New York Times Bestseller "A double helping of fun and mischief!" - Jeff kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series "Hilarious." - Dav Pilkey, author of the Captain Underpants series Miles Murphy is not happy to be moving to Yawnee Valley, a sleepy town that's famous for one thing and one thing only: cows. In his old school, everyone knew him as the town's best prankster, but Miles quickly discovers that Yawnee Valley already has a prankster, and a great one. If Miles is going to take the title from this mystery kid, he is going to have to raise his game. It's prankster against prankster in an epic war of trickery, until the two finally decide to join forces and pull off the biggest prank ever seen: a prank so huge that it would make the members of the International Order of Disorder proud. In The Terrible Two, bestselling authors and friends Mac Barnett and Jory John have created a series that has its roots in classic middle-grade literature yet feels fresh and new at the same time. "The pranks, the brotherhood, the art, the heart! What's not to love about the Terrible Two?" - Sara Pennypacker, author of the Clementine series "You don't have to be a cow, like cows, or even know a cow to love the Terrible Two." - Dave Eggers "This book is terrible! Terribly funny, terribly full of pranks, and terribly wonderful." - Jon Scieszka, author of The Stinky Cheese Man and the Frank Einstein series "The Terrible Two are my kind of kids. And what's more, they're kids' kind of kids." - Annie Barrows, author of the Ivy & Bean series
Publisher: n/a
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9781419714917
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Hardcover
Honey
By Weeks, Sarah
Melody has lived in Royal, Indiana, for as long as she can remember. It's been just her and her father, and she's been okay with that. But then she overhears him calling someone Honey -- and suddenly it feels like everyone in Royal has a secret. It's up to Melody and her best friend, Nick, to piece together the clues and discover why Honey is being hidden.
Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from when he was a puppy . . . but he keeps having dreams of a girl he is bound to meet someday. This girl, he's sure, will change everything.
In HONEY, Sarah Weeks introduces two characters -- one a girl, one a dog-- who are reaching back further than their memories in order to figure out where they came from and where they're going. It's a total treat from beginning to end.
Publisher: n/a
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9780545465571
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Book
Finding Serendipity
By Banks, Angelica
When Tuesday McGillycuddy and her beloved dog, Baxterr, discover that Tuesday's mother -- the famous author Serendipity Smith -- has gone missing, they set out on a magical adventure. In their quest to find Serendipity, they discover the mysterious and unpredictable place that stories come from. Here, Tuesday befriends the fearless Vivienne Small, learns to sail an enchanted boat, tangles with an evil pirate, and discovers the truth about her remarkable dog. Along the way, she learns what it means to be a writer and how difficult it can sometimes be to get all the way to The End.
This title has Common Core connections.
Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks, with illustrations by Stevie Lewis, is the first in a series. that continues with book two, A Week Without Tuesday.
"This enchanting story . . . celebrates the imagination and the connection writers feel with their stories. Spunky characters; spot-on pacing, providing perfectly timed plot revelations; and fully imagined worlds make this a charming winner." -- BOOKLIST , starred review
"With cinematic imagery and keen wit, the authors construct an inventive novel." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Young writers will find inspiration in the tale -- especially those who have a story within them but might be too shy to tell it." -- The New York Times Book Review
Publisher: n/a
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9781627791540
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Book
The War that Saved My Life
By Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker
Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada's twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn't waste a minute - she sneaks out to join him.
So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan - and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?
This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity - a classic in the making.
Publisher: n/a
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9780803740815
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Book
Melonhead and the Big Stink
By Kelly, Katy
Melonhead is still pals with Lucy Rose, but he's not going to Parks & Rec camp this summer. He ruined one of Mrs. Wilkins's favorite garden plants, so his parents have "loaned" him to her to do chores. This is going to mess up his summer plans if he doesn't figure something out. He and Sam need to find a way to get to New York City to see the titan arum "bunga bangkai" plant. It's supposed to be twelve feet tall, weigh a hundred pounds, and smell like dead mammals, plus rot, plus spoiled food. It only blooms once every seven years, and even then only for two days and then it keels over dead. It's the Big Stink of a Lifetime! But Melonhead has to get a few more good deeds out of the way first, and doing chores for Mrs. Wilkins is a good start, even if it wasn't in the plan to begin with!
