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| Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. BunceIntroducing: Myrtle, a 12-year-old girl who’s more interested in crime and toxicology than she is in following Victorian rules for Young Ladies of Quality.
What happens: When nobody in her small English village believes that Myrtle’s neighbor was poisoned, Myrtle decides to find the murderer herself, proving both her intelligence and her skill as a sleuth.
Series alert: Packed with wit, twists, and eccentric characters, this book kicks off the Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series. |
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| Kondo & Kezumi Visit Giant Island by David Goodner; illustrated by Andrea TsurumiIntroducing: big yellow Kondo and little orange Kezumi, two island creatures who find a map in a bottle, build a bathtub boat, and set sail on a journey of exploration.
What’s inside: friendly monsters, cute fluffle-bunnies, an island of cheese, and a talking volcano named Albert.
Is it for you? If you want an easy-to-read chapter book or you love animation-style artwork, this cheerful adventure might be just right! |
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| Saucy by Cynthia KadohataWhat it's about: In search of something to set her apart from her three siblings, 11-year-old Becca adopts a lost, sick piglet and names it Saucy. But adding an ever-growing pig to an already busy, messy family turns out to be way more trouble than Becca expected.
Why you might like it: It's hard not to smile at Saucy's attitude-filled antics, and you'll want to spend even more time with Becca and her diverse, loving, perfectly imperfect family. |
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Before the Ever After
by Jacqueline Woodson
What it's about: The son of an idolized pro-football star begins noticing the contrast between his father’s angry, forgetful behavior and his superhero reputation before adjusting to a new reality involving difficult symptoms stemming from his father’s numerous head injuries.
About the author: Jacqueline Woodson is the National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming.
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The Silver Arrow
by Lev Grossman
What it's about: For Kate's 11th birthday, her eccentric uncle gives her a highly unusual steam train. It communicates with playful print-outs, is fully stocked with candy and books, and comes with an important mission: to conduct endangered talking animals to new habitats around the world.
Why you might like: The Silver Arrow combines whimsical adventure with a serious look at Earth's changing environment.
For fans of: classic offbeat fantasy authors such as Roald Dahl and Daniel Pinkwater.
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| One-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko; illustrated by Églantine CeulemansWhat it's about: Either the dog or the family has to go! So says the landlord of the apartment where Liam and his family live with Cupcake, their German Shepherd who keeps peeing on the carpet. Can Liam and his younger sisters -- scientist Dakota and hug expert Izzy -- find a way to keep both their dog and their home?
You might also like: Dana Alison Levy's Family Fletcher series, for further slice-of-life stories about a quirky, loving family. |
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| The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue by Karina Yan GlaserWhat it's about: During one hectic week, the five Vanderbeeker kids team up to save their mom's baking business and investigate the abandoned pets that keep appearing at their already-crowded home.
Series alert: Although this is the 3rd book about the determined, energetic Vanderbeekers, the story stands on its own.
Further reading: Similar to the Vanderbeekers series, Emma Donoghue's Lotterys series focuses on the joys and challenges of life in a large multiracial family. |
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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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| Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunnWelcome to: Gingerbread Island, North Carolina, where protective older sister Cat and her brother Chicken are visiting the grandparents they’ve only just met.
What happens: Since their dad died, Cat has taken care of Chicken while their mom works. But with their grandparents around to help, Cat's responsibilities shift, making her reconsider how she fits into her family.
Try this next: Teresa E. Harris’ The Perfect Place, which also follows siblings who spend a life-changing summer with an older relative. |
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| Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-GarciaWhat it's about: Sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern travel from their Brooklyn home to rural Alabama so they can spend the summer of 1969 with their grandmother, Big Ma. While there, the girls discover the complicated history of their African American family and get tangled in a long-standing feud between Big Ma and her half-sister.
Series alert: Warm, vivid, and authentic, Gone Crazy in Alabama is a satisfying conclusion to the award-winning series that begins with One Crazy Summer and P.S. Be Eleven. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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