|
|
Finders Keepers by Jeff Strand In the small town of Farlow, mysterious advertisements appear for a scavenger hunt. Twelve-year-old Maggie and her friends can't wait. They have their team, and more than bragging rights, they want that huge cash prize. On the big day, a strange man welcomes everybody to the game. The first items are ridiculously easy ("An egg? Seriously?"), but they quickly grow more difficult. Even a little scary. Okay, a lot scary. When the game moves to the cemetery, nobody wants to play anymore. Except now it's too late to quit…
|
|
| Building 903 by Lois LowryTwins Tessa and Theo live in a world ruled by a tyrannical leader, where there are no dangers or rebels... or so they've been told. In this world, citizens live long lives, and while many hate their leader, they are comfortable and safe. So, when Tessa's brother disappears, nobody wants to discuss it. But then Miriam, their 135-year-old neighbor bound for the retirement community, slips Tessa a key—not only to her brother's disappearance, but to the source of all real magic . . . books. . As Tessa and her parents begin their search for Theo, Tessa learns that books not only tell us stories—they open portals and unlock our humanity through our most powerful tool: the imagination. Once that truth has been revealed, Tessa won't be able to rest until she has retrieved her twin and society itself has been transformed. |
|
|
|
The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall; illustrated by Matt PhelanGwen MacKinnon's parents are dreadful. Truly, deeply, almost impressively dreadful. So Gwen's not upset at all when she's foisted onto her never-before-seen Uncle Matthew for two weeks. Especially when it turns out he has a very opinionated dog named Pumpkin.
Things take a turn for the weird when Gwen makes a discovery in the local library. A discovery that involves tiny creatures with wings. And no, they're not birds. They're called Lahdukan. But why can only Gwen and the youngest children, gathered for storytime, see them?
The Lahdukan insist that Gwen is destined to help them find a new home. But how can a girl as unwanted, uncourageous, and generally unheroic as Gwen possibly come to the rescue? Pumpkin has a few ideas...
|
|
|
|
Jasper the Rabbit is back! A little older and wiser, he collects creepy stories to share as cautionary tales. If you're ready for some chills and chuckles alike, tune in as Jasper weaves the yarn of Charlie Marmot and the particular pickle he found himself in.See, Charlie here has a problem: his tonsils have become infected and have to come out. No biggie, right? But when he decides he wants to keep them in a jar for show and tell, things get creepy...First, strange slurping sounds in his room keep Charlie awake the night before his surgery. Then, he goes to the doctor only to be told his tonsils are already gone! Could it be they're out for revenge?
Read more in the Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales series!
|
|
|
|
Busted by Dan GemeinhartOscar Aberdeen is a bit of an oddball. He's an ace at playing bridge, loves Frank Sinatra, and attends a whole lot of funerals. He's also the youngest resident of Sunny Days retirement home by more than a half-century―and he wouldn't have it any other way. So when his grandpa's suddenly served an eviction notice that threatens their place at Sunny Days, he needs to find some cash and fast.
Enter Jimmy Deluca, a shady elderly man with a reputation for being bad news, who makes Oscar an offer he can't refuse. He's got the drop on riches hidden away on the "outside" and he'll share the loot with Oscar on one condition: he busts him out of Sunny Days. Will Oscar succeed in saving the only home he's ever known? Or will he have to fuggedaboutit and return a failure?
|
|
|
|
Lila Greer has always loved mysteries, even when they scare her. When a spooky storm blows into Blue River Creek and Lila is startled awake by a strange shrieking shadow, she knows something is afoot.
Stranger still, Lila and the Questioneers discover that on the night of the storm, someone broke into Iggy’s parents’ art gallery and stole all the paintings for the new exhibit. Could the mysterious shrieking shadow have something to do with the missing artwork?
Ms. Greer and her Questioneers will have to use their detective skills to solve the mystery of the missing paintings before the exhibit’s grand opening, or the gallery might have to close forever!
|
|
|
|
Froggy: Autumn Antics! by Paige WalsheWinter is approaching at the pond, and Froggy is gearing up for all the fun that autumn and winter bring. Soup! Reading books in front of the fire! Snowball fights! Leaf fights! Mud fights! But he's noticed that his pond friends seem to be slowing down and getting ready to sleep through all the fun. Will he get lonely when they all go to sleep,or will he find more mischief to get into?
|
|
|
|
Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods : 20 Chilling Tales from the Wilderness by Hal Johnson Meet the snoligoster, who feeds on the shadows of its victims. The whirling whimpus, who once laid low an entire Boy Scout troop. And the hoop snake, who can chase prey at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and then, with one sting of its venomous tail, cause it to turn purple, swell up, and--alas--die.
These and 17 other fearsome creatures are among the most fantastical beasts in American folklore. Their stories, as narrated by one of the last surviving cryptozoologists, are best enjoyed while sitting around a campfire. If you dare.
|
|
|
|
Mizzy is spending half-term with cousins in St Jude’s-on-Sea: a seaside town struggling to accommodate an influx of refugees. When she sees a spooky shadow on a wrecked old fishing boat on the shore, she thinks she’s found her next mystery. But her cousins seem determined to keep her in the dark about their comings and goings to the wreck, and she’s left alone to help their old Greek-Cypriot grandfather Papou sort out his papers.
Then an anonymous postcard arrives for Papou, featuring a picture of the old wreck and the words WHAT REALLY HAPPENS? Mizzy must solve the mystery of the postcard sender and prove that she is the best detective in town.
|
|
|
|
Absolutely No Body Parts by Valerie SherrardTaking on odd jobs cleaning messes nobody else wants to touch, Nick, Khenan, and their helper Florrie are raking in cash -- until they dig up a buried secret that shocks the whole town, stirring up a much bigger mess than any of them could've expected.
|
|
|
|
Is it a banshee, a yeti, a gorgon, or...a cat? Monster Cats are a purrfect new breed of familiar furry friends crossed with freaky fun! If you think life with regular cats can get complicated, wait till you see what it's like for people who live with these charming supernatural pets.
|
|
Ask us for more great suggestions! Click here to sign up for more NextReads newsletters. |
|
|