Blog Entry
Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk When twelve-year-old Ellie and her family lose livelihood and move to a mountain cabin in 1934, she quickly learns to be an outdoors woman and, when needed, a healer.
The Wolf of Cape Fen by Juliana Brandt Baron Dire haunts Cape Fen, striking magical bargains, demanding unjust payment, and sending the Wolf to hunt those who do not pay, but Eliza and Winnie Serling are determined to stop him.
Wink by Rob Harrell After being diagnosed with a rare eye cancer, twelve-year-old Ross discovers how music, art, and true friends can help him survive both treatment and middle school.
The Summer We Found the Baby by Amy Hest Told from three viewpoints, a brisk historical tale follows the experiences of two sisters who discover an abandoned baby on the library steps, while their estranged friend, racing to complete an important errand for his World War II soldier brother, jumps to the wrong conclusion.
The War is Over by David Almond/illustrated by David Litchfield John's father is fighting in the trenches far away in WWI France, while his mother works in a munition factory just along the road. His teacher says that John is fighting, too, that he is at war with enemy children in Germany. One day, in the wild woods outside town, John has an impossible moment: a dreamlike meeting with a German boy named Jan. John catches a glimpse of a better world, in which children like Jan and himself can one day scatter the seeds of peace.
Daring Darleen by Anne Nesbet Darleen is a hero and a star in the make-believe world of the early movies ... But Darleen's fictional adventures collide with reality when a fake kidnapping intended as a publicity stunt becomes all too real. Now she is in the hands of the dastardly criminals who have also just nabbed the famous young heiress Miss Victorine Berrryman.
Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket by Chris Grabenstein Six lucky kids go on a scavenger hunt inside Mr. Lemoncello's Gameworks factory, where they compete for a chance to win a Titanium Ticket.
Music for Tigers by Michelle Kadarusman Louisa wants to spend the summer practicing violin for a place in the youth symphony, but is instead sent to the Tasmanian rainforest camp of her Australian relatives. There she learns that her family secretly protects the last of the supposedly extinct Tasmanian tigers. When an encroaching mining operation threatens the hidden sanctuary, Louisa realizes her music can help.
The Witches of Willow Cove by Josh Roberts Seventh grader Abby Shepherd is just getting the hang of being a teenage witch when weird stuff starts happening all around her hometown of Willow Cove. Things only begin to make sense when a stranger named Miss Winters reveals that Abby isn't the only young witch in town--and that Willow Cove is home to a secret past that connects them all.
Lightning Mary by Anthea Simmons One stormy night, a group of villagers are struck by lightning. The only survivor is a baby - Mary Anning. From that moment on, a spark is lit within her. Growing up poor but proud on the windswept Dorset coast, Mary follows after her father, hunting for fossils. Mary faces danger to bring back valuable treasures to help feed her family. Includes a factual section about Mary Anning, her life, and the discoveries she made.
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. He and his best friend Sandy decide to go hide out there to escape their grief and persecution.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed Omar and his younger brother Hassan live in a refugee camp, and when an opportunity for Omar to get an education comes along, he must decide between going to school every day or caring for his nonverbal brother in this intimate and touching portrayal of family and daily life in a refugee camp. A true story of perseverance and hope.
The Great Chicago Fire: Rising from the Ashes by Kate Hannigan New History Comics series showing children trying to escape the conflagration and how Chicago rebuilt. Great resource for learning local history.
NEXT IN SERIES
The Critter Club #21 Amy The Puppy Whisperer by Callie Barkley
Amelia Bedelia & Friends Paint The Town by Herman Parish
Mac B. Spy Kid #5 The Sound Of Danger by Mac Barnett
Max Einstein #2 Saves The Future by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein