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Ivy
by Katherine CovilleFor fans of Jessica Day George and E. D. Baker comes a charming young fantasy about a girl, her grandmother, and an animal hospital devoted to fantastical creatures. Ivy’s grandmother is a healer—to mostly four-legged patients of the forest. Although the woodland creatures love her, the residents of Broomsweep grumble about Grandmother’s unkempt garden. When a kingdom-wide contest is announced to proclaim the tidiest town in the land, the people of Broomsweep are determined to win. That is, if they can get Ivy’s grandmother to clean up her ways. Ivy is determined to lend a hand, but the task proves more challenging when a series of unexpected refugees descends on Grandmother’s cottage. Before the week is over, an injured griffin, a dragon with a cold, and a tiny flock of temperamental pixies will cause a most untidy uproar in Broomsweep . . . and brighten Ivy’s days in ways she never could have dreamed.
Will Wilder #3: The Amulet of Power (Will Wilder #3)
by Raymond ArroyoIn book three of the series, twelve-year-old Will Wilder is back to protect the town of Perilous Falls after he's given a talisman with a lock of Samson's hair. But a new dark demon will force family secrets to be revealed, friendships to be tested, and Will's strength to be pushed to the limit.Will Wilder yearns to join the Perilous Falls Middle School football team. But he was never big enough or strong enough to make the cut, until he comes in contact with a talisman containing the fabled locks of Samson. But using the Amulet of Power attracts dark forces to Perilous Falls like moths to a flame.Suddenly, hunched creatures are shadowing people around town, graves are being disturbed, the music of a mysterious DJ lulls half of Perilous Falls into a stupor, and to top it all off, Will is convinced that a teammate may be a demon himself! As he tries to identify the demon before it causes untold havoc, Wilder family secrets will be unlocked, the limits of physical strength and the power of friendship are tested--and Will might even score a touchdown or two.
Will Wilder #2: The Lost Staff of Wonders (Will Wilder #2)
by Raymond Arroyo“Open the cover, fasten your seat belt, and get ready for a rip-roaring ride!” —Ridley Pearson, author of the New York Times bestselling series Kingdom Keepers Twelve-year-old Will Wilder is back to protect the town of Perilous Falls from another ancient evil—the fearsome demon, Amon. When the storied Staff of Moses—responsible for summoning the plagues of ancient Egypt—vanishes from the museum in Perilous Falls, Will Wilder is suspect number one. Desperate to prove his innocence and stop the thief from unleashing terrors upon the town of Perilous Falls, Will must use his supernatural gift to locate the beast—but it’s nowhere to be found. As the river runs with blood, sharp-toothed frogs surround his home, and clouds of swarming gnats choke the streets, Will must rely on his supernatural ability, everything he learned from his training, and help from his friends, siblings, and Great-Aunt Lucille to find the missing staff and unmask the hidden evil before time runs out for all of them. “This new Will Wilder tale will have readers itching for adventures of their own.” —N. D. Wilson, author of the acclaimed 100 Cupboards series"Surprising spiritual depth with a hearty helping of monsters and miracles." —Kirkus Reviews Praise for Book 1 in the Will Wilder series, The Relic of Perilous Falls“You’ll love this wild and thrilling tale. It DOES NOT STOP!” —Dave Barry, #1 New York Times bestselling author “[A]n action-packed story of pith helmets and secret passageways, prophecy and skepticism, temptation and wickedness, and the most agile and lethal great-aunt a boy could hope to have.”—The Wall Street Journal “With shades of Indiana Jones and Percy Jackson, Will Wilder’s antics are sure to appeal to middle-grade readers looking for the next great adventure.” —Booklist “Suspense, adventure, humor, a compelling story, and characters that fired my imagination. Great fun and great frights.” —Dean Koontz, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Will Wilder: The Relic of Perilous Falls (Will Wilder #1)
by Raymond ArroyoFans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Peter Lerangis's Seven Wonders series will embrace this first epic adventure in a rollicking new series by a New York Times bestselling author. Will Wilder is a mischievous, headstrong twelve-year-old with an otherworldly gift--he alone can see the nefarious creatures encroaching on Perilous Falls. For nearly a century, a sacred relic has protected his hometown from the raging waters surrounding it. But when Will "borrows" the relic for his own purposes, he accidentally unleashes an ancient evil. As boats sink and hideous creatures crawl from the rising waters, Will must set things right before it is too late. With the help of his sweet (if lethal) Great Aunt Lucille, the curator of a museum of powerful artifacts, Will proves that the actions of one twelve-year-old boy can change the world.
