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Airgood, Ellen. PRAIRIE EVERSPrairie has been homeschooled by her dear Grammy, learning her lessons while taking walks and seeing nature. She even has learned much from raising her chickens. Grammy has gone home to North Carolina and her parents are too busy running their farm to teach her. Now Prairie must go to school, but being the new kid isn’t that easy. School work is not the problem, unless it’s because she knows too much. What she needs to learn is how to make friends. Finally she meets Ivy, her one true friend. When Ivy’s mother suddenly decides to get married and move away, Ivy feels lost. But Prairie’s family comes to the rescue. Read this book to see how the girls learn lessons on friendship, loyalty and give-and-take. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Today's book 11/24/2013
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Today's book 11/06/2013
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Vawter, Vince. PAPERBOY New York : Delacorte, 2013 IL 5-8, RL 5.5 ISBN 0375990585 It was just going to be for a month. He was just helping out a friend. But taking over paper delivery duties in July 1959 turns into a life lesson for one young boy. The job is harder than he thought. The Memphis heat is almost unbearable. But he enjoys the opportunity to practice his throwing skills. His biggest concern is the Friday collections. He has a severe stutter and is very nervous about having to talk to strangers. But that is not all he encounters that summer. Along the way, he meets Mr. Spiro who loves to read; Mrs. Worthington who may be hiding some things; and a young boy who just stares at the television all day. All of the people he meets during the summer lead him to understand his own world just a bit better.
-
Hautman, Pete. THE CYDONIAN PYRAMID
Hautman, Pete. THE CYDONIAN PYRAMID Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0-7636-5404-3 In the first book of the Klaatu diskos series, we met Tucker Feye. When his parents disappeared, he began to see strange shimmering disks above the house. When he stepped in one, he found himself on a strange journey through different time periods. During the journey, he keeps running into a strange girl that his father had brought home after one of his disappearances. In the second book of the series, we see the same events but this time from Lah Lia's point of view. We learn about her background and how she is caught up in the diskos and meets Tucker Feye. We also learn more about the Digital Plague and the origins of the Lah Sept
-
Chadda, Sarwat. THE SAVAGE FORTRESS
Chadda, Sarwat. THE SAVAGE FORTRESS New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 5.4 ISBN 0545385164 Ash Mistry is rethinking his desire to spend time in India. When he was back in England, it seemed like a great idea. Now after three weeks of heat and boredom, he would love a little excitement. And he gets his wish. But as they say, be careful what you wish for. When the family goes to visit his uncle's colleague, Ash accidentally picks up a golden arrowhead and he finds himself fighting the demon himself. He is unable to save his aunt and uncle but there may be time to save his sister from Ravana, the demon king. There is a lot of Hindu mythology in this book but it is explained and you will find yourself really rooting for the overweight gamer from England to overcome the demon king and save the world.
-
Swanson, James L. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SHOT!
Swanson, James L. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SHOT! New York : Scholastic, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0545490073 Fifty years ago, John Kennedy was president of the United States and enjoying a visit to Dallas. No one could have known what would happen on November 22, 1963. In this book, we learn about the days that led up to that fateful day. The assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, hadn't even planned on shooting the President until just a few days before. But an article about the President's visit in a local newspaper caught his eye. You will learn about Oswald's background and desire to do something extraordinary. And you will learn about the details surrounding the President's assassination.
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Shurtliff, Liesl. RUMP : THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN
Shurtliff, Liesl. RUMP : THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN New York : Knopf, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 4.1 ISBN 0307977943 So you think you know the story of Rumpelstiltskin? Well not so fast. It may not have happened the way you heard. In this version, a young boy is born and his mother dies before she can say his whole name. All anyone hears is Rump. Can you imagine? Being called Rump? You just know there are going to be lots of jokes made about it. And so it is. Rump lives in a land far away. He is forced to work in the gold mines and trade gold for food. But he is not having much luck. He just can't make enough to feed his grandmother and himself. When he finds a spinning wheel that had belonged to his mother, he decides to try it out. The only thing he can find to spin is the straw from his mattress. And guess what? It turns into gold. When he trades it to the evil miller for food, things start to get really bad. The miller lies to the king and says his daughter is the one with the magic. Now Rump can either try to save Opal or just keep his magic for himself. No matter what he decides, he will never stop trying to learn his real name. His name will reveal his destiny.
