THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD by J.K. Rowling (Fantasy/Short Stories)
Loved the Harry Potter series, did you? Then read the five magical stories that Hermione herself translated from the ancient runes. For centuries, Beedle’s stories have been read to little wizards and witches as they ready themselves for bed. For you Potter aficionados out there, you now know that Beedle’s stories are more than that. Sure, they work as bedtime stories, but they hold in them a legendary power. How else could they have held so many secrets for Harry, Ron and Hermione? Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens. » Click Here

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS OF 2008
As 2008 comes to a close, we invite you to take a look at the author interviews that were featured throughout the year on Teenreads.com. This is a great way to catch up on the discussions you may have missed --- and to re-read what some of your favorite authors had to say about their books. » Click here

Nominate Your Favorite Books of 2008 for the Children's Book Council's Teen Choice Book Award!
In association with the Children’s Book Council (CBC), Teenreads.com is giving you a very special opportunity to let your voices be heard by telling us your five favorite books of 2008. The five titles that receive the most “votes” will serve as the finalists for the CBC’s 2009 Teen Choice Book Award. Later we will tell you where you can go vote for them once the five finalists have been announced. The winner will be announced in May 2009.

» Click here for all the details.

One of our goals each month is to inspire you to read --- and to keep reading. We have found that required reading lists for school --- especially summer reading lists --- are not exactly inspiring. Thus we have created what we think is the Ultimate Teen Reading List --- more than 300 titles that we believe are perfect choices for reading and discussing. Our dream is that schools will use this list to help them make their own for summer reading or, even better, suggest that students just read what they want from this list.

November and December’s roundup of Cool New Books includes PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY, a thrilling tale of love, loyalty and illusion from the bestselling author of the Kiesha’ra series, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes; LOVE IS HELL, a collection of supernatural stories courtesy of Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin and Laurie Faria Stolarz; LILY DALE: CONNECTING, the third installment in Wendy Corsi Staub’s paranormal suspense series, in which Calla finally uncovers the mystery behind her mother’s death; HERE LIES ARTHUR, Philip Reeve’s retelling of the legend of King Arthur, who is portrayed as the leader of a ragtag war band; DEATH’S SHADOW, book seven in The Demonata horror series by Cirque du Freak author Darren Shan; and THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD, a collection of five fairy tales courtesy of J.K. Rowling that gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter. » Click here

November and December’s roundup of New in Paperback titles includes THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF DANIEL X, James Patterson's sci-fi adventure about a boy who uses his unique gifts to hunt down the killer who brutally murdered his parents; WYVERNHAIL, the fifth and final installment in Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’s The Kiesha’ra series, in which readers find out what happens after Princess Oliza abdicates the throne of Wyvern’s Court; UNBELIEVABLE, book four in Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars series that marks a return to the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania; COVER-UP, a John Feinstein mystery that finds Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson sitting on the biggest sports scandal of the decade; RIGHT BEHIND YOU by Gail Giles, a psychologically complex novel in which a boy learns that sometimes your own past can be the scariest thing of all; and THE NIGHT MY SISTER WENT MISSING, a suspenseful mystery from Carol Plum-Ucci involving a summer night, a group of teens --- and a loaded gun. » Click here

THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION, VOLUME II: THE KINGDOM ON THE WAVES by M. T. Anderson (Historical Fiction)
In this second volume of M. T. Anderson's historical epic, Octavian flees from the College of Lucidity, where he has been raised in isolation, to the British-occupied city of Boston. He enlists with Lord Dunmore’s Royal Ethiopian Regiment on the promise that he will earn his freedom from slavery if he fights for the Crown. Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood and excerpted.

HERE LIES ARTHUR by Philip Reeve (Fiction/Action & Adventure)
Gwyna is servant to Myrddin, bard to the young and brutal warlord Arthur. Exchanging her service for Myrddin's protection, Gwyna witnesses Arthur's rise to power. HERE LIES ARTHUR is a record of her role in the events that one day will become legend. Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood.

PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (Fantasy)
In times of stress, Erin Misrahe has always been overcome by her alter ego, Shevaun, whose violent behavior wreaks havoc on those around her. Erin can never remember anything about these episodes and is grateful to have been spared them for a while. But when a protective friend comes back into her life, he insists that Shevaun is a vampire who actually exists apart from Erin. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

LOVE IS HELL by Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin and Laurie Faria Stolarz (Supernatural Fiction Anthology)
In these supernatural stories by Melissa Marr (WICKED LOVELY), Scott Westerfeld (SPECIALS), Justine Larbalestier (MAGIC OR MADNESS), Gabrielle Zevin (ELSEWHERE) and Laurie Faria Stolarz (BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES), love may be twisted and turned around, but it's more potent than ever on its quest to conquer all. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

LET IT SNOW: Three Holiday Stories, by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle (Romance/Humor)
When one thinks of Christmas, images of sparkling snowfalls, traditional family dinners and children dreaming of the shiny presents that Santa might bring probably come to mind. Today’s holiday season, however, is sometimes more stressful than joyful. Fortunately, reading LET IT SNOW, a collection of interconnecting Christmas-themed stories, is one such stress-reducer. Reviewed Sarah Sawtelle.

LILY DALE: CONNECTING by Wendy Corsi Staub (Paranormal Suspense)
Now that Calla has accepted her ability to communicate with the Other Side, she’s desperate to connect with the one spirit whose energy she can’t seem to feel anywhere: her late mother. As ominous supernatural signs imply that the devastating loss might not have been an accident, Calla sets out to uncover the truth. Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle.

DEATH’S SHADOW: The Demonata #7, by Darren Shan (Horror/Supernatural)
With Beranabus, Grubbs and Kernel off exploring the universe of the Demonata for clues about the Shadow behind the demon invasion, Bec is left behind in Carcery Vale for safekeeping. But with Dervish's health on the decline, Lord Loss knows she's the most vulnerable piece of the Kah-Gash. As hoards of demons, werewolves and zombies advance, Bec needs to figure out how to reach Beranabus with crucial information about the Shadow-fast. Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.

WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER by Sally Nicholls (Fiction)
Eleven-year-old Sam McQueen has leukemia and sadly won’t live to see his 12th birthday. WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER is his story: his hopes, his dreams, his goals, his questions and his thoughts on life. Come and share this profoundly moving debut novel, become Sam’s friend and carry part of him in your heart forever. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

CRICKET MAN by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Fiction)
Kenny Sykes is determined to make his mark somehow in his new town and his new school. In the meantime, he has appointed himself the secret savior of the hundreds of crickets who seem bound to commit suicide by jumping into his pool. He is not entirely sure why he wants to save them. But once school starts again, Cricket Man finds that there are more important things that need saving. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

THE GHOST'S CHILD by Sonya Hartnett (Fiction)
Maddy arrives home one day to find a peculiar boy waiting for her. She tells him the story of her life long ago, when she fell painfully in love with a free spirit named Feather. He put aside his wild ways to live with her in a little cottage, conceived with her a child never to be born, and disappeared --- leaving an inconsolable Maddy to follow after him on a fantastical journey across the sea. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.

BABYLONNE by Catherine Jinks (Historical Fiction)
Sixteen-year-old Babylonne, an orphan, lives in the 13th century with her abusive aunt and grandmother. When they start planning to marry her off to an old man, Babylonne chops off her hair and runs away, disguised as a young boy. She longs to join the noble knights and assist them with their mighty quests. But then she actually gets what she wished for. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

THE LETTER WRITER by Ann Rinaldi (Historical Fiction)
Nat Turner was a slave who led the largest slave rebellion in the South beginning on August 21, 1831. When finished, at least 55 people were slaughtered. The mystery is that before this occurred, he was known as a Preacher of God’s Word among the area slaves. Ann Rinaldi brings the man and the surrounding events to vivid life from the point of view of 11-year-old Harriet Whitehead. Reviewed by Amy Alessio.

PLAY ME by Laura Ruby (Fiction)
Eddy knows how to play the game. Not only does he have a hit online TV show, but in the game of love Eddy knows all the tricks and who will play with him. The girls who know he doesn't make any promises. The girls who are cool with it. But as graduation looms, everything starts deviating from Eddy's master script. Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.

DOWN SAND MOUNTAIN by Steve Watkins (Fiction)
Twelve-year-old Dewey Turner is giving life a go in 1966 Florida. Though he hasn’t had the best of luck with popularity, Dewey is positive it will get better when he starts at the junior/senior high school. But it doesn’t. In fact, it gets worse. Dewey muddles through the confusion of racial rights, the Vietnam War, death, growing up, morality and even a haunted hotel while trying to figure out himself. Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman.