A Small Zombie Problem (Zombie Problems #1)
by K.G. CampbellIn his fiction debut--and the start of a new series--celebrated illustrator K.G. Campbell brings a touch of Tim Burton to this singularly strange and wonderful story about a lonely boy whose life is about to get a whole lot more complicated when a zombie follows him home.August DuPont has spent his whole life inside a dilapidated house with his aunt Hydrangea. His lonely existence ends abruptly with the arrival of an invitation to meet an aunt--and cousins--he didn't even know existed. When Aunt Orchid suggests that August attend school with his cousins, it's a dream come true. But August has scarcely begun to celebrate his reversal of fortune when he is confronted by a small problem on his way home. So begins an adventure filled with a wild child, a zombie, a fabled white alligator, and an unimaginable family secret.
Snow & Rose
by Emily Winfield Martin<P>A New York Times bestselling author-illustrator brings readers into the woods to meet two young sisters and a strange bit of magic in this reimagining of the classic but little-known fairy tale “Snow White and Rose Red.” <P>Snow and Rose didn’t know they were in a fairy tale. People never do. . . . <P>Once, they lived in a big house with spectacular gardens and an army of servants. Once, they had a father and mother who loved them more than the sun and moon. But that was before their father disappeared into the woods and their mother disappeared into sorrow. <P>This is the story of two sisters and the enchanted woods that have been waiting for them to break a set of terrible spells. <P> Bestselling author-illustrator Emily Winfield Martin has created a world that sits on the border of enchantment, with characters who are grounded in real emotions that readers will recognize in themselves. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
The Bone Thief
by Alyson NoelFans of Tim Burton and Wes Anderson will love this new fantasy novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël in which a ragtag team of eleven-year olds with otherworldly abilities set out to solve the mystery behind the sudden onset of ordinary events plaguing their very unusual town. Compared to other more ordinary towns, Quiver Hollows is a very strange, very curious place. It is also home to longtime friends Grimsly, Ollie, Ming, and Penelope. In a town where everyone is spectacularly abnormal, Grimsly feels bad about being terribly, unforgivably normal, as the town's pet funeral director. So when a series of strange and disturbing mundane occurrences begins plaguing Quiver Hollows, well, Grimsly fears his growing celebrity just might be to blame since everyone knows that the things you focus on the most have an uncanny way of shaping your world. The group of friends also learn that the bones in the pet cemetery are thought to be the source of the strange magic that binds the town of Quiver Hollows. With the bones now gone, the town's magic is quickly dissipating. Will it ultimately become as common and ordinary as everywhere else?
Five Days of Famous
by Alyson NoelIs being famous the key to living the life of your (tween) dreams? Find out in this modern-day fairy tale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël! Seventh-grade girls like guys who are cool. And Nick Dashaway . . . is not cool. When Nick makes a wish after the epic disaster that was the Greentree Middle School Talent Show, he doesn't actually think it's going to come true. But it does. Soon he has a whole new life--he's rich, he's popular, and girls laugh at all his jokes. He's famous. But when he begins to miss parts of his old life, is it too late to get it back?
Princess DisGrace #2: The Dragon Dance
by Lou KuenzlerCalling all precocious princesses! This series is sure to be a hit with girls who love E.D. Baker and other authors who offer a big dose of humor and adventure with their princess fix. Rules for the Ballet of the Flowers: 1. The invitations must be perfect. 2. You must pick a beautiful flower. 3. Your dance must be graceful. At Tall Towers Princess Academy, the Ballet of the Flowers is a very special performance. But Grace just can’t seem to get it right. First, she ruins the invitations when she falls off her unicorn and into the mud. Then she picks a flower called dragon’s heart . . . but it smells more like dragon poo! And graceful? Well, that’s just not Princess Grace. She has much more important things on her mind—like whether a real dragon is living near her school! But will Grace’s secret new friend mess up the ballet performance?
Princess DisGrace: A Royal Disaster
by Lou KuenzlerCalling all precocious princesses! This series is sure to be a hit with girls who love a big dose of humor and adventure with their princess fix. Rules for Being a Princess: 1. Your name must be on the Fairy Godmother's list. 2. You must always be elegant and graceful. 3. A unicorn must choose you. When Grace arrives at Tall Towers Princess Academy, her name isn't on the Fairy Godmother's list of students. She isn't elegant at all--not even her curtsy is graceful. And all the other girls are sure she's headed straight back to her tiny, messy kingdom. But one unicorn knows better. He's clumsy and dirty and the perfect match for Grace! And together they have tons of fun. But the other princesses aren't convinced Grace belongs at the academy. Can she prove that being a princess is about more than just being perfect?