-
McKinlay, Megan. BELOW Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 5.1 ISBN 0763661260 Cassie never got to see her hometown. The day she was born, they drowned the town. The lever was pulled and everyone cheered as the town sunk beneath the water never to be seen again. The lake where the town was submergered is off-limits and no one is allowed near that area. It has been 12 years since the town disappeared but Cassie still feels drawn to the town she has never seen. She and her friend Liam sneak in and swim in the area where the town was and believe they can see part of the town under the water. What will they find when they explore the area? And what questions will be answered?
-
Bascomb, Neal. THE NAZI HUNTERS
Bascomb, Neal. THE NAZI HUNTERS New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0545430992 During World War II, a young man named Adolf Eichmann came into his own. Rising through the ranks in the German army, Eichmann found himself appointed to head up the Nazi Final Solution. And he was very good at the job. He claimed to have caused the extermination of 5 million Jews. But when the war was lost, he hid in the hills and then escaped to Argentina. Although it took many years, he was finally located and brought to Israel to stand trial for his horrendous war crimes. This is the story of how Eichmann was located after the war and his trial in Israel.
-
Aguirre, Ann. HORDE New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2013 IL YA ISBN 1250024633 Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out to find reinforcements for the battle against the freaks. They know that there is a good chance that the town of Salvation will be destroyed before they can return but they have to try. The freaks have organized and thousands of them are attacking. What has changed? Why are the freaks acting like this? Is it possible that they are working together as a tribe? Is there any way that the humans can survive an all out organized attack?
-
Aguirre, Ann. OUTPOST New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2012 IL YA ISBN 0312650094 Having been banished from their tribe and rescued from the ruins, Deuce and Fade have found a new home in Salvation. Tegan and Stalker have joined them and the four teens are living in comfort and surrounded by hope. The town has strong walls and can defend against the freaks. When planting season arrives, they volunteer to join the patrol that will protect the planters. But the freaks attack and destroy the crops. Deuce senses something different about the freaks. They are acting more as if they are a tribe rather than the mindless savages they are used to. Is it possible that the freaks are changing? And what does that mean to the people of Salvation?
-
McGinnis, Mindy. NOT A DROP TO DRINK
McGinnis, Mindy. NOT A DROP TO DRINK New York : Katherine Tegen Books, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0062198505 Lynn and her mother live alone in a future world where water has become scarce and you need to fight for your survival. The two women know they must defend their pond or else risk being killed. When her mother is killed by wolves, Lynn is now alone and trying to survive. Anyone who comes near her pond is met with a bullet. Lynn has never known life other than this one. There is a neighbor nearby but they only communicate by waving. Lynn has only met the man once. But all this is about to change with the arrival of a down and out family who are camping nearby. Lynn takes in the young daughter when the mother is unable to care for her. Now the lives of Lynn, her neighbor and the newcomers are entwined and Lynn will never live life the same again.
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McCall Smith, Alexander. THE MYSTERY OF MEERKAT HILL
McCall Smith, Alexander. THE MYSTERY OF MEERKAT HILL New York : Knopf, 2013 IL 3-6 ISBN 0345804589 Precious Ramotswe is looking forward to meeting the new kids at school. She wants to be a detective so she loves meeting new people and finding out new things. She and her family live in Botswana in Africa and there are not many children in the school. The new students will not be in her grade but she makes a point of introducing herself at recess. She becomes friends with Teb and Pontsho. And it turns out that they have a very special pet at home -- a meerkat! Together the kids will work to solve a mystery that involves the family.
