The 13th Sign

December 3, 2012
Jalen is only 13, but she’s already got a “shock lock”: a streak of hair turned pure white from stress. Having survived a near-fatal illness and the disappearance of her father, Jalen figures she’s seen enough tragedy, but now her beloved grandmother is hospitalized with breast cancer. Since they always visited a hokey New Orleans fortune-teller on Jalen’s birthday, Jalen honors the tradition. The horoscope is worthless, but a locked book she finds in the shop proves otherwise, as Jalen unwittingly summons the 13th sign of the zodiac—Ophiuchus, the snake. Jalen has one day to send Ophiuchus back to prevent permanent, dramatic changes to the world, and she must battle through every sign in the zodiac to do it. Everyone in Jalen’s world has been altered along with their horoscope signs, and most of the new faces she encounters are out to kill her, so it’s not surprising that emotional connections can be hard to find in this book. Tubb’s (Selling Hope) adventure is pulse-pounding, however, and it’s refreshing to have a resourceful heroine who doesn’t happen to have superpowers or ninja training. Ages 10–14. Agent: Josh Adams, Adams Literary.

November 15, 2012
When a teen accidentally unlocks the lost 13th zodiac sign, everyone's personality shifts, and she must confront 12 Keepers of the zodiac to restore global order. Visiting a fortuneteller in her hometown of New Orleans, skeptical 13-year-old Jalen finds an ancient horoscope book called The Keypers of the Zodiack. Unlocking the serpent clasp, she releases Ophiuchus, the 13th zodiac sign. Personalities suddenly shift, and chaos ensues. No longer under Sagittarius, Jalen's now ruled by Ophiuchus, who possesses tremendous healing powers humans will seek and abuse. Unless she can find and restore Ophiuchus to the heavens within 23 hours, all personality changes will be permanent. To do this, Jalen must destroy 12 Keepers who protect Ophiuchus. Armed with a new personality and forced to overcome her own fears, Jalen frantically dodges and outwits the wily, outrageous Keepers who morph out of nowhere. Scorpio stings, Gemini confuses her, Sagittarius launches arrows, Taurus tries to crush her, and Virgo plays on her emotions. Racing the clock across New Orleans, Jalen knows more is at stake than restoring altered personalities if power falls into the wrong hands. An original, action-packed plot, a resilient heroine, a twist ending and 12 sly, angry Keepers will hold readers on edge. The ultimate astrological fantasy. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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January 1, 2013
Grades 5-8 What would happen if there were 13 signs in the zodiac? Jalen finds out when she breaks the lock on an old book and suddenly becomes the thirteenth sign, Ophiuchusthe snake. With the aid of her best friend and her older brother, Jalen must outwit morphing creatures called Keepers who throw obstacles in her way as she races to save her nana from dying and to learn whether her father left or was lost. To do so, she must survive the brutal challenges of each of the 12 signs (reminiscent of the 12 labors of Hercules) to avoid altering humanity, creating personality shifts, or causing such supernatural occurrences as an attack by an army of Cancer crabs or the fierce charging of Aries the ram. The swiftly paced plot will please readers used to Hunger Gamesstyle action. Kids into astrology and horoscopes will hang on every chapter, especially when they find out that the concept of Ophiuchus exists and is used in some cultural beliefs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)