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| Rebound by Kwame AlexanderWhat it's about: It's the summer of 1988, and 12-year-old Charlie Bell is grieving the sudden death of his dad while visiting with his tough-love grandparents and getting schooled on the basketball court by his cousin Roxie.
Why you might like it: Comics-style illustrations and page-turning poetry give Rebound all the joyful intensity of a well-played pick-up game.
Series alert: You don't need to have read The Crossover to enjoy this prequel. |
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| They Lost Their Heads! What Happened to Washington's Teeth, Einstein's Brain... by Carlyn BecciaWhat it is: a snarky, cheerfully creepy collection of true stories about the body parts of historical figures.
Did you know? One of Elvis Presley's warts is now considered memorabilia; Thomas Edison's last breath was saved in a vial and given to Henry Ford; and pieces of Galileo, Albert Einstein, and Mata Hari were stolen after their deaths.
Try this next: Georgia Bragg's How They Croaked, for further outlandish facts about the famous dead. |
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| Hurricane Child by Kheryn CallenderStarring: Caroline, an unlucky 12-year-old who's abandoned by her mother, bullied at school, and stalked by the spirit of a woman in black.
What happens: Caroline finds her first friend (and first crush) in new classmate Kalinda, who joins Caroline's search for answers about her mother, as well as the truth about the spirit who stalks her.
Read it for: memorable characters and a vivid, magic-tinged Virgin Islands setting. |
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| Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry LienWhat it's about: When Peasprout Chen and her brother move from rural Shin to the city of Pearl in order to study wu liu (a blend of figure skating and martial arts), they have high hopes -- all of which might be dashed after Peasprout is accused of vandalism.
Is it for you? If you love complex fantasy worlds and breathless action, don't miss this series opener. |
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| Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker RhodesWhat it's about: One minute, 12-year-old Jerome is messing around with his friend's toy gun; the next, he's been shot by a white police officer, and he joins the ghosts of Emmett Till and other black boys who lost their lives to racist violence -- and who now spend their afterlives seeking justice and healing.
Why you should read it: Painful, poetic, and powerful, Ghost Boys is sure to spark emotions and start conversations. |
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Clayton Byrd goes underground by Rita Williams-GarciaWhat it's about: Feeling most alive when he plays music with his grandfather, aspiring bluesman Clayton Byrd is devastated when his grandfather passes away and his mother forbids him from playing the blues, losses that compel him to run away in the hope of joining other bluesmen on the road. You might also like: Catching a Storyfish by Janice N. Harrington, which is also about a kid and her special grandfather.
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The First Rule of Punk
by Celia C. Pérez
What happens: Though her dad reminds her that the first rule of punk is to be yourself, 12-year-old punk rocker Malú finds it tough to claim her identity as a "weird, unladylike, sloppy-Spanish-speaking, half-Mexican kid." Her passion for making zines and playing loud music doesn't live up to her "SuperMexican" mom's expectations, and her unorthodox style gets her into trouble at school. Even so, Malú is determined to get a band together and make some noise. Whether or not you share her taste in music, you'll be rooting for this fierce and funny heroine.
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| Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada KellyWhat it's about: As the only Filipina in her small-town Louisiana school, Apple is no stranger to bullying, but after she's ranked third-ugliest in class, even her friends abandon her. Now, music is her only comfort, and if she had a guitar of her own, she could play the Beatles songs she loves so much.
Who it's for: Anyone who's ever felt like an outsider will root for Apple as she wades through cruelty and embarrassment in search of her true gifts. |
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| Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace by Nan MarinoStarring: 11-year-old Elvis Ruby, who blows his chance at superstardom when he freezes during a reality TV singing competition.
What happens: Fleeing to his aunt's pancake restaurant in New Jersey's Pinelands, Elvis goes incognito as an ordinary kid. But awkward loner Cecilia sees through his disguise and convinces him to help her search for the mysterious song that haunts the Pinelands.
Who it's for: readers who enjoy distinctive settings and funny, believably imperfect characters. |
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Jazz day : the making of a famous photograph by Roxane OrgillWhat it's about: An uplifting collection of poems captures the world of mid-20th-century Harlem while recounting the efforts of Esquire magazine graphic designer Art Kane, who despite limited resources attempted to photograph a group of famous jazz artists in front of a brownstone. Contains short biographies of the 57 musicians in the photo.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 10-13!
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Sonoma County Library211 E StreetSanta Rosa, California 95404
(707) 545-0831 |
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