Publisher: n/a
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9780385736589
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Book
Half a Man
By Morpurgo, Michael
From a young age, Michael was both fascinated by and afraid of his grandfather. Grandpa's ship was torpedoed during the Second World War, leaving him with terrible burns. Every time he came to stay, Michael was warned by his mother that he must not stare, he must not make too much noise, he must not ask Grandpa any questions about his past. As he grows older, Michael stays with his grandfather during the summer holidays and learns the story behind Grandpa's injuries, finally getting to know the real man behind the solemn figure from his childhood. Michael can see beyond the burns, and this gives him the power to begin healing scars that have divided his family for so long.
Publisher: n/a
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9780763677473
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Book
Witherwood Reform School
By Skye, Obert
After a slight misunderstanding involving a horrible governess, oatmeal, and a jar of tadpoles, siblings Tobias and Charlotte Eggars find themselves abandoned by their father at the gates of a creepy reform school. Evil mysteries are afoot at Witherwood, where the grounds are patrolled by vicious creatures after dark and kids are locked in their rooms. Charlotte and Tobias soon realize that they are in terrible danger -- especially because the head of Witherwood has perfected the art of mind control. If only their amnesiac father would recover and remember that he has two missing children. If only Tobias and Charlotte could solve the dark mystery and free the kids at Witherwood -- and ultimately save themselves.
Publisher: n/a
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9780805098792
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Hardcover
Willie & Me
By Gutman, Dan
Stosh thought he was finished traveling back in time. But then Ralph Branca shows up in his room one night, begging for Stosh's help. In 1951, Branca pitched a ball to Bobby Thomson that would become the "Shot Heard Round the World," a home run that won the National League pennant for the New York Giants and changed the lives of Branca and Thomson forever. Branca says the Giants were cheating, and he needs Stosh to use his power with baseball cards to go back in time and set things right.
Stosh is determined to help, but he quickly learns that you can't change just one little thing in history. If he erases the "Shot Heard Round the World," he may forever alter the life of a young rookie named Willie Mays. With wisdom from all the players he has helped before - plus the surprise return of some familiar faces - Stosh uses his power to travel in time using baseball cards one last time in a fabulous finale to the adventure of a lifetime.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in the English Language Arts
Publisher: n/a
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9780061704048
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Book
A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans
By Yep, Laurence
Unknown to most of its inhabitants, the City by the Bay is home to many mysterious and fantastic creatures, hidden beneath the parks, among the clouds, and even in plain sight. And Winnie wants to draw every new creature she encounters: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But Winnie's sketchbook is not what it seems. Somehow, her sketchlings have been set loose on the city streets! It will take Winnie and Miss Drake's combined efforts to put an end to the mayhem . . . before it's too late.
Praise for A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans
*"Warm humor, magical mishaps, and the main characters' budding mutual respect and affection combine to give this opener for a planned series a special shine." -BOOKLIST , Starred
"Aternately comical, suspenseful and sometimes sweetly emotional." -Kirkus Reviews
"With a black-and-white spot illustration opening most chapters, an engaging narrator, and a consistently fluid writing style, this title makes a fine dragon choice for readers." -School Library Journal
"In this series launch, Yep and Ryder conjure up a world where dragons and humans interact, and the results are heartwarming and quite funny." -Publishers Weekly
When Joey is bitten by an elderly rat, he goes from aspiring seventh-grader to three-inch tall rodent.
At first, Joey is amazed by his new rat self. The city streets call to him at night. Smells that would have repelled him before are suddenly tantalizing. (A chicken bone? Yes! A squashed cockroach? Like perfume!) And wow, the freedom! But when a bout of hunger leads Joey to pull the spork from the scone, he finds himself at the center of a longtime rat prophecy.
Joey has unwittingly unlocked the sword Ratscalibur; and now, it is up to him to protect his new rat friends from the evil crows who seek to destroy their peaceful kingdom. But what does an eleven-year-old know about actual swordplay? And what happens when Joey no longer wants to be a rat?
Publisher: n/a
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9781595142429
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Book
Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures
By Pearce, Jackson
Here's a list of things Pip Bartlett can talk to:
Unicorns
Miniature Silky Griffins
Bitterflunks
Basically, all magical creatures
Here's a list of things she can't talk to (at least, not very well) :
Parents
Teachers
Basically, all people
Because of a Unicorn Incident at her school (it was an accident!) , Pip is spending the summer with her Aunt Emma at the Cloverton Clinic for Magical Creatures. At first, it's all fun, games, and chatting with Hobgrackles, but when Fuzzles appear and start bursting into flame at the worst possible places, Pip and her new friend Tomas must take action. Because if the mystery of the Fuzzles isn't solved soon, both magical and unmagical creatures are going to be in a lot of trouble.
