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I hope you remembered to set your clocks back an hour yesterday, as the first Sunday in November marks the end of Daylight Savings Time throughout most of the country. While most of us opt to use our newly regained hour for a bit more snooze time, we're willing to bet a few of you fellow book junkies spent those extra sixty minutes with your noses buried in a great book! And for the rest of you who slept right through it, we have seven fantastic titles in this week's New Releases Roundup to help you catch up, including 2 juicy new installments to the Gossip Girl and It Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar; FADE OUT, Rachel Caine's next book in the Morganville Vampires series; and the heart-wrenching FREAKS AND REVELATIONS by Davida Wills Hurwin.


New Releases for November 1st

Hardcover

FREAKS AND REVELATIONS by Davida Wills Hurwin (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
This raw, moving novel follows two teenagers --- one, a Mohawk-wearing 17-year-old violent misfit; the other, a gay 13-year-old cast out by his family, hustling on the streets and trying to survive. Acclaimed author Davida Wills Hurwin creates a riveting narrative told in alternating perspectives of their lives before and after the violent hate crime that changed both their futures. This tragic but ultimately inspirational journey of two polarized teens, their violent first meeting, and their peaceful reunion years later is an unforgettable story of survival and forgiveness.

This story is inspired by the real lives of Matthew Boger and Timothy Zaal, who have shared their story on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and NPR.

DEVIOUS: An It Girl Novel, created by Cecily von Ziegesar (Poppy/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Popular Gossip Girl character Jenny Humphrey never goes looking for trouble; but trouble always seems to find her. What Waverly Academy mischief will Jenny, Tinsley, and Callie stir up now?

It's January, and a new semester at Waverly Academy means one thing: new students. Make that hot new students. A gorgeous brother-sister pair is taking Waverly by storm, and the campus is abuzz with fresh gossip and even fresher crushes. But while all the girls are busy drooling over the new it-guy, they'd better watch their backs --- because his sister is going to give them all a run for their money. After all, there can only be one It Girl...

STRUTS & FRETS by Jon Skovron (Amulet Books)
Told in a voice that’s honest, urgent, and hilarious, STRUTS & FRETS will resonate not only with teenage musicians but with anyone who ever sat up all night listening to a favorite album, wondering if they’d ever find their place in the world.

Music is in Sammy’s blood. His grandfather was a jazz musician, and Sammy’s indie rock band could be huge one day --- if they don’t self-destruct first. Winning the upcoming Battle of the Bands would justify all the band’s compromises and reassure Sammy that his life’s dream could become a reality. But practices are hard to schedule when Sammy’s grandfather is sick and getting worse, his mother is too busy to help either of them, and his best friend may want to be his girlfriend.

When everything in Sammy’s life seems to be headed for major catastrophe, will his music be enough to keep him together?


Paperback
BREAKFAST AT BLOOMINGDALES by Kristen Kemp (Scholastic)
Kat's come to New York City with a dream: to be a big fashion designer and to see her name on a label in Bloomingdale's. Back in upstate New York, she imagined a city paved in Prada . . . but the reality isn't quite so fashionable. Still, there are friends to be made, boys to be flirted with, and amazements to be found . . . sometimes when she least expects it. Even when her lame boyfriend from back home comes to the city to try to reclaim her, Kat knows she's found her place . . . now all she has to do is have NYC find her back!


New Releases for November 3rd

Hardcover

MILLION-DOLLAR THROW by Michael (Philomel Books)
What would you do with a million dollars, if you were 13?

Nate Brodie is nicknamed “Brady” not only for his arm, but also because he’s the biggest Tom Brady fan. He’s even saved up to buy an autographed football. And when he does, he wins the chance for something he’s never dreamed of --- to throw a pass through a target at a Patriots game for one million dollars.

Nate should be excited. But things have been tough lately. His dad lost his job and his family is losing their home. It’s no secret that a million dollars would go a long way. So all Nate feels is pressure, and just when he needs it most, his golden arm begins to fail him. Even worse, his best friend Abby is going blind, slowly losing her ability to do the one thing she loves most --- paint. Yet Abby never complains, and she is Nate’s inspiration. He knows she’ll be there when he makes the throw of a lifetime.

Mike Lupica’s latest sports novel is also his most heartwarming.

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU: A Gossip Girl Novel, created by Cecily von Ziegesar (Poppy/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Blair, Serena, Nate, Dan, and Vanessa went off to live their lives.

Now they're coming home for the holidays.

A lot can change in a few months . . . but some things never do.

It finally happened: we went to college. We started over. No one knows who we've coveted, what we scored on the SATs,where our parents live, or when we became debaucherous. We've learned new things, made new friends, and maybe even met the loves of our lives. We've changed.

Or at least, some of us have. But old habits are hard to break -- -especially when faced with your former besties and former flames. With everyone back in the city for the holidays, this break is guaranteed to be filled with makeups, breakups, and shakeups.

Lucky for you, I'm here to report all the scandal as it happens. Let the games begin!

You know you love me,
xoxo Gossip Girl

FADE OUT: The Morganville Vampires, Book Four by Rachel Caine (Berkley)
Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedom, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again...Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve's castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realise that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger --- and way more dangerous --- than anyone suspected.