Children’s / Teenage fiction: Speculative, dystopian

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Alex Rider, Young Bond and Cherub, this exciting action-adventure is the first children''s book by astronaut Tim Peake and bestselling author Steve Cole, and it''s based on space-age science and technology.When Danny is kidnapped by Adi - who can run through brick walls and make cars drive on water - he realises that all humans are in danger. Adi is part of a super-advanced hive mind, the Swarm, which intends to protect the Earth from the environmental catastrophe caused by the human race. Adi - Alien Digital Intelligence in the form of a girl - can bend the laws of physics and control digital data, but as a digital being she wants to know what it''s like to be human. Which is where Danny comes in.But what exactly is the ''help'' the secretive Swarm is offering? Can Danny and his friend Jamila help Adi stop the Swarm Agents and give humanity a second chance?Trade ReviewHi-powered, hi-concept and hi-jinks. Swarm Rising has it all. I loved it. * Eoin Colfer *Fun, action-packed adventure * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Alex Rider, Young Bond and Cherub, this exciting action-adventure is the first children''s book from astronaut Tim Peake and bestselling author Steve Cole, and is based on space-age science and technology.When Danny is kidnapped by Adi - who can run through brick walls and make cars drive on water - he realises that all humans are in danger. Adi is part of a super-advanced hive mind, the Swarm, which intends to protect the Earth from the environmental catastrophe caused by the human race. Adi - Alien Digital Intelligence in the form of a girl - can bend the laws of physics and control digital data, but as a digital being she wants to know what it''s like to be human. Which is where Danny comes in.But what exactly is the ''help'' the secretive Swarm is offering? Can Danny and his friend Jamila help Adi stop the Swarm Agents and give humanity a second chance?''Hi-powered, hi-concept and hi-jinks. Swarm Rising hTrade ReviewHi-powered, hi-concept and hi-jinks. Swarm Rising has it all. I loved it. * Eoin Colfer *Fun, action-packed adventure * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of Alex Rider, Young Bond and Cherub, this fast-paced action-adventure is the second thrilling story from astronaut Tim Peake and bestselling author Steve Cole. The alien Swarm is rising once more... When Danny''s best friend Jamila goes missing, and no one remembers she exists, Danny knows the alien Swarm are back on Earth. They''ve tracked the digital energy signals Jamila has been unintentionally transmitting. Her alien-enhanced DNA can be used to clone super-strong beings with super-powers, and now it''s not just the Swarm who are after her. Danny needs to find Jamila - and a new version of Adi, the friendly Swarm scout - and together they must stop both humans and aliens from destroying the human race.''Hi-powered, hi-concept and hi-jinks. Swarm Rising has it all!'' Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl, on Swarm RisingTrade ReviewHi-powered, hi-concept and hi-jinks. Swarm Rising has it all! * Eoin Colfer *Very atmospheric, thrilling and occasionally chilling which I really love * Toppsta reviewer, aged 13 *Action packed and really fast paced. The story was really exciting and I couldn't put it down! * Toppsta reviewer, aged 11 *

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Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of Alex Rider, Young Bond and Cherub, this fast-paced action-adventure is the second thrilling story from astronaut Tim Peake and bestselling author Steve Cole. The alien Swarm is rising once more... When Danny''s best friend Jamila goes missing, and no one remembers she exists, Danny knows the alien Swarm are back on Earth. They''ve tracked the digital energy signals Jamila has been unintentionally transmitting. Her alien-enhanced DNA can be used to clone super-strong beings with super-powers, and now it''s not just the Swarm who are after her. Danny needs to find Jamila - and a new version of Adi, the friendly Swarm scout - and together they must stop both humans and aliens from destroying the human race.''Hi-powered, hi-concept and hi-jinks. Swarm Rising has it all!'' Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl, on Swarm RisingTrade ReviewHi-powered, hi-concept and hi-jinks. Swarm Rising has it all! * Eoin Colfer *Very atmospheric, thrilling and occasionally chilling which I really love * Toppsta reviewer, aged 13 *Action packed and really fast paced. The story was really exciting and I couldn't put it down! * Toppsta reviewer, aged 11 *There's so much happening in this story I'm going to read it all again * Toppsta reviewer, aged 11 *It was an excellent read as it was fast paced and believable and I didn't want it to end. * Toppsta reviewer, aged 10 *

