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Will You Be My Friend?
by P. J. NightDon't miss the frights and fun as Beth tries to unlock the mysteries of her past in this mind-bending Creepover tale.Beth Picard has always felt a little different from her friends. For one thing, she doesn't remember anything about her life before she and her mother moved into the house they live in now. Then one day, Beth learns about a girl in a nearby town who looks like her...exactly like her. Could it be a long lost sister or cousin? Does this girl hold the key to Beth's memories? And if so, does Beth really want to know the truth about her past? Does she even have a choice? This terrifying tale is rated a Level 3 on the Creep-O-Meter.
Nomad
by William AlexanderGabe Fuentes is in a race against time--and aliens--in this intergalactic sequel to Ambassador, which Booklist called "an exciting sci-fi adventure, perceptively exploring what it means to be alien," from National Book Award winner William Alexander.When we last left Earth's Ambassador, Gabe Fuentes, he was stranded on the moon. And when he's rescued by Kaen, another Ambassador, things don't get better: It turns out that the Outlast-- a race of aliens that has been systematically wiping out all other creatures--are coming. And they've set their sights on Earth. Enter Nadia. She was Earth's Ambassador before Gabe, but left her post in order to stop the Outlast. Nadia has discovered that the Outlast can conquer worlds by travelling fast through lanes created by the mysterious Machinae. No one has communicated with the Machinae in centuries, but Nadia is determined to try, and Gabe and Kaen want to help her. But the three Ambassadors don't know that the Outlast have discovered what they are doing, and have sent assassins to track them down. As Nadia heads deeper into space to find the Machinae, Gabe and Kaen return to Earth, where Gabe is trying to find another type of alien--his father, who was deported to Mexico, and who Gabe is desperate to bring home. From a detention center in the center of the Arizona desert to the Embassy in the center of the galaxy, the three Ambassadors race against time to save their worlds in this exciting, funny, mind-bending adventure.
Firefly Hollow
by Alison Mcghee Christopher DeniseFirefly. Cricket. Vole. Peter. Can four creatures from four very different Nations help one another find their ways in the world that can feel oh-so-big? Delve into this lush, unforgettable tale in the tradition of Charlotte's Web and The Rats of NIMH, from the author of the New York Times bestselling Someday.Firefly doesn't merely want to fly, she wants to touch the moon. Cricket doesn't merely want to sing about baseball, he wants to catch. When these two little creatures with big dreams wander out of Firefly Hollow, refusing to listen to their elders, they find themselves face-to-face with the one creature they were always told to stay away from...a giant.But Peter is a Miniature Giant. They've always been told that a Miniature Giant is nothing but a Future Giant, but this one just isn't quite as big or as scary as the other Giants. Peter has a dream of his own, as well as memories to escape. He is overwhelmed with sadness, and a summer with his new unlikely friends Firefly and Cricket might be just what he needs. Can these friends' dreams help them overcome the past?Firefly Hollow is nothing short of enchanting, reminding us all that the very best friend is the one who wants you to achieve your dreams. Full-color tip-in illustrations and dozens of black-and-white drawing provide added glow.
The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea
by Eileen Beha Sarah Jane WrightA charming sock monkey reunites a fractured family in this simply remarkable novel in the tradition of The Velveteen Rabbit and The Penderwicks.Meet Throckmorton S. Monkey. He's everything a sock monkey is supposed to be: Loving. Loyal. A very good listener. And he's never, ever--not even once!--stopped smiling. Yet Throckmorton has been long forgotten by his keeper Annaliese Easterling, and he seems doomed to live out his days lost and lonely among other abandoned stuffed animals. But then one day Great Grand Mama Easterling sends engraved invitations to forty-nine sock monkeys to attend her ninetieth birthday along with their human keepers. Throckmorton is thrilled! The arrival of his invitation brings him back together with Annaliese. And he vows to do something so remarkable, so amazing, she will never want to be separated from him again. Indeed, over just a few days, Throckmorton will survive being buried in a blizzard. He'll be spared from a vicious attacker. But best of all, he'll find a way to reunite Annaliese with the one person she most longs to know. Not bad for a stuffed toy--if you're to believe that's all Throckmorton S. Monkey really is...
