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The Bad Beginning
Brett Helquist, Lemony Snicket
Synopsis:

NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky.

In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odor.

In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy.

Publication Date: 08/25/99
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Horse Shy: The Saddle Club
Synopsis: When one of Pine Hollow's students makes a terrible mistake, causing a tragic accident, Carole is done with riding forever. Unless Stevie and Lisa can remind her what friendship and the Saddle Club are all about.
Publication Date: 04/01/96
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Horse Sense: The Saddle Club
Synopsis: Lisa love being a member of the Saddle Club. But lately, Stevie and Carole haven't had time for her or their friendship. And if she can'tconvince her friends that their club is just as important, she may have to find new members to replace them. . . .
Publication Date: 04/01/96
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Synopsis: THE all-time classic picture book, from generation to generation, sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds! Have you shared it with a child or grandchild in your life?

Including a special feature, die cuts, this beautiful board book edition, perfect for teaching the days of the week, offers readers an interactive experience. 

"The very hungry caterpillar literally eats his way through the pages of the book—and right into your child's heart..."
—Mother's Manual

"Gorgeously illustrated, brilliantly innovative..."
—The New York Times Book Review

Publication Date: 03/23/94
Age Level: 5 - 8
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Horse Power: The Saddle Club
Synopsis: Carole, Stevie, and Lisa have been looking for a fourth member to join the Saddle Club. So when Carole introduces her friends to Kate Devine, the championship rider, the girls know they've found the perfect fit. Except that Kate doesn't want to ride ever again. . . .
Publication Date: 03/01/89
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee
Synopsis: With Dwight attending Tippett Academy this semester, the kids of McQuarrie Middle School are on their own--no Origami Yoda to give advice and help them navigate the treacherous waters of middle school. Then Sara gets a gift she says is from Dwight--a paper fortune-teller in the form of Chewbacca. It's a Fortune Wookiee, and it seems to give advice that's just as good as Yoda's--even if, in the hands of the girls, it seems too preoccupied with romance. In the meantime, Dwight is fitting in a little too well at Tippett. Has the unimaginable happened? Has Dwight become normal? It's up to his old friends at McQuarrie to remind their kooky friend that it's in his weirdness that his greatness lies.
With his proven knack for humorously exploring the intrigues, fads, and dramas of middle school, Tom Angleberger has crafted a worthy follow-up to his breakout bestsellers The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
McKinley's Jewel
Marissa St. James
Synopsis: Bonnie-Jean Russell, personal assistant to the current laird of McKinley clan, can't find her boss. When she discovers his likeness in an ancestor's portrait she has to find a way to bring him back to the present. Standing in her way is the tale of a missing pouch of gemstones...a treasure everyone else wants.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Bending Willow
Jacci Turner
Synopsis: When Riley finds her grandmother dead, she knows her world is about to collapse. Determined to find the father she knows only by an address, Riley and Mia take off on a journey with so many twists and turns Riley begins to doubt they’ll ever find a real home. She ignores the question that keeps popping into her mind–if they do find her father, will he even want them? Or will he send them away?
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Mermaid's Kiss
M. Allman, Douglas Hampton, M Allman
Synopsis:

Thomas believes in myths and mythological creatures, and when he reads that a mermaid's kiss has the power to heal, he thinks of his bedridden Grandpa. Thomas sets out to catch a mermaid to heal his Grandpa - if they really exist.

Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Ally Ally Oxen Free
Synopsis: Tom is fascinated with bones, human bones. He wants to study them and gets his chance when Mr. Dukes allows him to dig in the vacant lot behind his store. What Tom unearths makes the neighborhood kids tremble with fear.

"Ally ally oxen free!" These four little words can bring anyone out of hiding.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
El Porto Summer
George Matthew Cole
Synopsis: Brett Sloan is out of school for summer vacation. The California teenager envisions spending his time surfing, babe-watching and taking it easy. Girls look sexier every day but Brett won't fall in love. Girls are too hard to figure out and probably would control his life. But, when he finds himself on the bad side of a bad dude, and falling for a shy, pretty girl, life hits him like an enormous wave. The physical and emotional thrashing will test him like never before. Watch out Brett. Summer vacation may not be what you expect.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The Jelly Bean Crisis
Jolene Stockman
Synopsis: A total meltdown. The whole school watching. Now Poppy’s an ex-straight-A with no Plan B.

