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"Don't think you haven't lived long enough to have a story to tell." ~ from Patrick Ness' A Monster Calls
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| Lily and Dunkin by Donna GephartFiction. Which is more important: being yourself, or fitting in? Eighth graders Lily McGrother and Norbert "Dunkin" Dorfman hit it off because they're both trying to answer that question. For Lily, who's transgender, being herself is thrilling but also scary, since the "Neanderthals" at her school are quick to harass her even for little things like wearing nail polish. For Dunkin, who has bipolar disorder, fitting in as a member of the basketball teams is important, even if it means going off of his meds. Narrated by both Dunkin and Lily, this thoughtful book is perfect for readers who want to dive into the lives of compelling characters.
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| The Executioner's Daughter by Jane HardstaffHistorical Fantasy. When heads roll at the Tower of London, it's Moss' job to clean up afterwards. As the daughter of King Henry VIII's executioner, Moss is stuck being the "basket girl" who carries away the heads of decapitated prisoners. After she learns that her father has been hiding secrets about her past, Moss needs no further encouragement to run away. Her search for the truth introduces her to both thieves and royalty, as well as a bloodthirsty Riverwitch who may know some of the answers Moss seeks. If you like magic-tinged historical fiction that's "full of grit, gore, and gilt" (Kirkus Reviews), The Executioner's Daughter is for you. |
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| Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat by Gary PaulsenFiction. A storm alert serves as an unusual introduction for six random middle school guys who are forced to shelter together in a school bathroom. They're not exactly a group who would typically hang out: a sarcastic rule-breaker; a perfect popular guy; a smug know-it-all; a hostile tough-guy; an air guitar rocker; and a nervous new kid (who's hiding a stuffed cat in his bag). What will happen now that they're all thrown together? Find out in this fast, funny book written in two different formats: as a short novel and as a dialogue-only play. However you choose to read it, don't miss Six Kids and Stuffed Cat. |
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| Poison Is Not Polite: A Wells & Wong Mystery by Robin StevensHistorical Mystery. Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, the sharpest 14-year-old sleuths in 1930s England, are back for another case. This time, the two-person Detective Society is visiting Fallingford, Daisy's down-at-heel family estate. It's awkward for Hazel, who notices all the differences between the Wells family and her own wealthy Chinese family, but the murder of another guest provides a gruesome distraction. You can read this witty whodunit on its own, or you can go back and start with Wells & Wong's 1st case in Murder Is Bad Manners. And if you're craving another old-fashioned manor house mystery, try Jessica Lawson's Nooks & Crannies. |
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Keep some tissues handy as you turn the pages of these books, which don't shy away from the powerful emotions surrounding illness, loss, and grief.
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| The Question of Miracles by Elana K. ArnoldFiction. Ever since the car accident that killed her friend Sarah, Iris has been trying to figure out why. Why did Sarah die while Iris survived? And why does Iris feel like Sarah is still with her? Her family's move to rainy Oregon doesn't improve Iris' outlook, though it does introduce her to an awkward yet intriguing new friend, Boris. Boris should have died as a baby, but he survived due to what his Catholic family believes was a miracle. Iris can't help but wonder: if miracles are real, could Sarah's spirit still be out there? Readers who love deep questions and emotions will relish this bittersweet tale. |
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| See You at Harry's by Jo KnowlesFiction. Despite her large, quirky family, 12-year-old Fern often feels alone. Her teenage siblings have become distant and cranky, her parents are either flaky (mom) or embarrassing (dad), and her messy little brother Charlie demands everyone's attention. Then an unthinkable tragedy hits, leaving the family broken and Fern certain that "nothing will ever be right again." Written in a straightforward but sensitive style, See You at Harry's follows Fern and her family as they try to find their way back to hope. If you enjoy this combination of heartbreak and humor, you may also want to pick up Natasha Farrant's After Iris.
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| A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd; illustrated by Jim KayFiction. The monster always arrives at 12:07. In the form of an ancient yew tree, it comes to Conor's window, but it doesn't attack. Instead, it tells stories, warning Conor that after the third story, Conor will have to tell the truth -- the truth about his recurring nightmare, and his mother's cancer, and the fear that he can't even name. Eerie illustrations heighten the intensity of this "heart-wrenching and thought-provoking" (Horn Book Magazine) tale from award-winning author Patrick Ness, based on an idea from author Siobhan Dowd, who died in 2007. Fans of the book should be sure to look for the movie, which opens in October 2016. |
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| My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel PitcherFiction. Jamie hardly remembers his sister Rose, who was killed in a terrorist bombing when Jamie was only five years old -- but his family's whole life revolves around her. When his parents split up, Jamie and his sister Jasmine (Rose's twin) move from London to the countryside with their dad, who drowns his sorrows even more thoroughly in alcohol and lavishes attention on the urn that holds Rose's ashes. Then Jamie finally makes a friend -- a Muslim girl named Sunya -- and has to defend his friendship against his dad's anger and blind prejudice. This honest, affecting novel "straddles that fine line between funny and tragic" (Booklist) and is a story you won't soon forget. |
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