As 2008 comes to a close, we at Kidsreads.com have compiled some of our favorite books of the year for children. Along with THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD, a collection of five fairy tales courtesy of J.K. Rowling that gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter, we spotlight THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PERILOUS JOURNEY, the sequel to Trenton Lee Stewart’s bestseller about four children who are brought together to go on secret missions that only the most intelligent and inventive youngsters can complete; RODRICK RULES, the second installment in Jeff Kinney’s laugh-out-loud Diary of a Wimpy Kid series; and INKDEATH, the conclusion to Cornelia Funke's absorbing Inkheart fantasy trilogy.
Three noteworthy series for middle graders debuted this year: The 39 Clues, an exciting multimedia series consisting of 10 books, 350 trading cards and an online game where readers play a part in the story and compete for over $100,000 in prizes; Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, Meg Cabot’s first series aimed specifically at 8-12 year olds; and Goosebumps HorrorLand, a hilarious series from the master of spooky storytelling, R.L. Stine, that will also give you a serious case of the heebie-jeebies.
Readers had the opportunity to revisit the lives of some familiar characters with the releases of THE CALDER GAME, Blue Balliett’s third art-centered mystery featuring University of Chicago Lab School students Calder, Petra and Tommy, and THE PENDERWICKS ON GARDAM STREET, a feel-good follow-up to the National Book Award-winning THE PENDERWICKS by Jeanne Birdsall. Among the series updates in 2008 were Artemis Fowl, Children of the Lamp, Fancy Nancy, The Keys to the Kingdom, The Land of Elyon, Mercy Watson, ’Ologies (MONSTEROLOGY and SPYOLOGY), Ranger’s Apprentice and Redwall.
Additional standouts included CHAINS, Laurie Halse Anderson's compelling examination of the very different implications of freedom and loyalty for slaves during the American Revolution; THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman, a chilling tale about an unusual boy who is the only living resident of a graveyard; RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE, Shannon and Dean Hale’s graphic novel adaptation of the classic story as you’ve never seen it before; and THE WILLOUGHBYS by two-time Newbery Medal winner Lois Lowry, in which four thoroughly old-fashioned children seek happiness, fortune --- and a way to get rid of their parents.
We hope you enjoy our year-end feature and make new discoveries along the way, as you look forward to what lies ahead in 2009.
Stand-Alone Chapter Books/Middle Grade Novels
ACTING OUT
Avi, Susan Cooper, Sharon Creech, Patricia MacLachlan, Katherine Paterson and Richard Peck
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416938484
Ages 8-12
192 pages
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Six masterful children's authors have become master playwrights in this collection of one-act plays that might just make you want to ACT OUT! In The Raven, Sharon Creech spoofs a publishing office while Susan Cooper shows the environment fighting back against overdevelopment in The Dollop. Patricia MacLachlan puts a twist on detention in The Bad Room, and Katherine Paterson gives us a new twist on a classic fairy tale in The Billionaire and the Bird. Richard Peck's Effigy in the Outhouse is the story of schoolboys doing their best to trick a spooky substitute, while Avi's Not Seeing Is Believing has words playing tricks on everyone.
AIRMAN
Eoin Colfer
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423107507
Ages 10-up
416 pages
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Conor Broekhart was born to fly. In fact, legend has it that he was born flying in a hot air balloon at the World’s Fair. In the 1890s Conor and his family live on the sovereign Saltee Islands, off the Irish coast. He spends his days studying the science of flight with his tutor and exploring the castle with the king’s daughter, Princess Isabella.
But the boy’s idyllic life changes forever the day he discovers a conspiracy to overthrow the king. When Conor tries to expose the plot, he is branded a traitor and thrown into jail on the prison island of Little Saltee. There, he has to fight for his life as he and the other prisoners are forced to mine for diamonds in inhumane conditions.
There is only one way to escape Little Saltee, and that is to fly.
THE BIG FIELD
Mike Lupica
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399246258
Ages 10-up
288 pages
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For Hutch, shortstop has always been home. It’s where his father once played professionally, before injuries relegated him to watching games on TV instead of playing them. And it’s where Hutch himself has always played and starred. Until now. The arrival of Darryl “D-Will” Williams, the top shortstop prospect from Florida since A-Rod, means Hutch is displaced, in more ways than one. Second base feels like second fiddle, and when he sees his father giving fielding tips to D-Will --- the same father who can’t be bothered to show up to watch his son play --- Hutch feels betrayed. With the summer league championship on the line, just how far is Hutch willing to bend to be a good teammate?