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Book SynopsisAn apocalyptic thriller, The Rain by Virginia Bergin is a coming of age story of survival in a scary, weather-beaten world.One minute sixteen-year-old Ruby Morris is having her first proper snog with Caspar McCloud in a hot tub, and the next she’s being bundled inside the house, dripping wet, cold and in her underwear. Not cool. As she and Caspar shiver in the kitchen, it starts to rain. They turn on the radio to hear panicked voices - ‘It’s in the rain . . . it’s in the rain . . . ' That was two weeks ago, and now Ruby is totally alone. People weren’t prepared for the rain, got caught out in it, didn’t realize that you couldn’t drink water from the taps either. Even a drop of rain would infect your blood, and eat you from the inside out. Ruby knows she has to get to London to find her dad, but she just doesn’t know where to start . . . After rescuing all the neighbourhood dogs, Ruby sets off Trade ReviewOverall I found the concept interesting, there is a flood (no pun intended) of zombie apocalypse books out at the moment but the idea of the rain being poisoned was different. The characters were likable and flawed and it was realistic in the events that befell them all, no super powers to save them here! * NetGalley *Tense, scary, and high emotion, The Rain will have you on the edge of your seat and afraid to step outside. * dark-readers.com *Distinctly British dystopian survival thriller. Great page turner, and I particularly enjoyed the very normal heroine after so many Katniss-lites. * The Bookseller *A gripping- page turner with moments of surreal humour and great tenderness - not to mention dread as the raindrops fall. * The Bookseller *Is not a novel about the English summer but a nightmare vision of the future where a single drop of rain can kill. * express.co.uk *The Rain' left me speechless! It is such a unique thriller that was very fast paced - I would recommend this book to all teens as it is quite something out of the ordinary! * 11horncastlea.wordpress.com *I can't stop thinking about this book. Virginia Bergin's The Rain is unlike any apocalyptic novel I've read, mostly due to the hilarious and quirky but utterly believable narrator Ruby Morris. * ashleighonline.wordpress.com *Utterly brilliant... loved with a passion. * lizlovesbooks.com *The Rain is just wonderful, there is no instalove, there is just plain getting on with it with lots of shoplifting, attempting to drive and trying to survive whilst making sure you look nice! I really think you should read this book, you need to remember it is written from a 15 year olds POV, there is a lot of moaning and being selfish but it's funny, heartwarming, cringy, sad and terrifying, it is truly amazing. * redheatherduff.blogspot.co.uk *The Rain was hilarious and really well written from the viewpoint of a teenager. * heyhollyjune.blogspot.co.uk *

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Book Synopsis'A little bit Golden Compass, a little bit Hunger Games, and all adventure' - Amie Kaufman, NYT bestselling author, on Jinxed The thrilling follow-up to JINXED, from the author of the magical POTION DIARIES adventures!    When Lacey Chu wakes up in a hospital room with no recollection of how she got there, she knows something is up. But with her customizable smart pet, Jinx, missing in action and Moncha, the company behind the invention of the robot pet, up to something seriously sinister, she’s got a lot of figuring out to do. Lacey must use all her engineering skills if she has a chance of stopping Moncha from carrying out their plans. But can she take on the biggest tech company in North America armed with only a level 1 robot beetle ... ?‘THE MOST COMPELLING READ OF THE YEAR ... TERRIFYINGLY OF THE MOMENT’ Evening Standard on JINXED  