When Poppy Johnson throws away a full scholarship to Columbia, she can only blame the jelly beans. The yucky green ones? Midnight cram sessions and Saturday’s spent studying. The delicious red? The family legacy: Columbia, and a future in finance. Except now it’s starting to look like Poppy’s jelly bean theory is wrong. School has been her life until, but maybe it’s time to start living now.

Poppy has thirty days to try a new life. No school, no studying. Just jumping into every possible world. Thirty days to find her passion, her path, and maybe even love. The Jelly Bean Crisis is officially on.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
After Eli
Rebecca Rupp
Synopsis:

When Daniel’s brother Eli is killed at war, Daniel considers the history of unusual fatalities to determine what makes a death — or a life — matter.

Some people die heroically, others accidentally. When Daniel Anderson’s older brother dies, he wonders which category Eli’s death falls into. In an attempt to understand, Danny creates a Book of the Dead — an old binder that he fills with details about dead people, how they died, and, most important, for what purpose. Time passes, and eventually Daniel is prompted to look up from his notebook of death and questions to make new friends and be swept into their imaginings. With gentle humor and genuine emotion, Rebecca Rupp examines the questions that arise following a profound loss and the moments that start life rolling again.

Publication Date:
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
The First
Sara Zaske
Synopsis: Cassie Craig is not the chosen one. Not even Close.

She's just an ordinary, 15-year-old California girl with a few problems. She talks too much. She has a crush on a guy in her school. She worries about her dad who is a Marine in Afghanistan.

Then, there's her new friend, Violet Starkey. The weirdest girl in school, Violet comes from a group of magical people who claim to be the first on earth.

When Cassie discovers that Violet has powers over nature, she will do anything to be her friend--all for the chance Violet might help bring her dad home.

But Cassie isn't the only one who wants Violet's powers, and she soon finds out just how dangerous it is to be the true friend of one of the most powerful magical beings in the world.
Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Jack Templar Monster Hunter
Synopsis: If you're not a monster hunter, don't read this book!

Seriously, this book is not meant for you. By reading it, you run the risk of attracting monsters to your position and being attacked. So, unless you are willing to join the fight...just walk away.

Still here? OK, don't say I didn't warn you. Let me introduce myself. I'm Jack Templar and I'm an orphan.

Recently, I discovered that I came from a long line of monster hunters. You know, vampires, werewolves, zombies, you name it. Turns out there was some kind of truce between monsters and the hunters that kids under fourteen were off-limits. I didn't find out about all this until the day before my birthday. Yeah, you guessed it, my fourteenth birthday. So, all bets were off. The monsters were coming to get me.

Not only that, but I also found out that if monsters around the world could choose one human to kill, it would be me. Why? I haven’t a clue, but the hunters I've met talk about a prophecy and that they think I'm the One...whatever that means. I’d like to find out some day, but for right now, I’m just trying to stay alive.

If you want to hear a story that will scare you, gross you out and forever change the way you look at the world around you, then you came to the right place.

But, if you want to keep the illusion that the world is a safe and orderly place, then get out of here and stop wasting my time.

Do your duty, come what may.

JT

"Gunhus brings young readers a monster-filled romp...complete with action, cliff-hangers and surprise reveals."

-Kirkus Reviews
Publication Date:
Age Level: Any Age
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Island Eyes, Island Skies
Synopsis: This is the story of a friendship that develops between Rob, an introspective middle school boy, and D.C., a tall, smart-alecky girl from another town. The two meet and are drawn to each other at D.C.'s cousin's early summer party, but as soon thereafter tragedy strikes their respective families, they don't see each other again until the following fall. Although generally lighthearted and humorous in tone, the novel is at times serious, expressing honest, heart-felt emotion as it recounts the growth of the friendship -- until tragedy strikes one more time.  Recommended for ages 11 and up.
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Publication Date:
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Juvenile Fiction

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