Local Author Mary Keith Inspired Little Authors at Storytime Last Week

Last week at Storytime the children met local children's book author, Mary Keith. Mary's debut children's book, "Little Sister and the Gink-A-What," is a true story about Little Sister (Mary) and the GINKABOODLE. The Ginkaboodle is an animal that lived in her brother, Jimmie's, imagination. The book illustrates the wonderful creations and ideas that come from within a child's mind.

The cover is a reproduction of the original drawing of the GINKABOODLE, done when the author's brother, Jimmie, was about 10.

After listening to Mary's wonderful and inspiring story, the children began working to create their own Ginkaboodle and a story to go along with it. They had a great time sharing their artwork and stories with us. It was a lot of fun watching the kids create exciting and very unique characters for their stories. Who knows one of the children could become a famous author one day! 

Here's a look at some of the books created this week.

Join us next Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 5:30 for another exciting story and activity.

Thrilling New Audiobooks

Wages of Sin by Matt Braun

With outlaws wrecking havoc left and right, a cow town in Texas is on the brink of becoming a ghost town. That's when it's time to call in Chicago-based Pinkerton agent Ash Tallman and his partner Vivian Valentine. Going undercover as a handsome, charming drifter, Ash is always ready with his gun and popular with the ladies. And the lovely, vivacious Viv plays the role of a fervent evangelist, offering salvation-with the promise of a sweeter reward-to any sinner who can give her clues to the whereabouts of the man so bent on revenge he gladly kills anyone who crosses his path.

But this outlaw has never before encountered the likes of Ash Tallman.

Gold by Gemini by Jonathan Gash

One of the most likable rogues in mystery history. The Bitish-Roman coins had been around for centuries, so when they disappear from a local museum, Lovejoy has a more than passing interest in finding them. Abandoning his usual pursuits of good buys and willing women, Lovejoy finds himself in the much less agreeable company of one Dandy Jack, the sinister Rink, and the lovely, treacheerous Nicole. They lead him on a merry chase through a countryside filled with heather and danger. A superb tdour through the glittering and greedy world of antiques. 

Fire Sale by Sara Paretsky 

A conscience can weigh a PI down more than the heaviest firearm—and get her into more trouble too. It’s that nagging conscience that makes V. I. Warshawski agree to fill in as coach for the girls’ basketball team at her South Chicago alma mater—which in turn leads her to the headquarters of By-Smart, the global retail empire where V. I. hopes to get some desperately needed funds for the struggling squad. 

But conscience seems to be in short supply at By-Smart… with the exception of Billy Bysen, the earnest teenage grandson of the chain’s gruff, tightfisted founder. 

And when Billy disappears—along with a mysterious document much desired by By-Smart’s management team—V. I. is hurled onto a twisted, body-strewn path that runs through Chicago’s dirtiest places and reveals some of its dirtiest secrets.

New York Times Best Seller List (7/28/2013)

Note: Titles highlighted in BLUE are currently available for checkout. Titles highlighted in RED have been ordered and will be available for checkout soon.

Fiction

1. Inferno by Dan Brown
2. Hidden Order by Brad Thor
3. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
4. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
5. Bombshell by Catherine Coulter
6. Second Honeymoon by James Patterson
7. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
8. Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
9. Beautiful Day by Erin Hilderbrand
10. William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher
11. The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian
12. The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls
13. The Eye of God by James Rollins
14. A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin
15. Affliction by Laurell K. Hamilton      

Beat Boredom with Educational Activities and Art Projects

Pioneer Days: Discover the Past with Fun Projects, Games, Activities and Recipes by David King

Pioneer Days presents Liz and Sam Butler, two kids living with their parents on the western frontier. Modern children will follow Liz and Sam through the year 1843, and along the way they'll do all the things the Butler kids did. They'll make pioneer "fast food", play games from the 1800s, learn crafts taught to Liz and Sam by their Native American and African-American neighbors, make pioneer toys and holiday decorations, and much more. Also packed with historical information, Pioneer Days lets kids discover for themselves what life was like for the children of the early settlers. 

