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Skeleton Tower
Vanessa Acton
Synopsis: Jason's parents have been hired to work at a historic lighthouse along the California coast. The lighthouse is built along steep cliffs, surrounded by fog, and far from the nearest town. The last caretakers left in a hurry, and it doesn't take long to see why. Several accidents and the discovery of a hidden diary convince Jason the lighthouse is cursed. Will The Atlas of Cursed Places provide some answers before someone gets hurt...or worse?
Publication Date: 10/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Thief's Apprentice
Bryan Methods
Synopsis: Oliver, the meek son of a wealthy British industrialist, discovers the identity of a notorious thief, a man who has been skillfully evading Scotland Yard and snatching priceless artifacts for sport: Mr. Scant, his family butler. After first fearing for his life, Oliver discovers Mr. Scant's secret within a secret: the butler's crimes are actually a series of strikes against an underground group of business tycoons trying to master black magic.
Publication Date: 10/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Secret of Goldenrod
Jane O'Reilly
Synopsis: A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle-Grade Book of 2016

When Trina and her father move into Goldenrod, an abandoned Victorian mansion, Trina hopes she will finally have a place to call home and a chance to make friends at her new school. But school doesn't go as planned, and Goldenrod might be haunted.

Then Trina discovers Augustine, a tiny and very unusual porcelain doll that belonged to the little girl who lived at Goldenrod a century ago. With help from Augustine, Trina realizes Goldenrod is trying to tell her an important secret, one that may just change her life.
Publication Date: 10/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Stand-In
Steve Bloom
Synopsis: When Brooks volunteered to be a stand-in for Burdette's cousin who got stood up for Homecoming, it was with the noblest of intentions helping a fellow human being, free of charge. But when he gets a tip of more than three hundred bucks, word spreads quickly and Brooks seizes the opportunity to offer his impeccable escort services to super-wealthy parents who want their daughters to experience those big social events of senior year.

Besides, Brooks could use the cash to hire a tutor to get admitted to Columbia University. So what if along the way he goes along with a few minor deceptions and cuts a few moral corners? What could be the harm?
Publication Date: 10/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Vampire Boy (Carpathia Chronicles Book 1)
Synopsis: WINNER of the Reader Views Literary Awards, 2016-2017. WINNER of the Purple Dragonfly Awards, 2017.WINNER of the Pinnacle Awards, 2017.WINNER of the Silver Medal for Reader's Favorite Awards, 2017.Trailer:youtube.com/watch?v=mH6eAe0434g                'The Adventures of Alex Vambarey is a masterpiece. This is the best children's book I have read in years after Rick Riordan." - Readers' Favorite
When Alex Vambarey attends his first year at the Carpathian Academy, he has no idea that there are other creatures besides vampires. He's never met a gargoyle, or a pixie for that matter. Of course he's read about them -- in the Vampedia -- but in real life? No way. And why in the world are all the janitors collecting dirt? That was just plain weird. No, there was definitely something bigger going on. Way bigger. And if he was right, it was hidden somewhere in the Night Gallery--the secret about Carpathia, and the secret about himself.          
Publication Date: 10/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Secret Keepers
Diana Sudyka, Trenton Lee Stewart
Synopsis: A New York Times Bestseller!
By the author of The Mysterious Benedict Society, this heart-pounding mystery adventure is laced with magic and humor.
When Reuben discovers an extraordinary antique watch with a secret power, his life takes an intriguing turn. As one secret leads to another, Reuben finds himself torn between his honest nature and the lure to be a hero.
Now he is on a dangerous adventure--full of curious characters, treacherous traps, and hairsbreadth escapes--as he races to solve the mystery before it is too late. With fearless Penny, mighty Jack, and the wise Mrs. Genevieve on his side, can Reuben outwit a sly villain called The Smoke and save the city from a terrible fate?
In this ingeniously crafted novel, acclaimed author Trenton Lee Stewart invites readers to join the adventure, decipher the clues, and ask themselves the question: Is knowing a secret a gift or a curse?
Publication Date: 09/27/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
More Than Magic: Secret Friends to the Rescue
Synopsis: Girls who enjoy spunky heroines such as Merida from Brave (Disney/Pixar) and Ella from Ella Enchanted will want to join Rory and Ryder in their adventures in our world—and the world beyond the TV. An exciting new middle-grade fantasy from Kathryn Lasky, bestselling author of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series.
 
