by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson. Graphic Novel. 

Barb is a Berzerker, one of a group of warriors sworn to protect the land of Bailiwick from the scourge of monsters that plagues it. But the fearsome crew seem to have met their match in the nefarious Witch Head. Using power from his magical sword, he tricked the Zerks and took them captive. Only Barb was able to escape—and she took Witch Head’s Shadow Blade with her. Now it’s up to Barb to free her fellow warriors so they can stop Witch Head from taking over Bailiwick!

Ms. Mayes Reads the First Chapter in THIS video! 

by Molly Knox Ostertag. Illus. by Xanthe Bouma. Graphic Novel. 

Middle school is a dungeon… At least, that’s how Jess sees it. Luckily, she and her best friend Olivia know how to escape into the sprawling worlds of their own imaginations. The two friends have always loved making up stories, more recently with the fantasy roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. When they play, Olivia runs the game as Dungeon Master and Jess is the solo party member, playing a take-no-prisoners, lone-wolf fighter of her own design named Sir Corius. But when Olivia wants to add new players to their group, Jess finds herself struggling to share their game—and her best friend. Will their epic campaign withstand all this change, or has their adventure—and their friendship—finally come to an end?

by June CL Tan. Fantasy. 

Ahn lives with her grandmother in a small village that is slowly being swallowed by the desert, born of corrupt magic. She can't remember her past, only that she was adopted at age 6 by her Ama. Ahn is determined to squash her magic ability, as magic users are hunted and killed by cruel Diyeh priests. When her magic goes out of control one day, she is forced to flee her village and the pursuit of the Diyeh.

Altan is the rightful heir the the Shi Empire, and he is determined to get revenge for the murder of his father, the previous emperor. He seeks the mythical Life Stealer, who has the power to banish the desert and bring peace back to the land. 

Told in dual perspectives, Ahn and Altan's destinies are intertwined. When they meet, Altan sees in Ahn a path to reclaiming the throne. Ahn sees a way to finally unlock her past and understand her arcane magical abilities. But they may have to pay a far deadlier price than either could have imagined. 

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Mystery. 

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery his entire fortune. Avery has no idea why--or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room contains puzzles, riddles, and codes. 

Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just disinherited. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

by Christina Soontornvat. Fantasy. 

All light in Chattana is created by one man — the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them. When Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars. The wealthy have access to bright orb light, while the poor toil away in darkness. Worst of all, Pong’s prison tattoo marks him as a fugitive who can never be truly free.

Nok, the prison warden’s perfect daughter, is bent on tracking Pong down and restoring her family’s good name. As Nok hunts Pong through the alleys and canals of Chattana, she uncovers secrets that make her question the truths she has always held dear. 

by Victoria Schwab. Mystery/Supernatural.

Cassidy Blake's parents are The Inspecters, a ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can actually see ghosts, due to a near-death accident she had a year ago. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.

When The Inspecters head to Edinburgh, Scotland for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn't sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn't belong in her world. Cassidy's powers will draw her into an epic fight that stretches through the worlds of the living and the dead, in order to save herself.

by Ellen Oh. Mystery/Horror. 

Spirit Hunters is a high-stakes mystery series about Harper Raine, the new seventh grader in town who must face down the dangerous ghosts haunting her younger brother. Written by We Need Diverse Books founder Ellen Oh. 

Harper doesn’t trust her new home from the moment she steps inside, and the rumors are that the Raine family’s new house is haunted. Harper isn’t sure she believes those rumors, until her younger brother, Michael, starts acting strangely.

The whole atmosphere gives Harper a sense of déjà vu, but she can’t remember why. She knows that the memories she’s blocking will help make sense of her brother’s behavior and the strange and threatening sensations she feels in this house, but will she be able to put the pieces together in time?

This is a truly scary read with great characters! Ms. Mayes gives this book five stars! 

by Ann Clare LeZotte. Historicl Fiction. 

Read an excerpt of the book here!

This book is written by a deaf author and librarian. Set in the 1800's, the story focuses on Mary Lambert and her community on Martha's Vineyard. Her great-grandfather was an early English settler and the first deaf islander. Now, over a hundred years later, many people there - including Mary - are deaf, and nearly everyone can communicate in sign language. Mary has never felt isolated. She is proud of her lineage.

But recent events have delivered winds of change. Mary's brother died, leaving her family shattered. Tensions over land disputes are mounting between English settlers and the Wampanoag people. And a cunning young scientist has arrived, hoping to discover the origin of the island's deafness. His drive to find answers soon renders Mary a "live specimen" in a cruel experiment. Her struggle to save herself is at the core of this novel.