Mixed

Mixed might mean mixed race, a mixed group of characters, humanoids of color, or even a mixture of genders or sexualities! For example, in Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea Cycle, the lead character Ged is described as copper-colored. In Andre Norton's Solar Queen series, the group of Free Traders is a mixed group comprised of several races and ethnicities, adding non-human crew members in the later books.

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Isabel Allende
City of the Beasts (Grades 9+ / Ages 15+)
"When Alexander Cold's mother falls ill, the fifteen-year-old is sent to stay with his eccentric grandmother in New York. A tough and prickly magazine reporter, Kate Cold takes Alex along with her on an expedition to the Amazon to verify the existence of the fierce, gigantic, legendary creature known as the Beast. Joining them on their adventure are a celebrated anthropologist; a local guide and his daughter, Nadia; a doctor; and a local entrepreneur. But not everyone's intentions are pure—and dangerous discoveries await Alex and Nadia as they embark, with the aid of a jungle shaman, on an epic journey into the realm of the mythical Beasts of the Amazon." This series features a mixed cast of characters, set in a variety of locales. The books are also availablein Spanish and have AR tests available in both English and Span.

La Ciudad de las Bestias (Spanish Edition)
"Alexander Cold, un joven de quince años está a punto de embarcarse con su temeraria abuela, en el viaje de su vida. Una expedición de la International Geographic se dirige hacia la remotas y peligrosas tierras salvajes de Suramérica para documentar al legendario Yeti del Amazonas, más conocido como 'La Bestia.' Alex y su amiga Nadia descubrirán que el impenetrable mundo de la selva tropical esconde mucho más de lo que jamás hubieran imaginado. Con la fuerza de sus dos animales totémicos -- el jaguar para Alexander, y el águila para Nadia -- ambos jóvenes se embarcan en una apasionante e inolvidable aventura que los lleva al descubrimiento de . . . "

Kingdom of the Golden Dragon (Grades 9+ / Ages 15+)
"Alexander Cold and his best friend, Nadia, the heroes of Allende's City Of the Beasts, are reunited in a new adventure. This time, Alexander's fearless grandmother and International Geographic are taking them to another remote niche of the world -- a forbidden kingdom tucked into the frosty peaks of the Himalayas. Their task: to locate its fabled Golden Dragon, a sacred statue and priceless oracle, before it is destroyed by the greed of an outsider. With the aid of a sage Buddhist monk, his young royal disciple, and a fierce tribe of Yeti warriors, and armed with the power of their totemic animal spirits, Alexander and Nadia fight to protect the holy rule of the Golden Dragon."

El Reino del Dragon de Oro (Spanish Edition)
"Unas meses después que el joven Alexander Cold se internara con suabuela en el corazón del Amazonas en busca de una legendaria Bestia, vivirá otra aventura. En esta ocasión, la reportera Kate Cold acompaña a su nieto y a Nadia, la mejor amiga de Alexander, junto con los fotógrafos de la International Geographic, en un viaje a otro remoto rincón del mundo. La misión del equipo es adentrarse en un reino prohibido, oculto en los picos helados del Himalaya, y localizar el legendario dragón de oro, una estatua sagrada y oráculo invaluable capaz de presagiar el futuro del reino.

"En su carrera para llegar a la estatua antes de que sea destruida por la avaricia de un intruso, Alexander y Nadia deben usar el poder espiritual de sus animales totémicos: el Jaguar y el Águila. Con la ayuda de un sabio monje budista, su joven discípulo, el príncipe heredero, y una feroz tribu de guerreros Yeti, Alexander y Nadia lucharán para proteger el reino del dragón de oro."

Forest of the Pygmies (Grades 9+ / Ages 15+)
"Once again Alexander Cold and his indomitable journalist grandmother, Kate, are braving the mystical unknown, this time in the heart of Africa. Along with Alex's friend Nadia Santos and a photographic crew from International Geographic magazine, they have travelled to Kenya to work on an article about the continent's first elephant-led safaris. But when a missionary approaches their camp in search of companions who have mysteriously disappeared, Alex, Nadia, and their group find themselves embarking on a dangerous mission to Africa's equatorial forest to aid a clan of Pygmies. For the Cold expedition is the tribe's last hope for survival in a world where poaching, corruption, and slavery run rampant.

"Forest of the Pygmies is the concluding volume of acclaimed author Isabel Allende's celebrated trilogy, which begins with City of the Beasts and continues with Kingdom of the Golden Dragon."

El Bosque de los Pigmeos (Spanish Edition)
"El último tomo de la aclamada trilogía de Isabel Allende narra las aventuras de Jaguar y Águila en una tierra exótica, poblada de espíritus y seres misteriosos y cuenta la evolución de una extraordinaria amistad.

"Alexander Cold sabe muy bien que su abuela Kate siempre anda en busca de una nueva aventura. Cuando la International Geographic le pide que escriba un artículo sobre los primeros safaris africanos en elefantes, Kate, Alexander y Nadia -- junto con el equipo de fotógrafos de la revista -- deciden adentrarse en las ardientes planicies de Kenya. Sin embargo, no tardan en conocer a un misionario católico que se acerca a ellos para preguntarles si han visto a sus compañeros que, misteriosamente, han desaparecido. Kate, Alexander, Nadia y todo el equipo de la International Geographic deciden ayudarle. Contratan una mujer piloto de la localidad que los lleva a las pantanosas junglas de Ngoubé. Ahí descubren una tribu de pigmeos y entran en un mundo que se revela feroz y sorprendente, un mundo de corrupción, esclavitud y crueldad pero también de nobleza y magia.

