FREE/BARGAIN - Children's, YA

[Avice]

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen — $1.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001D9T814

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen — $1.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004IE9QRC

[Avice]

The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell — 99¢ Kindle Countdown Deal for next 3 days.
Book 1 in the Renegade X young adult superhero fiction series.

The Rise of Renegade X was originally published by EgmontUSA in 2010; subsequent books in the series have been self-published by the author.

Spoiler:

Sixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: major in messing with people at the local supervillain university and become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But when he discovers the shameful secret she's been hiding all these years, that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, everything gets messed up. His father's too moral for his own good, so when he finds out Damien exists, he actually wants him to come live with him and his goody-goody superhero family. Damien gets shipped off to stay with them in their suburban hellhole, and he has only six weeks to prove he's not a hero in any way, or else he's stuck living with them for the rest of his life, or until he turns eighteen, whichever comes first.

To get out of this mess, Damien has to survive his dad's "flying lessons" that involve throwing him off the tallest building in the city--despite his nearly debilitating fear of heights--thwarting the eccentric teen scientist who insists she's his sidekick, and keeping his supervillain girlfriend from finding out the truth. But when Damien uncovers a dastardly plot to turn all the superheroes into mindless zombie slaves, a plan hatched by his own mom, he discovers he cares about his new family more than he thought. Now he has to choose: go back to his life of villainy and let his family become zombies, or stand up to his mom and become a real hero.

[Avice]

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale - $2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UZNSTA/

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale - $2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002UM5BNM/
Newbery Honor Book

Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters (Princess Academy 3) by Shannon Hale - $2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R9D5SFS/

[ATDrake]

X-link to the DRM-free thread for a new Humble Bundle with some educational kids/YA books at the higher level:

Humble Book Bundle Stranger Creatures supporting The Jane Goodall Institute presented by Brick Tower Press contains a mix of speculative fiction titles about imaginary creatures, and non-fiction books about real wildlife. The sfnal stuff (which includes a YA novel by popular author Bruce Coville) is at the lower levels, and the non-fiction at the higher tiers.

For $20, you also get 8 wildlife books about various animal species (apparently geared towards younger readers) presented by the Institute, as well as Jane Goodall's (Wikipedia) own classic memoir My Life With the Chimpanzees, in a newly revised edition. And for $25, you can sponsor a chimpanzee and get a plushie (shipping & handling not included), with all proceeds from the higher pledge level going straight to the charity.

[AnemicOak]

I'll Follow the Moon — 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition - FREE
by Stephanie Lisa Tara (Author), Lee Edward Födi (Illustrator)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004BSGJFW

[ATDrake]

X-link to the DRM-free thread for a new Humble Bundle:

Humble Book Bundle Brainiac 2 presented by No Starch Press, containing a pretty nice selection of DIY tech hobbyist (LEGO®, Arduino, electronics and more) and beginner/intermediate computer programming learning books, including many specifically kid-friendly/all ages educational titles.

[ATDrake]

X-link to the DRM-free megathread for a new Humble Bundle:

If you happened to pick up the Brainiac 2 bundle and the kiddies are getting good at programming and LEGO®, you may also wish to invest in their more advanced Humble Book Bundle LEGO® Mindstorms & Robotics presented by APress, containing titles for Mindstorms, Arduino, and more.

[Little.Egret]

Free

Dave Dawson at Truk (Xist Classics) by Robert Sydney Bowen

WW2 action adventure for YA

Dave Dawson is up to it again, this time having his adventures while the battle rages around him. Each Dave Dawson is packed with action, patriotism, and a historical fiction adventure set during WWII, perfect for middle grade and teen readers.

Don't miss the full set of Dave Dawson books

Gutenberg I think

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DCHE8MS/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01DCHE8MS/

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01DCHE8MS/

[ATDrake]

X-link to the DRM-free thread for a new StoryBundle:

The Light in the Dark YA Bundle contains mainly sfnal offerings, but also some contemporary drama, historical, and westerns.

And there's a manga-styled comics/video games bundle from Groupees, if you think the kiddies might be interested (from the looks of the art and the blurbs, the storylines seem to be aimed teenwards, though YMMV about its actual age appropriateness).

[ATDrake]

Bargain @ $0.99 from Atheneum in Canada & the US (price should be the same at all the usual retailers):

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by the late E. L. Konigsburg (Wikipedia) her 1968 Newbery Medal-winning children's mystery/adventure book, illustrated by the author herself. This has its own Wikipedia entry.

