What stars are made of
by Sarah Elisabeth Allen

Aspiring to become a scientist in spite of the challenges of having Turner syndrome, Libby learns that her older sister is having a baby and prepares what she hopes will be a winning entry in a science contest to help with expenses. A first novel. Simultaneous eBook.

The monster catchers : A Bailey Buckleby Story
by George Brewington

Bailey and his dad run a successful monster catching business, but when he discovers that his father has been lying to him, and mastermind Axel Pazuzu begins a crime spree, it is up to Bailey to save his family and set things right

A home for goddesses and dogs
by Leslie Connor

Moving in with her welcoming last family members after losing both parents, 13-year-old Lydia struggles to bond with a disruptive rescue dog while dealing with increasingly painful secrets. 75,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook.

A galaxy of sea stars
by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo

The sixth grade daughter of a traumatized Afghanistan war veteran finds her life in a quiet beach town upended by her new friendship with a Muslim girl who teaches her transformative lessons about acceptance, respect and doing the right thing. By the author of Ruby in the Sky. Simultaneous eBook.

Wishes, Dares, & How to Stand Up to a Bully
by Darlene Beck Jacobson

Worrying about his father, a Vietnam War soldier who has been declared missing in action, young Jack finds unexpected support from his family, his best friend and a local bully in finding the courage to do what is right. By the author of Wheels of Change.

Rise of the Jumbies
by Tracey Baptiste

Starring: Corrine La Mer, a brave girl who protects her Caribbean island community from the fearsome trickster jumbies, even though she’s half-jumbie herself.

What it’s about: When kids begin disappearing from the beach, Corrine turns to Mama D'Leau, leader of the ocean jumbies. Mama agrees to help, but only at a dangerous price.

Series alert: You can dive into this vivid fantasy series with this 2nd book, or start at the beginning The Jumbies.

Race to the Bottom of the Sea
by Lindsay Eagar

What it’s about: Brilliant 11-year-old inventor Fidelia Quail is still recovering from the deaths of her marine biologist parents when she’s kidnapped by Merrick the Monstrous, a pirate who needs her science skills to retrieve a sunken treasure.

Read it for: humor, high seas adventure, a historical setting with futuristic tech, and characters who are more than they seem.

Sharks: Nature's Perfect Hunter
by Joe Flood

What it is: Filled with drawings, diagrams, and information about history and science, this comic book takes an up-close look at the ocean’s most famous predators: sharks! 

Series alert: If you prefer facts over fiction, along with plenty of pictures to browse, you’ll want to sink your teeth into the other books in the Science Comics series, which explores wide-ranging subjects such as planes, plagues, bats, and brains.

Edison: The Mystery of the Missing Mouse Treasure
by Torben Kuhlman; translated by David Henry Wilson

Welcome to: Mouse University, where young mouse Pete and his elderly professor research an old shipwreck, build a mouse-sized submarine, and journey to the ocean floor in search of treasure.

Why you might like it: The art does the storytelling in this mostly wordless book -- you’ll be spellbound by the precise details and clever touches in the sophisticated illustrations.

You might also like: Armstrong and Lindbergh, two further tales of  mouse trailblazers from German author/artist Torben Kuhlmann. 

Aquicorn Cove
by Katie O'Neill

What it's about: While visiting the seaside town where she used to live -- and where her mom died -- a girl named Lana rescues a tiny orange aquicorn (imagine a cross between a seahorse and a unicorn) and discovers that her family's past could affect the future of these magical creatures.

Art alert: From cool coastal blues to candy-bright pastels, the imaginative art in this graphic novel brims with color.