Best of
Middle-Grade

2011

The Secret Series Complete Collection


Pseudonymous Bosch - 2011
    For it concerns a secret--a big secret--that has been tormenting people like you for over . . . oh no! Did I just mention the secret? Then it's too late. I'm afraid nothing will stop you now. Read this series if you must. But please, tell no one. Catch up on the adventures of Cass and Max-Ernest with The Secret Series Collection. This boxed set includes all five hardcover novels in the New York Times bestselling Secret Series: The Name of this Book Is Secret; If You're Reading This, It's Too Late; This Book Is Not Good for You; This Isn't What It Looks Like; and You Have to Stop This.

Gangsta Granny


David Walliams - 2011
    A story of prejudice and acceptance, funny lists and silly words, this new book has all the hallmarks of David’s previous bestsellers.Our hero Ben is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at his grandma’s house. She’s the boringest grandma ever: all she wants to do is to play Scrabble, and eat cabbage soup. But there are two things Ben doesn’t know about his grandma.1) She was once an international jewel thief.2) All her life, she has been plotting to steal the Crown Jewels, and now she needs Ben’s help…

How to Dork Your Diary


Rachel Renée Russell - 2011
    . . . losing your diary is the WORST!! Then I decided that until I find it, I totally HAD to put together a list of important diary-keeping lessons to remember in case of missing diary emergencies like this one.This diary is full of tips from me on fun things to write about in your diary, with space for you to write and draw your own entries. Meanwhile, my BFFs Chloe and Zoey, my ANNOYING little sister Brianna, my crush Brandon (sighhh), and mean girl MacKenzie are all involved in the search for my real diary, with plenty of adventures along the way! SQUEEE!!!

The Flame of Olympus


Kate O'Hearn - 2011
    Suddenly allied with a winged horse she’d always thought was mythical, Emily is thrust into the center of a fierce battle between the Roman gods and a terrifying race of multiarmed stone warriors called the Nirads. Emily must team up with a thief named Paelen, the goddess Diana, and a boy named Joel in order to return Pegasus to Olympus and rescue the gods from a certain death. Along the way, Emily and her companions will fight monsters, run from a government agency that is prepared to dissect Pegasus, and even fly above the Manhattan skyline—all as part of a quest to save Olympus before time runs out.

Okay for Now


Gary D. Schmidt - 2011
    Schmidt won Newbery Honor awards for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boys and The Wednesday Wars, two coming-of-age novels about unlikely friends finding a bond. Okay For Now, his latest novel, explores another seemingly improbable alliance, this one between new outsider in town Doug Swieteck and Lil Spicer, the savvy spitfire daughter of his deli owner boss. With her challenging assistance, Doug discovers new sides of himself. Along the way, he also readjusts his relationship with his abusive father, his school peers, and his older brother, a newly returned war victim of Vietnam.

Look Into My Eyes


Lauren Child - 2011
    She and her slick side-kick butler, Hitch, foil crimes and get into loads of scrapes with evil villains, but they're always ice-cool in a crisis.

The Last Musketeer


Stuart Gibbs - 2011
    All for one and one for all!On a family trip to Paris, Greg Rich's parents disappear. They're not just missing from the city—they're missing from the century. So, Greg does what any other fourteen-year-old would do: He travels through time to rescue them.Greg soon finds out that his family history is tied to the legendary Three Musketeers. But when he meets them, they're his age, and they'll only live long enough to become true heroes if he can save them.To rescue his parents, Greg must assume the identity of a young Musketeer in training and unite Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—but a powerful enemy is doing everything possible to stop him.

The Brilliant World of Tom Gates


Liz Pichon - 2011
    It's not easy when he's up against Delia, his weirdo big sister. All of his plans seem to get him into major trouble!

The Thirteen Ghosts


Geronimo Stilton - 2011
    There they meet Bobby Squeakspeare, a descendent of the famouse writer, William Squeakspeare. Will the spooky rooms and ghosts they find inside the mansion be friendly--or frightening?

Katie and the Cupcake Cure


Coco Simon - 2011
    We find Katie miserable on the first day of middle school. Her best friend Callie came back from camp boy-crazy and part of a whole new group of friends. When it's made clear that Callie is in the PGC (Popular Girls Club) and Katie is not invited to join, Katie suddenly feels incredibly alone. Katie realizes if she’s going to survive middle school she needs to seriously regroup and find some new friends. But how? She bites into the cupcake her mother packed her for lunch and for a second closes her eyes. The sweet treat makes her happy—finally something goes right! Looking around her table, Katie notices the other students seeming a bit lost, as well. Which gives her an idea…With three new friends Katie forms a club as a way to spread the cupcake love and earn some cupcake cash!

The Mysterious Benedict Society: Mr. Benedict's Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums


Trenton Lee Stewart - 2011
    Benedict himself, with the help of Reynie, Kate, Sticky, Constance, and other Society associates. Think you have what it takes to join the Mysterious Benedict Society? Open this book and find out!

Wonderstruck


Brian Selznick - 2011
    Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories - Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures - weave back and forth in symmetry.

A Dog's Way Home


Bobbie Pyron - 2011
    Mine is music."Without even thinking, I say, "Mine is Tam."Abby knows that Tam, her Shetland sheepdog, is her north star, and she's pretty certain she's his, too. But when an accident separates Abby and Tam, it feels as though all the stars have fallen out of the sky and nothing will ever be right again. As the days between them turn to weeks, then months, dangers and changes fill up Abby's and Tam's lives. Will they ever find their way home to each other?Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, A Dog's Way Home is an unforgettable tale of the many miles, months, and mountains that divide two loyal friends—but that can't possibly keep them apart.

Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time


Roger K. Driscoll - 2011
    Don't get on the wrong end of her jump kicks, flick-flaks and open-palm strikes. In her own time, Echo escapes death from a poisoned arrow and hides inside a hollow oak tree. She lies dormant for hundreds of years but in the present day she is awakened by Jason Fleeting, a twelve-year-old runaway from a children's home. Together they set out to solve the murder of Jason's mother and to rescue his kidnapped sister Lauren.

Circle of Secrets


Kimberley Griffiths Little - 2011
    But with her dad leaving the country for work, it turns out she doesn't have a choice: Shelby has to move back into her mamma's house, deep in the heart of the Louisiana bayou. Her new classmates tease and torment her, so Shelby's relieved to finally find a friend in Gwen, a mysterious girl who lives alone on the bayou. But Shelby can't help wondering if Gwen has something to do with the puzzling messages she finds hidden in the blue bottle tree behind her house. The only person who might be able to explain is her mamma -- but Shelby's not ready to ask. Not yet. It may take a brush with something from the beyond to help Shelby see that the power to put her own ghosts to rest is within her reach. Kimberley Griffiths Little's haunting and powerful tale brings one girl's attempt to grapple with family, friendship, and forgiveness to beautiful, vivid life.

