I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn't. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Eleanor is off to summer camp. At first she's excited to carry on the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there she finds icky bugs, terrible food, and worst of all: swim class, where she just can't seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go on, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises and that growing up is full of belly flops. Praise for Like Bug Juice on a Burger "Eleanor doesn't just survive, she grows ... Readers will celebrate and look forward to more." - Kirkus Reviews "Sternberg gets all of the details exactly right, from the "orange, oozing sloppy joes" to the frustrations of trying to swim in a life jacket. susan dove lempke." - The HornBook "This is a really sweet novel in verse and a good sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (Abrams, 2011) , though it works fine as a stand-alone." - School Library Journal "Eleanor's tentative yet heartfelt voice comes through as clearly as in the first volume, with the short, ragged-right-margin lines as approachable as her personality. Sternberg is particularly deft at leaving young-reader-sized room for interpretation and extrapolation." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "This sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (2011) is just as endearing and wise, illustrating how small triumphs can help children survive what, at the time, seems an insurmountable trial." - BOOKLIST Award Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbons List 2013 Honor list - 2014 Gryphon Award
Publisher: n/a
|
9781419701900
|
Print book
Nobody's Perfect. I'm As Close As It Gets.
By Benton, Jim
Whatever you do, DON'T read Jamie Kelly's bestselling diaries!The bestselling Dear Dumb Diary series is a hilarious hit! Now Jamie Kelly's diaries have a fresh look and a fun twist. Dear Dumb Diary Year Two is still laugh-out-loud funny -- but everything is another year dumber!As Jamie continues to grapple with middle school's Big Questions, she drops even more snarky gems of wisdom like, "Everybody knows that the more you love somebody, the less you try to look nice for them," and "People don't appreciate how much willpower it takes to do the wrong thing."(But Jamie STILL has no idea that anybody is reading her diary. So please, please, please don't tell her.)
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545377645
|
Paperback
The Bully Book
By Gale, Eric Kahn
What is The Bully Book? Part mystery, part tragedy, part comedy. Originally self-published as an ebook by a member of Team Starkid, The Bully Book is now available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook editions. The paperback includes a Q&A with the author.Eric Haskins, the new sixth-grade bully target, is searching for answers. And unlike many of us who experienced something awful growing up, he finds them. Though they may not be what he expected.When the author was eleven, he was bullied. This book is loosely based on incidents that happened to him in sixth grade.The Bully Book is a Top Ten Indie Next List pick of 2013, and Publishers Weekly called The Bully Book a "gripping debut novel."
Publisher: n/a
|
9780062125118
|
Hardcover
Penelope Crumb Never Forgets
By Stout, Shawn
Penelope Crumb's best friend Patsy Cline Roberta Watson is becoming best friends with another girl in class, so Penelope decides she needs to win her back. Compliments and presents fail - and Penelope is afraid she'll lose Patsy Cline forever, so she decides to swipe Patsy's necklace and start a secret museum to remember all the people she cares about, in case they leave her too. But stealing turns out not to be the best plan, when Grandpa Felix calls the police about his missing camera, forcing Penelope to confess. Now she's lost both Patsy Cline AND her museum. But in the end she makes a huge personal sacrifice to repair her friendship with Patsy and finds out that drawing pictures - what she likes to do best! - is a way to make a personal museum that doesn't involve any sort of stealing.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780399257292
|
Print book
The Doodles of Sam Dibble #1
By Press, J.
Sam's birthday is in twenty-four hours, seven minutes, and four seconds. Here's what he wants: a new bike (because he messed up the old one) , more pens (so he can draw doodles) , and the best birthday party ever. He'll have to wait for the presents, but the only way he can have the best party ever is if Demo Dan, the world's greatest wrestler, shows up. The only problem is, Sam doesn't exactly know Demo Dan (and he promised his friends Dan would be there - he even made a bet on it!) . Now time is running out. Will Demo Dan show up in time for Sam to blow out his candles?
Publisher: n/a
|
9780448461076
|
Paperback
Road Trip
By Paulsen, Jim
Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run - and someone is following them.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780375990311
|
Print book
Athlete vs. Mathlete
By Mack, W. C.