-
Mass, Wendy. LAST PRESENT New York : Scholastic Press, 2013 IL 3-6 ISBN 0545310164 Amanda and Leo still can't speak to each other. And they are involved in another birthday mystery. Their friend's little sister has become catatonic and the kids are told it is because Angelina was not able to complete her birthday blessing. Now it is up to Amanda and Leo to go back in time and make sure the birthday blessing is completed. But, they need to be successful at least three times in order to break the spell. Angelina tells them exactly what when wrong at each birthday and what they must do to correct the situation. Can they do it?
-
Hambleton, Vicki. SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER : HOW TO WRITE, GET PUBLISHED, AND MAYBE EVEN MAKE IT BIG! New York : Aladdin, Beyond Words, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 6.0 ISBN 1582703590 The title of this work says it all. Filled with practical advise on how to achieve your dream of becoming a writer. Whether your dream is to be the next children's book star or write for the movies, it is all here. There is advice from authors, editors, and other people in the business that help you understand the steps involved with getting your work to the point of publication. If you have dreamed of becoming a published writer, this is a good place to start your research.
-
Gardner, Sally. MAGGOT MOON Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0763665533 In an alternate United Kingdom in the 1950s, Standish is living in a dystopian society. Standish and his grandfather are living in Zone 7 and barely surviving. Food is scarce and the military is everywhere. His parents have disappeared after speaking out about the conditions. Now Standish goes to school each day and is bullied because of his learning disability. But once Hector and his family move in, they become like a family. Hector and Standish become very close friends and dream of flying to Jupiter to escape the curelty of the Motherland. But even their dreams of living in the land of Croca-Colas and Cadillacs cannot change the harshness of their surroundings. The boys have found a hole in the wall that keeps them in Zone 7 and they venture out. They know that it is dangerous. But they see a different side of life there. The wall gets higher and higher every day and the boys know they can't go in there again. But what happens when someone from the other side comes to them?
-
Gilman, Charles. SUBSTITUTE CREATURE : TALES FROM LOVECRAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL
Gilman, Charles. SUBSTITUTE CREATURE : TALES FROM LOVECRAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL New York : Quirk Books, 2013 IL 3-6 ISBN 1594746400 Robert is looking forward to the Valentine's party at Lovecraft Middle School. He plans to give Karina a card. Sure she's a ghost who can't leave the school and died many years before, but she is his best friend. Well, Glenn is too. Things are always a bit off at the school although no one would believe them if they told them. When a nor'easter hits the school, the decision is made to bus all the children home and close the school. But the substitute teacher has other ideas. Robert, Glenn, and Karina are trapped in the school along with Robert's mother, the school nurse, Mac, the custodian and Lionel, the rich kid. Although Lionel has offered to pay anyone who will come and rescue them, the blizzard is so fierce that no one can help. What strange things are going to happen at Lovecraft during this long night?
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Dowell, Frances O'Roark. TEN MILES PAST NORMAL
Dowell, Frances O'Roark. TEN MILES PAST NORMAL New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011 IL YA ISBN 1416995854 As a 9 year old, Janie thought living on a small goat farm was a dream come true. But as a 14 year old, that dream is becoming a nightmare. She needs to milk the goats, and muck out the area. She is tired of going to school with manure scented shoes. Not that the other kids would notice her anyway. She only has one friend and the two of them decide to join Jam Band. Here they meet Monster, yep that’s his real name. Monster Monroe helps the girls understand that they need to stop hiding and live large. Can Janie find the self confidence she needs to break out of her shell?