CHAINS
Laurie Halse Anderson
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
ISBN: 9781416905851
Ages 10-up
320 pages
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As the Revolutionary War begins, 13-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom.
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK
Neil Gaiman
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780060530921
Ages 10-up
320 pages
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Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place --- he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their timely ghostly teachings --- like the ability to Fade. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are things like ghouls that aren't really one thing or the other.
KENNY & THE DRAGON
Tony DiTerlizzi
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
ISBN: 9781416939771
Ages 8-12
160 pages
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What do you do when your new best buddy has been designated a scourge by the community and marked for imminent extermination? Just ask Kenny Rabbit. When the simple folks in the sleepy little village of Roundbrook catch wind that there's a dragon running loose in the countryside, they get the wrong idea and the stage is set for a fight to the death. So it's up to Kenny to give his neighbors front-row seats to one of the best-known battles in history --- the legendary showdown between St. George and the dragon --- without losing a friend in the fray.
LOST AND FOUND
Andrew Clements
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416909859
Ages 8-12
176 pages
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Although it's no fun to be constantly mistaken for each other, in truth, during those first days at a new school, there's nothing better than having a twin brother there with you. But on day one of sixth grade, Ray stays home sick, and Jay is on his own. Things seem to be going smoothly and Jay already is making new friends. But he quickly discovers a major mistake: No one seems to know a thing about his brother. Ray is not on the attendance lists, and has no locker or even a student folder. Jay almost tells the school but then decides that this lost information could be very useful. And fun.
ONE SMALL STEP
P. B. Kerr
Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416942139
Ages 8-14
320 pages
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It's 1969, and 13-year-old Scott is doing all the things that normal boys do --- and also flying airplanes with his Air Force flight instructor father. When Scott successfully crash-lands a training plane, NASA takes notice. They hope to recruit him for their top-secret space program, which will launch a test flight to the moon before the first lunar landing. This craft was intended to be piloted by chimps, but one chimp had to be dismissed and now they need a quick substitute. Who better than a boy aviator? G-forces collide with government secrets as Scott races to prepare for his journey to the moon.
RUNEMARKS
Joanne Harris
Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780375844447
Ages 10-up
544 pages
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Seven o’clock on a Monday morning, five hundred years after the end of the world, and goblins had been at the cellar again…. Not that anyone would admit it was goblins. In Maddy Smith’s world, order rules. Chaos, old gods, fairies, goblins, magic, glamours --- all of these were supposedly vanquished centuries ago. But Maddy knows that a small bit of magic has survived. The “ruinmark” she was born with on her palm proves it --- and makes the other villagers fearful that she is a witch (though helpful in dealing with the goblins-in-the-cellar problem). But the mysterious traveler One-Eye sees Maddy’s mark not as a defect, but as a destiny. And Maddy will need every scrap of forbidden magic One-Eye can teach her if she is to survive that destiny.
SAVVY
Ingrid Law
Dial Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780803733060
Ages 9-11
352 pages
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For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a “savvy” --- a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn 13. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity…and now it’s the eve of Mibs’s big day.
As if waiting wasn’t hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs’s birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident. Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital and prove that her new power can save her dad. So she sneaks onto a salesman’s bus…only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up --- and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin.
THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD
J.K. Rowling
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780545128285
Ages 9-18
128 pages
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THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers’ attention in the book known as HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. Now, thanks to Hermione Granger’s new translation from the ancient runes, the Children's High Level Group, in association with Arthur A. Levine Books, presents a stunning edition with an introduction, notes and illustrations by J.K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore. Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales: “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot,” “The Fountain of Fair Fortune,” “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart,” “Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump,” and of course, “The Tale of the Three Brothers.” But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter.