The Secret Lake


Karen Inglis - 2011
    A page-turning time travel adventure for ages 8-11. UK bestseller now enjoyed by thousands of young readers. When Stella and her younger brother, Tom, move to their new London home, they become mystified by the disappearances of Harry, their elderly neighbour's dog. Where does he go? And why does he keep reappearing wet-through? Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays soon leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound - and a tunnel that takes them to a secret lake. Who is the boy rowing towards them? Why is he so terrified? And whose are those children's voices carried on the wind from beyond the woods? Stella and Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home and the children living there almost 100 years earlier. Here they make both friends and enemies, and uncover startling connections with the past and present...

Chosen


Jessica Burkhart - 2011
    Natch, she's applied for a highly coveted spot at Canterwood Crest Academy. But while she waits to see if she gets in, Lauren is left contemplating her life in Union, Connecticut and the horrible accident that brought her there. Suddenly, Lauren is left wondering: even if she does get into Canterwood, will her past make her stronger or will it stand in the way of her future as an equestrian for good?

The Sisters Grimm: A Very Grimm Guide


Michael Buckley - 2011
    There’s only one book left in the series, and this comprehensive guide provides the perfect refresher for fans looking to brush up before the dramatic final installment and is the perfect introduction for new readers. Featuring character profiles, maps of the town, found objects from life in Ferryport Landing, fairy-tale “facts,” and much more, this artfully designed guide supplements and enhances the beloved series. Even fan favorite Puck weighs in with his cheeky alternate take on all things Grimm. Praise for The Sisters Grimm: A Very Grimm Guide“Visually, the guide is stunning and showcases intriguing side characters.”–VOYA

True (. . . Sort Of)


Katherine Hannigan - 2011
    The day the Boyds come to town, Delly's sure a special surpresent is on its way. But lately, everything that she thinks will be good and fun turns into trouble. She's never needed a surpresent more than now.True: Brud Kinney wants to play basketball like nothing anybody's ever seen. When the Boyds arrive, though, Brud meets someone who plays like nothing he's ever seen.True: Ferris Boyd isn't like anyone Delly or Brud have ever met. Ferris is a real mysturiosity (an extremely curious mystery).True: Katherine Hannigan's first novel since her acclaimed Ida B is a compelling look at the ways friendships and truths are discovered.It's all true ( . . . sort of).

Inside Out & Back Again


Thanhha Lai - 2011
    But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very own family.

The Unwanteds


Lisa McMann - 2011
    That is the way of the people of Quill. Each year, all the thirteen-year-olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more schooling and train to join the Quillitary. Necessaries keep the farms running. Unwanteds are set for elimination. It’s hard for Alex to leave behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted, but he makes peace with his fate—until he discovers that instead of a “death farm,” what awaits him is a magical place called Artimé. There, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds are encouraged to cultivate their creative abilities and use them magically. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation. But it’s a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be divided between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artim that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate magical battle.

Truth or Dare


P.J. Night - 2011
    The only people who know her secret are her friends at the sleepover—and whoever sent her a text message in the middle of the night warning her to stay away from Jake…or else! But Abby isn’t going to stay away from Jake, especially not after he asks her to the school dance. As the night of the dance comes closer, some very creepy things start happening to Abby. Someone definitely wants to keep her away from Jake. Is it a jealous classmate or, as Abby begins to suspect, could it be a ghost?

A World Without Heroes


Brandon Mull - 2011
    In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

Mission Unstoppable


Dan Gutman - 2011
    As Coke and Pepsi dodge nefarious villains from the Pez museum in California all the way to the Infinity Room in Wisconsin, black-and-white photographs and maps put young readers right into the action. And don't miss the next leg of the journey in The Genius Files: Never Say Genius!Supports the Common Core State Standards

With the Might of Angels: The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson, Hadley, Virginia, 1954


Andrea Davis Pinkney - 2011
    After the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, Dawnie learns she will be attending a previously all-white school. She's the only one of her friends to go to this new school and to leave the comfort of all that is familiar to face great uncertainty in the school year ahead.However, not everyone supports integration and much of the town is outraged at the decision. Dawnie must endure the harsh realities of racism firsthand, while continuing to work hard to get a good education and prove she deserves the opportunity. But the backlash against Dawnie's attendance of an all-white school is more than she's prepared for. When her father loses his job as a result, and her little brother is constantly bullied, Dawnie has to wonder if it's worth it. In time, Dawnie learns that the true meaning of justice comes from remaining faithful to the integrity within oneself.

Tuesdays at the Castle


Jessica Day George - 2011
    That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it's up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle's never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.

Zita the Spacegirl


Ben Hatke - 2011
    Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don't even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita's quest.Zita the Spacegirl is a fun, captivating tale of friendship and redemption from Flight veteran Ben Hatke. It also has more whimsical, eye-catching, Miyazaki-esque monsters than you can shake a stick at.

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes


Jonathan Auxier - 2011
    One fateful afternoon, he steals a box from a mysterious traveling haberdasher—a box that contains three pairs of magical eyes. When he tries the first pair, he is instantly transported to a hidden island where he is presented with a special quest: to travel to the dangerous Vanished Kingdom and rescue a people in need. Along with his loyal sidekick—a knight who has been turned into an unfortunate combination of horse and cat—and the magic eyes, he embarks on an unforgettable, swashbuckling adventure to discover his true destiny.Be sure to read the companion book, Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard.

Jefferson's Sons


Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - 2011
    The lighter-skinned children have been promised a chance to escape into white society, but what does this mean for the children who look more like their mother? As each child grows up, their questions about slavery and freedom become tougher, calling into question the real meaning of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."Told in three parts from the points of view of three of Jefferson's slaves - Beverly, Madison, and a third boy close to the Hemings family - these engaging and poignant voices shed light on what life was like as one of Jefferson's invisible offspring.

Articles about Dragonriders Of Pern Books


Hephaestus Books - 2011
    This book does not contain any of the Dragonriders of Pern books.It is 56 pages of reprints of Wikipedia and other public domain online articles.

Legacy


Clifford Riley - 2011
    and the world at large. After spending centuries lurking in the shadows, the Cahill's enemy-the Vespers- are planning an attack, and sending Amy and Dan on a dangerous hunt for the 39 clues might be the only way to stop them.

The Medusa Plot


Gordon Korman - 2011
    They thought the hunt for 39 Clues leading to the source of that power was over. They even thought they'd won. But Amy and Dan were wrong.One by one, distress calls start coming in from around the globe. Cahills are being kidnapped by a shadowy group known only as the Vespers. Now Amy and Dan have only days to fulfill a bizarre ransom request or their captured friends will start dying. Amy and Dan don't know what the Vespers want or how to stop them. Only one thing is clear. The Vespers are playing to win, and if they get their hands on the Clues . . . the world will be their next hostage.