The Wizard's Dog Fetches the Grail
by Eric Kahn GaleFor fans of The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom comes an offbeat, comedic spin on the Holy Grail legend as told by the lovable Nosewise--talking dog and wizard-in-training!The magical realm of Avalon has gone to the dogs--well, one dog. Nosewise, the hilarious talking pup and wizard-in-training, can wield powers untold...but he has yet to master the powerful sword Excalibur. This dog still has some new tricks to learn.But Lord Oberon's evil worms threaten to eat all magic in existence. Nosewise and his pack, the street urchin Arthur, the sorceress Morgana, and his beloved master Merlin, must find the Holy Grail, the one item that can save them all. The only problem: the goblet is hidden in the legendary castle of Camelot--which has been missing for centuries! Worse, Queen Mab, sovereign of dreams, is planning havoc of her own. As naps turn to nightmares, Nosewise will have to rely on his smarts and his snout, or the dog days will be over! Popular author Eric Kahn Gale returns with a fast-paced fantasy adventure that stands out from the pack!
The Wizard's Dog
by Eric Kahn Gale“A magical story full of humor and heart.” —Katherine Applegate, Newbery-winning author of The One and Only Ivan For fans of The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom comes an offbeat, comedic spin on the Excalibur legend told from the point of view of a talking dog who wants to be a magician! Meet Nosewise. He’s spunky. He’s curious. And he’s a dog who can’t understand why his pack mates Merlin and Morgana spend all day practicing magic tricks. If it’s a trick they want, he’s the dog to ask! He can already Sit!, Stay!, and Roll Over! But there’s no way Nosewise is Stay!ing when his master and best friend, Merlin, is kidnapped. There’s nothing Nosewise won’t do to get Merlin back, even if it means facing the strange Fae people and their magic-eating worms, or tangling with the mysterious Sword in the Stone. But it may take more than sniffing out a spell to do it! Nosewise’s hilarious escapades and steadfast loyalty get him and his companions through King Arthur’s Dark Ages."The Wizard's Dog casts a captivating spell as it carries readers on a quest of legendary proportions. A magical story full of humor and heart." —Katherine Applegate
Alice Atherton's Grand Tour
by Lesley M. BlumeThe heartwarming story of a young girl sent to live with the extraordinary Murphy Family in southern France.Ten-year-old Alice Atherton is sent by her father to spend the summer with his dear friends the Murphys who live with their three children and pet monkey in the French Riveria. There, Alice will meet and learn from some of the most extraordinary luminaries of the time. She visits a junk yard with Pablo Picasso looking for objects to make into art, performs a dance inspired by celestial bodies with the renowned Ballet Russes, and imagines magical adventures with Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald.An uplifting story that will appeal to readers who love books by authors like Kate DiCamillo and Jeanne Birdsall.
Lily and Dunkin
by Donna Gephart"Gephart has written a story that will speak not just to one specific community, but to humanity as a whole." --VOYAFor readers who enjoyed Wonder and Counting by 7's, award-winning author Donna Gephart crafts a compelling dual narrative about two remarkable young people: Lily, a transgender girl, and Dunkin, a boy dealing with bipolar disorder. Their powerful story will shred your heart, then stitch it back together with kindness, humor, bravery, and love.Lily Jo McGrother, born Timothy McGrother, is a girl. But being a girl is not so easy when you look like a boy. Especially when you’re in the eighth grade. Dunkin Dorfman, birth name Norbert Dorfman, is dealing with bipolar disorder and has just moved from the New Jersey town he’s called home for the past thirteen years. This would be hard enough, but the fact that he is also hiding from a painful secret makes it even worse. One summer morning, Lily Jo McGrother meets Dunkin Dorfman, and their lives forever change. * 2017 Southern Book Award Winner—Juvenile Category* Voice Award from the Palm Beach County Action Alliance for Mental Health* NPR's Best Kids' Books of 2016* Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers 2016 * New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2016* Amazon's Top 20 Children's Books of 2016 * Top 10 Audiobooks of 2016, School Library Journal* YALSA 2017 Best Fiction for Young Adults* YALSA 2017 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers* ALA 2017 Rainbow Book List -- GLBTQ Books for Children & Teens* Georgia Book Award, 2017-2018 Nominee* Rhode Island Middle School Book Award Nominee, 2018* Wisconsin State Reading Association's Just One More Page Selection, 2017* Indie Next Pick Summer 2016 * Junior Library Guild Selection * Goodreads Choice Awards 2016 -- Best Middle Grade & Children's* 2016 Nerdy Book Club Award * 2016 Rainbow Awards -- Best Transgender Book * 2016 Spring Okra Pick -- the Best in Southern Literature"Gephart clearly has a lot of heart, and she tells their stories with compassion."