THE WILLOUGHBYS
Lois Lowry
A Walter Lorraine Book/Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 9780618979745
Ages 9-12
176 pages
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Abandoned by their ill-humored parents to the care of a less than pleasant nanny, Tim and his siblings --- the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and their sister, Jane --- attempt to fulfill their roles as good old-fashioned children. Following the models set in such tales as "A Christmas Carol" and "Mary Poppins," the four Willoughbys hope to attain their proscribed happy ending too --- or at least a satisfyingly maudlin one. However, it is an unquestionably ruthless act that sets in motion the transformations that lead to their salvation and to happy endings for not only the four children, but their nanny, an abandoned baby, a candy magnate and his long-lost son.
Debut Series
THE 39 CLUES, Book One: The Maze of Bones
Rick Riordan
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780545060394
Ages 9-12
224 pages
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Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world's most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. Thirty-nine clues hidden around the world will reveal the family's secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what's important: hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents.
The 39 Clues is Scholastic's groundbreaking new series, spanning 10 adrenaline-charged books, 350 trading cards, and an online game where readers play a part in the story and compete for over $100,000 in prizes.
ONE FALSE NOTE: The 39 Clues, Book Two
Gordon Korman
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780545060424
Ages 9-12
160 pages
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THIS JUST IN! Amy and Dan Cahill were spotted on a train, hot on the trail of one of 39 Clues hidden around the world. BUT WAIT! Police report a break-in at an elite hotel, and the suspects ALSO sound suspiciously like Amy and Dan. UPDATE! Amy and Dan have been seen in a car…no, in a speedboat chase…and HOLD EVERYTHING! They're being chased by an angry mob?!?
When there's a Clue on the line, anything can happen.
ALLIE FINKLE’S RULES FOR GIRLS: Book One – Moving Day
Meg Cabot
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780545039475
Ages 8-12
240 pages
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When nine-year-old Allie Finkle's parents announce they are moving her and her brothers from their suburban split-level into an ancient Victorian in town, Allie is sure her life is over. She's not at all happy about having to give up her pretty pink wall-to-wall carpeting for creaky floorboards and creepy secret passageways --- not to mention leaving her modern, state-of-the-art suburban school for a rundown, old-fashioned school just two blocks from her new house. With a room she's half-scared to go into, the burden of being "the new girl" and her old friends all a half-hour car ride away, how will Allie ever learn to fit in?
ALLIE FINKLE'S RULES FOR GIRLS: Book Two - The New Girl
Meg Cabot
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780545040495
Ages 8-12
240 pages
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Allie is very excited for her first day of school at Pine Heights Elementary. She is going to be in the same class as her new friends Erica, Caroline and Sophie, and she loves her new teacher, pretty and stylish Mrs. Hunter. Plus, she's getting a new kitten --- the first pick of showcat Lady Serena Archibald's litter. There is only one problem in Allie's perfect new life: one of the girls in Allie's new class, Rosemary, doesn't like her. In fact, Rosemary says she's going to beat Allie up after school!
Everyone has an opinion on how Allie should handle the situation: Erica thinks she should tell Mrs. Hunter. Caroline thinks Allie should handle it with nonviolent conflict resolution. Dad teaches Allie how to fight, while Uncle Jay says you have to psych out your opponent. How can Allie tell who's right?
GOOSEBUMPS HORRORLAND: Books 1-5
R.L. Stine
Scholastic Paperbacks
• Series Feature
Are you looking for a hilarious series that will also give you a serious case of the heebie-jeebies? The master of spooky storytelling, R.L. Stine --- author of the incredibly popular Goosebumps books --- has just the thing: a 12-book series called Goosebumps HorrorLand. Be prepared to laugh out loud, even as you break out in a cold sweat of terror!
THE QUEST BEGINS: Seekers #1
Erin Hunter
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780060871222
Ages 10-up
320 pages
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From the author of the nationally bestselling Warriors books comes a brand-new animal fantasy series. Three young bears from different species --- black, polar and grizzly --- are separated from their families when they are just young cubs. They find themselves brought together on a perilous journey. Fate is about to change all these bears’ lives forever, setting their paws on a path toward a future they cannot yet imagine.
STEEL TRAPP: THE CHALLENGE
Ridley Pearson
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423106401
Ages 10-up
336 pages
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Fourteen-year-old "Steel" Trapp sets off with his mom and their dog, Cairo, on a two-day Amtrak journey to compete in the National Science Competition in Washington, D.C. Steel is both blessed and cursed with a remarkable photographic memory. Trying to be a good Samaritan on the train, he unwittingly becomes embroiled in an ingenious international plot of kidnapping that may have links to terrorists. Federal agents track Steel and his newfound accomplice, Kaileigh Augustine, as they attempt to put together the pieces of a complex puzzle. Using Steel's science contest invention --- and with the help of Cairo --- Steel and Kaileigh lead readers on an action-packed adventure as they attempt to prevent the unimaginable, before it's too late.
