Kids' Home Library by Lee Littlewood

Kids, too, are tired of hearing of economic woes and downer-themed news. Help them sink their teeth into absorbing young-adult novels. These are five fantastic new books for older children and teens.

"The Lost Island of Tamarind" by Nadia Aguiar; Feiwel and Friends/Holtzbrinck Publishers; 448 pages; $17.95.

Part "Peter Pan," part "A Wrinkle in Time," part "The Swiss Family Robinson" and even "Lost," debut novelist Aguiar works exciting fantasy as good as authors much more experienced. A carefully crafted tale about a 13-year-old girl searching for her parents on a lost island, Aguiar's book takes place in a magical, wild land not known on any map. With her younger brother and baby sister in tow, young Maya encounters fish that can fly, waters patrolled by pirates, lurking jaguars, fighting islanders and even a musical giant and his performing trio of mermaids.

Helped by a new ally named Helix — a teenage hunter with a dark past — the siblings try to steer clear of an evil, child-stealing jungle enchantress, war mongers and other dangerous diversions.

Enchanting and full of heart-stopping adventure, "The Lost Island of Tamarind" is the first in a three-part series about the young Nelson family and should thrill boys and girls ages 10 to 14.

"Tender Morsels" by Margo Lanagan; Alfred A. Knopf; 436 pages; $16.99.

Not for teens who like their reading soft and sweet, award-winning Australian author Lanagan's new novel is a spicy, powerful tale set in both reality and the heavenly world of teenage Liga's mind. Liga, who has suffered plenty at the hands of her father and the town boys, nearly kills herself and her infant daughter, but is magically offered a proposition — to live in an alternate world created out of her own heart's desire.

As in all great fiction, however, the plot thickens and danger flows in. In this case, the danger comes in the form of an opening found between Liga's heaven and reality. Wild bears infiltrate, a smarmy man tries to get rich in his own reality, and Liga's daughter discovers the opening and is thrust into the real world.

A smart and finely tuned tale examining good and evil, right and wrong, and self-discovery, "Tender Morsels" also features lovely lyrical prose and a deep beauty hard to put down.

"Steinbeck's Ghost" by Lewis Buzbee; Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan Publishing; 352 pages; $17.95.

Young book lovers will certainly enjoy this middle-grade adventure set in the sun-soaked valleys of central California — John Steinbeck country.

A unique tribute to a great American author, Buzbee's novel stars a latch-key boy named Travis from Salinas, who suddenly sees Steinbeck's literary characters spring to life in odd and sometimes haunted places.

As Travis struggles to make sense of what he sees, budget cuts threaten his favorite library, which adds a touch of reality and imminent importance to the tale. As Travis journeys through the beautiful landscape looking for a way to save his beloved safe haven, he starts to sort out fact from fiction and stumbles into a story Steinbeck might have started.

A fantastically unique mystery that shines a light on the many ways books can take readers into the vast world, "Steinbeck's Ghost" is a captivating read for kids ages 10 to 14.

"Cybele's Secret" by Juliet Marillier; Alfred A. Knopf; 448 pages; $16.99.

Marillier's first book for young adults, "Wildwood Dancing," won raves for its enchanting prose and lovely combination of fantasy and fairy tale. In her next, more adventurous read, Paula, one of the sisters from "Wildwood Dancing," joins her father on a trading voyage to Istanbul to try to acquire a rare artifact from an ancient goddess.

Paula finds herself falling deeper into the mysterious search when she receives signs from a mystical Other Kingdom, and is drawn to a dashing pirate and a bodyguard, both also wrapped up in the destiny of goddess Cybele's gift.

A lovely read, with plenty of romance, danger, magic and suspense, "Cybele's Secret" is a more feminine "Indiana Jones" for fantasy fans ages 12 and up.

"Dangerous Times" by L. Brittney; Feiwel and Friends/MacMillan; 288 pages; $16.95.

Need a fast-paced, smart novel for the reluctant male readers in your house? "The First Nathan Fox Mission" takes one of Shakespeare's plays, "Othello," and shakes it up with swordplay, intrigue, spying and drama.

More than just a high-octane romp, "Dangerous Times" stars 14-year-old Nathan Fox, an actor in the same company as Will Shakespeare, who is paired with a fearless spy to journey to Venice to form an alliance against the King of Spain. Acting comes into play as the two pose as master and servant, which works until they cross paths with the great General Othello.

Aimed at that tricky male audience between the ages of 10 and 14, "Dangerous Times" will appeal to Anthony Horowitz's "Alex Rider" fans, and also throws in a bit of theater and English history, to boot.

To find out more about Lee Littlewood and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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