The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden
by Emma TrevayneWhat if you found your own grave--and it wasn't empty? Discover the dark delights of faeries and fortune-tellers in this gently spooky book from the author of Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times, sure to appeal to fans of Coraline.Grave robbing is a messy business.A bad business. And for Thomas Marsden, on what was previously an unremarkable spring night in London, it becomes a very spooky business. For lying in an unmarked grave and half covered with dirt is a boy the spitting image of Thomas himself. This is only the first clue that something very strange is happening. Others follow, but it is a fortune-teller's frightened screams that lead Thomas into a strange world of spiritualists, death, and faery folk. Faery folk with whom Thomas's life is bizarrely linked. Faery folk who need his help.Desperate to unearth the truth about himself and where he comes from, Thomas is about to discover magic, ritual, and the uncanny truth that sometimes the things that make a boy ordinary are what make him extraordinary.
Return to Ribblestrop
by Andy MulliganA new term means new trouble in this rollicking sequel to Ribblestrop, which has the "crazy-school appeal of Hogwarts and the grim humor of Lemony Snicket" (The Independent).The headmaster at Ribblestrop is hoping for a bit more organization as a new term gets underway. But secrets remain buried, the new Chaplain is not all that he seems, and a truckload of circus animals has taken refuge on the school grounds. There's also a new student who's a soccer protégé, not to mention a pregnant panther and an escaped crocodile. Basically, things are about to go from bad to worse at Ribblestrop. Can Millie, Sanchez, and the gang help save the day once more?
Ribblestrop Forever!
by Andy MulliganHead back to Ribblestrop for the final term--or is it?--in this hilarious conclusion to the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize-winning trilogy, which has the "crazy school appeal of Hogwarts and the grim humor of Lemony Snicket" (The Independent).Millie, Sanchez, and the gang are headed back to school, but a plane crash and an unsteerable raft quickly land them in deep waters. Rescued by a mad librarian, the students of Ribblestrop find themselves on a dangerous quest across the wilds of Ribblemoor. Can they uncover the ancient mysteries of the secret tribe that lives there? Will they survive the dangers of Lightning Tor? Inspector Cuthberson is right behind them, and he's determined to destroy the school--for good. Will Ribblestrop close down forever, or can the students keep the doors open for another zany semester?
Old Wolf
by Avi Brian FlocaHunting--the predator, and its prey--is at the heart of this riveting and suspenseful novel from Newbery Medalist Avi with illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca.In the computer game world of Bow Hunter--Casey's world--there are no deaths, just kills. In Nashoba's world--the wolf world--there have been no kills. For this is March, the Starving Time in the Iron Mountain region of Colorado, when wolves and ravens alike are desperate for food. With the help of a raven, the miraculous Merla, Nashoba must lead his pack of eight to a next meal. The wolf hates being dependent on a mere bird, but Merla is a bird wise beyond her years. And when thirteen-year-old Casey crosses their path, two very different approaches to hunting collide.
Moon Bear
by Gill Lewis Alessandro GottardoBoth torn from their homes in Laos, a boy and a moon bear cub form a deep bond in this piercing tale of impossible odds and resilient hope, based on true conditions in Eastern Asia.Twelve-year-old Tam, on a dare, ventures into a moon bear den in the mountains of Northern Laos. His goal is to steal the cub and sell it, making a fortune for his family. But the mother bear's unexpected return upends Tam's plan, and he barely escapes with his life. And then his life implodes anyway: his entire mountain village is forced to relocate to make room for a new highway. Lured by the promise of electricity, running water, and a television, Tam's people move to an overcrowded village, where Tam's father is killed by a stray landmine. Now the family breadwinner, Tam is forced to work hundreds of miles away in the city, at a moon bear farm where bile from bear gall bladders is used for medicine. It is a cruel, miserable place, and when a familiar face--the very cub he'd seen in the den--is sold to the bear farm, Tam knows he must save this moon bear, no matter what it takes. He secretly nurses it back to health and they develop an unbreakable bond. Tam swears to return his beloved cub to the wild, but how will they ever find a way to be free? Deeply and powerfully moving, Moon Bear is an unforgettable story of compassion, hope, and bravery against overwhelming odds, and brings to light the real-life, heartwrenching plight of Asia's endangered moon bears.
