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| Forever Home by Jenna AyoubWhat it's about: Tired of moving every couple of years with her military parents, Willow is determined to make a home in historic Hadleigh House -- even though it's already occupied by a slew of stubborn spirits.
Why you might like it: Well-versed in horror movies, Willow is a fearless and funny heroine, and her upbeat attitude is echoed in this graphic novel's lively, animation-style illustrations. |
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| The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas by María García Esperón; illustrated by Amanda Mijangos; translated by David BowlesWhat it is: A poetic, dramatic, and fascinating book of traditional tales from Native cultures and nations across North and South America.
What's inside: A Maya story about playing ball in the underworld; a Hopi tale starring Spider Grandmother; an Alutiiq warning for careless hunters; a Nahua two-spirit story; plus many more.
Why you might like it: Eye-catching illustrations and extra-short stories make this book just right for stop-and-start readers, as well as those obsessed with myths and legends. |
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| Houdini and Me by Dan GutmanStarring: 21st-century New York City kid Harry Mancini, an expert on 20th-century illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini.
What happens: When Harry begins getting magical texts from Houdini's ghost, he's amazed and thrilled… until Houdini suggests an alarming feat: swapping bodies and time periods with Harry.
Author alert: If you love author Dan Gutman's series (such as My Weird School and The Genius Files), don't miss this witty, fast-paced fantasy. |
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| Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee NutterWhat it's about: Feeling overlooked in her family and lonely at her new school, Maggie longs for a puppy to keep her company. When a trip to the animal shelter causes a major allergic reaction, however, Maggie realizes that finding the perfect animal friend will be more complicated than she expected.
Why you might like it: If you deal with allergies of your own or you've ever felt confused about your family and friends, you might relate to Maggie's experiences in this colorful, slice-of-life graphic novel. |
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| Simon B. Rhymin' by Dwayne ReedWhat it's about: In his head, Chicago 5th-grader Simon Barnes is a world-famous rapper. In real life, though, he's the short, shy kid in the background. Can a chance to help out a neighbor be the push Simon needs to share his rhymes out loud?
Read it for: Realistic characters (author Dwayne Reed is a 4th grade teacher), an upbeat vibe, and plenty of rap breaks to keep the pages turning. |
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| Granted by John David AndersonWelcome to: The Haven, where fairy Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets has just gotten her first assignment to fulfill a human's wish.
What happens: Traveling in the human world is tough for tiny Ophelia, but she finds friendship with homeless dog Sam. As she gets closer to her goal, however, she can't stop wondering: who decides which wishes are important, and why?
Try this next: For further feel-good fantasies focused on wishes, try Faith Harkey's Genuine Sweet or Lauren Myracle's Wishing Day. |
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| The Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah HendersonThe setup: After messing up his audition for the school musical, 11-year-old dancer and rapper Ailey confides in his Grampa, who confesses his own childhood regret and offers a magical gift: a pair of tap shoes that transport Ailey to Grampa's youth in 1939 Harlem.
The question: Can changing Grampa's past help Ailey change his own future?
Also available in eBook on OverDrive |
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| Inkling by Kenneth OppelWhat it's about: Grieving the loss of his mom and stuck with a school project he can't finish, Ethan Rylance is struggling. Luckily, help arrives in the form of Inkling, a living inkblot who can read, write, draw, and (most importantly) listen.
Why you might like it: With true-to-life characters, off-kilter humor (Inkling talks like whatever he's read recently), and interesting ideas about creativity and friendship, Inkling is a quirky and memorable read. |
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| Orphan Island by Laurel SnyderThe rules: Each year, a boat delivers a new youngest child to the magical island of orphans. Then the boat takes away the Elder, so that there are always nine kids remaining.
The rulebreaker: When it's Jinny's turn to be the Elder, she refuses to leave, upsetting the island's peaceful balance.
Why you might like it: This unusual, mysterious fantasy will make you ask questions about the way things are done on the island, as well as in the real world. |
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| Cattywampus by Ash Van OtterlooWhat it's about: Doing magic is forbidden in Howler's Hollow, North Carolina. But that doesn't stop Delpha McGill from seeking a spell to fix her family's money problems, or stop Katybird Hearn from proving that her family's magic abilities haven't skipped her because she's intersex.
What happens: Delpha and Katy clash over a hex, accidentally re-awakening an old family feud -- and waking their zombie ancestors.
For fans of: Molly Knox Ostertag's The Witch Boy, Kat Leyh's Snapdragon, and other stories about witchy family history and unexpected friendship. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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