A Time to Plant by James T. Farmer III

(Gibbs Smith, hardcover, $40.00)

Whether you are a novice dirt dabbler or a well-seasoned gardener, timing is crucial in gardening. And with proper timing, nature provides us with not only sustenance but trimmings for the home and table, provisions for a garden lifestyle. A Time to Plant is a guide to garden living. With photographs, tips, and methods, it will become your guide to a successful gardening way of life. From holidays to every day, the garden can be your source of all things fresh and elegant.

 

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Cocktail Hour under the Tree of Forgetfulness by Alexandra Fuller (Penguin, hardcover, $25.95)

Born on the Scottish Isle of Skye and raised in Kenya, Fuller's mother Nicola holds dear the kinds of values most likely to get you hurt or killed in Africa. We see Nicola and Tim Fuller in their lavender-colored honeymoon period. But in short order, an accumulation of mishaps and tragedies bump up against history until the couple finds themselves in a world they hardly recognize. We follow the Fullers as they hopscotch the continent, running from war and unspeakable heartbreak. But just when it seems that Nicola has been broken entirely by Africa, it is the African earth itself that revives her. In the end we find Nicola and Tim at a coffee table under their Tree of Forgetfulness on the banana and fish farm where they plan to spend their final days.

 

View more September biography and autobiography releases 

 

 

Grand Pursuit by Sylvia Nasar (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, $32.00, on sale 9/13/11)

The epic story of the making of modern economics, and of how economics rescued mankind from squalor and deprivation by placing its material fate in its own hands rather than in Fate. Nasar's account begins with the observation and publishing of the condition of the poor majority in mid-19th-century London. She describes the often heroic efforts to put those insights into action--with revolutionary consequences for the world. She shows how the insights of activist thinkers transformed the world. 

 

View more September business and economics releases

 

 

Literary Brooklyn by Evan Hughes

(Henry Holt, paperback, $17.00)

Brooklyn today is experiencing an extraordinary cultural boom. In recent years, writers of all stripes have flocked to its patchwork of distinctive neighborhoods. But the rich literary life now flourishing in Brooklyn is part of a larger, fascinating history. With a dynamic mix of literary biography and urban history, Hughes takes us on a tour of Brooklyn past and present and reveals that hiding in Literary Brooklyn is the story of more than a century of life in America's cities.

 

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All Together Singing in the Kitchen by Nerissa Nields (Shambhala, paperback, $22.95, on sale 9/13/11)

Music is not only fun, but it can be the all-purpose, go-to tool for any family. Making music a larger part of your family's life can be hugely rewarding. If you're new to singing or playing an instrument, this book offers tips and guidelines to get you started. Or you might be a classical violinist or a teacher of elementary school music; this book provides songs, games, and ideas to inspire every family. This book is a celebration of the connections that music can make.

 

View more September music releases 

 

 

Why We Hate the Oil Companies by John Hofmeister (Palgrave, paperback, $16.00)

Former president of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister is a man on a mission, the founder of Citizens for Affordable Energy, crisscrossing the country in a grassroots campaign to change the way we look at energy in this country. Hofmeister offers an insider's view of what's behind the energy companies' posturing, and how politicians use energy misinformation, disinformation, and lack of information to get and stay elected. He tackles the energy controversy head-on, without regard for political correctness.

 

The Next American Civil War by Lee Harris

(Palgrave, paperback, $16.00)

Today's populist revolt is only the latest installment of an ongoing cultural war that began long before the current economic crisis. It is a rebellion against a self-appointed intellectual elite whose attitude to the average American is "Don't worry, we know what is best for you." Throughout our history, Americans have always challenged the definition of liberty, and this has allowed us to progress as a society. Harris argues that this debate is good and necessary, and that we must take this new populist uprising seriously if we are to defend our founding principles.

 

The Unexpected Patriot by Shannen Rossmiller

(Palgrave, hardcover, $25.00)

After 9/11, Shannen Rossmiller was formulating a plan. Soon she was preparing to infiltrate the central nervous system of global terror: online networks. Her efforts succeeded beyond imagination. Posing as an Islamic terrorist under dozens of screen aliases, she joined forces with the FBI and started trolling jihadist chat rooms, amassing evidence against an array of suspected terrorists both at home and abroad. Her work laid the foundation for the online searches so crucial to law enforcement's fight against terror today.