The Terror Behind the Mask
by P. J. NightJasmine is forced to face her darkest fears in this Creepover tale that's as scary as they come.Jasmine Porter has always let her fear of the dark get the better of her: she even checks every nook and cranny of her room each night for monsters before she hides under the covers! But Jasmine's imagination kicks into overdrive when her dad brings home a creepy mask--a mask that looks eerily like the face of the boogeyman haunting Jasmine's dreams. Though her dad insists the mask is supposed to protect their home from evil spirits, Jasmine won't rest easy until the mask is gone. But Jasmine soon finds out that the mask may be harder to get rid of than she thought... This nightmare in disguise is rated a Level 5 on the Creep-o-Meter.
Rise of the Robot Army
by Robert Venditti Dusty HigginsFrom New York Times bestselling author Rob Venditti comes the second book in the Miles Taylor and the Golden Cape series, about an eighth grader who finds himself unexpectedly thrust into the role of real-life superhero. His latest mission: to defeat an army of robots designed to destroy him!Master the golden cape. Been there. Save the world from an alien invasion. Done that. Dominate the eighth grade. Maybe later. Battle an army of super-deadly robots designed to destroy you. Sure didn't see that one coming. After a summer of fighting crime, Miles Taylor is bummed that nothing has changed for him at Chapman Middle School. Sure, he may be in the eighth grade now and have a secret identity as Gilded, the world's only superhero, but that doesn't protect him from the Jammer's bullying or make him any more deserving of Josie's affection. Miles starts spending more and more time as Gilded, neglecting his schoolwork and his friends. It's not long before his bad attitude lands him and his best friend, Henry, in a military compound, at the mercy of the power-crazed General Breckenridge. When the General steals the golden cape, Miles finds himself back at square one with no superpowers...and no hope of escape. On the verge of losing everything--and everyone--he cares about, Miles must discover the hero within himself before the General puts his evil plans into action.
The Pool of Fire
by John ChristopherWill must defeat the Tripods once and for all in this third book of a classic alien trilogy ideal for fans of Rick Yancey's The 5th Wave and Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series.After being held captive in the City of Gold and Lead--the capital, where the creatures that control the mechanical, monstrous Tripods live--Will believes that he's learned everything he needs to know to destroy them. He has discovered the source of their power, and with this new knowledge, Will and his friends plan to return to the City of Gold and Lead to take down the Masters once and for all. Although Will and his friends have planned everything down to the minute, the Masters still have surprises in store. And with the Masters' plan to destroy Earth completely, Will may have just started the war that will end it all.
Firstborn
by Chris Sheban Tor SeidlerA young wolf seeks the bravery to be himself in this lyrical homage to challenging societal stereotypes, from the author of National Book Award Finalist Mean Margaret and The Wainscott Weasel. <P><P>Wolves. Predators of the wild. Stalkers of the forests. Born into rankings and expected to live up to their roles. Blue Boy, the alpha male of his pack, is the largest wolf many have ever seen, and his dream is to have a firstborn son who will take after him in every way. But Lamar is not turning out the way his father hoped. Lamar likes to watch butterflies. He worries if his younger siblings fall behind in the hunt. He has little interest in peacocking in front of other clans. <P><P> Blue Boy grows increasingly dismayed at Lamar's lack of wolf instincts, and then Lamar does the intolerable: he becomes attracted to a coyote. While the other infractions can be begrudgingly tolerated, this one cannot, and the unity of the pack is in jeopardy. Lamar wants to make his family happy, but is doing what is expected of him worth losing the only true friend he's ever had? Full of bite and beauty that will make you think of White Fang, then Ferdinand, this story cuts to the heart of what's most important: being true to yourself, and being true to others.
Neil Flambé and the Duel in the Desert
by Kevin SylvesterNeil, "the flamboyant, irrepressible chef" (Kirkus Reviews), hits the road in his food truck and drives right into a new case in the sixth book in The Neil Flambé Capers, the culinary mystery series celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey calls "good fun."Neil has lost his beloved restaurant. Though he misses it dearly, he and his friend Larry are headed on a new adventure. They are travelling to the Salsa Verde ranch in Arizona with their new food truck to participate in the legendary food truck gathering, the Broiling Man Festival. Once he arrives, Neil discovers that the Verde ranch is in danger of foreclosure, at the mercy of a developer who wants to turn it into housing and a factory farm. The only hope for the ranch is a treasure map left behind by the very first Verde, a chef who discovered a mine while escaping from a murderous army colonel. Neil and Larry are on a quest to find the treasure, but each time they think they're close to finding something, they come up with nothing. Will the boys find the mine--and the treasure--in time to save Salsa Verde ranch?