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Book SynopsisHe finds refuge in a derelict zoo with best friend Duke, but as the two of them grow close, the world outside becomes more and more hostile. Following two teenagers living very different lives, ARCTIC ZOO is an arresting thriller about protest, sexuality, mental heath and flawed leadership, from the bestselling author of CHERUB.Trade ReviewArctic Zoo is an enjoyable, highly digestible novel with a robust story that's captivating throughout. With short chapters, you can easily dive in and out, though you'll also be able to convince yourself to read just ONE MORE chapter before trying to close the book. A great read for anyone looking for a YA book that taps into some of the important topics of today, such as loneliness, hope, equality, politics and friendship * Culture Fly *

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Book SynopsisHe finds refuge in a derelict zoo with best friend Duke, but as the two of them grow close, the world outside becomes more and more hostile. Following two teenagers living very different lives, ARCTIC ZOO is an arresting thriller about protest, sexuality, mental heath and flawed leadership, from the bestselling author of CHERUB.

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Book SynopsisWhat if falling in love was a crime?Trade Review[A] page-turning read. It's no surprise that Usborne claims that this is The Handmaid's Tale for LGBTQ+ YA. * Books for Keeps *This is a powerful, important book for older readers. * The School Librarian *Disturbing, heartbreaking and terrifyingly believable - this is dystopia at its absolute best... A timely and important novel. * Reading Zone *

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Book SynopsisSynopsis coming soon.......Trade ReviewPaste Magazine’s Best YA Novel of 2017 A Junior Library Guild Selection “Vividly conjured…positively chilling.” —The New York Times Book Review “Fresh, compelling—and timely.” —Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Carve the Mark and the Divergent series "An exciting, socially conscious futuristic thriller." —Kirkus Reviews "Pon excels as this society’s architect, constructing sights, sounds, and smells that make this Taipei come alive." —Booklist "A strong sci-fi novel that will entice an array of readers." —School Library Journal "A gripping, fast read that blends cultural elements, edgy tech, and a future coming out of a recognizable pollution-heavy current path." —BCCB “Cindy Pon's sci-fi debut envisions a world that could very easily become our own.” —Beth Revis, author of the New York Times bestselling Across the Universe series “A story brimming with high-octane action. What a rollercoaster!” —Marie Lu, author of the New York Times bestselling The Young Elites trilogy “You will not find a more plausible or terrifying dystopian future, and if you've always wanted to visit Taipei, this book is a first-class ticket.” —Ann Aguirre, author of the New York Times bestselling Razorland trilogy “Fast-paced, utterly engrossing, and highly recommended.” —Leah Cypess, author of Mistwood

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Book SynopsisIn their world, telling the truth has become the most dangerous crime of all. In the near-future United States, a one-child policy is ruthlessly enforced. Everyone follows the Rule of One. But Ava Goodwin, daughter of the head of the Texas Family Planning Division, has a secret—one her mother died to keep and her father has helped to hide for her entire life. She has an identical twin sister, Mira. For eighteen years Ava and Mira have lived as one, trading places day after day, maintaining an interchangeable existence down to the most telling detail. But when their charade is exposed, their worst nightmare begins. Now they must leave behind the father they love and fight for their lives. Branded as traitors, hunted as fugitives, and pushed to discover just how far they’ll go in order to stay alive, Ava and Mira rush headlong into a terrifying unknown.

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Book SynopsisREBORN is the gripping sequel to the apocalyptic thriller REMADE, by bestselling author of the Timeriders series, Alex Scarrow.Eighteen months have passed since the events of REMADE. Leon and Freya have seen no sign of the virus, clinging on to the hope that two hard winters may have just killed it off. When news of a rescue ship arriving off the coast comes in, the pair are on the move once again.But all is not as safe as it seems. The virus has been busy. It has learned and evolved. And now it is reborn . . .This book has also been published in paperback as Plague Nation.

