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"After all, I believe that legends and myths are largely made of 'truth'...and long ago certain truths and modes of this kind were discovered and must always reappear." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), British author
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New and Recently Released!
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| The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant; illustrated by Josie PortilloFantasy. A vacuum cleaner accident seems like an unlikely way to die, but that's what happens to Anastasia McCrumpet's parents. Anastasia learns this upsetting news when she's picked up from school by Prim and Prude, her odd, ancient, and previously unknown great-aunts. However, after being locked up in the abandoned insane asylum that Prim and Prude call home, avid mystery-reader Anastasia begins to suspect that sinister magic is at work -- and that she's not the old ladies' only prisoner. Bursting with enough eccentric characters, gruesome events, and twisted humor to rival Lemony Snicket or Roald Dahl, The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is a must-read series opener. |
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| The Tapper Twins Go to War (with Each Other) by Geoff RodkeyFiction. Was it the stolen toaster pastry, or was it being publicly accused of stinkiness? Though 12-year-old Claudia Tapper and her twin brother Reese disagree about who started the conflict, they each vow revenge on the other. Through doodles, texts, photos, and screenshots, Claudia records the resulting prank war, which quickly escalates from a rotten fish in a backpack to an embarrassing haircut to all-out digital destruction in MetaWorld (think Minecraft). What will it take for the scheming siblings to call a truce? Find out in this uproarious "oral history," which will be followed by a sequel (The Tapper Twins Tear Up New York) in September. |
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| Murder Is Bad Manners: A Wells and Wong Mystery by Robin StevensHistorical Mystery. Thoughtful Hazel Wong keeps a low profile, unlike her best friend Daisy Wells, who is the queen bee of their boarding school. Both girls, however, are smarter than they let on, and neither can resist a good mystery. Together they form the covert Wells & Wong Detective Society, uncovering secrets about their classmates and solving small cases, until a murder at the school presents them with their biggest sleuthing opportunity yet. Set in 1934 England, this clever, suspenseful series starter is sure to grab mystery-lovers. For another whodunit set at a British boarding school, try Esme Kerr's The Girl with the Glass Bird. |
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| Castle Hangnail by Ursula VernonFantasy. In order to keep its magic, Castle Hangnail needs a new master, and 12-year-old Molly believes she's just the wicked witch for the job. The castle's adorably creepy minions, however, aren't so sure. After all, they expect a wicked witch to be taller…and older…and not so nice. After Molly insists that she truly is wicked (like, really wicked, just look at her wicked boots!), she starts working on the evil tasks she must complete to become the castle's master. Will her skills at blighting and smiting prove worthy? Whimsical illustrations enhance this "wacky, heartwarming tale" (Booklist) told in the tradition of Eva Ibbotson and Terry Pratchett. |
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| Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-GarciaHistorical Fiction. The irrepressible Gaither sisters are back! This time, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are traveling from their Brooklyn home to rural Alabama, so they can spend the summer of 1969 with their grandmother, Big Ma. While there, the sisters discover the complicated history of their African American family (including a long-standing feud between Big Ma and her half-sister), and Delphine grapples with her own mixed feelings about two family members: her Uncle Darnell, who's recovering from addiction, and her distant mother, Cecile. Warm, vivid, and authentic, Gone Crazy in Alabama is a satisfying conclusion to the award-winning series that began with One Crazy Summer and P.S. Be Eleven. |
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Focus on: Myths and Legends
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| Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street by Peter AbrahamsAdventure. After helping an elderly homeless woman and receiving the woman's charm bracelet in return, Brooklyn seventh-grader Robyn ("Robbie") Forester discovers that the charm is magical -- it grants its wearers amazing powers. Together with her friends Shanti, Tut-Tut, and Silas, Robbie vows to use the bracelet's power to fight injustice, and soon she's propelled into a menacing world of thievery, arson, and big money in this modern take on the legend of Robin Hood. For another exciting, slightly fantastical adventure that pits super-powered young teens against evildoers, check out Matthew Cody's Powerless. |
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| Loki's Wolves by Kelley Armstrong and M.A. MarrFantasy. Ragnarok (the end of the world) is coming, and it's up to 13-year-old Matt Thorsen, a descendant of the Norse god Thor, to stop it. Matt, along with Fen and Laurie (descendants of Loki), will have to fight werewolves, trolls, and other monsters of the apocalypse on their quest to rally the descendants of the other gods and prevent Ragnarok -- despite a prophecy that says saving the world could mean death for the champions of the gods. Rick Riordan fans will be riveted by the brisk pace and thrilling action in this modern mash-up of Norse myths, the first in a trilogy. |
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| The Savage Fortress by Sarwat ChaddaFantasy. Nothing can ruin a family vacation quite like having to save the world from an army of demons. While traveling in India, British 13-year-old Ash Mistry discovers a golden arrowhead that connects him to powers of the ancient Indian gods…and makes him the target of the evil Lord Savage and his demonic, shape-shifting rakshasas. With his sister in peril and the fate of the world on the line, Ash must transform from gamer geek to warrior hero in this fast-paced adventure based on the Ramayana. Older readers who thrive on pulse-pounding action won't want to miss the The Savage Fortress and its sequel, The City of Death. |
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| Gods and Warriors by Michelle PaverHistorical Fantasy. Hylas is being hunted, but he doesn't know why. All he knows is that the fearsome warrior Crows are trying to kill him and his fellow Outsiders -- and that they've taken his sister, Issi. Hylas is forced to flee across Bronze Age Greece, trying to stay alive long enough to find Issi, and along the way he encounters new allies -- Pirra, who's running from an arranged marriage, and Spirit, a helpful dolphin -- and discovers the foreboding truth about his destiny. This "polished blend of action, ancient history, and myth" (Publishers Weekly) is the 1st in an ongoing series by Michelle Paver, the author of Wolf Brother. |
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| The Eighth Day by Dianne K SalerniFantasy. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Grunsday? The hidden eighth day of the week can only be experienced by Transitioners, the descendants of Merlin, King Arthur, and the Knights of the Round Table. Jax Aubrey has no clue that he's a Transitioner until his 13th birthday, when he's suddenly thrust into a dangerous conflict between rival Transitioners -- a conflict that could destroy not only Evangeline, the reclusive girl next door, but also the normal world of the seven-day week. "Ancient magic pairs nicely with modern intrigue" (Kirkus Reviews) in this gripping Arthurian trilogy-starter. Jax's exploits continue in the 2nd book, The Inquisitor's Mark. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact The Urbandale Public Library at 515-331-4488, 3520 86th St., Urbandale, IA 50322 |
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