The Golden Door


Emily Rodda - 2011
    The walled city of Weld is under attack from ferocious flying creatures that raid in the night, bringing death and destruction. The Warden calls for Volunteers to find and destroy the Enemy sending invaders, and the heroes of Weld answer the call one by one, never to return. Rye is officially too young to go, but his brothers are among the lost and he must find them. What terrors await him beyond the Wall?

Behind the Gates


Eva Gray - 2011
    Louisa is nervous about being sent away to a boarding school -- but she's excited, too. And she has her best friend, Maddie, to keep her company. The girls have to pretend to be twin sisters, which Louisa thinks just adds to the adventure! Country Manor School isn't all excitement, though. Louisa isn't sure how she feels about her new roommates: athletic but snobby Rosie and everything's-a-conspiracy Evelyn. Even Maddie seems different away from home, quiet and worried all the time. Still, Louisa loves CMS -- the survival skills classes, the fresh air. She doesn't even miss not having a TV, or the internet, or any contact with home. It's for their own safety, after all. Or is it?

The Imaginary Friend


Kelly Hashway - 2011
    This is nothing compared to how she feels when a strange girl named Jessica tells Samantha that she’s actually an imaginary friend. Tracy has outgrown Samantha, and it’s time for Samantha to help another child who needs her. But will Samantha be able to move on and fulfill her duty as an imaginary friend?

Taken


Brock D. Eastman - 2011
    Vedrik, the siblings’ only hope is their parents’ Archeos e-journal. Can Tiffany decipher the clues within it? As time runs out, it’s all up to Oliver and his Federation training to fly the Phoenix and protect his crew. But twins Mason and Austin endanger the mission when they unexpectedly meet . . . the blue boy! The Quest for Truth series unfolds as the four Wikk kids are thrust into a desperate race to find the mysterious planet Ursprung and stop the Übel renegades from misusing its long-lost secrets. Ancient cities, treacherous villains, high-tech gadgets, the Phoenix—encounter all of these and more on this futuristic, interplanetary adventure!

One Dog and His Boy


Eva Ibbotson - 2011
    "Never!" cries his mother. "Think of the mess, the scratch-marks, the puddles on the floor." But on the morning of Hal's 10th birthday, the unbelievable happens. He's allowed to choose a puppy at Easy Pets, a rent-a-pet agency (a fact his parents keep from him). The moment he sees the odd-looking terrier, he knows he's found a friend for life. But no one tells Hal that Fleck must be returned and when Hal wakes up on Monday morning, Fleck is gone. If dog and boy are to stay together they'll have to run away...From the reknowned Eva Ibbotson comes her final novel, a tale laced with humor and full of heart, and stunning in its beauty and all things dog.

Pearl Verses the World


Sally Murphy - 2011
    A poignant gem of a tale about independence, grief, and finding your place.Pearl likes to write poems, but despite the insistence of her teacher, Ms. Bruff, Pearl's poems don't rhyme, and neither does she. She wishes she could grow gills so she could stay underwater in swim class without drowning. And she hasn't a clue why perfect Prudence bumps her desk and sends her pencils flying. Pearl thinks there's no nicer sound than the bell at the end of the day, even though back at home, Granny, always a crucial part of their family of three, sometimes doesn't recognize Pearl, and Mom is tired from providing constant care. In a lyrical novel told with clear-eyed sympathy, humor, and heart, Sally Murphy follows a girl who holds fast to her individuality even as she learns to let go-- and in daring to share her voice, discovers that maybe she's not a group of one after all.

Riding on Duke's Train


Mick Carlon - 2011
    Mick Carlon is a 'soul' storyteller."—Nat Hentoff, author of Jazz Country"A ripping good yarn. . . . Plunges the reader into the world of Duke Ellington and the America of 1939."—Brian Morton, author of The Penguin Guide to Jazz"Wonderfully convincing and authentic characterizations. . . . A thoroughly enjoyable read."—Dan Morgenstern, author of Living with Jazz "We encounter not only Duke's genius, but his character and humanity. This is one train you won't want to get off!"—Dick Golden, radio host"When this marvelously evocative novel finds a home in the school curriculum, kids across America will be downloading Duke."—Jack Bradley"Excellent command of voice, period, and ethnic dialect . . . clear love and in-depth knowledge of Ellington and his band."—Alexandria LaFaye, author of The KeeningNine-year-old Danny stows away on Duke Ellington's train one Georgia night. Through Danny's eyes, we meet some of America's finest musicians as he accompanies them on their 1939 European tour, when the train was briefly held in Germany. Says Nat Hentoff, "I knew Duke Ellington for twenty-five years. The Ellington in this book is the man I knew."Mick Carlon is a twenty-seven-year veteran English/journalism high- and middle-school teacher. A lifelong jazz fan, he regularly plays jazz in his classroom and has turned hundreds of students into jazz fans. He says, "If young people are simply exposed to the music and stories of these American artists, they will make a friend for life."

The Maze of Bones (Sneak Peek)


Rick Riordan - 2011
    

The Apothecary


Maile Meloy - 2011
    Here, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin Burrows—a fascinating boy who’s not afraid to stand up to authority and dreams of becoming a spy. When Benjamin’s father is kidnapped, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary’s sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia, in order to find him, all while keeping it out of the hands of their enemies—Russian spies in possession of nuclear weapons. Discovering and testing potions they never believed could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous race to save the apothecary and prevent impending disaster.

Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King


William Joyce - 2011
    North—a daredevil swordsman whose prowess with double scimitars was legendary. Like any swashbuckling young warrior, North seeks treasure and adventure, leading him to the fiercely guarded village of Santoff Claussen, said to be home to the greatest treasure in all the East, and to an even greater wizard, Ombric Shalazar. But when North arrives, legends of riches have given way to terrors of epic proportions! North must decide whether to seek his fortune…or save the village.When our rebellious hero gets sucked into the chaos (literally), the fight becomes very personal. The Nightmare King and his evil Fearlings are ruling the night, owning the shadows, and sending waves of fear through all of Santoff Clausen. For North, this is a battle worth fighting...and, he's not alone. There are five other Guardians out there. He only has to find them in time.

Jodie and the library card


Julie Hodgson - 2011
    She loves her friends, music, and is always up for a good adventure. What she treasures above all else are books and she is consumed by them, reading and collecting whatever she can to satisfy her voracious appetite for stories, facts, and history. But Jodie lives in the year 2075, and more than fifty years have passed since the banning of books and paper; it's a time when no one can own a printed book, or even print photographs. In this E-world, experiences are largely simulated, from the reconstituted food to the zoo that only shows films of all the extinct species. With her student library card, which gives her the ability to time travel, Jodie discovers that she and her friends can experience historical events and meet legendary characters, and can also find and bring home her precious books to keep safe in her secret hiding place.

In Front of God and Everybody


K.D. McCrite - 2011
    From disastrous dye jobs to forced apologies and elderly date tagalongs, you’ll laugh ‘til you cry as you read the Confessions of April Grace! Here are just a couple of April's thoughts: On her sister, Myra Sue: "How anyone can be that dumb and still be able to eat with a fork is beyond me."  On senior citizen lovebirds: "What if they started smooching right at the table in front of God and everybody?"In spite of all the loony characters in her life, April Grace is able to learn from her parents as they share the love of God—to even the craziest of characters!

