New Releases by Todd Strasser

Here we go again! This time Jake Sherman is trapped in the first day of sleepaway camp. And he better figure out how to get untrapped fast because if he has to eat another meal of American Chop Suey he''s gonna barf!

The second book in the best-selling series by award-winning author Todd Strasser. In this book Jake and his friend Alex have planned hilarious pranks for the first day of school. But the joke is on Jake. He''ll be stuck living this day over and over unless he can figure out how to escape.

Drawing from his teenage years, Todd Strasser’s novel revisits a tumultuous era and takes readers on a psychedelically tinged trip of a lifetime. With his girlfriend, Robin, away in Canada, eighteen-year-old Lucas Baker’s only plans for the summer are to mellow out with his friends, smoke weed, drop a tab or two, and head out in his microbus for a three-day happening called the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. But life veers dramatically off track when he suddenly finds himself in danger of being drafted and sent to fight in Vietnam. If that isn’t heavy enough, there’s also the free-loving (and undeniably alluring) Tinsley, who seems determined to test Lucas’s resolve to stay faithful to Robin; a frighteningly bad trip at a Led Zeppelin concert; a run-in with an angry motorcycle gang; parents who appear headed for a divorce; and a friend on the front lines in ’Nam who’s in mortal danger of not making it back. As the pressures grow, it’s not long before Lucas finds himself knocked so far down, it’s starting to look like up to him. When tuning in, turning on, and dropping out is no longer enough, what else is there?

From award-winning author Todd Strasser comes a gripping new novel that explores the struggles of war, the price paid by those who fight in them, and what it really means to be a hero. Jake Liddell is a hero. At least, that’s what everyone says he is. The military is even awarding him a Silver Star for his heroic achievements—a huge honor for the son of a military family. Now he’s home, recovering from an injury, but it seems the war has followed him back. He needs pills to get any sleep, a young woman is trying to persuade him into speaking out against military recruitment tactics, and his grandfather is already urging him back onto the battlefield. He doesn’t know what to do; nothing makes sense anymore. There is only one thing that Jake knows for certain: he is no hero.

"An American teen is led towards committing a terrorist act"--

“Combines terrific suspense with thoughtful depth. . . . Riveting.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) In the summer of 1962, the possibility of nuclear war is all anyone talks about. But Scott’s dad is the only one in the neighborhood who actually builds a bomb shelter. When the unthinkable happens, neighbors force their way into the shelter before Scott’s dad can shut the door. With not enough room, not enough food, and not enough air, life inside the shelter is filthy, physically draining, and emotionally fraught. But even worse is the question of what will — and won’t — remain when the door is opened again.

Rendered homeless by circumstances beyond his family''s control, Dan is forced to move to Tent City, where he begins fighting for better conditions only to be targeted by an adversary who wants to destroy the impoverished region.

Something strange is happening in the parking lot of Time Zone High: The established cliques aren’t in their usual gathering places. Instead, everyone has joined in one large, frantically interacting mass. Why? Maybe it’s because the world may end tomorrow. Allegra Hanover is Time Zone High’s over-achieving valedictorian, so motorcycle-driving surfer bum Andros Bliss seems like the last person she would date. But when an asteroid is rumored to be hurtling toward Earth, the normal high school rules start to fade. Students and teachers are ditching class, and the lines between high school cliques are breaking down. Is the end of the world enough to make Allegra finally go for her secret crush?

"They always agreed to meet me. Of course, I told them I was bringing them money. I said it was cash and I didn''t want to send it through the mail. They might have hesitated at first about meeting me, but I never had to work very hard to convince them. Why?. . . It was the only way they could prolong their pathetic dreams of someday becoming rich, famous models." Shelby''s life in Soundview has always been comfortable. Her dad provides a luxurious lifestyle for his family through his photography business. He makes a ton of money taking headshots of pretty young teens who are desperate to become models. Shelby has always enjoyed driving around town in a red sports car, shopping with her best friend at her side. And her Mom is laidback,so it''s all good. However, as reports of girls disappearing from nearby towns start to appear on the news, Shelby''s seemingly perfect life begins to fall apart. The three missing girls have one thing in common--they were all clients of her dad''s photography business. Secrets begin to surface as the investigation continues. Shelby receives threatening e-mails, battles the nosy media, and tries to keep her family together. Now that her dad is implicated in the disappearances, can Shelby figure out a way to clear his name? Or is dad not as innocent as he seems? PRAISE FOR BLOOD ON MY HANDS: "[A] rare teen thriller with an actual mystery, this is as quickly paced as it is heart-wrenching." - Booklist "Author recognition, teen love of mystery, and a stellar cover will...make this a well-circulating title." - School Library Journal PRAISE FOR WISH YOU WERE DEAD: "Hits all the right notes of a teen thriller[...] his gripping plot will keep readers turning pages late into the night" - School Library Journal "Carefully plotted; this suspenseful novel blends the traditional with new tech details to successful end [...] will keep readers guessing right up to the satisfying conclusion." - Kirkus Reviews