Includes:

1.  nearly 40 fun, simple, step-by-step projects and activities 
2.  90 illustrations and oodles of interesting historical facts

Ralph Masiello’s Robot Drawing Book by Ralph Masiello

Illustrator Ralph Masiello shares his love of robots in this newest addition to his popular drawing series. Step-by-step diagrams show young artists how to use simple shapes and lines to create basic 'bots. Challenge steps and a visit to the "spare parts warehouse" encourage kids to customize their designs.
 

How to Draw Goosebumps by Ron Zalme

Learn how to draw all of your favorite Goosebumps characters. With easy to follow step-by-step illustrations, even the most novice artist can bring to life Slappy, THe Haunted Mask, The Mummy, and Vampire Breath to life!

Fun and Exciting New Children's Books for Young Readers

 Let's Go Camping with Mr. Sillypants by M.K. Brown

When Mr. Sillypants gets lost on a camping trip, he has a dream about "The Three Bears".
 

Jerome Camps Out by Eileen Christelow

Jerome Alligator is going on a camping trip with his Swamp School classmates. Jerome and his pal P.J. are excited about swimming, hiking, fishing, and sleeping in a tent, but the class bully, Buster, turns out to be their tentmate, and he's up to his usual nasty tricks.  

Ape by Martin Jenkins

Swing with a hairy orangutan and her baby as they lunge for a smelly, spiky durian fruit. Roam and play with a gang of chimps, then poke out some tasty termites with a blade of grass. Chatter and feast on figs with a bonobo, or chomp on bamboo with a gorilla as he readies for sleep. What could be better than spending time with these rare and wonderful creatures — after all, the fifth great ape on this planet is you!

Cuckoo / Cucu by Lois Ehlert (Bilingual - Spanish / English)

Cuckoo is beautiful. Trouble is, she's lazy. She never does her share of work-that is, until a field fire threatens the season's seed crop and Cuckoo is the only one who can save it. But will she risk harming her lovely feathers by flying through the thick smoke and flames?
 

Let’s Watch the Ants Dance! by Sascha Paladino

It's the day of the big dance show and the ants refuse to dance!  When Kai-lan discovers one ant is being bossy, it's up to her to teach her friends that it's important to give everyone a choice.
 

Special Agent OSO: Redfinger by Marcy Kelman

When Juan scrapes his finger at the playground, he has to act fast! But what should he do first? Juan's not quite sure. Good thing Special Agent Oso is on the case! He and Paw Pilot have three special steps for Juan to follow, but they need your help! Join them on their special assignment-code name: Redfinger!

Janey and the Famous Author by Mary Downing Hahn

Third-grader Janey is never without a Bob the Dog Detective book by her favorite author, Lily May Appleton. She sneaks reading time during school and is often scolded for letting her mind wander. Janey snaps to attention, though, when her teacher mentions Ms. Appleton’s name. The author is scheduled to speak at a children’s literature festival, and Janey’s class will have a chance to meet her!

At last the big day comes, but once again Janey’s daydreaming gets her into trouble. She becomes separated from her class and completely misses the session with Ms. Appleton. Lost and devastated, Janey is consoled by a kind stranger who claims to be none other than—Lily May Appleton!
 

Some Things Go Together by Charlotte Zolotow

This lyrical, joyous celebration of life draws on pairings of delightful things found in the world around us.
 

A Very Mater Christmas by Frank Berrios

Lightning McQueen and Mater enjoy the holidays in Radiator Springs!  

Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole by Wong Yee

 
Mouse and Mole are neighbors. Mouse lives inside an oak tree, and Mole lives in a hole underneath. They are neighbors, but they are also friends. Sometimes friends make mistakes, but friends always try to help each other out. That is what Mouse and Mole do.

New Larger Print Romance Titles

The Pregnancy Test by Susan Gable

Fifteen-year-old Brook Thompson is scared to death. The test confirmed it. She's pregnant. Those two little lines have changed her life. But what really has her freaked out is how to tell her dad.

Jenna Quinn doesn't do kids. She prefers a life free of responsibility and only dates men who are very single. Unfortunately, she can't resist her new neighbor - a man with two kids. And when her queasy stomach turns out to be more than last night's bad Chinese food, Jenna has to quickly face the fact that she's going to have a kid of her own.

