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For Reluctant Readers | Page 11 | LitPick Book Reviews
For Reluctant Readers
The Secret Diamond Sisters
The Secret Diamond Sisters
Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.  The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

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The Giant (Bareknuckle)
The Giant (Bareknuckle)
Jonathan Mary-Todd
"Luc doesn't like to fight. He wins his matches anyway. Men always turn out to see the Boy Giant box—he's taller and stronger than anyone else at the Woodrat Club. Luc takes part to help Mr. Chilton, the man who brought him to New York. When a fast-talking stranger brings a kangaroo to the club, the Woodrat gains another attraction. The kangaroo boxing makes Luc queasy. But Mr. Chilton befriends the kangaroo owner. Soon Luc is torn between loyalty and his conscience. And if he makes a move, the kangaroo's mysterious trainer is ready to cut him down to size."

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Fighter's Alley (Bareknuckle)
Fighter's Alley
Heather Duffy Stone
"Will's father is running for mayor. The competition is slim. So all Will has to do is keep from embarrassing his family during the election. Problem is, Will has been secretly boxing down at the Woodrat Club—just the sort of seedy place Will's dad wants to stomp out. After training with Eddie Tancredi, a mysterious ex-boxer, Will enters a high-stakes Woodrat tournament. He even has a shot at victory. But will his family conflict ruin his chances? If not, secrets from Eddie’s past might . . ."

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There Will Be Bears
There Will Be Bears
Top Choice
Tyson is determined to hunt an elk — even if it means sneaking his grandpa out of a nursing home — in a debut novel sparked with dry wit and wilderness adventure. Thirteen-year-old Tyson loves hanging out with his roughneck Grandpa Gene, who’s a lot more fun than Tyson’s ex–best friend, Brighton. These days, Bright just wants to be seen with the cool jocks who make fun of Tyson’s Taylor Swift obsession and dorky ways. So when Grandpa Gene has to move to a nursing home that can manage his kidney disease, Tyson feels like he’s losing his only friend. Not only that, but Tyson was counting on Grandpa Gene to take him on his first big hunt. So in defiance of Mom and Dad’s strict orders, and despite reports of a scary, stalking, man-eating grizzly named Sandy, the two sneak off to the Grand Tetons. Yes, there will be action, like shooting and dressing a six-hundred-pound elk. Is Tyson tough enough? There will be heart-pounding suspense: is Grandpa Gene too sick to handle the hunt, miles away from help? And, oh yes, there will be bears. . . .

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Swim That Rock
Swim That Rock
John Rocco, Jay Primiano, John Rocco
A young working-class teen fights to save his family’s diner after his father is lost in a fishing-boat accident. When his dad goes missing in a fishing-boat accident, fourteen-year-old Jake refuses to think he may have lost his father forever. But suddenly, nothing seems certain in Jake’s future, and now his family’s diner may be repossessed by loan sharks. In Narragansett Bay, scrabbling out a living as a quahogger isn’t easy, but with the help of some local clammers, Jake is determined to work hard and earn enough money to ensure his family’s security and save the diner in time. Told with cinematic suspense and a true compassion for the characters, Swim That Rock is a fast-paced coming-of-age story that beautifully and evocatively captures the essence of coastal Rhode Island life, the struggles of blue-collar family dynamics, and the dreams of one boy to come into his own.

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Alec Kerley and the Wrath of the Vampire (The Monster Hunters) (Volume 2)
Alec Kerley and the Wrath of the Vampire
Adventure, mystery, and monsters converge in this fast-paced middle grade series perfect for fans of Goosebumps, Cirque du Freak, the Cooper Kids, and the Hardy Boys. "A MODERN DAY DRACULA FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS..."-- Electively PaigeFirst Bigfoot, now a vampire.It's been four months since Alec Kerley and his friends had their run-in with Bigfoot in the Ozark Mountains. During a field trip to southeast Kansas, they are confronted by a vampire.This vampire knows them. He has been stalking them -- watching, observing, tracking. He knows Alec's father works for a secret government agency that investigates monsters.And now the monsters want revenge.Still dealing with the loss of his mother, Alec will have to gather all the courage he can muster, because the monster hunters have become the hunted.Hold on tight for the scariest Monster Hunters story yet!****Alec Kerley and the Wrath of the Vampire is a middle grade inspirational monster novel filled with adventure. It is a legitimately scary story with some gruesome elements, and a great read for all ages -- middle graders, teens, and adults. Parental guidance is suggested. 52,000 words, 24 chapters.Alec Kerley and the Wrath of the Vampire is the second book in a series, including Alec Kerley and the Terror of Bigfoot (Book One) and Alec Kerley and the Roar of the Dinosaur (Book Three).

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Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done
Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done
Stephan Pastis, Stephan Pastis
Top Choice
The clueless, comically self-confident kid detective returns in a sequel to the New York Times bestseller Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made."When you lose hope, find it." —Timmy FailureHe doesn’t like to pull rank. To reveal that he’s this guy: Timmy Failure, founder, president, and CEO of the greatest detective agency in town, perhaps the nation. But he is. And he’s about to crack the biggest case of his generation: a school competition to find a stolen globe. It’s his ticket to bringing home a $500 prize, which is guaranteed to set him up for life. But someone is clearly trying to game the system. Hoodwink. Con. Defraud. So it’s up to Timmy Failure, with the dubious help of Total, his lazy polar-bear partner, and his unlikely new ally, eccentric Great-Aunt Colander, to find a way to avenge these shenanigans. Defeat this injustice.If he can only get his entry form in on time.

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Feral Curse
Feral Curse
The second installment of New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith’s thrilling Feral series delivers danger, romance, and suspense in an all new action-packed adventure.The adopted daughter of two respectable human parents, Kayla is a werecat in the closet. All she knows is the human world. When she comes out to her boyfriend, tragedy ensues, and her determination to know and embrace her heritage grows. Help appears in the lithe form of sexy male werecat Yoshi, backed up by Aimee and Clyde, as the four set out to solve the mystery of a possessed antique carousel while fielding miscast magic, obsessive strangers, and mounting species intolerance. Paranormal fans will go wild for this rousing second Feral adventure.

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The League
The League
Thatcher Heldring
"This book is a solid choice for reluctant readers who also happen to love football."--School Library Journal Just when it seems that his football dreams are history, Wyatt's older brother, Aaron, makes an unexpected offer: If Wyatt ditches golf camp, he can play with Aaron in the League of Pain: the roughest and most secretive rogue football league in town.Now Wyatt has a choice. He can play by the rules like he always does, or he can follow his heart—even if it means lying to the people he cares about the most. But if Wyatt wants to play in the league, he must learn to accept the penalties.From the Hardcover edition.

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Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys (Boulton Quest Series)
Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys
One troubled, the other trouble One regrets, the other hates One builds, the other destroys Their parents are kidnapped in a home invasion and Christopher and Michael must unite or die in their quest to find them. Adventure turns to mystery when the brothers follow a hunch leading them over the Pacific Coast Mountains, across the ocean, and to a fortified island where they fight for their lives with tragic results.

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