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| Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers by John Dougherty; illustrated by Sam RicksAdventure. A crimewave is sweeping the island of Great Kerfuffle, and Stinkbomb's piggy bank is the latest victim. The culprits? A gang of no-good, mustache-wearing badgers, OBVIOUSLY. Seeking justice, Stinkbomb and his sister Ketchup-Face ask King Toothbrush Weasel to banish badgers from the island, and the king agrees -- but sends the siblings on a quest to round up the badgers themselves! Bursting with cartoony artwork and silly remarks aimed directly at you, the reader, this zany fantasy adventure is just right for readers who love Philip Reeve's Not-So-Impossible Tales series. |
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Friday Barnes, under suspicion
by R. A. Spratt
"The mystery continues in this middle-grade series about a genius girl detective who solves crimes at her exclusive boarding school"
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| Hazy Bloom and the Tomorrow Power by Jennifer Hamburg; illustrated by Jenn HarneyFiction. It begins with a weird prickly feeling and a sudden image of flying green peas. It takes third-grader Hazel "Hazy" Bloom a while to figure out that it's a vision of the near future, and it's just the first of many. High-spirited Hazy can't resist a challenge -- whether it's building a cupcake tower or trying to fit marshmallows up her nose -- but decoding her confusing visions seems to cause more disasters than it prevents. Can Hazel get a handle on her "tomorrow power" before it messes up her family, her friendships, and the school's spring carnival? Pick up this funny, fast-paced series-starter to find out. |
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| Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig KingFiction. Since his best friend has become a bully, 11-year-old Obe has lots of time to clean up the creek on his family's remaining piece of farmland, and that's where he finds the creature. Beagle-sized but with hooves, slimy skin, and a taste for plastic, the creature bonds with Obe, who names it Marvin Gardens. However, with so many housing developments being built nearby, it's hard to keep Marvin a secret for long… Similar to Sara Pennypacker's Pax, this sensitive story of a boy and his unusual companion will make you think about "how we treat each other and the planet" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| The Someday Birds by Sally J. PlaFiction. If Charlie can just spot all of the "someday" birds, his dad will be okay. At least that's what the 12-year-old hopes after his dad is injured and sent across the country for treatment. Charlie likes order and rituals, so as he and his siblings -- along with mysterious, pink-haired family friend Ludmila -- drive all the way from California to join their dad in Virginia, he carefully tries to complete his and his dad's birdwatching bucket list. Charlie's voice is both thoughtful and authentic as he describes the national landmarks, family drama, and desperate hope of this offbeat family road trip. |
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| The Luck Uglies by Paul DurhamFantasy. Eleven-year-old Rye knows the legend: years ago, the Bog Noblins preyed on Village Drowning, devouring villagers and wearing necklaces made from their feet. The fearsome creatures were driven away by the brave Luck Uglies, a secret society that hasn't been heard from since. But now the Bog Noblins are back, awakening the villagers' terror -- and Rye's curiosity. Along with her friends Quinn and Folly, Rye sets out to discover the village's secrets and the fate of the Luck Uglies. Bold characters, brisk pacing, and tons of action combine to make this series opener "a thumping good story" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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The Thing About Luck
by Cynthia Kadohata
Fiction. Luck has been in short supply for Summer and her Japanese American family. Usually they spend harvest season traveling the American Midwest, harvesting wheat to earn money. But with her parents suddenly called away to Japan, Summer and her brother Jaz have to spend harvest season with their old-fashioned grandparents instead. Jiichan and Obaachan may be caring (and sometimes even funny), but they're also frustrating, and their health isn't great -- which means that when things go wrong, it's up to Summer to make her own luck. If you love realistic yet offbeat characters, you'll definitely want to spend time with Summer and her family.
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| Lucky Strike by Bobbie PyronFiction. Eleven-year-old Nate is the unluckiest person in Paradise Beach, Florida. He's never won a coin toss, never been picked first, and his birthday wishes never come true. The only thing about Nate that isn't unlucky is his choice of smart, logical Gen as a best friend. After all, it's Gen's quick thinking that saves Nate's life when he's struck by lightning. After the strike, however, Nate's luck takes a turn, and though his popularity skyrockets, his friendship with Gen is threatened. Funny, folksy, and satisfying, Lucky Strike will be a hit with fans of Ingrid Law's Savvy and other realistic books with just a hint of magic. |
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| The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky by Holly SchindlerFiction. Though Auggie loves her neighborhood, she's excited about starting fifth grade in a different part of town. Her excitement disappears, however, after her best friend ditches her for a group of rich girls and the town's "beautification committee" starts fining her poor neighborhood for looking too shabby. Unwilling to back down, Auggie and her grandfather Gus use objects they've rescued from Gus' trash-hauling truck to start a beautification project of their own -- one that could either divide or unite their community. If this feel-good story leaves you curious about outsider art, you might also want to try Shelley Pearsall's The Seventh Most Important Thing. |
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| Three Times Lucky by Sheila TurnageMystery. Ever since her dramatic arrival (as a baby, she washed ashore during a hurricane), 11-year-old Moses LoBeau has lived in Tupelo Landing, North Carolina with eccentric Colonel LoBeau, the man who found her, and Miss Lana, who runs the local cafe. Mo's life is pretty quiet until an unpopular local resident is murdered and a detective comes to town looking for the culprit, stirring up all kinds of other trouble in the process. Readers who enjoy colorful ways with words, complicated yet compelling plots, and unforgettable characters will feel they've hit the jackpot with Three Times Lucky, the 1st in the Tupelo Landing series. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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San Mateo Public Library 55 West 3rd Avenue San Mateo, California 94402 (650) 522-7802www.smplibrary.org |
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