Black Heart

Black Heart is by Justin Somper. The fourth book in the Vampirates series. There is a new group of vampirates roaming the seas. After an attack on the Pirate Academy, the pirates ask Chen Li to hunt them down and kill them. She chooses Connor for her crew. He agrees, but is worried about his twin sister Grace who is on a Vampirate ship. As Connor and his friends learn how to kill vampires, Grace is discovering the answers to her questions about the twin's past. Secrets that will change both their lives forever. Fans of the series will not be able to wait for the next installment.

Ratings: 8th grade - 8 out of 10 - V (violence).

Gone

Gone is by Michael Grant. The first novel in the Gone series. In a moment everyone over 15 in the town of Perdido Beach, California vanishes. There is no telephone, Internet, or television; no police, parents, or teachers. Animals begin to mutate, humans begin to discover that some of them have amazing powers. As fear and hunger grow, teens divide into two groups: bullies trying to take over and those trying to keep everyone together. An amazing novel of kids trying to be adults in a terrible situation. Boys and girls will love this series.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (some mature thematic content).

Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling & Redemption in Southern Appalachia

Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling & Redemption in Southern Appalachia is by Dennis Covington. When a snake handling preacher comes to trial for trying to murder his wife, Covington heads South to cover the trial. He becomes intrigued by the religion of snake handling and finds himself drawn into their lives and religion as he researches their faith. A fascinating look at this religious sect, told in a fair yet in-depth way.

Ratings: Adult - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).

The Jaguar Prophecies

The Jaguar Prophecies is by Phyllis Gunderson. Matt Howard is an archaeology professor. She receives a mysterious invitation to a Mayan festival in Mexico and decides to attend. Once there she is drugged and wakes up to find herself tattooed and unwillingly, and mistakenly, part of a Mayan end-of-time cult. She is supposed to warn "her people" that the end of the world is coming. 

Ratings: 8th grade - 4 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content).

The Interrogation of Gabriel James

The Interrogation of Gabriel James is by Charlie Price. Gabriel James was involved in a murder. This is his story, written as a police interrogation interspersed with flashbacks. Gabriel tells his story to the police. A tale of racism, child abuse, selling drugs, bullying, and secrets; Gabriel must come to terms with what he did and didn't do, and the secrets that have been kept from him. A fantastic read about a young boy who tries to help a friend and ends up in over his head.

Ratings: 10th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).

The Ghosts of Kerfol

The Ghosts of Kerfol is by Deborah Noyes. Five creepy short stories based on Edith Wharton's classic ghost story "Kerfol". Each story is set in a different time period (from 1613-2006) at the old mansion of Kerfol in France. Each story describes a spooky experience based on the original murder site in Wharton's famous story. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).

Seeing a Large Cat

Seeing a Large Cat is by Elizabeth Peters. The ninth volume in the Amelia Peabody series. It's 1903 and Amelia and her family are back in Luxor. When they begin to receive mysterious notes warning them away from Tomb 20-A, which does not appear to exist, Emerson is annoyed, but Amelia is intrigued. Then an American heiress takes a fancy to Ramses, and Nefret is courted by the girl's father!! This promises to be another strange season for the Emersons. Fans of this series will not be disappointed in this installment.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (some mature thematic content).