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| Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell BoyceSeparated from his aging caregiver grandfather and placed in a foster home, Prez forges an unusual friendship with an alien who appears as a dog to everyone else and entreats Prez to help compile a list of Earth's redeeming qualities to prevent the planet from being destroyed.
Quirky and heartfelt, this science fiction story can be enjoyed by all kinds of readers. For fans of Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. |
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| Finding Mighty by Sheela ChariThe note Randall leaves behind reads "Don't find me," but that doesn't stop his younger brother, Peter, from looking for him. Peter is joined in his search by neighbor Myla, whose unusual necklace offers a clue about the long-hidden stash of diamonds that Randall is seeking. Unfortunately, a local gang is also after the diamonds, which forces Randall, Peter, and Myla into a puzzling, high-stakes race to see who can find the loot first.
With unusual subjects and local New York history to explore, this diverse and page-turning mystery is good bet for fans of KiKi Strike by Kristen Miller. |
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| The Girl with the Ghost Machine by Lauren DeStefanoNeglected by her father who spends all of his time building a ghost machine to bring her mother back from the dead, twelve-year-old Emmaline decides that the only way to bring her father back will be to make the machine work, or destroy it forever.
If you're looking for an outside-the-box ghost story, don't miss this creepy, thoughtful, and heartbreaking tale -- and make sure you have some tissues ready! For fans of Julia's Kitchen by Brenda Ferber. |
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| The Unlucky Lottery Winners of Classroom 13 by Honest Lee and Matthew J. GilbertWhen unlucky teacher Ms. Linda LaCrosse wins the lottery, she shares her winnings with her class! With great money comes horrible allergies, steep taxes, exploding volcanoes, and other problems. As the students of Classroom 13 are about to learn, winning the lottery is not always lucky.
This entertaining read is for fans of Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker. |
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| Orphan Island by Laurel SnyderOn an island where one child is delivered each year while the eldest is taken away, nine children live under the leadership of new elder Jinny, who trains the latest newcomer and wonders what will happen when her own departure occurs.
Anyone who's ever doubted the way things are done will relate to rebellious Jinny, while the mysterious island will leave you with lots of fascinating questions to talk about. For fans of Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. |
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Focus on: Canadian Authors
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| Seaglass Summer by Anjali BanerjeeWhile spending a month on an island off the coast of Washington helping in her Uncle Sanjay's veterinary clinic, eleven-year-old Poppy Ray soon questions her decision to follow in her uncle's footsteps.
Wanna-be vets and other animal lovers who can't get enough of determined Poppy may also enjoy the spunky heroine of Jacqueline Kelly's Calpurnia Tate series. |
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| One Year in Coal Harbor by Polly HorvathIn a small fishing village in British Columbia, twelve-year-old Primrose tries to be a matchmaker for her Uncle Jack, befriends Ked, a new foster child, tries to decide if she is willing to go to jail for her convictions, and together with Ked, publishes a cook book to raise money for the Fisherman's Aid.
Sprinkled with recipes you can try, this witty and bittersweet sequel can be enjoyed by anyone, but will be more fun if you've already read Everything on a Waffle. |
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| Blue Mountain by Martine LeavittTuk the bighorn sheep is told he will be the one to save his herd, but he is young and would rather play with his bandmates than figure out why the herd needs saving. As humans encroach further and further into their territory, there is less room for the sheep to wander, food becomes scarce, and the herd's very survival is in danger.
Told in the poetic, exciting style of traditional folk tales, this "timeless yet fresh" (Kirkus Reviews) book will appeal to fans of animal survival stories such as Kenneth Oppel's Silverwing Saga. |
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| The Nest by Kenneth OppelFor some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it's just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp's nest looming ominously from the eaves.
While it begins as a realistic story, The Nest steadily grows creepier, building to a breathless, terrifying climax. For a less disturbing look at a similar situation, pick up David Almond's Skellig. |
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| The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden by Emma TrevayneAt age twelve, grave robber Thomas Marsden discovers a boy who looks just like him in an unmarked grave and begins a journey of discovery as he learns of faeries trapped in London and their hope that he can return them to their realm..
Like Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, this creepy yet whimsical fantasy oozes with suspense. |
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