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Dicamillo, Kate. FLORA AND ULYSSES : THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES
Dicamillo, Kate. FLORA AND ULYSSES : THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES Somerville, MA : Candlewick, 2013 IL 3-6 ISBN 076366040XIt all began with an out of control vacuum cleaner. Tootie had totally lost control and never saw the squirrel who was sucked up with a terrible sound. When the squirrel was released from the vacuum, most of his fur was gone and there was something different about him. Holy bagumba! Flora Belle Buckman thinks she knows what is going on. Flora spends a lot of time reading comic books and just knows that the squirrel, Ulysses, is really a superhero that just looks like a squirrel. He flies, he vanquishes cats and he even types out poetry. This is incredible. But Flora's mother decides that the squirrel must go.
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Black, Holly. DOLL BONES New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2013 IL 5-8, RL 5.4 ISBN 1416963987 Zach, Poppy and Alice are best friends. Their favorite game to play is a fantasy game using dolls and action figures. Zach is really the brains behind the fantasy that has become quite involved. The only doll they can't touch is the Great Queen. She is a doll that is locked up in a display case. But in their world, the Queen is in control of everything. When Zach's father rejoins the family, he decides that Zach is too old to play with dolls and throws them away. Zach is too hurt to tell his friends what happened and tells them they are too old to play the game anymore. But Poppy has other plans. She takes the Great Queen from the display case only to find that the Queen has a mystery for them to solve. The ghost of the Queen comes to Poppy in her sleep and tells her that she was once a real girl and can't rest until she is buried in her empty grave. Can the kids find a way to get the Queen to her grave so she can rest?
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Berk, Josh. STRIKE THREE, YOU'RE DEAD
Berk, Josh. STRIKE THREE, YOU'RE DEAD New York : Knopf, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 4.2 ISBN 0375970088 Lenny is a major Phillies fan. He and his friends try never to miss a game. And Lenny knows just about all there is to know about the team. When they hear about the contest to announce an inning of a game, they all just know that Lenny has what it takes to win. The audition tape will be Lenny announcing a past game where a famous player pitched the worst game in Phillies history. And guess what! Lenny wins the contest. On the night of his big game, things don't go as planned. After meeting the young RJ Weathers who is the starting pitcher, Lenny settles in to enjoy the game and get ready for his inning. But after a disastrous start, Weathers simply drops dead on the mound. Is this a case of an undiagnosed problem? Or is it murder?
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Carter, Ally. HEIST SOCIETY New York : Disney Hyperion Books 2010 IL YA ISBN 1423116399 When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected. Soon, Kat’s friend and former coconspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help. For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way. (Booktalk by New Hampshire Flume committee)
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Today's book 11/05/2013
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Vawter, Vince. PAPERBOY New York : Delacorte, 2013 IL 5-8, RL 5.5 ISBN 0375990585 It was just going to be for a month. He was just helping out a friend. But taking over paper delivery duties in July 1959 turns into a life lesson for one young boy. The job is harder than he thought. The Memphis heat is almost unbearable. But he enjoys the opportunity to practice his throwing skills. His biggest concern is the Friday collections. He has a severe stutter and is very nervous about having to talk to strangers. But that is not all he encounters that summer. Along the way, he meets Mr. Spiro who loves to read; Mrs. Worthington who may be hiding some things; and a young boy who just stares at the television all day. All of the people he meets during the summer lead him to understand his own world just a bit better.
-
Hautman, Pete. THE CYDONIAN PYRAMID
Hautman, Pete. THE CYDONIAN PYRAMID Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0-7636-5404-3 In the first book of the Klaatu diskos series, we met Tucker Feye. When his parents disappeared, he began to see strange shimmering disks above the house. When he stepped in one, he found himself on a strange journey through different time periods. During the journey, he keeps running into a strange girl that his father had brought home after one of his disappearances. In the second book of the series, we see the same events but this time from Lah Lia's point of view. We learn about her background and how she is caught up in the diskos and meets Tucker Feye. We also learn more about the Digital Plague and the origins of the Lah Sept
-
Chadda, Sarwat. THE SAVAGE FORTRESS
Chadda, Sarwat. THE SAVAGE FORTRESS New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 5.4 ISBN 0545385164 Ash Mistry is rethinking his desire to spend time in India. When he was back in England, it seemed like a great idea. Now after three weeks of heat and boredom, he would love a little excitement. And he gets his wish. But as they say, be careful what you wish for. When the family goes to visit his uncle's colleague, Ash accidentally picks up a golden arrowhead and he finds himself fighting the demon himself. He is unable to save his aunt and uncle but there may be time to save his sister from Ravana, the demon king. There is a lot of Hindu mythology in this book but it is explained and you will find yourself really rooting for the overweight gamer from England to overcome the demon king and save the world.