UNSETTLED: The Problem of Loving Israel, by Marc Aronson (History)
Marc Aronson's new book explores the history of Israel, from the beginning of the Zionist movement to the birth of Israel as a state in 1948 to the intense conflicts over Israel, the Palestinians and the Jewish settlements of today. Along the way Aronson intersperses stories from his own family's long experiences in Israel. Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez.

Welcome to Teenreads.com's Japanese manga section! Japanese manga, or Japanese print comics, are fast becoming the most popular comics for teens. Full of wacky humor, intense action, blossoming romance and true observations on everyday life, manga covers every kind of genre and taste. Manga tells their stories in their own unique combination of text, images and symbols (half the fun is figuring it all out). Aside from the stereotypical giant robots and cute schoolgirls, you'll find everyone from stealth government agents to spacy classical musicians to historical legends brought to life in these titles.

The reviews we're posting are courtesy of the graphic novel review website for teens No Flying No Tights. We update this feature every month with new manga reviews, so be sure to check back to see what's new!

BOUND BEAUTY, Volume 1 by Mick Takeuchi
Chiyako can see the mythical connection known as the red string of fate, the invisible thread that ties each person to the one they're destined to love. When she is told by a stranger that she had better stop using her vision or pay the price, she is not about to back down. Reviewed by Robin Brenner.

MUHYO & ROJI’S BUREAU OF SUPERNATURAL INVESTIGATION, Volumes 1 and 2 by Yoshiyuki Nishi
Muhyo is an Executor, the highest ranking practitioner of paranormal law, and the youngest one at that. Roji is his assistant, a mere second clerk, who helps run their business. Together the two can help anyone out with their supernatural problems --- from a girl who is killing people on a subway platform to a haunted piece of furniture. Reviewed by Snow Wildsmith.

TWO FLOWERS FOR THE DRAGON, Volumes 1 and 2 by Nari Kusakawa
Shakuya is next in line to rule her desert country, she is the descendent of a dragon and tends to turn into one when she gets riled, and her long-lost fiancé has just returned from the dead. The fiancé part wouldn't be so bad, except that when he disappeared, she got another fiancé. Now she has two. Reviewed by Eva Volin.

THE LONGEST TRIP HOME: A Memoir, by John Grogan (Memoir)
Long before Marley entered John Grogan's life, the Catholic Church was the center of his parents' lives. They expected the same from him. But when John realizes he's a skeptic, this knowledge tears a rift in the family. That chasm adds thought-provoking layers to this poignant love letter to his mom and dad, detailing the author's often hilarious upbringing, the sorrow he feels as his parents decline, and his love for them. Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon and excerpted.

GRACE by Richard Paul Evans (Fiction)
Fourteen-year-old Eric Welch, with some help from his younger brother, hides a runaway girl named Grace in the clubhouse in their backyard for two months. In due time Grace’s secret is revealed, and Eric grows up all too quickly while trying to protect her. Reviewed by Carole Turner.

SONGS FOR THE MISSING by Stewart O'Nan (Fiction)
It was the summer of her Chevette, of J.P. and letting her hair grow. It was also the summer when, without warning, popular high school student Kim Larsen disappeared from her small midwestern town. Her loving parents, her introverted sister, her friends and boyfriend must now do everything they can to find her. Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman.

G. P. Taylor
G. P. Taylor, bestselling author of SHADOWMANCER and WORMWOOD, recently published THE FIRST ESCAPE, book one of The Dopple Ganger Chronicles. In this interview with Teenreads.com's Michele Howe, Taylor discusses what inspired him to create the book in a new format called the "illustra-novella" --- a combination of graphic novels and illustrated plain text --- and explains the real-life influences behind the main characters. He also describes where he sees the series going in future installments and shares what he hopes young readers will take away from his work.

Thinking about starting a Book Club? Trying to find new ideas for your Club? Wondering what the heck a Book Club is? Never fear, Teenreads has all the answers to your Book Club questions, and some guides to help you lead a good discussion with your friends. Book Clubs are easy to start and lot of fun, so if you love books, this is for you!

» Click here for more

• November: What book did you love so much that you would want to give multiple copies of it this holiday season?
  
  
• October: Twilight, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist are just a few of the movies based on books that are out in theaters this season. Name up to three of your favorite books that you would like to see turned into movies and who you might want to see cast in the main roles.
  
  
• October: If you could recommend up to five books that you think your fellow teen readers should check out during (and even after) Teen Read Week, what would they be?
  
  
• Click here for more past questions of the month.
  
  

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