Books for Kids and Tweens
August 2025

Recent Releases
The library of unruly treasures
by Jeanne Birdsall

"Gwen MacKinnon's parents are dreadful. Truly, deeply, almost impressively dreadful. So Gwen's not upset at all when she's foisted onto her never-before-seen Uncle Matthew for two weeks. Especially when it turns out he has a very opinionated dog named Pumpkin. Things take a turn for the weird when Gwen makes a discovery in the local library. A discovery that involves tiny creatures with wings. And no, they're not birds. They're called Lahdukan. But why can only Gwen and the youngest children, gathered for storytime, see them? The Lahdukan insist that Gwen is destined to help them find a new home. But how can a girl as unwanted, uncourageous, and generally unheroic as Gwen possibly come to the rescue? Pumpkin has a few ideas..."
Blood in the Water
by Tiffany D. Jackson

Sharp-minded 12-year-old Brooklynite Kaylani is stuck spending the summer with wealthy family friends in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. It’s okay at first, but after a local teenager is found dead, Kaylani’s instincts push her to investigate. The dangerous results will keep you turning pages in this gripping thriller. (Ages 9-12.) 
Sayonara Magic (Volume 2) : Family Charms
by Amèlia Mora

In this book, the triplets Akira, Naoki, and Hiro must avoid a magical inspector, try to save a family wedding from supernatural creatures, and figure out a way to get home after they've been accidentally sent back in time!
Bulldozer's big rescue
by Elise Broach

Bulldozer is shy when making friends and nervous about school, but when he meets neighbor Millie and her brother Jay, Bulldozer embarks on a daring adventure to rescue a cat, overcoming his fears along the way by being himself. Simultaneous and eBook. Illustrations.
Monster Slayer : A Beowulf Tale; Super Readable & dyslexia Friendly
by Brian Patten

"An illustrated reimagining of the epic poem, Beowulf"--Provided by publisher.
Another
by Paul Tremblay

Already highly anxious, 12-year-old Casey is extra freaked out when his parents welcome the arrival of Morel, a not-quite-human kid who seems to be made of clay -- clay that’s starting to resemble Casey more and more every day. Perfect for horror fans, this unusual story starts out unsettling and ramps up to downright disturbing. Read-alike: Kenneth Oppel's The Nest. (Ages 10-13.)
Sleuths in Schools
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
by Sheela Chari

Based on a podcast, this intriguing science fiction mystery introduces Mars, a curious sixth-grader who investigates after several local kids -- including two of his friends -- go missing. Mars is determined to find them, even if it means exposing a conspiracy involving a billionaire inventor. Next in the series: The Interplanetary Expedition of Mars Patel. (Ages 10-13.)
The Liars Society
by Alyson Gerber

Meet Weatherby, a new student with a sailing scholarship to the elite Boston School, and Jack, a wealthy Boston student with a dangerous secret. After they’re paired as sailing partners, Weatherby and Jack find themselves caught up in a secret society and racing to solve a high-stakes crime. Next in the series: A Risky Game. (Ages 9-12.)
Temple Alley Summer
by Sachiko Kashiwaba; illustrated by Miho Satake; translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa 

After glimpsing a mysterious girl in his family's old house, Japanese fifth-grader Kazu thinks he's seen a ghost -- until the same girl shows up at his school. Who is she? And what's her connection to the mystical temple which once stood on Kazu's street? For fans of: the movie Spirited Away and other sweet, whimsical supernatural stories. (Ages 8-12.)
Linked
by Gordon Korman

After someone vandalizes their middle school with swatiskas, six different students find their own ways of responding, including Dana, who faces unwanted attention as the only Jewish student. Read-alike: Dana Alison Levy's It Wasn't Me, another school-based mystery that leaves you thinking about the impact of hate and the power of connection. (Ages 9-13.) 
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Walla Walla County Rural Library District
37 Jade street, Walla Walla, Washington 99362
509-527-3284

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