-
Swanson, James L. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SHOT!
Swanson, James L. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SHOT! New York : Scholastic, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0545490073 Fifty years ago, John Kennedy was president of the United States and enjoying a visit to Dallas. No one could have known what would happen on November 22, 1963. In this book, we learn about the days that led up to that fateful day. The assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, hadn't even planned on shooting the President until just a few days before. But an article about the President's visit in a local newspaper caught his eye. You will learn about Oswald's background and desire to do something extraordinary. And you will learn about the details surrounding the President's assassination.
-
Shurtliff, Liesl. RUMP : THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN
Shurtliff, Liesl. RUMP : THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN New York : Knopf, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 4.1 ISBN 0307977943 So you think you know the story of Rumpelstiltskin? Well not so fast. It may not have happened the way you heard. In this version, a young boy is born and his mother dies before she can say his whole name. All anyone hears is Rump. Can you imagine? Being called Rump? You just know there are going to be lots of jokes made about it. And so it is. Rump lives in a land far away. He is forced to work in the gold mines and trade gold for food. But he is not having much luck. He just can't make enough to feed his grandmother and himself. When he finds a spinning wheel that had belonged to his mother, he decides to try it out. The only thing he can find to spin is the straw from his mattress. And guess what? It turns into gold. When he trades it to the evil miller for food, things start to get really bad. The miller lies to the king and says his daughter is the one with the magic. Now Rump can either try to save Opal or just keep his magic for himself. No matter what he decides, he will never stop trying to learn his real name. His name will reveal his destiny.
-
McKinlay, Megan. BELOW Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 5.1 ISBN 0763661260 Cassie never got to see her hometown. The day she was born, they drowned the town. The lever was pulled and everyone cheered as the town sunk beneath the water never to be seen again. The lake where the town was submergered is off-limits and no one is allowed near that area. It has been 12 years since the town disappeared but Cassie still feels drawn to the town she has never seen. She and her friend Liam sneak in and swim in the area where the town was and believe they can see part of the town under the water. What will they find when they explore the area? And what questions will be answered?
-
Bascomb, Neal. THE NAZI HUNTERS
Bascomb, Neal. THE NAZI HUNTERS New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0545430992 During World War II, a young man named Adolf Eichmann came into his own. Rising through the ranks in the German army, Eichmann found himself appointed to head up the Nazi Final Solution. And he was very good at the job. He claimed to have caused the extermination of 5 million Jews. But when the war was lost, he hid in the hills and then escaped to Argentina. Although it took many years, he was finally located and brought to Israel to stand trial for his horrendous war crimes. This is the story of how Eichmann was located after the war and his trial in Israel.
-
Aguirre, Ann. HORDE New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2013 IL YA ISBN 1250024633 Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out to find reinforcements for the battle against the freaks. They know that there is a good chance that the town of Salvation will be destroyed before they can return but they have to try. The freaks have organized and thousands of them are attacking. What has changed? Why are the freaks acting like this? Is it possible that they are working together as a tribe? Is there any way that the humans can survive an all out organized attack?
-
Aguirre, Ann. OUTPOST New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2012 IL YA ISBN 0312650094 Having been banished from their tribe and rescued from the ruins, Deuce and Fade have found a new home in Salvation. Tegan and Stalker have joined them and the four teens are living in comfort and surrounded by hope. The town has strong walls and can defend against the freaks. When planting season arrives, they volunteer to join the patrol that will protect the planters. But the freaks attack and destroy the crops. Deuce senses something different about the freaks. They are acting more as if they are a tribe rather than the mindless savages they are used to. Is it possible that the freaks are changing? And what does that mean to the people of Salvation?
