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Showalter, Gena. ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND
Showalter, Gena. ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND Harlequin 2012 Alice Bell knows that her father won't go out at night. She doesn't understand why. Everyone thinks he is a bit deranged. But when he does agree to go to her sister's concert, she comes to understand why he is so afraid. On the way home, they are attacked by creatures who kill Alice's parents and her sister. Alice goes to live with her grandparents and she learns the horrible truth. There are monsters out there that only a few can see. Her father was one of them. And she is another. And now she joins a team of others teens to fight the undead and avenge the deaths of her family.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Today's book 11/01/2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Today's book 10/27/2015
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Clark, Simon P. TELL THE STORY TO ITS END
Clark, Simon P. TELL THE STORY TO ITS END New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 2015 IL YA ISBN 1250066751 Oli and his mother have come to the country to stay with relatives but no one will tell him why his father is not with them. Oli in encouraged to explore the house as well as the town. He explores the attic in the house and finds a mysterious creature named Eren. Oli is not quite sure if Eren is even real. But the winged creature thirsts for stories. Lots of stories. Oli tells the stories but there is always the need for another. What is Eren and why are the stories needed?
Monday, October 26, 2015
Today's book 10/26/2015
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Brouwer, Simon. DEVIL'S PASS Orca Press, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 5.0 ISBN 155469938X Webb is doing OK by himself. He has been kicked out of his home and now spends his time on the streets of Toronto. His stepfather is abusive and he just can't live with that anymore. If he tells anyone, he risks putting his mother into danger. When Webb's beloved grandfather dies, he is told to come to the reading of the will. In the will, his grandfather tells him he must take a journey through 110 kilometers of Canadian wilderness and find a secret in Devil's Pass. The trip is hard and confusing for Webb. But as his grandfather always said, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Today's book 09/24/2015
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Whitby, Adele. CAMILLE'S STORY 1910
Whitby, Adele. CAMILLE'S STORY 1910 New York : Simon Spotlight, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 5.1 ISBN 1481439898 Camille is the daughter of the cook at Rousseau Manor. Her father had been the groundskeeper until he passed away a few years before. Now Camille's mother is trying to teach her to cook even though Camille is not that good at it. Although she is in service at the manor, the Rousseaus treat her well and she sometimes forgets that she is the help. When the family learns that a young relative from the States will be coming to live with them, Camille does her best to prepare for the arrival. But she will find that there are secrets in the Manor.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Today's book 09/23/2015
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Tashjian, Janet. LARRY AND THE MEANING OF LIFE
Tashjian, Janet. LARRY AND THE MEANING OF LIFE New York : Square Fish, 2014 IL YA ISBN 1250050359 Josh Swensen, aka Larry, is back and he is still searching for the meaning of life. After his adventures writing his blog and his run for President, he is still searching. And what better place to search than Walden Pond. Here he meets a strange man who convinces him to join a study group to find answers. Josh is a bit skeptical at first but he is intrigued. He starts with the idea that this is all a joke, but when he finds that his old crush is in the group, he is drawn in even more. How far will Josh go to find the meaning of life? And what twists and turns will we be put through this time?
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Today's book 09/20/2015
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Laybourne, Emmy. SWEET New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2015 IL YA ISBN 1250055199 This is going to be the cruise of a lifetime. Laurel can't believe that she gets to go. There is no way her family could afford to send her but her best friend's father has paid her way. The curise is filled with celebrities and the ship is amazing. This is the launch of Solu -- a new sweetener that actually helps you loose weight. The world has been waiting for this and the guest on this cruise will be the first to use it. Laurel is wondering if she can really fit in and when the Tom Forelli, the hottest celeb on the cruise, starts to talk to her, she throws up on his shoes. Not a great start. Little does she know that things will get a lot worse on this cruise. When she realizes that Solu may have shocking side effects, can she convince her best friend to stop taking it?
Monday, September 14, 2015
Today's book 09/14/2015
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The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke
Holyoke, Polly. THE NEPTUNE PROJECT New York : Disney Hyperion Books, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 5.6 ISBN 1423157567 In a not so distant future, we meet Nere, a teen who is living with health issues. She has always had trouble with her lungs but the medicine helps some. She lives with her scientist mother and their dolphins. Well, technically, they don't own the dolphins but they have trained them for years and feel they are part of the family. Both Nere and her mother are telepaths and can "talk" to one of the dolphins. When the government swoops in and demands that all families move away from the coast and move inland, things are going to change forever. Nere's mother brings her down to the secret lab. Two other children are brought down as well and they learn the truth about their condition. They have been genetically modified to live underwater! It will just take one more injection. And just like that, everything Nere knows is shown to be a lie. She is an experiment. And the father who she believed had died is alive and well and creating a colony of children who live underwater. But this journey will be filled with danger, shifting friendships, and new adventures.
Monday, September 7, 2015
Today's book 09/07/2015
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The Safest Lie by Angela Cerrito
Cerrito, Angela. THE SAFEST LIE New York : Holiday House, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 3.9 ISBN 0823433102 Nine year old Anna Bauman knows that it is not safe to be a Jew in Nazi occupied Poland. The family has been forced into the Warsaw ghetto and it is a very hard life. But her parents are determined to save Anna even if they can't save themselves. She is to become Anna Karwolska, an 8 year old Catholic girl. She is smuggled out of Warsaw and is taken to a Catholic orphanage. She must never reveal her true name or the fact that she is Jewish. The story follows Anna's three years in hiding and the changes she goes through as she tries to live as Anna Karwolska while not forgetting Anna Bauman.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Today's book 09/05/2015
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A Passion for Elephants by Toni Buzzeo
Buzzeo, Toni. A PASSION FOR ELEPHANTS : THE REAL LIFE ADVENTURE OF FIELD SCIENTIST CYNTHIA MOSS New York : Dial, 2015 IL K-3 ISBN 0399187251 Cynthia Moss was not afraid of big things. Or big challenges. I didn't know much about her before I read this biography but I am glad that I read it. After graduating from college, Cynthia decided to travel to Africa to see the big continent. While she was there, she got a job photographing elephants. They were big but Cynthia was not afraid. Day after day, Cynthia spent time with the elephants. And with each day, she learned more and more about their behavior. Would you like to find out what Cynthia Moss learned?
