Steel

By Carrie Vaughn
(YA F Vaug)
294 pages 2011 Historical/Fantasy Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Jill is an accomplished fencer. When she loses her last match, the disappointment stays with her-even on a family trip to the Bahamas. While walking on the beach she finds a corroded sword tip which she keeps as her own. But the sword is powerful and Jill is transported back several centuries to the deck of a pirate ship. She is forced to become a pirate and learn the ways of the ship. She also learns a pirate’s life is bloody and brief. In a desperate attempt to get back home, she will have to risk her life in a duel to the death. (Grades 7 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Kay G.

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Hot Pick from TAB - The Reformed Vampire Support Group

By Catherine Jinks
(YA F Jink)
362 pages 2009 Fantasy/Mystery Fiction

Being a vampire is not a blessing for this group—it’s a disease. They have found a way to not have to drink human blood, but it’s hard on their systems. They can’t go out during the daytime because they are knocked unconscious and look dead. When one of the vamps gets staked, turned to ashes, and shot by a silver bullet, the others along with a priest drive all over Australia with fear in their hearts and guinea pigs in the bed of their truck. This book has a great plot, is fast-paced, and definitely not your average vampire novel.  (Grades 8 & up)

Reviewed by TAB member Colleen K.

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Paranormalcy

By Kiersten White
(YA F Whit)
335 pages 2010 Fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Evie just wants to be normal. However, that doesn’t come easily when you work for the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA) as the agent who brings to justice rogue paranormals like vampires, werewolves, hags, and fairies. Evie is the only known person who can see through a paranormal’s glamour and it is this ability that brings her to meet Lend, a teenage boy who can change his appearance at will. When paranormals start winding up dead, Evie begins to wonder if allegiance to IPCA is the right choice, and together with Lend, begins to uncover the reason behind the strange killings...a reason she has everything to do with. (Grades 6 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Sara H.

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Best of TAB 2010 - Fang

By James Patterson
(YA F Patt)
309 pages 2010 Fantasy Fiction

Your younger flock member just told you that you are going to be the first to die. And you thought nothing in your life could get any stranger! This is what is happening to Fang, a mutant bird freak created along with 5 others out of a test tube as a scientific mistake. His relationship with Max has been put on hold as scientists try to make a new Fang that is supposedly Max’s soul mate. If you have read the past books in the Maximum Ride series, you know that Max is destined to save the world. Will Max’s destiny involve Fang, or will Fang disappear forever from the flock’s life? This book includes romance, action, drama, comedy, and much more. (Grades 6 & up)

Reviewed by TAB member Shivani S.
 
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Best of TAB 2010 - Eyes Like Stars

By Lisa Mantchev
(YA F Mant)
356 pages 2009 Fantasy Fiction

As the tagline says, "All Her World's A Stage." Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, known as Bertie, lives in The Theatre--on The Stage. The Theatre is where all plays, everywhere, are performed. The Players live in The Theatre too--and they're not actors playing Ophelia and Macbeth--they are Ophelia and Macbeth. If you like hilarious writing, fairies going commando, tap-dancing starfish, references to Shakespearean and other plays, cursed protective charms, a magical stage, and laughing-out-loud moments, you will love this book. (Grades 8 & up)

Reviewed by TAB member Colleen K.
 
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Shade

By Jeri Smith-Ready
(YA F Smit)
307 pages 2010 Fantasy Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Aura, along with anyone born after the Shift, can see and talk to ghosts. So when her boyfriend Logan suddenly dies, she finds some peace in her ability. But when a new boy, Zachary, catches her eye, she wonders if she’s being unfaithful to him. Things grow even more complicated when she discovers a link between her and Zachary. As things grow more intense, she fears Logan will decide to turn into a Shade and never pass peacefully from this world. Can her ability save him before it’s too late? (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Shelly P.
 
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Lips Touch: Three Times

By Laini Taylor
(YA F Tayl)
265 pages 2009 Fantasy / Horror

Three short stories about the longing for and consequences of first kisses. Each story centers on a teenage girl with an unusual life that entwines with the supernatural world. Kizzy so desperately wants to be noticed that she is seduced by a goblin disguised as a cute boy, even though her upbringing has warned her about them. Anamique’s voice is fatal to anyone who hears it because of a curse placed on her at birth, but she longs to speak to the man she loves. Esme is discovering that she has shared her body all her life with an immortal demon. (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Sara H.
 
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Fallen

By Lauren Kate
(YA F Kate)
452 pages 2009 Fantasy

After the mysterious death of her friend, Trevor, seventeen-year-old Lucinda Price is sent to a creepy reform school. At the run down Sword and Cross school, she is plagued by dark shadows that only she can see and that appear randomly. It’s also where she meets two gorgeous guys, the warm and friendly Cam, and the more aloof, reserved Daniel. Luce feels safe with Cam, but is drawn to Daniel for reasons that are unclear to her. What is it about Daniel that seems so familiar to Luce, and why is he trying to avoid her at all costs? (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Kay G.

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Fire

By Kristin Cashore

(YA F Cash)

461 pages 2009 Fantasy

In a kingdom called the Dells where magical and often dangerous monsters lurk, a monster-woman named Fire lives. Drop dead beautiful, she has the power to read minds, and bend the will of others to hers. While her father used his monster power to corrupt a kingdom, Fire struggles to use hers only for good. However, when war comes to the Dells, and King Nash and his brother Brigand want to use her powers, Fire must decide if helping the kingdom is worth compromising her principals. A riveting prequel to Graceling. (Grades 8 & up)

reviewed by Teen Librarian Kay G.

 

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