Ryder Holmsby is the same age as Rory, the popular TV cartoon character her animator parents created. Ryder and Rory are alike—bold and brave! But Ryder is a bit lonely: Mom passed away a couple of years ago, and Dad is dating a woman with snooty teenage daughters. Ryder doesn’t fit in with them at all.
 
And then: Shazam! Rory jumps out of the TV into Ryder’s bedroom to tell her that the TV studio behind her parents’ show is trying to turn Rory into a dopey princess—no more adventures. She needs Ryder’s help! The two girls team up with a crew of animated and real-life friends to save the day in both worlds.
 
Kathryn Lasky, bestselling author of the Guardians of Ga’hoole series, the Wolves of the Beyond series, and the Horses of the Dawn series, delivers a whimsical tale in which inner strength is the greatest form of magic.
Publication Date: 09/27/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Littlest Bigfoot
Jennifer Weiner
Synopsis: A New York Times Bestseller

“A charming story about finding a safe place to let your freak flag fly.” —People

“Young readers who have ever felt too big or been made to feel small will feel just right in the cheerful glow of Weiner’s contemporary fairy tale.” —The New York Times Book Review

From the New York Times bestselling author of Hungry Heart Jennifer Weiner comes a laugh-out-loud funny and painstakingly real tale of friendship, furry creatures, and finding the place where you belong.

Alice Mayfair, twelve years old, slips through the world unseen and unnoticed. Ignored by her family and shipped off to her eighth boarding school, Alice would like a friend. And when she rescues Millie Maximus from drowning in a lake one day, she finds one.

But Millie is a Bigfoot, part of a clan who dwells deep in the woods. Most Bigfoots believe that people—NoFurs, as they call them—are dangerous, yet Millie is fascinated with the No-Fur world. She is convinced that humans will appreciate all the things about her that her Bigfoot tribe does not: her fearless nature, her lovely singing voice, and her desire to be a star.

Alice swears to protect Millie’s secret. But a league of Bigfoot hunters is on their trail, led by a lonely kid named Jeremy. And in order to survive, Alice and Millie have to put their trust in each other—and have faith in themselves—above all else.
Publication Date: 09/13/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Secret of the Puzzle Box
Synopsis: The Code Busters are excited for their class field trip to Angel Island, known as the Ellis Island of the West. One of Mika's ancestors passed through the island's immigration station in the early twentieth century, and Mika thinks he may have left behind some secret messages . . . plus a very special box. But as the Code Busters search for hints from the past, they get caught up in an even bigger secret.

Can you crack the code? Test your brain with the Code Busters to see if you have the right stuff to be an ace detective. Answers are in the back, in case you get stuck.
Publication Date: 09/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Blast from the North
David Zeltser
Synopsis: After saving his clan from saber-toothed tigers, Lug the caveboy has become a hero. The only problem: between the nightmares and his sudden skittishness around animals, he doesn't feel like much of a hero. But now he and his friends, Stony and Echo, have even bigger problems. A giant glacier is rolling toward their village faster than any ordinary mass of ice should move and it's on course to crush the whole settlement! Maybe Blast, the mysterious northern boy who lives on the glacier, can help Lug's clan. Or maybe it will be up to Lug to save the day again, whether he's ready to or not.
Publication Date: 09/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Top Prospect
Paul Volponi
Synopsis: Travis Gardner lives to play quarterback. He's a standout QB by the middle school, and he's prepared to put everything he has into the game. Then Gainesville University's head coach makes Travis a promise: Travis will have a place on the team, and a scholarship to go with it. He just has to get through high school first.

As Travis starts ninth grade, he'll have to earn his teammates' trust and dodge opponents aiming to sack the star quarterback. But his biggest challenge might be staying focused in the face of sudden fame. Because now the pressure is on, and Travis has to prove himself with every pass.

Publication Date: 09/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Ghost
Jason Reynolds
Synopsis: A National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature.
Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his past is slowing him down in this first electrifying novel of a brand-new series from Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award–winning author Jason Reynolds.

Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.

Running. That’s all Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons—it all started with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems—and running away from them—until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him?
Publication Date: 08/30/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery
Synopsis: Get to know the only kid on the FBI Director’s speed dial and several international criminals’ most wanted lists all because of his Theory of All Small Things in this hilarious start to a brand-new middle grade mystery series.

So you’re only halfway through your homework and the Director of the FBI keeps texting you for help…What do you do? Save your grade? Or save the country?

If you’re Florian Bates, you figure out a way to do both.

Florian is twelve years old and has just moved to Washington. He’s learning his way around using TOAST, which stands for the Theory of All Small Things. It’s a technique he invented to solve life’s little mysteries such as: where to sit on the on the first day of school, or which Chinese restaurant has the best eggrolls.