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Book Synopsis'A wonderful time-travelling adventure with more twists and turns than the hands of a clock on a helter-skelter. Alex and Jasper are a fantastic dynamic duo, and the book has genuine friendship and warmth at the heart of a timey-wimey mystery. I loved it.'- L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel AgencyHave you ever thought what it might be like if you were famous in the future? A brilliant adventure for fans of Ross Welford - a story about friendship, courage and embracing our talents even when they make us stand out. On the day Alex was born, crowds surrounded the hospital. On her first day of school, people spied from the gates. And recently, strangers came to watch her perform in her school play ... as the llama.But why? Alex has always been a nobody.Then a mysterious boy named Jasper starts at school and he alone seems to know the answer. But before he can tell Alex, he disappears ... into the future. Can Alex brave traveling into the future to discover what's happened to him and to unravel the secret of her own astonishing destiny ... before time runs out?Winner of the Awesome Book Awards 2023'A great idea, pulled off with real panache ... the whole thing is a delight'Anthony McGowan, author of Lark'A joyous, inventive and original rollicking adventure'Liz Hyder, author of Bearmouth'A brilliant page-turning, time travelling adventure, full of heart and filled with courage and friendship'Jess Butterworth, author of Running on the Roof of the World'A super original concept and a book brimming with imagination. And I loved that ending!!!'Hannah Gold, author of The Last BearTrade ReviewA great idea, pulled off with real panache ... the whole thing is a delight * Anthony McGowan, author of Lark *A joyous, inventive and original rollicking adventure * Liz Hyder, author of Bearmouth *A brilliant page-turning, time travelling adventure, full of heart and filled with courage and friendship * Jess Butterworth, author of Running on the Roof of the World *A wonderful time-travelling adventure with more twists and turns than the hands of a clock on a helter-skelter. Alex and Jasper are a fantastic dynamic duo, and the book has genuine friendship and warmth at the heart of a timey-wimey mystery. I loved it. * L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency *Expect the unexpected in this exciting, twisty tale * The Week Junior *A super original concept and a book brimming with imagination. And I loved that ending!!! * Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear *

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Book SynopsisSeventeen-year-old Genesis Lee has never forgotten anything. As one of the Mementi—a small group of genetically enhanced humans—Gena remembers everything with the help of her Link bracelets, which preserve them perfectly. But Links can be stolen, and six people have already lost their lives to a memory thief, including Gena’s best friend.Anyone could be next. That’s why Gena is less than pleased to meet a strange but charming boy named Kalan who claims not only that they have met before, but also that Gena knows who the thief is.The problem is that Gena doesn’t remember Kalan, she doesn’t remember seeing the thief, and she doesn’t know why she’s forgetting things—or how much else she might forget. As growing tensions between Mementi and ordinary humans drive the city of Havendale into chaos, Gena and Kalan team up to search for the thief. And as Gena loses more memories, they realize they have to solve the mystery fast…because Gena’s life is unhappening around her.

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Book SynopsisAge range 14+A Teenage Girl Torn from her Family Must Survive a Series of Deadly Trials to Earn her Place in a Dangerous School of Magic, from Bestselling Authors K.F. Breene and Shannon MayerYou don't choose The Academy. The Academy chooses you.I had no idea how those words would change my life, until the day the most dangerous man I've ever met waltzed onto my farm and left us a death sentence.My younger brother has been chosen for The Academy: the prestigious, secret school of magic hidden within the folds of our mundane world. A place where there's no guarantee you'll make it out alive. If he doesn't go, our entire family will be killed.It's the same invitation my older brother received three years ago—and he never came home. The Academy has already killed one sibling, and I'll be damned if they take another. So I do the only thing an older sister can: chop off my hair, strap on two bras to flatten the girls, and take my brother's place.Magic and monsters are real. Assassins are coming for me, and the dead are prone to rise. What's a girl faking it as a boy supposed to do? Being accepted into an elite school of magic, monsters, and assassins was not my idea of higher education. But here I am, fighting my way through the deadly physical and mental tests of the Culling Trials to claim my right to be taught.In a cutthroat world where no one is as they seem, the golden rule is simple: Trust no one. The Academy tells us we should just look out for ourselves. That we should leave the fallen behind and ask no questions.Not on my watch.