Series Updates
 THE TIME PARADOX: Artemis Fowl, Book 6
Eoin Colfer
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423108368
Ages 9-12
432 pages
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Artemis's mother has contracted a deadly disease --- and the only cure lies in the brain fluid of African lemurs. Unfortunately, Artemis himself was responsible for making the lemurs extinct five years ago. Now he must enlist the aid of his fairy friends to travel back in time and save them. Not only that, but he must face his deadliest foe yet: his younger self.
ATHERTON #2: RIVERS OF FIRE
Patrick Carman
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316166720
Ages 8-12
320 pages
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Atherton was once a magnificent three-tiered world, but few inhabitants know the truth of its dark origin: it is a giant man-made satellite, created as a refuge from a dying Earth. Now this strange place is torn apart --- its three lands, formerly separated by treacherous cliffs, have collapsed and collided. But a gifted climber and adventurous orphan boy, Edgar, is determined to discover the secret of Atherton's survival, and embarks on a life-or-death quest to find its mad maker.
A GIANT PROBLEM: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
ISBN: 9780689871320
Ages 7-10
176 pages
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After surviving their first giant attack with the help of a singing nixie, Nick and Laurie have their work cut out for them as even more giants awaken and threaten not only their home but all of Florida! Taking care of the problem would be so much easier if Laurie stopped trying to make the new creatures they encounter her pets, but at least they find help in giant hunter Noseeum Jack; Nick’s skeptical older brother, Jules; and even some singing mermaids (who may or may not be trusted). The more Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide comes to life, the more Nick realizes it’s time to stop playing video games and start taking chances.
 THE DIAMOND OF DARKHOLD: The Fourth Book of Ember
Jeanne DuPrau
Random House Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780375855719
Ages 8-12
304 pages
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It’s been several months since Lina and Doon escaped the dying city of Ember and, along with the rest of their people, joined the town of Sparks. Now, struggling through the harsh winter above ground, they find an unusual book. Torn up and missing most of its pages, it alludes to a mysterious device from before the Disaster, which they believe is still in Ember. Together, Lina and Doon must go back underground to retrieve what was lost and bring light to a dark world.
In the fourth Book of Ember, bestselling author Jeanne DuPrau juxtaposes yet another action-packed adventure with powerful themes about hope, learning and the search for truth.
THE DAY OF THE DJINN WARRIORS: Children of the Lamp #4
P. B. Kerr
Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN: 9780439932165
Ages 9-12
400 pages
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Djinn twins John and Philippa are off on another whirlwind adventure, and it's a race against time as they attempt to rescue their mother from her fate as the Blue Djinn of Babylon. While the twins and their friends travel around the globe on their rescue mission, they notice that something very strange is happening: An evil force has awakened the terracotta warriors created by an ancient Chinese emperor, and someone with very bad intentions has cast a spell possessing the soldiers with wicked spirits. And now, the very fate of the world hangs in the balance.
Can the twins stop the mysterious terracotta warriors, rescue their parents AND save the world before it's too late?
OUTCAST: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, Book Four
Michelle Paver
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060728342
Ages 10-up
336 pages
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For two moons Torak has hidden a terrible secret --- and now it is revealed. He bears the mark of a Soul-Eater and must pay the price. Cast out of the clans and on the run from clan members who will kill him, he settles on an island in the Lake for the summer. But he is not safe there, either. Relentlessly pursued by Seshru the Viper Mage, one of the strongest Soul-Eaters, Torak must defend himself and the clans from her terrible plans. But how?
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES
Jeff Kinney
Amulet/Abrams Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780810994737
Ages 9-12
224 pages
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Whatever you do, don’t ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer vacation, because he definitely doesn’t want to talk about it. As Greg enters the new school year, he’s eager to put the past three months behind him…and one event in particular. Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother, Rodrick, knows all about the incident Greg wants to keep under wraps. But secrets have a way of getting out --- especially when a diary is involved.