Owen Evans lights up the scoreboards. His brother, Russell, rocks the school boards. These twin brothers couldn't be more different. They've long kept the peace by going their separate ways, but all that is about to change. The new basketball coach recruits Russell for the seventh grade team and a jealous Owen has to fight to stay in the game. When someone tries to steal Russell's spot as captain of the mathlete team, will the two be able to put aside their differences in order to save his position? Or will they be sidelined?Perfect for fans of Matt Christopher and Andrew Clements alike, this is a lighthearted and hilarious look at what happens when brains meets brawn meets basketball.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781599909158
|
Hardcover
Big Nate Flips Out
By Peirce, Lincoln
The fifth Big Nate novel in the New York Times bestselling series by Lincoln Peirce!Big Nate is a New York Times bestseller! Here comes the latest illustrated novel from Lincoln Peirce, all about king of detention and cartooning genius Nate Wright!Everyone knows N-A-T-E does not equal N-E-A-T!And when Nate's sloppiness gets out of hand, his best friend, Francis, is in serious trouble.Can Nate clean up his act, or will he flip out first?"Big Nate is funny, big time." - Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy KidIncludes a sneak peek of the next Big Nate novel, Big Nate: In the Zone!
Publisher: n/a
|
9780061996634
|
Print book
Third Grade Mix-Up
By Jakubowski, Michele
When Sidney Fletcher moves to Oak Grove, things get a little strange for Sydney Greene. Not only does Sydney share a name with a boy, but he's in her third-grade class! From first-day-of-school problems to Halloween drama, Sidney and Sydney quickly become friends. Who says boys and girls can't get along?
Publisher: n/a
|
9781404881044
|
Print book
Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout
By Mcdonald, Megan
Croak! Squeenk! Ribbet! After a close encounter with a mutant amphibian makes him freaky for frogs, water-shy Stink becomes a swimming success.Stink may be super smart, and Stink may be uber clever, but he's been in the Polliwog swim class frog-ever and he still can't bear to put his face in the water. Why would he want a geyser up his nose, on purpose? But then something weird happens: Stink starts to see frogs everywhere - in the locker room, in his boot, in the bathtub. And when a freaky blue frog licks his arm, his froggy senses start tingling! He has an urge to slurp up raisins (that look like flies) . He can't wait to play in the rain and mud. He's a wiz at identifying frog calls. And he has become very interested in the local frog population. Could it be that Stink is turning into . . . the amazing Stink-Frog, fighter of slime? Pree-eep! Craw-awk!
Publisher: n/a
|
9780763661403
|
Book
Starring Jules #1
By Ain, Beth
Lights! Camera! Action! A hilarious chapter book debut from a fabulous new talent!Things to Know About Meby Jules Bloom1. I am a scrambled-eggs-and-chocolate-milk type person.2. I have an audition for a TV commercial (which would be great if I were a tall-icy-drink type person.) 3. I am in between best friends right now.4. I am worried that the audition will be a disaster. (See #1 and #3!) Jules doesn't want to ruin THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME, and she's willing to turn to anyone for help--even her know-it-all ex-best friend! If only that lovely new girl in class would turn out to be the new best friend of her dreams, maybe, just maybe, Jules will be ready for her close-up....
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545443524
|
Print book
Destiny, Rewritten
By Fitzmaurice, Kathryn
This sweet contemporary story about poetry, family, and determining your own destiny is perfect for fans of books by Wendy Mass, Joan Bauer, Sharon Creech, and Rebecca Stead. Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has never met her father, so when a book of poetry with his name in it goes missing, Emily and her friends search all over their hometown of Berkeley, California, hoping to track it down. Meanwhile, even though her English-professor mother insists that Emily is destined to become a poet (she named her after Emily Dickinson!) , Emily secretly corresponds with her idol, romance writer Danielle Steel. As Publishers Weekly says, "Fitzmaurice's story deftly mingles Dickinson, Danielle Steel, a budding crush, and protesting tree sitters while maintaining suspense that leads to a satisfying ending."
Publisher: n/a
|
9780061625015
|
Print book
The Center of Everything
By Urban, Linda
Spring 2013 Kids' Indie Next ListFor Ruby Pepperdine, the "center of everything" is on the rooftop of Pepperdine Motors in her donut-obsessed town of Bunning, New Hampshire, stargazing from the circle of her grandmother Gigi's hug. That's how everything is supposed to be - until Ruby messes up and things spin out of control. But she has one last hope. It all depends on what happens on Bunning Day, when the entire town will hear Ruby read her winning essay. And it depends on her twelfth birthday wish - unless she messes that up too. Can Ruby's wish set everything straight in her topsy-turvy world?
