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Hello, readers! Do you have a question about books for children? Interested in a personalized suggestion? Please feel welcome to email me at amassey@dconc.gov, or visit your librarian at any Durham County Library location. See you at the library! Allie Massey, Children's Librarian Southwest Regional Library
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New and Recently Released! |
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| The Serpent's Curse by Tony AbbottAdventure. Mysterious codes, thousands of miles, and the evil Teutonic Order stand between the Kaplan family and their quest to rebuild a time machine invented by Nicolas Copernicus. But those obstacles won't stop Wade Kaplan, his stepbrother Darrell, and their diverse crew of relatives and allies from traveling to Russia to hunt for another of Copernicus' hidden relics…and to rescue one of their own who has been kidnapped by the Order. Make sure you've read the 1st book, The Forbidden Stone, before diving in to this suspenseful, globe-trotting series, which (similar to The 39 Clues series) ties in to real-world gaming opportunities. |
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| Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel FrederickMystery. After her dad loses an arm while serving in Afghanistan, seventh-grader Truly Lovejoy and her family move from sunny Texas to snowy Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire, "population you've-got-to-be-kidding-me." Despite being unusually tall and constantly putting her foot in her mouth, Truly finds friends among the eccentric locals -- which is good, because she'll need plenty of help to catch the thief who stole a valuable first edition of Charlotte's Web from her family's bookshop. If you enjoy quirky, feel-good mysteries with small-town atmosphere, you should definitely pick up Absolutely Truly, 1st in the Pumpkin Falls Mysteries series. |
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| Emma and the Blue Genie by Cornelia Funke; illustrated by Kersin Meyer and translated by Oliver LatschFantasy. While walking on the beach, spirited eight-year-old Emma and her dog Tristan find a floating bottle which contains Karim, a genie who's blue in both color and mood. Weakened since another genie stole his enchanted nose ring, Karim can't grant wishes, so Emma and Tristan decide to join him on a magic carpet ride to the far-off land where they can help Karim regain his powers. Fast-paced, funny, and filled with attention-grabbing illustrations, this fantasy from popular author Cornelia Funke is a great pick for younger readers who prefer longer chapter books; older readers looking for Arabian Nights-inspired fantasy should try Jasmine Richards' The Book of Wonders. |
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| Blue Mountain by Martine LeavittAnimal Fantasy. With humans moving closer and closer to bighorn sheep territory, young Tuk knows it's time to lead his herd to the safety of the legendary blue mountain, where no humans live. To survive the journey (which includes encounters with humans, wolves, bears, steep paths, and dangerous bogs) Tuk will need to rely not only on his courage, but also on bighorn knowledge passed down through the generations. Told in the poetic, exciting style of traditional folk tales, this "timeless yet fresh" (Kirkus Reviews) book will appeal to fans of animal survival stories such as Kenneth Oppel's Silverwing Saga or Jean Craighead George's Ice Whale. |
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From casual fans to the totally obsessed, readers who enjoy Disney's Frozen will love these adventurous stories about Scandinavia, sisters, and snow.
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| Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen FoxleeFantasy. A huge, chilly museum provides a tantalizing backdrop for this enchanting tale. Mourning her mother's recent death, 11-year-old Ophelia explores the museum's bizarre exhibits, among which she discovers the Marvelous Boy. As a prisoner of the Snow Queen, the Boy's life (and the fate of the world) depends on Ophelia finding his lost sword and defeating the Queen. To succeed, Ophelia will need to overcome not only misery birds, ghostly girls, and magical snow leopards, but also her own grief and skepticism. Just like Frozen, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen;" for another warm, well-crafted retelling, try Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. |
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| Icefall by Matthew J. KirbyHistorical Fantasy. Being trapped on an ice-locked fjord with a band of Viking warriors might not seem like a safe situation, but for Solveig and her siblings, it's their only protection from the enemies of their father, the king. The freezing winter weather is brutal, but even more chilling is the discovery of a traitor in their small group. Suspicion runs wild as food runs low and threats loom just beyond the ice -- can they survive long enough to face the battle that the thaw will bring? Mystery and adventure blends with Norse mythology in this vivid, suspenseful tale. |
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| The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson LevineFantasy. Princess Meryl has always been the brave sister with a thirst for adventure, but when she falls ill with the Gray Death, it's timid, embroidery-loving Princess Addie who must venture out in search of a cure. Aided by magical objects and guided by an ancient prophecy, Addie's desperate quest leads her to gryphons, elves, specters, and a particularly devious dragon who might just have the answers Addie needs. Similar to author Gail Carson Levine's well-loved Ella Enchanted, The Two Princesses of Bamarre will captivate those who like reading about realistic characters in a cleverly crafted fantasy world. |
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| The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver; illustrated by Iacopo BrunoFantasy. After evil, spider-like spindlers steal her younger brother Patrick's soul, Liza Elston -- accompanied by an eccentric, makeup-wearing, human-sized rat -- embarks on a perilous quest through an underground realm to save him. Readers who enjoy fantasy quests through strange and dangerous lands filled with outlandish creatures, perplexing riddles, and wonders galore will love The Spindlers (but may want to keep plenty of lights on while reading it, as it gets pretty scary) and may also want to check out Catherynne M. Valente's Fairyland series or Colin Meloy's Wildwood. |
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| East by Edith PattouFantasy. What would you do if a gigantic white bear showed up at your door and offered to take you away? Curious, purple-eyed Rose, the youngest child in a poor Norwegian family, doesn't hesitate to accept the bear's offer. Rose discovers that she enjoys life with the bear at his faraway palace -- so much so that when the bear is kidnapped by the Troll Queen, Rose undertakes a daring Arctic rescue mission. Inspired by the Scandinavian tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," East will be best enjoyed by older fans of lush, absorbing fairy tale retellings, who may also appreciate Margi Preus' West of the Moon. |
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Looking for more great books? |
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For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, you may want to try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply within three days with a list of the next five books you should read.
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NextReads is a service of Durham County Library and NoveList, a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. Durham County Library cardholders can access NoveList from any computer.
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Try something new: Book of the Month Club!
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