Publisher: n/a
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9780545709262
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Book
The Way Home Looks Now
By Shang, Wendy Wan-long
Twelve-year-old Chinese American Peter Lee and his family always shared a passion for baseball, bonding over backlot games and the Pittsburgh Pirates. But when a devastating tragedy strikes, the family flies apart and Peter's mom becomes paralyzed by grief, drifting further and further from her family.Hoping to lift his mother's spirits, Peter decides to try out for Little League. But his plans become suddenly complicated when his strict and serious father volunteers to coach the team. His dad's unconventional teaching methods rub some of Peter's teammates the wrong way, and Peter starts to wonder if playing baseball again was the right idea -- and if it can even help his family feel less broken. Can the game they all love eventually bring them back together, safe at home?Acclaimed author Wendy Wan-Long Shang brings her signature warmth, gentle humor, and wisdom to this poignant story of healing and loss, family, and the great American pastime, baseball.
Publisher: n/a
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9780545609562
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Hardcover
Adventures with Waffles
By Parr, Maria
Lena is Trille's best friend, even if she is a girl. And there is never an ordinary day when you've got a best friend like Lena.Hardly a day passes without Trille and Lena inventing some kind of adventure that often ends in trouble. Whether it's coaxing a cow onto a boat or sledding down the steepest and iciest hill with a chicken, there is always a thrill - and sometimes an injury - to be had. Trille loves to share everything with Lena, even Auntie Granny's waffles. But when Lena has to move away and Auntie Granny leaves the world, it sometimes seems like nothing will ever be right again. The warmth of friendship and the support of family suffuse this lightly illustrated novel, proving that when times are tough, a little taste of sweetness can make all the difference.
Publisher: n/a
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9780763672812
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Hardcover
The Enchanted Files
By Coville, Bruce
Angus is a brownie. No, not the kind you eat! He's a tiny magical creature that loves to do chores. Angus has just "inherited" a new human girl, Alex. To say that Alex is messy would be an understatement. She's a total hurricane-like disaster - and she likes it that way, thankyouverymuch! Living with each other isn't easy but Angus and Alex soon learn there is a curse that binds them. What's worse, it threatens Alex's family! Working together, Angus and Alex will set out to break the curse . . . without killing each other first . . . hopefully.
This laugh-out-loud adventure, full of humor and heart, is ideal for fans of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library or Chris Grabenstein.
Also availabe in paperback as Cursed.
* "Smart, amusing, and a lot of fun" - BOOKLIST (starred review)
"With magic, mischief, and mayhem to spare, this sweet story of an unlikely friendship ought to delight readers of any age." - Publishers Weekly
"A knee-slapper." - Kirkus Reviews
Publisher: n/a
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9780385392471
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Book
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer
By Jones, Kelly
Twelve-year-old Sophie Brown feels like a fish out of water when she and her parents move from Los Angeles to the farm they've inherited from a great-uncle. But farm life gets more interesting when a cranky chicken appears and Sophie discovers the hen can move objects with the power of her little chicken brain: jam jars, the latch to her henhouse, the entire henhouse....
And then more of her great-uncle's unusual chickens come home to roost. Determined, resourceful Sophie learns to care for her flock, earning money for chicken feed, collecting eggs. But when a respected local farmer tries to steal them, Sophie must find a way to keep them (and their superpowers) safe.
Told in letters to Sophie's abuela, quizzes, a chicken-care correspondence course, to-do lists, and more, Unusual Chickens is a quirky, clucky classic in the making.
Publisher: n/a
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9780385755528
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Book
Platypus Police Squad
By Krosoczka, Jarrett J.
When a call comes in about a crime down at the docks involving a missing schoolteacher and a duffle bag full of illegal fish, Zengo and O'Malley are going to have to learn to set their differences aside if they want to get to the bottom of this. Especially when the clues all point to Frank Pandini Jr., Kallamazoo's first son and its most powerful, well-respected businessman.
Fans of Adam Rex, Jon Scieszka, and Jarrett J. Krosoczka's own Lunch Lady graphic novels will flip for Jarrett's new series of illustrated middle-grade novels.
