Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Beat the Heat and Jump into an Exciting New Book

Into the Spotlight by Erin Falligant

Your friend Neely, who's an amazing dancer, invites you to sign up for ballet class. Ballet seems to come so easily for her, but it's not so easy for you. If you work hard, will you ever be as graceful as your friend? Or will you follow a different beat and find a few moves of your own? 

The choices you make could lead to some embarrassing moments in the bright spotlight or to discoveries about the real ways in which you shine.


A Winning Goal by Laurie Calkhoven

Your friend Shelby just joined the soccer team. She's never played before and you're pretty good, so you're teaching her what you know. But when your team hits a losing streak, you're torn between giving Shelby practice on the field and scoring goals for your team. 

Will you let down your team if you hang back and let Shelby play? Will you let down your friend if you take the ball down the field yourself? Only you can decide how to be fair to your teammates, to Shelby, and to yourself.

Felix takes the Stage by Kathryn Lasky

The Deadlies are like any other family with a loving mother and bright, rambunctious children. Except they're spiders. Really, really poisonous ones. But Edith and her children are kind and cultured. In fact, the Deadlies had been happily living in a symphony hall until Edith's son, Felix, had a . . . misunderstanding with the maestro. 

Now they're on the hunt for a new home. That is, if they can outwit the overzealous arachnologists and evil exterminators on their tail. 

Will they ever find a place to live in peace?

The Wild, Wild Southwest by Jeff Corwin

It's a fascinating adventure with nature?this time in New Mexico! Budding naturalists Lucy, Benjamin, and Gabe are back and camping in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico! Readers can join the fun as these kids explore the diverse desert ecosystem. 

This is the third book in Jeff Corwin's young middlegrade fiction series, which shows kids that no matter where you live, you can have fun discovering the plants, animals, and natural life around you.  
 
They Came From Planet Q by Laura Dower

Strange things are happening in the town of Riddle. All the silverware is missing! Fillings are falling out! The metal recycling machines are always empty! 

Could it have to do with the UFO Lindsey spotted through her camera lens? They must have come from Planet Q. 

But between the crafty Monster Squad and Lindsey?s photography skills, those metal heads will surely be stopped.

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli

The bells clang above plague-ridden London as Robin lies helpless, cold, and hungry. The great house is empty, his father is fighting the Scots in the north, his mother is traveling with the Queen, and the servants have fled. He calls for help but only the stones hear his cries. Suddenly someone else is in the house, coming towards Robin. It is Brother Luke, a wandering friar, who takes Robin to St. Mark's Monastery, where he will be cared for until his father sends for him.

At last, a message comes--Robin is to meet his father at Castle Lindsay. The journey is dangerous, and the castle is located near the hostile Welsh border. Perched high in the hills, the castle appears invincible. But it is not. Under the cover of a thick fog the Welsh attack the castle. And Robin is the only one who can save it.


Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Haunted House by David Adler

Cam Jansen and her friend Eric are visiting an amusement park with her aunt and uncle. Bumper cars and the Haunted House are exciting enough, but then Aunt Katie's wallet is stolen. 

Who could have taken it? 

Does Cam, with her amazing photographic memory, have a ghost of a chance at finding the thief?

All But Alice by Phyllis Naylor

There are, Alice decides, 272 horrible things left to happen to her in her life, based on the number of really horrible things that have happened already. She figures that out after the disaster of the talent show. And she realizes that there is no way to fend them off. But, she reasons, if you don't have a mother, maybe a sister would help. Maybe lots of sisters. A worldwide sisterhood! 

Sisterhood means more sympathy and less likely odds that the next horrible thing will strike when Alice is by herself. But, Sisterhood also comes with a whole new set of problems for Alice. Can she be Sisters with all three girls who want to be her brother Lester's girlfriend? In fact, how do boys fit into Universal Sisterhood at all? And how far should she you go when being part of the crowd means doing something you don't want to do?

Alice copes with life in her own way, and her solutions to her endless problems are often funny and surprisingly right.


Fight for Life by Lauria Halse Anderson

Maggie's grandmother runs an animal clinic, Dr. Mac's place, so Maggie knows her way around animals who are in danger. 

When she learns that the abused and sick puppies flooding the clinic are from an illegal puppy mill, she knows that she has to find out who's running it, where it is—and save the rest of the dogs.
 


Amber Brown Sees Red by Paula Danziger

Amber Brown’s going through a growth spurt... and her body’s not the only thing that’s changing. Her mom and Max are engaged. Her dad is moving back from Paris. And now her school’s overrun by skunks, and she feels like she’s being held captive in a hot, crowded school bus that’s going nowhere.

But growth spurts and skunks are not her only concerns. 


Why can’t her parents agree on anything... and most important, what will happen when Dad moves back?