 

View more September political releases 

 

 

Moneyball by Michael Lewis

(W.W. Norton, paperback, $15.95)

In major league baseball the biggest wallet is supposed to win. But over the past four years, the Oakland Athletics, a major league team with a minor league payroll, have had one of the best records. General manager Billy Beane is putting into practice on the field revolutionary principles garnered from geek statisticians and college professors. Michael Lewis takes us from the dugouts and locker rooms--where coaches and players struggle to unlearn most of what they know about pitching and hitting--to the boardrooms, where owners spend enormous sums without a clue what they are doing.

 

View more September sports & recreation releases

 

 

Fail Harder by failblog.org

(Andrews & McMeel, paperback, $12.99)

FAIL Harder follows the hilarious best-seller Fail Nation to showcase 200 original full-color photos of world-wide FAILS based on the popular website failblog.org. So what qualifies as a FAIL? How about a nursery outfitted with a gun rack hanging over the baby's crib? Perhaps the equation, "E=MC3" written on a classroom's write/erase board. What about a trifecta of beauty parlor, chain saw repair, and nightclub housed inside an all-in-one-stop shop? Classic FAILs like these are presented in more than 15 different categories.

 

View more September humor releases 

 

 

Regional Authors

 

You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl by Celia Rivenbark (St. Martin's, paperback, $14.99)

You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl is the 6th hilarious collection of funny stuff from the woman USA Today calls "Dave Barry with a female point of view". Celia's take on humor is the result of growing up in rural Eastern North Carolina listening to, and absorbing, stories, jokes and tall tales at the country store. Her humor blends this country tradition with her love of all things pop culture for a unique take on the ever-changing South. Meet the author at our Book Your Lunch event on Sept. 8th!

 

 

General Fiction

 

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

(Bloomsbury, hardcover, $24.00)

A hurricane is building over the Gulf of Mexico, and Esch's father is growing concerned, though he doesn't show concern for much else. Esch and her three brothers are stocking food, but there isn't much to save. Esch, 14 and pregnant, can't keep down what food she gets. Skeetah is sneaking scraps for his prized pitbull's new litter. Randall and Junior try to stake their claim in a family long on child's play and short on parenting. As the twelve days that make up the novel's framework yield to their dramatic conclusion, this unforgettable family pulls itself up to face another day.

 

Skippy Dies by Paul Murray

(Faber & Faber, paperback, $16.00)

Why does Skippy, a 14-year-old boy at Dublin's venerable Seabrook College, end up dead on the floor of the local doughnut shop? Why Skippy dies and what happens next is the subject of this dazzling and uproarious novel, unraveling a mystery that links the boys of Seabrook College to their parents and teachers in ways nobody could have imagined. Skippy Dies is a heartfelt, hilarious portrait of the pain, joy, and occasional beauty of adolescence, and a tragic depiction of a world always happy to sacrifice its weakest members.

 

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta

(St. Martin's Griffin, hardcover, $25.99)

What if a number of us simply vanished with no explanation? That's what the bewildered citizens of Mapleton have to figure out after the event known as the Sudden Departure, including the new mayor, Kevin Garvey, whose own family has fallen apart in the wake of the disaster. Only his teenaged daughter remains, and she's not the girl she used to be. Kevin wants to help her, but he's distracted by his growing relationship with Nora Durst, a woman who lost her entire family and is still reeling from the tragedy.

 

Lamb by Bonnie Nadzam (Other Press, paperback, $15.95, on sale 9/13/11)

Hoping to regain some faith in his own goodness following the disintegration of his marriage and the death of his father, David Lamb turns his attention to Tommie, an awkward and unpopular eleven-year-old girl. Lamb is convinced that he can help her avoid a destiny of apathy and emptiness, and even comes to believe that his devotion to Tommie is in her best interest. But when Lamb decides to abduct a willing Tommie for a road trip from Chicago to the Rockies, they are both shaken in ways neither of them expects.

 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

(Doubleday, hardcover, $26.95, on sale 9/13/11)

It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. Behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway--a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose--a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love. But true love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

 

Duty Free by Moni Mohsin

(Broadway, paperback, $13.00)

Jonkers has been dumped by his low-class, slutty secretary, and our heroine has been charged with finding him a suitable wife--quickly. As our heroine social-climbs her way through trying to find a suitable girl from the right background, she discovers to her dismay that her cousin has his own ideas about his perfect mate. And secretly, she may even agree. Even as it makes you cry with laughter, it makes you wince at the gulf between our heroine's glitteringly shallow life and the country that is falling apart, day by day, around her Louboutin-clad feet.