Friday, September 4, 2015
Today's book 09/04/2015
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Ruby on the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Baskin, Nora Raleigh. RUBY ON THE OUTSIDE New York : Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 4.4 ISBN 1442485035 Eleven year old Ruby Danes has a secret. And she has been keeping it for a long time. Her mother is in prison. Ruby just doesn't want anyone to know. She hasn't really had any friends who she feels close enough to who she wants to risk letting them know. But things may be changing. There is a new girl at the condo complex who is Ruby's age. Throughout the summer, Ruby and Margalit become close friends. Ruby is wondering if she can trust Margalit with the truth but then she learns some disturbing details about her mother's crime. Can it have something to do with Margalit?
Friday, August 14, 2015
Today's book 08/14/2015
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The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming
Fleming, Candace. THE FAMILY ROMANOV : MURDER, REBELLION, AND THE FALL OF IMPERIAL RUSSIA New York : Schwartz & Wade, 2014 IL YA ISBN 0375867821 Imagine having so much money that you couldn’t spend it all in one lifetime. Then imagine ruling over a land so vast that it was morning in one part, while it was still night in another. If you were part of the Romanov family, that is what you would have done. However, you would also be brutally murdered one night along with the rest of your family. The Romanovs were a royal Russian family who lived in a fairy tale world. An evil monk named Rasputin made sure that the family didn’t know that their people were very angry and were starving. The Romanovs didn’t know how their people had to live, but the people knew how the Romanovs lived. The story is true and one you will not forget. This is an easy way to learn a bit of Russian history. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Today's book 08/12/2015
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Courage Has No Color by Tanya Lee Stone
Stone, Tanya Lee. COURAGE HAS NO COLOR Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 The true story of the first African-American paratroopers formed during World War II. Follow their struggle as they strive to overcome discrimination and rejection despite their exemplary efforts and training. While they never did serve overseas in the war, they were sent on a secret mission to the western United States to find and dismantle balloon bombs sent over by the Japanese. This is an inspiring story of courage and determination in spite of the many hardships they faced. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Today's book 08/11/2015
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Storm Watcher by Maria V. Snyder
Snyder, Maria V. STORM WATCHER New York : Leap Books, 2013 IL 5-8, RL 6.0 ISBN 161603033X Luke is terrified of thunderstorms! He always has been, but even more so now that his mother has been struck and killed by lightning. His dad is a rescue dog handler and has promised Luke a dog for his birthday. His dad makes arrangements for him to work at a neighboring dog kennel in order to pay for the dog, but Luke really wants a different dog than what his dad wants him to have. Will Luke get the dog he wants? Will he overcome his fear of thunderstorms? Read this compelling realistic fiction story to find out. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Monday, August 10, 2015
Today's book 08/10/2015
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Schrefer, Eliot. THREATENED New York : Scholastic, 2012 IL YA ISBN 0545551439 Would you hike into the forest with a stranger to help him study chimpanzees in the wild? Luc, an orphan in Gabon, Africa, does this to escape from the debt he owes to the bill collector for his mother’s medical treatment before she died. Prof is an interesting man who wants to become the authority on the endangered chimps. He helps Luc learn to read and write as they observe the chimps. Read to learn more about Luc’s adventures with these fascinating endangered animals. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Today's book 08/09/2015
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Zane and the Hurricane by W. R. Philbrick
Philbrick, W. R. ZANE AND THE HURRICANE : A STORY OF KATRINA New York : Blue Sky Press, 2014 IL 5-8, RL 6.0 ISBN 0545342384 Zane is visiting his great-grandmother in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina approaches. While they are evacuating, his dog, Bandit, runs away, and Zane is separated from his great-grandmother. Zane must survive the storm alone. Will he and his dog find his great-grandmother and make it safely back to his mother in New Hampshire? (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Today's book 08/08/2015
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The Summer Experiment by Cathie Pelletier
Pelletier, Cathie. THE SUMMER EXPERIMENT New York : Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2014 IL 5-8, RL 4.2 ISBN 1402285787 Roberta and her friend Merilee are working on a science project that will surely make them the talk of the school: Are there aliens in Allagash, Maine? The girls hope to win the state science fair and they have the whole summer to work on this project. It seems like they will be able to win and beat the annoying Henry Horton Harris Hemsley when they see white lights over Allagash. Despite the family heartbreak the summer brings, the girls are convinced this will be the summer they make their mark on the world. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Friday, August 7, 2015
Today's book 08/07/2015
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Greenglass House by Kate Milford
Milford, Kate. GREENGLASS HOUSE New York : Clarion, 2014 IL 5-8, RL 5.8 ISBN 0544052706 Milo and his family run an inn in a smuggler’s town. It is supposed to be a quiet winter break with just the family, but several guests arrive at the Greenglass House and, due to snow, stay for the break. Each guest has a secretive reason for coming to Greenglass House. As Milo and his new friend Meddy try to unravel the motives, things only become more mysterious. Secrets, an old attic and buried treasure will keep you and Milo on your toes! (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Today's book 08/06/2015
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The Summer I Saved the World In 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz
Hurwitz, Michele Weber. THE SUMMER I SAVED THE WORLD IN 65 DAYS New York : Wendy Lamb, 2014 IL 5-8, RL 3.9 ISBN 0385371063 It is the beginning of summer. 65 long hot, muggy days lay ahead. Nina’s parents and brother are preoccupied with their own problems. In fact, everyone in her neighborhood cul-de-sac seems to be busy. Normally, Nina and her grandmother would be involved in a project or cooking, but Grandma died last year and Nina is on her own. She needs a plan. Nina wonders, what would happen if she does one kind deed each day? “Does doing good really do any good?” (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Today's book 08/05/2015
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The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm
Holm, Jennifer L. THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH New York : Random, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 4.4 ISBN 0375870644 When her mother picks her grandfather up from jail, Ellie’s sixth grade year takes a drastic turn. Her grandfather is a scientist and, in his latest experiment, has discovered the fountain of youth. He is now a teenage version of himself and will be attending her middle school! How will she survive having her cantankerous grandfather at school every day? Is the world ready for this scientific breakthrough? (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Today's book 08/04/2015
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The Castle Behind Thorns by Merrie Haskell
Haskell, Merrie. THE CASTLE BEHIND THORNS New York : Katherine Tegen Books, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 3.9 ISBN 0062008196 Sand, short for Alexandre, wakes up in an abandoned castle where everything is broken. A wall of thick, dangerous thorns makes escape impossible. Trained as a blacksmith, Sand begins to repair objects in the castle, awakening the castle’s magic. A girl appears and together they must find a way to escape before it is too late! (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Monday, August 3, 2015
Today's book 08/03/2015
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Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart
Gephart, Donna. DEATH BY TOILET PAPER New York : Delacorte Press, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 4.9 ISBN 0385743998 Fact: Each day, 83,048,116 rolls of toilet paper are produced worldwide Fact: Prior to the invention of toilet paper, Eskimos used snow and tundra moss. Fact: World Toilet Day is celebrated on November 19. Fact: The most expensive toilet is found at the international space station. NASA paid nineteen million dollars for a Russian built toilet system. Fact: If Ben’s family can’t come up with the money, they will be evicted from their home. Ben’s dad died a year ago and things are tight. Ben tries to help by selling candy, entering sweepstakes and other contests. The latest contest is making up a new slogan for The Royal T Bathroom Tissue. How do Ben and his buddy, Toothpick, an aspiring horror movie make-up artist and Grandpa Jake save the day? Find out other amazing facts about toilets and toilet paper. Even with Ben’s serious family problems, this book will tickle your funny bone. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Today's book 08/02/2015
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Code Name 711 by F. T. Bradley
Bradley, F. T. DOUBLE VISION : CODE NAME 711 New York : Harper, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 4.6 ISBN 0062104403 One minute Lincoln Baker is playing video games with his friends, and the next minute the CIA needs his help. An assassin is plotting to set off explosives at a White House costume party. With spies around every corner, it’s hard to know who to trust. Linc will have to team up with the President’s daughter to stand a chance at beating the clock, the assassin, and Ben, a junior secret agent who looks just like Linc. Can Linc find the Dangerous Double of George Washington’s Revolutionary War coat before it’s too late? (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Today's book 08/01/2015
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Bracken, Beth. WISH New York : Capstone Young Readers, 2013 IL 5-8, RL 4.3 ISBN 1623700035 When two best friends have a falling out, they find themselves in a strange new world after making a wish in the woods. Not only are fairies real, but these girls will hold the key to preventing a war in Faerieground. Read this fantasy story with numerous detailed pictures that will keep you turning the pages until the very end and then wanting more. Be careful what you wish for! (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Friday, July 31, 2015
Today's book 07/31/2015
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Stubby the War Dog by Ann Bausum
Bausum, Ann. STUBBY THE WAR DOG : THE TRUE STORY OF WORLD WAR I'S BRAVEST DOG Washington DC : National Geographic, 2014 IL 5-8, RL 7.2 ISBN 1426314876 This true story will amaze you. How could a stray dog become a war hero and loving companion? Private Robert Conroy found Stubby wandering around the streets of New Haven, Connecticut. When he was being shipped over to France in 1917 to fight in World War I, he couldn’t bear to leave his dog behind. This was a good thing because Stubby turned out to be a real hero! Stubby had an amazing nose and could sniff out an enemy soldier. He could take the medical teams right to wounded ally soldiers. He even captured a German soldier sneaking forward to the American lines. Besides Stubby’s heroic efforts you will read about the grueling life in the front lines and the other perils that these young men faced. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Today's book 07/30/2015
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The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
Auxier, Jonathan. THE NIGHT GARDENER New York : Amulet Books, 2014 If you are in the mood for an old-fashioned, creepy, scary, bone-chilling twisted mystery, this book is for you. The spooky Victorian house where Molly and Kip, two Irish orphans are employed holds a deep dark secret in its "roots". Does the tall stranger with the black hat and watering can, who wanders the house at night, hold the key to this murky mystery? (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Today's book 07/29/2015
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The Crossover by Kwami Alexander
Alexander, Kwame. THE CROSSOVER New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 IL 5-8, RL 4.3 ISBN 0544107713 Using rap poetry, Kwame Alexander introduces you to Josh and Jordan, twin basketball stars at their school. The twins are double trouble both on and off the court until Jordan gets a girlfriend. Suddenly Josh feels left out; add to that his dad, a former professional basketball player, seems to be keeping secrets. Why is his mom on a sudden health food kick? What is his dad hiding? Find out while tapping to the beat of Josh’s rap. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Today's book 07/28/2015
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The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods
Woods, Brenda. THE BLOSSOMING UNIVERSE OF VIOLET DIAMOND New York : Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 4.6 ISBN 0399257144 Eleven-year-old biracial Violet has a loving family – Mom, sister Daisy, Gam and Poppy – but she often feels out of place in Moon Lake, Washington, a mostly white community. Her African American father died before she was born and she has never met his side of her family, until her grandmother has an art exhibit in Seattle. Can she convince her mother to take her to the art exhibit? And will her grandmother accept her if she does? (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Monday, July 27, 2015
Today's book 07/27/2015
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The Menagerie by Tui Sutherland
