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Joshua Dread
Lee Bacon
Synopsis: "Bacon's deadpan narrative hums along with outrageous details, humor, and action...A hero with a double life and a colossal set of parental issues, Joshua handles zombies, killer robots, and teenage girls without losing his cool. Bacon's affectionately playful take on the superhero genre introduces bombastic personalities without reducing the characters to caricatures." - Publishers Weekly

"Fast and often funny...A twisty, swiftly moving adventure sure to please superhero fans."
- Kirkus Reviews

"Joshua Dread is funny, action-packed, and a total page-turner. You'll want to read to the bitter end--unless Joshua's parents destroy the world first. Which is a distinct possibility." - Adam Gidwitz, author of A Tale Dark & Grimm and In a Glass Grimmly

"Villainy! Mayhem! Family! From supervillains to killer houseplants, Joshua Dread has it all. I couldn't put it down and I didn't dare, not until I'd devoured every last page!" - C. Alexander London, author of the Accidental Adventure series

When your parents are supervillains, it's hard to have a normal life. Joshua Dread tries to keep a low profile. Not even his best friend, Milton, knows his secret. Luckily Joshua's not on anyone's radar--not like Sophie, a new girl with a mysterious past who's got everyone talking. But weird stuff is happening. Pencils explode in his hand. He leaves scorched butt marks on the carpet. And he can send bullies crashing into lockers. Turns out Joshua has a superpower. But he doesn't have to use it for evil, right? His parents give him a book to explain things... but nothing can prepare him for when smoke creatures start kidnapping bad guys. Is Joshua's family next?
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Science Fiction
Super
Matthew Cody
Synopsis: A superpowered sequel to Matthew Cody’s popular debut novel, Powerless!
 
Daniel Corrigan is as regular as can be, especially when compared to the Supers: kids in his new hometown with actual powers like flight and super-strength. But Daniel’s not powerless. Only he was able to stop the Shroud, a supervillain bent on stealing his newfound friends’ powers. And thanks to him, his friends got to keep those powers.
 
Now Daniel himself is starting to display powers, while at the same time his friends are losing theirs. His friend Eric thinks Daniel is just becoming a Super himself, a late-blooming one. But Daniel worries there may be something more sinister at work, since his power-stealing ability is uncomfortably like the Shroud’s. Of course, the Shroud is gone now . . . isn't he? Or could Daniel himself be his new vessel?
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
Squish #4:  Captain Disaster
Matthew Holm, Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm, Jennifer L. Holm
Synopsis: Introducing Squish—a hilarious, action packed graphic novel series from the award-winning creators of Babymouse! Filled with superheroes, comics within comics, and gross-out science, Squish is perfect for fans of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants, Dan Gutman's Weird School, and Jarrett Krosoczka's Lunch Lady.

It's soccer season! But the Waterfleas (Hey, it could be worse—Okay, maybe it couldn't.) are getting pummelled game after game. Squish knows winning isn't everything, but it's something right? Can Squish turn the losing streak around when he becomes team captain? Will Pod figure out how to harness the power of lightning? And how can amoebas play soccer when they don't have any feet? Find out in the electrifyingly funny page-turner Squish #4: Captain Disaster—saving the world, one cell at a time!

Yowza! You can draw comics, too! Look in the back to find out how to draw one of the Squish characters! Also includes instructions for a sensational science experiment you can do at home! Shazam!

Here's what people are saying about everyone's favorite amoeba!

New York Times:
"An energetic, good-hearted escapade, one that young readers will enjoy."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews:
* "Hilarious. If ever a new series deserved to go viral, this one does."
 
The Bulletin:
"A perfect mix of writing that is simple enough for early readers but still remarkably snarky, clever, and entertaining. Kids will soak up the humor, tidbits of science instruction, and adventure."
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Manga/Graphic Novel
The High-Skies Adventures of Blue Jay the Pirate
Synopsis: Hoist the Jolly Robin! Fly with a swashbuckling crew as they soar through the air — and evade danger on the ground — in search of treasure and lofty adventure.

