| Stella & Marigold by Annie Barrows; illustrated by Sophie BlackallMeet seven-year-old Stella and four-year-old Marigold, a pair of sisters who are there for each other during the messes, mistakes, and misunderstandings of life. If you like the popular Ivy + Bean books, you don’t want to miss this funny chapter book series-starter by the same author and artist. (Ages 6-9.) |
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| Popcorn by Rob HarrellSeventh-grader Andrew worries a lot on a good day. And today -- a school picture day packed with small mishaps and big fears -- is not a good day. Sprinkled with Andrew’s doodle-style "Anxiety Files" comics, this relatable slice of middle school life has both humor and heart. Read-alike: Just Roll With It by Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie. (Ages 10-13.) |
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| The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied MéndezFollowing a losing game and an embarrassing incident with her first period, skilled soccer player Valeria "Magic" Salomón is forced off the boys’ team she’s played with for years. Can she fit in with the girls’ team while also dealing with big changes at home? Blending sports action with realistic fiction, this authentic story will grab a variety of readers. (Ages 10-13.) |
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| Splinter & Ash by Marieke NijkampWelcome to Calinor, where Princess Ash is disrespected because she’s disabled, even by her own brother, Prince Lucen. But things start to change when Ash makes friends with Splinter, a fierce, nonbinary squire-in-training. Filled with intrigue, conflict, and questions of loyalty, this fantasy series opener will keep you turning pages. (Ages 8-13.) |
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| Impossible Creatures by Katherine RundellAfter rescuing a wounded baby griffin, Christopher meets Mal, a girl from the magical Archipelago, and is drawn into an island-hopping, world-saving quest filled with mythical creatures. With an intense plot, brave characters, and a fascinating bestiary, this trilogy opener will grab fans of modern fantasy classics like Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series. (Ages 8-13.) |
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| A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine WargaViewed as a suspect in a theft from the museum where his mom works, lonely seventh-grader Rami decides to solve the case himself -- with some help from a new, true-crime-obsessed friend and a mysterious museum visitor who looks like the girl from the missing painting. Read-alike: Gillian McDunn’s Trouble at the Tangerine. (Ages 8-12.) |
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| The Girl in the Lake by India Hill BrownCeleste’s fear of water means that she’s been dreading this summer’s visit to her grandparents’ lake house. Her fears only get more intense when she sees a ghost that seems to share her face. The ongoing, deadly ripples of racism drive this spellbinding paranormal tale. (Ages 8-12.) |
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| Hide and Seeker by Daka HermonWhen Justin's friend Zee returns after being missing for a year, he’s nervous, violent, and full of warnings that don’t make sense -- not until Justin and his friends go missing too, vanishing into a nightmare realm where they're stalked by the terrifying Seeker. For fans of: eerie mystery and spine-chilling horror. (Ages 9-12.) |
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| Hush-A-Bye by Jody Lee MottAt first, Lucy doesn’t mind that her little sister Antonia talks to the broken doll’s head she found by the river. But she’s disturbed when the doll talks back and begins a revenge spree that puts Antonia at risk. For fans of: Holly Black’s Doll Bones and other stories about sinister toys. (Ages 9-13.) |
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| The Clackity by Lora SenfOrphaned 12-year-old Evie is no stranger to the supernatural. But when the terrifying, toothy Clackity kidnaps her aunt, Evie needs all of her bravery for the mission the Clackity demands as ransom: to explore seven cursed houses and capture a spectral serial killer. Dark and intriguing, this is a horror story that will stick with you. (Ages 9-12.) |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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