"Con la ayuda de los poderes mágicos de sus animales totémicos, Jaguar y Águila, Alexander y Nadia se lanzan en una espectacular lucha por restaurar la libertad de los pigmeos."

En Español
(Spanish edition)

John Claude Bemis
Clockwork Dark trilogy - The Nine Pound Hammer, The Wolf Tree, and The White City (Grades 6+)
This trilogy is based on American tall tales, including John Henry and Johnny Appleseed as well as African-American and Native American stories and mythology.

The Nine Pound Hammer (Grades 6+ / Ages 12+)
The protagonist, Ray, is traveling on a train taking a group of orphans, including he and his sister, to good homes for adoption. He decides that his sister would be able to find a home if he wasn't there, so he leaps off the train in the dark. The story moves through the South as he discovers the legacy that his father left him, as well as a mixed group of young people, including the famous John Henry's son. Together, they battle against evil and the machine that killed his father. This teen fantasy trilogy is intermingled with the traditional American tall tales. (RDJ)

"Twelve-year-old Ray is haunted by the strangest memories of his father, whom Ray swears could speak to animals. Now an orphan, Ray jumps from a train going through the American South and falls in with a medicine show train and its stable of sideshow performers. The performers turn out to be heroes, defenders of the wild, including the son of John Henry. They are hiding the last of the mythical Swamp Sirens from an ancient evil known as the Gog. Why the Gog wants the Siren, they can’t be sure, but they know it has something to do with rebuilding a monstrous machine that John Henry gave his life destroying years before, a machine that will allow the Gog to control the will of men and spread darkness throughout the world."

The Wolf Tree (Grades 6+ / Ages 12+)
"Look no further for the perfect book for boys and girls who love fantasy, adventure, and white-knuckle action!

"'Can you imagine eternal Darkness, sir?'

"So asks the sickly stranger who staggers into Peg Leg Nel's birthday party. Before the man dies, he tells Ray and his friends of a Darkness spreading like wildfire across Kansas, turning good people bad and poisoning anyone who tries to escape. It's clear that though the evil Gog is dead, his devilish machine has survived and is growing stronger.

"Now a full-fledged Rambler, Ray leads his friends on a mission into the heart of darkness. Vital to their success is tracking down the legendary Wolf Tree, rumored to be a pathway to the spirit world. Only with one of the tree's limbs can the Nine Pound Hammer be repaired and the Gog's terrible machine finally destroyed. The search for the Wolf Tree grows desperate as the Darkness spreads, threatening Ray, his friends, and all of humanity.

"The Wolf Tree is the second fantasy adventure book in John Claude Bemis's series The Clockwork Dark, and adds new layers of myth and magic to Bemis's original take on American tall tales in The Nine Pound Hammer."

The White City (Grades 6+ / Ages 12+)
"In The Nine Pound Hammer, John Bemis introduced middle-grade readers to a whole new approach to epic fantasy, founded on characters and themes from American mythology and lore, including the legend of John Henry. Now in the third and final book, the heroes come together at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago for a final confrontation with a businessman and tycoon who is in fact an ageless evil known as the Gog. With his Dark Machine, he intends to bend the world to his ruthless vision of progress and efficiency. It's man versus machine all over again, fighting for the soul of humanity in front of Ferris's Wheel. For fans of adventure fantasy like Percy Jackson and Peter and the Starcatchers."

Kindle edition

Michael Chabon
Summerland (Grades 5+ / Ages 10+)
"Ethan Feld is bad at baseball. Hopeless, even. But when his father mysteriously disappears, Ethan is recruited to save him and the world by traveling the baseball-obsessed Summerlands to stop Coyote, the trickster, from unmaking existence. With help from a ragtag group of friends he meets along the way, Ethan must not only find his father and stop Coyote, but also master his position on the field. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon has created a distinctly American fantasy experience with baseball at its heart. "

Kindle edition
Text-to-Speech enabled

Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games series - The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay
(Grades 7+ / Ages 13+)
Note that despite the movie casting, the books describe the residents of the districts and the Hunger Games participants as darker complected than the residents of the Capitol. Katriss is described as gray-eyed and olive-skinned, not White. Therefore, I placed these wildly popular books in "Mixed" because, at least to me, the characters are obviously of mixed races and ethnicities. Some themes in this series may be too intense for younger readers.

The Hunger Games (Grades 7+ / Ages 13+)
"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, 'The Hunger Games,' a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed."

Catching Fire (Grades 7+ / Ages 13+)
"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge."

Mockingjay (Grades 7+ / Ages 13+)
"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year."