Scary School


Derek The Ghost - 2011
    Fang, an 850-year-old vampireDr. Dragonbreath, who just might eat you before recessMr. Snakeskin—science class is so much more fun when it's taught by someone who's half zombieMrs. T—break the rules and spend your detention with a hungry Tyrannosaurus rex!PlusGargoyles, goblins, and Frankenstein's monster on the looseThe world's most frighteningly delicious school lunchAndThe narrator's an eleven-year-old ghost!Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends—including Petunia, Johnny, and Peter the Wolf—and figures out that Scary School can be just as funny as it is spooky!

Eight Keys


Suzanne LaFleur - 2011
    Elise has always lived in the big house with her loving Uncle and Aunt, because Elise's parents died when she was too young to remember them.  There's always been a barn behind the house with eight locked doors on the second floor. When Elise and Franklin start middle school, things feel all wrong. Bullying. Not fitting in. Franklin suddenly seems babyish.  Then, soon after her 12th birthday, Elise receives a mysterious key left for her by her father. A key that unlocks one of the eight doors upstairs in the barn...

The Moon Coin


Richard Due - 2011
    But now that he's missing, Lily's discovering that, sometimes, a bedtime tale is more than just a story.

The Dragon's Tooth


N.D. Wilson - 2011
    Nothing ever seems to happen. Then a strange old man with bone tattoos arrives, demanding a specific room.Less than 24 hours later, the old man is dead. The motel has burned, and Daniel is missing. And Cyrus and Antigone are kneeling in a crowded hall, swearing an oath to an order of explorers who have long served as caretakers of the world's secrets, keepers of powerful relics from lost civilizations, and jailers to unkillable criminals who have terrorized the world for millennia. N. D. Wilson, author of Leepike Ridge and 100 Cupboards, returns with an imagination-capturing adventure that inventively combines the contemporary and the legendary.

A Year Without Autumn


Liz Kessler - 2011
    Now she discovers that in the year that's gone by, tragedy has struck and her friendship with Autumn will never be the same again. But what caused the tragedy?

Dogsled Dreams


Terry Lynn Johnson - 2011
    She's an inventive but self-doubting musher who tackles blinding blizzards, wild animal attacks, puppy training, and flying poo missiles. All of her challenges seem easier than living up to the dogs' trust in her abilities.

Payback in Time


Richard Ardizzone - 2011
    Get set for a mind-blowing action adventure!

The Fight for Kidsboro


Marshal Younger - 2011
    It's a nice little place. It has a church, a store, a police station, a bakery, a weekly newspaper . . . and a total of zero citizens over the age of 14. It's a town run by kids. Ryan Cummings, the mayor, helps enforce the laws, create new job opportunities, and in general, keep the peace in a town where he seems to have lots of friends and only a few enemies. The Kidsboro series teaches not only moral and biblical principles, but also concepts of government, politics, economic principles, the judicial system, United States history, and Bible stories. The Fight for Kidsboro is a compilation of the 4 books from this popular series.

Olivia's First Term


Lyn Gardner - 2011
    But in the course of a turbulent first term, Olivia finds out much more than she bargained for about the theatre, friendship, enemies and herself.

Ghosts of the Pacific


Philip Roy - 2011
    Alfred wants to see those dark places of the earth where horrendous events have taken place. He sets his sights on exotic Micronesia -- a beautiful place, but home to the nuclear testing of Bikini Lagoon; the Suicide Cliffs of Saipan; the airfields of Tinian, where the Enola Gay lifted off with the atomic bomb; and the Marshall Islands, which may conceal secrets to the mystery of Amelia Earhart's final days. Yet even with these past tragedies in mind, Alfred discovers that the world is facing an even greater threat today. As they sail into the hot, hazy world of the Pacific, they encounter the ruthless killing practices of shrimp trawlers and an island of plastic the size of Texas. Along the way, Alfred, Hollie and Seaweed befriend the crew of an environmental protection ship, who help to inspire him to take on a new goal: to protect the oceans of the world.

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life


James Patterson - 2011
    Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he's got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off: With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class--5,000 points! Running in the hallway--10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm--50,000 points! But when Rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding.James Patterson's debut middle-grade novel addresses some of middle schoolers' biggest issues: bullies, first crushes, and finding out what makes each of us special, all with a hilarious main character and fantastic in-text illustrations that are sure to have young readers begging for more!

Secret Sisters: Volume Two


Sandra Byrd - 2011
    But when Erin's horse is suddenly injured and Tess's mother starts going to the doctor after experiencing strange symptoms Tess wonders if there is nothing but danger ahead for those she loves. Book 4, Accidental Angel: Will Christmas bring big fun and big money--or big troubles between the BFFs? It's a week before Christmas and the Secret Sisters have plans to make money at the craft fair. Tess needs the cash to buy gifts for her family and pay her way to summer camp at the Lazy K Bar, a dude ranch she and Erin want to go to together.But when their booth space is taken over by the Coronado Club, Tess and Erin have their first big fight. Tess still comes up with a way to make money, but she finds that she might not spend it the way she thought after all.Each volume includes: fun, friends, family, gentle Christian faith, and a fast-paced read. "Byrd's debut moves along at a swift pace, spurring young readers on ... in Tess she has created a truly likable protagonist who has her share of every day worries but is learning to face them with more and more confidence." Publisher's Weekly (review of first book in series)If you enjoy the Secret Sisters series, be sure to check out Sandra's Hidden Diary series, also on Kindle, as well as these Kindle titles: Chopsticks, Red Velvet, and Daisy Chains.

Fake Me a Match


Lauren Barnholdt - 2011
    Her former BFF, Sophie Burns, dumped her to hang out with the popular crowd at school. But the good news Avery's getting a new sister who's bound to be her new BFF too! Blake is her age and she's from New York. How cool is that? But things don't go quite as smoothly as Avery hoped. And what's with Blake becoming BFFs with Sophie? Huh?? That wasn’t supposed to happen! When Avery gets put in charge of the eighth grade charity project, an on-line matchmaking service, she thinks she can use this project to get Blake back on her side. She decides to fix the matches so that Blake gets matched with Sam, the most popular boy in school, but when the matches come out something has gone seriously wrong! Not only is Avery matched with Sam, but the class advisor knows that someone tampered with the program. On top of that, Avery discovers that she actually kind of, sort of, likes Sam . . . and he likes her back. Torn between the guy she likes and her sister/best friend, Avery is left wondering: is there any possible way she can keep them both?