--Kirkus "A thoughtfully and sensitively written work of character-driven fiction that dramatically addresses two important subjects that deserve more widespread attention."--Booklist, starred “Gephart sympathetically contrasts the physical awkwardness, uncertainty, and longings of these two outsiders during a few tightly-plotted months, building to a crescendo of revelation…[A] valuable portrait of two teenagers whose journeys are just beginning.”--PW "This would be a fantastic addition to any middle grade library collection, and is highly recommended for all ages."--VOYA "Lily and Dunkin is a delight. Here’s a book for anyone who’s ever struggled with being different--or anyone who’s ever loved someone who bears the burden of difference. . . . Crucial, heart-breaking, and inspiring.” —Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of She’s Not There and Stuck in the Middle with You
Lily and Dunkin
by Donna GephartLily Jo McGrother, born Timothy McGrother, is a girl. But being a girl is not so easy when you look like a boy. Especially when you’re in the eighth grade. <p><p> Dunkin Dorfman, birth name Norbert Dorfman, is dealing with bipolar disorder and has just moved from the New Jersey town he’s called home for the past thirteen years. This would be hard enough, but the fact that he is also hiding from a painful secret makes it even worse. <p> One summer morning, Lily Jo McGrother meets Dunkin Dorfman, and their lives forever change.
The Case of the Perilous Palace (The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency)
by Jordan Stratford Kelly MurphyThe history-mystery-science series concludes as the Wollstonecraft Detectives--Ada Byron Lovelace and Mary Shelley--take on a case by royal request.Ada's imperious grandmother has absolutely shut the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency down--until they get a case from a princess, that is.The princess Alexandrina Victoria, age 9 (who will grow up to be Queeen Victoria), is the most closely watched girl in England. She is never alone. Every morsel she eats is catalogued. Every visitor overseen. Every move noted down. She has but one thing of her own--a sketchbook she uses as a secret diary, where she records her private thoughts in code. But now, somehow, that sketchbook has disappeared.And so the princess enlists Ada and Mary to figure out what has happened to the sketchbook without arousing the suspicions of her minders. A most clandestine case indeed! One that will involve breaking into Kensington Palace and uncovering a host of surprising royal secrets...This funny, Christmas-time romp of a caper will delight history and mystery fans alike.
This Is Not the Abby Show
by Debbie Reed FischerFans of Joey Pigza, Meg Cabot, and Because of Mr. Terupt will root for hilarious, one-of-a-kind Abby as she navigates ADHD, middle school, family, and friendships. Abby was born for the spotlight. Now it's her time to shine! Abby is twice exceptional--she is gifted in math and science, and she has ADHD. Normally, she has everything pretty-much-sorta-kinda under control. But when Abby makes one HUGE mistake that leads to "The Night That Ruined My Life," or "TNTRML," she lands in summer school. Abby thinks the other summer school kids are going to be total weirdos. And what with her parents' new rules, plus all the fuss over her brother's bar mitzvah, her life is turning into a complete disaster. But as Abby learns to communicate better and finds friends who love her for who she is, she discovers that her biggest weaknesses could be her greatest assets. Hilarious and heartwarming, This Is Not the Abby Show is for everyone who knows that standing out is way more fun than blending in.
The Dark Lord's Daughter (The Dark Lord's Daughter #1)
by Patricia C. WredeFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Dealing with Dragons comes this timeless fantasy, about an ordinary girl who discovers she's the heir to a dark throne, and must find her place between her life on Earth and her magical inheritance."A heart-stopping, unique adventure for all!" —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling authorKayla is just an ordinary girl . . . or so she thinks. When a day at the state fair is interrupted by the news that she&’s the daughter of a &“Dark Lord,&” she and her family are quickly whisked to another world—one that&’s chock-full of magic but lacking in technology!As her family encounters fantastical creatures in place of their Earthly gadgets, Kayla must prepare for the unpreparable: meeting her father, the Dark Lord himself, for the very first time. All Kayla wants is to go home, but she must learn magic to do so. The catch? For the Dark Lord&’s daughter, the road to mastering magic is filled with evil traditions.As she ventures closer to her father, Kayla must decide whether to accept her birthright. Is she destined for darkness? Or can she become a new kind of Dark Lady?
