Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalestier

"My head was filled with a hundred confusing thoughts. The legendary cellar had turned out to be an exceptionally well-lit wine cellar, crowded with endless bottles. Sacrificing animals down there would be pretty difficult. There'd barely been room to move. It didn't smell of blood. Nor of antiseptic for getting rid of the scent of blood. It smelled only of dust. "

Here's another Aussie YA author for you! Magic or Madness is the first book in Larbalestier's trilogy about Reason Cansino and her family secrets. Reason's mother brought her up to believe in logic and science and math. She also brought her up to believe that her grandmother is an evil, animal-sacrificing witch. When Reason's mother must be institutionalized for mental illness, Reason is sent to live with that grandmother, where she begins to uncover unbelievable secrets. Soon reason learns that solutions in life, only choices, and she must choose between magic and madness. Larbalestier has written a griping page-turner filled with strong voices and unexpected twists. Thoughtfully, she has also included a glossary of Australian slang so that we can keep up with her. This book is a great ride!

SLJ recommends grades 7 to 10.

Learn more at HCL, Barnes and Noble, and here.

Midnighters Volume 3: Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld

"Then it struck, washing through the gymnasium, sweeping away the puny energies of the pep rally, obliterating the surrounding mind noise of Bixby.... She opened her eyes and saw what had happened. The blue light, the frozen bodies, a leaping cheerleader hovering suspended in the air. The whole world struck by...silence."

Set in Bixby, Oklahoma, a small band of teenagers can experience an extra hour in each day. At exactly midnight time stops for the "daylighters". But for the "midnighters" each night offers a romp in a frozen world of blue light. However, the midnighters aren't alone in the blue time. Each night in the hour between 12:00 and 12:01 they are stalked by darklings--shape shifting carnivores who are as old as time. And if that weren't enough, by day our heroes must brave high school! One part sci-fi, one part horror, and one part teenage drama, this series will appeal to Buffy fans...and, undoubtedly, to fans of Westerfeld's other novels.

Blue Moon is the third installment in Westerfeld's Midnighter's series. Begin with the Secret Hour and move on to Touching Darkness if you want to read them in order.

Learn more at HCL, Barnes & Nobel, and here.

SLJ recommends grades 6 and up.