Publisher: n/a
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9780062071644
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Book
Boy's Best Friend
By Banks, Kate
Eleven-year-old George has a dog, Bart, who seems to know everything about him-from when he is feeling sad to when he will arrive home from school. George's new neighbor and classmate, Lester, also has a dog, Bill Gates, and Lester thinks he is the smartest animal in the world. When their teacher assigns a school science project about animal behavior, George and Lester decide to conduct an experiment based on the world-famous Rupert Sheldrake's experiments about dogs. George even has an email exchange with Dr. Sheldrake to help him with the project-and he and Lester soon find out that, through a few simple experiments, kids can make scientific discoveries, too. This middle-grade boys and dogs story is inspired by Rupert Sheldrake's bestselling adult book, Dogs that Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home.
Publisher: n/a
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9780374380083
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Hardcover
Anton and Cecil, Book 2
By Martin, Lisa
A message has traveled via the mouse network to cat brothers Anton and Cecil: their rodent friend Hieronymus has been captured. Though he'd rather stay close to home, Anton must get to the friend who saved his life. Cecil is quick to action, too, but it's adventure he craves. Boarding one of the machines the mice call "landships"--noisy, smoke-belching trains--Anton and Cecil travel to the heart of the Wild West. Along the way Cecil is tossed out by the train's conductor, only to face huge bison, chattering prairie dogs, and the most dangerous creature of all, a boy who wants to make Cecil a pet. Meanwhile, Anton's search leads him to stampeding herds, menacing rattlesnakes, and fierce, enormous cats. In this perilous territory, do Anton and Cecil have the courage and wit to find and save Hieronymus? The heroes of Anton and Cecil: Cats at Sea, which the New York Times called "engrossing and unpredictable," return in an exciting adventure that will delight fans of the first book and new readers alike.Praise for Anton and Cecil: Cats at Sea: "The plot is carefully woven, the vocabulary rich and distinctive, and the characters engaging." - Kirkus Reviews "Enchanting . . . [Lisa Martin and Valerie Martin] effortlessly submerge readers in the setting." - Shelf Awareness for Readers "Children who like animal fantasies such as Avi's Poppy will find much to enjoy here." - School Library Journal
Publisher: n/a
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9781616204198
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Hardcover
VIP
By Calonita, Jen
Twelve-year-old Mackenzie "Mac" Lowell's dreams have come true. Thanks to her mom scoring the coolest job EVER, Mac is going from boy band fanatic to official tour member of her favorite group, Perfect Storm. Good thing she's brought along her journal so she can record every moment, every breath, and every one of lead singer Zander Welling's killer smiles in written detail and daydreamy doodles.But between a zillion tour stops and pranks gone wrong, Zander and his fellow band members, Heath Holland and Kyle Beyer, become more like brothers to Mac. When the boys' differences start to drive them apart, can Perfect Storm's biggest fan remind them why they'reperfect together? It'll be up to Mac--and her comic-book alter ego, Mac Attack--to keep the band together and on the road to stardom Chronicling her experiences on tour, Mac's journal springs to life with black-and-white illustrations and comic-book panels throughout its pages.
Publisher: n/a
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9780316259729
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Hardcover
I Am Coyote
By Vistein, Geri
Coyote is three years old when she leaves her family in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario and embarks on a 500-mile odyssey eastward in search of a territory of her own and a mate to share it with.Journeying by night through the dead of winter, she endures extreme cold, hunger, and a harrowing crossing of the St. Lawrence River in Montreal before her cries of loneliness are finally answered in the wilds of Maine. The mate she finds must gnaw off a paw to escape a trap. The first coyotes in the northern U.S., they raise pups (losing several) , experience summer plenty, winter hardship, playfulness, and unmistakable love and grief. Blending science and imagination with magical results, this story tells how coyotes may have populated a land desperately in need of a keystone predator, and no one who reads it will doubt the value of their ecological role.Told through the eyes of a coyote, this is a riveting story with mythic dimensions.A work of creative nonfiction that adheres to the highest standards of wildlife biology.With deep insights into wild canine behavior, penetrates the veil of "otherness" that separates us from the animals with whom we share the planet.An appendix explores the history and current status of coyotes in North America. Native Americans considered them tricksters, messengers, and companions. Given the disappearance of wolves, they are even more critical to ecosystem health today. The author explains how, without coyotes, prey species are weakened by disease and parasites.Geri Vistein speaks extensively about coyote-human interactions to a variety of audiences. She is a nationally recognized expert on the topic and maintains the website CoyoteLivesInMaine.com.A QR code in the book takes readers to a hauntingly beautiful recording of coyote song.
