True Hauntings: Deadly Disasters

In these scary stories of thrilling survival and restless spirits, veteran ghost writer Dinah Williams explores the stories and alleged haunting of some of the deadliest catastrophes in history.  Whether it’s the lost souls left behind following the 2011 Japanese tsunami, the ghost that frightens miners who perished in a Utah coal mine explosion, or a phantom train which appears on the anniversary of the deadliest train crash in North Carolina history, these stories will captivate who can’t get enough of the scary!  With historical photos and sidebars that are equal parts educational and terrifying, readers will find that sometimes fact is even scarier than fiction. 

True Hauntings: Battlefield Ghosts

A bloody soldier who disappears into thin air.  Flickering orbs floating over a military cemetery.  History is filled with brave fighters cut down in the heat of battle.  But what if they aren’t resting in peace?  This second volume in the True Hauntings series revisits deadly clashes from the past and the ghosts they left behind, from a headless horseman galloping through the night to restless spirits rising from sunken ships.  There is no doubt that true stories can be the most terrifying of all!

The Pumpkin War

At the end of every summer, Madeline Island hosts its famous pumpkin race. All summer, adults and kids across the island grow giant, thousand-pound pumpkins, then hollow one out and paddle in it across the lake to the cheers of the entire town.  Twelve-year-old Billie loves to win; she has a bulletin board overflowing with first-prize ribbons. Her best friend Sam doesn't care much about winning, or at least Billie didn't think so until last summer's race, when his pumpkin crashed into hers as she was about to cross the finish line and he won. This summer, Billie is determined to get revenge by growing the best and biggest pumpkin and beating Sam in the race. It's a tricky science to grow pumpkins, since weather, bugs, and critters can wipe out a crop. Then a surprise visit from a long-lost relative shakes things up, and Billie begins to see her family, and her bond with Sam, in a new way.  A captivating story of competition and personal discovery with lots of great information about growing pumpkins as well. 

Wild Survival: Crocodile Rescue!

Twelve-year-old Adrianna Villalobos and her older brother Feye travel the globe with their parents, the hosts of a suspenseful nature show called "Wild Survival!" The show features daring animal rescues and the work the family does at their animal sanctuary. They've recently gotten an offer to take the show from YouTube to a TV network, and Adrianna is thrilled. So far, she's always been behind the scenes, but now she gets to join the rest of her family onscreen. She can't wait to bring her passion for animals to a wide audience.  Their first stop is the lush mangrove forests of Cuba, where they're going to help rescue an injured crocodile. But things get off to a rocky start when Feye is injured in an accident partially caused by Adrianna. The status of the show is in jeopardy, and Adrianna's parents want her back behind the scenes, or maybe even back at home.  Adrianna is determined to prove herself, and save the show-whatever it takes, even if that means confronting the legendary Mega Croc of Cuba that's rumored to inhabit the murky waters around their base camp.  Based on the author’s real-life wildlife encounters, this edge-of-your seat tale also includes real animal facts and light illustrations.  A page-turner you can’t put down!

Wild Survival: Swimming with Sharks!

Twelve-year-old Adrianna Villalobos and her older brother Feye travel the globe with their parents, the hosts of a suspenseful nature show called "Wild Survival!" The show features daring animal rescues and the work the family does at their animal sanctuary.  This time the family is off to Sri Lanka. They’ve heard a rumor that an extremely rare Pondicherry shark might have been sighted. Once they arrive, Adrianna, Feye, and their parents discover the rumored Pondicherry shark is the main attraction in a restaurant aquarium. Is this shark really the one they’re looking for? And if it is, can they convince the restaurant’s owners to release it back in the wild?  Packed with animal facts and illustrations as well as non-fiction back matter, this story of man versus one of the world’s most feared creatures is perfect for readers who love fast-paced tales of adventure.

War Stories

There are two things Trevor loves more than anything else: playing war-based video games, and his great-grandfather Jacob, who is a true-blue, bona fide war hero. At the height of the war, Jacob helped liberate a small French village, and was given a hero's welcome upon his return to America.  Now it's decades later, and Jacob wants to retrace the steps he took during the war - from training to invasion to the village he is said to have saved. Trevor thinks this is the coolest idea ever. But as they get to the village, Trevor discovers there's more to the story than what he's heard his whole life, causing him to wonder about his great-grandfather's heroism, the truth about the battle he fought, and importance of genuine valor.  A must-read story of telling truth from lies and finding out what being a hero really means from favorite author Gordon Korman. 

