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Liars' room by Dan Poblocki"The issue: Simon is a liar. Stella and Alex know this about their new stepbrother, so they aren't bothered by his stories about their new house. His cries for attention become increasingly dangerous and difficult to explain. The findings: they learn that the history of Wildwyck is more sinister than they could have imagined. And when a shocking truth is revealed, it's not clear who can be trusted anymore. Find the answer: Will the three siblings be able to put aside their differences to save their family...before it's too late?"
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Just roll with it by Lee Durfey-LavoieWhat it's about: having a tough time during her first year in middle school, Maggie needs some help from her 20-sided dice but fears she may roll the wrong number. What it does: explores the complexity of anxiety, OCD, and learning to trust yourself and the world around you. A charming, compassionate story that's sure to resonate with anyone who's ever stayed up worrying
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Birdie's billions by Edith CohnThe problem: Birdie makes a mistake and Mom loses her job. Now things are more dire than ever, and Birdie knows it's up to her to fix it. When Birdie discovers cash in an abandoned house she thinks it could be the answer to her and her mother's problems, What happens: she wonders about the people who left that money behind. Does “finders, keepers” count when it's half a million dollars? Birdie learns how to balance what's right for her family-and herself-with what's the right thing to do.
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Rise of the world eater by Jamie LittlerWhat it's about: Ash and the Frostheart crew journey to distant lands to stop the Devourer, a Leviathan that eats the essence of everything, and seek out the Ancient Leviathan heart, the only thing that can defeat Devourer. What happens: in a fight that will take the pathfinders, yeti, Song Weavers, and even leviathans working together. If Ash and his ragtag crew of friends aboard the Frostheart can't stop the Devourer, Ash's family reunion with his mom will be short-lived.
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| Second Sleep by Diane StanleyWhat it's about: after their mom unexpectedly disappears, Max and Rosie are sent to the family's lakeside cabin with their Grandma Mozelle. There, they find a crew of maybe-magical nighttime friends, and some captivating clues about what's happened to their mom.
Read it for: a realistic story of family and friendship with heart, mystery, and a fantasy twist. |
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Girl giant and the jade war by Văn HoàngWhat it is: Thom Ngoh and her dragon friend Kha search for allies now that the Monkey King is waging a war against the Heavens. Determined to prevent a war, Thom must do everything in her power to fix the mess she made, in this sequel to Girl Giant and the Monkey King. The dilemma: Thom and her dragon friend Kha set off on an adventure across the Heavens but with the stakes higher than ever, the price for help may be more than Thom is willing to pay.
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| The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp by Jonathan Auxier; illustrated by Olga DemidovaWelcome to: the Fabled Stables, where human kid Auggie takes care of magical and "just plain weird" creatures.
What happens: an empty stall for a shapeshifting wisp appears in the Stables, letting Auggie know that that there's a young wisp nearby in danger -- and in need of a daring rescue.
Who it's for: this funny fantasy series-starter is packed with charming art, making it a great pick for fans of Adam Gidwidtz's Unicorn Rescue Society series. |
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The dilemma: Eva can't wait to get a new pet! But she can't decide what kind of pet to get. Her pet needs to be cute, cuddly, friendly... and, of course, get along with her bat, Baxter. The solution: Eva's friend Lucy has a great idea: They will pet-sit for all their friends to find out which animal is right for Eva! Chaos breaks out as they look after a bumblebee, a tortoise, a goldfish, and more. Will Baxter be able to help Eva discover which pet is just-right for their family?
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| Aven Green, Sleuthing Machine by Dusti Bowling: illustrated by Gina PerryWhat it's about: when food disappears from school, outgoing eight-year-old Aven Green is on the case. She's got the all the confidence and smarts of a great detective -- in fact, since she was born without arms, she's pretty sure her arm cells went to her brain instead.
Try this next: for another bold kid who does her own thing, try Dawn Quigley's Jo Jo Makoons series; for more chapter book mysteries, try Dori Hillestad Butler's King & Kayla series. |
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| Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren CastilloWhat it's about: Hedgehog is happy on her tiny island with Mutty, her stuffed dog. But after a storm sweeps Mutty away, Hedgehog sets out to find him, and meets several helpful new friends along the way.
Why you might like it: the cute animals and cozy vibes in this series-starter will have you looking forward to the next book.
You might also like: Jacqueline Davies' Sydney & Taylor series, which also stars a hedgehog and friends. |
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Heidi Heckelbeck and the lost library book by Wanda CovenWhat it's about: the Brewster Library has always been a magical place for kids in town. It has a story waiting for everyone. But imagine Heidi's surprise when Aunt Trudy lets her in on a well-kept secret: the Brewster Library has a real magic section! What happens: when Heidi checks out a title for a special project, she learns that you can't always judge a book by its cover. Especially when it's a bewitched book that loves to play pranks.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
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