 

The Grief of Others by Leah Hager Cohen

(Riverhead, hardcover, $26.95, on sale 9/15/11)

Without words to express their grief over the death of their newborn baby, parents John and Ricky Ryrie struggle to regain a semblance of normalcy for themselves and their two older children. In the aftermath of the baby's death, long-suppressed uncertainties about their relationship come roiling to the surface. A dreadful secret emerges with reverberations that reach far into their past and threaten their future. Then an unexpected visitor arrives, and they all find themselves growing more alert to the sadness and burdens of others.

 

On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry

(Viking, hardcover, $24.95)

On Canaan's Side opens as Lilly Bere mourns the loss of her grandson, Bill. Lilly revisits her past, going back to the moment she was forced to flee Ireland, at the end of the First World War, and continues her tale in America, a world filled with both hope and danger. Spanning nearly seven decades, from the Great Depression to World War II and the Vietnam War, it is the heartbreaking story of a woman whose capability to love is enormous, and whose compassion, even for those who have wronged her, is astonishing.

 

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Mystery & Suspense

 

Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson

(Little, Brown and Co., harcover, $27.99)

 Matthew Bannon finds a duffel bag filled with diamonds during a chaotic attack at Grand Central Station. Plans for a worry-free life with his gorgeous girlfriend Katherine fill his thoughts--until he realizes that he is being hunted. Trailing him is the Ghost, the world's greatest assassin, who has just pulled off his most high-profile hit. There's only one small problem: the diamonds he was supposed to retrieve from Zelvas are missing. Now, the Ghost is on Bannon's trail--but so is a rival assassin who would like nothing more than to make the Ghost disappear forever.

 

Calling Mr. King by Ronald De Feo

(Other Press, paperback, $14.95)

Long considered cool, distant, and absolutely reliable, an American-born hit man, working throughout Europe, grows increasingly distracted and begins to develop an unexpected passion for architecture and art while engaged in his deadly profession. Although he welcomes this energizing break from his routine, he comes to realize that it is an unwise trajectory for a man in his business, particularly when he is sent on the most difficult job of his career.

 

The Ballad of Tom Dooley by Sharyn McCrumb

(St. Martin's, hardcover, $24.99)

Laura Foster, a simple country girl, was murdered and her lover Tom Dula was hanged for the crime. The sensational elements in the case attracted national attention: a man and his beautiful, married lover accused of murdering the other-woman; the former governor of North Carolina spearheading the defense; and a noble gesture from the prisoner on the eve of his execution, saving the woman he really loved. With the help of historians, lawyers, and researchers, Sharyn McCrumb visited the actual sites, studied the legal evidence, and uncovered a missing piece of the story that will shock those who think they already know what happened--and may also bring belated justice to an innocent man. Tom Dula and Ann Melton had a profound romance spoiled by the machinations of their servant, Pauline Foster. Meet the author at our Book Your Lunch event on Oct. 11th! 

 

Children of Paranoia by Trevor Shane

(Dutton, hardcover, $25.95)

The War is ageless, hidden in the shadows, governed by a rigid set of rules, and fought by two distinct sides--one good, one evil. The only unknown is which side is which. Killing people is the only life Joseph has ever known, and he's one of the best at it. But when a job goes wrong and he's sent away to complete a punishingly dangerous assignment, Joseph meets a girl named Maria. Before Maria, Joseph's only responsibility was dealing death to the anonymous targets fingered by his superiors. Now he must run from the people who have fought by his side to save what he loves most in this world.

 

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Science Fiction & Fantasy

 

Countdown: M Day by Tom Kratman

(Baen, paperback, $7.99)

Colonel Wes Stauer was once one of war's most brutal practitioners--not to mention one of its most effective and least bloody. Now, not only must Stauer command his crack outfit of former comrades and pull off yet another miracle mission, he must also destroy an intelligent enemy who is almost as implacable as Stauer himself. There will be war. And there will be warriors like Wes Stauer who have the know-how and, once set in motion, the unstoppable professional drive, to see the bad guys to their graves and destroy every last earthly piece of their nasty legacies.