The Terrible Two
By Barnett, Mac
New York Times Bestseller "A double helping of fun and mischief!" - Jeff kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series "Hilarious." - Dav Pilkey, author of the Captain Underpants series Miles Murphy is not happy to be moving to Yawnee Valley, a sleepy town that's famous for one thing and one thing only: cows. In his old school, everyone knew him as the town's best prankster, but Miles quickly discovers that Yawnee Valley already has a prankster, and a great one. If Miles is going to take the title from this mystery kid, he is going to have to raise his game. It's prankster against prankster in an epic war of trickery, until the two finally decide to join forces and pull off the biggest prank ever seen: a prank so huge that it would make the members of the International Order of Disorder proud. In The Terrible Two, bestselling authors and friends Mac Barnett and Jory John have created a series that has its roots in classic middle-grade literature yet feels fresh and new at the same time. "The pranks, the brotherhood, the art, the heart! What's not to love about the Terrible Two?" - Sara Pennypacker, author of the Clementine series "You don't have to be a cow, like cows, or even know a cow to love the Terrible Two." - Dave Eggers "This book is terrible! Terribly funny, terribly full of pranks, and terribly wonderful." - Jon Scieszka, author of The Stinky Cheese Man and the Frank Einstein series "The Terrible Two are my kind of kids. And what's more, they're kids' kind of kids." - Annie Barrows, author of the Ivy & Bean series
Honey
By Weeks, Sarah
Melody has lived in Royal, Indiana, for as long as she can remember. It's been just her and her father, and she's been okay with that. But then she overhears him calling someone Honey -- and suddenly it feels like everyone in Royal has a secret. It's up to Melody and her best friend, Nick, to piece together the clues and discover why Honey is being hidden.
Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from when he was a puppy . . . but he keeps having dreams of a girl he is bound to meet someday. This girl, he's sure, will change everything.
In HONEY, Sarah Weeks introduces two characters -- one a girl, one a dog-- who are reaching back further than their memories in order to figure out where they came from and where they're going. It's a total treat from beginning to end.
Finding Serendipity
By Banks, Angelica
When Tuesday McGillycuddy and her beloved dog, Baxterr, discover that Tuesday's mother -- the famous author Serendipity Smith -- has gone missing, they set out on a magical adventure. In their quest to find Serendipity, they discover the mysterious and unpredictable place that stories come from. Here, Tuesday befriends the fearless Vivienne Small, learns to sail an enchanted boat, tangles with an evil pirate, and discovers the truth about her remarkable dog. Along the way, she learns what it means to be a writer and how difficult it can sometimes be to get all the way to The End. This title has Common Core connections. Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks, with illustrations by Stevie Lewis, is the first in a series. that continues with book two, A Week Without Tuesday. "This enchanting story . . . celebrates the imagination and the connection writers feel with their stories. Spunky characters; spot-on pacing, providing perfectly timed plot revelations; and fully imagined worlds make this a charming winner." -- BOOKLIST , starred review "With cinematic imagery and keen wit, the authors construct an inventive novel." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Young writers will find inspiration in the tale -- especially those who have a story within them but might be too shy to tell it." -- The New York Times Book Review
The War that Saved My Life
By Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker
Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada's twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn't waste a minute - she sneaks out to join him.
So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan - and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?
This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity - a classic in the making.
Melonhead and the Big Stink
By Kelly, Katy
Melonhead is still pals with Lucy Rose, but he's not going to Parks & Rec camp this summer. He ruined one of Mrs. Wilkins's favorite garden plants, so his parents have "loaned" him to her to do chores. This is going to mess up his summer plans if he doesn't figure something out. He and Sam need to find a way to get to New York City to see the titan arum "bunga bangkai" plant. It's supposed to be twelve feet tall, weigh a hundred pounds, and smell like dead mammals, plus rot, plus spoiled food. It only blooms once every seven years, and even then only for two days and then it keels over dead. It's the Big Stink of a Lifetime! But Melonhead has to get a few more good deeds out of the way first, and doing chores for Mrs. Wilkins is a good start, even if it wasn't in the plan to begin with!
Half a Man
By Morpurgo, Michael
From a young age, Michael was both fascinated by and afraid of his grandfather. Grandpa's ship was torpedoed during the Second World War, leaving him with terrible burns. Every time he came to stay, Michael was warned by his mother that he must not stare, he must not make too much noise, he must not ask Grandpa any questions about his past. As he grows older, Michael stays with his grandfather during the summer holidays and learns the story behind Grandpa's injuries, finally getting to know the real man behind the solemn figure from his childhood. Michael can see beyond the burns, and this gives him the power to begin healing scars that have divided his family for so long.
Witherwood Reform School
By Skye, Obert
After a slight misunderstanding involving a horrible governess, oatmeal, and a jar of tadpoles, siblings Tobias and Charlotte Eggars find themselves abandoned by their father at the gates of a creepy reform school. Evil mysteries are afoot at Witherwood, where the grounds are patrolled by vicious creatures after dark and kids are locked in their rooms. Charlotte and Tobias soon realize that they are in terrible danger -- especially because the head of Witherwood has perfected the art of mind control. If only their amnesiac father would recover and remember that he has two missing children. If only Tobias and Charlotte could solve the dark mystery and free the kids at Witherwood -- and ultimately save themselves.
Willie & Me
By Gutman, Dan
Stosh thought he was finished traveling back in time. But then Ralph Branca shows up in his room one night, begging for Stosh's help. In 1951, Branca pitched a ball to Bobby Thomson that would become the "Shot Heard Round the World," a home run that won the National League pennant for the New York Giants and changed the lives of Branca and Thomson forever. Branca says the Giants were cheating, and he needs Stosh to use his power with baseball cards to go back in time and set things right. Stosh is determined to help, but he quickly learns that you can't change just one little thing in history. If he erases the "Shot Heard Round the World," he may forever alter the life of a young rookie named Willie Mays. With wisdom from all the players he has helped before - plus the surprise return of some familiar faces - Stosh uses his power to travel in time using baseball cards one last time in a fabulous finale to the adventure of a lifetime. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in the English Language Arts
A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans
By Yep, Laurence
Unknown to most of its inhabitants, the City by the Bay is home to many mysterious and fantastic creatures, hidden beneath the parks, among the clouds, and even in plain sight. And Winnie wants to draw every new creature she encounters: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But Winnie's sketchbook is not what it seems. Somehow, her sketchlings have been set loose on the city streets! It will take Winnie and Miss Drake's combined efforts to put an end to the mayhem . . . before it's too late.
This refreshing debut collaboration by Laurence Yep, a two-time Newbery Honor winner and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Award winner, and Joanne Ryder features illustrations by Mary GrandPré.     
Praise for A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans
*"Warm humor, magical mishaps, and the main characters' budding mutual respect and affection combine to give this opener for a planned series a special shine." -BOOKLIST , Starred
"Aternately comical, suspenseful and sometimes sweetly emotional." -Kirkus Reviews
"With a black-and-white spot illustration opening most chapters, an engaging narrator, and a consistently fluid writing style, this title makes a fine dragon choice for readers." -School Library Journal
"In this series launch, Yep and Ryder conjure up a world where dragons and humans interact, and the results are heartwarming and quite funny." -Publishers Weekly
"A clever and amusing novel that imagines a magical world that nestles right up against our own and sometimes crosses over." -The Bulleting of the Center for Children's Books
 
Praise for A Dragon's Guide to Making Your Human Smarter
"Yep and Ryder keep the magic coming with their whimsical fantasy, enhanced by Grandpré's sweet drawings. The story positively vibrates with fun." - Kirkus Reviews
" Lighthearted episodes of unusual school lessons and field trips, illustrated by GrandPré's winsome spot art, are grounded by Miss Drake's more serious encounters with the goons...a gratifying development as this buoyant, fantastical series continues." - The Horn Book Review
Ratscalibur
By Lieb, Josh
When Joey is bitten by an elderly rat, he goes from aspiring seventh-grader to three-inch tall rodent.
At first, Joey is amazed by his new rat self. The city streets call to him at night. Smells that would have repelled him before are suddenly tantalizing. (A chicken bone? Yes! A squashed cockroach? Like perfume!) And wow, the freedom! But when a bout of hunger leads Joey to pull the spork from the scone, he finds himself at the center of a longtime rat prophecy.
Joey has unwittingly unlocked the sword Ratscalibur; and now, it is up to him to protect his new rat friends from the evil crows who seek to destroy their peaceful kingdom. But what does an eleven-year-old know about actual swordplay? And what happens when Joey no longer wants to be a rat?
Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures
By Pearce, Jackson
Here's a list of things Pip Bartlett can talk to:
Unicorns
Miniature Silky Griffins
Bitterflunks
Basically, all magical creatures
Here's a list of things she can't talk to (at least, not very well) :
Parents
Teachers
Basically, all people
Because of a Unicorn Incident at her school (it was an accident!) , Pip is spending the summer with her Aunt Emma at the Cloverton Clinic for Magical Creatures. At first, it's all fun, games, and chatting with Hobgrackles, but when Fuzzles appear and start bursting into flame at the worst possible places, Pip and her new friend Tomas must take action. Because if the mystery of the Fuzzles isn't solved soon, both magical and unmagical creatures are going to be in a lot of trouble.
The Way Home Looks Now
By Shang, Wendy Wan-long
Twelve-year-old Chinese American Peter Lee and his family always shared a passion for baseball, bonding over backlot games and the Pittsburgh Pirates. But when a devastating tragedy strikes, the family flies apart and Peter's mom becomes paralyzed by grief, drifting further and further from her family.Hoping to lift his mother's spirits, Peter decides to try out for Little League. But his plans become suddenly complicated when his strict and serious father volunteers to coach the team. His dad's unconventional teaching methods rub some of Peter's teammates the wrong way, and Peter starts to wonder if playing baseball again was the right idea -- and if it can even help his family feel less broken. Can the game they all love eventually bring them back together, safe at home?Acclaimed author Wendy Wan-Long Shang brings her signature warmth, gentle humor, and wisdom to this poignant story of healing and loss, family, and the great American pastime, baseball.
Adventures with Waffles
By Parr, Maria
Lena is Trille's best friend, even if she is a girl. And there is never an ordinary day when you've got a best friend like Lena.Hardly a day passes without Trille and Lena inventing some kind of adventure that often ends in trouble. Whether it's coaxing a cow onto a boat or sledding down the steepest and iciest hill with a chicken, there is always a thrill - and sometimes an injury - to be had. Trille loves to share everything with Lena, even Auntie Granny's waffles. But when Lena has to move away and Auntie Granny leaves the world, it sometimes seems like nothing will ever be right again. The warmth of friendship and the support of family suffuse this lightly illustrated novel, proving that when times are tough, a little taste of sweetness can make all the difference.
The Enchanted Files
By Coville, Bruce
Angus is a brownie. No, not the kind you eat! He's a tiny magical creature that loves to do chores. Angus has just "inherited" a new human girl, Alex. To say that Alex is messy would be an understatement. She's a total hurricane-like disaster - and she likes it that way, thankyouverymuch! Living with each other isn't easy but Angus and Alex soon learn there is a curse that binds them. What's worse, it threatens Alex's family! Working together, Angus and Alex will set out to break the curse . . . without killing each other first . . . hopefully.
This laugh-out-loud adventure, full of humor and heart, is ideal for fans of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library or Chris Grabenstein.
Also availabe in paperback as Cursed.
* "Smart, amusing, and a lot of fun" - BOOKLIST (starred review)
"With magic, mischief, and mayhem to spare, this sweet story of an unlikely friendship ought to delight readers of any age." - Publishers Weekly
"A knee-slapper." - Kirkus Reviews
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer
By Jones, Kelly
Twelve-year-old Sophie Brown feels like a fish out of water when she and her parents move from Los Angeles to the farm they've inherited from a great-uncle. But farm life gets more interesting when a cranky chicken appears and Sophie discovers the hen can move objects with the power of her little chicken brain: jam jars, the latch to her henhouse, the entire henhouse....
And then more of her great-uncle's unusual chickens come home to roost. Determined, resourceful Sophie learns to care for her flock, earning money for chicken feed, collecting eggs. But when a respected local farmer tries to steal them, Sophie must find a way to keep them (and their superpowers) safe.
Told in letters to Sophie's abuela, quizzes, a chicken-care correspondence course, to-do lists, and more, Unusual Chickens is a quirky, clucky classic in the making.
Platypus Police Squad
By Krosoczka, Jarrett J.
When a call comes in about a crime down at the docks involving a missing schoolteacher and a duffle bag full of illegal fish, Zengo and O'Malley are going to have to learn to set their differences aside if they want to get to the bottom of this. Especially when the clues all point to Frank Pandini Jr., Kallamazoo's first son and its most powerful, well-respected businessman.
Fans of Adam Rex, Jon Scieszka, and Jarrett J. Krosoczka's own Lunch Lady graphic novels will flip for Jarrett's new series of illustrated middle-grade novels.
