Library Loot (90) & review copies

Library

Stolen by Lucy Christopher (audio book)
Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in th planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost

The Sarah Jane Adventures: Deadly Download by Jason Arnopp (audio book)
Sarah Jane and friends battle a deadly computer virus in this exclusive audio story, read by Elisabeth Sladen. Sarah Jane is in a Christmassy mood, but her cosy afternoon listening to carols is interrupted when Mr Smith suddenly announces that danger is imminent. The supercomputer has detected abnormal internet activity in the vicinity of Bannerman Road. Something alien is downloading into two PCs on the street - a computer virus over 50 times more destructive than any other on the planet. Both residents were chatting online when they started the download: but who were they chatting to? And what does the mysterious chatterbox want? It is up to Sarah Jane and friends to find out, before the deadly download takes over the Earth...Elisabeth Sladen, who stars as Sarah Jane in the CBBC TV series, reads this exclusive audio story, written by Jason Arnopp.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Miranda's life is starting to unravel. Her best friend, Sal, gets punched by a kid on the street for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The key that Miranda's mum keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then a mysterious note arrives:

'I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own.

I ask two favours. First, you must write me a letter.'

The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realises that whoever is leaving them knows things no one should know. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she's too late.

Review

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton (7 July, Doubleday Childrens)
The murder of her parents has left Silla damaged and lost, and Silla's insistence that her father is not to blame only alienates her further from her friends and family. When a mysterious spell book arrives, Silla hopes it will lead to some answers about her parents' killer. In her first attempt at magic, in an old graveyard near her home, Nick, the new boy in town spies on her; he recognizes the magic that Silla is performing as the same magic his mother performed with him, before she went mad.

Before long, Silla and Nick connect, though Nick is unwilling to share his history with blood magic with Silla. When Silla's friends start showing signs of possession, Silla, Nick and Silla's brother, Reese, must contend with a deadly, immortal woman who will stop at nothing to take the book of spells from them.

Dark Touch: Fever by Amy Meredith (out now, Red Fox) (3rd in the series, I've just reviewed #2)
Deepdene has been swept by what seems to be a vicious tropical disease. Luckily Eve and Jess are both healthy so they're taking their chance to enjoy the unseasonal heat wave. But then teenagers start to disappear. The spread of the disease worsens and the town is placed under lockdown. A demon is among them. It could be anybody. And now there's nowhere to go...The third title in this successful series. It is suitable for all fans of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Charmed" and "Twilight".

Blood on My Hands by Todd Strasser (7 April, Walker)
Some girls are glamorous, beautiful … and deadly. Found kneeling by a dead body, with a bloody knife in her hand can only mean Callie Carson is guilty of the brutal murder of Katherine Remington – can’t it? Joining the in-crowd is tough; leaving is a killer.