INKDEATH
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439866286
Ages 9-12
656 pages
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The Adderhead --- his immortality bound in a book by Meggie's father, Mo --- has ordered his henchmen to plunder the villages. The peasants' only defense is a band of outlaws led by the Bluejay --- Mo's fictitious double, whose identity he has reluctantly adopted. But the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and the Adderhead again fears the White Women of Death. To bring the renegade Bluejay back to repair the book, the Adderhead kidnaps all the children in the kingdom, dooming them to slavery in his silver mines unless Mo surrenders. First Dustfinger, now Mo: Can anyone save this cursed story?
SUPERIOR SATURDAY: The Keys to the Kingdom, Book Six
Garth Nix
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439700894
Ages 9-12
288 pages
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Arthur Penhaligon has wrested five of the Keys from their immortal guardians, the Trustees of the Will. But gaining the Sixth Key poses a greater challenge than any he has ever faced before. Superior Saturday is not just one of the Trustees, she is also the oldest Denizen and the most powerful and knowledgeable sorcerer within the House. She has tens of thousands of sorcerers at her command --- and she has been preparing her forces all along for the Will’s escape and the activities of the Rightful Heir. Everything is all just part of a greater plan she has been hatching for 10,000 years.
KINGDOM KEEPERS II: DISNEY AT DAWN
Ridley Pearson
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423103653
Ages 10-up
384 pages
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It's supposed to be a happy day at the Magic Kingdom --- the return of the teenaged holographic hosts. But things go very wrong when a sudden lightning storm disrupts the celebration, and Amanda's mysterious sister, Jez, disappears. The only clue is the sighting of a wild monkey in the Magic Kingdom during the storm. The mystery deepens as Finn is contacted by Wayne, an old man he hasn't heard from in months. Wayne tells Finn that there's trouble at the Animal Kingdom: the evil Overtakers have gained control of one of the computer servers that will be used to operate Daylight Holographic Imaging there. That means that if any of the holographic hosts fall asleep, they will go into comas --- permanently.
STARGAZER: The Land of Elyon, Book 4
Patrick Carman
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439899512
Ages 9-12
288 pages
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When we last saw Alexa Daley, she had defeated a threat in her homeland and was sailing with Roland Warvold across the Lonely Sea. She had no idea what adventures awaited her…until now.
After a tragic attack by an evil force, Alexa and her friend Yipes are stranded in a strange community known as The Five Stone Pillars. Each pillar of rock has its own secrets…and its own challenges. As darkness descends, Alexa must risk everything to defeat it --- even if it means taking to the skies.
MERCY WATSON THINKS LIKE A PIG
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763632656
Ages 7-9
80 pages
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Eugenia and Baby Lincoln may live next door to a pig, but that doesn't stop them from living a gracious life. And the amiable Mercy Watson is equally determined to follow the delightful scent (and delicious taste) of the pansies her thoughtful neighbors are planting to beautify their yard. "Where have all the flowers gone?" shouts Eugenia, who is finally ready to take extreme measures --- and dial Animal Control! Has Mercy's swine song come at last? Or will her well-pampered instincts keep her in buttered toast?
MONSTEROLOGY: The Complete Book of Monstrous Creatures
written by Dr. Ernest Drake
illustrated by Douglas Carrell, Nicholas Lenn and Helen Ward
edited by Dugald A. Steer
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763639402
Ages 8-up
32 pages
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Do krakens really lurk below the ocean waves? Do griffins command the air above? In a fascinating new discovery sure to rival the ground-breaking DRAGONOLOGY, the intrepid Dr. Ernest Drake turns his inquisitive gaze from dragons to other so-called mythical creatures. For anyone who has ever wondered whether legendary beasts still wander among us, this lush look at an astounding array of creatures offers everything a true believer would want to know.
SPYOLOGY: The Complete Book of Spycraft
written by Spencer Blake
edited by Dugald A. Steer
illustrated by Ian Andrew, Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Tomislav Tomic and Helen Ward
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763640484
Ages 8-up
32 pages
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The year is 1958, and British spy Spencer Blake, aka "Agent K," is on an undercover mission to expose a deadly criminal organization. As he traverses the globe with his American and Soviet cohorts --- from Scotland to Berlin to Las Vegas to Cuba --- he furtively records his secret techniques in a manual for new recruits. Once they've primed themselves on the essentials of spy craft, keen-eyed readers will discover that Agent K has been setting them challenges and clues to decipher all along. If they are clever enough to unravel them all, a great reward awaits!
THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH: Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book Four
Rick Riordan
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423101468
Ages 10-up
368 pages
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Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse. In this latest installment of Rick Riordan's series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth --- a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.
RANGER'S APPRENTICE, Book Four: The Battle for Skandia
John Flanagan
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399244575
Ages 10-up
272 pages
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Still far from their homeland after escaping slavery in the icebound land of Skandia, Will and Evanlyn's plans to return to Araluen are spoiled when Evanlyn is taken captive by a Temujai warrior. Though still weakened by the warmweed's toxic effects, Will employs his Ranger training to locate his friend, but an enemy scouting party has him fatally outnumbered. Will is certain death is close at hand, until Halt and Horace make a daring, last-minute rescue. The reunion is cut short, however, when Halt makes a horrifying discovery: Skandia's borders have been breached by the entire Temujai army. And Araluen is next in their sights. If two kingdoms are to be saved, an unlikely union must be made. Will it hold long enough to vanquish a ruthless new enemy? Or will past tensions spell doom for all?
RANGER'S APPRENTICE, Book Five: The Sorcerer of the North
John Flanagan
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399250323
Ages 8-12
304 pages
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Time has passed since the apprentice and his master, Will and Halt, led the Araluens to victory against invaders, and Will is now a full-fledged Ranger with his own fief to look after. The fief seems sleepy --- boring, even --- until the king is poisoned. Joined by his friend Alyss, Will is thrown headfirst into an extraordinary adventure propelled by fears of sorcery, and must determine who is trustworthy to the king and who is trying to take his throne.
Will and Alyss must battle growing hysteria, traitors and, most of all, time. The king is fading, but when Alyss is taken hostage, Will is forced to make a desperate choice between loyalty to his mission and loyalty to his friend.
DOOMWYTE: A Novel of Redwall
Brian Jacques
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399245442
Ages 10-up
336 pages
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On a moonless night, two rats follow hypnotic lights into the forest, never to be seen again. Such is the power of the Doomwytes, sinister ravens led by the deadly Korvus Skurr. And when the young mouse Bisky persuades the creatures of Redwall Abbey to go in search of a fabled treasure, hidden long ago by one of the abbey’s most notorious thieves, they do not suspect Skurr and his ravens will be vying for that very treasure.
Bisky and his fellow Redwallers must summon all their courage to face the evil horde of slithering snakes and vicious ravens. From underground tunnels to the tops of trees, the fearless Redwallers, with the help of their woodland friends, battle some of their most vicious enemies yet in an exhilarating, terrifying treasure hunt.
THE SPLIT SECOND: The Seems #2
John Hulme and Michael WexlerM
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN: 9781599901305
Ages 10-14
320 pages
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Becker Drane still has the coolest job in The World, but it’s getting harder and harder to live a normal life outside of The Seems. He’s definitely feeling the strain of being a teenager (complete with mood swings and a newfound respect for sarcasm), and he can’t stop thinking about Jennifer Kaley, the totally cool girl he met during his Mission in Sleep. Things don’t get any easier when a bomb explodes in the Department of Time and Becker is called in to pick up the pieces after a more senior Fixer couldn’t disarm the device. It’s his toughest mission yet, and Becker finds himself going places in The Seems he never knew existed, and meeting people long thought dead.
QUESTE: Septimus Heap, Book Four
Angie Sage
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060882075
Ages 9-up
608 pages
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There's trouble at the Castle, and it's all because Merrin Meredith has returned with Darke plans for Septimus. More trouble awaits Septimus and Jenna in the form of Tertius Fume, the ghost of the very first Chief Hermetic Scribe, who is determined to send Septimus on a deadly Queste. But Septimus and Jenna have other plans --- they are headed for the mysterious House of Foryx, a place where all Time meets and the place where they fervently hope they will be able to find Nicko and Snorri, who were trapped back in time in physik. But how will Septimus escape the Queste?