Pie


Sarah Weeks - 2011
    IT, a story about family, friendship, and...pie!When Alice's Aunt Polly, the Pie Queen of Ipswitch, passes away, she takes with her the secret to her world-famous pie-crust recipe. Or does she? In her will, Polly leaves the recipe to her extraordinarily fat, remarkably disagreeable cat, Lardo . . . and then leaves Lardo in the care of Alice.Suddenly, the whole town is wondering how you leave a recipe to a cat. Everyone wants to be the next big pie-contest winner, and it's making them pie-crazy. It's up to Alice and her friend Charlie to put the pieces together and discover the not-so-secret recipe for happiness: Friendship. Family. And the pleasure of doing something for the right reason.With Pie, acclaimed author Sarah Weeks has baked up a sweet and satisfying delight, as inviting as warm pie on a cold day. You'll enjoy every last bite.

The Phantom Pilot


Ann Swann - 2011
    The phantom pilot even seems to have some strange attachment to Jase's rescued dog, Lady. Jase doesn't know where to turn until he sees a girl named Stevie entering the local "haunted" house, alone. He believes she is the only one who may be brave enough to help him. But will they be able to communicate with the pilot to find out what he wants? Or will Jase remain "haunted" for the rest of his life?

Hapenny Magick


Jennifer Carson - 2011
    As if life as a servant isn't bad enough, Mae learns that Gelbane is a troll and Hapennies are a troll delicacy.Years ago, a spell trapped Gelbane in Mae's village. Ever since, Gelbane has been chiseling away the magic protections and now Mae's home is destined to become a smorgasbord for half-starved trolls.When her best friend, Leif, goes missing, it will take all of Mae's courage to friend her friend and protect her village.When pitchforks, sewing needles, pots, brooms and a little magick are the only weapons at hand, the hapennies discover that great victories can be accomplished no matter what size you are, but only if you stick together.

Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet


Kirk Scroggs - 2011
    But he really hits rock bottom when he auditions for the local talent show: his death-defying hula-hooping-ninja tribute to Gonzo the Great is beat out by the world's most obnoxious middle school boy band, Emo Shun.With his daredevil dreams dashed, Danvers goes to bed... and wakes up feeling a little fuzzy-literally! He's turned into a Muppet!Fortunately, there's an internship open at the Muppet Theater and Danvers has a chance to meet his long-nosed, stunt-lovin' hero! All aboard The Electric Mayhem bus as this misfit makes good and joins the zaniest crew ever: The Muppets!

Little Orchid's Sea Monster Trouble


Yanting Gueh - 2011
    Imaginative, curious yet also timid, she hears fascinating stories about a giant in the sea. One night at a friend's house, she finally meets the sea monster - the Giant Cuttlefish.Just minutes before its cruel death.Little Orchid freezes in fright. That night, she wakes up with boils on her face and body ... and turns into the sea monster she failed to save. Her skin peels away just as her childhood does. She cries and honks mournfully before dropping into the river to begin her troubled monsterhood. Can she survive all the dangers in the tumultuous river? Will she ever turn back into a girl? Will she ever see her family, in particular her mother and sister, again?...LITTLE ORCHID'S SEA MONSTER TROUBLE is a middle-grade story about transformations, the resilience of mother-daughter love, and the strength summoned when we are staring straight at our monster-selves. Recommended to those who enjoy Studio Ghibli stories like Spirited Away and Ponyo, as well as those struggling with the middle-child syndrome. (Age 9 & up)

Words in the Dust


Trent Reedy - 2011
    She hopes for peace, now that the Taliban have been driven from Afghanistan; a good relationship with her hard stepmother; and one day even to go to school, or to have her cleft palate fixed. Zulaikha knows all will be provided for her--"Inshallah," God willing. Then she meets Meena, who offers to teach her the Afghan poetry she taught her late mother. And the Americans come to her village, promising not just new opportunities and dangers, but surgery to fix her face. These changes could mean a whole new life for Zulaikha--but can she dare to hope they'll come true?

Wild Pitch (Sports Illustrated Kids Graphic Novels)


Eric Fein - 2011
    The pitch injured Kyle, forcing him to leave the game. His team lost, and Ryan got to celebrate the win while Kyle headed to the hospital. It took several months for Kyle's injury to heal, and he couldn't shake the suspicion that Ryan had intentionally threw at him. But Kyle has put all that out of his mind, because he's excited for a fresh start this year -- until he discovers that Ryan will be joining his team . . .

Marty McGuire


Kate Messner - 2011
    So when her teacher casts Marty as the princess in the class play, Marty's absolutely, positively sure that there's been a huge mistake. But after a special lesson in the art of improvisation, Marty comes up with her OWN plan to IMPROVE the play: Why use stuffed-animal frog onstage when a live one would be so much better? In the end, Marty's one-of-a-kind performance makes for an unforgettable show. Maybe Marty CAN live happily ever after, after all!

Secret Sisters: Volume Three


Sandra Byrd - 2011
    But making her mark has a high cost. Is it all worth it? This year’s birthday is the worst. First, Tess is cut from the school play. Then all her friends cancel on her birthday sleepover. Worst of all, everyone seems to be great at something–except her.Tess searches for a way she, too, can be unique and special, like her brother and her friends. She decides to try out for the local gymnastics squad–and she’s good! But the demands of practice time force her to give up other things she cares about, like time with her Secret Sister, Erin. Will making the gymnastics team prove she can excel... or prove she's a failure after all?Book 6, War Paint: Should she compete in an all-out mural painting contest with her Secret Sister, Erin--or run for "Miss Coronado"? Tess must decide!Competition is fierce for the sixth grade mural team, and Tess's Secret Sister, Erin, desperately wants their group to win. Tess is determined that they will, despite a threat of "war" from members of the snobbish Coronado Club, who have decided they deserve to paint the mural.Tess is shocked, however, to learn that she's one of four girls nominated for the "Miss Coronado" contest. If she decides to run, she has to drop out of the mural competition--perhaps ruining her team's, and Erin's, chances. If she doesn't, the catty Lauren is sure to become "Miss Coronado." And nobody, not even Erin, wants that. What will Tess choose?Each volume includes: fun, friends, family, gentle Christian faith, and a fast-paced read. "Byrd's debut moves along at a swift pace, spurring young readers on ... in Tess she has created a truly likable protagonist who has her share of every day worries but is learning to face them with more and more confidence." Publisher's Weekly (review of first book in series)If you enjoy the Secret Sisters series, be sure to check out Sandra's Hidden Diary series, also on Kindle, as well as these Kindle titles: Chopsticks, Red Velvet, and Daisy Chains.

Peter Huddleston & The Rites of Passage


Miguel Lopez de Leon - 2011
    This is Book One in the Galadria fantasy trilogy! The Galadria trilogy is about Peter Huddleston, a lonely boy who discovers that he is the heir to the throne of the politically unstable realm of Galadria! Peter must complete four ancient quests to prove his worthiness to inherit the crown, before a power-hungry nobleman named Knor Shadowray takes control! Armed with his trusty boomerang, an assortment of magical chocolates, and his friendly white tiger, Rune, Peter is catapulted through dangerous and wondrous adventures in this action-packed series! Filled with grumpy, watermelon-sized ladybugs, childlike oracles, enchanted weapons, deadly spies, and a sprawling three thousand room manor, the Galadria trilogy is an exciting collection you'll cherish!

