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The Great Jeff
by Tony Abbott
What it's about: Life hasn't been great for Jeff Hicks. After years at his beloved St. Catherine's, he's forced to spend eighth grade in the public middle school, which he hates. He's no longer speaking to his former best friend, Tom Bender, because of "that burned girl" Jessica Feeney. But worst of all, his family is changing, and it's not for the better.
Alert: A companion to Firegirl, also by Tony Abbot, in this book Abbot tells the story of Jeff Hicks, the bully that Tom Bender dropped as friend at the end of Firegirl. We now get to see his story, a story just as important and real as Tom’s or Jessica’s.
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Best Babysitters Ever
by Caroline Cala
What it's about: Mayhem ensues in their town when three best friends, motivated by unlimited snacks, no parents, and earning money for an epic seventh-grade party, find an old copy of "The Babysitters Club" and decide to start their own babysitting business.
Who's it for: A humorous homage that will appeal to lovers of quirky friendship stories and it's just the first installment in the new series.
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| New Kid by Jerry CraftStarring: Seventh-grade cartoonist Jordan Banks, who wants to go to a special art school, but is sent instead to Riverdale Academy, where he’s one of only a few African American kids...and no one will let him forget it.
Art alert: What better way to tell a story about a cartoonist figuring out where he fits in than through energetic cartoon art?
For fans of: Sharon Draper, Gene Luen Yang, and Raina Telgemeier. |
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Far Away
by Lisa Graff
What it's about: When her psychic aunt is no longer able to help her stay in contact with the mother who died when she was born, CJ embarks on a road trip with her friend to relocate an object she believes will tether her mother's spirit back to Earth.
Also by this author: The National Book Award-nominated A Tangle of Knots.
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Sweeping up the Heart
by Kevin Henkes
What it's about: Amelia Albright dreams about going to Florida for spring break like everyone else in her class, but her father--a cranky and stubborn English professor--has decided Florida is too much adventure. Now Amelia is stuck at home with him and her babysitter, the beloved Mrs. O'Brien. The week ahead promises to be boring, until Amelia meets Casey at her neighborhood art studio. Amelia has never been friends with a boy before, and the experience is both fraught and thrilling. When Casey claims to see the spirit of Amelia's mother (who died ten years before), the pair embarks on an altogether different journey in their attempt to find her.
Read it for: Themes of family, death, grief, creativity, and loyalty, Sweeping Up the Heart is for readers of Kate DiCamillo, Rebecca Stead, Lauren Wolk, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, and Pam Muñoz Ryan
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We're Not From Here
by Geoff Rodkey
What it's about: The award-winning author of the Chronicles of Egg series finds the narrator, a Mars colonist, relocating in the aftermath of Earth's mysterious demise to the planet Choom, where the mosquito-like inhabitants dislike human singing, jokes and emotions so much that they are outlawed.A sampling: "The first time I heard about Planet Choom, we'd been on Mars for almost a year. But life on the Mars station was grim, and since Earth was no longer an option (we may have blown it up), it was time to find a new home. That's how we ended up on Choom with the Zhuri. They're very smart. They also look like giant mosquitos. But that's not why it's so hard to live here. There's a lot that the Zhuri don't like- singing (just ask my sister, Ila), comedy (one joke got me sent to the principal's office), or any kind of emotion. The biggest problem, though? The Zhuri don't like us. And if humankind is going to survive, it's up to my family to change their minds. No pressure."
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| Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. SchmidtWhat it’s about: After Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick arrives at the Jones family’s door, Carter Jones -- who’s struggling in the wake of his brother’s death and his dad’s overseas deployment -- is surprised to find himself bonding with the British butler.
Read it for: Witty British/American culture clashes, genuine emotion, and a thrilling middle school cricket match. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 10-13!
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