New YA Books

Schooled - Gordon Korman
Homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has never watched television, tasted a pizza, or even heard of a wedgie. But when his grandmother lands in the hospital, Cap is forced to move in with a guidance counselor and attend the local middle school. While Cap knows a lot about tie-dyeing and Zen Buddhism, no education could prepare him for the politics of public school.

The Rising Star of Rusty Nail - Lesley M. M. Blume
In the small town of Rusty Nail, Minnesota, in the early 1950s, musically talented ten-year-old Franny wants to take advanced piano lessons from newcomer Olga Malenkov, a famous Russian musician suspected of being a communist spy by gossipy members of the community.

A Dangerous Engine: Benjamin Franklin, from Scientist to Diplomat - Joan Dash
At the time of his famous kite experiment, Benjamin Franklin was unaware that his theories about electricity had already made him a celebrity all over Europe, especially in France, where fashionable circles loved to discuss scientific discovery. Admired by the French court and beloved by French citizens, Franklin effectively became America's first foreign diplomat, later helping to enlist France's military and financial support for the American Revolution. A father of the revolution and a signer of the Constitution, Franklin was a lightning rod in political circles - "a dangerous Engine," according to a critic. And although he devoted the last twenty-five years of his life to affairs of state, his first love was always science.

Water Street - Patricia Reilly Giff
In the shadow of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, eighth-graders and new neighbors Bird Mallon and Thomas Neary make some decisions about what they want to do with their lives.

Fire in the Heart: A Spiritual Guide for Teens - Deepak Chopra
By recounting his own experiences at age fifteen, Deepak Chopra, a noted Hindu author and physician, provides a blueprint for teens who are seeking their own spiritual paths.

Genocide: Modern Crimes Against Humanity - Brendan January
Genocide has become the human rights issue of our time. This book focuses on the genocides of the twentieth century, explaining what genocide is and discussing it in light of international law. The approach is thematic, examining causes, implementation, results, justice, and the survivors. It includes discussions of the Armenians, the Holocaust, the Cambodians of the killing fields, Tutsis of Rwanda, the Muslims of Bosnia, and non-Arabs in Darfur, Sudan. It includes firsthand accounts and experiences of this sensitive topic.--Publisher description.