2004 TAB Picks : Libraries : Arlington, Virginia

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Libraries

2004 TAB Picks

Gunston Middle School

Hilari Bell The Goblin Wood Despite their differences, a young hedgewitch and an idealistic knight - with the help of an army of clever goblins - fight against the ruling hierarchy that is trying to rid the land of all magical creatures.

Ann Brashares The Second Summer of the Sisterhood Bridget, Lena, Carmen, and Tibby - four friends who make up the Sisterhood - live, love, and learn as they take turns wearing a near-magical pair of jeans throughout their 16th summer.

N.M. Browne Warriors of Alavna History, mystery, fantasy and action intermingle as Dan and Ursula travel almost 2000 years from modern Britain to a time when Celtic tribes battled the bloodthirsty Roman invaders.

Jeanne DuPrau The City of Ember Built to save the human race, the underground city of Ember is now plagued by flickering lights and dwindling supplies. Lina and her friend Doon are left to discover the long-forgotten means of escape in order to save the people.

david lubar Wizards of the Game Mercer loves role-playing fantasy games, and the best one of all is "Wizards of the Warrior World." Meeting four real wizards and helping them back to their own world isn't as much fun as the game.

martine murray The Slightly True story of cedar b. hartley: who planned to live an unusual life When 12-year-old Cedar loses her dog, a chain of events leads her to find a new friend, become an acrobat, and learn some bitter-sweet truths about family, community, and herself.

christopher paolini eragon In Aagaesia, a 15-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.

tamora pierce Trickster's choice Alianne must call forth her mother's courage and her father's wit in order to survive on the Copper Isles in a royal court rife with political intrigue and murderous conspiracy.

j.k. Rowling harry potter and the order of the phoenix Fifteen-year-old Harry is in full-blown adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of a sense of rebellion. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief - or will it?

vivian vande velde heir apparent While playing a total immersion virtual reality game, 14-year-old Giannine realizes that the equipment to which she is connected is damaged, and she must either win the game quickly or die.

Jefferson Middle School

Ann Brashares the second summer of the sisterhood A second installment of the magical traveling thrift store jeans and the four girls who face intense personal journeys during a summer that leads to self-discovery and unwavering friendship.

Herbie Brennan Faerie Wars Henry finds himself caught between two worlds when he becomes involved with the politics of intrigue of the faerie world while dealing with his parents' breakup in his own world.

kate diCamillo the tale of desperaux Despereaux Tilling is not like other mice. He has enormous ears, likes to read books, and falls in love with a human princess.

jeanne duPrau the city of ember In a post-apocalypse city on the verge of collapse, 12-year-olds Lina and Doon join forces to flee to an unknown world above ground.

cornelia funke inkheart When Meggie's father reads aloud the characters come to life in this magical adventure filled with evil ambition, daring escapes, and secrets revealed.

anthony horowitz skeleton key Reluctant teenage-spy Alex Rider gets caught up in Chinese gangs, illegal nuclear weapons, and the suspect plans of his host, General Sarov.

david lubar flip Twins and complete opposites, eighth-graders Ryan and Taylor discover magical disks that allow them to become any character from the past.

wendy mass a mango-Shaped space Afraid that she is crazy, 13-year-old Mia, who sees a special color with every letter, number, and sound, keeps this a secret until she becomes overwhelmed by school, changing relationships, and the loss of something important to her.

nancy osa cuba 15 Violet Paz, daughter of a Cuban father and a Polish mother, turns 15 and resists her family's plans for a quinceañero, the traditional Latina celebration of womanhood. She relents, ultimately learning an appreciation for her heritage.

christopher paolini Eragon The mysterious blue stone Eragon finds turns out to be a dragon egg. After it hatches he bonds with the dragon, Saphira, and finds himself pitted against the evil King Galbatorix.

jonathan stroud the amulet of samarkand: the bartimaeus trilogy, book one Nathaniel, a magician's apprentice, summons up the djinni Bartimaeus and instructs him to steal the Amulet of Samarkand from the powerful magician Simon Lovelace.

patricia wrede & caroline stevermer Sorcery & Cecelia or the enchanted chocolate pot In 1817 England, two young cousins, Cecilia living in the country and Kate in London, write letters to keep each other informed of their exploits, which take a sinister turn when they find themselves confronted by evil wizards.