The Secret Cookie Club
by Martha FreemanFriends make everything better--and so do cookies!--in this warm-hearted novel in the tradition of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, with a middle grade dash of sugar and spice.Recipe for friendship: mix four very different girls, one boy, and a camp counselor. Add cookies.When her four campers don't get along, counselor Hannah has an idea. They gather in the kitchen at the Moonlight Ranch Summer Camp. There, they measure, mix, stir, and bake. As they bite into their warm sugar cookies, they finally seem to be friends.But summer doesn't last forever. And if the bond is going to survive the long school year, these kids will need a plan, a plan that just might require cookies.Complete with recipes, this book will satisfy every reader's craving for something sweet--just like a homemade sugar cookie.
The Great Good Summer
by Liz Garton ScanlonIvy and Paul hatch a secret plan to find Ivy's missing mom and say good-bye to the space shuttle in this evocative, heartfelt novel reminiscent of Each Little Bird that Sings and Because of Winn-Dixie.Ivy Green's mama has gone off with a charismatic preacher called Hallelujah Dave to The Great Good Bible Church of Panhandle Florida. At least that's where Ivy and her dad think Mama is. But since the church has no website or phone number and Mama left no forwarding address, Ivy's not entirely sure. She does know she's missing Mama. And she's starting to get just a little worried about her, too.Paul Dobbs, one of Ivy's schoolmates, is also having a crummy summer. Paul has always wanted to be an astronaut, and now that NASA's space shuttle program has been scrapped, it looks like his dream will never get off the ground.Although Ivy and Paul are an unlikely pair, it turns out they are the perfect allies for a runaway road trip to Florida--to look for Mama, to kiss the Space Shuttle good-bye, and maybe, just maybe, regain their faith in the things in life that are most important.
One Witch at a Time
by Stacy Dekeyser Sonia ChaghatzbanianMagic beans quickly lead to danger in this standalone companion to The Brixen Witch, which Kirkus Reviews called "fresh and satisfying" in a starred review.When Rudi Bauer sets out for town one morning to trade, he never dreams that Susanna Louisa will sell his family's cow--for magic beans, no less! But that's exactly what she does, and the consequences will be disastrous unless Rudi can return the magic beans to their rightful owner, the evil witch of Petz. The journey to Petz is long and hard, but Rudi and Susanna Louisa soon find a shortcut: a magically sprouted beanstalk leads them straight there...and straight into danger. Because the evil witch of Petz is a terrible giant who has locked away summer and keeps his kingdom a frozen wasteland. And in order to defeat him, Rudi is going to need a little magic of his own.
Albert Einstein
by Marie Hammontree Robert DoremusBefore Albert Einstein was an internationally renowned genius, he was a kid--learn all about his childhood and what makes him an all-star in American history!Albert Einstein is a household name synonymous with genius around the world. His work unlocked mysteries of the universe and also impacted everyday conveniences like remote controls and televisions. And while most are familiar with Einstein's adult wisdom (and wild hair), do you know what he was like as a child? From his passion for music--he played both the violin and the piano--to his early curiosity for understanding the mysteries of science, in this narrative biography you'll learn all about Albert Einstein's childhood and the influences that shaped the life of a remarkable man.
Sacagawea
by Flora Warren Seymour Robert DoremusLearn about the childhood of Sacagawea, one of the first female all-stars in American history--and honored in US currency on the dollar coin.Sacagawea was a Lemhi Shoshone woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States. She traveled thousands of miles from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean between 1804 and 1806 and greatly contributed to the process of peace negotiations and navigation. In this narrative biography you'll learn about Sacagawea's childhood and how her early experiences equipped her to play an influential role in American history.
The Ballad of a Broken Nose
by Arne Svingen Kari DicksonFrom award-winning Norwegian author Arne Svingen comes "an unusually exciting and funny story" (Dagbladet) about a relentlessly positive teenager who uses his love of opera to cope with his less-than-perfect home life.Bart is an eternal optimist. At thirteen years old, he's had a hard life. But Bart knows that things won't get any better if you have a negative attitude. His mother has pushed him into boxing lessons so that Bart can protect himself, but Bart already has defense mechanisms: he is relentlessly positive...and he loves opera. Listening to--and singing--opera is Bart's greatest escape, but he's too shy to share this with anyone. Then popular Ada befriends him and encourages him to perform at the school talent show. Ada can't keep a secret to save her life, but Bart bonds with her anyway, and her openness helps him realize that his troubles are not burdens that he must bear alone. The Ballad of a Broken Nose is a sweet story about bravery, fear, bullying, sports, and music. But most of all it is about the important days of your life, days when everything seems to happen at once and nothing ever will be the same again.
