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.

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!

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. 

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!

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. 

Girl Stuff

Fonda, Drew and Ruthie have been neighbors and best friends since they were little but will now be attending the same school for the first time ever.  Fonda, excited to be attending school without being overshadowed by an older sister, can’t wait to have a group she can depend on in the face of an intimidating girl clique.  Drew, who was at a private school, is looking forward to not having to wear a uniform and going to the same school as a cute boy she met over the summer.  Ruthie, who has been attending an alternative school with a long list of rules and restrictions, is glad to have more freedom to be herself.  When Ruth is placed in the Talented and Gifted program, one whose students are kept separate from the other students, however, Fonda realizes their threesome may be in jeopardy.  Drew’s crush, who seemed so into her only a week ago, suddenly acts like he doesn’t know who see is.  Fonda has finally been noticed by the popular girls, but does she really want to hang out with them if Ruthie and Drew aren’t included?  As their bonds of friendship are tested, the three find out how awful it feels to be lied to, left out, and ignored.  Can they nurture the elements of true friendship and see how great it feels to just be yourself?  Perfect for fans of the Baby-sitters Club series. 

Shine!

Seventh-grader Piper is heartbroken when she learns that she has to leave her public school and begin mid-year at Chumley Prep, the local independent school that has offered her father, a choral teacher who dreams of writing Broadway musicals, a job and a tuition-free spot for his daughter.  Piper’s mother, who passed away when Piper was three, had been a star cellist at the school and the seventh-grader feels the pressure to shine.  As she had expected, Piper initially feels out of place at the school.  Some of the Chumley students are not very welcoming, especially the popular Ainsley who tries to sabotage all of the newcomer’s attempts to thrive at her new school.  When a new award for the student who “most fully demonstrates overall excellence” is announced, many of the students implement strategies to determine how they can exhibit the characteristics that will win this prize that has rather vague criteria.  Piper, who shines primarily in science, has no hopes of being selected but when she wins the school science fair, some of her new friends believe she is a real contender.  Will it be her innate kindness and willingness to help others, however, that gets her noticed and gives her a chance to shine?  Bursting with humor and heart, Shine is a story about finding your place in the world and shining wherever that might be!

The Queen Bee and Me

Meg has always found comfort in her best friend Beatrix's shadow. Self-assured Beatrix is the one who makes decisions, and the girls have been a pair since kindergarten. But middle school has brought some changes in Beatrix, especially when Meg tries to step outside her role as sidekick.  A special science elective is Meg's first step away, but when she's paired with quirky new girl Hazel, Beatrix steps in to stake her claim on Meg. Meg is taken aback at how mean Beatrix can be—and how difficult it is to stand up to her friend. But as Meg gets to know Hazel while working on their backyard beehive project, she starts to wonder: Is being Beatrix's friend worth turning down the possibility of finding her own voice?  This book by North Carolina author Gillian McDunn is a heartfelt story of the dynamics of tween friendship that will resonate with readers of all ages. 

Room to Dream

In this third book in the Front Desk series, Mia Tang continues to pursue her dreams.  After years of hard work, she finally gets to go on the vacation she has yearned for – a family trip to China.  Mia can ’t wait to see all of her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents again, especially her favorite cousin Shen.  As she roams around Beijing, she witnesses some of the big changes China is going through.  Change is happening in Mia’s life too.  Her best friend, Lupe, is taking classes at the high school and seems to be too busy with the demands of her schoolwork to have time to spend with Mia.  Mia’s writing may have found a home with a column in a Chinese newspaper, but will her stories of her life in the US for Chinese readers backfire when her US friends become aware of it?  Something has happened with her relationship with Jason too but Mia is clueless about how to deal with with it.  The biggest change, however, may be the disappearance of many of the small businesses Mia loves, both in China and at home, and their replacement by big chain stores.  Can the Calivista survive?  Mia is more determined than ever to deal with these winds of change but can she still find the room to dream?  