Kenmore Middle School

l.G. bass outlaws of moonshadow marsh: sign of the qin, book one Branded with the sign of the outlaw, will Prince Zong fulfill his destiny to save the world from destruction at the hand of Yamu, god of death? Or, will his own father assassinate him before he can unlock the kung fu secrets of the Twelve Scrolls?

ann brasharas the second summer of the sisterhood A second installment of the magical traveling thrift store jeans and the four girls who face intense personal journeys during a summer that leads to self-discovery and unwavering friendship.

libba bray a great and terrible beauty After her mother’s violent death in India, 16-year-old Gemma is sent to finishing school in England. There she uncovers the secrets behind her puzzling visions in a mysterious tale of gothic intrigue.

herbie brennan faerie wars Henry finds himself caught between two worlds when he becomes involved with the political intrigue of the faerie world while dealing with his parents’ breakup in his own world.

eoin colfer artemis fowl: the arctic incident Can Artemis rescue his father who may have been kidnapped by the Russian Mafia? Not without the high-tech fairy magic of his archenemy Captain Holly Short, who needs Artemis' help to fight off the goblins.

jeanne duPrau The city of ember Built to save the human race, the underground city of Ember is now plagued by flickering lights and dwindling supplies. Lina and her friend Doon are left to discover the long-forgotten means of escape in order to save the people.

cornelia funke Inkheart When Meggie’s father reads aloud the characters come to life in this magical adventure filled with evil ambition, daring escapes, and secrets revealed.

kevin henkes olive's ocean Twelve-year-old Martha spends the summer at her grandmother's ocean home pondering her first love, her grandmother's declining health, and the death of a classmate who had more in common with Martha than she ever realized.

Tamora Pierce Trickster's Choice Unable to rely on her skills in magic and weaponry, Alianne must learn to survive after she is sold into slavery and is chosen by the trickster god, Kyprioth, to protect the noble family of Balitangs.

jane yolen Sword of the rightful king The story of King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone is told here with magic, adventure, intrigue, and a surprising twist.

Swanson Middle School

hilari bell the goblin wood Despite their differences, a young hedgewitch and an idealistic knight - with the help of an army of clever goblins - fight against the ruling hierarchy that is trying to rid the land of all magical creatures.

kimberly brubaker bradley for freedom: the story of a french spy Despite the horrors of World War II, a French teenager pursues her dream of becoming an opera singer, which takes her to places where she gains information about what the Nazis are doing - information that the French Resistance needs.

ann brashares The Second summer of the sisterhood As they embark on their 16th summer, the adventures continue for Carmen, Bridget, Tibby, and Lena, those sisters of the traveling pants.

herbie brennan faerie wars Henry finds himself caught between two worlds when he becomes involved with the political intrigue of the faerie world while dealing with his parents’ breakup in his own world.

caroline cooney burning up Fifteen-year-old Macey Clare delves into a long hidden mystery and uncovers the secret behind the 1959 arson at a local barn. Can she stand alone and take responsibility for the present while uncovering the past?

jeanne duPrau the city of ember Built to save the human race, the underground city of Ember is now plagued by flickering lights and dwindling supplies. Lina and her friend Doon are left to discover the long-forgotten means of escape in order to save the people.

cornelia funke inkheart Meggie uncovers the tragic gift that her father possesses when she falls into the clutches of Capricorn, an evil character literally brought to life from the pages of a novel.

alice hoffman green angel In this allegorical tale, Green falls into moody introspection when her family disappears in an apocalyptic rain of fire, only to reconnect with the world when a dog and a mute boy enter her life.

angela johnson the first part last Bobby's carefree teenage life changes forever when he becomes a father and must care for his adored baby daughter.

jonathan stroud the amulet of samerkand: the bartimaeus trology, book one Nathaniel, a magician's apprentice, summons up the djinni Bartimaeus and instructs him to steal the Amulet of Samarkand from the powerful magician Simon Lovelace.

j.R.R. Tolkien the hobbit Bilbo Baggins finds his comfortable existence in the Shires turned upside down when Gandalf the Grey recruits him for a daring adventure.