The Search for El Dorado (Totally True Adventures)
by Lois Miner HueyWas the City of Gold a real place? Treasure seekers and mystery readers alike will love this action-packed Totally True Adventure. Towers of gold! Glittering streets! Jewels, coins, and more! Early Spanish explorers heard a story about El Dorado. It was a lost city in the Americas made of gold. The explorers believed it was real--and they believed they could find it! Soon the story became a legend, and the legend changed the world. But the city of El Dorado has not been found . . . yet. This nonfiction chapter book makes history exciting and accessible for younger readers and features illustrations, photographs, a map, Common Core connections, and additional Story Behind the Story facts. Perfect for readers of the I Survived series and the Who Was . . . ? series, Totally True Adventures are captivating nonfiction stories with not-to-be-missed bonus content.
Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey (Welcome to Wonderland #2)
by Chris GrabensteinFrom Chris Grabenstein, the bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and coauthor with James Patterson of I Funny, House of Robots, and Treasure Hunters, comes the second hilarious, fun-in-the-sun adventure in his new illustrated series about all the wacky things that happen when you live in a motel! There’s always something wacky happening when you live in a motel, and P.T. (named after P. T. Barnum, of course) has grown up at the world’s wackiest! When word gets out that the hottest teen idols in Hollywood (plus current YouTube sensation Kevin the Monkey!) will be filming their next movie—Beach Party Surf Monkey—right in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida, P.T. and his friend Gloria know that the Wonderland would be the perfect location. Now they just have to convince the producers! But when things start to go wrong (crazed fans? missing stars?), it will take all of Gloria’s business genius and P.T.’s wild stories to save the movie before both it and the Wonderland are all washed up! BONUS: Includes fun extras like P.T. and Gloria’s Famous Fact-or-Fiction Quiz: Movie Edition
Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race (Mr. Lemoncello's Library #3)
by Chris Grabenstein#1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein is back with the third fantastically fun, puzzle-packed MR. LEMONCELLO adventure! On your marks. Get set. Lemon, cello, GO! Everyone’s favorite game maker, Mr. Lemoncello, is testing out his new FABULOUS FACT-FINDING FRENZY game! If Kyle can make it through the first round, he and the other lucky finalists will go on a great race—by bicycle, bookmobile, and even Mr. Lemoncello’s corporate banana jet!—to find fascinating facts about famous Americans. The first to bring their facts back to the library will win spectacular prizes! But when a few surprising “facts” surface about Mr. Lemoncello, it might be GO TO JAIL and LOSE A TURN all at once! Could Kyle’s hero be a fraud? It’s winner take all, so Kyle and the other kids will have to dig deep to find out the truth before the GAME is OVER for Mr. Lemoncello and his entire fantastic empire! Filled with brand-new puzzles and games (including a hidden bonus puzzle!), this fast-paced read will have gamers and readers alike racing to the finish line because, like Mr. Lemoncello’s commercials say, IS IT FUN? . . . HELLO! IT’S A LEMONCELLO! * “An ode to libraries and literature that is a worthy successor to the original madman puzzle-master himself, Willy Wonka.” —Booklist, Starred, on Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library “Just as much of an adventure as the first.” —The Washington Post, on Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics
Welcome to Wonderland #1: Home Sweet Motel (Welcome to Wonderland #1)
by Chris GrabensteinFrom Chris Grabenstein, the bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and co-author with James Patterson of I Funny, House of Robots, and Treasure Hunters, comes a hilarious illustrated series about all the wacky things that happen when you live in a motel! Eleven-year-old P. T. Wilkie may be the greatest storyteller alive. But he knows one thing for a fact: the Wonderland Motel is the best place a kid could ever live! All-you-can-eat poolside ice cream! A snack machine in the living room! A frog slide! A giant rampaging alligator! (Okay, that last one may or may not be made up.) There's only one thing the Wonderland doesn't have, though--customers. And if the Wonderland doesn't get them soon, P.T. and his friend Gloria may have to say goodbye to their beloved motel forever. They need to think BIG. They need to think BOLD. They need an OUTRAGEOUS plan. Luckily for them, Gloria is a business GENIUS, and OUTRAGEOUS is practically P.T.'s middle name. With Gloria's smarts and P.T.'s world-famous stories and schemes, there's got to be a way to save the Wonderland! BONUS: Includes fun extras like P. T. Wilkie's outrageous (and sometimes useful) things you learn living in a motel. Installment 1: How to say "Help! The toilet is clogged!" in over twenty languages!Here's What People are saying about Welcome to Wonderland!"Classic Grabenstein. The mystery should satisfy Grabenstein's "Mr. Lemoncello" followers, and the humor and visuals will appeal to fans of his collaborations with James Patterson. This new series should be a hit."--School Library Journal"A delight. P.T. is a hoot and a half. A funny, madcap dash. Grabenstein . . . threads in a mystery that blooms in the last act and that puts this particular read over the top."--Kirkus Reviews "Charm galore. Easy and breezy, this well-paced novel . . . belongs in the hands of any readers wanting their bad guys bad, their good guys great, and a little of Wonderland's promised fun in the sun."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books From the Hardcover edition.