Publisher: n/a
|
9780547763484
|
Print book
Mallory and Mary Ann Take New York
By Friedman, Laurie B.
START SPREADING THE NEWS . . . Mallory and Mary Ann are headed to New York. They've got sights to see! The Empire State Building. The Statue of Liberty. Times Square. Central Park. But they also have a problem to solve. Only one of them is invited to appear on their favorite TV show, Fashion Fran. How can two best friends find a way to share a spotlight with room for only one?
Publisher: n/a
|
9780761360742
|
Hardcover
Call Me Oklahoma!
By Glassman, Miriam
"From now on, call me Oklahoma!" nine-year-old Paige Turner announces on the first day of fourth grade. She is determined that this year she will be different: someone gutsy-brave enough to stand up to her tormentor, class bully Viveca Frye. It takes a lot of work for Paige to bring out her inner Oklahoma, but she's helped along the way by her best friend, her sympathetic teacher, her bratty cousin, and some hilarious but inspiring events at home and at school.Paige does manage to overcome most of her fears, and in the process she learns that a true friend offers all the courage she needs.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780823427420
|
Hardcover
Ivy in the Shadows
By Woodworth, Chris
After Ivy's stepfather disappears, Ivy's mama begins waitressing at Dining Divinely to make ends meet. She also takes in a boarder -- twelve-year-old Caleb, who's the same age as Ivy and is the weirdest guy she's ever met. With Mama working full-time, Ivy has to babysit her little brother, JJ. She also has to fend off the nosy Pastor Harold; stop Caleb from filling JJ's head with lies; and keep her best friend, Ellen, from knowing anything about her embarrassing situation at home. Ivy has always found out all she needs to know by lurking in the shadows (some might call it "eavesdropping") . But as things at home become more complicated, she learns to step into the light and not only listen but speak up.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780374335663
|
Hardcover
Hokey Pokey
By Spinelli, Jerry
Welcome to Hokey Pokey. A place and a time, when childhood is at its best: games to play, bikes to ride, experiences to be had. There are no adults in Hokey Pokey, just kids, and the laws governing Hokey Pokey are simple and finite. But when one of the biggest kids, Jack, has his beloved bike stolen - and by a girl, no less - his entire world, and the world of Hokey Pokey, turns to chaos. Without his bike, Jack feels like everything has started to go wrong. He feels different, not like himself, and he knows something is about to change. And even more troubling he alone hears a faint train whistle. But that's impossible: every kid knows there no trains in Hokey Pokey, only tracks.Master storyteller Jerry Spinelli has written a dizzingly inventive fable of growing up and letting go, of leaving childhood and its imagination play behind for the more dazzling adventures of adolescence, and of learning to accept not only the sunny part of day, but the unwelcome arrival of night, as well.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780375931987
|
Print book
The Secret Chicken Society
By Cox, Judy
When Daniel's class hatches chicks as a science project, he adopts them. When he finds out that his favorite bird, Peepers, isn't a hen but a rooster, and therefore illegal to keep in the city of Portland, t"he Secret Chicken Society" is quickly formed to save Peepers. This warmhearted chapter book about an environmentally-conscious family will provide plenty of clucks and lots of chuckles for young readers.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780823423729
|
Book
Iris and Walter
By Guest, Elissa Haden
Iris cannot wait to have her first sleepover at her best friend Walter's house. They will put on a puppet show. They will ride Walter's horse Rain in their pyjamas. They will stay up very, very late. But on the big night, when it is time for bed after all the fun, Iris lies awake missing Grampa's songs, her parents' kisses, and Baby Rose sleeping nearby. Maybe, just maybe, this sleepover wasn't such a good idea after all. The fourth book in this critically acclaimed and award-winning series will reassure any child who is anxious about spending a night away from home.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780152046378
|
Paperback
Cake
By Magnin, Joyce
More than frosting filled those cakes ... Wilma Sue seems destined to go from one foster home to the next -- until she is sent to live with sisters and missionaries, Ruth and Naomi. Do they really care about Wilma Sue, or are they just looking for a Cinderella-style farmhand to help raise chickens and bake cakes? As Wilma Sue adjusts to her new surroundings and helps deliver "special" cakes, Wilma Sue realizes there's something strange going on. She starts looking for secret ingredients, and along the way she makes a new friend, Penny. When Penny and her mother hit a rough patch, Naomi decides to make her own version of cake -- with disastrous results. Then tragedy strikes the chickens, and all fingers point to Wilma Sue -- just when she was starting to believe she could at last find a permanent home with Ruth and Naomi. Will the sisters turn her out, or will she discover what it feels like to be truly loved?