Captain Blue Jay, notorious and feared pirate of the skies, has a fondness for collecting treasure, especially eggs. Unfortunately, sometimes his treasure hatches, and this time the hatchling is the strangest one the Grosbeak has ever seen. No sailor is certain whether the chick is a young god or just an oversized bird who needs too much food, but one thing is clear: the winds over Thrushland are shifting, and dramatic changes are in store for all. Whether outwitting a gang of thieving crows, outrunning murderous fishers and weasels, or rallying Briarloch’s beleaguered sparrows, this motley crew must do all they can to stay together and stay alive. And that’s just the tip of the bird’s feather! Offering a bounty of illustrations and a host of memorable characters — from an endearing star-nosed mole to an unlikely little warrior with a vendetta — here is a treasure for anyone who has ever wanted to take to the skies and see where fortune blows.
Publication Date: 09/25/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: For Reluctant Readers
Girl The Reaper
L.A. Rikand
Synopsis: In the summer of 1976, shy fourteen-year-old Cate Evans inadvertently saves her father from the grim reaper and becomes a type of reaper herself.
Publication Date: 09/17/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Paranormal
Calvin Coconut:  Rocket Ride
Jacqueline Rogers, Graham Salisbury
Synopsis: Calvin's dad is a famous pop singer, and he's going to be in a concert on the island! Everyone wants to go. Dad gave Calvin's mom 10 tickets, and Calvin has to decide who gets the last ticket: teacher's pet Shayla, who has a crush on him (ick!) or Tito the bully? But much more important: Calvin  hasn't seen his dad in four years. And he's never met Dad's new wife. Will Dad still like Calvin now?
Publication Date: 09/11/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Melonhead and the Vegalicious Disaster
Gillian Johnson, Katy Kelly
Synopsis: It's not fair! Not only is Melonhead's new fifth-grade teacher notoriously strict and mean, his mother is making him eat more and more vegetables. So Melonhead and his pals come up with a genius idea to get out of eating his mom's vegalicious meals, all the while convincing her that they actually love them. But the genius idea leads to totally unexpected and stinky results!
Publication Date: 09/11/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
One Year in Coal Harbor
Polly Horvath
Synopsis: Readers rejoice—Primrose Squarp is back! The wise and curious heroine of the Newbery Honor Book Everything on a Waffle is facing another adventure-filled year in Coal Harbor.

Even though her parents, once lost at sea, are home, there’s a whole slew of problems and mysteries to keep Primrose—and eager fans—busy. There’s Uncle Jack and Kate Bowzer, who may (or may not) be in love. There’s Ked, a foster child who becomes Primrose’s friend. And there’s the new development on the outskirts of town that threatens the Coal Harbor Primrose knows and treasures.

From National Book Award–winning author Polly Horvath comes a masterful sequel to a beloved novel, sure to please old fans and gain new ones.
 
A perfect charmer…. Hilarious and touching.” —The Boston Globe
 
“Nobody does middle grade like Horvath.” —The Horn Book Magazine
Publication Date: 09/11/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril
Synopsis: From the author of National Book Award finalist Hey, Kiddo.

It's picture day at Thompson Brook, but the students are plagued by a freak acne epidemic. While the Breakfast Bunch scrambles to put their best faces forward, their hifalutin photographer raises Lunch Lady's eyebrows. She suspects the photographer may have an underhanded plan to break into the world of high fashion that puts the students in danger! Will Lunch Lady be able to storm the runway and stop the vogue rogue without blowing her cover?
Publication Date: 09/11/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Manga/Graphic Novel
Pie in the Sky
Jane Smiley
Synopsis: Abby Lovitt doesn't realize how unprepared she is when she takes her beloved horse, True Blue, to a clinic led by the most famous equestrian anyone knows. The biggest surprise, though, is that Sophia, the girl who never makes a mistake, suddenly makes so many that she stops riding. Who will ride her horse? Abby's dad seems to think it will be Abby. Pie in the Sky is the most expensive horse Abby has ever ridden. But he is proud and irritable, and he takes Abby's attention away from the continuing mystery that is True Blue.

And then there's high school—Abby finds new friends, but also new challenges, and a larger world that sometimes seems strange and intimidating. She begins to wonder if there is another way to look at horses, people, and life itself.

