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Lintang and the Pirate Queen
by Tamara Moss
What it’s about: Lintang's dream of adventure on the high seas comes true when Captain Shafira invites her to join her pirate crew. However, Lintang's best friend, Bayani, has stowed away and is keeping secrets.
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Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
by Kwame Mbalia
What it’s about: Haunted by the bus accident that ended his best friend’s life, Tristan Strong dreads a visit to his grandparents’ Alabama farm. When a bizarre living doll snatches away his friend’s notebook, he is drawn into a world of burning seas, iron monsters and exhausted black folk heroes.
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Dragonfell
by Sarah Prineas
What it’s about: Rafi Bywater is unlike anyone else. The people in his village don't trust him because he spends too much time in an abandoned dragon lair. When a stranger, Mister Flitch, accuses Rafi of being "dragon-touched," Rafi sets off to discover the truth about dragons -- and about himself.
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Weird Little Robots
by Carolyn Crimi; illustrated by Corinna Luyken
Starring: birdhouse-builder Lark and robot-maker Penny Rose, who become best friends and promise to protect their shared secret: Penny Rose’s robots are alive.
What happens: Penny Rose gets a long-awaited invitation to the Secret Science Society, but if she wants to join, she’ll have to reveal her robots and ruin her friendship with Lark.
Who it’s for: makers, tinkerers, and scientists, as well as readers looking for smart, spunky characters.
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Pie in the Sky
by Remy Lai
What it’s about: After the loss of his father, 12-year-old Jingwen immigrates to Australia with his family. Though his brother Yanghao has no trouble fitting in, Jingwen feels like an alien. The only thing that makes him feel better is baking the cakes he dreamed up with his dad -- an activity he has to hide from his strict mother.
Read it for: an easy-to-read blend of words and crisp cartoon art (think Raina Telgemeier or Gene Luen Yang).
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| Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan AuxierWhat it's about: As a chimney sweep in Victorian London, orphan Nan Sparrow is used to loneliness and grimy, dangerous work. Then one day she's rescued from an accident by a strange creature -- a golem -- who becomes her loyal companion.
Why you might like it: Blending fantasy, history, and Jewish folktales, Sweep has something for lots of different readers.
Try this next: Katherine Rundell's Rooftoppers, another historical tale offering a kid's rooftop view of a famous city. |
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| The Parker Inheritance by Varian JohnsonWhat it's about: After finding intriguing clues in her grandmother's attic, bookish 12-year-old Candice and her new friend Brandon search for buried treasure in a small Southern town haunted by the ugly history of racism.
Why you might like it: Switching between Candice's present-day story and her grandmother's in 1957, this suspenseful puzzle mystery encourages you, just like the characters, to piece the clues together. |
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| The House That Lou Built by Mae RespicioThe project: Although 12-year-old Lou loves her large Filipino family, she craves a space of her own, and has big plans to build a tiny house on the patch of land she inherited from her dad.
The problem: After Lou’s ownership of the land is challenged, she has to act fast and get creative to make her dream house a reality.
Why you might like it: You’ll be rooting for bold, capable Lou and her colorful collection of family and friends. |
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| Camp Panda: Helping Cubs Return to the Wild by Catherine ThimmeshWhat it is: A fascinating, fact-filled book about how humans are helping to increase the threatened giant panda population by preparing panda cubs for life in the wild.
Art alert: Camp Panda is packed with photos of cute, fuzzy baby pandas, as well as memorable pictures of human scientists wearing panda costumes!
You might also like: Nancy F. Castaldo’s Back from the Brink, another hopeful book that explores efforts to save endangered species. |
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| The Collectors by Jacqueline WestBe careful what you wish for: After Van, a hearing impaired kid with talent for noticing things, spots a strange girl and a silver squirrel diving for pennies in a fountain, he follows them back to the underground realm of the Collectors, who collect wishes and try to prevent their scariest consequences.
Series alert: This imaginative and fast-moving fantasy is followed by a sequel, A Storm of Wishes. |
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Contact Your Librarian for More Great Books for Ages 8-11! |
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Forsyth County Public Library 660 W 5th Street Winston Salem, North Carolina 27101 336-703-3030www.forsythlibrary.org |
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