Like Bug Juice on a Burger
By Sternberg, Julie
I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn't. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Eleanor is off to summer camp. At first she's excited to carry on the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there she finds icky bugs, terrible food, and worst of all: swim class, where she just can't seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go on, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises and that growing up is full of belly flops. Praise for Like Bug Juice on a Burger "Eleanor doesn't just survive, she grows ... Readers will celebrate and look forward to more." - Kirkus Reviews "Sternberg gets all of the details exactly right, from the "orange, oozing sloppy joes" to the frustrations of trying to swim in a life jacket. susan dove lempke." - The HornBook "This is a really sweet novel in verse and a good sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (Abrams, 2011) , though it works fine as a stand-alone." - School Library Journal "Eleanor's tentative yet heartfelt voice comes through as clearly as in the first volume, with the short, ragged-right-margin lines as approachable as her personality. Sternberg is particularly deft at leaving young-reader-sized room for interpretation and extrapolation." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "This sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (2011) is just as endearing and wise, illustrating how small triumphs can help children survive what, at the time, seems an insurmountable trial." - BOOKLIST Award Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbons List 2013 Honor list - 2014 Gryphon Award
Nobody's Perfect. I'm As Close As It Gets.
By Benton, Jim
Whatever you do, DON'T read Jamie Kelly's bestselling diaries!The bestselling Dear Dumb Diary series is a hilarious hit! Now Jamie Kelly's diaries have a fresh look and a fun twist. Dear Dumb Diary Year Two is still laugh-out-loud funny -- but everything is another year dumber!As Jamie continues to grapple with middle school's Big Questions, she drops even more snarky gems of wisdom like, "Everybody knows that the more you love somebody, the less you try to look nice for them," and "People don't appreciate how much willpower it takes to do the wrong thing."(But Jamie STILL has no idea that anybody is reading her diary. So please, please, please don't tell her.)
The Bully Book
By Gale, Eric Kahn
What is The Bully Book? Part mystery, part tragedy, part comedy. Originally self-published as an ebook by a member of Team Starkid, The Bully Book is now available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook editions. The paperback includes a Q&A with the author.Eric Haskins, the new sixth-grade bully target, is searching for answers. And unlike many of us who experienced something awful growing up, he finds them. Though they may not be what he expected.When the author was eleven, he was bullied. This book is loosely based on incidents that happened to him in sixth grade.The Bully Book is a Top Ten Indie Next List pick of 2013, and Publishers Weekly called The Bully Book a "gripping debut novel."
Penelope Crumb Never Forgets
By Stout, Shawn
Penelope Crumb's best friend Patsy Cline Roberta Watson is becoming best friends with another girl in class, so Penelope decides she needs to win her back. Compliments and presents fail - and Penelope is afraid she'll lose Patsy Cline forever, so she decides to swipe Patsy's necklace and start a secret museum to remember all the people she cares about, in case they leave her too. But stealing turns out not to be the best plan, when Grandpa Felix calls the police about his missing camera, forcing Penelope to confess. Now she's lost both Patsy Cline AND her museum. But in the end she makes a huge personal sacrifice to repair her friendship with Patsy and finds out that drawing pictures - what she likes to do best! - is a way to make a personal museum that doesn't involve any sort of stealing.
The Doodles of Sam Dibble #1
By Press, J.
Sam's birthday is in twenty-four hours, seven minutes, and four seconds. Here's what he wants: a new bike (because he messed up the old one) , more pens (so he can draw doodles) , and the best birthday party ever. He'll have to wait for the presents, but the only way he can have the best party ever is if Demo Dan, the world's greatest wrestler, shows up. The only problem is, Sam doesn't exactly know Demo Dan (and he promised his friends Dan would be there - he even made a bet on it!) . Now time is running out. Will Demo Dan show up in time for Sam to blow out his candles?
Road Trip
By Paulsen, Jim
Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run - and someone is following them.
Athlete vs. Mathlete
By Mack, W. C.
