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| The Usual Suspects by Maurice BroaddusFeaturing: best friends Thelonius Mitchell and Nehemiah Caldwell, two prank-loving, so-called delinquents from Mr. Blackmon’s seventh grade special education class.
What happens: After a gun is found near the school, the principal is eager to blame the special ed kids, prompting Nehemiah and Thelonius to search for the real culprit.
Why you might like it: If you’ve ever felt boxed in by unfair labels and rules, you might relate to the characters in this honest, realistic read. |
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Lenny's book of everything by Karen FoxleeThe older sister of a boy who is bullied for his rare gigantism harbors ambitions to study insects while her brother dreams of running away and living in a remote cabin, until the dangerous progression of his disease challenges their richly imagined escape worlds. By the author of A Most Magical Girl. Simultaneous eBook
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| Queen of the Sea by Dylan MeconisWelcome to: the kingdom of Albion in the 16th century, where young orphan Margaret lives among the nuns in a tiny island convent.
What happens: When exiled Queen Eleanor arrives on the island, Margaret finds herself questioning everything she knows about her home, her past, and her country.
Who it’s for: This historical graphic novel (inspired by the true story of England's Queen Elizabeth I) will intrigue sophisticated readers in search of dramatic events and detail-rich illustrations. |
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After the Fall - Rwby by E. C. MyersTrouble is brewing . . . After Beacon Academy fell, Coco, Fox, Velvet, and Yatsuhashi made a vow: No one else is getting left behind. It's been more than a year since Team CFVY saw their school destroyed by the creatures of Grimm, their friends felled in battle or scattered across the world of Remnant. Since then, they've been settling into life at Shade Academy in Vacuo, fighting hard to finish their training so they can find their friends and save their world. When a distress message comes into Shade, asking for huntsmen and huntresses to defend refugees from a never-ending stream of Grimm, Team CFVY answers the call without hesitation. But in the heat of the desert, they're forced to relive their former battles, both from the fall of Beacon and from everything that came before.
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We're not from here by Geoff Rodkey"The first time I heard about Planet Choom, we'd been on Mars for almost a year. But life on the Mars station was grim, and since Earth was no longer an option (we may have blown it up), it was time to find a new home. That's how we ended up on Choom with the Zhuri. They're very smart. They also look like giant mosquitos. But that's not why it's so hard to live here. There's a lot that the Zhuri don't like: singing (just ask my sister, Ila), comedy (one joke got me sent to the principal's office), or any kind of emotion. The biggest problem, though? The Zhuri don't like us. And if humankind is going to survive, it's up to my family to change their minds. No pressure."
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For Fans of Raina Telgemeier
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| Be Prepared by Vera BrosgolExpectations: Frustrated misfit Vera hopes that she'll finally fit in among the other Russian kids at a Russian American summer camp.
Reality: From mean girls to a terrifying outhouse, camp is nothing like Vera expected.
Why Raina fans might like it: Just like Raina often writes about her own life, this relatable graphic novel is based on the summer camp woes of author Vera Brosgol. |
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| All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria JamiesonStarring: homeschooled 11-year-old Imogene "Impy" Vega, who’s just been promoted to squire at the Renaissance Faire where her parents work.
What happens: Impy’s ready for a quest, and going to public school seems like just the thing. But will it transform her into a brave knight or a spiky dragon?
Why Raina fans might like it: This tale of friends and "faire-mily" is just as amusing and authentic as Drama, Smile, or Sisters. |
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| All Summer Long by Hope LarsonWhat it’s about: With her best friend Austin ignoring her texts while he’s away at soccer camp, Bina has a lot of free time for playing her guitar and hanging out with Charlie, Austin’s surprisingly cool older sister.
Why Raina fans might like it: All Summer Long's expressive cartoon art and truthful take on friendship are a good fit for fans of Raina's realistic books.
Series alert: Keep an eye out for sequels -- there are two on the way! |
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| The Witch Boy by Molly Knox OstertagWhat it’s about: Now that he's 13, everyone expects Aster to shape-shift like the other boys in his magical community. Aster's true skill, however, is witchcraft...which is taught only to girls.
Why Raina fans might like it: With colorful art and characters you'll root for, this graphic novel fantasy will grab readers who love Raina’s Ghosts.
Series alert: This series opener is followed by The Hidden Witch and The Midwinter Witch (due out in November). |
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| Short & Skinny by Mark TatulliWhat it’s about: In the summer of 1977, scrawny, bullied 7th-grader Mark abandons his plans to bulk up in favor of a new goal: making a spoof of the new hit movie, Star Wars.
Read it for: exaggerated cartoon illustrations, inventive homemade props, and hilarious, true-to-life awkwardness.
Why Raina fans might like it: Similar to how Raina writes about being a comics-obsessed kid, author Mark Tatulli offers a peek into how he made his first big creative project. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 10-13!
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