Great. Two pregnant women, pumped full of whacked-out hormones, pulling Sloan Thompson in opposite directions. How will he ever survive the next nine months?

The Lawyer's Contract Marriage by Amanda Browning

Samantha Lombardi was in love with barrister Ransom Shaw. But, forced to marry another man, she had to convince Ransom she'd never loved him. Six years later, Sam is widowed and unexpectedly reunited with Ransom. Now he believes her to be a selfish gold digger. But the sexual pull between them is still so strong Ransom proposes a redhot affair to get her out of his system.

However, Ransom's desire is not so easily satisfied.

The Last Cowboy Hero by Barbara McMahon

Holly Bennett hadn't listened to her father, and his words came back to haunt her when the boy she idolized got her pregnant and left town. A decade has dulled the pain--until the cowboy who broke her heart moves in next door.-- To settle an old score

Ty Alvarez tells himself their passion is dead, yet he can't ignore the sweet memories that flood back, especially after he and Holly realize they allowed a bitter old tyrant to steal years from their lives. Now he has the chance to be Holly's hero again, but only if he chooses love over revenge.

Intriguing Biographies You Shouldn't Miss

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona Carnarvon

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration and setting for Julian Fellowes's Emmy Award-winning PBS show Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war.

Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Cora Crawley, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Alfred de Rothschild, who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon's ancestral home.  Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman.

Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander by Phil Robertson

This no-holds-barred autobiography chronicles the remarkable life of Phil Robertson, the original Duck Commander and Duck Dynasty star, from early childhood through the founding of a family business. Life was always getting in the way of Phil Robertson’s passion for duck hunting.

An NFL-bound quarterback, Phil made his mark on Louisiana Tech University in the 1960s by playing football and completing his college career with a master’s degree in English. But Phil’s eyes were not always on the books or the ball; they were usually looking to the sky.

Phil grew up with the dream of living the simple life off the land like his forebears, but he soon found himself on a path to self-destruction—leasing a bar, drinking too much, fighting, and wasting his talents. He almost lost it all until he gave his life to God. And then everything changed.

Phil’s incredible story tells how he followed a calling from God and soon after invented a duck call that would begin an incredible journey to the life he had always dreamed of for himself and his family. With great love for his country, his family, and his maker, Phil has finally found the ingredients to the “good life” he always wanted.

New Teen Reads Available This Week

Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Bell

Gen's family is more comfortable spending time apart than together. Then Gen's mom signs them up for Camp Frontier—a vacation that promises the "thrill" of living like 1890s pioneers. Forced to give up all of her modern possessions, Gen nevertheless manages to email her friends back home about life at "Little Hell on the Prairie," as she's renamed the camp. It turns out frontier life isn't without its good points—like the cute boy who lives in the next clearing. And when her friends turn her emails into a blog, Gen is happily surprised by the fanbase that springs up. 

But just when it seems Gen and family might pull through the summer, disaster strikes as a TV crew descends on the camp, intent on discovering the girl behind the nationwide blogging sensation—and perhaps ruining the best vacation Gen has ever had.
 

Bunker 10 by J.A. Henderson

At eight o'clock in the evening, 24 December 2007, Pinewood Military Installation exploded. The blast ripped apart acres of forest and devastated the remote highland valley where the base was located. No official cause was given for the incident.

Inside Pinewood were 185 male and female personnel--a mixture of scientists and soldiers. There were also seven teenagers. 

This is the story of their last day . . . 
 

Monster High by Lisi Harrison
Monster High Series Book #1


They prefer to call themselves RAD (Regular Attribute Dodgers), but some call them monsters. So far, the "monster" community has kept a low profile in Salem, but this year two new girls enroll at Master High School, and the town will never be the same.

Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and cheerleading. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters who might be stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the "normi" world can be rough for a chic freak like her.
She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver--but can a normi be trusted with her big secret?

Icecore by Matt Whyman

He's a seventeen-year-old British computer hacker who penetrated the security systems at Fort Knox for a laugh. But the American government was less than amused. Since his prank, gold bars have been landing in the hands of terrorists across the globe.