Owen Evans lights up the scoreboards. His brother, Russell, rocks the school boards. These twin brothers couldn't be more different. They've long kept the peace by going their separate ways, but all that is about to change. The new basketball coach recruits Russell for the seventh grade team and a jealous Owen has to fight to stay in the game. When someone tries to steal Russell's spot as captain of the mathlete team, will the two be able to put aside their differences in order to save his position? Or will they be sidelined?Perfect for fans of Matt Christopher and Andrew Clements alike, this is a lighthearted and hilarious look at what happens when brains meets brawn meets basketball.
Big Nate Flips Out
By Peirce, Lincoln
The fifth Big Nate novel in the New York Times bestselling series by Lincoln Peirce!Big Nate is a New York Times bestseller! Here comes the latest illustrated novel from Lincoln Peirce, all about king of detention and cartooning genius Nate Wright!Everyone knows N-A-T-E does not equal N-E-A-T!And when Nate's sloppiness gets out of hand, his best friend, Francis, is in serious trouble.Can Nate clean up his act, or will he flip out first?"Big Nate is funny, big time." - Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy KidIncludes a sneak peek of the next Big Nate novel, Big Nate: In the Zone!
Third Grade Mix-Up
By Jakubowski, Michele
When Sidney Fletcher moves to Oak Grove, things get a little strange for Sydney Greene. Not only does Sydney share a name with a boy, but he's in her third-grade class! From first-day-of-school problems to Halloween drama, Sidney and Sydney quickly become friends. Who says boys and girls can't get along?
Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout
By Mcdonald, Megan
Croak! Squeenk! Ribbet! After a close encounter with a mutant amphibian makes him freaky for frogs, water-shy Stink becomes a swimming success.Stink may be super smart, and Stink may be uber clever, but he's been in the Polliwog swim class frog-ever and he still can't bear to put his face in the water. Why would he want a geyser up his nose, on purpose? But then something weird happens: Stink starts to see frogs everywhere - in the locker room, in his boot, in the bathtub. And when a freaky blue frog licks his arm, his froggy senses start tingling! He has an urge to slurp up raisins (that look like flies) . He can't wait to play in the rain and mud. He's a wiz at identifying frog calls. And he has become very interested in the local frog population. Could it be that Stink is turning into . . . the amazing Stink-Frog, fighter of slime? Pree-eep! Craw-awk!
Starring Jules #1
By Ain, Beth
Lights! Camera! Action! A hilarious chapter book debut from a fabulous new talent!Things to Know About Meby Jules Bloom1. I am a scrambled-eggs-and-chocolate-milk type person.2. I have an audition for a TV commercial (which would be great if I were a tall-icy-drink type person.) 3. I am in between best friends right now.4. I am worried that the audition will be a disaster. (See #1 and #3!) Jules doesn't want to ruin THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME, and she's willing to turn to anyone for help--even her know-it-all ex-best friend! If only that lovely new girl in class would turn out to be the new best friend of her dreams, maybe, just maybe, Jules will be ready for her close-up....
Destiny, Rewritten
By Fitzmaurice, Kathryn
This sweet contemporary story about poetry, family, and determining your own destiny is perfect for fans of books by Wendy Mass, Joan Bauer, Sharon Creech, and Rebecca Stead. Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has never met her father, so when a book of poetry with his name in it goes missing, Emily and her friends search all over their hometown of Berkeley, California, hoping to track it down. Meanwhile, even though her English-professor mother insists that Emily is destined to become a poet (she named her after Emily Dickinson!) , Emily secretly corresponds with her idol, romance writer Danielle Steel. As Publishers Weekly says, "Fitzmaurice's story deftly mingles Dickinson, Danielle Steel, a budding crush, and protesting tree sitters while maintaining suspense that leads to a satisfying ending."
The Center of Everything
By Urban, Linda
Spring 2013 Kids' Indie Next ListFor Ruby Pepperdine, the "center of everything" is on the rooftop of Pepperdine Motors in her donut-obsessed town of Bunning, New Hampshire, stargazing from the circle of her grandmother Gigi's hug. That's how everything is supposed to be - until Ruby messes up and things spin out of control. But she has one last hope. It all depends on what happens on Bunning Day, when the entire town will hear Ruby read her winning essay. And it depends on her twelfth birthday wish - unless she messes that up too. Can Ruby's wish set everything straight in her topsy-turvy world?