Williamsburg Middle School

clive barker arabat Candy Quackenbush of Chickentown, Minnesota, one day finds herself on the edge of a foreign world that is populated by strange creatures, and her life is forever changed.

rachel cohn the steps Over Christmas vacation, Annabel goes from her home in Manhattan to Sydney, Australia, to visit her father, his new wife, and her half- and step-siblings.

kate diCamillo the tale of despereaux The story of a small mouse with unusual gifts, the princess he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.

cornelia funke inkheart When Meggie's father reads aloud the characters come to life in this magical adventure filled with evil ambition, daring escapes, and secrets revealed.

kimberly willis holt keeper of the night Isabel, a 13-year-old girl living on the island of Guam, and her family try to cope with the death of Isabel's mother who committed suicide.

christopher paolini eragon In Aagaesia, a 15-year-old boy named Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.

tamora pierce trickster's choice RUnable to rely on her skills in magic and weaponry, Alianne must learn to survive after she is sold into slavery and is chosen by the trickster god, Kyprioth, to protect the noble family of Balitangs.

j.K. Rowling harry potter and the order of the phoenix When the government of the magic world and authorities at Hogwarts School refuse to believe in the growing threat of a freshly revived Lord Voldemort, 15-year-old Harry finds support from his loyal friends in facing the evil wizard.

michael simmons pool boy When his father is arrested for insider trading and his family loses all their money, Brett Gerson takes a job as an assistant to a 70-something pool cleaner in his former wealthy California neighborhood and learns some valuable life lessons.

wendelin van draanen flipped In alternating chapters, two teenagers describe how their feelings about themselves, each other, and their families have changed over the years.

H. B. Woodlawn

hilari bell the goblin wood Despite their differences, a young hedgewitch and an idealistic knight - with the help of an army of clever goblins - fight against the ruling hierarchy that is trying to rid the land of all magical creatures.

jeanne DuPrau the city of ember The underground city of Ember is plagued by flickering lights and dwindling supplies. Lina and her friend Doon are left to discover a long-forgotten means of escape in order to save the people.

kate diCamillo the tale of despereaux The adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.

ann downer hatching magic When a 13th-century wizard confronts 21st-century Boston while seeking his pet dragon, he is followed by a rival wizard and a very unhappy demon. Eleven-year-old Theodora Oglethorpe may hold the secret to setting everything right.

cornelia funke inkheart When Meggie’s father reads aloud the characters come to life in this magical adventure filled with evil ambition, daring escapes, and secrets revealed.

diana wynne jones the merlin conspiracy Roddy, Grundo and Nick must master their magical talents before the balance of magic is disrupted with catastrophic results.

david lubar flip Twins and complete opposites, eighth-graders Ryan and Taylor discover magical disks that allow them to become any character from the past.

garth nix abhorsen Lirael and Sam, along with the Disreputable Dog and Mogget, race against time to defeat the Destroyer that has been freed and is waiting to escape its final barrier.

christopher paolini eragon The mysterious blue stone Eragon finds turns out to be a dragon egg. After it hatches he bonds with the dragon, Saphira, and finds himself pitted against the evil King Galbatorix.

tamora pierce trickster's choice Alianne, daughter of the Lioness, finds fate has much in store for her when she is kidnapped and sold into slavery.

terry pratchett the wee free men The tiny, wild, blue Nac Mac Feegle help Tiffany rescue her little brother, kidnapped by the Queen of the Elves and spirited off to her dream world.

vivian vande velde heir apparent While playing a total immersion virtual reality game, Giannine finds the stakes have been raised when the equipment is damaged. Now she must win or die.