Three Keys

The story of Mia and her family and friends at the Calivista Motel continues in this powerful, hilarious, and resonant sequel to the award-winning novel Front Desk.  Mia Tang thinks she's going to have the best year ever. She and her parents are the proud owners of the Calivista Motel, Mia gets to run the front desk with her best friend, Lupe, and she's finally getting somewhere with her writing!  But as it turns out, sixth grade is no picnic!  First, Mia's new teacher doesn't think her writing is all that great and her entire class finds out she lives and works in a motel!   Secondly, the motel is struggling, and Mia has to answer to the Calivista's many, many worried investors.   And finally, a new immigration law is looming and if it passes, it will threaten everything — and everyone — in Mia's life.  It's a roller coaster of challenges, and Mia needs all of her determination to hang on tight. But if anyone can find the key to getting through turbulent times, it's Mia Tang!

Isaiah Dunn is My Hero

Ten year old Isaiah Dunn’s life has been spiraling out of control since his father died four months ago.  His mother struggles with depression and alcoholism and his family is in danger of being evicted from the cheap motel they moved into after losing their apartment.    Isaiah is now the big man of the house. But it's a lot harder than his dad made it look. His little sister, Charlie, asks too many questions, and Mama's gone totally silent. Good thing Isaiah can count on his best friend, Sneaky, who always has a scheme for getting around the rules. Plus, his classmate Angel has a few good ideas of her own—once she stops hassling Isaiah.  And when things get really tough, there's Daddy's journal, filled with stories about the amazing Isaiah Dunn, a superhero who gets his powers from beans and rice. Isaiah wishes his dad's tales were real. He could use those powers right about now! Determined to earn the money needed for a new apartment, Isaiah tries his hand at selling candy to classmates and sweeping up hair at a barbershop, continuing to connect with his father’s stories through his own emerging talents as a poet and writer.  With chapters that are each a calendar-date vignette of Isaiah’s challenges, this debut novel explores the indomitable spirit of a ten-year-old boy and the superhero strength it takes to grow up.

The Tiny Mansion

The last thing Dagmar wants is to spend her summer vacation squished into a tiny house with her dad, her stepmom, and her annoying five-year-old half brother. But after a sudden financial setback, her family is evicted from their Oakland apartment, and that's just where they end up, parked among the towering redwoods of Northern California.  As Dagmar explores the forest around their new and (hopefully) temporary home, she discovers they are living next door to an eccentric tech billionaire and his very unusual extended family. There's his brother, a woodsman who sets dangerous booby traps all over the place, and his sister, a New Age animal lover who meditates to whale songs in an isolation tank. And then there's the billionaire's son, Blake, who has everything he could ever wish for—except maybe a friend.  And with both families at risk of losing everything, it turns out it's not the size of the home but the people you share it with that matters.

City of Gold

Just weeks after arriving in Colorado to start a new farm following the death of their dad, the Hollowell family is looking at disaster.  Fifteen year old Owen witnesses the theft of their mules and learns that Hercules and Peaches will likely be sold by the thieves to work in the mines of cities over the mountains.   Knowing that the family won’t survive without livestock to plow the fields and despite the protests of younger brother Till who is kept home by their mother, Owen sets out to track the rustlers and retrieve his animals.  After a dangerous mountain trek, he finds himself in Telluride, the self-proclaimed "City of Gold." With help from a colorful assortment of townsfolk, miners, a girl named Molly, and even his Wild West–loving brother Till, Owen learns the truth about the mules and the man who took them. Now all he must do is convince the town's infamous marshal to help him catch the outlaw.   Telluride’s notorious marshal finally takes an interest when he identifies the rustler as one of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch and the lawman leads Owen and Till into the canyon country all the way to Robbers Roost, the camp of the outlaw gang.   Can this young boy outsmart an experienced gang of thieves to get back the animals key to his family’s survival?  Rich in adventure, history, and humor, this odyssey set in the twilight of the Wild West by favorite author Will Hobbs will keep you reading way past your bedtime

Super Puzzletastic Mysteries: Short Stories for Young Sleuths from Mystery Writers of America