What to Say Next
by Julie Buxbaum<p>From the New York Times bestselling author of <i>Tell Me Three Things</i> comes a charming and poignant story about two struggling teenagers who find an unexpected connection just when they need it most. For fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Niven, and Rainbow Rowell. <p>Sometimes a new perspective is all that is needed to make sense of the world. <p>KIT: I don’t know why I decide not to sit with Annie and Violet at lunch. It feels like no one here gets what I’m going through. How could they? I don’t even understand. <p>DAVID: In the 622 days I’ve attended Mapleview High, Kit Lowell is the first person to sit at my lunch table. I mean, I’ve never once sat with someone until now. “So your dad is dead,” I say to Kit, because this is a fact I’ve recently learned about her. <p>When an unlikely friendship is sparked between relatively popular Kit Lowell and socially isolated David Drucker, everyone is surprised, most of all Kit and David. Kit appreciates David’s blunt honesty—in fact, she finds it bizarrely refreshing. David welcomes Kit’s attention and her inquisitive nature. When she asks for his help figuring out the how and why of her dad’s tragic car accident, David is all in. But neither of them can predict what they’ll find. Can their friendship survive the truth?
The Cartographer's Daughter
by Kiran Millwood HargraveA beautifully written story of friendship, discovery, myths, and magic that the London Times called "reminiscent of fantasy greats such as Philip Pullman and Neil Gaiman." Legends say that the island of Joya was once a place where songbirds sang in every tree and the islanders were free to come and go as they pleased. That was before the harsh-ruling Governor arrived, and ravens drove out the native birds. Now there are no songbirds, and the people are forbidden to travel beyond the forest that separates them from the rest of the island. But for Isabella, the legends of her island home have always seemed like more than just stories. And when a series of mysterious events shakes the community, it's Isabella--daughter to the island's only mapmaker--who will lead a party of explorers into the forest in search of answers. As the group ventures deeper and deeper into the island, dark secrets begin to surface, and the legends Isabella has listened to all these years show signs of coming to life. Debut novelist Kiran Millwood Hargrave draws on the cultural folklore of the Canary Islands in this richly told story of a girl's quest to map her own place in a world that legends alone have shaped. Advance Praise:"[R]eminiscent of fantasy greats such as Philip Pullman and Neil Gaiman." --The London TimesFrom the Hardcover edition.
The Last Monster
by Dinara Mirtalipova Ginger GarrettA story steeped in magical realism about love, fear, and the thrill of discovering who we were born to be, The Last Monster is a story about making peace with our insecurities and defending those who must hide what they really are. Sofia has never felt special. Not at school, or with her track team, and especially not since she's become sick. She's always been different, but this doesn't make her stand out . . . it's makes her invisible. Then something special lands right in Sofia's lap. An ancient book that serves as a portal for the Greek philosopher, Xeno, one of Aristotle's lost students. Sofia has been chosen to be the next Guardian. Suddenly Sofia is not only trying to survive middle-school cliques and first crushes, she's in charge of protecting grotesquely beautiful, lonely monsters that have roamed the Earth for centuries. Drawn into Xeno's violent and unpredictable world of mystery, Sofia learns that loving outsiders has a price."While the fantastical elements are compelling, it's the real-world situations that make this book stand out. . . a perfect recommendation for introspective kids who feel like outsiders."--SLJ "Garrett's prose, frequently poignant and sophisticated, is punctuated with wry humor."--Kirkus "The oft-used concept of finding one's true self is employed here in a uniquely imaginative way, complete with occasional black-and-white illustrations. An appealing tale for readers dealing with their own insecurities."--Booklist From the Hardcover edition.