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The harcover
3-volume boxed set

Kindle edition of the Hunger Games Trilogy
Text-to-Speech enabled

Quinton Douglass Crawford
Moochie the Soochie - Visits the Peace People (All ages)
"This is a two story Childrens book. Story-1: Moochie travels to visit children on every continent to learn a little of their languages. Story-2: Moochie travels through human history to find people in times of peace." I know Quinton personally so I really can't give an unbiased review of this wonderful, gentle story of Moochie the alien and how she travels the world in story 1 and through time in story 2. Safe for all ages.

Kindle edition
Text-to-Speech enabled

Tricia Drammeh
The Claiming Words (Ages 13+)
"The Alexanders have always kept their secrets hidden... When sixteen-year-old Jace Alexander moves to the small town of Oaktree, Georgia, he attracts the attention of every girl in school. Shy, introverted Alisa Cole immediately casts Jace in the leading role of her latest fantasy, but she assumes he'll never return her interest. After she saves Jace from a Hunter, everything changes. Her accidental discovery of Jace's secret propels her into a world of magic and danger. Alisa's newfound courage is put to the test when Jace introduces her to his intimidating older brother, Bryce, and she decides she would rather battle a Hunter than endure another moment under Bryce's intense scrutiny.

"Jace and Bryce aren't the only ones with secrets... Rachel Stevens is the girl who has it all. She's beautiful, popular, and in possession of an ancient power which endangers not only her, but those sent to protect her. Jace is drawn to Rachel - and he isn't the only one. The Demon Re'Vel will do anything to claim her - even if it means waging a war with the entire Alexander family. As layers of secrets are peeled away, revealing the truth of her heritage and her family's betrayal, Rachel struggles to resist an immortal suitor who stalks her in her dreams. With the Alexanders fighting to protect her, can Rachel escape the power of the Demon and his Claiming Words?"

I actually looked up the author before this book was published and asked her if I could add it to Alien Star Books as soon as it came out. Yes, the sample was that good! I'm so pleased to be able to add it to this website -- I highly recommend this book to teens, young adults and urban fantasy fans. (RDJ)

Kindle edition
Coming Soon!

David Macinnis Gill
Soul Enchilada (Grades 9+ / Ages 14+)
"The devil made 'em do it.

"Girl meets boy at a car wash. And probably this would have been a sweet teen romance . . . except that the girl's grandfather sold his soul for a classic Cadillac and he used her soul as collateral, too. Which the devil has come to collect, along with the car. Now eighteen-year-old Bug Smoot has to fight for both. Good thing she knows how to fight dirty. Good thing nothing frightens Bug Smoot: not the repo man, not the paranormal creatures, not seances or driving too fast. And good thing that boy from the car wash is actually a supernatural secret agent.

"This is one helluva ride."

Bug is Black and Tejana (Texan-Mexican-Latina) and alone in the world, trying to make it with just her grandfather's classic 1958 Caddy -- and now her grandfather has somehow managed to evade the Devil's repo man who's looking for a soul to keep in exchange for the car... (RDJ)

Kindle edition
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Alison Goodman
Singing the Dogstar Blues (Ages 12+)
"Seventeen-year-old Joss is a rebel, and a student of time travel at the prestigious Centre for Neo-Historical Studies. This year, for the first time, the Centre has an alien student: Mavkel, from the planet Choria. And Mavkel has chosen Joss, of all people, as his roommate and study partner. Then Mavkel gets sick. Joss quickly realizes that his will to live is draining away. The only way she can help Mavkel is by breaking the Centre's strictest rules - and that means going back in time to change history. This new Firebird edition of Alison Goodman's acclaimed first genre-bending adventure features a short story about Joss and Mav's after-book adventures, originally published in Firebirds Rising." Some parents may be disturbed by Joss' mother's same-sex relationship. There's nothing graphic, nothing more than what a teen would see in today's world and relationships.

Kindle edition Text-to-Speech enabled

Robert Heinlein
Friday (Ages 16+)
Genetically-enhanced Friday is a courier for the Boss in a chaotic world of corporations, small countries in what used to the be the United States and corruption. Until something goes wrong with her last job and her life is ripped apart. Despite the book cover, Friday is clearly described as being of mixed race with brown skin and she discovers, as her group family breaks apart, that her darker skin was of concern to at least one member of the family. It's one of the few Heinlein books that has a female main character that isn't horribly written. Female characters were not his strength, he was definitely a man of his era. Descriptions of genetically-enhanced humans, group marriages, non-descriptive sex and same sex relationships may be disturbing to parents and teens. (RDJ)

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The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Ages 15+)
Winner of the 1967 Hugo Award for Best Novel, this is a tale of the former Lunar penal colony -- filled with plenty of adventure, politics, rebellion, a computer technician, and a sentient computer on the Moon. This is one of my favorite Heinlein books, right up there with Have Space Suit, Will Travel. Mentions of group marriages and some "pillow talk" may be disturbing to parents and teens. (RDJ)

"It is a tale of revolution, of the rebellion of the former Lunar penal colony against the Lunar Authority that controls it from Earth. It is the tale of the disparate people--a computer technician, a vigorous young female agitator, and an elderly academic--who become the rebel movement's leaders. And it is the story of Mike, the supercomputer whose sentience is known only to this inner circle, and who for reasons of his own is committed to the revolution's ultimate success. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is one of the high points of modern science fiction, a novel bursting with politics, humanity, passion, innovative technical speculation, and a firm belief in the pursuit of human freedom."