Life Was Cool Until You Got Popular


Sarah Billington - 2011
    That has to be it. Because Jules wouldn’t dress like that or act like that…and she definitely wouldn’t be friends with Meg-a-bitch.Kaley can't wait to start at her new school with her best friend Jules. Jules was away in Europe all summer (worst summer of Kaley's life!) But it's cool, now school is starting and everything is going to be awesome. However as the school bus pulls up on that first day, Kaley barely recognizes the silky hair and glossy lips as Jules gets off with the cool kids and with their arch-nemesis Meg, the popular girl (God only knows why) who made Kaley and Jules's lives miserable in elementary school. In Europe, Meg had somehow won over Kaley's best friend and Kaley finds herself frozen out.LIFE WAS COOL UNTIL YOU GOT POPULAR is a first person MG told through Kaley’s eyes, chronicling the initial pain and incomprehension of what happened to destroy their friendship. But that doesn't last long. Kaley decides that underneath the bleached blond clone with the personality transplant, Jules is still in there. Somewhere. And she is going to get her best friend back!

Sea Cutter


Timothy C. Davis - 2011
    I know I promised my old friend Wayland not to put to sea without Mother’s permission, but what’s more important—keeping a promise or finding Father? If you want to come with me, help me find a ship bound for the South Atlantic, and we’ll search together for a legendary island, and Father.But watch out for a smelly, slim, oily-looking sailor with a tattoo of a viper coiled around his arm. We’re going to leave him far behind…

The Time Spell


Judi Curtin - 2011
    No ordinary cat! Saturn has long white hair, eyes that don't match and... it seems...strange powers. One minute she's cuddling Saturn, the next thing she knows she's not just miles, but YEARS away from home. It's 1912, she ends up on board a ship - and THEN she discovers it's the Titanic! It was like some crazy dream, except the new friends she made were real . . .

Molly Gumnut Rescues a Bandicoot: Adventures Of Molly Mavis Gumnut


Patricia Puddle - 2011
    After shooing the cat away, Molly rescues the injured critter and names him Furble. But when she takes him to the vet, he says she can't keep him because bandicoots are protected native animals and must to go to a wildlife sanctuary. Molly doesn't let that stop her from keeping Furble. She informs the vet that her grandmother is a volunteer with a wildlife rescue and would gladly look after him. The vet gives in, but Molly is horrified when Grandma insists Furble will be released back to his own territory when his wounds have healed. Molly can't let that happen, 'cause that's where the big mean cat lives. Well, no way will she let Tiddles hurt Furble again. She doesn't care if she gets into trouble for yelling at the neighbour, or disobeying her parents. She kidnaps the little bandicoot and takes him on a journey to find him a safer home. When things go badly wrong, Molly realises she's made a bad mistake. Now Furble's in more danger and so is Molly.

The Secret of the Ginger Mice


Frances Watts - 2011
    Alistair, however, must make sense of falling from the sky onto Tibby Rose, the only other ginger-colored mouse he has ever met.With enemy spies hot on their tails, Alice and Alex's adventure quickly turns into a dangerous and desperate race. And for every clue that Alistair and Tibby Rose uncover, another mystery is seemingly revealed. Helping an oppressed country and its people aside, all that these four mice want to do is find each other and their way home.The first book in Frances Watt's The Song of the Winns trilogy, The Secret of the Ginger Mice is an extraordinary tale of spontaneous acts of courage, infallible friendships, and innocent rebellions.

The Mystic Phyles: Beasts


Stephanie Brockway - 2011
    But as an eighth-grader in the tiny town of Westbrook, tucked away in her grandparents' ramshackle old mansion, her chances for glory are slim. That is, until she discovers a mysterious letter that launches her on an undercover quest to research mythical beasts.With the help of her best friend, Charley, Abigail unearths little-known facts about mythical creatures, from the familiar unicorn to the bizarre bonnacon. The more she learns, the more she finds that all is not as it may seem. When a threatening letter arrives, the lines between fact and fiction and excitement and danger begin to cross. Pop, her overly-strict grandfather, and Ninny, her nutty grandmother, may both be part of a reality more complicated and mystical than Abigail ever imagined.Will Abigail pursue top-secret knowledge at all costs or choose a path of safety? Her decision could bring eternal glory . . . or certain doom! In this scrapbook-style journal, Abigail's quest to investigate mythical beasts is full of adventure, mishap, spunky humor, colorful sketches, and historically based research.

BFF Breakup


Taylor Morris - 2011
    And now they're going to be best friends in high school, then go to the same college where they'll be roommates, date—and marry—boys who are also best friends. Finally they'll live next door to each other and go on family vacations together. Nothing could possibly change that, right? Well not so fast. A new school year brings new challenges, and suddenly Brooke and Madeline’s friendship isn’t looking so solid. When the cracks in the relationship become chasms, is there anything worth salvaging at all? Taylor Morris has written a laugh out loud funny, touching, novel about what happens when "Best Friends Forever" becomes "Best Friends No More."

Sallies Historier


Kim Fupz Aakeson - 2011
    And when you, like Sallie, have a fantastic and nice dad, there isn't much to be done on his part.Read the stories about "Why you far", "My uncle and my Uncle's new dog", "The girl who remembered everything", "The poor toy-less child", "The last story in the world", and many more.As always when you read Kim Fupz, you'll dive into a universe with a mixture of fantasy, realism, seriousness and humor, that is especially great for children!

The Pet Washer


Jennifer Lynn Alvarez - 2011
    Overrun by vacationing princesses, the townsfolk struggle to keep up with their outrageous demands.Cianna works overtime at The Royal Pet Palace and Day Spa. She is the pet washer. Here, animals are cleaned, massaged, bedazzled, and dyed to match the outfits of their masters. Cianna is popular with the pets because she invents special shampoos, flea treatments, pet foods, and toothpastes to keep them as healthy as they are clean.Polly owns the finest dresses, the fastest horses, lives in the largest castle, and has the prettiest friends in the seven kingdoms. She is the princess. When Polly discovers the pet washer, she believes she's found the perfect girl to include in her Spring Festival dance performance. But as their unlikely friendship deepens, it ignites jealousy and deceit.Will Cianna and Polly overcome these challenges, or will the Spring Festival end in disaster?

Voyage with the Vikings / Attack at the Arena / Peril in the Palace


Paul McCusker - 2011
    This set includes the first three books in the series: "Voyage with the Vikings, Attack at the Arena, " and "Peril in the Palace."