Vault of Shadows
by Jonathan MaberryMilo must choose between risking his life to save both the human and magical universes--or to live and save only his own--in the explosive and fast-paced follow-up to the first novel in the Nightsiders series, which Kirkus Reviews called "the perfect mix of science fiction and magic" in a starred review.After joining forces with the magical Nightsiders and surviving a trip to the enemy Bugs' Hive ship, Milo Silk still has a lot to fear. The Huntsman has pledged a revenge worse than death on Milo, a group of nefarious fairies are bent on taking back Earth, and zombie-like holo-men are trapping humans for the Bugs to take. Even more unsettling is that the Witch of the World has disappeared and a mysterious boy is haunting Milo's dreams in her stead. But none of these threats compare to what may happen to the world if the humans and the Nightsiders don't unite to fight for each other.
The Guardians
by John ChristopherIn a world where two nations rule all, Rob must find a way to live among them both in this futuristic story from the author of the Tripods series.In the future, the world has been divided into two societies. One is the Conurb--a sprawling, modern city where technology rules and people live with only the bare minimum they need to survive. The other is the County--a land of green fields and beautiful mansions, where the people have turned back the clock to a pristine past. Rob has always lived in the Conurb, but after he is sent to a terrible boarding school, he decides his only option is to take a chance and cross the Barrier into the unknown world of the County. There he meets another boy who introduces Rob to the very different society, and all the wondrous things that come with it. But even though Rob wants to believe that the County is a utopia, he begins to learn about the darkness that lurks beneath the smiles of his new family and friends. And when sinister secrets are revealed, Rob is forced to make a choice: stay in the County, where everything is a perfect lie, or return to the Conurb, where life is hard, horrible, and real.
The Lotus Caves
by John ChristopherTwo boys discover a series of caverns underneath their moon colony home in this futuristic story from the author of the Tripods series.Marty and Steve may live on the moon, but that doesn't mean they don't want to get away every once in a while. So when Steve makes the suggestion to skip school and take a lunar car out to explore the moon's surface like real astronauts, Marty thinks it's a great idea. But the fun quickly ends when the lunar car crashes, stranding Marty and Steve beneath the moon's surface. There, in a bizarre, cave, Marty and Steve find the unexpected: a world filled with various plants, food, and life...including a man who supposedly went missing more than one hundred years before. The boys think that they've found the most wonderful place in the galaxy...but they soon learn that the joy comes with a price. The strange creature that is keeping them alive also wants to control them, and when Marty and Steve decide that they want to leave, the creature might have something else in mind.
Mia's Recipe for Disaster
by Coco SimonMia is excited to enter a Design-a-Dress contest, but she's pressed for time. And when she tries to finish working on her dress during a Halloween cupcake party, it's a recipe for disaster!When Mia reads about a Design-a-Dress contest in a magazine for "budding designers ages 12-16" she is excited. But she doesn't realize how much work designing--and sewing--a dress truly is until she starts on her contest entry. While Mia stresses out about all the work she has to do, she and Katie have an argument about, of all things, fashion preferences! Katie offers suggestions that don't really go with the outfit Mia has in mind. And when Mia makes (what she thinks) is an offhand joke about Katie's fashion sense, it turns into a full-blown argument. As Mia tries to finish working on her dress during a kids' Halloween cupcake party, she realizes that kids plus cupcakes plus silk dresses plus frosting equals a recipe for disaster!
Emma's Not-So-Sweet Dilemma
by Coco SimonEmma loses an important modeling job due to an injury she got while playing with her brothers. How will she pay for the beautiful holiday presents she planned for her family and friends?Emma is playing ball with her brothers on an unusually warm winter afternoon. But an errant toss from her brother Matt hits her right on the nose! Luckily, it's nothing more serious than a little swelling, but it's enough to make her lose an important modeling job at The Special Day salon. Mona hires "mean girl" Olivia Allen to fill in. Olivia is thrilled, not only for the job, but also for a chance to spread some nasty rumors about Emma. Worst of all, now Emma can't afford the beautiful holiday gifts she planned to buy her family and friends. Emma's Cupcake Club pals remind her that the best gifts come from the heart, and don't have a price tag.