Accompanied by the beautiful imagery of 1960s Northern California, Abby's charming mix of innocence and wisdom guide us through Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley's latest middle-grade horse novel.
Publication Date: 09/11/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
De como tia Lola termino empezando otra vez
Synopsis: Bienvenidos al bed & breakfast de tía Lola!
Con la ayuda de sus sobrinos y de las tres hermanas Espada, tía Lola abrirá las puertas de la majestuosa casa Antigua del coronel Charlebois a visitants de todas las procedencias. Pero pronto se darán cuenta de que poner a funcionar este pequeño hotel no resulta tan fácil como pensaron en un principio. ¡Y menos cuando todo parece indicar que hay alguien que ententa sabotear sus proyectos!
            ¿Podrián tía Lola y los niños descubrir quien está detrás del plan para que el bed & breakfast fracase? ¿Logrará la familia y amigos de tía Lola organizarle una fiesta sorpresa de cumpleaños en la propia casa del coronel sin que ella sospeche nada?
Publication Date: 09/11/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Spanish
Ivy and Bean Make The Rules
Annie Barrows, Sophie Blackall
Synopsis: Bean's older sister, Nancy, is going to Girl Power 4-Ever Camp, where she will do Crafts and Music and First Aid and other secret things that Bean will never know about because girls have to be eleven to go to Girl Power 4-Ever Camp. Bean doesn't care. She doesn't want to go to camp. She wouldn't go even if they begged her. So ha. So ha ha. So—wait a second! Bean and Ivy can make their own camp, their own better camp: Camp Flaming Arrow, where counselors Ivy and Bean will give a whole new meaning to Crafts, Music, First Aid, and hands-on learning!
Publication Date: 09/05/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Saving Halloween
Christopher R. Adams, Shuba Ramaswamy, Lisa Ard
Synopsis: When book-smart Anne Parson meets Halloween Spavento, she sees exactly what she wants to see -- a friend. Halloween waves away trouble, magically silences school bullies and offers Anne unfailing friendship. But, when the Spavento family's enchanting exploits are exposed, will Anne face her fears and save Halloween? A spellbinding tale of outcasts who find acceptance, a girl who discovers the true meaning of family, and characters who are not always what they seem. 2012 Kay Snow Award Winner 2012 B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree Amazon Bestseller: #1 Children's Halloween Book
Publication Date: 09/05/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
No Other Story
Dr. Cuthbert Soup
Synopsis:

The Cheeseman family is back from back-in-time. Or at least, they're in the LVR (their super-secret time machine) and on their way to save the life of their beloved mother, Olivia. But then the LVR gets kicked off the Time Arc into a place called Sometimes. And unlike olden times or present times, Sometimes doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's got dinosaurs and Vikings and jumbo jets, all in one place, at one time. Luckily, it's not a long time before the family is back on course again. And just as they're about to rescue their mother at last, the kids confront something utterly surprising. Something wilder than dinosaurs, Vikings, or jumbo jets. More unbelievable than cowboy poets and psychic dogs.They are about to encounter... Dr. Cuthbert Soup.And the alternate versions of themselves!

Publication Date: 09/04/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Science Fiction
The Lynching Of Louie Sam
Mary Beth Leatherdale, Elizabeth Stewart
Synopsis: Murder, racism, and injustice wreak havoc in a frontier town. The year is 1884, and 15-year-old George Gillies lives in the Washington Territory, near the border with British Columbia. In this newly settled land, white immigrants have an uneasy relationship with the Native Indians. When George and his siblings discover the murdered body of a local white man, suspicion immediately falls on a young Indian named Louie Sam. George and his best friend, Pete, follow a lynch mob north into Canada, where the terrified boy is seized and hung. But even before the deed is done, George begins to have doubts. Louie Sam was a boy, only 14—could he really be a vicious murderer? Were the mob leaders motivated by justice, or were they hiding their own guilt? As George uncovers the truth, tensions in the town begin to rise, and he must face his own part in the tragedy. Inspired by the true story of the lynching, recently acknowledged as a historical injustice by Washington State, this powerful novel offers a stark depiction of historical racism and the harshness of settler life.
Publication Date: 09/01/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Historical Fiction
Magefable
Heimdall Thunderhammer
Synopsis: Magefable is a beautifully illustrated fantasy adventure. This is the first book in an epic tale filled with magic, treasure, humor, and friendship, as well as many ferocious enemies and the dangerous trials of nature. Durbin has always dreamed of becoming a swashbuckling adventurer like his legendary father. But unfortunately he's stuck in the secluded valley forest of Verdancia, far away from the sway and swagger of the sea. On one fateful evening a mouse named Clove and her spear hog companion Herod stumble into his village. They had escaped from the terrible lion Sinvicious who wants to stop Clove before she can gain the full power of a geomancer--a mage with the ability to control the elements. Fire, water, wind, lightning, all can be controlled by a geomancer. They can fly, turn themselves invisible, make their skin as solid as rock, shift the earth, and even control life... Although all Clove can do at this point is make weeds move. The next morning when Durbin awakes he finds Clove and Herod gone. Unable to resist the call of adventure, he journeys out into the woods to find them, dragging along his reluctant friend Morro the hedge hog, who would rather be sitting at home eating scones and berries. On their way they meet other new friends such as Reverie, a wounded sparrow who can mesmerize animals with his singing, and Bailey, a courageous and boisterous young squirrel who is hunting for a dragon to tame. But as Durbin and Morro seek Clove and Herod, so does Krochek the Hunter--the most vile, savage rat ever to emerge from Sinvicious's kingdom. Along with his horde of bloodthirsty rodents he will tear the forest apart in his effort to find them.
Publication Date: 08/30/12
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy

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