The 13-Storey Treehouse


Andy Griffiths - 2011
    Because: ANYTHING can happen in a 13-storey treehouse.This is a major new series from Andy and Terry- and it's the logical evolution of all their previous books. There are echoes of the Just stories in the Andy and Terry friendship, the breakaway stories in the Bad Book (the Adventures of Super Finger), there's the easy readability of the Cat on the Mat and the Big Fat Cow, and like all these books, the illustrations are as much a part of the story as the story itself.

Growing Up in Lancaster County


Wanda E. Brunstetter - 2011
    Brunstetter. Four stories under one cover will provide you with unlimited entertainment and laughs along the way as you accompany Rachel to the eye doctor's (with a belly full of butterflies), visit Hershey Park (and experience a breathtaking ride), and even fall into a chilly fishing pond (oops!).

Close to Famous


Joan Bauer - 2011
    But folks quickly warm to the woman with the great voice and the girl who can bake like nobody's business. Soon Foster - who dreams of having her own cooking show one day - lands herself a gig baking for the local coffee shop, and gets herself some much-needed help in overcoming her biggest challenge - learning to read . . . just as Foster and Mama start to feel at ease, their past catches up to them. Thanks to the folks in Culpepper, though Foster and her mama find the strength to put their troubles behind them for good.

The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow


Jessica Haight - 2011
    Eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow is less than thrilled that her family is moving thousands of miles from civilization to the quiet country town of Ashpot, Connecticut, where she’s absolutely certain she’ll die of boredom.As if leaving New York City and her best friend, Lizzy, the only other member of the elite Detective Mystery Squad (DMS), weren’t bad enough, Fairday is stuck living in the infamous Begonia House, a creepy old Victorian with dark passageways, a gigantic dead willow tree, and a mysterious past.Before she can even unpack, strange music coming from behind a padlocked door leads Fairday up a spiral staircase and into a secret room, where an ancient mirror, a brass key, and a strange picture of a red-haired lady are the first in a series of clues that takes the members of the Detective Mystery Squad on an amazing adventure.

StoryWorld: Quests and Adventures: Create-A-Story


John Matthews - 2011
    The box contains twenty-eight cards that suggest all kinds of characters, places, and objects that you can use to make up your own stories. Pick a handful of cards and use their pictures, descriptions, and questions as inspiration. Discover more ideas about how to use the cards and read sample stories in The Storytelling Book that accompanies each set.

Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island


C.K. Volnek - 2011
    *** Twelve year-old Jack Dahlgren hates his new home on Roanoke Island. Not only does his dad treat him like a baby, but also blames him for his sister's accident. He can't even make friends because no one wants to get to know the kid who lives in the creepy old Ellis house. They say it's haunted. Are they kidding? Jack's about to find out it's not a joke. Inside a mysterious cave in the bluff next to his house lives a terrifying evil, the same horrifying curse surrounding the disappearance of the Lost Colony in 1587...and it's hungry for blood. It's up to Jack to unravel the four-hundred-year-old mystery and save his family from the demon that haunts the island. With the help of an elusive Giant Mastiff and new-found friend Manny, a Native American shaman, Jack must discover what this devil is and find a way to put an end to its eternal hatred. But can he defeat it, before it destroys him?

Prince of Alasia


Annie Douglass Lima - 2011
    Accompanied by Erik, his young bodyguard and friend, Jaymin flees to a nearby town to live in hiding. There, coming face to face with the hardships suffered by the poor, he determines to improve his people’s lives someday when he takes the throne, assuming he can reclaim his kingdom. In his struggle to retain his identity and yet blend in with children in the local school, Jaymin’s life depends on his ability to protect his secret from both enemy troops and unsuspecting townsfolk. Meanwhile, Erik must resort to his skills in unarmed combat to defend Jaymin against everyone from a gang of schoolyard bullies to the Malornians who regularly patrol the streets looking for trouble – and for the missing prince. As the search intensifies and his enemy’s suspicions grow, Jaymin seeks desperately for a way to save his kingdom and himself. Then he stumbles upon a startling discovery that will challenge his assumptions and forever change his view of Malorn and the events that altered his life.

The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter


Frank L. Cole - 2011
    This guaranteed page-turner from the bestselling author of the Hashbrown Winters series is perfect for the adventurer in your family.

Leaf & the Rushing Waters (Twig Stories, Vol. 1)


Jo Marshall - 2011
    The flood surrounds an ancient tree, where impish, stick creatures, the Old Seeder Twigs, are stranded. Their fate is tied to an enormous and sinister beaver far away. A young Twig named Leaf and his fearless friend Rustle fly on a gigantic leaf over dangerous grasslands seeking help from the chomper colony leader, but the journey proves far more treacherous than imagined, and their only hope for rescue dims. Jittery chipmunks and a mysterious Twig stranger join the perilous mission, but time is growing very short. The Old Seeder is drowning. A goliath beaver must build a mighty dam to save Leaf's tree home, but will he even try?Twigs live in a fragile world of old forests and magnificent glaciers threatened by climate change events, yet Twigs stick together to survive.Royalties are shared with nature conservancy nonprofits that protect wildlife and forests. Twig stories are illustrated by D.W. Murray, a Disney artist. His credits include Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, and Curious George. He is a recipient of the New York Society of Illustrators Gallery and the 2004 Gold Aurora Award.

Stout Hearts and Whizzing Biscuits


Daniel McInerny - 2011
    These are the good citizens of Patria, a secret land founded by refugees from the Trojan War who sailed across the Atlantic in a reconfigured Trojan Horse - 3,000 years ago! For Oliver, Patria is a land of wonders - and for the first time in his life, friendship. There's young Prince Farnsworth Vesuvius, inventor of the Magna-Pneumatic Whizzing Biscuit Blaster, and his formidable sister, Princess Rose, whose inedible, stone-hard biscuits provide the blaster's ammunition. But there's also the rest of the eccentric and lovable Patrian Royal Family, the boy warriors in the Potawatomi Indian Camp, not to mention the Viking kids from the Geat Village, newcomers to the area who only arrived 1,000 years ago. Yet when the noble Knights of the Blue Sock threaten to drive off the Stoops by force of arms, Oliver has to decide where his loyalties lie, and whether he has the courage to undertake the quest that is both Patria's, and his family's, last, best hope of peace.Join Oliver now as he discovers a new world of fun and excitement right in his backyard!

Mickey Price: Journey to Oblivion


John P. Stanley - 2011
    Mickey Price is a kid growing up in an orphanage in Orlando; Trace Daniels just won her first go-kart championship in Nevada; Jonah Trotsky is a budding scientist In Illinois. They donOCOt know each other yet, but they are all being visited by men in short-sleeved white shirts, thin black ties, and distinctive gold-colored glasses OCo men who have been watching and studying them. They are invited to a NASA camp, but this camp isnOCOt for summer fun. ItOCOs a training camp for a mission unlike anything they ever dreamed of, an adventure full of danger, thrills, fun, and an interesting cast of characters, not all of which are human. This adventure tale is told with lots of kid-friendly humor and edge-of-your seat excitement, giving it wide appeal across gender and genre. "

Jinnie Wishmaker


Deanna Roy - 2011
    Maddy's touch makes people explode in anger. Grace can instantly turn anyone into a best friend.But their loose use of magic attracts the attention of the Loki, a group of magic thieves and pranksters. They want to steal an open-ended wish from Jinnie, and it will take all the limited and messed-up magic that she and her friends possess to make sure their powers don't fall into the Loki's greedy hands.Jinnie Wishmaker is the first book of the Magic Mayhem series for 9-12 year olds. It is a standalone story. The series continues with Marcus Mender.