Now, Carl has found himself in a military prison deep in the Arctic and far off the grid. He's been caged alongside the world's most notorious terrorists, with no one to trust and no end in sight.

Carl Hobbes may not be a criminal mastermind, but if he wants to escape this subzero prison with his life, he'll have to start thinking like one.
 

Aurelie: a Faerie Tale by Heather Tomlinson

Once upon a time, three children and a little river dragon were the best of friends - until a promise was broken. Now they are almost grown up and barely speaking to one another.

Of the four, it is Princess Aurelie who feels the loss the most. How can she prevent a war when she can't even make her friends get along? Heartsick at losing her dearest companions, Aurelie finds comfort in the beauty of fairyland. 

But a princess can't hide from her duties forever. Her country needs her, and so do her friends, whether they know it or not.
 

Me, My Elf and I by Heather Swain

It's not often you see an elf in the middle of Brooklyn, let alone a tall, blond, gorgeous elf in the middle of one of the most prestigious performing arts high schools in the country. And yet, that's just where Zephyr Addler finds herself: smack dab in the middle of a bustling New York City school, worlds away from the secluded woodland community she knows so well. 

But Zephyr knows that she has to figure out how to live in the world. And dress in the world. Thanks to a little friendly advice from her new friend Mercedes, Zephyr starts to get the hang of Brooklyn. That is, until Zephyr snags a role in a commercial, beating out the most popular girl in school, Bella Dartagnan. 

Now with Bella and her friends out to get her, can Zephyr out-maneuver the mean girls (and catch the eye of a certain cute boy) without losing herself?
 

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex, especially when she compares herself to her slim, brilliant, picture-perfect family. 

But that’s before a shocking phone call — and a horrifying allegation — about her rugby-star brother changes everything. With irreverent humor and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creates an endearingly blunt heroine who speaks to every teen who struggles with family expectations, and proves that the most impressive achievement is to be true to yourself.
 

Prey by Stefan Petrucha
Wicked Dead Series Book # 5

Tonight's tale . . .

Rabbit food. Windowpanes. Pennies. Chelsea Kaüer counts and frets over everything—her OCD won't let her stop. But when her biology teacher, Ms. Mandisa, asks her to pet-sit, Chelsea can't think of a reason to say no. After all, it's extra pocket money—nothing to worry about, right?

Wrong. Ms. Mandisa's "pet" is a six-foot lizard with a poisonous bite and a taste for red meat. And if Chelsea doesn't think fast, she'll be dead meat.

Bec by Darren Shan
Demonata Series Book #4

As demonic Fomorii ravage their land, Bec and a band of warrior companions leave their devastated rath to answer a plea for help. An orphaned priestess-in-training, Bec hopes the journey will help her solve the mysteries of her birth. 

But fighting demons has a steep price...

Majix by Douglas Rees

My name is Kestrel.Kestrel Murphy.

Never call me Susan.

Who ever heard of a witch named Susan?

A year ago, I was on the white-magic side. Lately, I've been leaning toward the black. I blame the universe. What's the point in being a nice little white witch in the universe I've got? If I could choose my own universe, I'd be a white witch in it. But black makes a lot more sense in this universe.

Not that I'm complaining. A witch never complains. But if I did, I'd have a lot to complain about. For instance: Richard Milhous Nixon High.

What's a teen witch to do when she's stuck in the most unmagical high school in the universe? Create her own "majix." Take notes. And above all, avoid nasty classmates, heartless grown-ups and boys who may prove a little too distracting for a serious teen witch to handle.
 

Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman

You are indestructible. Three whispered words transfer an astonishing power to Jacob Fielding that changes everything. At first, Jacob is hesitant to use the power, unsure of its implications. But there's something addictive about testing the limits of fear.

Then Ophelia James, the beautiful and daring new girl in town, suggests that they use the power to do good, to save others. But with every heroic act, the power grows into the specter of a curse. How to decide who lives and who dies?
In this nail-biting novel of mystery and dark intrigue, Jacob must walk the razor thin line between right and wrong, good and evil, and life and death. And time is running out. Because the Grim Reaper doesn't disappear. . . . He catches up.

