crime in the food industry from ancient times to the present, and a powerful indictment of today’s lax protections against fake and even toxic food products in the United States. “Engrossing history, vivid contemporary reporting and a cogent call to action, expertly blended in an illuminating text.” — Kirkus Reviews

• One on One: Behind the Scenes with the Greats in the Game by John Feinstein (12/5/2011) — Feinstein goes behind the scenes of his reporting from The Final Four, Wimbledon, The US Open, the Army/Navy game, the Olympics, and more, opening up sport’s most private, closed-door places and sharing exclusive stories from his career as a sportswriter. “[Feinstein’s] punchy, evocative prose and irreverent jabs at superstars make for lively play-by-play.” — Publishers Weekly

• Screw Business As Usual by Richard Branson (12/8/2011) — Branson, one of the world’s most famous and admired business leaders, argues that it’s time to turn capitalism upside down—to shift our values from an exclusive focus on profit to also caring for people, communities and the planet. “A stirring vision for a ‘new capitalism’ that makes doing good for society a top business priority.” — Kirkus Reviews

• Through My Eyes: A Quarterback’s Journey by Tim Tebow (12/6/2011) — A young readers’ adaptation of Tim Tebow’s autobiography. Over the last five years, Tebow established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of college football and a top prospect in the NFL. During that time he amassed an unparalleled resume—winning two BCS national championships, becoming the first sophomore in NCAA history to win the Heisman trophy, and in the face of massive public scrutiny, being drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.

• The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1 by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (12/6/2011) — To create The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1, Gordon-Levitt directed thousands of collaborators to tell tiny stories through words and art, then culled, edited and curated over 8,500 contributions into this finely tuned collection of original art from 67 contributors.

• Tiny Buddha, Simple Wisdom for Life’s Hard Questions by Lori Deschene (12/8/2011) — Tiny Buddha began as a quote-a-day Twitter account, @tinybuddha, in 2008. Lori Deschene’s daily wisdom posts about mindfulness, non-attachment, and happiness became so popular that she now has more than 200,000 twitter followers who share quotes and stories about inspiration in their daily lives.

Welcome to the Monday Morning Book Buzz. Every week we take a look at some notable new books being released in the coming days.

If you would like to subscribe to the CA Library Blog, click the Entries (RSS) button at the top of the menu on the right and add the link to your favorite news aggregator. You can also follow us on Facebook by visiting http://www.facebook.com/calibrary and hitting the ‘Like’ button.

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 November 28th:

Young Adult Fiction

• Frost Wolf (Wolves of the Beyond Series #4) by Kathryn Lasky (12/1/2011) — Faolan has always been an outsider. Exiled as a pup, then shunned by his fellow wolves for his unusual connection to the bears, Faolan has struggled to earn a place in the pack. But a terrible danger is looming on the horizon, and Faolan is the only one who knows how to fight it.

• Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy Series #2) by Jennifer Estep (12/1/2011) — At Mythos Academy, teen warriors in the making train to take up their roles protecting humankind. With her ability to know an object’s history just by touching it, Gwen Frost is an outsider both to the students of the Academy and the rest of the world. But now that she’s taking private tutoring with the Academy’s most notorious young Spartan, and has Nike’s own sword to protect her, she’s ready to make her mark.

• Legend by Marie Lu (11/29/2011) — What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. “A cinematic adventure featuring endearing, compelling heroes.” — Kirkus Reviews

• Star Wars: Shadow Games by Michael Reaves (11/29/2011) — Javul Charn is the most famous pop star in the galaxy—and the runaway bride of a violent lieutenant in Black Sun, the crime syndicate commanded by Prince Xizor. Or so Javul says. Soon after Dash Rendar, broke and desperate, agrees to be Javul’s bodyguard, he realizes that openness is not her strong suit—and that murder is stalking her tour.

General Fiction

• An Amish Wedding by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Long (11/29/2011) — Three novellas by notable authors of Amish fiction. “A satisfying addition to the popular Amish genre.” — Publishers Weekly

• The Drop (Harry Bosch Series #17)by Michael Connelly (11/28/2011) — Harry Bosch has been given three years before he must retire from the LAPD, and he wants cases more fiercely than ever. In one morning, he gets two. Relentlessly pursuing both cases, Bosch makes two chilling discoveries: a killer operating unknown in the city for as many as three decades, and a political conspiracy that goes back into the dark history of the police department. “All of Connelly’s considerable strengths are on display: the keen eye for detail and police procedure, lots of local L.A. color, clever plotting, and—most important—the vibrant presence of Harry Bosch.” — Publishers Weekly

• Fate’s Edge (Edge Series #3) by Ilona Andrews (11/29/2011) — Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she’s determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades. “An appealing blend of madcap caper, spy thriller, and romantic comedy.” — Publishers Weekly

• The Scottish Prisoner: A Lord John Novel by Diana Gabaldon (11/29/2011) — London, 1760. For Jamie Fraser, paroled prisoner-of-war in the remote Lake District, life could be worse: He’s not cutting sugar cane in the West Indies, and he’s close enough to the son he cannot claim as his own. But Jamie Fraser’s quiet existence is coming apart at the seams, interrupted first by dreams of his lost wife, then by the appearance of Tobias Quinn, an erstwhile comrade from the Rising.

