| Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera BrosgolWith marriage as her only path to keeping her home, orphaned Jane is determined to rescue her maybe-fiancé after he's kidnapped by a fearsome mermaid -- even if it means a dangerous, magical journey under the sea. Fans of Vera Brosgol's Be Prepared won't want to miss this aquatic graphic novel adventure. (Ages 10-13.) |
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| Curveball by Pablo Cartaya; illustrated by Miguel Díaz RivasElena's the best player on her baseball team, but she doesn't love it like she used to. Can a summer spent live-action roleplaying with her younger brother help her rediscover the excitement in playing, not just winning? Manga-style art heightens the imaginative action in this graphic novel. (Ages 8-12.) |
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Anatomy of Lost Things
by Shawn K Stout
Tildy, Leon and Neil, who are all dealing with impossible losses, find their paths converging over the precious items they keep because of who they represent and their unexpected histories, bringing hope, healing and laughter as they start their recovery—together. (Ages 8-12.)
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Benny Ramâirez and the Nearly Departed
by Josâe Pablo Iriarte
When he moves into his late grandfather's Miami mansion, Benny discovers the ghost of his famous trumpet-playing abuelo is still there after being barred from the afterlife and agrees to help him earn his wings, with disastrous and hilarious results. (Ages 8-12.)
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| And Then, Boom! by Lisa FippsJust like the superheroes he idolizes, Joe has to deal with lots of sudden, scary changes, like his mom leaving or having to live in a car with his beloved Grandmum. But in this honest, page-turning story-in-poetry, Joe faces the scariest change yet. Read-alike: How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd. (Ages 9-13.) |
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| The Secret Library by Kekla MagoonWhile grieving for her much-loved Grandpa, adventure-loving 11-year-old Dally discovers a magical library that can transport her to the lives of her ancestors. From the excitement of sailing with pirates to the bittersweetness of family history, this time-travel story is filled with thought-provoking twists. (Ages 8-12.) |
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| Swim Team by Johnnie ChristmasAfter math-loving Bree moves from New York to Florida, she's plagued by new-kid stress until her neighbor Ms. Etta helps her dive into Black swim culture. Bold, colorful illustrations highlight Bree's worries and excitement as she begins to compete with the swim team. Read-alikes: Jerry Craft's New Kid or Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl. (Ages 9-13.) |
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Deep Water
by Jamie Sumner
In this powerful middle-grade novel in verse, Tully Birch is determined to break the record for the youngest person to ever complete the famous 12-mile “Godfather swim” across Lake Tahoe in the hope that maybe her mom will come back. (Ages 9-12.)
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| Starfish by Lisa FippsAfter a lifetime of being treated badly by everyone from classmates to her own mother, 11-year-old Ellie decides to ditch their unspoken "Fat Girl Rules." After all, it's not being fat that makes her unhappy, it's being bullied. Read-alike: Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy. (Ages 9-13.) |
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Flip Turns
by Catherine Arguelles
Thirteen-year-old Maddie's life revolves around the family-owned swimming pool. When vandalism and other acts of sabotage plague the family business, Maddie and her best friend Ez are determined to sleuth out the truth and discover who is responsible for the incidents. (Ages10-13.)
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| Samira Surfs by Rukhsanna GuidrozBlack-and-white artwork boosts this realistic story in verse about Samira, an 11-year-old Rohingya Muslim refugee living in Bangladesh, as she makes the bold decision to enter a surf contest with a big cash prize. (Ages 9-13.) |
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| Barely Floating by Lilliam RiveraA synchronized swimming team like the L.A. Mermaids might not be the typical sport for a fat, outspoken, speed-swimmer like Nat Santiago, but she's always loved a challenge. Realistic fiction readers will appreciate this story's complicated, relatable heroine. (Ages 9-13.) |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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