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Hello, readers!Do you have a question about books for children? Interested in a personalized suggestion? Please feel welcome to email me at amassey@dconc.gov, or visit your librarian at any Durham County Library location. See you at the library! Allie Massey, Children's Librarian Southwest Regional Library
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The Book of the Month Club is back at Southwest Regional Library! Readers in elementary and middle school are eligible to sign up for a six-month subscription (January to June). We’ll ask you about what you like to read, then we’ll put a book on hold just for you once a month. For more information or to sign up, email amassey@dconc.gov. Participation is limited to 10, registration opens December 1st.
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| My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn AndersonFantasy. It's said that the Extraordinary World is a haven from the supernatural, and 12-year-old Gracie hopes it's more than a myth. In her world, migrating dragons attack strip malls, ghosts linger in backyards, sasquatches lurk in the woods, and Dark Clouds appear before people die. After a Dark Cloud arrives for Gracie's sick little brother, their parents load up an RV and take the family on a wild road trip to find the safety of the Extraordinary World. If you prefer fantasy stories rooted in reality, you'll love the eccentric characters and bittersweet plot in this imaginative read. |
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| The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier; illustrated by Douglas HolgateScience Fiction. After monsters attack the town of Wakefield, 13-year-old foster kid Jack is among the few who haven't been zombified. Venturing out of his treehouse fortress, Jack uses his video gaming skills to tackle various "Feats of Apocalyptic Success," which include assembling a team of other survivors (such as his science-geek friend Quentin, middle school bully Dirk, and pet monster Rover), and rescuing his crush, June Del Toro (whether she needs rescuing or not). Blending wisecracking characters with splattering monster guts, this cartoon-illustrated series-starter is sure to drawn in fans of Paolo Bacigalupi's Zombie Baseball Beatdown. |
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| Lola Levine Is Not Mean! by Monica Brown; illustrated by Angela DominguezFiction. The whole thing was an accident! Spirited second-grade soccer player Lola never meant to injure her classmate Juan with that slide tackle, but now the other kids at school are calling her mean and refusing to play with her. While writing about all of this in her diary, Lola -- with some support from her best friend Josh and her creative, half-Peruvian, half-Jewish family -- works hard to figure out how she can make things right and get back on the field. Sketchy illustrations and an easy-to-read style make this 1st entry in the Lola Levine series perfect for beginning chapter book readers. |
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| The Girl Who Could Not Dream by Sarah Beth DurstFantasy. It's probably for the best that Sophie can't dream, since her ability to bring dream-creatures to life is so dangerous. She's lucky that Monster, who followed her out of her one and only dream, turned out to be witty and protective. Yet after a sinister villain learns of Sophie's powers and kidnaps her parents, Sophie and her friend Ethan must ignore the danger and turn to dream creatures (like a snooty pegasus and a gang of fierce pastel bunnies) for help. If you're looking for fast-paced, funny, and slightly scary fantasy, you won't want to miss The Girl Who Could Not Dream. |
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| Finding Fortune by Delia RayMystery. Twelve-year-old Ren just wants her family back, but that doesn't seem likely. Angry that her mom is spending time with another guy while her soldier father is deployed, Ren runs away to Fortune, Iowa, the former "Pearl Button Capital of the World" (population: 12). There, in a rickety school-turned-boardinghouse, she meets Hildy, an elderly beauty queen who introduces Ren to her oddball neighbors and draws her into the search for a long-lost treasure. If this feel-good mystery set in a quirky small town tickles your fancy, you may also want to pick up Natalie Lloyd's A Snicker of Magic or Sheila Turnage's Three Times Lucky. |
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In a Galaxy Far, Far Away...
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| He Laughed with His Other Mouths by M.T. AndersonScience Fiction. Jasper Dash, Boy Technonaut, is the hero of a thrilling science fiction series from the 1930s…a series that nobody reads anymore. Feeling discouraged, Jasper (who's still 13 years old in the modern day) beams himself to the Horsehead Nebula, where he hopes to find his missing father. Instead, he finds an alien creature with plans for galactic domination. As Jasper and his friends Katie and Lily try to save the universe, an entirely different story -- about Busby, a 1940s-era fan of Jasper's -- takes place in the footnotes. This is the 6th (and final) book in the Pals in Peril series; to catch the clever, side-splitting adventures from the beginning, start with Whales on Stilts. |
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| Hunt for the Hydra by Jason FryScience Fiction. The Hashoone family used to be pirates, but nowadays they're privateers, capturing enemy spacecraft on behalf of the Jovian Union. Twelve-year-old Tycho Hashoone hopes that one day he'll take over as captain of the family's spaceship, even though it means fierce competition with his brother and sister…and that's assuming that the family survives their current mission to uncover a plot that might lead to interplanetary war. This swashbuckling 1st in a series is bursting with funny, fast-paced action and steampunk flair, making it great pick for readers who like Philip Reeve's Larklight. |
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| Target Practice by Mike MaihackGraphic Science Fiction. As if ruling ancient Egypt wasn't enough pressure, 15-year-old Cleopatra is suddenly transported to an alien planet in the far future, where she discovers that she's destined to save the entire Nile galaxy. But before she can defeat the power-hungry villain Xaius Octavian, she's got to endure boring classes at Yasiro Academy, practice her skills with a ray gun, and get to know her teacher/sidekick, a talking cat named Khensu. This 1st book in the Cleopatra in Space series (which continues in The Thief and the Sword) has enough exciting action and eye-catching artwork to tempt fans of Ben Hatke's Zita the Spacegirl books. |
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| Pi in the Sky by Wendy MassScience Fiction. "If you think it's tough being the Supreme Overlord of the Universe, try being his son." Joss lives in the Realms (headquarters of the universe), and he's the youngest of the Overlord's sons, which is why he gets the least cool job: delivering pies for the Powers That Be. But when the Powers That Be delete the Earth from existence and swap Joss' best friend for smart, sassy Annika (the only remaining Earthling), Joss has to step up to the challenge of rebuilding the entire solar system…from scratch. Science fiction fans won't want to miss the mind-bending science and quirky humor in this "high-stakes extraterrestrial adventure" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| The Lost Planet by Rachel SearlesScience Fiction. "Guide the star." This message is the only thing Chase Garrety can remember about his life before he woke up on an unknown planet. He doesn't know what the message means, but it feels strangely urgent. Along with some new friends (both human and android), Chase searches across the planets of the Federation, hoping he can find the truth about his past before he's captured by unknown enemies -- and before time runs out. Older readers who enjoy likable characters, sweeping action, and intergalactic intrigue will be hooked by The Lost Planet (and might want to jump right in to the sequel, The Stolen Moon). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books! |
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For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, you may want to try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply within three days with a list of the next five books you should read.
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NextReads is a service of Durham County Library and NoveList, a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. Durham County Library cardholders can access NoveList from any computer.
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Links to previous issues of this newsletter:
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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Durham County Library at
919-560-0100, 300 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27702
librarywebmaster@durhamcountync.gov
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