Ghosts in the Gallery by Barbara Wallace

Why is there no one waiting to meet Jenny when the coach in which she is traveling stops on the deserted road to let her off? Before her mother died, did she not write Jenny's grandfather telling him of her coming to live with him? Why, after the grim journey from far-off China, does she have to stumble in the darkness through a tunnel of menacing trees to her new home? Surely a grandfather longing to greet his granddaughter, newly orphaned, would never allow such a thing to happen. But the real reason for Jenny's predicament is far worse than anything she could have imagined. For not only has the letter never been received -- no one believes a granddaughter exists at all Only an appeal by the housekeeper earns for her the terrible choice of being sent back to China, or to the cellar to live as a servant girl.

Is Jenny really who she has been told she is? And who in that great, gloomy house cares? Fearful Madame Dupray? Hateful Violet? Odd Lilly? The treacherous Crimpits? The chilling Winston Graymark and his toady, Jingle? The frightening ancestral ghosts whose portraits haunt the upstairs gallery?


The Ghosts of Rathburn Park by Zilpha Snyder

Eleven-year-old Matthew Hamilton–a.k.a. The Hamster–is new in town, and just about the first thing he does is get lost in the woods of Rathburn Park. It’s a typical boneheaded thing to do, and Matt is trying to decide whether starvation is preferable to the embarrassment of a rescue party when a little dog trots past him. Matt senses that the dog wants him to follow, but as soon as they emerge from the trees, the dog vanishes.

Matt keeps wondering about the dog as he starts to learn more about the town’s strange past. Owned by a wealthy family named Rathburn, the whole town burned down decades ago and was rebuilt nearby. The old ruins are still hidden in the forest, too rickety and dangerous to go near. But they are also best avoided for another reason–ghosts. Still, Matt can’t resist looking for the dog, and as he’s looking, he meets a girl dressed in antique clothes who calls herself Amelia Rathburn. Are she and the dog both ghosts? Or is there another explanation for the strange goings-on in Rathburn Park?


The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret

What Josh thought would be the dullest summer of his life, spent with his eccentric great-aunt, turns chilling when he meets the ghost of a coal miner killed in a mine explosion. Willie has been waiting years for some kind soul to dig up his leg and rebury it with the rest of him--only then will he be at peace. Josh agrees to do the grisly deed, but when he digs in the old cemetery, he finds more than Willie's leg bones! 

Who buried the box of cash in the grave, and why? How far will that person go to get the money back? 


Busted! by Betty Hicks

Grounded. 

Again. 

Stuart is the most in-trouble kid ever. His super-obsessive single-parent mom is always on his case, and if he’s busted one more time, she’s threatening the unthinkable—no soccer! Stuart’s best friend, a wise and wacky girl named Mack, hatches an unsettling plan to distract his mom by fixing her up with Mack’s uncle. It just might work, though—if their friendship doesn’t unravel first. And anyhow, he doesn’t want his widowed mom to date. Or does he?

Carlotta's Kittens by Phyllis Naylor

A blessed event"Carlotta's Kittens" have arrived -- five adorable pink-nosed, silk-eared bundles of fur. But what a responsibility for the five male cats in the Club of Mysteries It's their job not only to protect the kittens from the dangers of the world -- like the tough river rats and the even tougher Steak Knife and his gang (and his collection of the tails of his victims) -- but also to teach them the skills every cat needs to survive. And hardest of all, to find them good homes before they end up at the dreaded pound. 

The Club of Mysteries gang has a hard enough time figuring out the ways of the world for themselves -- how can they raise a litter of helpless kittens?

The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki

What if the monsters from your favorite horror books were real?

Eddie Fennicks has always been a loner, content to lose himself in a mystery novel by his favorite author, Nathaniel Olmstead. That’s why moving to the small town of Gatesweed becomes a dream come true when Eddie discovers that Olmstead lived there before mysteriously disappearing thirteen years ago. Even better, Eddie finds a handwritten, never-before-seen Nathaniel Olmstead book printed in code and befriends Harris, who’s as much an Olmsteady as he is. 


But then the frightening creatures of Olmstead’s books begin to show up in real life, and Eddie’s dream turns into a nightmare. Eddie, Harris, and their new friend, Maggie, must break Olmstead’s code, banish all gremlins and monster lake-dogs from the town of Gatesweed, and solve the mystery of the missing author, all before Eddie’s mom finishes writing her own tale of terror and brings to life the scariest creature of all.

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Ryan

Naomi Soledad León Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life, her name for one. Then there are her clothes (sewn in polyester by Gram), her difficulty speaking up, & her status at school as "nobody special." But according to Gram's self-prophecies, most problems can be overcome with positive thinking. Luckily, Naomi also has her carving to strengthen her spirit. 