Sutherland, Tui. THE MENAGERIE New York : Harper, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 5.1 ISBN 0060780649 When seventh grader Logan Wilde wakes up in his new home in rural Xanadu, Wyoming, he spots large golden feathers on the floor. He soon discovers they belong to a hungry baby griffin hiding under his bed. Logan learns the baby griffin comes from a secret place called the Menagerie, a large habitat set up for the protection of mythical beasts. It contains unicorns, dragons, and phoenixes, and many other magical beasts. Who let the baby griffin out and is sabotaging the safety of all the magical beasts? Can Logan and his friends save the Menagerie? (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Today's book 07/26/2015
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Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman
Sidman, Joyce. WINTER BEES AND OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 IL K-3, RL 5.1 ISBN 0547906501 You can feel the air get frostier as you open this book of poetry. Journey through the snow-covered forest to learn about how different animals experience winter. The page about snakes will curl your toes! (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Today's book 07/25/2015
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Segel, Jason. NIGHTMARES! New York : Delacorte, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 4.3 ISBN 0385744250 Eleven-year-old Charlie Laird is absolutely convinced that his stepmother Charlotte is a witch. Charlie's dad, little brother, and friends all like Charlotte and think Charlie's still grieving for his mom. He's also suffering from terrible nightmares. His nightmares and his real life begin to become one and the same. Then his nightmares take a bold step into his waking world. Will Charlie learn to overcome his fears and stop the nightmares? (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Friday, July 24, 2015
Today's book 07/24/2015
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Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka
Scieszka , Jon. FRANK EINSTEIN AND THE ANTIMATTER MOTOR New York : Amulet, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 5.9 ISBN 1419712187 Frank Einstein, a kid genius inventor, is eager to create contraptions to figure out how the world works. Read this book with or without your safety goggles but be prepared for an action packed science fiction adventure with cool science facts, silliness, some sign language and lots of detailed diagrams throughout. Frank tries to build a SmartBot in his garage but believes he has failed. Surprisingly, overnight a bolt of electricity from a lightning storm zaps the bot’s brain to life, it self assembles and makes another robot. Unfortunately, Frank now has Klink, a smart robot full of wisecracks that’s able to learn and then there’s Klank, a robot who really just wants to hug. Nevertheless, the three of them try to work together to perfect Frank’s Antimatter Motor to win prize money so that Frank’s Grandpa won’t have to lose his Fix-It Shop. Frank’s best friend, Watson, is also always there to help. But, will this antimatter idea fall into the wrong hands of Frank’s evil arch nemesis, T. Edison? You’ll have to read this book to find out why it’s important to never give up and that when it comes to science how the failures can be just as important as the successes. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Today's book 07/23/2015
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The Secret Box by Whitaker Ringwald
Ringwald, Whitaker. THE SECRET BOX New York : Katherine Tegan, 2013 IL 3-6. RL 3.9 ISBN 0062216147 On her 12th birthday, Jax receives a package in the mail from her great-aunt Juniper. Just another boring gift, she imagines. But when her mother anxiously snatches the mysterious package away, Jax’s curiosity is ignited. She must find out what’s inside! With the help of her shy, younger cousin Ethan and his obnoxious, older, tech genius, video gaming brother, Tyler, she begins the task of surreptitiously stealing her package back from the Post Office, where her mother has taken it to be returned to sender. Tearing the package open, Jax finds a box which can’t be opened. In order to find out what’s inside, the three learn they must unravel clues to lead them to the only location in which it will open. They are not the only ones who crave the secret box. Dangerous criminals will do anything to steal it. Will they be able to hold onto the powerful box? Are they clever enough to solve the clues in time? Told in the alternating voices of Jax and Ethan, this suspenseful mystery is full of intrigue and danger. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Today's book 07/22/2015
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Space Taxi : Archie Takes Flight by Wendy Mass
Mass, Wendy. SPACE TAXI : ARCHIE TAKES FLIGHT Boston : Little, Brown, 2014 IL K-3, RL 3.6 ISBN 0316243191 It's not every day a regular kid like Archie gets to wake up at midnight. But today is Take Your Kid to Work Day, and Archie is finally allowed to ride along in his dad's taxi cab. He has been waiting eight years, eight months, and eight days for this moment to arrive. But he's about to discover his dad is no ordinary cab driver...In fact, he drives an intergalactic space taxi! All night long, he shuttles aliens from one corner of the universe to another. And being a space taxi copilot is no easy task. Archie must steer them into wormholes, keep them from crashing into planets, deal with a very unusual cat...and save the universe from an evil mastermind! (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Today's book 07/19/2015
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The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer Smith
Smith, Jennifer. THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT Boston : Little Brown, 2012 IL YA ISBN 0316122386 Four minutes. That's all. Just four minutes late for her flight. When has a flight ever left on time? As she watches the plane leave, she is wondering if maybe she wanted to miss the plane. She is on her way to London for her father's second marriage. She is not happy about him leaving and she doesn't really want to go. As she waits for a later flight, she meets a young man who is also going to London for a family event. As the hours pass by on the flight, the two talk, share, tease and pass the time. They both feel very comfortable with each other and are reluctant to part when they land. Oliver likes throwing out statistics. What would he say was the statistical probability of them ever meeting again?
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Today's book 07/18/2015
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Walters, Eric. RULE OF THRE3 New York : Farrar, Straus Giroux, 2014 IL YA ISBN 0374355029 It is just another day at school. Todd is trying to get a paper done before last period and Adam is trying to help. When the lights go out, it sends that giddy feeling to the kids in the library. But it is more than that. The cell phones don't work either. Then they find that the buses and cars don't work. Any item that needs a computer to run is just dead. No explanations and no way to find out what is going on. Fortunately Adam's car is an old one that doesn't need computers to run. He is able to get home but many others are not so fortunate. Everyone assumes things will be back to normal soon. As the days go by and that doesn't happen, things begin to get a bit desperate. There are three rules for survival. You can go 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. Beyond that, you're dead. Now it is down to survival. What will happen to Adam's neighborhood? What happens when civilization breaks down?