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Book SynopsisMaximum Ride lost her fight to save the world. But from the ashes of the old world, a phoenix has risen… she calls herself Hawk.Hawk doesn't know her real name. She doesn't know who her parents were, or where they went. The only thing she remembers is that they told to wait on a street corner until they came back for her.That was ten years ago.The day that she finally gives up waiting is the moment her life changes for ever. Because the promise becomes reality: someone is coming for her.But it's not a rescue. It's an execution.Trade ReviewFans of dystopian fiction will enjoy this pulsating new YA novel from bestselling author James Patterson . . . Patterson is second to none when it comes to writing pacy thrillers and this one has got the lot - an intriguing plot, exciting action and a captivating lead character * Independent *A fast-moving, multi-stranded, hugely entertaining story that brings the world of Maximum Ride back with a bang * Keighley News *We were hooked until the very end. 8/10 * Indy Best *... A fast-paced, action-packed read, ideal for fans of the original series -- Publishers Weekly

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Book Synopsis___________________________‘Has all the characteristics of his work . . . pace, action, mystery and cool’ SUNDAY TIMESMax. Fang. Iggy. Gasman. Nudge. Angel. Six extraordinary avian-human hybrids, they are the result of a cruel Biotech experiment which manipulated their DNA and turned them into kids with wings. Hunted all their lives, the flock have had to fight life-threatening battles against their shadowy enemies. But as their predators evolved, their unique ability to fly is no longer enough to save them.Driven to the wastelands of Antartica, each day brings a new threat for the flock. While fighting to save their own lives, they have a new mission to undertake . . .One with potentially devastating global consequences.________________________________This book was recently reissued with a new cover, so stock may vary.Trade ReviewThe plot races along with plenty of action * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisNo more quiet rebellions.'A dystopian thriller that fizzes with energy and rebellion' SAMANTHA SHANNONAn explosive cyberpunk SF thriller from the author of Mindwalker, set in a world of corporate intrigue and dangerous technology. Born into a religious cult on the fringe of society, Indra Dyer lives a simple, tech-free existence. But when an illicit trip to the city leaves her with a debilitating - and terminal - condition, Indra must make a choice: die faithful or betray her Order and accept the cure Glindell Technologies is offering. Forced to sign over full ownership of her life, Indra is horrified to learn the true nature of Glindell's plans. Instead of saving her body, they upload her mind to a first-of-its-kind MindDrive, housed in a fully robotic shell. On the outside, Indra still looks the same; on the inside, she's not so sure. She keeps finding herself in places she really shouldn't be, with no memory of how she got there, and dangerous abilities she can't explain. So when news breaks of an attack against Glindell's biggest rival, Indra suspects the worst. With the help of Tian - a research assistant with questionable morals and a smile that won't quit - Indra must uncover the truth behind the procedure that saved her life, before Glindell can use it to change the face of technology, and what it means to be human, forever . . .PRAISE FOR KATE DYLAN'Witty, gritty, and vicious fun' HANNAH KANER'An invigorating ride at breakneck speed . . . Electric' SAARA EL-ARIFI'The thrill ride of a lifetime' KAT DUNN'Pure adrenaline shot straight into your veins' JESSE Q. SUTANTO'Sharp-edged, tense and thrilling, you'll be holding your breath until the last page' TASHA SURITrade Review**PRAISE FOR MINDBREAKER**Witty dialogue, compelling themes, tense action, a determined