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The Water Bears
by Kimberly Baker
Discovering an unusual bear statue a year after surviving a bear attack, a skeptical Latinx student is surprised when his friend and other neighbors make wishes on the statue that come true before he considers making a wish about his own difficult circumstances.
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| Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena BarronWhat it's about: Comic book fan Maya might've grown up with her papa's tales about West African orishas and otherwordly creatures, but it's not until werehyenas attack her Chicago neighborhood that she realizes the stories might be true.
What happens: With her papa missing, it's up to Maya and her friends to channel their powerful heritage, battle the sinister Lord of Shadows, and save the world.
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| A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan Featuring: Pakistani American Sara, who's frustrated about starting 6th grade at a public school, rather than the Islamic academy she loved; and white, Jewish Elizabeth, who's struggling to hold both her family and her best friendship together.
What happens: After they're partnered at a South Asian cooking class, the two girls form a shaky friendship as they practice for a cooking contest and deal with the prejudice of their classmates.
Read it for: relatable characters and a realistic look at everyday challenges. |
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Fly on the Wall
by Remy Lai
A boy with an overprotective mother who interrogates his friends and forbids him from doing anything independently secretly creates an anonymous gossip cartoon and scrambles to keep his parents from finding out.
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| Ikenga by Nnedi OkoraforWhat it's about: After his father is murdered, 12-year-old Nnamdi receives a life-changing gift: an ebony statuette that transforms him into a gigantic, superpowered figure who delivers vigilante justice while hunting for his father's killer.
Why you might like it: This darkly funny story pairs breathless (and sometimes violent) action with a gripping murder mystery.
Further reading: If you like the brave main character, inventive magic, and richly detailed Nigerian setting, you might also enjoy the author's Akata Witch series. |
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Twists on Traditional Tales
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| Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada KellyStarring: 12-year-old Lalani Sarita, the last hope of Sanlagita Island.
What happens: After Sanlagita is plagued with disaster and illness, Lalani sets out across the sea on a quest from which no man has ever returned: to bring back good fortune from the legendary Mount Isa.
Did you know? Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly based this enchanting, hopeful fantasy on folktales from her Filipino heritage. |
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
by Grace Lin
Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.
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| Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame MbaliaWhat it's about: A visit to his grandparents turns into an epic adventure after seventh-grader Tristan accidentally punches a rift into another world filled with figures from African myths and African American legends.
Who you'll meet: powerful John Henry; tricksters Anansi and Brer Rabbit; and the exasperating, hilarious Gum Baby.
Series alert: Eager for more of Tristan's encounters with vivid fantasy worlds and iconic characters? The sequel, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, is out this month. |
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| The Real Boy by Anne UrsuWhat it's about: As helper to Caleb, the last magician in Asteri, orphan Oscar spends his time with herbs and cats, away from the stress and unpredictability of other people. But when Caleb disappears and the children of Asteri get mysteriously sick, Oscar has to step up -- and step way out of his comfort zone.
Who it's for: Inspired by the story of Pinocchio, this magic-infused tale of finding friendship and overcoming fear is a good bet for fairy tale fans. |
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| The Dragon Warrior by Katie ZhaoWelcome to: San Francisco’s Chinatown, which has been “demon-free since ‘83” thanks to the warriors of the Jade Society.
What happens: Although Feryn Liu and her brother have been unfairly cast out by the Jade Society, they take up a quest to prove that Feryn is destined to become the legendary warrior known as the Heaven Breaker.
For fans of: Rick Riordan, and other authors whose adventure stories feature modern kids alongside old gods and mythological creatures. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 10-13!
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Chester Library 250 W Main St. Chester, New Jersey 07930 (908) 879-7612
chesterlib.org
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