If It Weren’t For Them: Heroes, On that Note: Music and Musicians, Guess Again: Mystery and Suspense!, Simply Science Fiction
Beals, Melba Pattillo. Warriors Don't Cry:A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High. Washington Square Press, 1994. 0-671-86639-7, $14.00. A heart wrenching account of the nine high school students who integrated Little Rock High School.
Bendis, Brian-Michael and Mark Bagley. Ultimate Spider-Man: Double Trouble. Marvel Comics, 2002. 0-7851-0879-3, $17.95. Peter Parker learns the hard way what it's like to be a hero.
Bradley and Ron Powers, James. Flags of Our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima. Bantam, 2001. 0-553-38029-X, $13.00. World War II brought them together; a photograph sealed their fate.
Cormier, Robert. Heroes. Random House - Laurel Leaf, 1998. 0-440-22769-0, $5.50. Seeking revenge on his boyhood idol, a young soldier returns from war and challenges what it means to be a hero.
Crisp, Terri. Out of Harm's Way: The Extraordinary True Story of One Woman's Lifelong Devotion to Animals. Simon & Schuster, 1997. 0-671-52278-7, $21.95. Driven to rescue animals from disaster, Terri Crisp has saved the lives of thousands.
Defede, Jim. The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland. HarperTrade, 2003. 0-06-055971-3, $12.95.A community as hero; 9/11 closed U.S. airspace and Gander hosted 6,000 stranded passengers.
Feiffer, Jules. The Great Comic Book Heroes. Fantagraphics Books, 2003. 1-56097-501-6, $8.95. A historical and loving look at the early days of comic books.
Garden, Nancy. Dove and Sword:A Novel of Joan of Arc. Scholastic, 1997. 0-590-92949-6, $4.99. Joan of Arc's story, told by her peace-loving friend Gabrielle.
Holdsclaw, with Jennifer Fry, Chamique. Chamique Holdsclaw: My Story. Simon & Schuster - Aladdin. 0-689-83592-2, $4.99. Holdsclaw's story of her struggles, strengths, and successes as a basketball star.
Holeman, Linda . Search of the Moon King's Daughter. Tundra Books , 2003. 0-88776-609-9, $9.95. When her younger brother is sold to become a chimney sweep, young Emmaline leaves her world behind to find him.
Kunkel, Mike. Herobear and the Kid: The Inheritance. Astonish Comics, 2003. 0-9721259-1-4, $19.95. A whimsically illustrated story of a little boy and his magically heoric stuffed bear.
McKinley, Robin. Hero and the Crown. Penguin Putnam, 2000. 0-14-130981-4, $6.99. Aerin's story is just beginning as she strives to become the hero who would claim the Blue Sword.
Moore, Christopher. Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. HarperPerennial, 2003. 0-380-81381-5, $13.95. A tongue and cheek account of Christ's teenage years.
Millar, Mark and Brian Hitch. The Ultimates:Super-Human. Marvel Comics, 2002. 0-7851-0960-9, $12.99. Hulk SMASH! Captain America kicks A$$!
Moon, Elizabeth. Once a Hero. Simon & Schuster - Baen Books. 0-671-87871-9, $7.99. Hero or mutineer? Esmay's courage is tested when the bloodhorde takes over her spaceship.
Robinson, James Tony Harris. Starman: Sins of the Father. DC Comics, 1996. 1-56389-248-0, $12.95. A very reluctant man takes on a mantle he never wanted.
Rottman, S. L. . Hero. Puffin, 200. 0-14-130701-3, $6.99. Doing community service gives Sean more than he bargained for…a hero.
Sakai, Stan Stan Sakai. Usagi Yojimbo: Duel at Kitanoji. Dark Horse Comics, 2003. 1-56971-973-X, $16.95. The lastest collected adventures of the lone samurai rabbit wandering feudal Japan.