protagonist - Dylan has taken all these, soaked them in neon, and shaken them into a dystopian thriller that fizzes with energy and rebellion * Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of The Bone Season and The Priory of the Orange Tree *Witty, gritty, and vicious fun. It's a tour de force in visual storytelling, and brings out the nuances of consent and autonomy in a digital world. I also loved the heart-pounding, edge of seat action sequences that felt like they were straight out of a movie (honestly, they should make one), and I read it so fast my head is still spinning. * Hannah Kaner, Sunday Times bestselling author of Godkiller *A frenzied feat of genius. Dylan is an auto-buy author for me, her writing always promises an invigorating ride at breakneck speed -- MINDBREAKER is no exception. An electric plot is interspersed with touching moments of resilience from a magnetic cast of characters, whose stupid decisions still have you rooting for more. Oh and it's queer. Need I say anything else? * Saara El-Arifi, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Battle Drum *Mindbreaker is everything you want in a cyberpunk thriller: sharp writing, explosive pacing, and hard-hitting questions about tech and AI. It's like reading a Marvel blockbuster in book form * L.R. Lam, Sunday Times Bestselling author of Dragonfall and False Hearts *Kate Dylan takes tech, dogma, and corporate power, wraps it in a dystopian wasteland and delivers an explosive, high body count, white knuckle ride * A. Y. Chao, Sunday Times bestselling author of Shanghai Immortal *High stakes, fast paced, and utterly unputdownable. Mindbreaker is an imaginative thrill ride through a world of cults and Big Tech, spearheaded by a girl who redefines what it means to be human. Fans of Mindwalker will not be disappointed by this triumphant return to Dylan's complex but accessible sci-fi universe * M. K. Lobb, Sunday Times Bestselling author of Seven Faceless Saints *This deeply satisfying thriller poses questions about the nature of humanity and our relationship with artificial intelligence and other technologies, without letting itself indulge in philosophical musings. It's tremendously enjoyable, if also a worryingly believable portrayal of a potential future * The Irish Times *** PRAISE FOR KATE DYLAN **Mindwalker is here to grab you by the throat and pitch you head first into the thrill ride of a lifetime * Kat Dunn, author of Dangerous Remedy *Utterly enthralling with no time to catch your breath * Saara El-Arifi, author of The Final Strife *Mindwalker is pure adrenaline shot straight into your veins * Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of The Obsession and Dial A for Aunties *Ridiculously thrilling. Mindwalker is an explosion of everything I love in sci-fi * Claire Winn, author of City of Shattered Light *A vibrant thrill ride from start to finish! * Meg Long, author of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves *Mindwalker is the fast-paced, smart and surprising sci-fi of your dreams * Sarah Underwood, author of Lies We Sing to the Sea *Sharp as knives and just as dangerous, Mindbreaker is an unmissable dystopian thriller * Tasha Suri, award-winning author of The Burning Kingdoms series *

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling Arc of the Scythe series continues with ?captivating...thrilling? (School Library Journal) stories that span the timeline. Storylines continue. Origin stories are revealed. And new Scythes emerge!There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years, humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control. Neal Shusterman along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofia Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you've followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between. Gleanings shows just how expansive, terrifying, and thrilling the world that began with the Printz Honorwinning Scythe truly is.

