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A Small Zombie Problem
by K.G. Campbell
Starring: lonely August DuPont, who's never been allowed outside his family’s ramshackle mansion until he receives an invitation from an aunt he didn’t know he had.
What happens: August gets a crash course in eerie family history, as well as a new companion: Claudette, the undead relative who follows him home.
Series alert: This goofy and ghoulish illustrated book is the 1st in the Zombie Problems series.
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The friendship war
by Andrew Clements
What it's about: When Grace takes boxes of old buttons from a building her grandfather bought, she starts a fad at school that draws her closer to one friend, but further from another.
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Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School
by Julie Falatko; illustrated by Colin Jack
The problem: Loyal dogs Sassy and Waldo aren’t allowed to follow their human, Stewart, to school.
The solution: With the help of a handy disguise, the dogs go undercover at Stewart’s school as new student Salty Woofadogington. Because no one would ever suspect a squirrel-obsessed kid in a trench coat…right?
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| Dear Sweet Pea by Julie MurphyStarring: seventh-grader Sweet Pea, who spends her time shuttling between her divorced parents’ identical houses, intercepting letters sent to the local advice columnist, and hanging out with her giant cat.
What happens: Although Sweet Pea has good intentions when she starts responding to the stolen letters, the results make things complicated for both her family and her changing friendships.
Who it’s for: older readers who enjoy drama sweetened with humor and heart. |
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| The Dragon Warrior by Katie ZhaoWelcome to: San Francisco’s Chinatown, which has been “demon-free since ‘83” thanks to the warriors of the Jade Society.
What happens: Although Feryn Liu and her brother have been cast out by the Jade Society, they take up a quest to prove that Feryn is destined to become the legendary warrior known as the Heaven Breaker.
For fans of: Rick Riordan, and other authors whose adventure stories feature modern kids alongside old gods and mythological creatures. |
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| Mac B., Kid Spy: Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Mike LoweryWhat it is: the story of how regular kid (and future author) Mac Barnett became a secret agent in the 1980s. It's all true, too! Or so he says…
What happens: The Queen of England asks Mac to find her stolen Coronation Spoon, leading him to a corgi sidekick, an international search, and some extremely silly spycraft.
Don't miss: a drawing of the Queen wearing unicorn jammies, one of the many laugh-till-you-snort cartoons in this series-starting chapter book. |
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| The League of Unexceptional Children by Gitty DaneshvariWhat it’s about: The U.S. vice president has been kidnapped, national security is at risk, and the country's best hope is two extremely ordinary middle schoolers.
Starring: Shelley and Jonathan, the newest recruits to the League of Unexceptional Children, a spy agency made up of kids so average that no one notices them.
Why you might like it: Shelley and Jonathan's offbeat, fast-paced adventure will leave you laughing -- and reaching for Get Smart-ish, the next book in the series. |
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| Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls by Beth McMullenWhat it’s about: After transferring to the elite Smith School, rule-breaker Abigail is shocked to learn that the school doubles as a spy training program, and that her first spy mission will be to locate her mom, and undercover agent who’s gone missing.
Read it for: off-kilter humor, cool spy gear, and plenty of action.
You might also like: Stuart Gibbs’ Spy School, another funny page-turner that kicks off a series about spies in training. |
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| The Doublecross (and Other Skills I Learned As a Superspy) by Jackson PearceWhat it’s about: Hale Jordan might be “as graceful as a potato,” but when his parents, superspies for the Sub Rosa Society, disappear during a mission, he’s ready to rescue them from the evil League. Only it turns out that the League might not be as evil as Hale thought... What’s inside: easy-to-like characters and clever plot twists, as well as spy gadgets made from pipe cleaners and lasers. |
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| Codename Zero by Chris RylanderThe setting: Minot, North Dakota, where seventh-grader Carson fends off boredom through epic pranks.
The set-up: Carson definitely isn’t bored after a mysterious man hands him a package that’s set to self-destruct, leading Carson to uncover the secret government agencies and scary conspiracies that lurk in his not-so-humdrum hometown.
Read it for: a high-energy thriller that will make you smile and keep you on the edge of your seat. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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