Special Collections
Students Choice
Description: List created by a teacher for high school students to make independent reading choices,
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Ghostcoming!
by Orli ZuravickyLucy has just joined the afterlife, and as a brand-new ghost she's mostly see-through, not able to stand or sit normally, stuck in the ballet clothes she was wearing before she crossed over...and stuck in middle school. Can't a ghost get a break? But then the cutest (ghost) boy she's ever seen turns out to be her very own guide to school, and things start looking brighter. Maybe she's not quite solid yet, but Lucy is definitely going to make this the best afterlife ever!
CliffsNotes on Cisneros' The House on Mango Street & Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories
by Mary ThornburgThis CliffsNotes guide includes everything you’ve come to expect from the trusted experts at CliffsNotes, including analysis of the most widely read literary works.
The Hate U Give
by Angie ThomasSixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
Winner of the 2018 William C. Morris award
A New York Times Bestseller
My Best Friend Is Invisible
by R.L. StineFrom the New York Times–bestselling Goosebumps series, a boy thinks invisibility is a cool superpower, until an invisible friend inhabits his bedroom.Sammy Jacobs is into ghosts and science fiction. Not exactly the smartest hobby—at least not if you ask Sammy’s parents. They’re research scientists and they only believe in “real” science.But now Sammy’s met someone who’s totally UN-real. He’s hanging out in Sammy’s room. And eating his cereal at breakfast. Sammy’s got to find a way to get rid of his new “friend.” Only problem is . . . Sammy’s new friend is invisible!
Goosebumps Wanted
by R. L. StineFor the first time ever, Goosebumps is in hard cover! Catch the series' most notorious characters--undead or alive... From horror master R.L. Stine come two new chilling stories in one spooky standalone: The Haunted Mask has returned and is determined to make this the worst night of your life! Where's the last place you would want to get stuck? A haunted pumpkin patch where the jack o'lanterns are after you! And watch for Goosebumps: Most Wanted, an all-new paperback series coming in the fall.
Goosebumps
by R. L. StineNight of the Living Dummy: Discover the fan-favorite thriller and chiller that first introduced the world to the wooden face of fear. The puppet who pulls all the strings. None other than Slappy the Dummy! Deep Trouble: Find out why Billy Deep and his sister, Sheena, are afraid of dark lagoons, coral reefs, and anything that appears to be half-human, half-fish! Monster Blood: Evan visits an eerie old toy store and buys a dusty can of Monster Blood. But then he notices something weird about the slimy green ooze. It keeps growing. And growing. And growing. And all that growing has given the Monster Blood a monstrous appetite... The Haunted Mask: Carly Beth thinks she's found the best Halloween mask ever. With yellow-green skin and long animal fangs, the mask terrifies the entire neighborhood. Before long, it has a surprising effect on Carly Beth, too. She tries to take it off... but it won't budge! Halloween is almost over, but fright night is just beginning.
Ghost Camp
by R. L. StineHarry and his brother, Alex, are dying to fit in at Camp Spirit Moon.
But the camp has so many weird traditions. Like the goody camp salute. The odd camp greeting.
And the way the old campers love to play jokes on the new campers.
Then the jokes start to get really serious. Really creepy. Really scary. First a girl sticks her arm in the campfire. Then a boy jams a pole through his foot. Still, they're just jokes...right?
Ghost Beach
by R. L. StineDo You Believe in Ghosts? Jerry can't wait to explore the dark, spooky old cave he found down by the beach. Then the other kids tell him a story. A story about a ghost who is three hundred years old. A ghost who comes out when the moon is full. A ghost...who lives deep inside the cave! Jerry knows that it's just another silly made-up ghost story.... Isn't it?
Much Ado About Nothing
by SparkNotesDon’t be intimidated by Shakespeare! These popular guides make the Bard’s plays accessible and enjoyable.
Twelfth Night
by William ShakespeareA delightfully comic tale of mistaken identities revolves around the physical likeness between Sebastian and his twin sister Viola, each of whom, when separated after a shipwreck, believes the other to be dead. Filled with superb comedy, this entertaining masterpiece remains one of Shakespeare's most popular and performed comedies.
King Lear
by William ShakespeareKing Lear descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all.
Kobe Bryant
by Jeff SavageIntroduces the life and accomplishments of basketball guard Kobe Bryant, whose high scoring game helped bring the Los Angeles Lakers three straight world championships.
Holes
by Louis SacharStanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats.
Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes: five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment--and redemption
Newbery Medal Winner
National Book Award
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by J. K. RowlingHarry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.
Iconic Cars 5-Book Bundle
by Road & TrackThese 5 volumes collect decades of expert coverage from Car and Driver and Road & Track to explore some of the world&’s finest automobiles. CorvetteCar and Driver has tested nearly every version of the Chevrolet Corvette. Here, they compile and curate more than 50 years of articles, reviews, and news about this classic sports car from the first &’Vettes of the 1950s to the new Corvette Stingray. PorscheCar and Driver has chronicled this high-end German brand from its first commercial automobile, the 356 Roadster, to its modern lineup of supercars, super sedans, and even super SUVs. This volume presents its most informative and entertaining articles from 1975 to today. Camaro With more than 30 years of Camaro articles and reviews from the experts at Road & Track, this volume covers the launch, the racers, the duds, and, of course, the Camaro&’s triumphant return. You&’ll find road tests, reviews, and comparisons, along with interviews with the folks behind the scenes and columns from Matt DeLorenzo and Peter Egan. Mustang The original pony car, the Ford Mustang is a beloved American icon. Culled from 50 years of Road & Track coverage, this volume presents road tests, reviews and articles on everything from Ford&’s game-changing win at Le Mans in 1966 to the dark years of the Mustang II. BMW M Series This eBook collects Road & Track&’s coverage of the acclaimed BMW M Series from 1985 to 2014, including features, reviews, comparison tests, and interviews on everything from the M3 and M5 to the short-lived M1 supercar, and even today&’s M-badged SUVs.
