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Kids' BooksSeptember 2014
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"What you have to do here is take fate in your hands and wrestle it to the ground." ~ from Kate DiCamillo's Leroy Ninker Saddles Up
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New and Recently Released!
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| Star Wars Jedi Academy: Return of the Padawan by Jeffrey BrownGraphic Science Fiction. It's Roan's second year at Jedi Academy, which means he finally gets to try the starpilot simulator. But flight training doesn't go as Roan expected, and as if that weren't frustrating enough, he also has to deal with bullies, lightsaber duels, and feuding friends. Fans of the Dork Diaries or Wimpy Kid series will enjoy the authentic humor of this diary-style book, while Star Wars fans will appreciate the scribbly illustrations, which show Jedi, aliens, and droids in everyday school settings like the cafeteria or gym class -- Kirkus Reviews says "if you haven't seen a Wookiee with a sweatband, you haven't lived." |
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| Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo; illustrated by Chris Van DusenFiction. In real life, Leroy Ninker sells popcorn at the Bijou Drive-In Theater. But in his dreams, Leroy is a cowboy just like the ones in the Wednesday night Western movie double feature. Determined to make his dreams come true, Leroy learns to talk and dress like a cowboy (boots, hat, and all) and goes in search of a trusty steed. What he finds, however, is Maybelline, an old horse who loves sweet talk and prefers spaghetti to hay. Supported by old-fashioned yet energetic artwork, two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo's distinctively quirky blend of humor and heart shines in this chapter book spin-off of the popular Mercy Watson series. |
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| Comics Squad: Recess! by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, editorsGraphic Short Stories. Using bold black-and-neon-orange illustrations, a diverse gang of popular comics artists -- including Jennifer Holm (Babymouse), Jarrett Krosoczka (Lunch Lady), Raina Telgemeier (Smile), and Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants) -- take on the most unpredictable part of the school day: recess. Nerds, ninjas, aliens, and more all get in on the action, and whether they're battling a rampaging pizza monster, creating the world's best fantasy kickball league, or finding the courage to talk to a cute classmate (without barfing on her this time), their antics are irresistibly hilarious. Comics Squad: Recess! has "something for everyone, as long as they like a bit of silliness" (Booklist). |
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| The Actual & Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher by Jessica LawsonHistorical Fiction. Mark Twain's classic book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer tells the story of a mischievous boy and his exploits in 1860s Missouri. But what if Mark Twain got it wrong? In this version, Tom Sawyer is just an annoying kid who tattles on the pranks of Becky Thatcher, a spirited tomboy who hides her grief over her brother's death by looking for trouble. She finds plenty of it, too, especially when she decides to track down a group of grave-robbing criminals. Readers who enjoy this folksy historical mystery with a fiercely loyal heroine should also pick up One Came Home by Amy Timberlake. |
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| Frank Einstein & the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka; illustrated by Brian BiggsHumor/Science Fiction. If you like the absurd yet scientific stories in Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith's Nick and Tesla series, you won't want to miss this new series from popular author Jon Scieszka. Young genius inventor Frank Einstein is sure that his antimatter-powered flying bike will win the Midville Science Prize. Before the contest, however, the bike -- along with Frank's eccentric robots, Klink and Klank -- is stolen. There can only be one culprit: rival inventor T. Edison. The characters might be offbeat, but all of the gadgets are based in real science, making this a satisfying read for fiction and nonfiction fans alike. |
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| The School for Good and Evil by Soman ChainaniFantasy. At the School for Good and Evil, children are trained to fulfill their destinies as the honorable heroes or wicked villains in the world of fairy tales. After being kidnapped from their village and brought to the school, pretty, charming Sophie and plain, moody Agatha are shocked when Sophie is sent to Evil for Henchman Training while Agatha is forced to learn Princess Etiquette in Good. Their destinies must have gotten switched....right? Find out in this sophisticated 1st book in the School for Good and Evil series, which continues in A World Without Princes. If you want another taste of dark, fairy-tale flavored fantasy, try Adam Gidwitz's Grimm series. |
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| Spy School by Stuart GibbsSuspense. Dodging a ninja attack, ducking a hail of bullets, being rescued by an impossibly beautiful girl…it might sound dramatic, but for awkward math geek Ben, it's just the first day of school. Ben's greatest ambition is to be a spy, so he's thrilled when the CIA recruits him to attend their secret Academy of Espionage -- even if they only want to use him as bait to lure out a dangerous gang of double agents. Similar to Bruce Hale's School for S.P.I.E.S. series but with more sarcasm and suspense, Spy School is a twisty, action-packed page-turner. |
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| Ungifted by Gordon KormanFiction. Expecting to be expelled after his latest prank goes spectacularly (and very expensively) wrong, eighth-grader Donovan Curtis is instead admitted -- by mistake -- to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction, a special school for gifted and talented students. But Donovan isn't telling anyone about the administrative error; he's just going to keep his head down and hide out among the brainy kids. Or at least, that's the plan... Donovan's experience as a sort of stowaway at ASD is one that fans of funny, character-driven, feel-good stories will love reading about. |
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| The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee StewartFiction. "Are you a gifted child looking for Special Opportunities?" Dozens of children answer a newspaper ad that asks this question, but only four of them pass the series of unusual tests they are all given. Reynie Muldoon, Sticky Washington, Kate Weatherhill, and Constance Contraire are then sent by the mysterious Mr. Benedict to infiltrate the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. Their mission? To save the world, of course! This intriguing adventure (the 1st in a series) is perfect for anyone who enjoys books by J.K. Rowling, Lemony Snicket, or Blue Balliett. |
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| The Ability by M.M. VaughanFantasy. Twelve-year-old troublemaker Chris can hardly believe it when he's accepted by the exclusive Myers Holt Academy. And he's even more shocked to learn the reason why: he's one of an elite group of kids with the Ability -- the power to enter and control people's minds -- and Myers Holt is actually a top-secret training program for psychic spies. Someone with the Ability has been viciously attacking former students, and it's up to Chris and the new recruits to figure out who, and how to stop the attacks. This fast-paced series opener offers a tantalizing blend of fantasy, suspense, and action. For more kids discovering their psychic abilities, check out David Lubar's Hidden Talents. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Durham County Library
300 N. Roxboro Street
Durham, North Carolina 27701
919-560-0100
durhamcountylibrary.org
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