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| Gertie's Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley; illustrated by Jillian TamakiGertie Reece Foy is "one-hundred-percent, not-from-concentrate awesome," and she's ready to prove it. Sure, her mom walked out and moved to the other side of their Alabama town when Gertie was a baby, but that's all the more reason to show her what a great daughter she's missing.
If you're a fan of The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata then you'll be rooting for Gertie in this slice-of-life story featuring spirited artwork by award-winning illustrator Jillian Tamaki. |
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| Welcome to Wonderland: Home Sweet Motel by Chris Grabenstein; illustrated by Brooke AllenEleven-year-old P. T. Wilkie knows one thing for a fact: the Wonderland Motel is the best place a kid could ever live! There's only one thing the Wonderland doesn't have, though--customers. And if the Wonderland doesn't get them soon, P.T. and his friend Gloria may have to say goodbye to their beloved motel forever.
If you like this series opener about an optimistic Florida kid hustling to keep his family afloat, you may also want to try Jennifer L. Holm's Full of Beans. |
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| Garvey's Choice by Nikki GrimesWhy do so many people seem to want Garvey to be someone he's not? Kids at school tease him for being fat, and his dad is disappointed that Garvey isn't athletic like his sister. Only his friend Joe understands that Garvey prefers science fiction and music to sports -- and it's through music that he's finally able to find new friends and chance to share who he really is.
Written in short yet powerful tanka poems, Garvey's Choice is a sensitive, honest read that's just right for fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Sharon Creech, and Kwame Alexander. |
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| When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace LinPinmei's gentle, loving grandmother always has the most exciting tales for her granddaughter and the other villagers. However, the peace is shattered one night when soldiers of the Emperor arrive and kidnap the storyteller.
Readers of Grace Lin's earlier books will relish this new title. |
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| Isabella for Real by Margie Palatini; illustrated by LeUyen PhamWhen Isabella Antonelli becomes an overnight YouTube sensation in a documentary detailing her REAL, non-royal Italian American family, she needs to figure out a way to tell everyone at her fancy new school the truth about her family--or come up with some better lies.
Told through a page-turning combination of words and comics, Isabella's tale of accidental internet fame, middle school embarrassment, and quirky family mishaps will be lots of fun for fans of Sticks by Joan Bauer. |
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| The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali BenjaminTwelve-year-old Suzy Swanson wades through her intense grief over the loss of her best friend by investigating the rare jellyfish she is convinced was responsible for her friend's death.
For another heart-twisting story about the search for answers after a friend's death, try Elana K. Arnold's The Question of Miracles. |
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| Paper Things by Jennifer JacobsonLeaving with her brother when he decides he can no longer stay with their guardian, Ari endures a life of homelessness that challenges her schoolwork, friendships, and the promise made to her mother that she and her brother would stay together.
Those who enjoy this bittersweet story about family homelessness may also appreciate Katherine Applegate's Crenshaw. |
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| The Thing About Luck by Cynthia KadohataJust when twelve-year-old Summer thinks nothing else can possibly go wrong in a year of bad luck, an emergency takes her parents to Japan, leaving Summer to care for her little brother while helping her grandmother cook and do laundry for harvest workers.
If you love realistic yet offbeat characters like Summer, you'll definitely want to pick up Protecting Marie by Kevin Henkes as well. |
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| The Only Thing Worse Than Witches by Lauren MagazinerEleven-year-old Rupert cannot resist applying to an advertisement to be a witch's apprentice, but quickly finds himself over his head with the young witch-in-training who desperately needs his help.
Similar to the stories of Louis Sachar and Roald Dahl, The Only Thing Worse Than Witches is a funny, easy-to-read brew of everyday events mixed with fantasy and over-the-top silliness. |
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| The Book of Bad Things by Dan PoblockiTwelve-year-old Cassidy Bean did not expect her summer with the Tremont family to make it into her book of bad things, but this year, a local hoarder has died under mysterious circumstances, and Cassidy finds that there a great many bad and dangerous things hidden in her house, including her vengeful ghost.
Filled with action and shivery terror, this is a perfect pick for fans of The Seer of Shadows by Avi-- just don't blame us if you have to sleep with the lights on! |
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