| When You Trap a Tiger by Tae KellerWhat it’s about: Having grown up with her halmoni’s Korean folkales, Lily knows better than to make a deal with a magical talking tiger. But when the tiger offers to heal Halmoni’s illness in return for Lily releasing the stories Halmoni stole years ago, Lily can’t say no.
Why you might like it: Combining Lily’s extraordinary quest with her everyday family life, When You Trap a Tiger is a good choice for fantasy fans who enjoy getting to know authentic characters. |
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| Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue ParkWhat it’s about: In 1880, 14-year-old Chinese American Hanna and her father arrive in in Dakota Territory, hoping to make a new start. When they’re met with hostile racism, however, it takes all of Hanna’s determination to follow her dreams of going to school and becoming a dressmaker.
Is it for you? If you loved all the satisfying details of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books but you want a more inclusive look at frontier life, you won’t want to miss Prairie Lotus. |
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Look Both Ways : A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
by Jason Reynolds
A whimsical exploration of the role detours play in life follows a group of students who become so engaged in everyday activities while taking 10 different routes home from school that they fail to notice a school bus that has dropped from the sky. By the award-winning author of Ghost.
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| Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker RhodesWhat it’s about: At their mostly white prep school, dark-skinned Donte faces relentless racist bullying, while his light-skinned brother Trey is effortlessly popular. After being framed and arrested for an offense committed by Alan, the captain of the fencing team, a fed-up Donte decides to train as fencer and beat Alan at his own game.
Further reading: Similar to Black Brother, Black Brother, Jason Reynolds’ Track series stars realistic African American characters who find confidence and pride through sports (and their teammates). |
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The Silent Thaw
by Erin Hunter
A latest entry in the high-action story arc finds ThunderClan leader, Bramblestar, manifesting strange behaviors after losing one of his nine lives, a mystery that is compounded by a disruptive apparition. 150,000 first printing.
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The Fowl Twins
by Eoin Colfer
Left in the care of house security a week after their 11th birthday, the Fowl twins befriend a troll who needs their help escaping from two villains who would use his magic for their own gain.
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| Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz RyanThe setting: the fictional country of Santa Maria, where Max Córdoba listens to his Buelo spin incredible stories, wonders about his long-absent mother, and hopes to make the local fútbol team.
What happens: Max learns that Buelo’s stories are true -- their family really does serve as guardians who guide refugees to safety in Mañanaland, and now it’s Max’s turn to undertake a hazardous journey.
Read it for: a poetic and powerful fantasy story with roots in the real world. |
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| Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin YunWhat it’s about: Everyone expects something from Pippa Park: her family expects her to help at their laundromat, her fancy school expects her to excel in class and on the basketball court, and her rich friends expect her to live up to the lies she tells to fit in. Can she make it through the year without letting anyone down?
Why you might like it: Even as she makes mistake after mistake, you’ll find yourself cheering for bold, funny Pippa. |
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Allies
by Alan Gratz
Racing toward the French coast along with his brothers-in-arms, a terrified World War II soldier from America participates in the top-secret D-Day operation, while a young French spy works to sabotage German occupiers and a paratrooper orchestrates a daring midnight raid.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 10-13!
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