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#2 The Palace of Memory
Patricia Moffett, Julian Sedgwick
Synopsis: Danny Woo has just escaped from the jaws of death. But he's still haunted by the suspicious deaths of his parents, who were the star performers in a radical traveling circus, the Mysterium. When he discovers that the Mysterium is re-forming in Barcelona without him he's devastated. But after learning that the Mysterium's enemies may be active in Barcelona, he rushes to warn his friends.



Could there be a traitor within the company itself? If Danny wants to live long enough to find the answers, he will need all the skills his parents taught him. He senses that everything is linked to his parents' deaths . . . and to the clues they left behind.
Publication Date: 03/01/17
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Series
Vampires on the Run: A Quinnie Boyd Mystery
Synopsis: In the months after Quinnie Boyd cracked the mystery of her missing teacher, she expected life in her small Maine town to snap back to normal. But two writers from New York City have arrived in Maiden Rock, and there's something not quite right about them. Sure, Ceil and Edgar are pale. And they dress in all black. And they don't go near the sunlight. But could they really be vampires? To find out, Quinnie turns to Dominic a new kid in town who's an expert on everything geeky. Together, they'll risk their necks to find an answer . . .
Publication Date: 03/01/17
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Series
Honey Girl: The Hawaiian Monk Seal
Shennen Bersani, Jeanne Walker Harvey
Synopsis: Outstanding Science Trade Book
Hawaiian locals and visitors always enjoy spotting endangered Hawaiian monk seals, but Honey Girl is an extra special case. She has raised seven pups, and scientists call her Super Mom. After Honey Girl is injured by a fishhook, she gets very sick. Scientists and veterinarians work to save Honey Girl so she can be released back to the ocean. This true story will have readers captivated to learn more about this endangered species.

This work of narrative nonfiction includes a 4-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 30-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. Honey Girl is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas, provides extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The enhanced ebook reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension.

Keywords: based on a true story, endangered species, Hawaii, Hawaiian monk seal, health, life cycle, rehabilitation, wildlife rescue, basic needs, conservation, map, seal, sequence

Honey Girl: La foca monje de Hawái (Spanish version)
Publication Date: 02/10/17
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Nonfiction
Dragon Captives (The Unwanteds Quests)
Synopsis: Ten years after Alex and Aaron Stowe brought peace to Quill and Artimé, their younger twin sisters journey beyond the islands in this first novel of a new sequel series to The Unwanteds, which Kirkus Reviews called “The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter.”

Identical twins Fifer and Thisbe Stowe have amazing yet uncontrollable magical abilities. They’re naturally more gifted than even their brother, Alex, the head mage of Artimé, could hope to be. But when they accidentally use their magic in the jungle of Artimé to strike down a beloved creature, Alex is furious, and threatens to lock them away until they can learn to control their power.

The threat is soon forgotten, though, when Hux, the ice blue dragon, comes to Artimé bearing the horrible news that his siblings have been enslaved by the notoriously evil Revinir, ruler of the dragon land.

Seeking a chance to right their wrong and escape their brother’s wrath, Thisbe, Fifer, and their friend Seth sneak away to rescue the dragons from grave peril. Will their untrained abilities be enough to save the dragons—and themselves—when they come face-to-face with the Revinir?
Publication Date: 02/07/17
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Series
Spurt
Chris Miles
Synopsis: A boy who’s the last in his class to go through puberty tries to fake it till he makes it through a series of cringe-worthy and hilarious events in this balls-and-all coming-of-age novel that’s Judy Blume for boys!

Jack Sprigley isn’t just a late-bloomer. He’s a no-bloomer. He’s in the ninth grade, and puberty is still a total no-show.

Worse yet, he hasn’t heard from his friends all winter vacation. He assumes they’ve finally dumped him and his child-like body—except then he finds out that it’s much worse than that. His friends are now so far ahead of him that they’ve started dating and getting girlfriends. Jack is out of luck. But then he comes up with a plan to catch up and win his friends back. And his plan is perfect: he just has to fake puberty.
Publication Date: 02/07/17
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
Magical Eyes: Dawn of the Sand
Jessica D'Agostini
Synopsis: A fantasy coming of age adventure with a female protagonist. 