Ways to Make Sunshine

Fourth grader Ryan Hart was named by her mom with a name that means “king”, hoping her daughter would feel powerful each time she heard it.  So when changes occur or disaster strikes, budding chef Ryan does her best to find the positive and “make sunshine”.  When her dad loses his job, the family must make changes that include moving to a smaller house, selling their car, and changing how they shop for groceries.  But Ryan gets to stay at her same school and her mom still finds a way to get the ingredients Ryan needs to practice her new recipes.  This spunky character is also capable of standing up for herself, particularly when she is teased for having a name more commonly given to boys or dealing with her bossy older brother.  She has a lively imagination which comes in handy when she and her best friend, Kiki, prepare for the school talent show together.  From Easter speeches to African American hair care, this first in a series will give those whose lives reflect that of Ryan the opportunity to relate to a middle grade title character.  A must-read story that celebrates the strength of family and the importance of a positive attitude!

Raising Lumie

Twelve year old Olive Hudson’s life has had lots of recent changes.  Her father has passed away and Olive is moving to a new town to live with a half-sister, Maudie, that she barely knows.  They will be sharing a house with folks neither of them has yet to meet.  Olive believes that having a dog would really help but that seems to be out of the question until a chance meeting with a young man who is losing his sight turns into an opportunity to raise a pup named Lumie to be a guide dog for the blind.  With a commitment to do everything it takes to train Lumie for a future as a service dog, Olive wants to be a great trainer but realizes that success will mean losing the companion she’s grown to love and cherish.    A story of the incredible bond between a girl and a dog with a twist that gives this book an extra dimension perfect for animal lovers of all ages.

Katarina Ballerina

Ten year old Katarina is a New York City girl through and through but her big dream is to become a prima ballerina.  Dance lessons are expensive though so she has been teaching herself via the internet.  After a school talent show performance convinces her dad to sign her up for lessons in a studio, Katarina discovers that her feet don’t move quite the way she’d like them to, the twirls and spins make her dizzy, and not all of her new classmates are very welcoming.  One of them does reach out, however, with an offer to help Katarina improve her skills and a potential friendship emerges.  When the head of the dance studio announces that there will be a competition to earn a spot in an upcoming international dance camp, both girls set their sights on being chosen.  With a co-author who was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, this is the perfect choice for budding dancers who know the challenges of making their dreams come true.

Fins: A Sharks Incorporated Novel

The world’s shark population is in trouble for a sad, simple reason: shark fin soup. And although it’s illegal, poachers have been targeting Florida’s biannual migration of blacktip sharks. Marine biologist Doc Ford needs some assistance protecting the sharks and enlists the help of three kids—Luke, Maribel and Sabina. Luke is brand-new to Florida from the Midwest; sisters Maribel and Sabina have only recently arrived from Cuba—and all three feel like fish out of water. It’s going to take some convincing for them to work as a team and to recognize in themselves the courage, wisdom and tenacity that Doc sees in them.  Together they form Sharks, Inc. and are given an important assignment: to set out each day on their small fishing boat in hopes of tagging sharks for Doc’s research—and to stay away—far away—from any possible poachers in the area. The trio certainly isn’t looking for trouble, but when they come face to face with danger, survival requires them to rely on each of their own unique gifts, and especially on one another.

A Whale of the Wild

For young whale Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family’s matriarch. But when she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod after a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable, Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the leader she’s destined to be?  This beautifully illustrated animal adventure explores family bonds, survival, global warning and a changing seascape and includes information about orcas and their habitats.  A perfect choice for fans of A Wolf Called Wander and The One and Only Ivan. 

Triple Threat

When twelve-year-old Alex makes up her mind to join her middle school's football team, she doesn't expect it to be easy. But she also never anticipated she'd be met with scorn and derision from her exclusively male teammates. Football has always been a source of happiness for Alex. She and her single father never miss a Steelers game on TV, and Alex knows she has a talent for throwing the perfect spiral. But the guys suck the joy right out of the game for Alex—going out of their way to trip her up during tryouts, and teaming up against her just to watch her fail. In spite of the support of one lone teammate, Alex is the lowest she's ever felt. But if getting QB is worth it to her, she's going to have to fight for it.  An action packed story from a favorite sports writer, Mike Lupica.