Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/27/2013
ISBN-13: 9781442481411
ISBN-10: 1442481412

Historical Fantasy. Returning home after a solo journey into the wilderness, Little Hawk of the Wampanoag tribe is shocked to find that most of his village has died of smallpox, a new plague brought by white settlers. After moving to a new village, Little Hawk strikes up an unexpected friendship with young settler John Wakeley, until a horrifying act of bigotry tears them apart…or so it appears. Part survival story, part epic historical fantasy, this lengthy but mesmerizing tale (from the award-winning author of the Dark is Rising series) brings the violence and tension of early American history to life. For another ghostly perspective on Native American history, check out How I Became A Ghost by Tim Tingle.

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/11/2013
ISBN-13: 9780803739826
ISBN-10: 0803739826

Fiction. Since her twin sister Iris died, Blue finds that it's easier to cope with life from behind a video camera. As her colorful family -- including rebellious older sister Flora, wild younger siblings Twig and Jasmine, their mostly-absent parents, and their long-suffering babysitter Zoran -- spins out of control, Blue captures it all on film. With "a mix of madcap fun and heartfelt emotion" (Booklist), this bittersweet, hilarious, and hopeful book is perfect for fans of Hilary McKay's Casson family series, and for anyone who likes quirky family stories with memorable, endearingly flawed characters.

Publisher: Random House
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/09/2013
ISBN-13: 9781606842744
ISBN-10: 1606842749

Science Fiction. Noble's life feels like one endless quest -- rescue a princess here, battle a monster there -- but as a Knight, he's got no choice. Or so he thinks until he meets Rufus. A self-declared freedom fighter, Rufus claims that Noble is actually a character in the computer game Thanehaven Slayer, but that if he starts making his own decisions, he can escape his digital destiny. This fast-paced, off-the-wall adventure tells the story of Noble's new quest: to jump from game to game (collecting other game characters from dress-up dolls to zombies along the way) in search of freedom. If you want more smart sci-fi action and gamer in-jokes, try Terry Pratchett's Only You Can Save Mankind.

Publisher: Scholastic
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/30/2013
ISBN-13: 9780439916295
ISBN-10: 0439916291

Fiction. Gifted middle school journalists Zander, Bobbi, LaShonda, and Kambui are back, and this time they might have started an international incident. Their underground newspaper, The Cruiser, has inspired students at a London school to start their own indie paper. But the London students are a little too curious about Kambui's photos, which might incriminate their friend, "Genuis Gangsta" Phat Tony. Will Zander and the others to choose loyalty or getting the hottest scoop? Whether you're new to the Cruisers series or you're a die-hard fan, you won't be disappointed by the authentic characters and witty banter in this 4th volume.

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/18/2013
ISBN-13: 9780547503509
ISBN-10: 0547503504

Nonfiction. Thrill seekers and young scientists alike will be fascinated by this unique book about the danger and drama of active volcanoes. Eruption! focuses on the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program, an international volcano crisis team that specializes in the "high-stakes science" (Kirkus Reviews) of recognizing early signs of volcanic eruptions, so that as many people as possible can escape before the ash flies and the lava flows. Eyewitness accounts of eruptions add personal intensity to the book, while maps and photographs (including stunning before-and-after photos) help you to see the surprising number of active volcanoes in the world and understand their devastating power.

Table of Contents  

Publisher: Harcourt
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/17/2012
ISBN-13: 9780547688374
ISBN-10: 0547688377

Historical Fiction. Haughty English teenager Cecily is in a snit because she and her father are moving "out in the wilderness" to Caernarvon, Wales, where the king is offering Englishmen cheap land in return for their help controlling the newly conquered Welsh. At least Cecily will be in charge of their household -- but that's not easy, either, as her Welsh maid, Gwenhwyfar, is stubborn and resentful. Painting a (sometimes brutally) clear picture of late-13th-century Wales, a period and place seldom written about, this dramatic, detailed story is narrated by both Cecily and Gwenhwyfar, who are realistically complex characters.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Clarion Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/14/2006
ISBN-13: 9780618504558
ISBN-10: 0618504559

Historical Fiction. There's a war on, and Americans who hold opinions contrary to the government's stance are considered traitors by some, and can even be imprisoned. Sound like the present? Nope -- try Los Angeles in 1949, smack in the middle of Hollywood blacklisting and nationwide anxiety over the atomic bomb. Francine Green is 13, attends an all-girl Catholic school, and is expected by her parents, her teachers, and pretty much everyone else to keep her mouth shut and herself out of trouble. So, Francine does just that...until outspoken, free-thinking Sophie Bowman moves in next door and changes how Francine sees the world.

First Chapter  Table of Contents  

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/09/2009
ISBN-13: 9780375957147
ISBN-10: 0375957146

Historical Fiction. Teen sisters Octavia and Tali think they know their flashy, eccentric grandmother, Mare. It's not until the three of them take a cross-country road trip that the girls learn about Mare's surprising history: in 1944, during World War II, 17-year-old Mare ran away from her troubled family, lied about her age, and joined the African-American battalion of the Women's Army Corps. Alternating between Mare's story and her granddaughters' postcards home, this vivid, eye-opening book powerfully illustrates the connections between past and present. For another young African-American woman experiencing the pressure and prejudice of serving in World War II, check out Sherri Smith's Flygirl.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/05/2010
ISBN-13: 9781416918837
ISBN-10: 1416918833

Historical Fiction. Thirteen-year-old Y'Tin is the youngest elephant handler in his South Vietnamese village. He can barely think about anything besides his beloved elephant, Lady. All of that changes, however, in 1975, when American troops withdraw from the village, and the North Vietnamese army sweeps in, ruthlessly killing half of the villagers. Although Y'Tin and Lady survive the attack, Y'Tin's thoughts are turned toward anger, uncertainty, and the desperate hope of escape. Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata offers readers an unusual perspective on the horror and confusion of war in this haunting, thought-provoking survival story.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Harper
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/19/2010
ISBN-13: 9780061836664
ISBN-10: 0061836664

Adventure. Because his devout (and jealous) aunt was told so in a dream, everyone in Pepper Roux's family, including him, is convinced that he's going to die on the day that he turns 14. So when Pepper wakes up and finds himself both 14 and alive, he high-tails it out of town believing that the grim reaper must be on his heels. This rollicking and hilarious story follows Pepper's adventures -- at sea, wrangling horses, posing as a journalist, and more -- all across early-20th-century France, and it's sure to charm anyone who likes plenty of action and fascinating characters.