Mallory and Mary Ann Take New York
By Friedman, Laurie B.
START SPREADING THE NEWS . . . Mallory and Mary Ann are headed to New York. They've got sights to see! The Empire State Building. The Statue of Liberty. Times Square. Central Park. But they also have a problem to solve. Only one of them is invited to appear on their favorite TV show, Fashion Fran. How can two best friends find a way to share a spotlight with room for only one?
Call Me Oklahoma!
By Glassman, Miriam
"From now on, call me Oklahoma!" nine-year-old Paige Turner announces on the first day of fourth grade. She is determined that this year she will be different: someone gutsy-brave enough to stand up to her tormentor, class bully Viveca Frye. It takes a lot of work for Paige to bring out her inner Oklahoma, but she's helped along the way by her best friend, her sympathetic teacher, her bratty cousin, and some hilarious but inspiring events at home and at school.Paige does manage to overcome most of her fears, and in the process she learns that a true friend offers all the courage she needs.
Ivy in the Shadows
By Woodworth, Chris
After Ivy's stepfather disappears, Ivy's mama begins waitressing at Dining Divinely to make ends meet. She also takes in a boarder -- twelve-year-old Caleb, who's the same age as Ivy and is the weirdest guy she's ever met. With Mama working full-time, Ivy has to babysit her little brother, JJ. She also has to fend off the nosy Pastor Harold; stop Caleb from filling JJ's head with lies; and keep her best friend, Ellen, from knowing anything about her embarrassing situation at home. Ivy has always found out all she needs to know by lurking in the shadows (some might call it "eavesdropping") . But as things at home become more complicated, she learns to step into the light and not only listen but speak up.
Hokey Pokey
By Spinelli, Jerry
Welcome to Hokey Pokey. A place and a time, when childhood is at its best: games to play, bikes to ride, experiences to be had. There are no adults in Hokey Pokey, just kids, and the laws governing Hokey Pokey are simple and finite. But when one of the biggest kids, Jack, has his beloved bike stolen - and by a girl, no less - his entire world, and the world of Hokey Pokey, turns to chaos. Without his bike, Jack feels like everything has started to go wrong. He feels different, not like himself, and he knows something is about to change. And even more troubling he alone hears a faint train whistle. But that's impossible: every kid knows there no trains in Hokey Pokey, only tracks.Master storyteller Jerry Spinelli has written a dizzingly inventive fable of growing up and letting go, of leaving childhood and its imagination play behind for the more dazzling adventures of adolescence, and of learning to accept not only the sunny part of day, but the unwelcome arrival of night, as well.
The Secret Chicken Society
By Cox, Judy
When Daniel's class hatches chicks as a science project, he adopts them. When he finds out that his favorite bird, Peepers, isn't a hen but a rooster, and therefore illegal to keep in the city of Portland, t"he Secret Chicken Society" is quickly formed to save Peepers. This warmhearted chapter book about an environmentally-conscious family will provide plenty of clucks and lots of chuckles for young readers.
Iris and Walter
By Guest, Elissa Haden
Iris cannot wait to have her first sleepover at her best friend Walter's house. They will put on a puppet show. They will ride Walter's horse Rain in their pyjamas. They will stay up very, very late. But on the big night, when it is time for bed after all the fun, Iris lies awake missing Grampa's songs, her parents' kisses, and Baby Rose sleeping nearby. Maybe, just maybe, this sleepover wasn't such a good idea after all. The fourth book in this critically acclaimed and award-winning series will reassure any child who is anxious about spending a night away from home.
Cake
By Magnin, Joyce
More than frosting filled those cakes ... Wilma Sue seems destined to go from one foster home to the next -- until she is sent to live with sisters and missionaries, Ruth and Naomi. Do they really care about Wilma Sue, or are they just looking for a Cinderella-style farmhand to help raise chickens and bake cakes? As Wilma Sue adjusts to her new surroundings and helps deliver "special" cakes, Wilma Sue realizes there's something strange going on. She starts looking for secret ingredients, and along the way she makes a new friend, Penny. When Penny and her mother hit a rough patch, Naomi decides to make her own version of cake -- with disastrous results. Then tragedy strikes the chickens, and all fingers point to Wilma Sue -- just when she was starting to believe she could at last find a permanent home with Ruth and Naomi. Will the sisters turn her out, or will she discover what it feels like to be truly loved?