This collection of 20 never before published short mysteries by favorite authors such as Stuart Gibbs, Peter Lerangis, James Ponti and Chris Grabenstein offers a variety of capers for young mystery lovers.  From stolen fundraising money to kidnapped squirrel monkeys to magical misdirection, each narrative presents a unique opportunity to practice deduction and problem-solving skills, with clues such as ciphers, crosswords, and magic squares.  With solutions found in the back of the book, these entries are short enough for classroom read-alouds and encourage “out-of-the-box” thinking and team collaboration.  A perfect choice for readers who shy away from longer chapter books but love the excitement of figuring out “who did it?”  A much needed format for classroom and individual collections. 

One Last Shot

For as long as he can remember, Malcolm has never felt like he was good enough.  Not for his parents, who always seem to be at odds with each other, and especially for his dad, whose competitive drive and love for sports Malcolm has never shared.  When he discovers miniature golf, the one sport he actually enjoys, his dad jumps in to sign his son up for tournaments and find him a bona fide coach.  Frank originally seems to be just a washed up golfer turned coach who is just working with Malcolm for the lesson payments, but is he the confidant and role model that the boy needs?  When he meets another mini golf lover who offers some insights into his messy family life, Malcolm realizes that figuring out the challenges of his favorite sport may help him put the pieces of his family back together as well.  A heart-warming story of family, friendship and a sport rarely in the limelight by one of the best authors of realistic fiction. 

Max’s Story: A Puppy Tale

Max is a feisty little Chihuahua Yorkie mix who doesn’t seem to like any of the potential forever families interested in him.  As soon as he sets his eyes on CJ, however, the little dog knows that she’s his girl.  He is a native New Yorker and quickly figures out that his purpose is to show her how to navigate the big city.  He may be the smallest dog at the park but he knows how to take charge and is determined to prove to all of the other canines that he’s the alpha dog.  Can CJ help Max learn that he doesn’t always have to be ferocious and that a more gentle Max may be happier after all?  Another in the Puppy Tale series from favorite animal story author Bruce Cameron.

The Unexplained Disappearance of Mars Patel

Mars Patel’s friend Aurora has disappeared! His teachers are clueless. His mom is stressed out about her jobs. But Mars refuses to give up—after all, his own dad disappeared when Mars was a toddler, before he and Ma moved to Puget Sound from India. Luckily, Mars has a group of loyal friends eager to help—smart Toothpick, strong and stylish JP, and maybe-telepathic Caddie. The clues seem to point toward eccentric tech genius (and Mars’s hero) Oliver Pruitt, whose popular podcast now seems to be commenting on their quest! But when the friends investigate Pruitt’s mysterious, elite school, nothing is as it seems—and anyone could be deceiving them. Slick science, corporate conspiracies, an endearingly nerdy protagonist, and a cliff-hanger ending make this first book in the series a fresh, exciting sci-fi adventure.   Based on a Peabody-award podcast, this tech-filled adventure series pits intrepid Mars Patel and his outcast friends against a brilliant, enigmatic billionaire as they race to figure out why kids from their school and around the world are disappearing without a trace.

Kudo Kids: The Mystery of the Masked Medalist

Andy and Mika are going to Tokyo! The Kudo Kids have never been to Japan before, so they can't believe they get to attend the Summer Olympics there. The siblings plan to eat tons of delicious Japanese food, watch every event they can, and win a super-popular new game called OlympiFan.  Developed by a mysterious former medalist, OlympiFan brings players together from all over the world to search Tokyo for virtual medals and clues to the creator's identity. Andy loves puzzles, and he's determined to crack this one, especially since the winning team will get to be beta testers for the Masked Medalist's future games!  Mika wants to find as many clues as she can, but she also has a secret goal of her own—one that could get her into big trouble. But when someone sabotages the game, the Kudo Kids have an even bigger mystery to solve than the Masked Medalist's identity. If they want to capture the gold, Mika and Andy have to figure out who's trying to stop their team before someone beats them to the grand prize!

The perfect “what might have been” mystery !

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.