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| The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie ConnorStarring: seventh-grader Mason Buttle, who's big, sweaty, dyslexic, and targeted by bullies. But he's NOT lying about what happened on the day his best friend Benny died, no matter what police Lieutenant Baird thinks.
Who it's for: If you like hopeful stories that let you peek into a unique character's life, you'll enjoy spending time with Mason as he tries to make peace with his memories, as well as make friends with tiny, equally unpopular Calvin Chumsky. |
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| Checked by Cynthia KadohataWhat it's about: Just before he's supposed to try out for a professional youth hockey team, 11-year-old Conor learns that his dog, Sinbad, needs an expensive cancer treatment. Since money is tight in Conor's family, saving Sinbad means that Conor might have to give up the sport he loves.
Who it's for: athletes, hockey fans, and readers who like bittersweet slice-of-life stories. |
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Louis Undercover
by Fanny Britt; illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Graphic Novel. Ever since their parents split up, Louis has been shielding his little brother from Dad's tearful drinking and Mom's constant worrying. Seeing them, Louis thinks that if that's how love ends up, maybe he's better off never expressing his feelings for his beautiful, fearless classmate Billie. Sophisticated, softly colored artwork captures the bittersweet emotions in Louis Undercover.
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Escape From Aleppo by N. H SenzaiAfter Nadia is separated from her family while fleeing the civil war, she spends the next four days with a mysterious old man who helps her navigate the checkpoints and snipers of the rebel, ISIS, and Syrian armies that are littering Aleppo on her way tomeeting her father at the Turkish border.
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The Unicorn Quest by Kamilla BenkoWorrying about the older sister who battled a mysterious illness the previous year, Claire moves with her family into Windermere Manor, where a ladder in the fireplace leads them to a magical land filled with turmoil and brutal wraiths that have chased away the realm's beloved unicorns.
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Books You Might Have Missed
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| Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela CarterWhat it's about: With no memory of their birth parents and a long history of foster homes behind them, Flora and her little brother, Julian, find it hard to believe that they've finally been adopted by a caring family.
Why you might like it: It's both heart-wrenching and moving to follow Flora and Julian as they try to adjust and, with help from new mom Emily, confront the pain of their past. |
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| Bone Jack by Sara CroweWhat it's about: Ash should be proud to be leading this year's Stag Chase, an ancient ritual that persists in his modern English town. But with eerie incidents on the rise -- including his ex-best friend hiding in the woods and raving about old magic -- Ash's pride is replaced by fear that something sinister is stirring.
Who it's for: Blending fantasy, horror, and mythology, Bone Jack will captivate readers craving haunting, deeply creepy stories. |
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| Braced by Alyson GerberStarring: Rachel, who's starting seventh grade with awesome friends, a maybe-boyfriend, a spot as forward on the school soccer team, and a bulky spinal brace that makes her life complicated both on and off the field.
You might also like: Kwame Alexander's Booked, which also stars a middle school soccer player who's sidelined by an unexpected medical issue. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for readers ages 10-13!
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