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K.R. Hulsey
Demona - Book One (Ages 16+)
"There is a world beyond our own whose magic still runs rampant; it runs deeper than the roots of the earth and thicker than the air we breathe. While humans of Earth have forsaken the natural order for technological advancement, Billayo still lives and breathes the magical essence of nature and of the soul. A planet much like our own, with vast seas, awesome mountain ranges, and its own giant sun and moon, Billayo could be the long lost twin of our Earth. Perhaps eons ago, the worlds had been closer, or travel had been possible, as Earth retains myths and legends of incredible creatures that are of flesh and blood on Billayo. Dragons, fairies, gryphons, shapeshifers, sylphs, all with their own various races and cultures are alive and thriving, including those with their own innate talent that the humans of Earth have forsaken, labeling those with traces of that talent as “witches”.

"While humans strangle their world with technology, the Majiki, those with magic in their blood, co-exist with the natural order of Billayo.

"No world, however, is perfect.

"Even here, prejudices have split the peoples, peace is threatened by the humans and their hatred, and hidden at the edge of the world, an ancient evil watches and waits, compelling those who are easily manipulated. Should the evil become too powerful, it would consume Billayo and move on to other worlds to appease its insatiable appetite.

"It would come for Earth.

"Demona begins the story of the struggle to save the worlds. A young woman of mixed race, born of both good and evil, contains the key to Billayo’s salvation. Abused, starved, treated like a wild animal, her journey begins in the cell of a human beast. She’s given up all hope of rescue, family, love — until the unthinkable happens. She is freed. Released from unendurable slavery, she has the power to save two worlds.

"But first she has to learn how to be human."

Due to violence, mature themes, and an attempted rape, this book is not suitable for younger teens. I'd recommend it for mature older teens and adults. As I'm the editor of this book, I can't give you an unbiased review of this excellent and imaginative story. Please note that there was an early Lulu edition of Demona. The book has been entirely rewritten by the author; it is a new story. Book Two is "in progress." (RDJ)

NEW Lulu paperback edition

Nook edition

Kindle edition
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Smashwords edition

Kevin Lee
TRIO - Book One H*E*R*O*E*S (Ages 12+)
"What if someone came along and offered you a chance to take the 'road less travelled', the chance to live a dream? It began as a day no different than any other. Three men are brought together by circumstances that will forever change their lives. Each one are from a different walk of life but become connected through one particular event and little did they know that their day was about to be a whole lot different. A strange man arrives, claiming to be a wizard, talking of magic and of a different world. He offers the three 'an offer you will find very hard to refuse'. What they discover is a world where magic thrives! Where races thought to be of folklore and one's imagination are actually real! It is a world threatened by a witch bent on vengeance! The three are asked to help in a quest for three stones, which, when united can provide the power to stop the approaching darkness. Fighting their own disbelief's, the witch's minions, and even those they are asked to lead, the three need to find a way to overcome them all and in doing so, perhaps prove not only to those who have asked for their help, but to themselves that they are the 'heroes' this strange world has been looking for. With a little luck, they might even show that there is a little bit of 'hero' in all of them."

TRIO - Book Two: Dark Dragon's Dawn (Ages 12+)
"What if someone came along and offered you the chance to 'take the road less traveled', the chance to live a dream? Such was the case for Neil Baxter, Zach Thomas and Tony Merello in Book One of the TRIO series, Heroes. Now the story continues in Book Two: Dark Dragon's Dawn. Helana has been banished, and peace has returned to the new world of Avalon. A royal wedding is about to take place as Neil and the princess Tasha are to be wed and hence become the new King and Queen, beginning a new chapter in Avalon's Monarchy! However, Helana had an apprentice, a young lady who has her own agenda for the throne of Avalon. Her plot involves the alliance with another race, Dragons, and to use them to assist in her quest for the throne. She hopes to acquire the aid of one particular dragon, The Dark Dragon, once a creature of destruction, now a statue of stone. It can only be freed with a long forgotten spell and used only once before in its entrapment. A rare eclipse is about to occur, and it can provide the necessary energy to make the spell work and Helana's former apprentice is counting on the wizard Malcolm to use the same eclipse to achieve his own agenda. For if he does, then the door is opened for her. A magic forgotten is invoked A dark malevolent force is freed The purest of magic's is hunted And a friend returns... As shadow spreads over the land it is time to Return to the Adventure and Return to the Magic."

TRIO - Book Three: Ascension (Ages 12+)
"What if someone came along and offered you a chance to take the road less traveled? A chance to live a dream? That was the case for Neil Baxter, Zach Thomas and Tony Merello in TRIO Book One. A strange man showed up one day and offered them exactly that, a chance to help and begin anew on a strange world where magic thrives and all creatures of myth and magic do exist. The adventure continues in Book Three: Ascension as Neil, now crowned King with Tasha as his Queen, has begun a new era of the monarchy on the world of Avalon. In the six months that have passed since the destruction of the Dark Dragon they are making every effort to bring the races of the world together. The wizard Malcolm, while investigating regions in the south, discovers an abominable evil on the verge of escape and after his return to Kildare Castle an old nemesis re-emerges with a legion of demons at her command and threatens to conquer not only Avalon but to cross over to the 'old world' and annihilate 'all who refuse to bow down to her'. The Trio is once again separated to fulfill different quests to fend off the approaching demon storm bent on destroying everything in their path in their desire to subjugate the world of Avalon. All the races join forces against the oppression of a witch gone mad and all the powers of darkness at her disposal. Amidst it all, a mythical wizard of lore and bedtime stories joins in the battle to save not only one world but two! New alliances are forged, legends become reality, and destinies will be determined. All will not be as it was before. The War of Magic's is about to commence."

