TEAFLET & ROOG MAKE A MESS by Jeanne Birdsall and Jane Dyer.
A sweet charming tale of two trelfs who are trying to prepare for their annual Strawberry Jam Party and pass inspection by the dreaded Neatness Inspector. The posed scenes of felted wool characters are a marvel of miniatures. A good step up for lovers of Owl Diaries or a wonderful shared read for adults and children who love fairy and elf stories imbued with gentle humor.
SUNSHINE by Marion Dane Bauer.
Ben and his dog Sunshine spend the summer at a remote cabin on an island in Northern Minnesota with his mother – whom he has not seen since she abandoned him and his father when he was 3. As Ben’s mom shares the island and her primitive yet fulfilling lifestyle with Ben, he is conflicted in his feelings toward her. Even Sunshine is not able to comfort Ben, although she does have a heroic moment during the tragic climax. Gr 3+
ORPHEUS PLOT by Christian Swiedler.
Galaxy-wide science fiction action featuring Lucas Adebayo, who has always dreamed of piloting spaceships for the Space Navy. Lucas has had a very different life from the kids from Mars, Earth, and Luna, working from rust bucket spaceship mining ore from an asteroid belt. Little bit of Starwars Academy, of course Harry Potter, and Stuart Gibbs’ Space Case mysteries. Gr 3-7.
STINGERS: SHARKS INC, BOOK 2 by Randy Wayne White.
A Doc Ford mystery for young people. Maribel, Sabina, & Luke form Sharks, Inc., a school-aged group of tiger shark taggers who have been invited to Katt Island by Doc Ford as a reward for catching a shark poaching ring in the 1st in the series. Mysteries from past pirate legends, current suspicions of turtle egg poaching, not to mention saving the old inn from financial ruin keep the story fast paced and action-packed. For those who like eco-themed fiction and mysteries. Gr. 4-7.
Feeling lonely and out of place after her family moves to a new small town to accommodate her sister Arden’s ice-skating ambitions, 11 year old Fiona Crane ventures to the local library, where she finds a gripping mystery novel about a small town, family secrets, and a tragic disappearance. Great choice for those who like stories within stories especially set in the past. Gr 4-7.
TO TELL THE TRUTH by Beth Vrabel
Southern-voiced middle grade novel about a young girl and the adventure she embarks upon to prove her recently deceased Gran’s stories about her life were true. She wants to believe they are true, but no one else does, and her mother won’t/can’t help. So she heads out on a road trip with her neighbor, a country music performer, to find the truth about the past. Trixy describes present day events and intersperses the larger than life stories throughout. For fans of Kate DiCamello’s Raymie Nightingale or Natale Lloyd’s Snicker of Magic. Gr. 3-7.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
MILES MORALES: SHOCK WAVES by Justin Reynolds and Pablo Leon.
If you haven't heard of Miles Morales, he is a black teenage Spiderman. Also bitten by a mutant spider, he lives in Brooklyn, boards at Visions School and balances school life with chasing evil-doers. Great combination of comic and graphic novel. Gr 4+.
THE LEGEND OF AUNTIE PO by Shing Yin Khor.
Set in a late-19th-century Sierra Nevada logging camp, a Chinese American girl spins tall tales and dreams of a better future. To amuse her friends, and perhaps a bit of wishful thinking, Mei tells of Auntie Po, a giant elder woman with a blue musk ox. Sound familiar? Auntie Po does heroic wonders. Then, Mei thinks she is starting to see Auntie Po. Can Auntie Po protect her family from the racism and violence pushing at her family? Inspired by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Equally important in the book is the story of Mei’s friendship with Bee, the logging camp head’s daughter. Gr. 5+