-
McGinnis, Mindy. NOT A DROP TO DRINK
McGinnis, Mindy. NOT A DROP TO DRINK New York : Katherine Tegen Books, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0062198505 Lynn and her mother live alone in a future world where water has become scarce and you need to fight for your survival. The two women know they must defend their pond or else risk being killed. When her mother is killed by wolves, Lynn is now alone and trying to survive. Anyone who comes near her pond is met with a bullet. Lynn has never known life other than this one. There is a neighbor nearby but they only communicate by waving. Lynn has only met the man once. But all this is about to change with the arrival of a down and out family who are camping nearby. Lynn takes in the young daughter when the mother is unable to care for her. Now the lives of Lynn, her neighbor and the newcomers are entwined and Lynn will never live life the same again.
-
McCall Smith, Alexander. THE MYSTERY OF MEERKAT HILL
McCall Smith, Alexander. THE MYSTERY OF MEERKAT HILL New York : Knopf, 2013 IL 3-6 ISBN 0345804589 Precious Ramotswe is looking forward to meeting the new kids at school. She wants to be a detective so she loves meeting new people and finding out new things. She and her family live in Botswana in Africa and there are not many children in the school. The new students will not be in her grade but she makes a point of introducing herself at recess. She becomes friends with Teb and Pontsho. And it turns out that they have a very special pet at home -- a meerkat! Together the kids will work to solve a mystery that involves the family.
-
Mass, Wendy. LAST PRESENT New York : Scholastic Press, 2013 IL 3-6 ISBN 0545310164 Amanda and Leo still can't speak to each other. And they are involved in another birthday mystery. Their friend's little sister has become catatonic and the kids are told it is because Angelina was not able to complete her birthday blessing. Now it is up to Amanda and Leo to go back in time and make sure the birthday blessing is completed. But, they need to be successful at least three times in order to break the spell. Angelina tells them exactly what when wrong at each birthday and what they must do to correct the situation. Can they do it?
-
Hambleton, Vicki. SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER : HOW TO WRITE, GET PUBLISHED, AND MAYBE EVEN MAKE IT BIG! New York : Aladdin, Beyond Words, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 6.0 ISBN 1582703590 The title of this work says it all. Filled with practical advise on how to achieve your dream of becoming a writer. Whether your dream is to be the next children's book star or write for the movies, it is all here. There is advice from authors, editors, and other people in the business that help you understand the steps involved with getting your work to the point of publication. If you have dreamed of becoming a published writer, this is a good place to start your research.
-
Gardner, Sally. MAGGOT MOON Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0763665533 In an alternate United Kingdom in the 1950s, Standish is living in a dystopian society. Standish and his grandfather are living in Zone 7 and barely surviving. Food is scarce and the military is everywhere. His parents have disappeared after speaking out about the conditions. Now Standish goes to school each day and is bullied because of his learning disability. But once Hector and his family move in, they become like a family. Hector and Standish become very close friends and dream of flying to Jupiter to escape the curelty of the Motherland. But even their dreams of living in the land of Croca-Colas and Cadillacs cannot change the harshness of their surroundings. The boys have found a hole in the wall that keeps them in Zone 7 and they venture out. They know that it is dangerous. But they see a different side of life there. The wall gets higher and higher every day and the boys know they can't go in there again. But what happens when someone from the other side comes to them?
