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Hello, readers! Do you have a question about books for children? Interested in a personalized suggestion? Please feel welcome to email me at amassey@dconc.gov, or visit your librarian at any Durham County Library location. See you at the library! Allie Massey, Children's Librarian Southwest Regional Library
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| Under Their Skin by Margaret Peterson HaddixScience Fiction. When their mom announces that she's getting remarried, 12-year-old twins Nick and Eryn aren't too surprised. The surprise comes later, when they learn that their new stepfather has two kids he's never mentioned -- and that the twins aren't allowed to meet them. Wildly curious, Nick and Eryn dig into the secrecy surrounding their new stepsiblings, only to discover that the truth is more bizarre and far-reaching than they could have imagined. First in a two-book series, this "gripping blend of science fiction, suspense, and mystery" (School Library Journal) from popular author Margaret Peterson Haddix is sure to grab fans both old and new. |
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| Audacity Jones to the Rescue by Kirby LarsonHistorical Mystery. Sharp, adventurous orphan Audacity Jones is quick to volunteer when Commodore Crutchfield arrives at her school in search of an assistant for a secret mission. Soon Audie (and her stowaway cat, Min) are traveling with the Commodore to Washington D.C., where Audie lands a job in the White House kitchen. There, she realizes that the Commodore's shady plan might be dangerous for President Teddy Roosevelt and his family...and that it's up to Audie and some new friends to stop the wicked plot. Set in 1910 and bursting with quirky details and lively characters, this page-turning series starter is perfect for mystery lovers. |
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| When Mischief Came to Town by Katrina NannestadHistorical Fiction. The quiet island town of Bornholm, Denmark, is about to get a wake-up call in the form of Inge Maria, a girl with only one braided pigtail (a goat ate the other one on the boat ride from Copenhagen, you see). Newly orphaned, Inge Maria arrives in Bornholm to live with her grandmother, and even after the heartbreaking loss of her mother, the spirited, fairy-tale loving girl can't seem to stay out of trouble. With an old-fashioned setting and plenty of rambunctious humor, When Mischief Came to Town has a fresh yet timeless charm. |
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| Pax by Sara PennypackerFiction. Peter and his pet fox, Pax, are best friends. Peter found the orphaned kit on the day of his mother's funeral, and the two have been together ever since. Even after Peter's father, who's headed off to fight in a war, forces Peter to abandon Pax in the wild, the two can't bear to be apart: Peter sets out to walk the hundreds of miles back to his pet, while Pax struggles to survive until their reunion. Illustrations by award-winning artist Jon Klassen enhance this bittersweet, moving tale, which has all the honesty and heart of classics like E.B. White's Charlotte's Web and Robert Newton Peck's A Day No Pigs Would Die. |
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| Secrets of the Dragon Tomb by Patrick SamphireFantasy/Science Fiction. You'd think that living on British-occupied Mars in 1816 would be exciting, but not for 12-year-old Edward, Nope, he spends most of his time dealing with his family: his social-climbing mother, his absent-minded inventor father, and his annoying siblings. Then one day Edward's dopey-but-daring cousin Freddie arrives (well, crashes) on his cycle-copter and the whole family is swept up in an unexpected adventure involving spies, secret technology, and the tombs of extinct Martian dragons. This rip-roaring science fiction yarn is the 1st in a series – if you like this one, you may also want to check out the steampunk-infused alternate history in Philip Reeve's Larklight trilogy. |
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2015 Fantasy You Might Have Missed
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| The Dungeoneers by John David AndersonFantasy. After his pickpocketing skills draw the wrong sort of attention, Colm Candorly is forced -- er, invited -- to join Thwodin's Legion, a guild of treasure-stealing dungeoneers. As an apprentice rogue, Colm is matched with a team of fellow trainees (a warrior, a mage, and a druid) and schooled in how to pick locks, escape deathtraps, and battle monsters. It's a lot to learn, but dungeoneers who don't pay attention are likely to be killed by orcs or turned into chickens. Whether you like fantasy strategy games or enjoy humorous heist stories, you won't want to miss The Dungeoneers. |
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| Finding Serendipity by Angelica BanksFantasy. Tuesday McGillycuddy, daughter of famous author Serendipity Smith, can't wait until her mom finishes writing the popular Vivienne Small series and can finally spend time with her family again. Before she gets to the conclusion, however, Serendipity disappears from behind her keyboard! When Tuesday and her dog Baxterr follow the clues, they're whisked away to the magical place where stories come from. Along with Vivienne herself, Tuesday and Baxterr begin a quest to fend off a villainous pirate captain, find Serendipity, and write their way back home. This imaginative tale (and its sequel, A Week Without Tuesday) is a good bet for fans of offbeat, whimsical fantasy. |
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| The Jumbies by Tracey BaptisteFantasy. Growing up on the island of Trinidad, Corinne has heard the stories about the evil, shape-shifting jumbies that dwell in the mahogany forest, but that doesn't stop her from going into the dark woods on All Hallows Eve. She emerges safely, but with the unsettling feeling that something followed her out. Her fears are confirmed with the appearance of Severine, a beautiful woman who seems determined to bewitch not only Corinne's family, but also their entire village. Readers who prefer fantasy with hints of horror will welcome the high levels of creepiness in this unusual, absorbing twist on a Caribbean folk tale. |
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| Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola; illustrated by Emily CarrollGraphic Fantasy. Feeling unappreciated by her father and new stepfamily, clever, determined Masha decides to respond to a "help wanted" ad -- one placed by the notorious witch Baba Yaga. In order to get the job, Masha will have to apply what she learned from her grandmother's folktales to several challenges set forth by the wily witch. First challenge: find a way inside Baba Yaga's chicken-legged cottage. Modern characters, otherworldly thrills, and spooky artwork combine to make this graphic novel a "magnificently magical must-read for all fairy-tale fans" (Kirkus Reviews). For further fantasies featuring Baba Yaga, pick up Gregory Maguire's Egg and Spoon or Katherine Marsh's The Door by the Staircase. |
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| Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible by Ursula VernonGraphic Fantasy. Princess Harriet Hamsterbone is no Sleeping Beauty, that's for sure. For one thing, she's a hamster. For another, she refuses to hide just because she's been cursed to fall into an enchanted sleep on her 12th birthday. Believing instead that the curse will protect her until age 12, Harriet rides forth on her trusty quail to fight monsters, go cliff-diving, and generally have adventures before her fateful birthday. And when the curse finally does strike…well, you'll have to read this funny, cartoon-illustrated chapter book to find out what happens! The next book in the series, Of Mice and Magic, arrives in March; in the meantime, try another take-charge heroine with Cornelia Funke's Igraine the Brave. |
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Looking for more great books? |
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For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, you may want to try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply within three days with a list of the next five books you should read.
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NextReads is a service of Durham County Library and NoveList, a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. Durham County Library cardholders can access NoveList from any computer. |
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