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Books for Kids and Tweens October 2022
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| The Vanquishers by Kalynn BayronStarring: sixth-grader Malika "Boog" Wilson, whose parents still use old-fashioned protections against vampires, even though it's been decades since the Vanquishers destroyed the bloodsucking fiends.
What happens: Boog's new friend Aaron disappears, and Boog starts to suspect that vampires might not be extinct after all.
Who it's for: Fans of paranormal mystery will want to sink their teeth into this smart, funny, and sometimes creepy tale. (Ages 8-13.) |
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| Moonflower by Kacen CallenderStarring: nonspeaking 12-year-old Moon, filled with a sadness that nothing in this world can shake. Their only comfort is visiting celestial beings in the spirit realm.
What happens: A threat from the world's Keeper sends Moon on a mission that could open them up to new possibilities for love and understanding, in both the spirit realm and in our reality.
How it's told: from Moon's first-person point of view, pulling you into hurt and hope right along with them. (Ages 9-13.) |
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| The Secret Letters by Margaret Peterson HaddixWhat it's about: Although Colin's mom runs a decluttering business and Nevaeh's dad owns a rival junk removal company, the two middle schoolers team up when they each discover intriguing old letters pointing toward a long-buried mystery.
Read it for: a page-turning puzzle mystery that weaves together the past and the present.
Series alert: This is the 1st in the Mysteries of Trash and Treasure series from popular author Margaret Peterson Haddix. (Ages 8-12.) |
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| Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig KingWhat it's about: Curious sixth-grader Mac wants to learn real history, not just the watered-down version people tell to kids. After their teacher censors school copies of a book about the Holocaust, Mac and his friends decide to take a stand.
Why it matters: With lots of real-life book challenges happening right now, it's important to think about what you might do in a situation like Mac's.
For fans of: Alan Gratz's Ban This Book. (Ages 10-13.) |
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| The Stars Did Wander Darkling by Colin MeloyOregon, 1987: After a construction crew uncovers hidden caves beneath a supposedly cursed old house, 13-year-olds Archie, Oliver, Chris, and Athena begin noticing eerie events across their small town: Oliver gets strange visions, a trio of newcomers seems not quite human, and the adults all become...weirdly sticky?
Read it for: a thrilling blend of adventure, mystery, and gruesome horror.
For fans of: Netflix's Stranger Things. (Ages 10-13.) |
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| Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay MooreWhat it's about: At STEM camp in the mountains of West Virginia, Brooklyn kid Javari encounters the same old racism in a different setting. But he also meets local kid (and agent of chaos) Cricket, who introduces Javari to Affrilachian culture and expands his ways of thinking.
You might also like: Jason Reynolds' As Brave As You, another moving, thoughtful story about a city boy whose summer in the country helps him see how the past impacts the present. (Ages 10-13.) |
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| You Only Live Once, David Bravo by Mark OshiroWhat it's about: After an awful first week of middle school, David Bravo is beyond frustrated. When magical dog Fea offers to take him back in to correct his mistakes, David jumps at the chance.
Time after time: Each attempt to fix the past only makes things worse, causing David to wonder if the only real solutions are in the future.
Why you might like it: This hopeful and mind-bending story offers plenty of surprises. (Ages 8-12.) |
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| Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya PasternackWhat it's about: Ziva bat Leah's beloved twin Pesah has lived with leprosy for years. But after he has a vision that he'll die on Rosh Hashanah, the siblings go on the run, journeying across medieval Khazaria towards the legendary city of Luz, where the Angel of Death can't go.
Read it for: an exciting fantasy adventure featuring traditional Jewish tales, a powerful sibling bond, and deep thoughts about life and death. (Ages 8-12.) |
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| Island of Spies by Sheila TurnageThe setting: Hatteras Island, North Carolina, 1942.
The characters: Stick, Rain, and Neb, aka the Dime Novel Kids -- a trio of wannabe FBI agents who use the old lighthouse as a lookout, watching for German U-boats at sea and puzzling small-town mysteries on shore.
Why you might like it: Along with the eccentric charm, lovable characters, and twisty storytelling, Island of Spies also boasts wartime intrigue inspired by real historical events. (Ages 8-12.) |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-13!
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Wilbraham Public Library
25 Crane Park Drive
Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095
413.596.6141
http://www.wilbrahamlibrary.org
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