Nonfiction

• Apple Design edited by Sabine Schulze (11/30/2011) — One of the most influential and popular design companies of the last decase, Apple has made electronics design history with its innovative iMacs, iPhones, iPods and iPads. Apple Design features over 200 examples of outstanding Apple designs by Jonathan Ive, the company’s Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, who since 1997 has been responsible for the design of all of Apple’s products.

• Backstage Past by Barry Fey (11/28/2011) — Long before corporate greed took over the rock concert business and caused ticket prices to skyrocket, Barry Fey and his company Feyline Concerts were promoting shows with ticket prices under $10.00 for the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, U2 and many others. During Fey’s 32 years as a promoter, he’s rubbed elbows and cut deals with nearly every legend of rock; in Backstage Past, he shares those behind-the-scenes stories of a mercurial business during a tumultuous time.

• The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho by Immaculee Ilibagiza (11/28/2011) — From the book jacket: “His name was Segatashya. He was a shepherd born into a penniless and illiterate pagan family in the most remote region of Rwanda. He never attended school, never saw a bible, and never set foot in a church. Then one summer day in 1982 while the 15-year-old was resting beneath a shade tree, Jesus Christ paid him a visit. Jesus asked the startled young man if he’d be willing to go on a mission to remind mankind how to live a life that leads to heaven.”

• Don’t Look Behind You and Other True Cases (Ann Rule’s Crime Files Series #15) by Ann Rule (11/29/2011) — Ann Rule, who shared her own nerve-jangling account of unknowingly befriending sadistic sociopath Ted Bundy in The Stranger Beside Me, chronicles other fateful encounters with the hidden predators among us in this riveting collection, fifteenth in the bestselling series drawn from her personal files.

• Hedy’s Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World by Richard Rhodes (11/29/2011) — Unhappily married to a Nazi arms dealer, Hedy Lamarr fled to America at the start of World War II; she brought with her not only her theatrical talent but also a gift for technical innovation. An introduction to avant-garde composer George Antheil at a Hollywood dinner table culminated in a U.S. patent for a jam-proof radio guidance system for torpedoes—the unlikely duo’s gift to the U.S. war effort. “A faded blossom of a story, artfully restored to bright bloom.” — Kirkus Reviews

• Onstage, Offstage by Michael Bublé (11/29/2011) — Grammy Award–winning singer Bublé offers fans an all-access, behind-the-scenes glimpse at his private life, onstage and off. Pairing the singer’s own heartfelt words with hundreds of exclusive, never-before-seen photographs, this unique diary reveals Bublé’s inspirational journey, from singing into a hairbrush in his suburban Canadian bedroom to entertaining thousands onstage at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden.

• This Is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl by Paul Brannigan (11/29/2011) — This in-depth, definitive biography of Dave Grohl tells the epic story of a singular career that includes Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Them Crooked Vultures. Based on ten years of original, exclusive interviews with the man himself and conversations with a legion of musical associates, this is Grohl’s story. He speaks candidly and honestly about Kurt Cobain, the arguments that almost tore Nirvana apart, the feuds that threatened to derail the Foo Fighters’s global success, and the dark days that almost caused him to quit music for good. “Brannigan not only offers a penetrating portrait of Grohl the man but also presents an indelible portrait of the American underground-rock scene.” — Booklist

• Write Like This: Teaching Real-World Writing Through Modeling and Mentor Texts by Kelly Gallagher (11/28/2011) — If you want to learn how to shoot a basketball, you begin by carefully observing someone who knows how to shoot a basketball. If you want to be a writer, you begin by carefully observing the work of accomplished writers. Recognizing the importance that modeling plays in the learning process, high school English teacher Kelly Gallagher shares how he gets his students to stand next to and pay close attention to model writers, and how doing so elevates his students’ writing abilities.

Today we start a new feature on the CA Library blog — Podcast Friday! Each week we’ll compile some of the more interesting podcasts from around the web and list them right here for your listening pleasure!

This page features the Yahoo! WebPlayer, an easy way to bring audio and video into a website. All the podcasts listed below will open and play in the WebPlayer automatically. Cool!

Bits: Tech Talk from The New York Times

Great Big Privacy Buttons and Platform Power (November 23, 2011) Tanzina Vega explains how BrightTag’s One Click Privacy solution works for Web surfers and Phil Simon discusses his new book, “The Age of the Platform: How Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google Have Redefined Business.”

