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| Houdini and Me by Dan GutmanStarring: 21st-century New York City kid Harry Mancini, an expert on 20th-century illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini.
What happens: When Harry begins getting magical texts from Houdini's ghost, he's amazed and thrilled… until Houdini suggests an alarming feat: swapping bodies and time periods with Harry.
Author alert: If you love author Dan Gutman's series (such as My Weird School and The Genius Files), don't miss this witty, fast-paced fantasy. |
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Breathing underwater
by Sarah Elisabeth Allen
Accompanying family members to the site of a time capsule they buried near their former home, a 12-year-old aspiring photographer worries about her older sister’s worsening depression before discovering the power of being there for a loved one. 35,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook.
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| Forever Home by Jenna AyoubWhat it's about: Tired of moving every couple of years with her military parents, Willow is determined to make a home in historic Hadleigh House -- even though it's already occupied by a slew of stubborn spirits.
Why you might like it: Well-versed in horror movies, Willow is a fearless and funny heroine, and her upbeat attitude is echoed in this graphic novel's lively, animation-style illustrations.
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| The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas by María García Esperón; illustrated by Amanda Mijangos; translated by David BowlesWhat it is: a poetic, dramatic, and fascinating book of traditional tales from Native cultures and nations across North and South America.
What's inside: a Maya story about playing ball in the underworld; a Hopi tale starring Spider Grandmother; an Alutiiq warning for careless hunters; a Nahua two-spirit story; plus many more.
Why you might like it: Eye-catching illustrations and extra-short stories make this book just right for stop-and-start readers, as well as those obsessed with myths and legends. |
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| Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee NutterWhat it's about: Feeling overlooked in her family and lonely at her new school, Maggie longs for a puppy to keep her company. When a trip to the animal shelter causes a major allergic reaction, however, Maggie realizes that finding the perfect animal friend will be more complicated than she expected.
Why you might like it: If you deal with allergies of your own or you've ever felt confused about your family and friends, you might relate to Maggie's experiences in this colorful, slice-of-life graphic novel. |
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| Granted by John David AndersonWelcome to: the Haven, where fairy Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets has just gotten her first assignment to fulfill a human's wish.
What happens: Traveling in the human world is tough for tiny Ophelia, but she finds friendship with homeless dog Sam. As she gets closer to her goal, however, she can't stop wondering: who decides which wishes are important, and why?
Try this next: For further feel-good fantasies focused on wishes, try Faith Harkey's Genuine Sweet or Lauren Myracle's Wishing Day. |
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The middler
by Kirsty Applebaum
Invisible and forgotten even by her family in an isolated community cut off from the deceitful outside world, the 11-year-old sister of a military hero finds her perspectives transformed by a chance encounter with a stranger who reveals the truth about her community’s xenophobic existence.
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| Inkling by Kenneth OppelWhat it's about: Grieving the loss of his mom and stuck with a school project he can't finish, Ethan Rylance is struggling. Luckily, help arrives in the form of Inkling, a living inkblot who can read, write, draw, and (most importantly) listen.
Why you might like it: With true-to-life characters, off-kilter humor (Inkling talks like whatever he's read recently), and interesting ideas about creativity and friendship, Inkling is a quirky and memorable read. |
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A wish in the dark
by Christina Soontornvat
Escaping from the prison where he was born, Pong discovers harrowing truths about the gap between the world’s privileged ruling class and impoverished laborers, while the prison warden’s daughter who is hunting him uncovers other daunting secrets. Simultaneous eBook.
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| Orphan Island by Laurel SnyderThe rules: Each year, a boat delivers a new youngest child to the magical island of orphans. Then the boat takes away the Elder, so that there are always nine kids remaining.
The rulebreaker: When it's Jinny's turn to be the Elder, she refuses to leave, upsetting the island's peaceful balance.
Why you might like it: This unusual, mysterious fantasy will make you ask questions about the way things are done on the island, as well as in the real world. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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