A teenage paparazzo makes a dangerous discovery in this timely look at celebrity “that is likely to be snapped up and make a lasting impression” (School Library Journal). All Jamie Gordon wants to do is to take pictures of celebrities...and maybe to become famous herself. She’s only fourteen, but already her work is sought after by fanzines and websites, and she’s invited to all the best parties. And now she has the chance of a lifetime: She has been invited to spend a week with Willow Twine, taking pictures of the teen superstar’s new chaste life. But when Jamie gets her hands on some sensational shots of Willow, she’s suddenly in over her head. The pictures could make her career—and destroy Willow’s. It seems like everyone’s eager to get their hands on the photos, and Jamie has to decide what she really wants...and what she’s willing to pay to get it.

In the middle of the night Garrett is taken from his home to Harmony Lake, a boot camp for troubled teens. Maybe some kids deserve to be sent there, but Garrett knows he doesn''t. Subjected to brutal physical and psychological abuse, he tries to fight back, but the battle is futile. He won''t be allowed to leave until he''s admitted his "mistakes" and conformed to Harmony Lake''s standards of behavior. And there''s no way to fake it. Beaten, humiliated, and stripped of his pride, Garrett''s spirit is slowly ebbing away. Then he hears whispers of an escape plot. It''s incredibly risky -- if he''s caught, the consequences will be unthinkable -- but it may be his only way out. In this tense, riveting novel, award-winning YA author Todd Strasser reveals what really goes on in highly secretive -- and notoriously dangerous -- boot camps, a stealth prison system where any teenager under the age of eighteen can be imprisoned at his parents'' whim.

All it takes is one second. One stupid move. One click of a cell phone. When Callie discovers Katherine sprawled on the ground, she bends down to help her. It''s only natural—the party''s been a bit wild. And it''s only natural for her to pull out the fake knife, irritated at one more example of Katherine''s callous disregard of other people''s feelings. But the knife is real . . . and bloody. And then Callie hears the click of one cell phone, followed by another, and another. In minutes, images of her holding the bloody knife have gone viral. Now wanted for murder, Callie is on the run from the police. All the evidence points to her guilt, but she''s determined to prove her innocence, which means . . . the real killer is still out there.

Her street name is Maybe She lives with a tribe of homeless teens -- runaways and throwaways, kids who have no place to go other than the cold city streets, and no family except for one another. Abused, abandoned, and forgotten, they struggle against the cold, hunger, and constant danger. With the frigid winds of January comes a new girl: Tears, a twelve-year-old whose mother doesn''t believe her stepfather abuses her. As the other kids start to disappear -- victims of violence, addiction, and exposure -- Maybe tries to help Tears get off the streets...if it''s not already too late. Todd Strasser, author of the powerful and disturbing Give a Boy a Gun, again focuses on an important social issue as he tells a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching story of young lives lost to the streets, and of a society that has forgotten how to care.

Impact Zone: The most dangerous part of the wave You gotta beat it...or you''ll eat it. Ever since he went up against the locals and broke into the lineup, Kai has had his own crew. Spazzy is a summer kid with a lot of fancy gear. He looks like a total shubee. But on the board he''s good, really good -- despite everything going against him. The Spazz wants to be in the local competition, but he can''t do it without Kai. Kai knows there''s no way Spazzy can win against Lucas, the local hero. But Kai would never let a brah down....

IMAPCT ZONE The most dangerous part of the wave You gotta beat it...or you''ll eat it. The summer is hot, and so is action out on the line-up. There''s a big competition coming up, with some serious burrito money attached. All the brahs are in it for something. Lucas has his career and his reputation on the line. If Kai wins, he might be able to stay in Sun Haven and not have to hit the road again with his sketchy dad. For everyone it''s a chance to close out the summer as a champion. Stoked.

A house at the beach. A bunch of hot strangers. A three-month party that''s Off The Hook. Seven randoms cram into a house down the shore, and they''ve all got agendas. Curt wants a gig. Polly wants a life. Owen''s jonesing for someone he can''t have. And everyone''s geared up for one wicked summer. Surfing all day, partying all night. Here''s the real question: If your boyfriend''s cheating but you''re too busy hooking up, does it really count? And if people aren''t who they say they are, does it really matter?