Book Review from The New York Times

A biography of Vincent Van Gogh and the Big City Book Club (November 23, 2011) — This week, Deborah Soloman on a new biography of Vincent Van Gogh; Ginia Bellafante on the latest selection of the Big City Book Club; the Times’s national legal correspondent, John Schwartz explains his preference for audiobooks; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

Brain Stuff

Why is cotton more absorbent than nylon? (November 25, 2011) — When water comes in contact with the complex molecules that make up cotton and nylon, it causes a different action in each material — but why? Listen in as Marshall Brain breaks down the science behind water absorption in this podcast.

Where does cork come from? (November 23, 2011) — Most cork comes from special trees that grow in places near the Mediterranean Sea. Learn more about cork oak trees, cork properties, cork products and cork processing in this episode.

What is the difference between hardwood and softwood? (November 21, 2011) — When it comes to differentiating between hardwoods and softwoods, it’s not a matter of hardness or density — it’s all about plant reproduction. Marshall explains what angiosperms and gymnosperms are in this episode.

What does Pez mean? (November 18, 2011) — Today, Pez candy dispensers are a sweet treat for children and a novelty for adults. Originally, however, they were created to help adults quit smoking. Learn more about the fascinating history of Pez in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

Is chocolate poisonous to dogs? (November 16, 2011) — Under the right conditions, chocolate can indeed be deadly for dogs. Tune in to learn more about the compound in chocolate that makes it dangerous for dogs (and how much is too much) in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

Culturetopia from NPR

Culturetopia: In Plain Sight Edition (November 23, 2011) — This Week in Culturetopia: Comedian Donald Glover; new twists on TV; how networks are filling time without the NBA; the new crime drama “Person of Interest”; jass pianist Keith Jarrett’s entirely improvised new album.

Music Popcast from The New York Times

Box Set Deluge (November 23, 2011) Box set deluge: Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica listen to and discuss some of the season’s most notable reissues.

NOVA on PBS

Touching the Past (November 23, 2011) For Chief Anne “Little Fawn” Richardson, Pocahontas is more than a legendary historical figure. Richardson can trace her own ancestry back to the 17th century, when her tribe, the Rappahannocks, were part of a vast domain ruled by Pocahontas’s father. In this podcast, Richardson reflects on the clash of cultures between Pocahontas’s people and the English settlers of Jamestown.

PopStuff

Why are there no Thanksgiving movies? (November 23, 2011) — Tracy and Holly originally thought there weren’t many Thanksgiving movies, but it turned out, they just didn’t remember there were. Listen in as the ladies ponder why most films about this holiday are all about family awkwardness.

Muppets: Yay! (November 21, 2011) — Everyone loves the Muppets! (Seriously, it’s suspicious if you don’t.) In this episode, Tracy and Holly discuss the new movie, as well as what makes Jim Henson’s creations so very special.

Should it be hard to be a geek? (November 16, 2011) — With media outlets hosting their own geek blogs, the idea that geek culture is mainstream is making news (and dredging up its own backlash). Has geek culture become exclusionary? Has it been co-opted by hipsters? Tracy and Holly wax pensive about geekdom.

Stuff To Blow Your Mind

The Future of Stink (November 24, 2011) — Will smell-o-vision make a comeback? Will our zombie movies smell like rotten flesh and our video games reek of voided bowels and fear? In this episode, Robert and Julie discuss the history of scented media and the emerging technology of printable smells.

Living with Robots: Can we build a better bot? (November 22, 2011) — Our cohabitation with robotic servants is pretty much guaranteed. So what are we doing today to make sure these are the sort of robot we can tolerate? In this episode, Julie and Robert discuss how our robotic caretakers are shaping up.

Smells to Blow Your Mind (November 17, 2011) — Did you know that smell is the only one of your senses with a direct connection to your brain? Or that fancy cheese and David Beckham’s foot odor share the same molecular smells? In this episode, Robert and Julie break down the amazing science of smell.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

The Death of Stone Wall Jackson (November 23, 2011) — As a Confederate surgeon, Dr. MacGuire’s first assignment was under the command of Lieutenant General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, who became his most famous patient. Tune in to learn what McGuire’s writings reveal about Stonewall’s last days.

Polio: The Dread Disease (November 21, 2011) — Polio was a terrifying threat in the early 20th century: It often left victims paralyzed or dead. Yet two vaccines caused an immediate drop in polio cases and today they’ve nearly eradicated the disease. But what exactly happened? Tune in to find out.

How Vincent van Gogh Worked (November 16, 2011) — Today, Vincent van Gogh has come to fit our idea of the tortured artist. Aside from his art, he’s best known for cutting off his ear and committing suicide. Yet new research debates both of these van Gogh moments. Listen in to learn more about van Gogh.

Stuff You Should Know

How Thoroughbred Horses Work (November 24, 2011)

Crossbows: They Look Cool (November 22, 2011)

How Air Force One Works (November 17, 2011)