The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Kidnapped by Yxta Murray

Michelle Pena's life is postcard perfect. She has a loving father, a new best friend, and a shot at a track scholarship at a prestigious prep school. It's everything an Ivy League-aspiring suburban girl could ask for. But Michelle isn't one of those girls.

She's a gang princess. Or at least she was until a gruesome crime tore her family apart. Money disappeared. Her mom landed in prison, her brother in juvie. Only Michelle escaped.

Turns out she didn't run far enough. Herold gang want their money back, and they have finally caught up to her. Michelle's childhood love, Silver Mendoza, says he's after the cash, too. But what he really wants is her.

Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins

Don't call me a demon. I prefer the term Fallen Angel.

Everybody deserves a vacation, right? Especially if you have a pointless job like tormenting the damned. So who could blame me for blowing off my duties and taking a small, unauthorized break?

Besides, I've always wanted to see what physical existence is like. That's why I "borrowed" the slightly used body of a slacker teen. Believe me, he wasn't going to be using it anymore anyway.

I have never understood why humans do the things they do. Like sin--if it's so terrible, why do they keep doing it?

I'm going to have a lot of fun finding out.

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Lynburn Legacy Series Book #1

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. 

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. 

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Shimmer by Dallas Reed

When the box is opened, everything starts to change.

On a freezing night in Winter, Colorado, there's a party going on—and it will change the town forever.

Justin, the party's host, doesn't know that the box in his dad's study contains a shimmering dust that has the power to transform all it touches. Emma, the cute new girl, doesn't know she will spend the next twenty-four hours running for her life through a freezing blizzard. Russ, a local snowboarder, doesn't know that the person he loves most is about to betray him. And Tess, the queen of the school, only knows she wants to see what's in that box.

Nobody knows what's coming—yet. But as the party gets under way, the residents of Winter will find themselves face-to-face with forces darker than any December storm.

The Hunt of the Unicorn by C.C. Humphreys 

Elayne thinks the old family story that one of her ancestors stepped through a tapestry into a world of mythical beasts makes a great fireside tale. But she lives in the real world. In New York City. And she's outgrown that kind of fantasy.

Until she finds herself in front of a unicorn tapestry at the Cloisters museum and sees her initials woven into the fabric. And hears a unicorn calling to her. And slips and falls—into that other world.

Suddenly the line between fantasy and reality isn't so clear. But the danger is real enough. Almost before she can think, Elayne is attacked by a ferocious beast, rescued by a unicorn, and taken prisoner by a tyrant king. Each of them seems to have an idea about her—that she's a hero, a villain, dinner!

But Elayne has a few ideas of her own. She wants to overthrow the king; she wants to tame the unicorn. She wants to go home! And she's willing to become both hero and villain to do it.

Idol Dreams by Charlotte Lamb (Manga/Graphic Novel)

Quincy wouldn't have seen this coming in her wildest dreams. What ordinary girl-next-door would? One minute you're sitting down to tea in your kitchen, talking with a friend, and the next - the man of your dreams comes knocking at your door, and he's looking for YOU. 

Quincy never expected to be swept off her feet by a gorgeous, world-famous pop star, but now that it's happening, she's not sure she's the right one for him. Swept up in the glamorous thrill of it all, Quincy is worried that it's all happening a little too fast, not to mention her concerns that she's really not the right girl to call a sexy superstar her boyfriend. It's a good thing for Joe that his desire to be with her is as strong as his star appeal
 

Crater by Homer Hickam
Helium-3 Series Book #1

A MINING COLONY ON THE MOON. A DEADLY MISSION. AND A SECRET BIGGER THAN TWO WORLDS.

It's the 22nd Century. A tough, pioneering people mine the moon for Helium-3 to produce energy for a desperate, war-torn Earth.

Sixteen-year-old Crater Trueblood loves his job as a Helium-3 miner. But when he saves a fellow miner, his life changes forever. Impressed by his heroism, the owner of the mine orders Crater to undertake a dangerous mission. Crater doubts himself, but has no choice. He must go.