Smith, Danny . Lost Hero:Raoul Wallenberg's Dramatic Quest to Save the Jews of Hungary. HarperCollins , 2001. 0-00-711117-7, $12.00. He saved the lives of 100,000 Jews, but he could not save his own.
Sutcliff, Rosemary. Tristan and Iseult. Farrar Strauss and Giroux, 1971. 0-374-47982-8, $5.95. This British hero tale mirrors the tragedy of an Arthurian love triangle. Heroic deeds do not always result in happiness.
Tingle, Rebecca. Edge on the Sword. Speak, 2003. 0-14-250058-5, $6.99. This exciting novel imagines the childhood of one of England's greatest warrior queens.
Ullman, James Ramsey. Banner in the Sky. HarperCollins - HarperTrophy, 1995. 0-06-447048-2, $5.99. A boy is determined to climb the mountain his father died trying to climb.
Van Essen, Editor, Thomas. In the Line of Duty: A Tribute to New York's Finest and Bravest. HarperCollins, 2001. 0-06-009363-3, $16.00. This poignant photoessay captures the moments of heroism during 9/11
Block, Francesca Lia. Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys. HarperCollins, 1993. 0-06-447095-4, $5.99. A mystic Native American imbues four friends with the courage to form an unusual punk band.
Brooks, Bruce. Midnight Hour Encores. HarperCollins, 2000. 0-06-447021-0, $6.99. A free spirited father uses music to explain the 60s and her absent mother to his cello prodigy daughter.
Eminem. Angry Blonde: The Official Book. HarperCollins, 2002. 0-06-093451-4, $14.95. Raunchy writings of a rap icon.
Farley, Christopher John. Aaliyah: More Than a Woman. Simon & Schuster Pocket Books, 2002. 0-7434-5566-5, $6.99. Biography of the beautiful young singer/actress who died tragically in a plane crash.
Gilbert, Barbara Snow. Broken Chords. Random House - Laureleaf, 2001. 0-440-22887-5, $5.50. What if you are not passionate about your talent?
Keillor, Garrison. Sandy Bottom Orchestra. Hyperion - Disney Press, 1998. 0-7868-1250-8, $5.95. Rachel lands a spot playing violin in her father's community orchestra.
Kennedy, Pagan. The Exes. Simon & Schuster, 1999. 0-684-85442-2, $14.00. The fights, friendships, and sex lives of an up-and-coming Boston band.
Newton, Suzanne. I Will Call It Georgie's Blues. Puffin, 1990. 0-440-94090-7, $5.99. Neal hides his desire for jazz from his Baptist minister father.
Nolan, Han. Born Blue. Harcourt, 2003. 0-15-204697-6, $6.95. In this edgy novel, throw away kid Janie uses the Blues and Black culture to survive life's horrors.
Novas, Himilce & Rosemary Silva. Remembering Selena: A Tribute in Pictures and Words. St. Martin's Press , 1995. 0-312-14160-2, $9.95. A bilingual picture biography of the life and tragic death of a beloved Tejano singer.
O'Connor, Barbara. Beethoven in Paradise. Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 1997. 0-374-40588-3, $4.95. Despite his demeaning father, Martin lives for music.
Paterson, Katherine. Come Sing Jimmy Jo. Penguin Putnam - Puffin, 1995. 0-14-037397-7, $5.99. Jimmy Jo has a rough time handling his fame when he starts to perform with his country-western singing family.
Powell, Randy. Tribute to Another Dead Rock Star. Sunburst, 2003. 0-374-47968-2, $5.95. A dead rock star's son struggles with family issues and living in his mother's shadow.
Thigpen, David E.. Jam Master Jay: The Heart of Hip-Hop. Pocket Star Books, 2003. 0-7434-7694-8, $6.99. Biography of the Run DMC DJ who introduced hip-hop to the world.
