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Sanity & Tallulah
by Molly Brooks
Welcome to: Wilnick space station, home of science genius Sanity Jones and her best friend Tallulah Vega.
What happens: While tracking down Sanity's illegal, escaped science project (a giant three-headed cat named Princess Sparkle), the girls uncover a dangerous threat to the space station.
You might also like: Craig Thompson's Space Dumplins, another offbeat graphic novel set in outer space and starring a brave, resourceful heroine.
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Crush
by Svetlana Chmakova
What it's about: Jorge seems to have it all together. He's big enough that nobody really messes with him, but he's also a genuinely sweet guy with a solid, reliable group of friends. The only time he ever really feels off his game is when he crosses paths with a certain girl... But when the group dynamic among the boys starts to shift, will Jorge be able to balance what his friends expect of him versus what he actually wants?
Series alert: Crush is the newest installment in the Berrybrook Middle School series, following graphic novels Awkward and Brave.
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Putting Peace First: Seven Commitments to Change the World
by Eric David Dawson
What it's about: Seven strategies that children can use to make an impact in their communities and promote peace and tolerance.
About the author: When he was just eighteen, Eric David Dawson co-founded the non-profit Peace First based on the idea that young people can change the world for the better--not someday, but right now. Twenty-five years later, Peace First has reached millions worldwide, teaching young people how to become peacemakers and create real change.
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| Dragons in a Bag by Zetta ElliottIntroducing: nine-year-old Jax, who's not happy about spending a day with Ma, the grouchy old lady who raised his mom.
What happens: Ma turns out to be a witch, and soon Jax is joining her on a quest to transport three baby dragons from modern Brooklyn into the magical realm. Does he have what it takes to be a witch's apprentice? Series alert: Jax's fast-paced fantasy adventure continues -- dragons and all -- in 2019's The Dragon Thief. |
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The School's on Fire!: A True Story of Bravery, Tragedy, and Determination
by Rebecca C. Jones
What it's about: The School's On Fire! follows the path of the December 1958 fire at Our Lady of the Angels School in Chicago. Recounted in a fast-paced, blow-by-blow and classroom-by-classroom narrative, the tragedy is made accessible to kids by focusing on the survivors' stories of courage, quick thinking, and luck.
Don't miss: A useful "In Case of Fire" appendix provides practical information for kids facing dangerous situations.
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Cute as an Axolotl: Discovering the World's Most Adorable Animals
by Jess Keating
What it's about: Cute animals can melt our hearts and make us go awwwww ... But how well do we really know nature's cuddliest cutie-pies? Many creatures have developed cute features in order to survive in the wild. From fluffy fur to big round eyes to makeshift pom-poms and elegant feathery gills, cute adaptations allow these animals to scare off predators, withstand extreme climates, and even breathe underwater!
Series alert: If you like weird animal facts, be sure to check out Pink Is for Blobfish: Discovering the World's Perfectly Pink Animals by the same author.
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Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill
by Heather L. Montgomery
What it's about: Examines how animals killed during vehicle collisions can be useful in scientific research, from Tasmanian devil remains used in cancer research to red wolf remains used in genetic research and engineering.
You might also like: Zombie Makers by Rebecca L. Johnson and How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous if you enjoy your nonfiction with a side of "Yuck!"
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| The Dreamway by Lisa PapademetriouWhat it's about: Stella's suspicions that something strange is happening to her twin brother Cole are confirmed when a talking mouse arrives in Stella's bedroom to take her to the dream world, where Cole's spirit is being held captive.
Read it for: true-to-life characters and an unusual, imaginative fantasy setting.
For fans of: Tahereh Mafi's Furthermore or Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth. |
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Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon
by Suzanne Slade
What it's about: Told in free verse, the story of the American effort to land the first man on the moon comes to life. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced that the United States would try to land a man on the Moon within 10 years. During the 2,979 days that followed his speech, 18 astronauts climbed into spaceships; three of them died before even leaving the ground. Eight rockets soared into space. And 400,000 people--engineers, technicians, scientists, mathematicians and machinists--joined Project Apollo in hopes of making the dream a reality.
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| Love Like Sky by Leslie C. YoungbloodWhat it's about: Ever since their parents got divorced, Georgie and her little sister Peaches have been close, but now that their mom is remarried, Georgie longs to get closer to her teenage stepsister, Tangie...even though Tangie doesn't want anything to do with her.
Why you might like it: It's easy to relate to Georgie's excitement and confusion as she gets used to her newly "blended-up" family in this honest, heartwarming story. |
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Focus on: Nannies & Babysitters
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| Absolutely Almost by Lisa GraffStarring: ten-year-old Albie, who feels like he's not talented or smart enough to measure up to his family's expectations.
What happens: Kicked out of private school because he can't keep up in math and reading, Albie faces bullies at his new public school, but finds friendship with fellow outsider Betsy and free-spirited babysitter, Calista.
Is it for you? If you liked R.J. Palacio's Wonder or Jerry Spinelli's Loser, you'll enjoy this glimpse into the life of another caring but unpopular kid. |
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| Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Manus Pinkwater; illustrated by Adam StowerWhat it's about: Sweet old Mrs. Noodlekugel, who lives in a cozy cottage with her talking, piano-playing cat and some unusually helpful mice, isn't just Nick and Martine's new neighbor -- she's also their new babysitter.
Is it for you? Short, offbeat, and 1st in a trilogy, Mrs. Noodlekugel might be a good fit if you're new to chapter books. |
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The Adventures of Nanny Piggins
by R. A. Spratt
What it's about: When Mr. Green, a stingy widower with three children he cannot be bothered with, decides to find a nanny for his children, he winds up hiring a glamorous ex-circus pig who knows nothing about children but a lot about chocolate.
Series alert: If Nanny Piggins has you in giggles, check out the other books in the series: Nanny Piggins and the Wicked Plan and Nanny Piggins and the Runaway Lion.
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Lulu's Mysterious Mission
by Judith Viorst
What it's about: When Lulu's parents go on vacation, the formidable Ms. Sonia Sofia Solinsky comes to babysit. Lulu behaves as badly as possible to get her to leave until Ms. Solinsky reveals her astonishing secret.
Series alert: This third book in the Lulu series follows Lulu and the Brontosaurus and Lulu Walks the Dog.
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The Mysterious Howling
by Maryrose Wood
What it's about: Fifteen-year-old Miss Penelope Lumley, a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, is hired as governess to three young children who have been raised by wolves and must teach them to behave in a civilized manner quickly, in preparation for a Christmas ball.
Is it for you? This humorous take on the governess genre is a lighthearted cross between A Series of Unfortunate Events and Jane Eyre.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-12! |
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Morton Grove Public Library 6140 Lincoln Ave Morton Grove, Illinois 60053 (847) 965-4220www.mgpl.org/ |
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