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Best Babysitters Ever
by Caroline Cala
What it is: Once upon a time, a girl named Kristy Thomas had a great idea: to form The Baby-Sitters Club with her best friends. And now twelve-year-old Malia Twiggs has had a great idea too. Technically, she had Kristy’s idea. (And technically, little kids seem gross and annoying, but a paycheck is a paycheck). After a little convincing, Malia and her friends Dot and Bree start a babysitting club to earn funds for an epic birthday bash. But babysitting definitely isn’t what they thought it would be.
Why you might like it: Three friends. No parents. Unlimited snacks. And, okay, occasionally watching other people’s children. What could possibly go wrong?
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Born to Rock
by James Patterson
What it's about: With a super secret crush on her classmate Sam Marks, a Rube Goldberg machine challenge to dominate, and constant confrontations with vicious Missy Trillin and her evil Princess Patrol to look forward to, Georgia can't help but throw all her energy into the one thing that makes her happy: her kick-butt, all-girl rock band, We Stink! When Georgia's favorite rock band, Lulu and the Handbags, advertise a major music competition where the winner gets to jam with Lulu herself, Georgia will pull all the stops to make sure We Stink wins--even if it means asking her annoying older brother, Rafe, for help! Will his crazy ideas work, or land her in serious trouble?
Series alert: This is the eleventh book in James Patterson's Middle School series.
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| Eventown by Corey Ann HayduWhat it’s about: Elodee and her family have just moved to Eventown, where it’s always sunny, the air tastes like blueberries, and everyone is perfectly content...everyone except Elodee.
Why you might like it: The further you read in this suspenseful, bittersweet story, the more curious you’ll become about what lies beneath Eventown’s polished perfection, and what happened to Elodee’s family that made them move there. |
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Digging Deep
by Jake Maddox
What it's about: Asiyah Najjar is upping her volleyball game and joining the travel team. But the practices are longer, harder, and more frequent than her old rec squad's. Now easy-going Asiyah is having a tough time focusing up and making the commitment. Can she dig deep and jump to the next level of play?
Why you might like it: The fast pace of this Jake Maddox sports story grabs the attention of many a young athlete!
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The Story Pirates Present: Digging up Danger
by Jacqueline West
What it's about: Eliza loves hunting ghosts -- too bad she's spending the summer helping her scientist mother study weird plants instead. But when a mysterious plant goes missing, things go from strange to downright spooky. Eliza is convinced something--or someone--is haunting the plant shop. Is she digging into dangerous ground?
Series alert: Like Stuck in the Stone Age, the first in the Story Pirates Present series, this spine-tingling mystery doubles as an introduction to the basics of creative writing. With the help of Story Pirate Captain Vincent Rolo and the Mystery Creation Zone, kids can use this kid-generated story as inspiration to create their OWN great mysteries!
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OLA Tree Awards Silver Birch Winners |
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From Ant to Eagle
by Alex Lyttle
What it is: It's the summer before grade six and Calvin Sinclair is bored to tears. He’s recently moved from a big city to a small town and there's nothing to do. It’s hot, he has no friends and the only kid around is his six-year-old brother, Sammy, who can barely throw a basketball as high as the hoop. Cal occupies his time by getting his brother to do almost anything: from collecting ants to doing Calvin’s chores. And Sammy is all too eager - as long as it means getting a "Level" and moving one step closer to his brother's Eagle status.
When Calvin meets Aleta Alvarado, a new girl who shares his love for Goosebumps books and adventure, Sammy is pushed aside. Cal feels guilty but not enough to change. At least not until a diagnosis makes things at home start falling apart and he's left wondering whether Sammy will ever complete his own journey...
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OCDaniel
by Wesley King
What it's about: Daniel is the back-up punter for the Erie Hills Elephants. Which really means he’s the water boy. He spends football practice perfectly arranging water cups—and hoping no one notices. Actually, he spends most of his time hoping no one notices his strange habits—he calls them Zaps: avoiding writing the number four, for example, or flipping a light switch on and off dozens of times over. He hopes no one notices that he’s crazy, especially his best friend Max, and Raya, the prettiest girl in school. His life gets weirder when another girl at school, who is unkindly nicknamed Psycho Sara, notices him for the first time. She doesn’t just notice him: she seems to peer through him.
Why you might like it: Then Daniel gets a note: “I need your help,” it says, signed, Fellow Star Child—whatever that means. And suddenly Daniel, a total no one at school, is swept up in a mystery that might change everything for him. With great voice and grand adventure, this book is about feeling different and finding those who understand.
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Masterminds
by Gordon Korman
What it's about: Eli Frieden has never left Serenity, New Mexico...why would he ever want to? Then one day, he bikes to the edge of the city limits and something so crazy and unexpected happens, it changes everything. Eli convinces his friends to help him investigate further, and soon it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems in Serenity. The clues mount to reveal a shocking discovery, connecting their ideal crime-free community to some of the greatest criminal masterminds ever known. The kids realize they can trust no one—least of all their own parents.
Series alert: This is the first book in the Masterminds series by Gordon Korman.
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The Night Gardener
by Terry Fan
What it's about: One day, William discovers that the tree outside his window has been sculpted into a wise owl. In the following days, more topiaries appear, and each one is more beautiful than the last. Soon, William’s gray little town is full of color and life. And though the mysterious night gardener disappears as suddenly as he appeared, William—and his town—are changed forever.
Why you might like it: With breathtaking illustrations and spare, sweet text, this masterpiece about enjoying the beauty of nature is sure to become an instant classic.
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Record breaker
by Robin Stevenson
What it's about: It's 1963, and Jack's family is still reeling from the SIDS death of his baby sister. Adrift in his own life, Jack is convinced that setting a world record will bring his father back to his senses and his mother back to life. But world events, including President Kennedy's assassination, threaten to overshadow any record Jack tries to beat--from sausage eating to face slapping. Nothing works, and Jack is about to give up when a new friend suggests a different approach that involves listening to, not breaking, records.
About the author: Robin Stevenson is an award winning Canadian author of more than 20 books for teens and children.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library 2 Park Drive Stouffville, Ontario L4A 4K1 (905) 642-7323wsplibrary.ca |
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