-
Gilman, Charles. SUBSTITUTE CREATURE : TALES FROM LOVECRAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL
Gilman, Charles. SUBSTITUTE CREATURE : TALES FROM LOVECRAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL New York : Quirk Books, 2013 IL 3-6 ISBN 1594746400 Robert is looking forward to the Valentine's party at Lovecraft Middle School. He plans to give Karina a card. Sure she's a ghost who can't leave the school and died many years before, but she is his best friend. Well, Glenn is too. Things are always a bit off at the school although no one would believe them if they told them. When a nor'easter hits the school, the decision is made to bus all the children home and close the school. But the substitute teacher has other ideas. Robert, Glenn, and Karina are trapped in the school along with Robert's mother, the school nurse, Mac, the custodian and Lionel, the rich kid. Although Lionel has offered to pay anyone who will come and rescue them, the blizzard is so fierce that no one can help. What strange things are going to happen at Lovecraft during this long night?
-
Dowell, Frances O'Roark. TEN MILES PAST NORMAL
Dowell, Frances O'Roark. TEN MILES PAST NORMAL New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011 IL YA ISBN 1416995854 As a 9 year old, Janie thought living on a small goat farm was a dream come true. But as a 14 year old, that dream is becoming a nightmare. She needs to milk the goats, and muck out the area. She is tired of going to school with manure scented shoes. Not that the other kids would notice her anyway. She only has one friend and the two of them decide to join Jam Band. Here they meet Monster, yep that’s his real name. Monster Monroe helps the girls understand that they need to stop hiding and live large. Can Janie find the self confidence she needs to break out of her shell?
-
Dicamillo, Kate. FLORA AND ULYSSES : THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES
Dicamillo, Kate. FLORA AND ULYSSES : THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES Somerville, MA : Candlewick, 2013 IL 3-6 ISBN 076366040XIt all began with an out of control vacuum cleaner. Tootie had totally lost control and never saw the squirrel who was sucked up with a terrible sound. When the squirrel was released from the vacuum, most of his fur was gone and there was something different about him. Holy bagumba! Flora Belle Buckman thinks she knows what is going on. Flora spends a lot of time reading comic books and just knows that the squirrel, Ulysses, is really a superhero that just looks like a squirrel. He flies, he vanquishes cats and he even types out poetry. This is incredible. But Flora's mother decides that the squirrel must go.
-
Black, Holly. DOLL BONES New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2013 IL 5-8, RL 5.4 ISBN 1416963987 Zach, Poppy and Alice are best friends. Their favorite game to play is a fantasy game using dolls and action figures. Zach is really the brains behind the fantasy that has become quite involved. The only doll they can't touch is the Great Queen. She is a doll that is locked up in a display case. But in their world, the Queen is in control of everything. When Zach's father rejoins the family, he decides that Zach is too old to play with dolls and throws them away. Zach is too hurt to tell his friends what happened and tells them they are too old to play the game anymore. But Poppy has other plans. She takes the Great Queen from the display case only to find that the Queen has a mystery for them to solve. The ghost of the Queen comes to Poppy in her sleep and tells her that she was once a real girl and can't rest until she is buried in her empty grave. Can the kids find a way to get the Queen to her grave so she can rest?
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Berk, Josh. STRIKE THREE, YOU'RE DEAD
Berk, Josh. STRIKE THREE, YOU'RE DEAD New York : Knopf, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 4.2 ISBN 0375970088 Lenny is a major Phillies fan. He and his friends try never to miss a game. And Lenny knows just about all there is to know about the team. When they hear about the contest to announce an inning of a game, they all just know that Lenny has what it takes to win. The audition tape will be Lenny announcing a past game where a famous player pitched the worst game in Phillies history. And guess what! Lenny wins the contest. On the night of his big game, things don't go as planned. After meeting the young RJ Weathers who is the starting pitcher, Lenny settles in to enjoy the game and get ready for his inning. But after a disastrous start, Weathers simply drops dead on the mound. Is this a case of an undiagnosed problem? Or is it murder?
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Carter, Ally. HEIST SOCIETY New York : Disney Hyperion Books 2010 IL YA ISBN 1423116399 When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected. Soon, Kat’s friend and former coconspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help. For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way. (Booktalk by New Hampshire Flume committee)
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