Friday, July 17, 2015
Today's book 07/17/2015
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Martin, Ann M. RAIN REIGN New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2014 Homophones and prime numbers provide structure and comfort for fifth-grader Rose Howard. Rose has many challenges in her life. Her mother left home when Rose was just 2 years old. Her father is often absent and has a drinking problem. Rose also has a very hard time in school. She has been diagnosed with autism and has difficulties controlling her emotions and her behavior. One day her father brings a stray dog home and allows Rose to keep him. She names him Rain because the word rain (reign, rein) is a homophone. They bond completely. However Rose discovers that Rain has another family. What will Rose do? Will she let Rain’s family know where Rain is? How can Rose survive without Rain? Can she leave her Dad and live with her supportive uncle? Read Rain Reign for Rose’s heartwarming story. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Today's book 07/16/2015
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Blazing Courage by Kelly Milner Halls
Halls, Kelly Milner. BLAZING COURAGE Minneapolis MN : Darby Creek, 2015 IL 5-8 ISBN 1467772194 Prolific non-fiction author Kelly Milner Halls has turned her talents to a new fiction series. In the first in the Animal Rescues series, we meet fourteen year old Annie who has always dreamed of owning her own horse. And now her dreams have come true. She has finally saved enough money to buy her own horse. She buys a four year old buckskin named Poco. He isn't the most gentle horse and she will have to work with him to settle him down. But she has the love and the will to do it. She stables Poco at Top Tier Stables where she volunteers in exchange. She loves being around the horses and her work is going well with Poco. But someone has it out for the stables. When a terrible fire breaks out, Annie must draw on all her courage to try to save her horse. But is she strong enough to face the flames?
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Today's book 07/15/2015
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Lord, Cynthia. HALF A CHANCE New York : Scholastic, 2014 Twelve year-old Lucy is not happy to move again. This time she is moving to a remote lake in New Hampshire, but her nature photographer father will not be there. He will be traveling to Arizona for work. Moving for Lucy means new friends, new school, and lots of new experiences. Lucy handles her loneliness by entering a photography contest. She loves taking photographs. Because her father is the judge of the contest she enters under a false name. She uses the identity of her new neighbor Nate. Nate has spent all his summers at the lake with his grandmother, Lilah who is now losing her memory. Nate and Lucy try to help Lilah by working with her on her loon count. Will Nate be able to accept his grandmother’s loss of memory? Will Lucy tell her dad about deceiving him in the contest? Will Lucy and Nate’s friendship survive these challenges? Reading Half a Chance will give you some surprising answers. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Monday, July 13, 2015
Today's book 07/13/2015
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Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch by Anne Isaacs
Isaacs, Anne. MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH New York : Schwartz & Wade, 2014 In 1870, widow Tulip Jones packs up her twelve pet tortoises: January, February, March, and so on, and boards a ship traveling from England to By-Golly, Texas, where she inherits a ranch, along with thirty-five million dollars. Amazed at how fast and big things grow, she discovers that even her smallest pet tortoise grows six feet long in a month. His large size makes him move even FASTER; soon, he can outrace the fastest racehorse. When word of widow Tulip Jones and her inheritance spreads across the prairie, all the bachelors in Texas, (which is every cowboy, even some nasty ones) wish to marry her. Before long, Tulip Jones is overwhelmed with unsuitable suitors. Calico, one of her three ranch hands, comes up with a clever idea. She proposes that Tulip Jones put a notice in every newspaper in the U.S. stating, “Brides wanted! 1,000 cowboys available! Free to good homes! Lariats and hats included!” Tulip Jones does exactly that. Before long, the brides come, garbed in their finest wedding dresses. Read to find out if every bride gets her cowboy, and if widow Tulip Jones finds happiness in By-Golly. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Today's book 07/12/2015
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Mountain Dog by Margaret Engle
Engle, Margaret. MOUNTAIN DOG New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2013 Are you seeking a new adventure to take you away from your own backyard? Then you’ll want to put Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle in your backpack today and head west. This book is a compelling realistic fiction novel set in the remote Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. It’s filled with struggles and celebrations, relationships and rescues. And what’s even cooler is this story is told through two alternating perspectives. Meet Tony, the resilient 11 and a half year old boy who’s mom has been sent to jail for running pit bull fights and Gabe, the loyal chocolate lab rescue dog who becomes his trusted companion. After reading this book you’ll also be amazed at how much you will have actually learned about rescue dogs, tracking wild animals, hiking, making new friends, adapting to a new home, and even some interesting facts about bears and elephants. You’ll even manage to learn a few new Spanish phrases along the way. But more importantly, you will definitely learn the value of trust as you journey through life. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Today's book 07/11/2015
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Handle With Care by Loree Griffin Burns
Burns, Loree Griffin. HANDLE WITH CARE : AN UNUSUAL BUTTERFLY JOURNEY New York : Millbrook, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 3.7 ISBN 0761393420 Have you been to a live butterfly exhibit at a museum or at a zoo? Where do these lovely exotic butterflies come from? Come visit a butterfly farm in Costa Rica in Central America. Follow the life cycle of the Blue Morpho Butterfly from a tiny egg to a voracious larva (caterpillar) to pupa or chrysalis to finally a beautiful adult butterfly. Raising a butterfly or moth is not easy. The farmers must find the special plants for their food and keep them safe from predators like frogs, birds or snakes! When the caterpillars become chrysalises, the farmers send them, carefully packaged, to museums and zoos all over the world. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Friday, July 10, 2015
Today's book 07/10/2015
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Bell, Cece. EL DEAFO Amulet Books, 2014 In this semi-autobiographical graphic novel, Cece, a bunny, gets sick and loses most of her hearing. She then goes to a school for the deaf for one year. After that first year, she goes to regular school where she is the only deaf student. She has to wear a device called the Phonics Ear, which allows her to hear what the teacher is saying, and often more than she wants to hear if the teacher forgets she is wearing the microphone part of the Phonics Ear and goes to the bathroom. Cece imagines herself as a superhero, El Deafo, who is accepted by classmates. This is a good story about friendship and about accepting who you are. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Today's book 07/09/2015