Kindle edtion
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Ursula LeGuin
The Earthsea Cycle - A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, Tehanu, Tales from Earthsea, and The Other Wind
(Ages 15+)
The peoples of LeGuin's fantasy world are red-brown, black and white. Unlike the television mini-series which, like most television and movie adaptations, mangled her books, her characters are multi-cultural and multi-racial young people.

A Wizard of Earthsea
"Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance."

The Tombs of Atuan
"When young Tenar is chosen as high priestess to the ancient and nameless Powers of the Earth, everything is taken away -- home, family, possessions, even her name. For she is now Arha, the Eaten One, guardian of the ominous Tombs of Atuan. While she is learning her way through the dark labyrinth, a young wizard, Ged, comes to steal the Tombs' greatest hidden treasure, the Ring of Erreth-Akbe. But Ged also brings with him the light of magic, and together, he and Tenar escape from the darkness that has become her domain."

The Farthest Shore
"Darkness threatens to overtake Earthsea. As the world and its wizards are losing their magic, Ged -- powerful Archmage, wizard, and dragonlord -- embarks on a sailing journey with highborn young prince, Arren. They travel far beyond the realm of death to discover the cause of these evil disturbances and to restore magic to a land desperately thirsty for it."

Tehanu
"Years ago, they had escaped together from the sinister Tombs of Atuan -- she, an isolated young priestess; he, a powerful wizard. Now she is a farmer's widow, having chosen for herself the simple pleasures of an ordinary life. And he is a broken old man, mourning the powers lost to him through no choice of his own. Once, when they were young, they helped each other at a time of darkness and danger and shared an adventure like no other. Now they must join forces again, to help another in need -- the physically and emotionally scarred child whose own destiny has yet to be revealed."

Tales from Earthsea
"Five stories of Ursula K. Le Guin's world-renowned realm of Earthsea are collected in one volume. Featuring two classic stories, two original tales, and a brand-new novella, as well as new maps and a special essay on Earthsea's history, languages, literature, and magic."

The Other Wind
"The sorcerer Alder has the power of mending, but it may have become the power of destruction: every night he dreams of the wall between the land of the living and the land of the dead, and the wall is being dismantled. If the wall is breached, the dead will invade Earthsea. Ged, once Archmage of Earthsea, sends Alder to King Lebannen. Now Alder and the king must join with a burned woman, a wizard of forbidden lore, and a being who is woman and dragon both, in an impossible quest to save Earthsea."

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Left Hand of Darkness
"A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants can change their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters. Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction."

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Justin Martin - R-Squared Comicz
Przemyslaw R. Dedelis - Artist/Letterer & Lya - Colorist
Light Weightz - The Anthology Part One - Graphic Novel (10+)
"Who are the Lightweightz?

"The Lightweightz are a group of teenagers who discover that they have unique abilities. A diverse group of individuals, they will each experience and deal with their abilities in different ways. Each of the abilities will be interpersonal in nature, and the comic will be based on Christian principles, principles that as people help us better relate to each other.

"The debut of R-Squared Comicz and the official launch of the Lightweightz universe has arrived! In the first part of this two-part anthology, meet Solomon, Grace, Abaddon, and Kayin. Coming from diverse backgrounds, each of these teens must come to terms with their newly-discovered abilities, and do so in a world that now looks different through the lense of those abilities. Featuring introductory stories for each of the Lightweightz plus additional artwork from a variety of talented artists, Lightweightz: The Anthology Part One has something for everyone!"

*Purchasing note: Upon purchase, you will be sent an e-mail with the link to download the comic in PDF format.

Cerece Rennie Murphy
Order of the Seers (Ages 18+)
"Order of the Seers poses this question within a story that fuses action, mystery, romance, and adventure in a science fiction novel that keeps you at the edge of your seat.

"Order of the Seers begins with the journey of Liam and Lilith Knight, a brother and sister who are hunted by The Guild, a ruthless world organization that seeks to capture and exploit Lilith’s unique ability as a Seer to envision the future. Soon after they are forced to leave their home, Lilith and Liam discover that she is not alone. Other Seers like Lilith are routinely kidnapped and enslaved by the Guild for the purpose of consolidating wealth and power around the world.

"But from within the organization, Marcus Akida, a captured Seer with powerful visioning capabilities, quietly plots his daring escape with the help of a beautiful and tortured Seer named Alessandra. When the escaped Seers are drawn to the same remote commune in Iowa as Liam and Lilith, they each find a place where they can rebuild their lives and rediscover their passion for life and love. As the Guild’s efforts to find them intensifies, the Seers ban together with outlaws from the commune to fight back against the organization that threatens their lives – setting off a chain of events that will unleash the full power of the Seers and change everything we know about the true potential that lies dormant in each of us." Due to strong language and some sexual content, the author has recommended this book for readers 18 and older.