THE CALDER GAME
written by Blue Balliett
illustrated by Brett Helquist
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439852074
Ages 9-12
400 pages
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When Calder Pillay travels with his father to a remote village in England, he finds a mix of mazes and mystery, including an unexpected Alexander Calder sculpture in the town square. Calder is strangely drawn to the sculpture, while other people have less-than-friendly feelings towards it. Both the boy and the sculpture seem to be out of place…and then, on the same night, they disappear! Calder's friends Petra and Tommy must fly out to help his father find him. But this mystery has more twists and turns than a Calder mobile --- with more at stake than first meets the eye.
THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PERILOUS JOURNEY
Trenton Lee Stewart
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316057806
Ages 8-12
448 pages
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The fabulous foursome readers embraced as The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission, significantly closer to home. After reuniting for a celebratory scavenger hunt, Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance are forced to go on an unexpected search --- a search to find Mr. Benedict. It seems that while he was preparing the kids' adventure, he stepped right into a trap orchestrated by his evil twin Mr. Curtain.
With only one week to find a captured Mr. Benedict, the gifted foursome faces their greatest challenge of all --- a challenge that will reinforce the reasons they were brought together in the first place and will require them to fight for the very namesake that united them.
IF YOU’RE READING THIS, IT’S TOO LATE
Pseudonymous Bosch
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316113670
Ages 8-12
400 pages
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When we last left the heroes of THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET, Cass and Max-Ernest, they were about to discover the secretof the Terces Society and join the fight to stop the evil Ms. Mauvaisand Dr. L.While waiting for a sign from the Terces Society, they stumble uponthe Museum of Magic, where they finally meet the amazing Pietro,leader of the Terces and brother to evil Dr. L. The kids get caught upin a fast-paced mysterious adventure involving a Sound Prism, the nefarious Lord Pharaoh, and a homunculus who might finally unlock the secret for which they’ve been searching.
THE PENDERWICKS ON GARDAM STREET
Jeanne Birdsall
Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780375840906
Ages 9-12
320 pages
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The Penderwick sisters are home on Gardam Street and ready for an adventure! But the adventure they get isn’t quite what they had in mind. Mr. Penderwick’s sister has decided it’s time for him to start dating --- and the girls know that can only mean one thing: disaster. Enter the Save-Daddy Plan --- a plot so brilliant, so bold, so funny, that only the Penderwick girls could have come up with it. It’s high jinks, big laughs and loads of family warmth as the Penderwicks triumphantly return.
Graphic Novels
CORALINE: The Graphic Novel
written by Neil Gaiman
adapted and illustrated by P. Craig Russell
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780060825430
Ages 10-up
192 pages
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When Coraline steps through a door in her family's new house, she finds another house, strangely similar to her own (only better). At first, things seem marvelous. But there's another mother there and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go. Coraline will have to fight with all her wit and all the tools she can find if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life.
This beloved tale has now become a visual feast. Acclaimed artist P. Craig Russell brings Neil Gaiman's enchanting nationally bestselling children's book CORALINE to new life in this gorgeously illustrated graphic novel adaptation.
RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE
written by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
illustrated by Nathan Hale
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
ISBN: 9781599900704
Ages 10-14
144 pages
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Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale teams up with husband Dean Hale and brilliant artist Nathan Hale (no relation) to bring readers a swashbuckling and hilarious twist on the classic story as you’ve never seen it before. Watch as Rapunzel and her amazing hair team up with Jack (of beanstalk fame) to gallop around the wild and western landscape, changing lives, righting wrongs, and bringing joy to every soul they encounter.
Pop-Up Books
ENCYCLOPEDIA MYTHOLOGICA: FAIRIES AND MAGICAL CREATURES
Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763631727
Ages 5-up
12 pages
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Open this entrancing book and meet Shakespeare's Queen Titania, springing up with her silver wings aflutter. Further on, a crystalline elfin castle rises into the clouds, not far from some scary hobgoblins and trolls. And on a truly stunning spread, a humanoid magical tree spreads its branches to reveal a face within its foliage, while flowers unfold and rearrange their petals, turning into flower fairies. Visiting mythical beings around the world, from household brownies to the merfolk lurking deep below the sea, this breathtaking 3-D book, brimming with facts and fancy, will hold humans of all ages in its spell.