Thompson, Dave. Never Fade Away: The Kurt Cobain Story. St. Martin's Press, 1994. 0-312-95463-8, $5.99. At age 14, Kurt Cobain wrote, "I'm going to be a superstar musician, kill myself, and go out in a blaze of glory." And so he did.
Torres, J. and Scott Chantler. Days Like This. Oni Press 2003. 1-929998-48-1, $8.95. Graphic novel of three girl singers who are discovered at a school talent show.
Tucker, Lisa. The Song Reader. Simon & Schuster - Pocket Books, 2003. 0-7434-6445-1, $12.00. Mary Beth finds the meaning of the songs you can't get out of your head.
Tyler, Anne. A Slipping-Down Life. Ballantine Ivy Books, 1992. 0-8041-0886-2, $6.99. Shy, lonely, Evie becomes obsessed with a pop singer who scars her for life.
Van Meter, Jen, Christine Norrie and Chynna Clugston-Major. Hopeless Savages. Oni Press , 2002. 1-929998-24-4, $13.95. How can you be a rebel when your parents were punk rock's most vicious couple? Be normal!
Westbrook, Alonzo. Hip Hoptionary: The Dictionary of Hip Hop Terminology. Broadway Books - Harlem Moon, . 0-7679-0924-0, $12.95. A funny and brash guide to the latest slang.
Wieler, Diana. Drive. Groundwood , 2001. 0-88899-348-X, $5.95. A busker and his brother are forced to embark upon an impromptu concert tour to pay off a $5000 debt.
Wolff, Virginia Euwer. The Mozart Season. Scholastic , 1991. 0-439-16309-9, $4.99. A violin competition opens the world to a teenage girl.
Yolen, Jane. Boots and the Seven Leaguers. Harcourt Children's Books - Magic Carpet Books, 2003. 0-15-202563-4, $5.95. A rock and troll novel.
Avi. Wolf Rider: A Tale of Terror. Random House - Bantam, 1993. 0-553-57839-1, $5.00. A 15 year-old Andy tries to identify a telephone caller who claims he is a murderer.
Braun, Lillian Jackson. Cat Who Sniffed Glue. Penguin Putnam - Jove, 1989. 0-51-509954-6, $8.00. Quilleran, a retired newspaper reporter, and his Siamese cats sniff out the murderer of a rich banker and his wife.
Christie, Agatha. Death on the Nile. Penguin Putnam - Berkley Publishing Group, 1997. 0-42-517373-9, $6.00. A murderer on a cruise ship means the guilty party is still on board.
Cooney, Caroline B.. Wanted!. Scholastic, 1997. 0-590-98849-2, $8.00. Pursued by the police and her father's killer, Alice struggles to prove her innocence.
Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Great Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Penguin Putnam, 1991. 0-14-036689-X, $5.00. Short stories featuring the original sleuth.
Duncan, Lois. Who Killed My Daughter. Random House - Dell, 1994. 0-440-21342-8, $7.50. When fiction becomes reality: Lois Duncan's real life mystery.
Emert, Phyllis RaybinJael. Mysteries of People and Places: Strange Unsolved Mysteries. TOR Books, 2000. 0-606-11927-2, $7.00. Amazing stories from the past that still haunt us.
Giberga, Jane S.. Friends to Die For. Penguin Putnam - Puffin Books, 1999. 0-14-038599-1, $4.99. Murder has no economic boundaries.
Guy, Rosa. The Disappearance. Laurel-Leaf Books, 1979. 0-440-92064-7, $4.99. Acquittal doesn't mean freedom
Haddix, Margaret. Running Out of Time. Simon and Schuster - Aladdin, 1997. 0-689-81236-1, $4.99.Jessie is in a race against time after learning her whole life is a lie.
Hamilton, Virginia. The House of Dies Drear. Simon and Schuster - Aladdin, 1984. 0-02-043520-7, $4.99. The secrets of the Underground Railroad do not fade with time.
