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"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." ~ Wayne W. Dyer, American author and motivational speaker
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New and Recently Released!
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| El Deafo by Cece BellGraphic Memoir. Cece has a secret identity. Since she's deaf, she wears a Phonic Ear device at school, which (in her imagination, at least) transforms her into El Deafo, a superhero who can hear her teacher all over the school -- even in the bathroom! Despite this amazing power, Cece has a tough time finding friends who really understand her. El Deafo's cartoon illustrations -- in which everyone has rabbit ears -- show speech written out exactly as Cece hears (or mishears) it, inviting you to share her experience. If you loved Raina Telgemeier's Smile, don't miss this funny, honest memoir about the challenges and rewards of being different. |
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| Kinda Like Brothers by Coe BoothFiction. Jarrett's mom takes in foster babies all the time, but little Treasure is different: she comes with her 12-year-old brother, Kevon. Jarrett's already dealing with asthma attacks, summer school, and finishing the movie trailer he's making with his friend Ennis. The last thing he wants is Kevon staying in his room, coming to the community center, and impressing his crush, Caprice. Hoping to get rid of him, Jarrett pries into Kevon's past -- but he doesn't consider the consequences. Older readers looking for another authentic story about a foster kid in a close-knit urban neighborhood should check out Jacqueline Woodson's After Tupac and D Foster. |
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| Space Case: A Moon Base Alpha Novel by Stuart GibbsMystery. Life among the colonists on Moon Base Alpha is surprisingly dull and predictable...until the base's doctor is found dead. Though it looks like an accident, Dash Gibson has reason to believe that Dr. Holtz may have been murdered. There's no shortage of suspects, so Dash recruits two tech-savvy new friends to help with his investigation, never forgetting that they might be trapped in space with a killer. Combining a futuristic setting with the style of an old-fashioned whodunit, Space Case is a clever, twisty mystery. |
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| When Lunch Fights Back: Wickedly Clever Animal Defenses by Rebecca L. JohnsonNonfiction. From the author of Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature's Undead comes another awesomely gross book about weird wildlife. Focusing on animals with odd or unexpected ways of fending off predators, When Lunch Fights Back offers exciting, photo-illustrated action scenes of creatures escaping attack, followed by fascinating facts about each animal's ability. For instance, the hagfish (nickname: snot eel) can create an instant cloud of slime, and fluffy hoopoe chicks can shoot super-stinky streams of poop. If photos of these intriguing critters just aren't enough, the book concludes with a list of online videos to tempt curious readers. |
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| Rain Reign by Ann M. MartinFiction. Fans of Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird will be drawn to Rain Reign's heroine Rose, a fifth-grader with Asperger's. Rose's obsession with homonyms and her dedication to following rules make her a target for the mean kids at school, and life at home with her alcoholic dad isn't much better. At least she's got her Uncle Weldon, and the reassuring company of her dog, Rain. When Rain goes missing, however, the fragile order of Rose's world is shattered. It might sound like a tearjerker, but Rose's straight-shooting narration is endearing and sometimes funny, making Rain Reign easy to read and hard to resist. |
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In honor of National Kindness Day on November 13, we're celebrating R.J. Palacio's Wonder and its message of choosing kindness with this list of books about kids who are living with differences, coping with bullies, and searching for belonging. Wonder fans should also be sure to check out R.J. Palacio's latest book, 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts.
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| Runt by Nora Raleigh BaskinFiction. In this honest and creatively told story, you're invited to experience all the drama, misunderstanding, and casual cruelty of everyday life in one sixth-grade class. Though the book focuses on two specific bullying incidents -- one on Facebook, one resulting in a fistfight -- it offers a fascinating range of viewpoints on each situation, allowing you to get inside the heads of not just the bullies and victims, but also of friends and bystanders -- even a dog! If you like all-too-realistic stories with touches of humor and hope, you should definitely pick up Runt. |
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| Out of My Mind by Sharon M. DraperFiction. Nearly 11 years old, Melody Brooks has never spoken a word. She has cerebral palsy and can't walk, talk, or feed herself, and her body "tends to move on its own agenda" -- but, while the kids and teachers around her don't know it, she is the smartest kid in the whole school. Being stuck inside her head is driving Melody out of her mind...until she gets a special computer that allows her to finally express her thoughts. But are people ready to hear them? This emotionally intense and compelling story, narrated by Melody, is a tribute to the strength and bravery of every kid with challenges to overcome.
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| Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg SloanRealistic Fiction. Plants, diseases, and the number seven -- these are Willow Chance's main interests. While her adoptive parents understand Willow's eccentric brilliance, the kids at school are less accepting. Still, she manages to befriend Mai Nguyen and her brother Quang-ha when she meets them at the school counselor's office, and their friendship goes from exciting to crucial when Willow's parents die in a car crash and the Nguyens take her in. With a diverse, memorable cast of characters, this bittersweet story of a remarkable girl discovering family in unexpected places is "frank, charming, and delightfully odd" (Booklist). |
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| Loser by Jerry SpinelliFiction. The bullies in his class call him "loser," but quirky Donald Zinkoff hardly notices. Although he's clumsy, he laughs too much, his schoolwork is sloppy, and (due to a stomach problem) he throws up a lot, Donald is good-natured and enthusiastic about pretty much everything. Does that make him a pathetic weirdo, or an unsung hero? It's up to you to decide in this fast-moving, feel-good story. If you relate to characters who, like Donald, are more caring than they are popular or talented, you may also enjoy Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff. |
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| Warp Speed by Lisa YeeFiction. Seventh-grader Marley Sandelski is a self-admitted geek who loves Star Trek, science, and classic movies and spends a lot of time running from the jocks who torment him at school. When the track and field coach notices Marley's considerable speed, he offers him a spot on the team -- but Marley isn't sure he's cut out for competition. Several characters from author Lisa Yee's other books, including Millicent Min and Stanford Wong, make cameo appearances in this fast-paced and funny look at fitting in...or not. |
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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 Round Rock Public Library at
512-218-5400, 221 E. Main Street Round Rock, Texas 78664
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