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Loki's Wolves by Kelley Armstrong
Armstrong, Kelley. LOKI'S WOLVES Boston : Little, Brown, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 4.4 ISBN 031620496X Matt always knew that he was the modern day descendent of Thor, but he never guessed that he would be selected as Thor’s representative to try to prevent Ragnarök, a series of events foretold to result in the end of the world as we know it. Teamed up with his cousin Laurie and classmate Fen, Matt must find Thor’s hammer and shield to prepare for impending battle. His journey of preparation leads him and his friends into encounters with a series of monsters from Norse mythology. If you enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, you will love this adventure into lesser-known mythology from Scandinavia! (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Monday, July 6, 2015
Today's book 07/06/2015
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The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock
Rosenstock, Barb. THE NOISY PAINT BOX New York : Knopf, 2014 Vasily Kandinsky was a pioneer of abstract painting, but as a child he was encouraged to be serious about his studies. He studied to become a lawyer and put his childhood hobby of painting aside. He had an unusual condition that allowed him to experience music and sounds visually: in addition to hearing sounds, he also saw them as colors. Read The Noisy Paint Box to find out how this condition led him to return to his childhood interest and invent a whole new style of painting. (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Today's book 07/04/2015
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Poem-Mobiles by J. Patrick Lewis
Lewis, J. Patrick. POEM-MOBILES New York : Schwartz Wade, 2014 Two of children’s poetry’s most prolific and entertaining writers pair up to bring you a collection of wild and wonderful poems about cars. But you won’t see these cars on the highway! The poets and illustrator Jeremy Holmes have created a fantastical world full of imaginary automobiles like the bathtub car, the banana split car and the eel-ectric car. Filled with word play, rollicking rhymes and illustrations that are even wackier than the poems that inspired them, this book is impossible to read only once! (Booktalk by Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Committee)
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Today's book 06/11/2015
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Footer Davis Might Be Possibly Is Crazy by Susan Vaught
Vaught, Susan. FOOTER DAVIS MIGHT BE PROBABLY IS CRAZY New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2015 IL 5-8, RL 5.4 ISBN 1481422766 Footer Davis' mother just "ain't right". That's what they all say. Actually, she has bipolar disorder. When she is sent to a mental hospital, Footer misses her so much. To distract herself from thinking about her mother, Footer and her best friend Peavine Jones set out to investigate the disappearance of two children. Both girls take the investigation seriously and want to find out what happened. But Footer begins to have hallucinations and worries that she is going crazy just like her mother.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Today's book 06/09/2015
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Watson, Jude. LOOT : HOW TO STEAL A FORTUNE New York : Scholastic, 2014 IL 5-8, RL 4.2 ISBN 0545468027 Advice from Alfie McQuin to his son, March: *Never trust a guy who says “trust me”. *If you think nothing can go wrong---you’d better think again. *Panic doesn’t get you anything but arrested. March McQuin has led an “interesting” life so far. Being raised by his widowed dad, who also happens to be an international jewel thief, has resulted in many moves to many countries and countless transfers from one school to another. Through it all, though, they’ve always had each other, and Alfie has passed on his wisdom as well as “homeschooling” March in the art of burglary. But Alfie’s latest heist has gone terribly wrong. Now March is on his own, and he’s being followed. He’s going to need all of the skills and wisdom his father gave him just to survive, let alone to solve the mystery of Alfie’s last request---“Find jewels…” What jewels? Or, maybe, who is Jules? March will find friends and allies where he least expects them, but there are enemies out there, too. And they’re all trying to be first to find….the loot. This high-speed adventure will have you hooked from the first chapter to the last. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Monday, June 8, 2015
Today's book 06/08/2015
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Lord, Cynthia. HALF A CHANCE New York : Scholastic, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 4.3 ISBN 0545035333 When you take pictures do you just point and shoot? Do you frame your picture? Do you consider the “story” the photo will tell? Lucy’s family has just moved into a year round home on a lake in New Hampshire, her third move in her twelve years. Lucy’s Dad, a famous photographer, never stays in one place too long, and truth to tell he will be taking off within a day for a summer long assignment in Arizona leaving Lucy and her Mom to sort out the move and settle into this new life. Even before unpacking her first box Lucy is driven to grab her own camera and, with her dog Ansel (after Ansel Adams), “capture a first New Hampshire photo, so that in time she will feel the relief and comfort of looking back at this first one and remember how brave and scary everything was then, and realize she ‘made it’ once again. Like creating a memory in reverse.” Memory and photography intertwine in the telling of this story. Very quickly, Lucy meets Nate, the boy next door, and his family who are summer residents in the cottage owned by his Grandma Lilah. Grandma Lilah is passionate about participating with the Loon Preservation Society’s annual egg count and hatchings. However, she can no longer manage daily kayaking to the loon nesting island and enlists the help of Nate, his sister, and “Lucy of the Loons” as she dubs Lucy on her first venture. Sometimes another neighbor Megan, who sees Lucy as a rival, participates as well. As you will discover, Grandma Lilah is having more trouble managing other things as well this summer. Through a desire to help Grandma Lilah and a secret longing to have her photography skills measure up to her father’s highly demanding standards, Lucy, with Nate’s interest and help, work to gather samples for a Photo Scavenger Hunt run by a magazine, nine photos reflecting a creative approach to nine words or phrases. Ethical issues arise when Lucy has to enter the contest under Nate’s name since her father is one of the contest judges. But even more difficult ethical, friendship, and creative choice issues arise over the use or non-use of a particular photo of Grandma Lilah that “reveals a story, show me why I care?” but one that Nate cares too much to want to see. (Kathleen Fencil, NH Great Stone Face Committee, 2015)
Friday, June 5, 2015
Today's book 06/05/2015