With the help of Maria, the mine owner's frustrating but gorgeous granddaughter, and his gillie--a sentient and sometimes insubordinate clump of slime mold cells--Crater must fight both human and subhuman enemies. He'll battle his way across a thousand miles of deadly lunar terrain and face genetically altered super warriors in his quest to recover an astonishing object that will alter the lives of everyone on the moon.

New York Times Best Seller List (7/21/2013

Note: Titles highlighted in BLUE are currently available for checkout. Titles highlighted in RED have been ordered and will be available for checkout soon.

Fiction

1. Inferno by Dan Brown
2. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
4. Second Honeymoon by James Patterson
5. Affliction by Laurell K. Hamilton
6. Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
7. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
8. Beautiful Day by Erin Hilderbrand 
9. The Eye of God by James Rollins
10. Unseen by Karin Slaughter
11. The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls    
12. William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher
13. The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank
14. The Heist by Janet Evanovich
15. A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin   

Thrilling New Reads for Teens and Tweens

The Fires of Merlin by T.A. Barron

Wings of Fire, the sleeping dragon, has awakened, threatening to loose his terrible wrath on all of Fincayra. Only young Merlin, grandson of the great wizard Tuatha, can stop him, though the price may well be the young wizard's life. But before he can face the dragon's fires, Merlin must endure fires of other kinds—including those within himself. 

He must face the evil, batlike kreelixes who exist only to destroy magic; the mysterious Wheel of Wye; and the sorceress Urnalda, who holds the treasured Galator. Most challenging, young Merlin must discover not the power but the source of his own magic. 

Mudshark by Gary Paulsen

Mudshark is the go-to guy for any mysteries that need solving. Lost your shoe? Can’t find your homework? Ask Mudshark. That is, until the Psychic Parrot takes up residence in the school library and threatens to overturn Mudshark’s position as the guy who knows all the answers. The word in school is that the parrot can out-think Mudshark. And right now, the school needs someone who’s good at solving problems. There’s an escaped gerbil running rampant, an emergency in the faculty restroom, and all the erasers are disappearing from the classrooms.

When Mudshark solves the mystery of who’s stealing the erasers, he discovers the culprit has the best of intentions. Now he has to think of a way to prevent the Psychic Parrot from revealing the eraser-thief’s identity. With a bit of misdirection and a lot of quick thinking, Mudshark restores order to the chaos . . . just for the moment.

The Land of the Dead by Mary Pope Osborne 

Odysseus and his men have defeated the one-eyed giant, but its curse follows them at every turn. Cast out to the open seas by the wind god, Odysseus and his fleet continue the difficult journey home. But they cannot return to Ithaca yet. 

First they must take on giant cannibals and outwit a beautiful witch, who reveals Odysseus' next challenge - a journey to the mysterious and feared land of the dead.

Revenge of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine

It's a whole new ride from master of horror and bestselling author R.L. Stine--with a story so fiendish that it can't be contained to just one book!

Fright-master R.L. Stine invites you on an all-new, all-terrifying adventure!
The thrill ride begins when 12-year-old Britney Crosby encounters an old ventriloquist's dummy with a lively secret--and a wicked plan.

Just when she thinks the nightmare is over, Britney receives an invitation to an amusement park where everything is not as it seems. Who--or what--is summoning ordinary kids to HorrorLand? Britney and her friends must find out fast--or remain trapped forever in the scariest place on Earth.

Vampire Breath by R.L. Stine

He's a dentist's nightmare...

Tough. That's Freddy Martinez and his friend, Cara. They're not afraid of anything. But that was before they went exploring in Freddy's basement. Before they found the secret room. Before they found the bottle of Vampire Breath.

Poor Freddy and Cara. They should have never opened that bottle of Vampire Breath. Because now there's a vampire in Freddy's basement. 

And he's very, very thirsty.
 

The Headless Ghost by R.L. Stine

They've got a real head start.

Everyone knows about Hill House. It's the biggest tourist attraction in town. That's because it's haunted. Haunted by the ghost of a thirteen-year-old boy. A boy with no head!

Duane and Stephanie love Hill House. It's dark. And creepy. And totally scary.

