|
|
"We may just be specters in this world, but our stories, if they are remembered and retold, become real and solid and alive... Once you hear a story, it becomes part of you. It can't die." ~ from Candace Fleming's On the Day I Died
|
|
New and Recently Released!
|
|
| The League of Seven by Alan Gratz; illustrated by Brett HelquistSteampunk Fantasy. High stakes, steampunk style, and detailed world-building make this series opener stand out. In a steam-powered version of 1875 America, the secret Septemberist Society protects humanity from the Mangleborn monsters imprisoned beneath the earth. When the Septemberists -- including 12-year-old Archie's parents -- are brainwashed, it's up to Archie to save them (and the world). Aided by his wind-up servant, Mr. Rivets, Archie begins to assemble a powerful group of seven heroes, starting with Hachi, a Seminole girl with serious combat skills, and Fergus, a kilt-wearing mechanic. Imaginative and briskly paced, this action-packed fantasy is perfect for fans of Brandon Sanderson's The Rithmatist or Heather Mackey's Dreamwood. |
|
| Where I Belong by Mary Downing HahnFiction. A secret treehouse provides a much-needed escape for artistic sixth-grade outsider Brendan. Retreating to nature is much easier for Brendan than dealing with the cruelty of the students and teachers at school, or the foster mother who doesn't care about him. The only people allowed in Brendan's tree house are his new friends: elderly Ed, who reminds Brendan of the mythical forest spirit known as the Green Man, and fellow misfit Shea. Together, they create a comforting fantasy world -- but is it enough to shield them from the dangers of reality? If you loved Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia and you're looking for another authentic, moving story (but with older characters), Where I Belong is for you. |
|
| Courage for Beginners by Karen HarringtonFiction. Wisecracking, red-haired Mysti Murphy likes to imagine that she's a character in a book, because narrating her own life is less stressful than living it. Her mother's agoraphobia prevents her from leaving the house, and her dad has just been hospitalized with a brain injury. As if that wasn't enough, Mysti's only friend, Anibal, has joined the popular crowd and turned into a bully. Feeling scared and suddenly responsible for her family, Mysti -- with the help of her quirky classmate, Rama -- will have to dig deep to find the creativity and courage she needs. Grimly realistic but lightened with humor and hope, Courage for Beginners "is a window into making friends and facing fears" (Kirkus Reviews). |
|
| The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. HolmFiction. At first, Ellie isn't too thrilled to be attending middle school alongside her Grandpa Melvin. Nope, it's not time travel -- Melvin is a scientist who discovered a formula to reverse aging and turned himself 13 again. Even though Melvin is just as eccentric and prickly as ever, Ellie is surprised to find that she enjoys hanging out with her teenage grandpa. As she helps with his research and listens to his stories of famous discoveries, Ellie's interest in science grows…and so does her concern about the consequences of Melvin's work. The Fourteenth Goldfish will appeal to readers who like witty, inventive, realistic stories with a science fiction twist. |
|
| Greenglass House by Kate MilfordMystery. In the midst of a wild snowstorm, five unusual guests turn up unannounced at the creaky old Greenglass Inn. Milo, the innkeepers' son, is annoyed by the interruption to his winter break, but his frustration turns to intrigue when several items go missing from the guests' rooms. Encouraged by his friend Meddy, Milo draws on the skills of Negret (his character from the role-playing game Odd Trails) to investigate the strange thefts. Offbeat and vividly written, Greenglass House is loaded with tension, twists, and touches of fantasy. If you like this multilayered mystery, you should check out Chris Grabenstein's Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, which also features young gamers in puzzling circumstances. |
|
| Anya's Ghost by Vera BrosgolGraphic Fiction. Anya Borzakovskaya, embarrassed by her Russian immigrant family and self-conscious about her weight, has been trying to fit in since the age of five, when her family moved to America. Then Anya falls down a well and meets Emily, a ghost who's been stuck there for nearly a century. It's exhilarating to have a friend who can sneak around completely unnoticed and, for example, keep tabs on the boy Anya likes. But Emily has a hidden agenda...a dangerous one. This alternately haunting and hilarious graphic novel combines a realistic story of high-school angst with a chilling supernatural tale. |
|
| The Dead Boys by Royce BuckinghamHorror. After Teddy Matthews' mom gets a job at a nuclear power plant and the two of them move to the desert town of Richland, Washington, Teddy discovers some weird things about their new home. For starters, each time he goes exploring, the town seems slightly different -- and every time he meets a boy his own age, the kid is dressed oddly and disappears soon after. Determined to find out what's going on (and suspicious that he's been hanging out with ghosts), Teddy starts looking for clues about what's become of his new friends. With nail-biting suspense and bits of both mystery and horror, this scary story will have you on the edge of your seat. |
|
| On the Day I Died: Stories from the Grave by Candace FlemingShort Stories. Driving home and late (again) for curfew, 16-year-old Mike Kowalski is startled when a girl suddenly appears on the road in front of him, and he stops to give her a lift home. But after dropping off Carol Anne, Mike notices that she's left her shoes in his car. When he doubles back to return them, Carol Anne's mother reveals that her daughter has been dead for 56 years. Bewildered, Mike visits the girl's grave, where he's confronted by nine ghosts who tell him the stories of how they perished. These thoroughly eerie tales won't just give you the shivers; they're woven through with actual Chicago history that may make you curious about the Windy City, which author Candace Fleming describes as "the spookiest place I know." |
|
| Constable & Toop by Gareth P. JonesHistorical Fantasy. Being able to talk to ghosts might seem like a useful skill for an undertaker's son, but Sam Toop is tired of doing favors for demanding spirits. The ghostly Mr. Lapsewood is just as exasperated -- he's only a clerk in Victorian London's Ghost Bureau, but he's been assigned to investigate the spread of the supernatural Black Rot. When Sam and Lapsewood cross paths, they find themselves facing a bloodthirsty serial killer, an out-of-control exorcist, a persistent journalist, and a lot of bumbling government officials. Complex and unhurried, Constable & Toop will draw you in to its cleverly constructed world. For a modern, faster-paced take on a ghost-infested London, try Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood & Co. series. |
|
| Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapelGraphic Novel. Young Garth Hale is understandably obsessed with death; he's been diagnosed with an incurable disease. But Garth never expected his trip to the afterlife to happen so suddenly...and with him still very much alive. Supernatural Immigration agent Frank Gallows -- whose job it is to send wayward ghosts back to the land of the dead -- has accidentally zapped Garth to the other side along with Gallows' intended bounty, a skeleton horse. Surrounded by terrifying creatures and pursued by the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, Garth teams up with his grandfather's ghost and the horse, Skinny, to find a way home. With artwork that pulses with energy and a plot packed with surprises, this creepy, grim-yet-hilarious adventure is a real page-turner. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Plymouth Public Library at
574-936-2324, 201 N. Center St, Plymouth, IN 46563
|
|
|