Also @ $1.99 each from Random House, assorted YA fantasy series novels:

Philip Pullman's (ISFDB, Wikipedia) His Dark Materials trilogy is on sale again, presumably to tie into the release of the new sequel: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass

Tamora Pierce's (ISFDB, Wikipedia) Trickster's Duet duology starring the daughter of Alanna of Trebond, heroine of her Song of the Lioness quartet which I rather liked, Trickster's Choice & Trickster's Queen.

I've heard those weren't among the better adventures in her Tortall setting (I've only ever read the first a long time ago and it seemed merely okay), but it's a good price to try them at if you've childhood nostalgia, as is her short story collection, also on sale: Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales

[sufue]

I loved Black and Blue Magic as a kid growing up, but although I remembered the story, I had long since forgotten the name/author of the book. I was pleasantly surprised to find it as one of Open Road's "extra" Friday deals today at Kindle US for $0.99. Per the Open Road webpage for the sale, it is also supposed to be $0.99 at BN and Google Books, but I haven't verified.

link: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Magic-Z...dp/B00A72710I/

Spoiler:

Harry Houdini Marco had a difficult life when he was a normal, clumsy twelve-year-old—but growing wings made things even harder

Except for his unusual name, Harry Houdini Marco is unremarkable in every way. While his namesake was the greatest illusionist of all time, Harry can’t even catch a ball. He is on the verge of a long, boring summer—and he is dreading every moment of it.

Then he meets a mysterious traveling salesman named Mr. Mazzeeck. But Mr. Mazzeeck is more than a traveling salesman, he’s a wizard—at least, he claims to be. Before he leaves town, Mr. Mazzeeck gives Harry a bottle of magical oil, saying that the potion will give him wings. And to Harry’s amazement, the oil works: He gets wings! Now he just has to figure out how to use them.

This ebook features an extended biography of Zilpha Keatley Snyder.

[Purple Lady]

Truthwitch is free today 12-13 only. You have to sign up for the Tor Teen Newsletter and you'll receive an email with a link to the download page.

http://ebookclub.torteen.com/?utm_so...nfreeebook1217


Truthwitch is the first book in Susan Dennard’s*New York Timesbestselling Witchlands series, about two best friends who must use their magic to save the world from war and corruption.


On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery,” a magical skill that sets them apart from others. There are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safiya’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safiya and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Windwitch Prince Merik, and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

[bookmarked]

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman $1.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005IQZC2M/

In the kingdom of Goredd, dragons and humans live and work side by side – while below the surface, tensions and hostility simmer.

The newest member of the royal court, a uniquely gifted musician named Seraphina, holds a deep secret of her own. One that she guards with all of her being.

When a member of the royal family is brutally murdered, Seraphina is drawn into the investigation alongside the dangerously perceptive—and dashing—Prince Lucien. But as the two uncover a sinister plot to destroy the wavering peace of the kingdom, Seraphina’s struggle to protect her secret becomes increasingly difficult… while its discovery could mean her very life.

Shadow Scale: A Companion to Seraphina by Rachel Hartman $1.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N6PBGOK/

The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself—for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways.

As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she’s held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny?

[orangekiwi]

Also posted this in the free/bargain science fiction/fantasy thread

Hunter by Mercedes Lackey is on sale for $2.99 as part of Kobos sci-fi and fantasy sale in the US.

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hunter-43

[Avice]

The Beast Is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale is a $1.99 Kindle Daily Deal, price-matched at Kobo.

Spoiler:

A girl with a secret talent must save her village from the encroaching darkness in this “achingly poetic” (Kirkus Reviews) and deeply satisfying tale.

Alys was seven the first time she saw the soul eaters.

These soul eaters are twin sisters who were abandoned by their father and slowly grew into something not quite human. And they feed off of human souls. When her village was attacked, Alys was spared and sent to live in a neighboring village. There the devout people created a strict world where fear of the soul eaters—and of the Beast they believe guides them—rule village life. But the Beast is not what they think he is. And neither is Alys.

Inside, Alys feels connected to the soul eaters, and maybe even to the Beast itself. As she grows from a child to a teenager, she longs for the freedom of the forest. And she has a gift she can tell no one, for fear they will call her a witch. When disaster strikes, Alys finds herself on a journey to heal herself and her world. A journey that will take her through the darkest parts of the forest, where danger threatens her from the outside—and from within her own heart and soul.

FYI, there's a movie version of The Beast Is an Animal in development at Amazon Studios with Ridley Scott as producer.