PETER PAN: A Classic Collectible Pop-Up
written and illustrated by Robert Sabuda
Little Simon
ISBN: 9780689853647
All ages
14 pages
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Readers will delight in this retelling of the classic story of Neverland, pirates and flying. Robert Sabuda's elegant text and paper engineering give new life to favorite characters like Tinkerbell, Wendy, Michael, John and, of course, Peter Pan. Sabuda's beautiful pop-ups are further complemented by full-color illustrations that pull readers even deeper into the magical world that is Neverland.
Picture Books
FANCY NANCY: BONJOUR, BUTTERFLY
written by Jane O’Connor
illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780061235887
Ages 4-7
32 pages
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Nancy thinks butterflies are simply exquisite. And that is why she can't wait for her friend Bree's Butterfly Birthday. It's going to be the fanciest birthday party ever! But when Nancy finds out she can't go because her grandparents' 50th anniversary party is the same day, she is furious. (Mad is way too plain for how she feels.) Will Nancy be able to overcome her disappointment?
FANCY NANCY'S FAVORITE FANCY WORDS: From Accessories to Zany
written by Jane O’Connor
illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780061549236
Ages 4-7
32 pages
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From everyone's favorite fancy girl comes an alphabetical guide to enhancing vocabulary. Why say beautiful when there are fancy words like gorgeous and glamorous? Instead of hello, try bonjour, which is French and so much fancier. An umbrella will keep you dry, but a parasol will make you feel like a Hollywood movie star. With this helpful A-to-Z guide, Fancy Nancy shows that making plain words into fancy ones is not only educational, it's fun!
INDEPENDENT DAMES: The Women and Girls of the American Revolution
written by Laurie Halse Anderson
illustrated by Matt Faulkner
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
ISBN: 9780689858086
Ages 6-10
40 pages
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George Washington. Thomas Jefferson. John Adams. Benjamin Franklin. We’ve all heard about the great men who led the country during the time of the American Revolution. But did you know that the guys make up only part of the story. Get ready to learn about the tough-as-nails ladies of the American Revolution. With page after page of superbly researched information and thoughtfully detailed illustrations, acclaimed novelist and picture-book author Laurie Halse Anderson and charismatic illustrator Matt Faulkner combine historical facts and humor together in this homage to those independent dames and the role they played in the founding of our nation.
LOUISE, THE ADVENTURES OF A CHICKEN
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Harry Bliss
Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060755546
Ages 4-8
56 pages
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Louise ventures out into the great, wide world, never knowing what or whom she will encounter: Bloodthirsty pirates on the high seas? A chicken-eating lion under the big top? A mysterious fortune teller who sees all and knows all? This not-so-chicken chicken isn’t afraid to take flight in Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo’s delightful picture book.
NAMING LIBERTY
written by Jane Yolen
illustrated by Jim Burke
Philomel Books/Penguin Young Readers Group
ISBN: 9780399242502
Ages 6-8
32 pages
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Jane Yolen and Jim Burke weave two stories at once, as readers see young Gitl in Russia leaving her home for faraway America, wondering what new name she will choose for herself when she arrives, and young artist Frederic Auguste Bartholdi dreaming of a monument he wants to build to honor freedom. It is an arduous journey for Gitl as she and her family travel across land and sea to arrive on this shore, but when she sees the magnificent Statue of Liberty standing in New York Harbor, she knows her name in this great new country must be "Liberty."
NAUGHTY CHERIE!
written by Joyce Carol Oates
illustrated by Mark Graham
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780060743581
Ages 4-8
40 pages
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Naughty Chérie is the cutest kitten in the litter, but she certainly isn't the best-behaved one! She tries, but she can't seem to stay out of trouble. Sitting alone in the corner as punishment, she finds a small crack in the wall that leads to a place called Little Friends Kindercare. But after seeing the naughty behavior of the other baby animals in the kindercare, Little Chérie returns home a changed kitten.
This lovable tale from Joyce Carol Oates and Mark Graham includes a valuable message that makes for a purrrfect bedtime story.
TURKEY BOWL
written by Phil Bildner
illustrated by C. F. Payne
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
ISBN: 9780689878961
Ages 5-8
32 pages
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Ethan and his friends have waited their entire lives to play in the annual Turkey Bowl football game that their families engage in every year on Thanksgiving. And now they are old enough and big enough to play! But when the big day comes, a snowstorm prevents Ethan’s family from visiting his house for the first time ever. Can Ethan and his friends find a way to continue the tradition without them?
--- Compiled and written by Tom Donadio
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