A MYSTICAL WHITE EAGLE, A CHARMED BOOK, AND A GIRL WITH SPECIAL POWERS... 

In a world where sorcery is feared, Princess Martina conceals her paranormal powers, especially when her brother is against her. Finding a true friend in the peasant boy Enzo, her secret seems safe. But when tragedy strikes the royal palace, Martina's careful world is torn to pieces. Brother and sister find themselves on an epic magical quest to save the kingdom from war and famine, vicious mythical beasts, and a tyrannical king. But Prince Drago has secrets of his own, and a heart of wickedness that no amount of good magic can brighten. 

Dark days cloud Brightalia, and only one last hope remains before total devastation. Can Martina be a hero and defeat the evil that lurks throughout her land? Or are the days of her beloved kingdom over forever?
Publication Date: 01/09/17
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Batgirl at Super Hero High
Synopsis: Get your cape on with the DC Super Hero Girls™— the unprecedented new Super Hero universe especially for girls! Readers of all ages can fly high with the all-new adventures of Wonder Woman™, Supergirl™, Batgirl™, and some of the world’s most iconic female super heroes as high schoolers!
 
Batgirl has always hidden in the shadows—but does she have what it takes to stand in the spotlight at Super Hero High?
 
Barbara Gordon has always been an off-the-charts, just-forget-about-the-test super-genius and tech whiz, and then she gets the offer of a lifetime when Supergirl recognizes that Barbara’s talents make her an ideal candidate for Super Hero High. Donning the cape and cowl, Barbara Gordon becomes Batgirl, ready to train at the most elite school on the planet, next to some of the most powerful teenagers in the galaxy. She’s always had the heart of a hero . . . but now she’ll have to prove that she can be one. Good thing she loves a challenge!
 
Award-winning author Lisa Yee brings mystery, thrills, and laughs to this groundbreaking series that follows DC Comics most iconic female Super Heroes and Super-Villains. Move over Batman™ and Superman™—the DC Super Hero Girls are ready to save the day and have fun doing it!
 
 
Praise for DC Super Hero Girls:
“Sure to have wide appeal, this book is a solid option to balance collections saturated with male superheroes.” - School Library Journal
Publication Date: 01/03/17
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
#8 Life, Loss, and Lemonade
Laurie Friedman, Natasha Shaloshvili
Synopsis: As freshman year winds down, April has a lot to look forward to, including getting her driving permit and spending the summer with her quirky almost-boyfriend, Leo. But she also knows her grandmother, Gaga, doesn't have much time left. On top of that, her closest friend, Sophie, is moving away. April struggles to make sense of everything. Does it matter if you stay positive while losing a loved one to cancer? What do you do when you're caught between friends keeping secrets? How do you know whether an important decision is the right one? Most importantly, what would Gaga say to do when life hands you lemons?
Publication Date: 01/01/17
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
The Card People Series Part 1: The Scissors of Fate
Synopsis:

Devastated by the mysterious disappearance of his father, a genius scientist, Paul Kapadia notices that a deck of cards he and his father used for nightly games begins moving on its own. Soon the card people present themselves to Paul and plead for help in their battle for survival against the brutal scissors people. With the help of his younger brother Sam and an old friend Nim, Paul begins to unravel the stunning secret of the card people's existence and his father's desperate quest to make the world safe again. He must take on a quest of his own as he tries to fulfill the dream that his father had left unfinished.

Publication Date: 12/15/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Series
What Is A Tesseract? And Other Scientific Stuff
Synopsis: This children's book explains the features of a tesseract, wheels within wheels, and a sphere within a sphere all within the context of dimensions.  Explore the 0th-4th dimensions with their unique points of view. Imagine  what it would be like to exist in each dimension. What can you do?  Where can you go?  What shapes can exist?  Ultimately, answering these questions can lead to a discovery of scientific concepts beyond the daily reality and above the mundane routines of life.
Publication Date: 11/23/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Educational
Boss of the Whole Sixth Grade
Synopsis:
Publication Date: 11/17/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Mad Scientists of New Jersey
Doreen Mulryan, Chris Sorensen
Synopsis: Eddie Edison is the last of the Mad Scientists of New Jersey. After his father is abducted, Eddie is left foundering with no knowledge of his birthright. But when a mysterious stranger takes him under his wing, Eddie learns that not only is he the only hope of retrieving his father, but that he is the only person left to stand against the evil genius who brought about extinction of the Mad Scientists.With the imagination of Rick Riordan and the zaniness of Roald Dahl, this time traveling tale is sure to please.
Publication Date: 11/11/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Lost Property Office
James R. Hannibal
Synopsis: James R. Hannibal presents a thrilling adventure through history, complete with mysteries, secret items, codes, and a touch of magic in this stunning middle grade debut.