Holmes, Barbara Ware. Following Fake Man. Dell Yearling, 2001. 0-440-41855-0, $4.99. Life is a mystery to 12 year-old Homer.
Hoobler, Dorothy and Thomas. The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn. Penguin Putnam - Puffin Books, 1999. 0-698-11879-0, $5.99. Was it a ghost and did it steal the ruby?
Master's Choice, Volume II. Penguin Putnam - Berkeley Publishing Group Prime Crime, 2001. 0-42-518225-8, $7.50. Story collection of personal favorites by some of the top crime-fiction writers.
Nickerson, Sara. How to Disappear Completely & Never Be Found. HarperTrophy, 2003. 0-06-441027-7, $5.99. Margaret finds three clues she's convinced are related to unraveling her father's mysterious death; a key, a swimming medal, and an odd comic book.
Nixon, Joan Lowery. Name of the Game was Murder. Random House - Laurel-Leaf Books, 1994. 0-440-21916-7, $5.00. Everyone has a motive, and one is already dead.
Nixon, Joan Lowery. Whispers from the Dead. Random House - Laurel Leaf, 1991. 0-440-20809-2, $4.99. A tragic event links a young girl to a supernatural world and a murder.
Peretti, Frank. Hangman's Curse: Verita's Project #1. Tommy Nelson, 2002. 0-8499-7785-1, $8.99. Twin sleuths seek the truth surrounding mysterious deaths and a legendary school ghost.
Plum-Ucci, Carol. Body of Christopher Creed. Hyperion Books for Children, 2001. 0-7868-1641-4, $6.99. Did he run, was he kidnapped, or was he murdered?
Qualey, Marsha. Close to a Killer. Random House - Laurel Leaf, 2000. 0-440-22763-1, $4.99. Barrie discovers who's next at "killer looks" beauty salon.
Raskin, Ellen. The Westing Game. Penguin Putnam - Puffin, 1992. 0-14-038664-5, $12.00. Millionaire Westing is dead - 16 suspects, 1 killer.
Reiss, Kathryn. Paperquake: A Puzzle. Harcourt, 1998. 0-15-216782-X, $6.00. Time is of the essence.
Roberts, Willo Davis. Twisted Summer. Simon & Schuster - Aladdin, 1998. 0-689-80600-0, $4.99. Cici may be on the right track - will she live long enough to find out?
Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. Random House, 1998. 0-679-89264-8, $5.00. Sammy is not the only one with a secret to hide.
Wynne-Jones, Tim. The Boy in the Burning House. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000. 0-374-40887-4, $5.95. You can run from the past, but you can't escape the consequences.
Armstrong and Nancy and Jennifer Butcher. Fire-us #1:The Kindling. HarperCollins. 0-06-447273-6, $5.99. In 2007, a small band of kids struggle to survive in a world where all the adults and dead.
Bell, Hilari. A Matter of Profit. HarperCollins, 2003. 0-06-447300-7, $6.99. Battle-weary Ahvren arrives on a newly-conquered world only to find sinister plots unfolding.
Bujold, Lois McMaster. Warrior's Apprentice. Simon & Schuster - Baen Books, 1997. 0-671-72066-X, $4.50. Despite brittle bones and a dwarfish physique, Miles creates a galactic mercenary force that ends up changing everything.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. Random House - Ballantine, 1987. 0-345-34296-8, $6.99. In this futuristic society, reading is a crime and firefighters burn books.
Brin, David. Startide Rising. Bantam, 1983. 0-553-27418-X, $6.99. Pursued by an alien armada, a spaceship crewed by humans, dolphins and a chimp makes a discovery that shakes the universe.
Burgess, Melvin. Bloodtide. TOR Forge Books, 2002. 0-7653-4014-3, $6.99. Set in a violent, futuristic London ruled by ganglords and surrounded by halfmen, revenge is the rule.
Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Shadow. TOR Starscape, 1998. 0-7653-4240-5, $5.99. This companion novel to ‘Ender's Game’ retells the story from Bean's point of view.