 

Ragnarok by Patrick A. Vanner

(Baen, paperback, $7.99)

Book one in a pulse-pounding new military science fiction epic. After near disaster, Earth's young space fleet has survived to fight again. What the Fleet needs is a breathing space to rebuild. What it gets is a traitor in its midst. Liberty or alien domination: for battle-seasoned starship captain Alexandria McLaughlin and gutsy Marine officer Stewart Optika there's no choice. It's victory or death, damn the torpedoes and semper fi. The fight for Earth's freedom is on.

 

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Children's and Young Adult

 

A Family of Readers by Roger Sutton

(Candlewick, paperback, $14.99, on sale 9/13/11)

Roger Sutton, editor in chief of The Horn Book, knows how and why children read. But for many parents, selecting books for their children can make them feel lost. Now, this essential resource offers thoughtful essays that consider how books are read to (and then by) young people. Leading authors and artists, as well as a selection of top critics, are invited to add their voices about the genres they know best. The result is an indispensable readers' companion to everything from wordless board books to the most complex and daring young adult novels.

 

10 by Marion Bataille

(Roaring Brook, hardcover, $14.99)

A sensationally attractive package (chunky and substantial, with a bright red slipcase and cover) sets the stage for an inventive exploration of counting--from one to ten and back again, simultaneously. As the reader turns the pages, one becomes two and then three, as ten becomes nine and then eight. The numbers unfold and transform with breathtaking ingenuity. 10 is a beautiful book that belongs in all design and gift departments.

 

At the Farm by Salina Yoon (Feiwel & Friends, board book, $5.99, on sale 9/13/11)

In Yoon's newest board book, At the Farm, babies will find an orange pumpkin, a shiny silver milk can, and a bright red apple. Salina Yoon has produced another adorable first words book that features die-cuts and eye-catching foil. A beautiful way to bring scenes from every day activities to life!

 

When a Monster Is Born by Sean Taylor

(Square Fish, paperback, $6.99)

When a monster is born, there are two possibilities--either it's a faraway-in-the-forests monster, or...it's an under-your-bed monster. If it's a faraway-in-the-forests monster, that's that. But if it's an under-your-bed monster all sorts of comical things can happen. This subversive monster story explores the hilarious possibilities of what if... Read it at bedtime and laugh your pajamas off...or read it during the day and laugh your socks off!

 

Good Little Wolf by Nadia Shireen

(Knopf, hardcover, $16.99, on sale 9/13/11)

Rolf lives with Mrs. Boggins, who tells him he is a good little wolf. But when he meets up with a large, ferocious wolf, he is told that he isn't a real wolf. Wolves aren't little and good--they are big and bad. To prove he is a real wolf, the old wolf tells Rolf he must perform certain tasks, such as blowing down a little pig's house. Rolf is a total failure...until the big bad wolf urges him to do something unspeakable to old Mrs. Boggins. Then the good little wolf proves that he can stand up to the big bad bully. Or so it seems. More mature readers may find a different ending that could lead to a great discussion!

 

King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bentley

(Dial, hardcover,$17.99)

Jack, Zack, and baby Caspar spend all day fighting dragons in their homemade fort. But when Sir Zack and Caspar are taken inside for bed, King Jack--alone on his throne--finds himself feeling a bit less brave...especially when he hears a thing approaching, a thing with four legs. A rollicking read-aloud with a charming surprise ending and Helen Oxenbury's spare, expressive illustrations, this kid-pleaser is a classic in the making.

 

The Wizard of Oz Scanimation by Rufus Butler Seder (Workman, board book, $14.95)

Like Star Wars before it, The Wizard of Oz is a marriage of phenomenal Scanimation and one of the most beloved movies of all time. It also continues to be a vital icon: Warner's 2009 release of the 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition won DVD critics' and numerous other awards; Warner Brothers Kids just launched wizardofozkids.com; and in 2011, Andrew Lloyd Webber is staging The Wizard of Oz on Broadway. Now it's found yet new life through Rufus Butler Seder, who has created 10 compelling Scanimations, taking us over the rainbow.