Thirteen-year-old Jack Buckles is great at finding things. Not just a missing glove or the other sock, but things normal people have long given up on ever seeing again. If only he could find his father, who has disappeared in London without a trace.

But Jack’s father was not who he claimed to be. It turns out that he was a member of a secret society of detectives that has served the crown for centuries—and membership into the Lost Property Office is Jack’s inheritance.

Now the only way Jack will ever see his father again is if he finds what the nefarious Clockmaker is after: the Ember, which holds a secret that has been kept since the Great Fire of London. Will Jack be able to find the Ember and save his father, or will his talent for finding things fall short?
Publication Date: 11/08/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Mystery
The Girl Who Saved Christmas
Synopsis: Girl Who Saved Christmas
Publication Date: 11/03/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones
Wendelin Van Draanen
Synopsis: "Lincoln Jones is a loner who prefers to keep his head down and use writing as a way to escape the trials of daily life at his new school. As he and his mother struggle to start over, Lincoln's attempts at invisibility are thwarted by a fellow sixth grader, a girl who shows him that he's got a lot to offer as a friend. Strong characters who value humor, perseverance, and compassion will particularly appeal to readers adapting to middle school." - Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

A fresh and funny story about a boy learning to become the brave hero of his own life, perfect for fans of Counting by 7s and The Fourteenth Goldfish.
 
My secret life is filled with psychic vampires, wheelchair zombies, chain-rattlin’ ghosts, and a one-eyed cat. But they’re nothing compared to my real-life stalker: a sixth-grade girl named Kandi Kain. . . .
 
Lincoln Jones is always working on the latest story he’s got going in his notebook. Those stories are his refuge. A place where the hero always prevails and the bad guy goes to jail. Real life is messy and complicated, so Lincoln sticks to fiction and keeps to himself. Which works fine until a nosy girl at his new school starts prying into his private business. She wants to know what he’s writing, where he disappears to after school, and why he never talks to anybody. . . .
 
The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones is a terrifically funny and poignant story about a boy finding the courage to get to know the real characters all around him—and to let them know him.


Praise for The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones:

Winner of the Josette Frank Award

"Van Draanen's engaging story is characterized by clever writing, a palpable affection for her characters, and a deep understanding of what's important about life. Readers will love Lincoln Jones."—Kirkus Reviews

"Van Draanen skillfully wraps up her tale, offering a realistically happy ending. A story with a perfect balance of mirth and poignancy." -- School Library Journal

"Lincoln is a delightful narrator." -- Booklist
Publication Date: 10/25/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Gertie's Leap to Greatness
Jillian Tamaki, Kate Beasley
Synopsis:

"Meet the new Ramona Quimby!" -- Entertainment Weekly

Gertie Reece Foy is 100% Not-From-Concentrate awesome. She has a daddy who works on an oil rig, a great-aunt who always finds the lowest prices at the Piggly Wiggly, and two loyal best friends. So when her absent mother decides to move away from their small town, Gertie sets out on her greatest mission yet: becoming the best fifth grader in the universe to show her mother exactly what she'll be leaving behind. There's just one problem: Seat-stealing new girl Mary Sue Spivey wants to be the best fifth grader, too. And there is simply not enough room at the top for the two of them.

From debut author Kate Beasley, and with illustrations by Caldecott Honor artist Jillian Tamaki, comes a classic tale of hope and homecoming that will empty your heart, then fill it back up again--one laugh at a time.

Publication Date: 10/04/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor

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