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"You have to be able to center yourself, to let all of your emotions go. Don't ever forget that you play with your soul as well as your body." ~ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, retired American basketball player and author
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New and Recently Released!
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| Jinx's Magic by Sage BlackwoodFantasy. Apprentice wizard Jinx has only just begun to test the limits of his recently discovered magical powers. He's learned a thing or two from his studies at the Temple in Samara, but when his home in the Urwald is threatened and his old enemy the Bonemaster resurfaces, he's willing to use whatever kind of magic it takes to fight back -- even if it means alienating his best friends. Nothing is safe or certain in this fantasy (2nd in the Jinx trilogy) filled with vivid characters, imaginative world-building (including invented languages!), and quirky humor. |
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| Jungle of Bones by Ben MikaelsenAdventure. Angry, rebellious eighth grader Dylan has gotten into plenty of trouble in his life, but it's stealing a car that finally gets him sent away to live with his strict Uncle Todd, a former Marine. Todd insists that Dylan join him on a trek through the jungle of Papua New Guinea in search of Grandpa Henry's B-17 bomber, which crashed during World War II. After straying from the search team, Dylan finds himself in a situation similar to Henry's: alone, sick, starving, and uncertain of rescue. If you like fast-paced survival stories, you should definitely pick up this engrossing adventure from the author of Touching Spirit Bear. |
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| The Burning Shadow by Michelle PaverHistorical Fantasy. The action never lets up in this deep, detailed fantasy set in Bronze Age Greece. Goatherd Hylas is searching for his sister Issi when he's captured by slavers and forced to work in a dangerous copper mine on the volcanic island of Thalakrea. While Hylas tries to escape from his captors, his friend Pirra desperately flees from yet another arranged marriage. Once reunited, the two friends (along with a spirit-touched, orphaned lion cub) take on the power-hungry warrior Crows and confront a prophecy that could destroy Hylas' life. Fans of Rick Riordan and Lloyd Alexander will be hooked by this richly drawn 2nd book in the Gods and Warriors series. |
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| The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve SheinkinNonfiction. In 1944, an accidental explosion at the Port Chicago naval base killed over 300 people. After the horrifying event, 50 African American sailors refused to continue the life-threatening work of loading ammunition (a task never given to white sailors) without proper training. All 50 sailors were convicted of mutiny, exposing the dangerous effects of racial discrimination in the U.S. military. Award-winning author Steve Sheinkin uses primary sources such as photos and quotations to infuse this well-researched book with the drama and urgency of first-person narration. For another eye-opening look at military segregation during World War II, try Courage Has No Color by Tanya Lee Stone. |
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| Tesla's Attic by Neal Shusterman and Eric ElfmanScience Fiction. What do you do after you learn that your garage sale might have earth-shattering consequences? That's what 14-year-old Nick has to figure out -- and fast. See, it wasn't until after he sold all the bizarre junk from his attic that Nick realized the "junk" was a collection of supernatural devices created by eccentric scientist Nikola Tesla. Now Nick and his friends must race to reclaim the devices before they become weapons in a deadly war between two sinister secret societies. With smart characters and outrageous action, this trilogy-starter will appeal to readers who enjoy the fast-paced science fiction of Kenneth Oppel and Scott Westerfeld. |
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Whether or not you're excited about March Madness in U.S. college basketball, you can enjoy the realistic characters and pulse-pounding action in these basketball-themed books.
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| Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John FeinsteinMystery. After winning the prize of a press pass to New Orleans to watch the Final Four, 8th grader Steven and his fellow contest winner, Susan, delight in all the behind-the-scenes activities. Delight turns to action when they overhear a blackmail plot involving a star player that could result in the big game being thrown so that Duke will win. The two junior reporters know that it is up to them to break the story and put a stop to the devious, unethical plan. Kirkus Reviews says this is a "a real treat for basketball fans." |
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| Tall Story by Candy GourlayFiction. In his village in the Philippines, eight-foot-tall teenager Bernardo was believed to be the reincarnation of a legendary giant who warded off earthquakes. Now, Bernardo is starting over by moving to London to join his mother, from whom he's been separated for many years. Andi, the pint-sized, 13-year-old half-sister he's never met, hopes that Bernardo likes basketball, her great obsession. Narrated alternately by Andi and Bernardo, this moving, thoughtful, and often funny story of Bernardo's long-awaited family reunion and adjustment to a new life is a captivating and thought-provoking read. |
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| Planet Middle School by Nikki GrimesNovel in Verse. Twelve-year-old Joylin Johnson is more comfortable in jeans and t-shirts than dresses, and she can hold her own on the basketball court with the neighborhood boys. But now that she's in middle school, everything is changing -- her best friend KeeLee has turned all girly and boy-crazy overnight, and the guys that Joy plays ball with have started treating her differently. And then Joy notices Santiago...and decides to shed her tomboy image to get his attention. If you like fun, realistic stories about changing friendships (like Sherri Winston's The Kayla Chronicles), pay a visit to Planet Middle School. |
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| Athlete vs. Mathlete by W.C. MackFiction. When brainy, clumsy Russell's hidden skill for jump shots lands him a spot on the basketball team alongside his athletic twin brother, Owen, it's the tip-off for trouble. Owen envies the sudden attention Russell gets both on the court and at home, while Russ is worried that basketball will distract him from his duties as captain of the school's Masters of the Mind team. If this humorous tale of sibling rivalry has you cheering, don't miss the authentic characters and exciting sports scenes in the sequel, Double Dribble, and in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Streetball Crew series. |
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| Boost by Kathryn MackelFiction. Thirteen-year-old Savvy Christopher is 6'2" and a talented basketball player; her big sis, Callie, is a cheerleader. When their family moves from their New Mexico home to an aunt's sheep farm in Rhode Island, it's a major adjustment. Savvy is thrilled when she makes the exclusive basketball team The Fire; getting to play on a travel team makes up for having to share a room with Callie, being teased about her height, and having to work on the sheep farm. But when steroids are found in Savvy's gym bag, she'll have to fight for her spot on the team. A bit of mystery, complex family relationships, and plenty of exciting on-court action make Boost a riveting read. |
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