Kindle edition
Text-to-Speech enabled

Andre Norton
Dragon Magic (Grades 4+ / Ages 10+)
"A Hidden Treasure
"Sig, Artie, Kim, and Ras live in the same neighborhood and go to the same school, but they have nothing in common…until each of them sneaks into the old abandoned house on the corner and discovers the strange puzzle box covered with pictures of four dragons. Drawn by powerful magic, the boys find themselves bound together by a mystery that will transform them all--and transport them into worlds that are populated by heroes and dragons of lore…." Note, for some reason the publisher decided that several Norton books with "Magic" in the title are part of a set. Except for Dragon Magic and Dragon Mage, these are stand-alone stories.

Dragon Mage Written with Jean Rabe (Grades 4+ / Ages 10+)
"Shy realizes that she is lucky to be taken in by her grandparents after her father dies–but life above an antique store in Slade’s Corners, Wisconsin is not exactly the place a teenage girl wants to be. One day while going through boxes of her father’s boyhood stuff, she comes upon a rare old set of dragon puzzles … all of which are missing pieces. Her grandmother recalls the fantastic tales Shy's father would tell about his travels to lands of dragons and adventure. She always thought that these fantasies were inspired by the puzzles Shy has found. Shy realizes that by mixing and matching the different sets she can complete a single dragon puzzle that combines all of the others. Upon doing so she is whisked away to ancient Babylon where she must continue the duties of her father’s legacy as a servant to the dragon and a savior of the world."

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Fur Magic (Grades 4+ / Ages 10+)
"Enter a world of ancient magic

"When his father is called to active duty in Vietnam, Cory Alder is sent to spend the summer with his adopted Native American uncle, Jasper. Accustomed to life in the city, Cory finds the reality of the ranch scary--every shadow is full of menace. But when an encounter with a medicine man catapults Cory into a world of Native American legend, conquering his fears becomes a matter of survival. Transformed into a beaver called Yellow Shell, Cory is now part of a war between the People, animals whose intelligence equals that of humans. In order to return home, Cory must help Yellow Shell and his allies defeat the Changer, who is attempting to enslave the People in this world--and in Cory's world as well. With two worlds hanging in the balance, Cory will have to use every ounce of courage and animal instinct within him to defeat this enemy . . ."

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The Solar Queen series: Sargasso of Space, Plague Ship, Voodoo Planet, Postmarked the Stars, Redline the Stars, Derelict for Trade, and A Mind for Trade (Ages 13+)
Note that Norton books are safe for all ages. No sex and violence only in the context of the story, her imaginative and glorious sci-fi/space operas and fantasy stories are classics in the genre.

The Solar Queen
Includes the first two volumes of the series: Sargasso of Space and Plague Ship. Dane Thorson, aka "Viking," joins the Free Trader ship, the Solar Queen, and its crew. With Captain Jellico, apprentices Ali (Arabic?) and Rip (Black), and the rest of a diverse crew, they blast off for adventure to Limbo -- a Sargasso of space. Plague Ship continues the Solar Queen saga, taking the ship to a newly discovered planet, Sargol, and trade with the cat-like Salarki. But something goes terribly wrong and it's up to the apprentices to solve the mystery and save the Solar Queen and her crew. (RDJ)

Voodoo Planet
The third book in the Solar Queen series, Voodoo Planet is set on a planet settled by African settlers who escaped Earth on a spaceship stolen from their captors. The evolution of their African culture and the adaptations to a new planet as well as a mystery of magic wound through a science fiction tale is fascinating. Voodoo Planet is bound with a second short novel, Star Hunter. (RDJ)

The Kindle edition of Voodoo Planet includes a random selection of 13 novels and short stories by Norton. Unfortunately, the selected books are in random order, including books from several different Norton series. Included are: The Gifts of Asti, All Cats are Gray, Key Out of Time, Plague Ship, Ralestone Luck, Star Born, Star Hunter, Storm Over Warlock, The Defiant Agents, The Time Traders, Voodoo Planet, Rebel Spurs, and Ride Proud, Rebel

Postmarked the Stars
The crew of the Solar Queen on a mail run, trying to mind their own business. When Dane nearly misses the ship and they find a dead stranger in his bunk, the new adventure begins. (RDJ)

Redline the Stars (written with P.M. Griffin)
This revisiting of the Solar Queen series adds the mysterious Rael Cofort, half sister to a competing Free Trader and only half human. Sensitive, smart and beautiful, can they trust her as they race to save the city of Canuche of Halios? (While this is a good book, it's not the same as the previous four, which were all written from Dane's point of view. I miss Norton's sure hand at exciting sci-fi/space opera.) (RDJ)

Derelict for Trade (written with Sherwood Smith)
The second new book in the continuing saga of the Solar Queen and her crew finds them on the outer edges of human civilization. Nearly running into a derelict ship when snapping out of transit, the Solar Queen has to solve the mystery of the ship while navagating the strange customs of aliens on a giant space habitat. Better than Redline the Stars, much of the book is told from either Dane or Rael's point of view. (RDJ)

A Mind for Trade (written with Sherwood Smith)
Continues the Solar Queen story. Blasting off to an uninhabited planet, there's plenty of adventure with pirates, marooned Free Traders and aliens fighting against a planet's extinction. Not really a Norton, but a pretty good read anyway. (RDJ)

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Kodai Okuda
The Stygian Conspiracy (Nexus Arcana) (Ages 15+)
This is hard sci-fi at its best. No long explanations of how it works and not a bit of magic betweeen the pages -- except for the magic of technology wielded by the young Space Marines and their leaders.

