|
|
"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), Scottish writer
|
|
New and Recently Released!
|
|
| Nightbird by Alice HoffmanFantasy. It's rumored that there's a monster living in Sidwell, Massachusetts. But 12-year-old Twig Fowler knows better than to believe rumors -- especially since the "monster" is actually her older brother James, who was born with wings due to an old family curse. Their mom says that they have to keep James a secret, but when sisters Julia and Agate move in next door, Twig and James make friends with them anyway -- and in so doing, discover the chance to change their family's fate. For another quirky, quiet book that mixes magic with everyday life, check out Jane Yolen's Centaur Rising. |
|
| Roller Girl by Victoria JamiesonGraphic Fiction. From the first time she hears the words "are you ready for some rrrroller derby?!" Astrid is hooked. Eager to try the high-energy, high-contact sport, she signs up for junior derby camp, assuming that her BFF Nicole will join her. When Nicole opts for ballet classes with snobby Rachel instead, Astrid is left to deal with the falls, bruises, and tough older girls at derby camp on her own. Illustrated in a bright, friendly style, Astrid's journey from confusion to confidence will make readers (especially fans of Raina Telgemeier's books) want to cheer…and then strap on their own skates. |
|
| Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada KellyFiction. Apple Yengko NEEDS a guitar. As the only Filipina in her small-town, small-minded Louisiana school, Apple was used to being bullied. But after she was ranked third-ugliest on the eighth grade "Dog Log," even her best friends abandoned her. Now, music is the only thing Apple can depend on, and with a guitar of her own she could finally learn to play the old-school Beatles songs that express how she really feels. Anyone who's ever felt like an outsider will root for Apple as she wades through cruelty and embarrassment in search of her true gifts, both as a musician and as a friend. |
|
| The Whisper by Aaron StarmerFantasy. The search for a missing friend drives 12-year-old Alistair to explore Aquavania, a series of parallel worlds that are powered by imagination. Stalking him on his quest is The Whisper, a soul-sucking villain whose actions have real-world consequences (and whose origins might lie in Alistair's own past). Similar to the edgy, inventive fantasies of Holly Black and Neil Gaiman, this 2nd volume in the Riverman trilogy (which begins with The Riverman) boasts complicated characters, a surreal atmosphere, and some genuinely scary moments, as well as an ending that will leave you intrigued and impatient for the final book. |
|
| Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-FattahFiction. Hayaat and her Palestinian family live behind the wall that divides the West Bank, separated from Jerusalem by Israeli checkpoints, curfews, and the travel permit system. But Hayaat's beloved grandmother, Sitti, is dying, and Hayaat believes that only touching the ground of their homeland can save her. That's why Hayaat and her best friend Samy decide to cross into Jerusalem -- illegally -- to get some of their native soil. Addressing a serious topic in a "refreshing and hopeful" (Kirkus Reviews) way, Where the Streets Had a Name has warmth, humor, and wonderfully complex characters that temper its almost painfully vivid setting and mounting suspense. |
|
| We Dine with Cannibals by C. Alexander London; illustrated by Jonny DuddleAdventure. Last heard from in We Are Not Eaten by Yaks, twins and reality-television junkies Oliver and Celia Navel are -- much to their dismay -- off adventuring again in this exciting and frequently ridiculous sequel. Traveling from the ruins of ancient temples to the shadowy forests of the Amazon, Celia and Oliver ride a llama, race rapids, fly an airplane, and learn the proper etiquette for a cannibal feast before all is said and done. Blending mystery and adventure with off-the-wall attitude, this 2nd Accidental Adventure is a blast! |
|
| Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCallFantasy. There's a dead body in the swimming hole. After discovering the drowned man near her Texas home, 15-year-old Odilia Garza wants to call the police. Her five younger sisters, however, persuade her to join them on an illicit road trip to return the body to his family in Mexico. Part epic journey (think The Odyssey, only with Mexican mythology) and part realistic drama (the sisters confront hard truths about their family), The Summer of the Mariposas is a unique and unforgettable read. Want another lyrical, magic-tinged story starring a Latina heroine? Pick up Meg Medina's The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind. |
|
| As Easy as Falling off the Face of the Earth by Lynne Rae PerkinsFiction. On a train headed to summer camp, Ry unexpectedly discovers that camp has been cancelled. When the train stops, Ry gets off and tries to call his grandfather, since his parents are on a Caribbean vacation...and the train leaves without him, stranding him in Montana in the middle of nowhere. And that's only the beginning of a long, winding, and highly entertaining journey filled with near-misses and misadventures galore (including those of the family dog, which appear in comic-strip form). Believability takes a back seat to wry humor, colorful characters, and the lessons of the road in this meandering, good-humored tale. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
Durham County Library
300 N. Roxboro Street
Durham, North Carolina 27701
919-560-0100
durhamcountylibrary.org
|
|
|
|