The Alvin Ho Super Collection: Books 1-4


Lenore Look - 2011
     Lenore Look’s touching, drop-dead-funny book about an Asian American second grader—with pictures by New York Times bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham—has tons of boy appeal and is great for reluctant readers. The previous books in the series, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things and Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters, have received rave reviews. “Alvin’s a winner,” declares the New York Post, and Newsday says, “The novel . . . shares with Diary of a Wimpy Kid the humor that stems from the hero’s Herculean efforts to manipulate the world around him in his favor, without all the facts at his disposal.” Perfect for beginning and reluctant readers alike, Alvin Ho perfectly captures the trials and tribulations of boyhood.

Hurricane Katrina


Peter Benoit - 2011
    Recounts the events of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it caused in New Orleans, discusses the global efforts to help the victims, and describes the rebuilding efforts.

The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone


Bill Muir - 2011
    Michael Stone looked for the lost medallion his entire life, and now his son Billy has taken up the search. Amazingly, the medallion ends up in Billy's hands and a spontaneous wish in a precarious situation takes Billy and his best friend Allie, back 200 years to what they realize is a very different Aumakua Island. When Billy and his friends are not jumping off waterfalls, avoiding animal traps, crossing the ocean, sneaking through caves or escaping a prison they're facing their nemesis Cobra, who wants nothing more than for them all to disappear. With no other way to get home, and the well being of the entire island resting on his shoulders, Billy must discover the key to reclaiming the medallion and its tremendous power. One way or another, this adventure will change Billy, and life on the island, forever. Best-selling author and film director Alex Kendrick (The Love Dare, Courageous) and Youth for Christ veteran Bill Muir bring us this exciting novelization of The Lost Medallion movie.

The Hidden Kingdom (A Chapter Book) (Heroes of the Highest Order)


Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen - 2011
    BUT NEITHER DO THE HEROES OF THE HIGHEST ORDER! A magical playground whisks Dan and Page into the Hidden Kingdom where a skinny giant quickly registers them for hero training camp. There, they learn they must gain skills and earn powerful treasures by traveling back in time and walking in the footsteps of a real pioneer hero.

The Curse of Yama: The C. Walker Adventures


K.F. Ridley - 2011
    When Dad unwittingly unleashes upon himself a deadly and ancient curse, it’s up to 12-year-old Chloe Walker to come to the rescue. Once the entire family is deep within the Indian rainforest, Chloe and her local friend, Sotol, head out to find a cure for the illness that threatens her father’s life. To find the Golden Seed, Chloe and Sotol risk life and limb, facing ruthless poachers, desolate elephant burial grounds, and the fantastical wilds of nature. With a magical amulet, arguing gibbons, a mama tiger on the run, and an impossible rope bridge that only a nut would try to cross—Chloe is on the adventure of a lifetime. Decode the map, find the seed, and defeat Yama. No problem... Yeah Right!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Preteens: 101 Stories of Inspiration and Support for Tweens


Jack Canfield - 2011
    It’s a support group they carry in their backpack!Being a preteen is harder than it looks! School is more challenging, bodies are changing, relationships with parents are different, and new issues arise with friends. But this collection will help preteens, showing them they are not alone. Readers will be encouraged and inspired by stories from other preteens, just like them, about the problems and issues they face every day.

Black Dragon


Rebecca Shelley - 2011
    Only his dedication and imagination can save him and his friends.

Cheechako


Jonathan Thomas Stratman - 2011
    In addition to the bully after him, he can’t seem to make any friends in school and doesn’t know a thing about dogsleds, riverboats, hunting, or survival at 40 degrees below zero. Even though he doesn’t feel very brave, Will darts out alone onto rampaging-river ice to rescue a stranded dog. His bravery wins him a valuable, trained sled dog, Blackie, and a new human friend as well, a Native American boy named Elias. It’s Elias who challenges and inspires the cheechako to become a rugged outdoorsman and a real Alaskan. Will starts out by feeding, harnessing and then driving a dogsled team. He learns to throw a hatchet–and hit what he aims at! He learns to snowshoe and stay alive in the cold, to challenge his fears and to push on when everything he wants to do is quit. Best of all, in this edge-of-your-chair coming-of-age adventure, Will learns to be a good friend.But when a fierce, Siberian blizzard rampages across central Alaska, stranding Will's family, nearly burying their log cabin in wind-blown snow drifts,it will be up to Will and Blackie to try to make it out alive. With Elias injured and Will's family in danger of freezing, can a cheechako save them? Can he save himself?

Leaf and the Sky of Fire (Twig Stories #2)


Jo Marshall - 2011
    Now they are pursued by barkbiters and fire! Still, the Twigs have courageous companions. Three loyal salamanders and a fearless, misplaced chameleon guard the Twigs as they escape over a barren ridge. In their darkest moments, a spirit bear stalks them. And the barkbiters are relentless. Soon the firestorm panics all the forest creatures! But there is one passage south, if only the Twigs discover it in time! Illustrated by David Murray, an award winning Disney and Universal Pictures artist.A percentage of royalties is donated to nonprofit groups advocating for protection of wildlife, nature conservancy, forest preservation, and climate change research.

Oscar's Gift


Lisa Rivero - 2011
    Now you see it. Now you don’t. His father. School. Dreams for the future. It doesn’t matter how hard he tries or how much he hopes. In the end, everything he loves can disappear with the delivery of a telegram.Then one hot day, on a dusty street in Bonesteel, South Dakota, he sees a tall, dark, city-slicker of a man as they both are trying their luck in a land lottery. Tomas does not know that he has just met the man who will one day write novels about his homesteading life on the Great Plains and be known as America’s first African-American feature film maker. Oscar will also become his friend and mentor.Could it be that Tomas’s luck is changing?OSCAR'S GIFT uses a classic style and historical photographs to bring the diversity of history alive for modern young readers.

True Brit - Beatrice 1940


Rosemary Zibart - 2011
    At first the twelve-year-old hates the dusty little town. But soon Beatrice makes friends with goofy Arabella, develops a crush on handsome Esteban and aids Ana, a shy Indian girl. First accused of being faceta - stuck up, Beatrice learns to change tires, ride wild ponies and helps the public health nurse, Clementine Pope, rescue a sick baby on an Indian pueblo.TRUE BRIT - Beatrice, 1940 was inspired by accounts of children who were sent to Santa Fe and elsewhere in the United States to escape the war in Europe.