"Kabuto Tokugawa was no novice when it came to war. He'd fought through his fair share of conflicts in the past, but this one was different. It wasn't about nation against nation or conflicting ideologies. No, his keen instincts told him the secrets held by the alien ships found at Alpha Centauri were the impetus for this new struggle. So dangerous was the information that he was willing to do anything to keep it out of the wrong hands.

"Gideon Krieg didn't join the Earth Federal Space Marines to become a hero. He was not sure why he signed up. Maybe it was to impress the girl he was madly in love with, or maybe it was to prove to himself he was worth something. Deeper still, perhaps it was due to the woman that plagued his dreams...sometimes his nightmares. Whatever had drawn him into the war, it did not prepare him for the destiny that lay ahead.

"Alphonse Zhukov risked everything: his career, his position, his friends, even his life in order to free his people from the iron-fisted grip of the Solar Empire.

"Each man's intentions were different, but collectively their destinies were rapidly intertwining on a path that would change the course of human existence forever and invoke the wrath of The Stygian Conspiracy."

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Michel Prince
Chrysalis (Ages 15+)
"In the annals of dysfunctional families, the Chisholms are working their way to the top. Drug abuse, an unwed mother with multiple fathers, and the questionable cash flow for the 'pretty one'. All this from a seemingly normal, two parent, middle class family. But were the choices truly made of their free will?

"Bad choices are a Chisholm family trait, one that confounds the youngest child, Ellie, who's trying to separate herself by making smart decisions. And falling for Oscar Jeffreys, the hottest guy at school, would be number one on the list of Chisholm family disasters. Yet the crazy part is it's not a one-sided attraction. Somehow, Ellie has caught Oscar's eye. Sure, she could see the barriers between them. Race, age, popularity. They were at the opposite ends of the spectrum. But a demon set to destroy her family? She can't see that.

"Oscar provides security and acceptance Ellie never imagined she deserved. As the passion of first love grows, Ellie honestly believes she has a chance to beat the odds and live a happy, normal life. Then her world collapses around her. With the help of a guardian angel, Ellie learns of a world that has unknowingly surrounded her for years. And she'll have to find strength buried deep inside to sae not only her future, but flush out and stop the demon in her midst.

"And Ellie will have to learn that sometimes the hardest lesson about growing up is accepting that you're worth more." Mature themes and passionate scenes (but no sex) make this paranormal romance inappropriate for young teens.

The Beam
The sequel to Crystalis, due in October 2012
"When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.-Corinthians 13:11

"There comes a time in everyone’s life when they must put aside their childish ways. In the past year, Ellie Chisholm has fallen into the security of her relationship with Oscar Jeffreys, emerging with a stronger sense of self. For the first time, her mother has started to insert herself into Ellie’s life, treating her as if she were a child even though Ellie has begun to make very adult decisions for her future. Having finally consummated her relationship with Oscar she learns that the powers inside of her stretch further than vaporizing demons.

"Maria, the demon bent on revenge, has been reigned in by God. That doesn’t stop her from disrupting and threatening those around Ellie and Oscar. Ellie becomes off balance as Maria switches strategy to destroy Ellie from the outside. This causes the gauntlet to be thrown down. Ellie must now help her family achieve positive change and finally break the tie between her mother and Gaap or risk losing everyone she loves.

"Can Ellie maintain her sanity while walking the last steps as a child?"

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Esther Ruiz
Project Titans (Ages 12+)
"What if the world’s greatest conspiracy is that superheroes do exist?

"Three men and two women will discover a secret, kept from the world for decades: Project Titans, an international corporation designed to protect the world, select five men and women with supernatural abilities in order to train and send them to missions aimed to save the world from its greatest enemies.

"This time, they have been chosen."

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Proyecto Titanes. Cuando lo imposible sucede. (Spanish Edition) (Años 12+)
"La mente de Anouk se ha convertido en una amenaza: es un arma capaz de levantar objetos enormes sin que su dueña se lo impida; Etienne es capaz de recorrer ciudades en segundos, aún y cuando él no busque huir de nada; Olivia cree que el sentirse invisible se debe a su soledad…hasta que descubre que ciertamente desaparece en el aire; Kenji es capaz de controlar la temperatura de las cosas, pero no puede utilizar su habilidad para proteger a quien más ama, y Marco es incapaz de ser lastimado, a menos que le recuerden su pasado.

"Proyecto Titanes les ofrece una solución a sus problemas, pero ésta no vendrá gratis: a cambio, deberán entregar sus vidas para salvar al mundo."

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(In Spanish)

Lynnette Spratley
Memory's Child (Ages 18+)
I'm excited to introduce Lynnette Spratley's first novel, set in a distant future where the memory of history, science and the arts are carried by genetically-enhanced individuals, the Preservationists. They live in a dangerous world, peopled by the ignorant Myths who search for those who are "different" and brutally destroy the remnants of the old civilization. Note: Contains very mature themes including vengence, rape and murder.