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Book SynopsisMarena struggles to remember the past: a time before the Zero Tolerance Party murdered her mother and put her father under house arrest. A time before they installed listening devices in every home and outlawed writing. A time when she was free. But it feels like the only thing the new, repressive government wants is to have Marena forget. When the Minister of Education, Helmsley Greengritch, cracks down on Marena's youth training facility, she knows she has to fight back. In the spirit of her revolutionary mother, she forms her own resistance group--the White Rose. With nothing but words and a hunger for freedom, Marena fights for what she knows is right, only to discover the ZT Party's horrifying plans for the country. A thrilling story of resistance and the power of art, The Silenced draws upon the true story of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose group's resistance to the Nazi party.Trade ReviewPraise for The Silenced: Wisconsin Library Association 2008 Outstanding Book 2008-2009 Texas Tayshas Reading List 2008-2009 Bookpage Notable Title Read on Wisconsin! Book Choice "This is far and away the best young adult novel I have read for years ... It has a marvelously vibrant and courageous young heroine, and friends who may betray or help--hard to predict. Best of all it is based on one of the most ultimately tough young women to grace this earth. The White Rose. After reading this book, you will want to read more about her." -- Louise Erdrich "Tautly plotted novel ... ripe for discussion." -- Kirkus Reviews "Gripping suspense combined with satisfyingly capable teen characters make this a good YA read ... a convincing dystopia." -- Booklist "The Silenced is unique ... I would recommend this book to students and libraries for its unique approach and readability, and I believe it could be well used in a literature or social studies class to approach an introduction to Holocaust Education" -- Shoah Education "The gripping plot will engage readers and raise fundamental questions about individual responsibility and the cost of conscience." -- VOYA "The book keeps up a fast pace that will appeal to teen readers. An interesting discussion of freedom and control that can be used as a conversation-starter as readers grapple with the question posed to Marena and the other students: 'Who do you think you are?'" -- Children's Literature "James DeVita's grim and sure-to-be-controversial novel of adolescence in a police state ... excellent, though troubling, novel." -- Bookpage (Notable Title) "Escapism with substance." -- Seattle Times "With plenty of twists and betrayals, the fast-paced plot still gives readers time to reflect: Would they risk their lives for what they believe." -- Stephanie Dunnewind "This surrealistic and grim world, wherein children are recruited to spy on their parents, lobotomized resisters are turned into unquestioning guards, and painting a rose can get you murdered, is hauntingly well developed, serving as the perfect challenge for the irascible and resolute Marena ... Compelling protagonist, terrifyingly realistic (sometimes only slightly exaggerated) setting, and gripping pace." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "This is a gripping read and young adults will certainly empathize with the characters' conflicts between self-expression and a desire to fit in. They will find the Zero Tolerance credo that the state's first priority must be the safety of its citizens to have a chilling resonance with statements in the news today." -- School Library Journal Praise for Blue: American Booksellers Association Pick of the List Virginia Center for Children's Books Best Bet for the Classroom The Center for Children's Books Best Book of 2001 "A cheerfully diverting fantasy about a boy who demonstrates that you really can become anything you want--if you only believe." -- Booklist

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The action and hilarity continue in the second volume of this comic convention apocalypse adventure series! Journalist Victor Lai and his comics publicist friend Dez Delaney have clawed, crawled, and occasionally golf-carted their way across a crowded post-apocalyptic convention floor in search of a way out. Along the way they've discovered a fledgling resistance movement of cosplaying superheroes led by Dez's former boss, Helvetica Caslon. She's got one last assignment: find the Special Guest and liberate the con. All that's in the way is a labyrinth of surreal panel rooms, literal personality cults, at least two warring fandom factions, and a totally biased gatekeeping system run by pedantic internet trolls. Can Dez and Victor convince the Special Guest to give up the utopia he's created? Or are the pros of this con on a crash course to doomsday?

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Book SynopsisThe massive labyrinth was built to protect Zadie Kalvers'' isolated desert town. Unfortunately, living in the maze''s shadow makes her feel anything but safe. Even without its enchanted deathtraps and illusions, a notorious killer named Dex lurks in its corridors, terrorizing anyone in his path. But when Zadie''s best friend vanishes into the labyrinth-and everyone mysteriously forgets he exists- completing the maze becomes her only hope of saving him. In desperation, Zadie bribes the only person who knows the safe path through-Dex-into forming a tenuous alliance. Navigating a deadly garden, a lethal blood-filled hourglass, and other traps-with an untrustworthy murderer for her guide-Zadie''s one wrong step from certain death. But with time running out before her friend (and secret crush) is lost forever, Zadie must reach the exit and find him. If Dex and the labyrinth don''t kill her first.

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