And life with Gram & her little brother, Owen, is happy & peaceful. That is, until their mother reappears after 7 years of being gone, stirring up all sorts of questions & challenging Naomi to discover who she really is.


Fred and Anthony Escape from the Netherworld by Esile Arevamirp

When Fred and Anthony are faced with their unfinished history project, they come up with a great idea: pay someone else to do it. There's just one problem: they have no money. Luckily, they have plenty of schemes for making quick dough. So, after a paralyzing case of writer's block forces them to abandon careers as best-selling authors, they ride around town on their skateboards, trying to get "old people" to hire them.

But Fred and Anthony never imagined that in their quest to avoid work, they would stumble into a portal to the Netherworld, where terrifying (or just plain wacky) encounters with ghosts, monsters, and other paranormal creatures eerily echo the plots of their favorite horror movies.
 
The Floods: Lost by Colin Thompson


The Floods are back in their rightful place as rulers of Transylvania Waters—and there is an enormous amount to do to bring the country out of the dark ages and into the 21st century
 
What does a country need more than anything to become part of the modern world? Well, it needs a lot of things, including socks, Playstations, genetically modified food, and 73 varieties of sausage—but above all, it needs maps. Winchflat's new wife, Maldegarde Ankle, has been appointed Transylvania Waters's first ever Official Map Maker. What she discovers during her cartographic travels will astound, terrify, amuse, and intrigue. In remote caves she finds ancient fossils with enough DNA for Winchflat to recreate long-dead creatures. And in even more remote caves she will find the original inhabitants of Transylvania Waters—a long-lost race of neolithic accountants.
 

Sorcerer of the Waves by Kim Wilkins

For over a year, Asa and Rollo have believed that their parents were dead. Then they overhear a conversation between their aunt and their friend, Skalti, and they aren’t so sure anymore. 

A sorcerer named Ragni may know what happened to their parents, but Ragni is Flood’s prisoner. Asa and Rollo set off on a dangerous trip to question the sorcerer. 

Nothing will stop them from finding out the truth about their parents!

Keena Ford and the Secret Journal Mix-up by Melissa Thomson

Second-grader Keena Ford loves writing in her journal. One day, Keena accidentally leaves her journal in the apartment of her mean classmate Tiffany Harris. The next day, Tiffany informs Keena that she's read the journal and is going to tell all of Keena's secrets! 

Well, unless Keena does everything Tiffany says, of course. With a little help from her brother, some classic fables, and a visiting author, Keena discovers what she must do to stand up to Tiffany and apologize to her friends.
Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer

Fletcher Moon has never been like other kids. For one thing, he has had to suffer the humiliating nickname "Half Moon" because of his short stature. But the real reason Fletcher is different is that ever since he was a baby, he's had a nose for sniffing out mysteries. And after graduating at the top of his Internet class, he is officially certified as the youngest detective in the world. He even has a silver-plated detective's badge to prove it. Everything is going along fine until two things happen: a classmate hires him to solve a crime, and his prized badge is stolen. All signs point to the town's most notorious crime family, the Sharkeys.

As Fletcher follows the clues, evidence of a conspiracy begins to emerge. But before he can crack the case, Fletcher finds himself framed for a serious crime. To clear his name, he will have to pair up with the unlikeliest of allies and go on the run from the authorities. Fletcher has twelve hours to find the guilty party--or he is the guilty party.



Topsy-Turvy by Melissa Morgan

It's Topsy-Turvy Day at Camp Walla-Walla and lucky Brynn is head counselor for the day. As top banana she has the authority to do whatever she wants, so she schedules a romantic night swimming activity to squeeze in face time with her new crush, Ben. 

Now if only she could use her power to make Ben like her back . . .




Thor: Junior novel by Elizabeth Rudnick


A wide range of characters takes part in this cosmic tale, including Thor's steadfast allies the Warriors Three: Volstagg, Hogun, and Fandral; as well as Thor's treacherous brother, Loki, their noble father, Odin, and the warrior maiden Sif.




Lucy on the Loose by Ilene Cooper

When Bobby Quinn got a beagle puppy for his eighth birthday, his whole life changed. Lucy helped him forget his shyness and make new friends. 

But now Lucy's taken off after a fat orange cat, and no one in the neighborhood has seen her anywhere. 

What will Bobby do if his best friend is gone for good?



The Smurf King by Yvan Delporte

When Papa Smurf leaves the village in search of a rare herb, the Smurfs are left without a leader. The Smurfs decide to elect a new leader, but every Smurf votes for himself! When one unnamed Smurf defeats Brainy Smurf in a second election, he declares himself King Smurf, ruler of all the Smurfs! Brainy Smurf leads a rebellion against the Smurf King that results in the entire village being thrown into chaos. 