But when he teaches it to his new friend Margaret, they uncover a mystery that isn’t little. In fact, it’s HUGE, and it involves the National Gallery, the FBI, and a notorious crime syndicate known as EEL.

Can Florian decipher the clues and finish his homework in time to help the FBI solve the case?
Publication Date: 08/23/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Saving Mr. Terupt
Rob Buyea
Synopsis: "An exciting story about what really matters, Saving Mr. Terupt is warm, wise, and packed with hope."--JOAN BAUER, Newbery Honor Winner

The kids and their favorite teacher from Because of Mr. Terupt and Mr. Terupt Falls Again return for a third book in the funny, warmhearted series for fans of Wonder.

Seventh grade was going to be awesome. The only thing missing was Mr. Terupt.

The kids from Mr. Terupt’s fifth- and sixth-grade classes are entering their first year of junior high school. There’s a lot to be excited about, but there are new challenges, too. Peter and Jeffrey face tough competition on their wrestling team. Alexia has a disastrous first day of school, and that’s only the beginning. Anna is desperate for Charlie to propose to her mother—what is he waiting for?! Danielle isn’t feeling so well, but she's trying to tough it out, like Grandma. Trouble with a bully makes Luke dread going to school for the first time ever. And Jessica is waiting anxiously for an acceptance to a theater retreat in New York City.
     Everyone is missing Mr. Terupt. When a fight threatens to break up the group forever, they think their favorite teacher is the only one who can help them. But the kids soon find out that it’s Mr. Terupt who needs saving.
 
This novel includes extra content in the back of the book. Readers will find a Junior High Survival Guide with tips from the old gang!
 
"Buyea has a knack for making his character’s voices distinct. This offering will resonate with tween audiences seeking realistic stories with multifaceted characters. Fans of the “Terupt” novels will cheer as the Snow Hill crowd enters seventh grade, though this latest volume will also appeal to newcomers to the series."--School Library Journal

"This third in the series [is] as easy for new readers to pick up as it is for returning fans. A warmly gracious invitation to a convincing middle school world."--Kirkus Reviews 

"The individual personalities and abilities of Buyea’s characters emerge through their narratives as they tell about their interests and feelings, including moves from friendships to budding romantic relationships. Danielle’s narrative includes a scientific explanation of diabetes type one and her courageous attitude in learning how to manage her health. This is an engaging read with broad appeal.--VOYA, Recommended


From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date: 08/23/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Trouble With Twins
Kathryn Siebel
Synopsis: "With a refreshing take on the sibling relationship, this early middle grade novel is a good fit for readers moving out of chapter books or as a story to read together." - Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

Kate DiCamillo meets Lemony Snicket in this darkly comic novel about two sisters who learn they are each others' most important friend!

Imagine two twin sisters, Arabella and Henrietta--nearly identical yet with nothing in common. They're the best of friends . . . until one day they aren't. Plain and quiet Henrietta has a secret plan to settle the score, and she does something outrageous and she can't take it back.
 
When the deed is discovered, Henrietta is sent to live with her eccentric great-aunt! Suddenly life with pretty, popular Arabella doesn't seem so awful.
 
And, though she's been grievously wronged, Arabella longs for her sister, too. So she hatches a plan of her own and embarks on an unexpected journey to reunite with her other half.
Publication Date: 08/09/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Pyramid Hunters: The Iron Tomb
Synopsis: Join Sam Force on a fast-paced adventure through Egypt that’s part National Treasure and part Indiana Jones with the start to a brand-new series packed with puzzles and clues for readers to figure out along the way!

When Sam Force goes to Egypt to spend the summer with his uncle Jasper, he’s ready for the usual vacation filled with museums and lessons about the pharaohs and ancient gods. Instead, Sam arrives at the airport and learns that his uncle is missing and wanted by the police.

After narrowly escaping his own arrest, Sam sets off to find his uncle using the series of clues that Jasper left behind. But a group of mysterious men are hot on his trail, and Sam knows they’re willing to do whatever it takes to track down Jasper and whatever Jasper was looking for.

Now all Sam has to do is find it first.

With the help of his new friends Hadi and Mary, and by using the knowledge of ancient Egyptian history and culture that he once hated, Sam makes his way across Egypt determined to find his uncle. And if he does, if he finds Jasper before it’s too late, he may also uncover the secret of the Iron Tomb…a secret that could change Sam’s life forever.
Publication Date: 08/02/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction

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