"Shelana is a genius with a lot to learn. A descendant of genetically enhanced humans known as Preservationists, Shelana roams a landscape devoid of civilization in a world that long ago managed to advance itself right back to the Stone Age. Presers have only one lifetask: to pass on to their children the knowledge stored in their enhanced memories so that eventually, when mankind is ready to use it wisely, civilization may be restored. The tragedy that leaves Shelana on her own too soon also sets her on a second path that threatens to end her life before her lifetask is complete. To make matters worse, she faces a constant battle against prejudice directed not at race, religion or means, but at intelligence.
Fomenting and spreading this prejudice is the powerful, mysterious and bloodthirsty group known as Myths. Vernon, leader of the Myths, is determined to wipe out the Preservationists and control the redevelopment of civilization. Vernon has made one mistake that may ruin his plans and cost him his life, a mistake the Myth leader doesn't even remember he made. But Shelana does."

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Dom Testa
The Galahad series - The Comet's Curse, The Web of Titan, The Cassini Code, The Dark Zone, Cosmic Storm, and The Galahad Legacy (Grades 6+ / Ages 12+)
Originally self-published by the author, this wildly popular teen/young adult science fiction series is being republished by Tor Books. With a multi-racial, multi-cultural cast of characters, the surviving scientists race to send 251 teens into space before they get too old. An epidemic virus is killing everyone over the age of 18 and these teens are humanity's only hope. The story of their journey is amazing, sad, funny and gripping.

From the author's website,www.domtesta.com: "This is an award-winning book series about 251 extraordinary teenagers who must leave home in order to save the human race. They have only themselves to rely on -- no parents, no adults, no help of any kind."

The Comet's Curse
From Library Mix: "...super competent teenagers who are chosen to save humankind from extinction by voyaging into outer space when Earth becomes tainted with a deathly virus. As the young crew of spaceship Galahad departs Earth, they leave their families behind forever. While this is deeply sad if one takes time to ponder it, the characters in Comet’s Curse are far too busy doing their jobs and solving a dangerous mystery to let grief overwhelm them." Click here to read the rest of educator Alicia Rudnicki's review of The Comet's Curse.

The Web of Titan
From Library Mix: "Triana and crew have been in space for less than a year and are still adjusting to the loss of their families and recovering from a near collision with tragedy... As it zooms toward deep space in Web of Titan, the crew is worried about its mysterious, upcoming assignment to retrieve a 'transport pod' orbiting Saturn’s largest moon, Titan... Puzzlement becomes fear when a bizarre illness and other unusual occurrences begin to cripple Galahad." Please click here to read Alicia Rudnicki's full review of The Web of Titan.

The Cassini Code
"The teenage crew of Galahad has survived their first encounter with an alien race. Though shaken by the power of The Cassini, Triana and her Council are determined to continue their mission. But some of the crew don’t agree. Led by the charismatic Merit Simms, a small group of crew members begins lobbying for a return to Earth—just as the ship enters the Kuiper Belt, the deadly minefield of asteroids that surrounds the solar system. As Galahad dodges a storm of asteroids, Triana finds herself dealing with an increasingly hostile crew. Even some members of the Council are beginning to listen to Merit’s arguments. Can Triana find a way to prevent a mutiny aboard Galahad, and lead her crew to safety?"

The Dark Zone
"With the help of the mysterious alien force known as the Cassini, the teenage crew of Galahad has managed to navigate safely through the minefield of the Kuiper Belt. But just as they exit the Belt, they are confronted by their next challenge: a group of incredibly fast and maneuverable organisms waiting in their path—like vultures. With no way of knowing if the organisms are friends or foes, Triana and her Council decide to push forward, setting into motion a chain of events that will lead to the opening of a wormhole (a shortcut across space and time), and the first death aboard Galahad…."

Cosmic Storm
"Just a year into their mission, the crew of Galahad has endured a sabotage attempt, alien encounters, and a dangerous passage through an asteroid belt. Now, as unpredictable waves of radiation threaten the very survival of the ship, Council leader Triana has disappeared. Not knowing if she is alive or dead, the crew must hold an election to replace her. Council member Gap seems the most likely candidate—until an old flame shocks him by adding her name to the ballot. Does she want what’s best for the ship? Or are her motivations more personal? Facing threats both internal and external, Galahad and its crew must confront…a cosmic storm."

The Galahad Legacy
"The electrifying conclusion to the epic young adult science fiction series that began with The Comet’s Curse. Council leader Triana Martell has returned from her journey through the mysterious wormhole, but she isn’t alone. She is accompanied by the ambassador of an alien race—the Dollovit. While the Council and crew of Galahad struggle to come to terms with the existence of the Dollovit, the ship begins to flounder. The radiation shields threaten to fail, damaged by the appearance of multiple wormholes. The Dollovit have a proposal for the crew: an offer of assistance that could be their only hope for survival. But their offer comes with an astronomical price. Beset with doubts and surrounded by danger, can Triana and her crew find a way to reach their destination—a new home for the human race?"

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