Will Papa Smurf come back in time to save the village? Or will King Smurf rule the village forever?
 
Expedition Down Under by Rebecca Carmi

Ms. Frizzle and the kids go all out in the outback. Catch up on all the amazing facts about the animals Down Under! 

Hi, I'm Dorothy Ann. Ms. Frizzle's class ended up on the other side of the world when we went searching for the cackling kookaburra. It was a wild walk-about to Australia. We had a hopping good time racing a herd of kangaroos and survived a run-in with the terrible Tasmanian devil. 


Things get pretty hairy in the outback, but there's never been a field trip quite like the Expedition Down Under.

You Can't Scare Me! by R.L. Stine

Courtney is a total show-off. She thinks she's so brave; and she's always making Eddie and his friends look like wimps. But now Eddie's decided he's had enough. He's going to scare Courtney once and for all. And he's come up with the perfect plan to do it.Eddie's going to lure Courtney down to Muddy Creek. 

Because he knows that she actually believes those silly rumors about the monsters...that there are Mud Monsters living deep inside the creek. It's just too bad that Eddie doesn't believe the rumors, too. Because they just might be true.

The Five Masks of Dr. Screem by R.L. Stine

Welcome to the Hall of Horrors, HorrorLand's Hall of Fame for the truly terrifying.

It's Halloween and Monica Anderson is out Trick-or-Treating with her younger brother. They knock on the door of an old, creepy house and are met by a strange woman who pleads for their help. Every year she must battle for the control of five sacred masks with the evil Dr. Screem. These artifacts have the power to manipulate the world around them. 


Monica doesn't want to help at first but then Screem bursts in and steals the masks. This sets her and her brother off on a Halloween mission that will change their lives forever!


Night of the Living Dust Bunnies by Erik Craddock

After months and months of neglecting his chores, all of the dirt in Stone Rabbit's house has come to life—and it is turning all of the citizens of Happy Glades into evil living dust bunnies! 

Will our hero be able to clean up his town? 

Or will he be swept away by the fiendish filth?




Don't Scream! by R.L. Stine

Welcome to the Hall of Horrors, HorrorLand's Hall of Fame for the truly terrifying.
Jack Harmon finds a cell phone on the school bus. He raises the phone to his ear and hears a girl's voice: "Hi, Jack. Don't scream. I've been waiting for you. I'm your new friend." Jack thinks it's a joke. He tries to end the call, then turn the phone off, but the girl's voice won't go away: "Don't make me angry, Jack. I'm warning you." Jack is puzzled and a little frightened. He must obey her every wish. She appears in all sorts of electronic devices-he can't escape her. "Don't scream, Jack. I'm just a voice.

But you're going to be my body." She begins to force him to do dangerous things like stealing a laptop from school. But Jack finally outwits the voice when she jumps into his wristwatch. The school bully has been after that watch all year, so Jack finally lets him have it. 


Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes by R.L. Stine

KEEP OFF THEIR GRASS!

Two pink flamingos. A whole family of plaster skunks. Joe Burton's dad loves tacky lawn ornaments. But when he brings home two ugly lawn gnomes, the trouble begins.

Late at night. When everyone's sleeping.

Someone's creeping in the garden. Whispering nasty things. Smashing melons. Squashing tomatoes. No way two dumb old lawn ornaments with pointy hats could be causing all the trouble... Is there?


Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People by David Pilkey

Dav Pilkey's eighth epic novel promises evil, horror, and "laffs," and delivers on all three. In this rowdy episode, George and Harold take a wrong turn somewhere and wind up in a surrealistic alternate reality where everything defies expectation. As they try to adjust to a realm where teachers are nice and cafeteria food is good, our heroes encounter evil versions of themselves. 

Unless our dynamic duo can stop them, these diabolical twins plan to destroy their hometown.

Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets by David Pilkey

When Dav Pilkey began drawing pictures of an underwear-clad, wedgie-giving superhero as a second grader, his teacher said, "You'd better start taking life more seriously, because you can't spend the rest of your days making silly books!" Luckily for us, Dav didn't listen, and Captain Underpants was born. 

Now, kids everywhere can enjoy this special edition of the second book in the series--with an awesome lenticular cover and a super-cool value-added component that's so amazing, so fun, and so top-secret that you'll just have to buy it to find out!

Phineas and Ferb: The Chronicles of MEAP by John Green

What happens when the boys accidentally knock a UFO off its course, causing it to crash in their backyard? And what will Phineas, Ferb, Candace, and Isabella do when they meet its pilot, the adorable Meap? While Candace shows off the cute creature, the others take off in Meap's ship-and are captured by Meap's archrival, the sinister Mitch. 

It's up to Candace and Meap to defeat Mitch and rescue the three interstellar prisoners!