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| Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox by Michael BuckleyWhat it’s about: You can’t blame 11-year-old Finn for being shocked -- he didn’t exactly expect to find a wormhole generator inside his sister’s lunchbox. And he definitely didn’t expect the generator to attach itself to him, making him an intergalactic target.
Featuring: Finn’s mismatched team of helpers, which include his unicorn-loving sister Kate, school bully Lincoln, conspiracy buff Julep, and alien robot Highbeam.
For fans of: author Michael Buckley’s earlier series, Sisters Grimm and NERDS, as well as anyone looking for funny science fiction. |
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| Lila and Hadley by Kody KeplingerWhat it’s about: With her mom in jail, angry 12-year-old Hadley is sent to live with her sister in Kentucky, where she deals with two unexpected tasks: learning to get around as she goes blind from eye disease and training antisocial rescue dog Lila.
Why you might like it: Hadley and Lila are prickly and persistent, and you’ll be pulling for them both as they figure out how to help each other in this honest, hopeful book. |
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| Ghost Squad by Claribel A. OrtegaWelcome to: St. Augustine, Florida, where Lucely Luna lives with her dad and the friendly ghosts of her large, caring family.
What happens: Hoping to revive the fading ghost of Lucely’s abuela, Lucely and her best friend Syd cast a spell and accidentally unleash a group of sinister, vengeful spirits.
Further reading: Similar to Ghost Squad, Anna Meriano’s Love Sugar Magic series is a funny supernatural fantasy starring a Latina heroine with a close-knit family and a taste for magic. |
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| The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca SteadWhat it's about: Twelve-year-old Bea looks back on the last few years of her life, describing her parents’ divorce, her dad’s marriage to his boyfriend Jesse, her hope of bonding with new stepsister Sonia...as well as some stuff she’s not proud of.
Why you might like it: Bea’s messy feelings -- excitement, anger, embarrassment, stress -- are so believable that you’ll feel like she’s a real person you know. |
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The Thief Knot
by Kate Milford
What it's about: When her parents are recruited to help solve a puzzling crime, Marzana assembles a group of unusual kid detectives, including the ghost of a ship captain’s daughter, to explore hidden passageways and magical architecture to foil a band of kidnappers.
Want more?: Give The Boneshaker a try. It's another great novel from Kate Milford, available on BRIDGES.
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Inspired by Fairy Tales and Folklore
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Sleeping Beauty, The One Who Took The Really Long Nap
by Wendy Mass
What it's about: In a fresh, new version of a favorite tale, Princess Rose is forced to avoid sharp objects because of a fairy curse, but when she nonetheless falls into a 100-year sleep after accidentally pricking her finger, the slumbering princess is discovered by a prince who worries about his bloodthirsty ogre mother.
Series alert: This is just one of Wendy Mass's Twice Upon A Time novels. This series can be read in any order. So strat with this one or any of the other three.
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| The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani DasguptaWhat it's about: Kiran's a typical 6th grader -- until her 12th birthday, when her parents disappear and she's attacked by a rakkhosh demon. Soon, Kiran joins two princes (and their flying horses) on a quest to save her parents and discover her true identity as an interdimensional demon slayer.
Who it's for: Inspired by Bengali folktales and filled with action and laugh-out-loud humor, Kiran's adventures are a perfect fit for Rick Riordan fans.
Series alert: 1st in the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series. |
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The Missing Dwarf
by Anna Staniszewski
What it's about: When one of Snow White’s dwarf buddies is kidnapped by the evil queen, Kara and Zed embark on a daring magical mission in the hope of rescuing the dwarf from the queen’s formidable castle in time for Snow White’s wedding.
Series alert: This is the third book in the Once Upon A Fairy Tale series. Catch the beginning with The Magic Mirror.
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| Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists by Chris Duffy (editor)What it is: a collection of 17 fairy tales with makeovers from a crew of comic artists.
What’s inside: the comfort of familiar stories (such as an exciting "Rapunzel" and a wordless, hysterically funny "Goldilocks and the Three Bears") mingled with the surprises of lesser-known tales (like the Japanese "The Boy Who Drew Cats").
Art alert: With a huge variety of art styles and artists (such as Raina Telgemeier and Brett Helquist), there’s something for everyone in Fairy Tale Comics. |
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Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
by Liesl Shurtliff
What it's about: When his mother dies without revealing his full name, Rump endures teasing for his half-name until he discovers his ability to spin gold, a talent that entangles him in a dire curse and prompts a fantastical quest to discover his true identity.
Want more?: You might also like Red and Jack from Shurtliff, available now on audiobook at the Independence Public Library.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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