New Releases by Carol Plum-Ucci

Years later . . . what really happened to Christopher Creed? When Torey Adams posts on his blog that a body has been found in Steepleton—four years after Christopher Creed disappeared—college reporter Mike Mavic sells his laptop and hops a plane to capture the story that will undoubtedly launch his journalistic career. But what Mike finds is a town suffering under a cloud of bad frequency and people with an underlying streak of meanness. To the teens of Steepleton, Chris is nothing more than history—but to Justin Creed, a teen obsessed with his older brother’s memory and balancing on the edge of sanity, discovering what really happened to Chris Creed is a matter of life and death. This ebook includes a sample chapter of FIRE WILL FALL.

“A story about the threat of bioterrorism as seen through the eyes of the generation that will grow up with it as a reality . . . page-turning intensity.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Bioterrorism has come to a small town in New Jersey. Two residents die of brain aneurysms within twenty-four hours and several teens become ill with a mysterious flu, leading the government to suspect that a terrorist cell has unleashed a deadly biochemical agent. With each glass of water they drink, the people of Trinity Falls are poisoning themselves. A world away in Pakistan, a sixteen-year-old computer genius working as a spy for the U.S. sees an influx of chatter from extremists about a substance they call Red Vinegar that will lead to many deaths. Can he warn the victims before it’s too late? “The teens are the focus here, all excellent character studies drawn adeptly with few words. The swift pace grabs the reader right from the start . . . Plum-Ucci takes the incredible and makes it all too believable.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “A compelling tale of bioterror . . . a tautly paced thriller that will force readers to think about the complexities of living in a post-9/11 world.”—School Library Journal “A page-turner . . . Plum-Ucci has also fleshed out a basic panic-inducing scenario into a thriller more thoughtful than most.”—Booklist

A taut YA crime thriller from the author of The Body of Christopher Creed. “There’s no doubt Plum-Ucci can tell a heck of a story” (Booklist). A tiny pistol, passed from friend to friend at a party on an abandoned pier, suddenly fires—and Casey Carmody falls into the water below. Kurt, Casey’s older brother, endures a seemingly endless night at the police station while the coast guard searches for his sister and his friends are questioned, one by one. Was the gunfire accidental or deliberate? Or was the whole drama one of Casey’s practical jokes? And where is Casey—or her body—now? “The Night My Sister Went Missing has all the suspense and drama of a locked-room mystery . . . Carol Plum-Ucci, author of the award-winning The Body of Christopher Creed, has crafted an intricate mystery filled with shocking surprises and characters whom readers will remember for a long time.” —Teenreads “Plum-Ucci’s mastery at intensifying their observations into something dire and ominous speeds the plot along and should keep readers wondering just how this convoluted mystery will wrap up.” —Kirkus Reviews “All the members of this loosely connected community harbor secrets they do not want to be revealed. But in the end, someone’s secret comes to light with devastating consequences.” —Publishers Weekly “The mystery is engrossing and the dramatic ending satisfying.” —School Library Journal

The often-tortured class weirdo has disappeared, leaving an enigmatic note on the school library computer. Is he a runaway, a suicide, or a murder victim?

Describes the history of Divali, its symbols, and how it is celebrated today.

It''s been eight years since Evan''s parents disappeared at sea. Searching for answers, Evan wonders if they were swallowed up by The She, the she-devil of legend that devours ships off the New Jersey coast.

The appearance of a mysterious teen leads to tragedy on a small fishing island in this “taut, provocative novel . . . [that] crackles with suspense” (Publishers Weekly). The close-knit residents of Hackett Island have never seen anyone quite like Lani Garver. Everything about this new kid is a mystery: Where does Lani come from? How old is Lani? And most disturbing of all, is Lani a boy or a girl? Popular Claire McKenzie isn’t up to tormenting Lani with the rest of the high school elite. Instead, she decides to befriend the intriguing outcast. But within days of Lani’s arrival, tragedy strikes, and Claire is left questioning herself, her friendships, and, most interesting of all, the possibility that angels may exist on earth. “Gripping.”—YM Magazine “Prejudice, homophobia, friendship, tolerance, individuality, and the possibility that something spiritually bigger than all of us rules this universe are wonderfully woven into this powerfully told story. Outstanding writing, strong characterization, and riveting plot development make this title rise above many recent coming-of-age stories.”—School Library Journal “The characterizations are superb . . . The hint of supernatural only adds to the appeal. Successfully raising many valid issues, this should appeal to teens from the popular to the marginalized.”—Kirkus Reviews “Lani’s androgyny and his angelic possibilities are intriguingly played out.”—Booklist

Profiles basketball player Stephon Marbury, whose childhood dreams of an NBA career led him to play for Georgia Tech University, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the New Jersey Nets, and the Phoenix Suns.