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Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Hunt, Lynda Mullaly. FISH IN A TREE New York : Nancy Paulsen, 2015 IL 5-8, RL 4.2 ISBN 0399162593 Ally Nickerson spends a lot of time in the Principal’s office. She does not always understand what she did wrong to get there. She has also had to move a lot, seven schools in her twelve years. Her father is in the military and is currently deployed overseas. Ally demonstrates unique brightness and interesting drawing capabilities as she doodles in her “Sketchbook of Impossible Things,” but at other times her good intentions lead to disastrous consequences, all because she cannot tell the absolute truth, not to her principal, not to her teacher, not to her Mom, not to her friends. Ally still cannot read, no matter how hard she tries. And she does try, but reading for Ally is “still like trying to make sense of a can of alphabet soup that’s been dumped on a plate. She just doesn’t get how other people do it. Ally Nickerson + reading = Impossible! To say that Ally stands out is stating the obvious, but she is not totally alone. She develops friendships with a couple of other class misfits; “Tell–it-like-it-is Keisha and science and fact obsessed Albert who wears the same “Flint” shirt to school everyday and is often seen with mysterious bruises. In the course of their school year they get a new teacher, Mr. Daniels who sees the child first, before the student. There are heroes in this book and they are not only the adults. This book is a “Silver Dollar” read. The Fish in a Tree title comes from a quote often misappropriated to Albert Einstein; “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” The truth of a quote has nothing to do with who it came from, but it would be fine and fitting had it been Einstein. (Kathleen Fencil, NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Today's book 06/04/2015
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Durham, Paul. LUCK UGLIES New York : HarperCollins, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 5.5 ISBN 0062271504 Rye O’Chanter and her best friends Quinn and Folly know well the history of Village Drowning, a village said to be “built on a foundation of secrets, rules, and lies but mostly just mud.” The children have heard tell of the hideous Bog Noblins–creatures who wear human feet as necklaces–and the bands of lawless men known as Luck Uglies, both thought to be long-gone from the village. But when Rye herself has a horrible encounter with a Bog Noblin late one night and a mysterious cloaked and tattooed man appears in the village, Rye and her friends learn that things aren’t always what they seem and what becomes history isn’t always true. The author creates a multi-layered, rich world inhabited by characters that sparkle with life and practically leap from the pages. Readers will be thrilled to know that this engrossing fantasy is the first book of a series. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Today's book 06/03/2015
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Where I Belong by Mary. Downing Hahn
Hahn, Mary Downing. WHERE I BELONG New York : Clarion, 2014 IL 5-8, RL 5.3 ISBN 0544230205 “If only I had someplace to go besides home. A safe place where I’d belong and nobody would call me names or beat me up or laugh at me. No school. No teachers. No mean kids. No Mrs. Clancy. Just me, Brendan Doyle”. (p. 13, Where I Belong) No one is nice to sixth-grader Brendan Doyle: his foster mother, his teachers, his classmates, and especially the teens who bully him. He escapes in books, drawing, carving, and daydreaming. When Brendan meets an old man near his treehouse in the Virginia woods, he believes that this is the Green Man, the magical spirit guardian of the forest. Brendan builds a treehouse and retreats into his fantasy world. With the help of another new friend, a girl named Shea with secrets of her own, Brendan just might find a place where he belongs. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Today's book 06/02/2015
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The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE New York : Dial Books, 2015 IL 3-6. RL 3.9 ISBN 0803740816 From the moment you meet Ada, the main character, you are going to not want to let her go. She’s imperfect, impertinent, smart, and strong. Ada lives with her younger brother Jamie and flat out evil mother in a tiny London flat on the eve of World War II. Ada has a club foot. She’s never walked, and she’s never left the apartment. Her mother shames her and punishes her in deplorable ways. Jamie is Ada’s only lifeline to the world, and when Ada hears that Jamie will be evacuated to the countryside due to the impending bombings, she secretly teaches herself to walk, and very painfully escapes with Jamie in the evacuation. What happens to Ada, and Jamie, and Susan, the woman who has to care for them, is transformative both for the characters and every reader who meets these characters. This book will have you thinking about Ada long after it ends, waiting impatiently for the sequel to be able to spend more time with her. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Monday, June 1, 2015
Today's book 06/01/2015
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The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett
Barnett, Mac. THE TERRIBLE TWO New York : Amulet Books, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 4.9 ISBN 1419714910 It was the first day of school, and Miles Murphy faced it with a sense of dread; he had just moved to the cow town of Yawnee Valley from his beloved home town back in Florida. Miles looked around and saw all the typical school stuff: typical marquee, typical flagpole, typical bunch of kids milling around, typical school entrance blocked by the typical principal’s car high up on the steps…huh? Wait a minute…what a fantastic prank! The only trouble was, it wasn’t his prank! Back at his old school, he was known as the master of pranks…who was the mastermind here at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy? He had to find out! The one person he was sure it couldn’t be was Niles Sparks, the designated School Helper. Every school has one: the suck-up, the do-gooder, the snitch… Can Miles be out-pranked? This book is funnier than a rubber chicken… and contains some interesting facts about cows! Hilarious for all ages…fun illustrations. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Today's book 05/31/2015
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Lovejoy, Sharon. RUNNING OUT OF NIGHT
Lovejoy, Sharon. RUNNING OUT OF NIGHT New York : Delacorte, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 5.2 ISBN 0385744099 Her mama died in childbirth when she was born, and her pa and older brothers didn’t think enough of her to give her a name. They simply called her “Girl”. She grew up in fear of them, suffering their unspeakable abuse and serving as their slave, guarded by two vicious bloodhounds. The day Zenobia knocked at her door, Girl’s life began to change. Zenobia was a runaway slave, whose family had all been separated and sold away to cruel plantation owners. The two girls, of disparate color and background, forged an unlikely bond of friendship. Zenobia gave her a new name: Lark, because she sang like a bird. Together, they made their escape by night, using just their wits and a great deal of courage. They endured many hair-raising close calls, even as they received assistance from some Quaker families on the Underground Railroad. Did they successfully elude their pursuers and make it to freedom? A gritty, well-told historical novel, filled with high adventure. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Today's book 05/30/2015
