Returning to Shore
Children's Literature – Justina Engebretson For fifteen-year-old Clare, the dark cloud that seems to be hovering over her summer fun continues to build. Having married husband number three, Clare’s mother is headed off on her honeymoon, while Clare is being shipped off to Cape Code to stay with the father she has not seen since […]
Darth Paper Strikes Back :
School Library Journal Gr 3–6—Like The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Abrams, 2010), this book is honest, funny, and immensely entertaining. The story again revolves around Dwight and his advice-dispensing finger puppet, Origami Yoda. Tommy, Dwight, and the rest of the crew are back for seventh grade at McQuarrie Middle School. The promising year takes […]
The Silver Door
Overview Internationally bestselling author Emily Rodda returns to the world of Deltora in book two of her brilliant new trilogy. Rye made it through the golden Door and rescued his oldest brother, but his troubles are far from over. The walled city of Weld in which he lives is still under attack by flying beasts […]
The Third Door
Internationally bestselling author Emily Rodda's brilliant finale to the trilogy inspired by the world of Deltora. Three magic Doors are the only way in and out of the walled city of Weld. The golden Door is grand and majestic — a Door for heroes. The silver Door hints at mystery and knowledge — a door […]
Eye to Eye : How Animals See the World
Publishers Weekly ★ 04/21/2014 Jenkins zeroes in on animal eyes in his latest merging of science and artistry. Subjects include the colossal squid (each of its eyes are “the size of a basketball—the largest of any animalâ€), the panther chameleon (“it can look in two directions at onceâ€), and the tarsier, which has eyeballs larger […]
Separate Is Never Equal : the Story of Sylvia Mendez and Her Family
School Library Journal ★ 05/01/2014 Gr 2–5—When the Mendezes moved to Westminster, CA, in 1944, third-grader Sylvia tried to enter Westminster School. However, the family was repeatedly told, "'Your children have to go to the Mexican school.' 'But why?' asked Mr. Mendez……'That is how it is done.'" In response, they formed the Parents' Association of […]
A Question of Magic
Children's Literature – Jeanna Sciarrotta When Serafina receives a letter from her great-aunt Sylanna, whom she has never met, she has no idea just how much her life is about to change. Sylanna writes about an inheritance that she wants to leave Serafina that requires the girl to visit. Upon arrival at her great-aunt's cottage, […]
The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean, Telt By Hisself
Publishers Weekly ★ 10/28/2013 A boy named Billy Dean—born at the very moment terrorists blew up his town, starting World War III—narrates this mesmerizing post-apocalyptic tale from Carnegie- and Printz-winner Almond. Written in a difficult Geordie dialect, further complicated by Billy's phonetic spellings, the novel speaks feelingly to the love between parent and child, as […]
Vanishing Acts : a Maggie Brooklyn Mystery
When a movie starring tween heartthrob Seth Ryan starts filming in Park Slope, everyone gets movie mania-including Maggie Brooklyn Sinclair. Though her plans to become a movie extra don't quite work out, Maggie manages to capture Seth's attention and he seeks her out at the Pizza Den to talk. But just when Maggie's life is […]
Outpost
From School Library Journal Gr 8 Up-In this sequel to Enclave (Feiwel & Friends, 2011), Aguirre uses dreams and conversations to supply information for readers unfamiliar with that volume and to add background about the major characters. Having reached the fortress community of Salvation after a terrifying trek through a postapocalyptic world populated by voracious […]