HILT

fran arrick what you don't know can kill you Ellen just graduated from high school and has a perfect life until she discovers she is HIV positive. Now her nightmare begins.

caroline b. Cooney whatever happened to janie This sequel to "The Face on the Milk Carton" continues the story of Janie as she comes to live with her birth family and is faced with many challenges.

margaret peterson haddix just ella A different Cinderella story. Without magic, Ella marries her prince. But can she live happily ever after in the castle?

victor hugo; adapted by monica Kulling les miserables Escaped convict Jean Valjean risks his freedom to take care of orphaned Cossette during the French Revolution.

joan lowery nixon search for the shadow man Andy Bonner wants to solve the mystery surrounding a distant relative who was accused of stealing the family fortune.

mark pfetzer within reach: My everest Story The author spent his teenage years climbing mountains around the world. This exciting true story focuses on Mount Everest.

robert d. san souci short and shivery: Thirty Chilling tales A collection of 30 short and spooky tales from many parts of the world, including the story of The Cegua, a Costa Rican folk tale.

gloria whelan homeless bird When 13-year-old Koly enters into an ill-fated arranged marriage, she must decide whether to obey dictated cultural tradition or find the courage to oppose it.

jacqueline woodson the dear one When the pregnant young daughter of an old friend of her mother's comes to stay with her family, Feni has to make adjustments she doesn't like.

paul zindel the square root of murder When a professor is murdered in the math department of Columbia University, P.C. and Mackenzie discover that almost everyone had a motive.

HS TAB

jennifer donnelly a northern light The skillful interweaving of the stories of two young women – a drowning victim and an aspiring writer – presents a vivid, verbal portrait of a woman's life in 1906; "a unique way to tell a story." Based on a true story.

helen fielding bridget jones's diary A hilarious year in the life of a 30-something, obsessive, irreverent single woman bent on self-improvement and a steady boyfriend; "you can't read it and not laugh."

frank herbert dune The first and most famous book in a sweeping science fiction series that chronicles an interstellar power struggle; "lots of philosophy about power and its corruption."

robert jordan wheel of time series A monumental, epic fantasy that unfolds slowly in 10 books, with more to come. A classic crusade of good against evil. "Addictive."

stephen king the green mile A new prisoner on death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary challenges a jaded guard's convictions; "great plot, great narrator."

bentley little the collection Thirty-two chilling stories for horror fans, from the droll to the disturbing; "funny and gruesome at the same time." Not for the faint-of-heart.

christopher moore lamb: the gospel according to biff, christ's childhood pal An adult, satiric version of Christ's life that will not appeal to all readers. Fans find it "funny and irreverent."

garth nix shade's children In a grim, dangerous, futuristic world, a child's 14th birthday is his last. "A great blend of science fiction and mystery, a puzzle to fit together."

christopher paolini eragon A farm boy finds a beautiful blue egg that hatches into a dragon in this epic fantasy written by a teen.

tamora pierce trickster's choice In this first book of a new saga, Alianne, daughter of Alanna the Lioness, is chosen by a trickster god to be his servant; Ali is a "much more interesting character than her mother."

michael shaara the killer angels A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles, as seen through the eyes of the commanding officers involved; “people and tactics are equally interesting.”

j.R.R. Tolkien the return of the king The third book and stirring conclusion of The Lord of the Rings fantasy trilogy; “astounding in its detail.”


SOAR

Quincy Howe Action on the Cape Two high school boys from New York City go to Cape Cod, where life is not as quiet as they thought it would be!

Quincy Howe broken chains Julio is interested in beautiful Vanessa. Her little brother Hector is heading for trouble. Can Julio steer Hector away from his gang?

Quincy Howe looking for trouble Hi-C looks forward to the "action" of New York City.

Quincy Howe wheels of danger Vesey finds himself caught between the worlds of his two best friends.

Tana Reiff The rip-Offs Wendy enjoys her job, but she doesn't like learning about her co-workers.

eleanor robins The best week ever Deb, a high school student, has to make decisions about school and love.

gloria whelan homeless bird Koly had to leave her family at the age of 13 and marry someone she had never met.

jacqueline woodson if you come softly Jeremiah and Ellie are very happy as a couple, but some people don't think they should be together.

jacqueline woodson miracle's boys Three brothers deal with family problems in very different ways. Will they ever be close again?