| The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani DasguptaWhat it's about: Kiran's a typical 6th grader -- until her 12th birthday, when her parents disappear and she's attacked by a rakkhosh demon. Soon, Kiran joins two princes (and their flying horses) on a quest to save her parents and discover her true identity as an interdimensional demon slayer.
Who it's for: Inspired by Bengali folktales and filled with action and laugh-out-loud humor, Kiran's adventures are a perfect fit for Rick Riordan fans.
Series alert: 1st in the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series. |
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| Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric RohmannStarring: Etzel, a German shepherd police dog who's discovered by a movie director and transformed into Strongheart, one of the first animal movie stars in 1920s America.
Why you might like it: Black-and-white artwork will pull you into this touching animal tale that's served with a slice of Hollywood history.
Did you know? Though this book is fiction, Strongheart was real! Don't miss the photos and facts at the end of the book. |
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| The Problim Children by Natalie LloydWhat it's about: All seven of the Problim siblings have a "grace," an unusual ability unique to the day of the week when they were born. Altogether, they're a charmingly odd bunch, and they've just moved into their grandfather's old mansion -- right next door to mean, scheming Desdemona O’pinion.
Series alert: 1st in a new trilogy from the author of A Snicker of Magic, The Problim Children has a similar mix of warmth, whimsy, and low-key fantasy. |
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A Handful of Stars
by Cynthia Lord
While searching the Maine blueberry barrens for Lucky, her beloved blind dog, 12-year-old Lily finds an unexpected friend in Salma, who's picking blueberries with her migrant family. After Salma cleverly collars the runaway pooch, the girls bond quickly, and soon Salma is lending her creativity to a fundraiser for Lucky's eye surgery, and Lily is supporting Salma as she defies local prejudice and enters the Blueberry Queen pageant.
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Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles
by Frank Cammuso
It's only his first day at Camelot Middle School, and Artie King is already in trouble. Not only is he on the principal's bad side, he's also been challenged to face the school's ruling gang of bullies (known as the Horde) in a high-stakes dodgeball match. Unable to back down, Artie and his new friends Percy, Wayne, Gwen, and Mr. Merlyn find help in an unexpected place: a strange locker that only Artie can open.
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For fans of A Wrinkle in Time
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| Last Day on Mars by Kevin EmersonStarring: 13-year-old Martian colonists Liam and Phoebe, who've just missed the last starliner to humanity's new home on Aaru-5. Now, the two friends are in a pulse-pounding race to somehow catch the ship -- and to warn the colony about the sabotage they've discovered before it's too late.
Why fans of A Wrinkle in Time might like it: time travel, outer space, aliens, and kids on a high-stakes mission. |
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| Pi in the Sky by Wendy MassWhat it's about: Joss lives in the Realms -- the headquarters of the universe -- and he's the youngest of the Overlord's sons, which is why he's stuck with a job like delivering pies for the Powers That Be. But after the Powers That Be delete the Earth and swap Joss' best friend with the only remaining Earthling, Joss faces the much more challenging job of rebuilding the entire solar system...from scratch.
Why fans of A Wrinkle in Time might like it: mind-bending science, a vivid space setting, and quirky characters. |
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| Once Was a Time by Leila SalesWhat it's about: In World War II England, while 10-year-old Lottie's father does top-secret research on time travel, Lottie spends most of her time with her best friend Kitty. Then a terrifying incident forces Lottie to leap into 2013 Wisconsin, leaving her alone and stranded, yet determined to find home and Kitty again.
Why fans of A Wrinkle in Time might like it: time travel, a brave heroine, and science fiction paired with heartfelt emotion. |
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| What Came from the Stars by Gary D. SchmidtFeaturing: the Valorim, aliens from a far-off planet that's under attack from the evil Lord Mondus; Tommy Pepper, a bullied sixth-grader mourning his mother's death; and the strange cosmic events which put the fate of the Valorim in Tommy's hands.
Why fans of A Wrinkle in Time might like it: unusual aliens, a family going through a tough time, and a combination of fantasy and science fiction. |
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Anything but Typical
by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Fiction. Kids at school think that Jason Blake is weird. He's autistic, and his constant blinking and frequent hand-flapping definitely make his differences noticeable -- except online, where he posts his brilliant creative writing on the website Storyboard. Through Storyboard, Jason forms an online friendship (maybe more?) with fellow writer Rebecca. But when he learns that he and Rebecca are both attending the Storyboard conference, he's terrified of meeting her in person. This warm and funny novel will be a hit with aspiring writers as well as anyone who knows -- or wonders -- what it's like to be dramatically different.
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Contact your librarian for great books!
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