Christopher, John. The White Mountains. Simon & Schuster, 1968. 0-02-042711-5, $4.99. A young boy must travel a great distance, seeking freedom from the ominous Tripods.
Clarke, Arthur. Childhood's End. Random House - Ballantine, 2001. 0-345-44405-1, $12.95. Our lives and beliefs are nothing like we could have ever imagined.
Engdahl, Sylvia Louis. Enchantress from the Stars. Penguin Putnam - Firebird, 1970 ?. 0-14-250037-2, $6.99. When Elana joins the service, she must confront the ethical dilemmas of less evolved planetary civilizations.
Gerrold, David. Jumping off the Planet. TOR Books, 2002. 0-7653-4360-6, $5.99. Chigger, Weird, and Stinky's vacation with their father turns ominous as they ride the elevator to the moon.
Gould, Steven. Wildside. TOR Books, 1996. 0-765-34246-4, $6.99. When Charlie inherits a ranch from his uncle, he discovers a concealed gate that leads to a parallel world where humans have never evolved.
Heinlein, Robert. Starship Troopers. Penguin Putnam - Ace Books, 1987. 0-441-78358-9, $6.99. Johnnie endures boot camp in space in preparation for the "Bug War."
Hoover, H. M.. Winds of Mars. Penguin Putnam - Viking, 1999. 0-14-038039-6, $4.99. Along with her robot servant, teenager Annalyn finds that life on Mars is more complicated than she thought.
Kishiro, Yukito. Battle Angel Alita, Volume 1. VIZ, LLC, 1994. 1-56931-003-3, 2nd edition: ISBN: 1-56931-945-6, $16.95. A nameless robot girl finds comfort in the arms of a warrior hunter in this first volume of a manga series.
Lasky, Kathryn. Star Split. Hyperion, 2001. 0-7868-1568-X, $5.99. Darci wonders, "What's the point of living when your entire future is pre-programmed into your DNA?"
Lassiter, Rhiannon. Hex. Simon & Schuster - Archway Paperback, 2001. 0-7434-2211-2, $4.99. Raven, a computer hacker with a mutant mind, must evade a powerful government agency seeking to destroy her.
Lowachee, Karin. Warchild. Warner Books - Aspect, 2002. 0-446-61077-1, $6.99. Jos becomes a spy for an alien race at war with humanity.
Nix, Garth. Shade's Children. HarperCollins - HarperTrophy, 1997. 0-06-447196-9, $6.99. Children are "harvested" for their brains and muscles on their 14th birthday. A lucky few escape to the mysterious Shade.
Price, Susan. The Sterkarm Handshake. HarperCollins - Eos, 2000. 0-06-447236-1, $6.99. Scientists build a time tunnel to the past in order to exploit natural resources, but do they underestimate the treacherous, war-like border tribe?
Sheffield, Charles. Higher Education: A Jupiter Novel. TOR, 1997. 0-8125-3890-0, $5.99. After getting expelled from school, Rick faces a dead-end future until he joins asteroid mining training and finds great challenge and danger.
Skurzynski, Gloria. Virtual War. Simon & Schuster - Aladdin paperbacks, 1999. 0-689-82425-4, $4.50. Corgan, a genetically engineered soldier, is ready to fight the virtual war that will decide ownership of the only habitable lands on earth.
Tenapel, Douglas. Creature Tech. Top Shelf Productions , 2002. 1-891830-34-1, $14.95. A Scientist finds that a zombie doctor wants the Shroud of Turin for his nerfarious plot of eternal life.
Willis, Connie. The Doomsday Book. Random House - Bantam, 1993. 0-553-56273-8, $7.50. Did the black plague start in the past, or was it taken back from the future?
Yukimura, Makoto. Planetes, Vol. 1. Tokyopop , 2003. 1-59182-262-9, $9.99. Somebody has to clean up all the space junk.