Hamlet
by William Shakespeare and Burton RaffelOne of the most frequently read and performed of all stage works, Shakespeare's Hamlet is unsurpassed in its complexity and richness. Now the first fully annotated version of Hamlet makes the play completely accessible to readers in the twenty-first century. It has been carefully assembled with students, teachers, and the general reader in mind.Eminent linguist and translator Burton Raffel offers generous help with vocabulary and usage of Elizabethan English, pronunciation, prosody, and alternative readings of phrases and lines. His on-page annotations provide readers with all the tools they need to comprehend the play and begin to explore its many possible interpretations. This version of Hamlet is unparalleled for its thoroughness and adherence to sound linguistic principles.In his Introduction, Raffel offers important background on the origins and previous versions of the Hamlet story, along with an analysis of the characters Hamlet and Ophelia. And in a concluding essay, Harold Bloom meditates on the originality of Shakespeare's achievement. The book also includes a careful selection of items for "Further Reading." [This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts in grades 11-12 at http://www.corestandards.org.]
CliffsNotes on Lowry's The Giver
by Suzanne PavlosThe original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into key elements and ideas within classic works of literature.CliffsNotes on The Giver explores a world in which disease, hunger, poverty, war, and lasting pain simply don't exist. The members of this utopia have given up all human emotions and memories to live in a state of Sameness.Following the story of a 12-year-old boy who recognizes the hypocrisy of his community's "social order" - and who crafts a way to free everyone from the bane of Sameness, this study guide provides summaries and critical commentaries for each chapter within the novel. Other features that help you figure out this important work includePersonal background on the author, Lois LowryIntroduction to and synopsis of the bookCharacter descriptionsCritical essays on the author's themes, style, language, and moreReview section that features interactive questions and suggested essay topicsSelected bibliography and list of critical worksClassic literature or modern-day treasure -- you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.
Post Captain
by Patrick O'Brian"Master and Commander raised almost dangerously high expectations, Post Captain triumphantly surpasses them...a brilliant book."—Mary Renault "We've beat them before and we'll beat them again." In 1803 Napoleon smashes the Peace of Amiens, and Captain Jack Aubrey, R. N., taking refuge in France from his creditors, is interned. He escapes from France, from debtors' prison, and from a possible mutiny, and pursues his quarry straight into the mouth of a French-held harbor.
Master And Commander
by Patrick O'BrianThis novel establishes the friendship between Captain Aubrey, R. N., and Stephen Maturin, ship's surgeon and intelligence agent, against the thrilling backdrop of the Napoleonic wars.
Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana
by Michael Witwer and Kyle Newman and Jon Peterson and Sam Witwer and Official Dungeons & Dragons LicensedAn illustrated guide to the history and evolution of the beloved role-playing game told through the paintings, sketches, illustrations, and visual ephemera behind its creation, growth, and continued popularity.FINALIST FOR THE HUGO AWARD • FINALIST FOR THE LOCUS AWARD • NOMINATED FOR THE DIANA JONES AWARDFrom one of the most iconic game brands in the world, this official DUNGEONS & DRAGONS illustrated history provides an unprecedented look at the visual evolution of the brand, showing its continued influence on the worlds of pop culture and fantasy. Inside the book, you&’ll find more than seven hundred pieces of artwork—from each edition of the core role-playing books, supplements, and adventures; as well as Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels; decades of Dragon and Dungeon magazines; and classic advertisements and merchandise; plus never-before-seen sketches, large-format canvases, rare photographs, one-of-a-kind drafts, and more from the now-famous designers and artists associated with DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. The superstar author team gained unparalleled access to the archives of Wizards of the Coast and the personal collections of top collectors, as well as the designers and illustrators who created the distinctive characters, concepts, and visuals that have defined fantasy art and gameplay for generations. This is the most comprehensive collection of D&D imagery ever assembled, making this the ultimate collectible for the game's millions of fans around the world.
A Monster Calls
by Patrick NessThirteen-year-old Conor awakens one night to find a monster outside his bedroom window, but not the one from the recurring nightmare that began when his mother became ill -- an ancient, wild creature that wants him to face truth and loss.
The Puppy Place #36
by Ellen MilesWelcome to the Puppy Place--where every puppy finds a home! Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home. Meet Stella, the cutest thing ever, a little Maltese. But why won't she follow any commands? It's Charles who figures out that the little pup is deaf, and learns how to help her become the perfect puppy for someone special!
The Puppy Place #3
by Ellen MilesWelcome to the Puppy Place! This new Little Apple series stars a lovable new puppy in every book! And it's Charles and Lizzie Peterson's job to find every puppy the perfect home. Charles and Lizzie Peterson know a lot about puppies. That's because the Petersons are a foster family for young dogs. Someday, they will have a puppy of their own. Until then, they keep busy helping special puppies find homes. When the Petersons meet Shadow, they know he is very special. He is a cute black Labrador retriever, and he is extremely smart. Everyone agrees that Shadow deserves the best. He will be the perfect puppy for someone. But who will be the perfect owner for him?