 

National Geographic Kids Ultimate Weird but True (National Geographic, hardcover, $24.95, on sale 9/13/11)

Did you know that a great white shark can weigh as much as 15 gorillas, that it can really rain frogs, or that some people can hear their eyeballs moving? Ultimate Weird But True is packed with wacky facts and snack-size stories that prove truth really is stranger than fiction. With a bold, colorful design and a heavy dose of visual humor, this book will give kids a winning combination of smarts and fun.

 

The Dragon's Tooth by N. D. Wilson

(Random House, hardcover, $16.99)

For two years, Cyrus and Antigone Smith have run a sagging roadside motel with their older brother, Daniel. Nothing ever seems to happen. Then a strange old man arrives, demanding a specific room. Less than 24 hours later, the old man is dead. The motel has burned, and Daniel is missing. And Cyrus and Antigone are kneeling in a crowded hall, swearing an oath to an order of explorers who have long served as caretakers of the world's secrets, keepers of powerful relics from lost civilizations, and jailers to unkillable criminals.

 

Vordak the Incomprehensible: Rule the School by Scott Seegert

(EgmontUSA, hardcover, $13.99)

Greetings, goobers! After my latest experiment worked a little too well--transforming my rather fetching figure into something significantly smaller--I've been forced to return to those halls of horror better known as...school. But going back to junior high may be my greatest opportunity for mayhem in many a month! Fortunately for you, I have recorded every mischievous moment within these carefully crafted covers so that you may bask in my brilliance as I plot to RULE THE SCHOOL...and, eventually, THE WORLD! MUAHAHAHAHA!!!

 

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

(Scholastic, hardcover, $29.99, on sale 9/13/11)

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing. Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry.

 

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

(Square Fish, paperback, $9.99)

Three angels are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human. They work hard to conceal their luminous glow, their superhuman powers, and their wings. Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and they are unable to resist their attraction to each other. But the angels' mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her? 

 

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

(Feiwel & Friends, hardcover, $17.99)

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier's love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can't keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth's release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

 

The Project by Brian Falkner

(Random House, hardcover, $17.99)

It begins with the most boring book in the world, a book so boring no one could ever read it--the perfect place to hide a dangerous secret. When best friends Luke and Tommy volunteer to help move books from their library's basement to higher ground during a quick rising flood, they discover the only surviving copy of this book in the world: Leonardo's River, lost for over 100 years. The book is connected to Leonardo da Vinci and is worth millions, so they return that night to steal it. Unfortunately, they're not the only ones with that plan....

 

Modelland by Tyra Banks

(Delacorte, hardcover, $17.99, on sale 9/13/11)

With her untamable hair, large forehead, and gawky body, Tookie De La Crème isn't expecting an invitation to Modelland, the exclusive, mysterious place on top of the mountain. But before she can blink her mismatched eyes, Tookie finds herself in the very place every girl in the world obsesses about. Thrown into a world where she doesn't seem to belong, Tookie glimpses a future that could be hers. Or could it? Dark rumors swirl around the question of why Tookie and her new friends were selected...and the shadows around Modelland hide sinister secrets.

 

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

(David Fickling, hardcover, $16.99, on sale 9/13/11)

When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the offense, her world begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.

This is a brave and unflinching novel from the bestselling author of Before I Die. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all, it's a book about love.

 

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

(EgmontUSA, hardcover, $17.99, on sale 9/13/11)

While 17-year-old Alex is camping in the woods, an electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushed her to the ground, Alex meets up with a young soldier named Tom and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP. For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it's now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

 

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

(Farrar, Straus & Giroux, hardcover, $16.99)

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the 16-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. That is, until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

 

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

(Scholastic, hardcover, $17.99)

Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family are among the few that survived a vicious strain of influenze that ravaged America's landscape. But when Stephen's grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler's Landing, where there are real houses, barbecues, a school, and even baseball games. Then Stephen meets Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler's Landing forever.

 

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Monster Christmas by Lewis Trondheim

(Papercutz, hardcover, $9.99, on sale 9/13/11)

Peter and Jean love to draw monsters. Chris, with three legs, four arms and ten mouths, becomes the family's new pet monster when the need to create a nice monster that eats bad ones. Chris tags along on Jean and Peter's Christmas vacation, when suddenly an avalanche blocks the road, caused by a monster in hot pursuit of... Santa Claus! It's up to the kids and their pet monster to save Santa and Christmas! But it looks like this monster can have Chris for breakfast!