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| The Shadow Cipher by Laura RubyNo one has ever solved the Old York Cipher. Built long ago by the Morningstarr twins -- the architects who created New York City's solar streets, sideways elevators, and Underway trains -- the Cipher is a city-wide puzzle that's supposed to lead to treasure. And treasure is just what seventh-graders Tess, Theo, and Jaime need to save their beloved old apartment building. The trio's daring hunt for clues will intrigue mystery and fantasy fans alike, and will leave you looking forward to the next book in this imaginative new trilogy set in an alternate version of New York. |
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Well, That Was Awkward
by Rachel Vail
Gracie has never felt like this before. One day, she suddenly can't breathe, can't walk,acan't anything -and the reason is standing right there in front of her, all tall and weirdly good-looking- A.J. But it turns out A.J. likes not Gracie but Gracie's beautiful best friend, Sienna. Obviously Gracie is happy for Sienna. Super happy! She helps Sienna compose the best texts, responding to A.J.'s surprisingly funny and appealing texts, just as if she were Sienna. Because Gracie is fine. Always! She's had lots of practice being the sidekick, second-best. It's all good. Well, almost all. She's trying. Funny and tender, Well, That Was Awkward goes deep into the heart of middle school, and afinds that even with all the heartbreak, there can be explosions of hope and moments of perfect happiness.
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| This Would Make a Good Story Someday by Dana Alison LevyFamily togetherness is the last thing that Sara Johnston-Fischer wants from her summer. It's only under protest that she joins the whole embarrassing clan (two moms, loudmouth little sister Ladybug, activist older sister Laurel, and Laurel's boyfriend Root) on an epic train trip across the U.S. With prickly humor and reluctant enjoyment, Sara's journal entries recount the places her family visits, the "New Train Friends" they make, and the unexpected changes that happen along the way. Fans of author Dana Alison Levy's Family Fletcher books will recognize some familiar characters in this offbeat slice of life. |
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| A Pocket Full of Murder by R.J. AndersonIn Tarreton, money and magic are hoarded by the wealthy few, leaving the poor to scrape by with basic spells. As lower-class Moshites, Isaveth and her family face injustice every day, but never more so than when their father is accused of murdering a high-profile citizen. Intent on proving her father's innocence, Isaveth -- aided by a curiously helpful street boy named Quiz -- sets out on a quest to find the real murderer. If you love diving into vivid fantasy worlds with their own complicated systems of religion, magic, and politics, you won't want to miss A Pocket Full of Murder (or its sequel, A Little Taste of Poison). |
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| Hold Fast by Blue BalliettAfter her father disappears off the bitter cold streets of Chicago, and a devastating break-in forces her family to move to a homeless shelter, bright, determined fifth-grader Early Pearl begins to suspect that the clues she needs to reunite her family are hidden in the Langston Hughes book her father left behind. Combining Blue Balliett’s distinctive brand of clever mystery with the harsh but hopeful struggle of a family in a tough situation, this touching, compassionate novel is sure to captivate readers long after they've turned the last page. |
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| Chasing Secrets by Gennifer CholdenkoDespite the lack of science classes at her fancy finishing school, 13-year-old Lizzie Kennedy hopes to become a doctor. It's an unusual ambition for a girl in 1900, but Lizzie is smart and curious. That curiosity leads her to question the rumors of a bubonic plague outbreak in Chinatown, especially after Chinatown is quarantined and Jing (the Kennedys' cook and father to Lizzie's friend Noah) is trapped inside. Blending strange-but-true history with politics and mystery, Chasing Secrets will captivate readers of all kinds. For another visit to San Francisco with author Gennifer Choldenko, check out the Al Capone at Alcatraz series, beginning with Al Capone Does My Shirts. |
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| Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking by Erin DionneA shocking family revelation turns a carefree summer into a high-stakes scavenger hunt for feisty math geek Moxie. Years ago, Moxie's grandfather hid several stolen and extremely valuable paintings from infamous mob boss Sully Cupcakes, and now Sully wants his paintings back…or else. Her grandfather's memory isn't what it used to be, but Moxie and her best friend Ollie are up to the task of dodging the mobsters and tracking down the hidden masterpieces. Fans of Blue Balliett's books will appreciate the likable characters and twisty puzzles in this mystery inspired by a real (and still unsolved) theft from Boston's Isabella Gardner Museum. |
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| Murder is Bad Manners by Robin StevensThoughtful Hazel Wong keeps a low profile, unlike her best friend Daisy Wells, who is the queen bee of their boarding school. Both girls, however, are smarter than they let on, and neither can resist a good mystery. Together they form the covert Wells & Wong Detective Society, uncovering secrets about their classmates and solving small cases, until a murder at the school presents them with their biggest sleuthing opportunity yet. Set in 1934 England, this smart, suspenseful series starter is sure to grab mystery-lovers. For another whodunit set at a British boarding school, try Esme Kerr's The Girl with the Glass Bird. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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