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Murphy, Gold Rush Dog by Alison Hart
Hart, Alison. MURPHY, GOLD RUSH DOG Atlanta : Peachtree Publishers, 2014 IL 3-6 RL 5.5 ISBN 1561457698 Nome, Alaska, 1900. The end of the earth, where gold lies waiting on the beaches, and people race to the lawless town to stake a claim. Young Murphy, a sled dog cruelly abused by Carlick his owner, arrives in Nome bloody and battered with his team. There, he escapes to the streets and meets eleven-year-old Sally and her mother who’ve come north to build a new life together. Needing a protector in that dangerous town, the two take Murphy in. But Carlick hasn’t given up searching for his dog. And when Sally, who falls in love with Nome and the wilderness, decides to run off and hunt for gold on her own, it’s Murphy who must live up to his role of protector. Murphy tells this solid story, filled with adventure, history, a feisty outdoor-loving girl, and one very brave dog. The short chapters and artwork, as well as the happy ending make this a good choice for younger readers. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Friday, May 29, 2015
Today's book 05/29/2015
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Korman, Gordon. MASTERMINDS New York : Balzer + Bray, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 5.2 ISBN 0062299964 Your life is perfect- Your town is perfect- Serenity, … New Mexico. Population- 185. Kids-30. No crime, no poverty, no unemployment, what more could anyone want or need? Why would anyone want to leave Serenity? Could they leave even if they wanted to? 13 year old Eli and his friend Randy soon discover mysterious illnesses occur when the kids try to pass the town border. Eli is hit with waves of crampling nausea and paralyzing pain. Memories become vague. Randy doesn’t seem to suffer the same illness, but fate has something else in store. Within days, Randy leaves town. No one has ever left town. What could this mean? As Eli discovers the clues Randy left behind for him, he enlists the help of an unlikely crew of his peers. The clues mount, and evidence is gathered as the kids discover Serenity may not be crime free after all. Slowly they realize the grown-ups they trust might just be the criminals they should fear. Follow the journey of Eli, Malik, Hector and Tori as they slowly find out the town’s secrets and unravel the mystery of the disappearance of their friend Randy. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Today's book 05/28/2015
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Weeks. Sarah. HONEY New York : Scholastic, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 4.8 ISBN 0545465575 Ten year old Melody, lives in Royal Indiana where life has always been simple. It’s been just her and her dad. Then her dad’s mood starts to change. He becomes forgetful and starts singing for no reason. Melody overhears strange calls at night. “Who was on the phone?” she asks. “Wrong number,” her dad says. Even groggy Melody knows she heard her dad say Honey. Does dad have a girlfriend? Who could it be? Why all the secrets? Join Melody and her pal Nick as they start gathering evidence and putting the pieces together. But do the pieces really fit they way they think? (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Today's book 05/27/2015
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The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart
Gemeinhart, Dan. THE HONEST TRUTH New York : Schholastic Press, 2015 IL 5-8, RL 4.0 ISBN 0545665736 We all have our bad days. Days when we feel like we’d love to just walk away from everything—school, family, even friends… Mark is a good kid, but when he finds out that he’s going to have to be admitted to the hospital again, he makes a decision. He’s been fighting this disease for so long---maybe it’s time to walk away…from days in bed, treatments that make him sick, and from everyone who means well but doesn’t understand. He’s always dreamed of climbing nearby Mt. Rainier. Maybe now is the time to make that dream a reality—even if it’s the last thing he ever does. With only his dog for company, Mark sets off on his journey, seeking to evade all the well-meaning people who try to stop him. Only his best friend Jessie has a clue as to his intentions. Will he manage to make a success of this final trip? Will Jessie be able to keep her suspicions to herself, or will she decide to point the searchers in Mark’s direction? The most meaningful journeys teach us something about ourselves. Mark has a lot to learn---if he can just survive. His epic journey will keep you riveted from the first page to the last. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Today's book 05/26/2015
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Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle by. George Hagen
Hagen, George. GABRIEL FINLEY AND THE RAVEN'S RIDDLE New York : Scwartz & Wade, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 4.8 ISBN 0385371039 Ravens love riddles. This is the way they can tell the good ravens from the bad. Long ago, ravens were our best friends…they watched over us and conversed with us easily. That was before a phantom raven named Corax went rogue and lured some others to the dark side. His new disciples were called valravens… Gabriel Finley knew little about ravens, but was soon to learn a good deal more. When he rescued an orphaned baby raven named Paladin, he discovered his family’s long-kept secret: the Finelys had a special bond with these birds…they could talk with them, receive their protection, and even briefly blend into the bodies of their familiars for adventures in flight. Gabriel loved riddles…his father had been a master of riddles right up until the day he disappeared. Aunt Jaz seemed to know a lot more than she was telling about his dad’s current whereabouts. With the help of Paladin and a very reluctant writing desk, he just might be able to rescue his dad from the clutches of the evil Corax. From Brooklyn to Aviopolis, a thrilling adventure, indeed! (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
Monday, May 25, 2015
Today's book 05/25/2015
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Bell, Cece. EL DEAFO New York : Amulet, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 3.3 ISBN 1419710206 In her graphic novel memoir, author Cece Bell tells the story of becoming deaf at a young age and learning to live with the large contraption strapped to her chest that allows her to hear, the phonic ear. When she discovers that the phonic ear in fact allows her to hear what mere mortals cannot (like her teacher’s private conversations and *ahem* trips to the bathroom), she secretly imagines herself as the superhero, El Deafo. Childhood awkwardness, negotiating friendships, new schools, and everyday fun are all wrapped up in Cece’s hearing loss. With a lot of humor, this graphic novel gives us all an opportunity to learn a lot. (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)
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