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Books for Kids and Tweens July 2023 |
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| The Storyteller by Brandon HobsonWhat it's about: Ten years ago, Ziggy Echota's mom disappeared. Now, the 11-year-old Cherokee boy -- along with his sister Moon and new friend Alice -- is following his suspicions and searching for clues about his mom in the secret caves outside their New Mexico town.
Why you might like it: Anxious Ziggy may be relatable for many readers, and the extraordinary characters he meets from traditional Cherokee tales will captivate fantasy fans. (Ages 9-12.) |
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The Bad Guys in Let the games begin!
by Aaron Blabey
"OK. It's time to stop messin' around...In this book, the One IS going to be reunited with the Others. You ARE going to actually meet the REAL DREAD OVERLORD SPLAARGHèON. And ONE CHARACTER is going to change EVERYTHING you thought you knew. This is the one you've been waiting for!"
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The sun and the star : a Nico di Angelo adventure
by Rick Riordan
Demigods Nico di Angelo, the son of Hades, and Will Solace, the son of Apollo, find their relationship tested to the core as they endure the terrors of Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld, to save an old friend.
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| Tegan and Sara: Junior High by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin; illustrated by Tillie WaldenWhat it is: a graphic novel series opener based on the real lives of twin sister musicians Tegan and Sara Quin.
What happens: Split up at school, the twins have to figure out who they are on their own, even as they share experiences like changing friendships, coming out, and making music.
Art alert: Color-coding in expressive artwork will help you tell the twins apart, while also showing the shifting moods of middle school life. (Ages 10-13.) |
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Mario's big adventure
by Mary Man-Kong
"From Nintendo and Illumination comes a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. Featuring Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach, boys and girls ages 5 to 8 will love this Step 3 Step into Reading leveled reader inspired by the film"
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We don't lose our class goldfish
by Ryan T. Higgins
Penelope Rex has one fear—Walter, the class goldfish. So when Mrs. Noodleman tells the kids that they'll be taking turns bringing Walter home, Penelope gets carried away by her anxious imagination. The weekend has a rocky start—from Walter ominously licking his lips to a sleepless night where the fish's bowl appears to move closer and closer to Penelope's bed. But after a mix-up with a donation box results in a visit to the local aquarium, Penelope realizes she might just need to confront her fear of Walter—in order to save him.
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| Long Road to the Circus by Betsy Bird; illustrated by David SmallWhat it's about: It's 1920, and 12-year-old farm girl Suzy is bored. She needs a way to escape and explore -- and it looks like she's found it when she meets circus legend Madame Marantette and her performing ostriches!
Why you might like it: Funny, energetic black and white illustrations capture Suzy's hope as she works to train Gaucho the ostrich.
Did you know... that Madame Marantette and Gaucho were both real? (Ages 9-12.) |
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Across the rainbow bridge : stories of Norse gods and humans
by Kevin Crossley-Holland
What happens: Stepping back into a sweeping landscape of green glades and glaciers where dwarves, frost giants, and ghosts roam and where gods and goddesses work their magic for Middle Earth, sometimes crossing the great rainbow bridge to come to the aid of humans.
You may also try: Norse Gods, Heroes, and Mythology by A.W. Buckley or Explore Norse Myths! by Anita Yasuda
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A Rover's Story
by Jasmine Warga
What it's about: the observations of Mars rover Resilience -- aka "Res" -- as he goes from a NASA robotics lab to space exploration, developing complex emotions along the way.
How it's told: through diary-style entries from Res and letters from Sophie, a girl who forms a special bond with the rover.
You might also like: Peter Brown's The Wild Robot, another heartfelt tale of a robot with feelings, or Markus Motum's Curiosity, a fact-filled nonfiction book from the point-of-view of a Mars Rover. (Ages 8-12.)
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Dog Star
by Megan Shepherd
Explore a different culture and a different time period.
Nina, a young girl unsure of her role in her communist society, befriends a dog named Laika, who dreams of finding a home and is being studied in Nina's father's lab as part of the Soviet space program.
Based on an incredible true story, Carnegie Medal nominee and New York Times–bestselling author Megan Shepherd crafts a harrowing, propulsive girl-and-her-dog tale that will linger in your heart long after the last page.
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| Keep It Together, Keiko Carter by Debbi Michiko FlorenceMeet: outgoing Keiko, who's ready to tackle 7th grade as part of a trusty trio with best friends Jenna and Audrey.
What happens: Audrey's demand that all three of them find boyfriends splinters her friendship with Jenna, leaving an uncertain Keiko in the middle. Even more complicated? Keiko's crush on Audrey's brother, Conner.
Read it for: a little bit of romance and a lot of friend drama. And don't miss the follow-up, Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai. (Ages 9-13.) |
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| Middletown by Sarah MoonWhat it's about: To avoid foster care after their mom is sent to rehab, 13-year-old "not quite a girl" Eli and her older sister Anna lie about having a responsible aunt to stay with them. But as things get tense between the two very different sisters, it gets harder to hide the truth.
Is it for you? This authentic look at a painful family situation might not be for everyone, but it will ring true for many readers. (Ages 11-13.)
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| Twin Cities by Jose PimientaStarring: twins Luis Fernando and Luisa Teresa, who are divided by more than just the U.S./Mexico border after Teresa decides to attend 7th grade in California while Fernando stays at their school in Mexico.
What happens: Fer makes a dangerous older friend, school stress eats at Teresa, and the tension between them grows almost unbearable.
Art alert: Full-color, hand-drawn art heightens the raw feelings of the siblings' evolving connection. (Ages 8-12.) |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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