"No matter how 'normal' people look, living 'ordinary' lives, everyone has a story to tell. And may be, just like you, everyone else is a misfit too." ~ Sanhita Baruah, Indian poet and novelist
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| I Am Princess X by Cherie PriestThriller. Princess X, the sword-swinging, sneaker-clad comic book superheroine created by fifth-grade friends May and Libby, died on the day that Libby was killed in a car crash. So why is May, now 16, suddenly seeing stickers and graffiti featuring Princess X? It all leads back to a recent underground webcomic about the princess – a webcomic full of cryptic details which indicate that Libby might be alive, in danger, and purposefully leaving clues for May to find. Alternating between Princess X's illustrated exploits and May's investigation (both on the internet and in real-life Seattle), this techno-thriller is short, savvy, and satisfying. |
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| How to Speak Dolphin by Ginny RorbyFiction. Since her mom died, 12-year-old Lily spends a lot of time taking care of her four-year-old brother, Adam. Though it seems clear that Adam is on the autism spectrum, Lily's stepdad doesn't want to admit it, or seek out support for Adam. When Adam meets and bonds with Nori, a wild dolphin being treated for cancer at a local marine park, Lily is excited that Adam has found a friend. But she can't help but wonder: is continuing Adam's dolphin-assisted therapy worth keeping Nori in captivity? For another realistically complicated look at family and human-animal relationships, try Hurt Go Happy, also by Ginny Rorby. |
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Focus on: Misfits, Loners, and Outsiders
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| There Will Be Bears by Ryan GebhartFiction. Breaking Gramps out of the nursing home wasn't the original plan. It's just the result of several disappointments for awkward, eccentric Tyson. First, his best friend ditched him because Tyson likes Taylor Swift more than football. Then, his long-awaited hunting trip with Gramps was cancelled due to Gramps' failing health (and some recent grizzly bear attacks in the area). These setbacks only made Tyson more determined to prove his worth as an outdoorsman, which is why he and Gramps are sneaking off for some illicit elk hunting. But is Gramps' health -- or Tyson's courage -- up to the challenge? Similar to Jack Gantos or Jordan Sonnenblick, debut author Ryan Gebhart skillfully balances realistic emotions with irreverent humor. |
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| How to Outrun a Crocodile When Your Shoes Are Untied by Jess KeatingFiction. It's not exaggerating to say that Ana's life feels like a zoo -- after all, her family lives in one. Moved there by her zookeeper parents, Ana doesn't want her seventh grade classmates to know about her unorthodox new neighborhood. Too bad her famous grandfather is making a reality show about the family! Facing unwanted fame and missing her best friend (who recently moved away), Ana copes by making zoological "creature files" about her classmates. Honest, funny, and poignant, Ana's story continues in the sequel, How to Outswim a Shark Without a Snorkel. If a zoo sounds like your ideal habitat, you might also enjoy Stuart Gibb's Belly Up and Poached. |
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| 13 Gifts by Wendy MassFiction. Shortly before her 13th birthday, usually timid Tara gets caught trying to steal a goat -- the school's mascot -- from the principal's office. As punishment, Tara's parents send her to spend the summer with her aunt and uncle in tiny Willow Falls rather than taking her to Madagascar with them. But instead of the boredom she expects, Tara finds mystery and a bit of magic in the charmed little town and its unusual inhabitants. While she may be shy, Tara has a lot of personality, and her wry narration is a highlight of this companion novel to 11 Birthdays and Finally. For more birthday tales full of colorful characters, but touched by a good bit more magic, check out Ingrid Law's Savvy and Scumble. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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