The cops cracked down on illegal races, and now the only street racing around is at the hottest casino on the strip. The casino owner is starting his own high-stakes, high-payoff drift team -- and there''s little he wouldn''t do to have Sin City''s best drifter. Kennin''s under pressure to quit the scene and get his life back on track. But when he''s offered five grand to fix his ride -- and the promise of enough cash to take care of his problems -- Kennin knows exactly what he has to do. No matter what the catch.

A house at the beach. A bunch of hot strangers. A three-month party that''s Off The Hook. Seven randoms cram into a house down the shore, and they''ve all got agendas. Curt wants a gig. Polly wants a life. Owen''s jonesing for someone he can''t have. And everyone''s geared up for one wicked summer. Surfing all day, partying all night. Here''s the real question: If your boyfriend''s cheating but you''re too busy hooking up, does it really count? And if people aren''t who they say they are, does it really matter?

In the Frederick Douglass Project where DeShawn lives, daily life is ruled by drugs and gang violence. Dropping out of school and joining a gang is the norm and every kid knows someone who''s died. Gunshots ring out on a regular basis. DeShawn is smart enough to know he should stay in school and keep away from the gangs. But while his friends have drug money to buy anything they want, DeShawn''s family can barely afford food for the month. How can he stick to his principles when his family is hungry? In this gritty novel about growing up in the inner-city projects, award-winning author Todd Strasser opens a window into the life of a teenager struggling with right and wrong under the ever-present shadow of gangs.

A collection of hot-headed penguins, disrupted by global warming, takes refuge in the ice-skating rink at the Tardy Boys'' school, but when the students appear and the new arrivals refuse to leave, chaos quickly ensues.

I''ll begin with Lucy. She is definitely first on the list. You can''t believe how it feels to be in the cafeteria and turn around and there she is staring at me like I''m some disgusting bug or vermin. Does she really think I WANT to be this way? I hate you, Lucy. I really hate you. You are my #1 pick. I wish you were dead. The day after anonymous blogger Str-S-d wishes the popular girl would die, Lucy vanishes. The students of Soundview High are scared and worried. Especially frightened and wracked with guilt is Madison Archer, Lucy''s friend and the last person to see her the night she disappeared. As days pass with no sign of the missing girl, even the attention of Tyler, an attractive new student, is not enough to distract Madison from her growing sense of foreboding. When two more popular students disappear after their names are mentioned on Str-S-d''s blog, the residents of Soundview panic. Meanwhile, Madison receives anonymous notes warning that she could be next. Desperate to solve the mystery before anyone else disappears, Madison turns to Tyler, but can she trust him when it becomes clear that he knows more than he''s sharing? The clock is ticking. Madison must uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances . . . before her name appears in Str-S-d''s blog. In the spirit of stories like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Todd Strasser updates the teen thriller for the techno age with Wish You Were Dead.

The Tardy Boys'' pet cat is the scrawniest, laziest cat ever, but he has one big, very disgusting talent--he can cough up hairballs like a champ. But will that be enough to win the school''s Catalent Contest?

When Brad asks someone else to the senior prom, Nicole resorts to a desperate measure--she decides to make her next-door neighbor over into a dream date.

Be careful when you throw the Jumanji dice What will happen? Nobody knows, but it will be dangerous. Two children find the game and start to play. Jungle animals and a man with a gun come out of the board. How can they stop them? They must finish the game.

Kate Blessings has made it to her senior year, but being the boss of the family has taken its toll. While dealing with her enemies she is pulled back into a love triangle. Will she be able to survive?

Kennin is determined to go legit despite the popularity he has gained with racing, but when his sister''s boyfriend starts causing trouble, Kennin decides he must put his family first and accept the risks involved.

When their friend Daisy brings her neighbor''s smelly dog to school and one of the students makes a big fuss, Leyton and Wade Tardy have to find a way to keep the dog hidden so that Daisy does not get in trouble.

Two books in one, the story starts with a boy named Jake seemingly doomed to repeat the first day of school over and over. In the second book Jake experiences the same phenomena at summer camp!

Riding the hottest summer trend around, the bestselling author "shoots the tub" with a new action-packed series for the "bros" featuring buff guys, hot girls, and fast surfboards. Original.

By winning a contest, Jake Sherman lands a job as supermodel Lanny Shanks'' personal assistant, but when Jake accidentally switches bodies with her, he must ward off the advances of Principal Blanco. Original.