Boy's Best Friend
By Banks, Kate
Eleven-year-old George has a dog, Bart, who seems to know everything about him-from when he is feeling sad to when he will arrive home from school. George's new neighbor and classmate, Lester, also has a dog, Bill Gates, and Lester thinks he is the smartest animal in the world. When their teacher assigns a school science project about animal behavior, George and Lester decide to conduct an experiment based on the world-famous Rupert Sheldrake's experiments about dogs. George even has an email exchange with Dr. Sheldrake to help him with the project-and he and Lester soon find out that, through a few simple experiments, kids can make scientific discoveries, too. This middle-grade boys and dogs story is inspired by Rupert Sheldrake's bestselling adult book, Dogs that Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home.
Anton and Cecil, Book 2
By Martin, Lisa
A message has traveled via the mouse network to cat brothers Anton and Cecil: their rodent friend Hieronymus has been captured. Though he'd rather stay close to home, Anton must get to the friend who saved his life. Cecil is quick to action, too, but it's adventure he craves. Boarding one of the machines the mice call "landships"--noisy, smoke-belching trains--Anton and Cecil travel to the heart of the Wild West. Along the way Cecil is tossed out by the train's conductor, only to face huge bison, chattering prairie dogs, and the most dangerous creature of all, a boy who wants to make Cecil a pet. Meanwhile, Anton's search leads him to stampeding herds, menacing rattlesnakes, and fierce, enormous cats. In this perilous territory, do Anton and Cecil have the courage and wit to find and save Hieronymus? The heroes of Anton and Cecil: Cats at Sea, which the New York Times called "engrossing and unpredictable," return in an exciting adventure that will delight fans of the first book and new readers alike.Praise for Anton and Cecil: Cats at Sea: "The plot is carefully woven, the vocabulary rich and distinctive, and the characters engaging." - Kirkus Reviews "Enchanting . . . [Lisa Martin and Valerie Martin] effortlessly submerge readers in the setting." - Shelf Awareness for Readers "Children who like animal fantasies such as Avi's Poppy will find much to enjoy here." - School Library Journal
VIP
By Calonita, Jen
Twelve-year-old Mackenzie "Mac" Lowell's dreams have come true. Thanks to her mom scoring the coolest job EVER, Mac is going from boy band fanatic to official tour member of her favorite group, Perfect Storm. Good thing she's brought along her journal so she can record every moment, every breath, and every one of lead singer Zander Welling's killer smiles in written detail and daydreamy doodles.But between a zillion tour stops and pranks gone wrong, Zander and his fellow band members, Heath Holland and Kyle Beyer, become more like brothers to Mac. When the boys' differences start to drive them apart, can Perfect Storm's biggest fan remind them why they'reperfect together? It'll be up to Mac--and her comic-book alter ego, Mac Attack--to keep the band together and on the road to stardom Chronicling her experiences on tour, Mac's journal springs to life with black-and-white illustrations and comic-book panels throughout its pages.
I Am Coyote
By Vistein, Geri
Coyote is three years old when she leaves her family in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario and embarks on a 500-mile odyssey eastward in search of a territory of her own and a mate to share it with.Journeying by night through the dead of winter, she endures extreme cold, hunger, and a harrowing crossing of the St. Lawrence River in Montreal before her cries of loneliness are finally answered in the wilds of Maine. The mate she finds must gnaw off a paw to escape a trap. The first coyotes in the northern U.S., they raise pups (losing several) , experience summer plenty, winter hardship, playfulness, and unmistakable love and grief. Blending science and imagination with magical results, this story tells how coyotes may have populated a land desperately in need of a keystone predator, and no one who reads it will doubt the value of their ecological role.Told through the eyes of a coyote, this is a riveting story with mythic dimensions.A work of creative nonfiction that adheres to the highest standards of wildlife biology.With deep insights into wild canine behavior, penetrates the veil of "otherness" that separates us from the animals with whom we share the planet.An appendix explores the history and current status of coyotes in North America. Native Americans considered them tricksters, messengers, and companions. Given the disappearance of wolves, they are even more critical to ecosystem health today. The author explains how, without coyotes, prey species are weakened by disease and parasites.Geri Vistein speaks extensively about coyote-human interactions to a variety of audiences. She is a nationally recognized expert on the topic and maintains the website CoyoteLivesInMaine.com.A QR code in the book takes readers to a hauntingly beautiful recording of coyote song.