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Santiago's road home by Alexandra Diaz Refusing to return to his abusive abuela’s house in Mexico, young Santiago accompanies two kind refugees heading to the United States before discovering that his journey to the border is only the beginning of his story.
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Five Things About Ava Andrews by Margaret Dilloway Starring: quiet, creative Ava, who has anxiety, a heart condition, and a best friend she thought she could depend on.
What happens: After Ava's best friend moves away, Ava reluctantly joins an improv group and is shocked to realize that improv helps her unleash her ideas, find her voice, and speak up for the things that matter.
Why you might like it: Whether or not you relate to Ava's situation, you'll be rooting for her throughout this hopeful read. | | Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone What it's about: Eighth-grader Molly is beyond frustrated by her school's impossible dress code. Why is it only girls who get in trouble, especially girls who look a certain way? Since the school won't listen, Molly convinces her classmates to pour their dress code horror stories into a podcast.
How it's told: through letters, lists, and transcripts from Molly's rebellious podcast.
Who it's for: readers who like stories that tell it like it is. | | Glitch by Laura Martin The rule: All time-traveling Glitchers are trained to track down history-altering "Butterflies," but they're completely forbidden from changing the past themselves.
The problem: Glitcher cadet Reagan and her classmate/nemesis Elliot receive a letter from the future warning them of disaster unless they go back in time to change events in U.S. history.
Is it for you? If you used to love the blend of history and adventure in the Magic Tree House books, you might enjoy this more mature take on a similar idea. | | The Truth According to Blue by Eve Yohalem What it's about: Blue is sure that if she could find her family's legendary sunken treasure, people would see her as more than just "Diabetes Girl," the kid with the insulin pump and the alert dog. But how can she hunt treasure when she's stuck entertaining the spoiled daughter of a vacationing celebrity?
Series alert: If you like the thrilling risks of Blue's seaside treasure quest, you might want check out Cast Off, which tells the treasure's origin story. | | Monstrous: The Lore, Gore, and Science Behind Your Favorite Monsters by Carlyn Beccia What it is: a smart and snarky guide to the science and history behind famous monsters such as werewolves, vampires, Frankenstein's creature, and Godzilla.
Questions answered: Is the Kraken just a giant squid? How can you prepare for a zombie attack? Is King Kong too big to be mathematically possible? Should you play with a cute baby Bigfoot?
Why you might like it: Short sections and eye-catching graphics make browsing easy, so you can read at your own pace. | |
Houdini : the life of the great escape artist by Agnieszka Biskup In graphic novel format, Harry Houdini never met a lock he didn’t like. Handcuffs, leg irons, and thumbscrews were child’s play for the world’s greatest escape artist. During his stunning career he invented some of the most mind-boggling escapes of all time. Join Houdini as he attempts his most dangerous stunts and unlock the secrets of the illusionist’s lasting legacy.
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Caught! Nabbing History's Most Wanted by Georgia Bragg What it is: a clever and comical collection of notorious figures -- including spies, assassins, pirates, revolutionaries, con artists, and thieves -- who all got caught, one way or another.
What's inside: cartoon illustrations and mini-biographies of people such as Joan of Arc, Rasputin, Mata Hari, and Blackbeard.
You might also like: the scares, scandals, and absurd situations in author Georgia Bragg's earlier books, How They Croaked and How They Choked. | | Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship" by Deborah Heiligman What it is: A suspenseful and heart-wrenching account of the SS City of Benares, which sunk after being torpedoed during its World War II voyage to transport evacuated British children to Canada.
What's inside: photos, letters, and profiles of the people on board, from the crew to the chaperones to the many children who died in the icy waters.
Further reading: For a more action-focused view of underwater warfare during World War II, pick up Deborah Hopkinson's Dive! | |
There's a rat in my soup : could you survive medieval food? by Chana Stiefel Eat like a king! Sit down to a meal of eagle, peacock, green-dyed eggs, stuffed pig’s stomach, and blood gravy. Medieval royalty would eat giant feasts filled with strange and exotic dishes. So join in on the fun and find out what food was like during the Middle Ages!
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 10-13!
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