Still, they've never actually seen the ghost. Until the night they decide to go on a search. A search for his head.
 

Heads, You Lose! By R.L. Stine

Jessica Bowen and Ryan Chang bring home a two-headed "joke" coin from the HorrorLand souvenir shop. A simple coin toss transports them to a world of terror. They find themselves back in time, being chased by guards who accuse them of beheading the prince. 

Unless they can avenge him and reunite him with his head, their own heads will be on the chopping block.
 

June Jam by Ron Roy
Calendar Mystery Series Book #6

Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy want to make homemade strawberry jam for Father's Day. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as it first seems. Some sneaky creature is taking bites of their strawberries. Polly the pony, Pal the dog, and Josh the older brother are all suspects.

If the kids can't protect the strawberry patch from the mystery chomper, they might be in a real jam!

Marvin Redpost: Super Fast, Out of Control by Louis Sachar

Many have tried to master the slippery slopes of Suicide Hill on their bikes. Marvin's older brother has conquered the hill, but Marvin has steered clear. Until now. The word at school is that Marvin will be taking on the hill with his new mountain bike. But the truth is, he can barely climb on the seat! And the gears--forget about it. 

How did he suddenly become a daredevil? Does he have to go through with it to prove himself? 

If Marvin makes it, he'll be a hero. If not, his friends and family may catch the biggest wipeout in history!

Darkside by Tom Becker
Darkside Series Book #1

Dark alleys,
Dangerous tunnels,
Creatures of the night…
There's no place like home. 


Jonathan Starling's home has been attacked, his dad is in an asylum, he's running for his life, and there's nowhere to hide.

Jonathan has stumbled upon London's greatest secret: Darkside.

Incredibly dangerous and unimaginably exciting, Darkside is the creepiest place Jonathan has ever seen. It's a world of nightmares and secrets, where fear and evil rule, and Jonathan has to find a way out....

The Thief Queen’s Daughter by Elizabeth Haydon

On his first day on the job as Royal Reporter of the land of Serendair, King Vandemere sends young Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme--known as Ven--on a secret mission within the walls of the Gated City. His quest? To discover the origin of a mysterious artifact given to the king's father. The king warns Ven to take care--because once you enter the Gated City, you might never be allowed to leave.

Within its walls, all sorts of exotic merchandise not found anywhere else in the world can be bought or sold. But not only merchandise. Dreams, wishes, memories…even childhood…can be sold--or stolen. The Gated City is ruled by the powerful Raven's Guild, and the guild is ruled by the Queen of Thieves.

Ven and his friends enter the Gated City ready for adventure. But when one friend is kidnapped and it is revealed that they are traveling in the company of the runaway daughter of the Queen of Thieves herself, their adventure turns deadly. For the ruthless Thief Queen will stop at nothing to get her daughter back.

Horowitz Horror: Stories You’ll Wish You’d Never Read by Anthony Horowitz

Welcome to a world where everything seems normal.

At least, at first. But the sinister and truly terrifying lurk just beneath the surface. Like a bathtub with a history so haunted, no one dares get in it. . . or an ordinary-looking camera that does unspeakable things to its subjects. . .or a mysterious computer game that has terrible consequences if you lose.
 

Chance Fortune and the Outlaws by Shane Berryhill

For as long as he can remember, fourteen-year-old Joshua Blevins has wanted to be a superhero. He has the brains, the passion, and the heart. There's only one problem: he doesn't have any superpowers. But Josh isn't about to let that stop him. 

Determined not to give up on his dream, Josh enlists the aid of his mentor, Captain Fearless, a retired costumed adventurer, to gain entrance to the Burlington Academy for the Superhuman under the false identity of Chance Fortune--a superhuman with the power of having unnaturally good luck. 

Masquerading as Chance, Josh rises among the ranks of his fellow students at the Academy, eventually becoming the leader of his own combat team, the Outlaws. Together, Chance and his teammates Psy-Chick, Shocker, Gothika, Space Cadet, Iron Maiden, and Private Justice make new friends, battle new enemies, and ultimately find themselves caught up in a struggle for the fate of the universe. Can Chance and the Outlaws save the universe--AND survive their freshman year?