Nineteen-year-old Estrid and her shadow-wolf familiar Rafe incapacitate a group of soldiers in an effort to protect a local village—Estrid accomplishes this with dark, powerful magic to fulfill an oath she’s taken to make up for the lives of innocents she’s claimed in the past (“a heavy debt she’s not sure will ever be repaid”). …

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Diane, whose last name is not given to protect her family’s privacy, grew up in the idyllic village of Guildford, England, an experience she describes as “sort of a Norman Rockwell lifestyle.” At age 9, her world turned upside down when she found out her doting mom and dad were foster parents, and that her …

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At a point in ancient history “before time,” a nameless young girl travels to the ruins of a great sphinx. She arrives in this place somewhat magically, “as if the wind had carried her from a golden palace far away.” The girl does not behave like a child. She appears to have wisdom that is …

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Cook’s third book on golf is a captivating tale of what many thought impossible: winning the game’s four majors in a row. In a breezy, assured style, Cook begins with a brief biography of Tiger Woods and his family and an insightful short history of golf balls, including Woods’ switch to a new brand. His …

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Kai’s family is excited for the upcoming holiday. Everyone makes valentines, Kai and Dad hang decorations, and Mom bakes heart-shaped cookies. At bedtime, Kai signs “I love you” to Mom and Dad (though Kai doesn’t appear to be deaf). The next morning is extra special. Dad hands Kai a huge valentine, Mom whips up heart-shaped …

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In 1995, when AOL chat rooms are new and all the rage, 15-year-old Bostonian Katie McCann, a self-professed “book-obsessed dork,” finds a kindred online spirit in 19-year-old Dev, who’s “WmbleyLnDet” to Kat’s “KMcCann14.” Their shared passion is renowned mystery writer Carissa Miller, who created the witty and charming detective Adrian Lescher, basing him on noted …

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A child with tan skin and long brown braids describes the feelings involved in splitting time between two homes. Mommy still lives at the house where the narrator grew up, while Daddy has moved to the city. At one home, the surroundings are almost the same: old friends, familiar neighbors, and a favorite walking trail—but …

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After two score and counting How To Catch books, this latest addition suggests that there’s nothing left to capture. The verses are feeble (“But I’m chilled to my bones deep inside / I feel the wind across my backside”), while the illustrations are mundane. On one page, a child crouches in a drift eating “stick …

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When 17-year-old Devin is woken up in the middle of the night by two men in her room, she fights back and calls for her foster parents. She quickly learns they’re well aware of what’s going on. The men throw her into a van that’s holding another teen named Ollie and take them both into …

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Even after a generation, the small Vancouver Island town of Tass is feeling the effects of the Big One, a sinkhole that swallowed an entire church full of people. No bodies were ever recovered. Sixteen-year-old Hudson has always delighted in exploring the area’s sprawling cave systems, but he’s recently become increasingly worried about the looming …

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