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"I see life as increasingly complex, vivid, colorful, crazy, chaotic. That's the world I write about...the world I live in." ~ Julia Glass, American writer
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New and Recently Released!
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| The Witch's Boy by Kelly BarnhillFantasy. Shy, stammering Ned, son of the village witch, is responsible for guarding his mother's pot of magic when the Bandit King arrives to steal it. Ned's desperation to protect the magic causes him to get stolen right along with it -- and that's how he meets Aine, the Bandit King's tough, talented daughter. Together, Ned and Aine (along with a helpful wolf) have to overcome their parents' differences and figure out how to use the magic to stop the war brewing between their kingdoms. With brave, intriguing characters and a classic fairy-tale feel, The Witch's Boy is a perfect pick for readers who love bittersweet, imaginative fantasy. |
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| Half a World Away by Cynthia KadohataFiction. Stealing, setting fires, hoarding food…12-year-old Jaden knows that his behavior upsets his adoptive parents. He tries to calm himself down by focusing on his obsession with electricity, but it's hard not to act out when he's haunted by memories of his birth mother's abandonment and his years in foster care. So of course Jaden can't help but worry about his family's upcoming trip to Kazakhstan to adopt another child. Award-winning author Cynthia Kadohata offers insight into Jaden's turbulent emotions in this unflinching story about family, healing, and the challenges of international adoption. |
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| The Rise of Aurora West by Paul Pope with J.T. Petty; illustrated by David RubinGraphic Adventure. In Paul Pope's Battling Boy, readers were introduced to Acropolis, a city plagued by ravenous monsters. This thrilling prequel shines the spotlight on fierce, feisty Aurora West, daughter of Acropolis' protector, Haggard West. While patrolling with her father one night, Aurora encounters a strangely familiar symbol. Feeling compelled to investigate, she soon uncovers more than she wants to know about her past, including her mother's unsolved murder. Though The Rise of Aurora West is a more personal story than Battling Boy, the exaggerated black-and-white illustrations give it a similar energy, which is sure to grab the attention of fans and newcomers alike. |
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| Guys Read: True Stories by Jon Scieszka (editor)Nonfiction Short Stories. It might have "guys" in the title, but this collection of wild-but-true stories is intriguing no matter who you are. If you're an animal lover, you'll want to read the story about rainforest tarantulas, or about Jumbo, the world's biggest elephant. If survival stories are your bag, you'll be fascinated by the man who lived through a bear mauling, or the shipwrecked sailors who were forced to eat their own skin. And if that's not gross enough, you can check out the wince-worthy history of dental care. This exciting, easy-to-read book might leave you hooked on short stories, but don't worry: there are four previous volumes in the Guys Read series. |
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| The Whispering Skull by Jonathan StroudParanormal Fantasy. Now that their psychic detective agency is finally taking off, teen ghost hunters Lucy, George, and Lockwood find themselves in a race against a rival agency to locate a dangerously haunted relic. Lucy's newfound ability to talk to a captive spirit that has exclusive information on the case could give Lockwood & Co. an edge…but can they trust that the menacing spirit is telling the truth? Snarky dialogue offsets the suspenseful pacing and bone-chilling paranormal action in this 2nd book in the Lockwood & Co. series. For another absorbing fantasy set in a ghost-infested London, try Gareth P. Jones' Constable & Toop. |
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| Code Orange by Caroline B. CooneySuspense. Lazy, privileged prep school student Mitty usually ignores his assignments, so it's only the chance to spend time with his classmate Olivia that lures him to the library to work on a project about diseases. His research turns desperate, however, when he finds an envelope of smallbox scabs in an old medical book and begins to fear that he might be infected. Though Mitty is determined not to spread the highly contagious disease, it may be impossible to prevent -- especially after he's kidnapped by terrorists who want to use him as biological weapon. If this unpredictable page-turner ignites your curiosity about real-life epidemiology, check out Patient Zero by Marilee Peters. |
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| My Life in Pink & Green by Lisa GreenwaldFiction. When 12-year-old Lucy Desberg spies a foreclosure notice in the mail and realizes that her family's pharmacy is in trouble, she decides to do something about it. Lucy is a whiz with makeup tips and gives great beauty advice, but free makeovers won't rescue the business. So Lucy joins her school's Earth Club, does some research on environmentally-friendly businesses...and comes up with a plan that just might save the Old Mill Pharmacy. If you like reading about can-do, business-savvy kids who make a difference, check out Lee Weatherly's Breakfast at Sadie's, Laura Schaefer's The Teashop Girls, or Janet McDonald's Twists and Turns. |
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| Silhouetted by the Blue by Traci L. JonesRealistic Fiction. Ever since her mother died in a car accident and her dad stopped taking his medication, seventh-grader Serena has been handling the day-to-day responsibilities of caring for herself and her younger brother. It's a lot to handle, but Serena manages...and then she lands her dream role, Dorothy, in her school's production of The Wiz. The busy rehearsal schedule is just too much on top of everything else, but Serena is scared that her father might be taken away if she asks for help. Older readers who like emotionally intense stories about kids who have to grow up too fast -- like Han Nolan's Crazy -- won't want to miss this heartrending yet hopeful read. |
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| White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen KlagesHistorical Fiction. It's 1946, and since the death of her father, mechanically minded 13-year-old Dewey Kerrigan has been living with the Gordon family in New Mexico. Dewey and her sort-of sister, Suze Gordon, are starting eighth grade together and (mostly) get along well. Mr. Gordon is working feverishly with other scientists to beat the Russians into space, while Mrs. Gordon is trying to rally people against nuclear war. Then Dewey's long-absent mother shows up wanting her daughter back. Readers who enjoy stories about family relationships, science and engineering, or post-World War II history will be riveted by this sequel to the award-winning book The Green Glass Sea. |
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| Indigo's Star by Hilary McKayFiction. Twelve-year-old Indigo Casson has just recovered from a long illness, but he's not happy about it, because it means returning to the torment of school bullies. Indigo's little sister Rose is having a hard time, too, though she's more concerned with reuniting their separated parents. Change comes for both siblings when they make friends with the lonely new boy Tom, who enchants Rose with his guitar-playing and teams up with Indigo to confront the bullies. This 2nd book (preceded by Saffy's Angel) about the chaotic, colorfully named Casson family is quirky, warm-hearted, and laugh-out-loud funny. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Durham County Library
300 N. Roxboro Street
Durham, North Carolina 27701
919-560-0100
durhamcountylibrary.org
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