8 - 12

Playing softball for the Lady Tigers had always been the key to Avery, Charlotte, and Bianca’s friendship. It was the common interest they shared.But when Charlotte grows closer to a new girl in the neighborhood, Avery worries that her friend’s new interest in clothes and shopping will tear the trio apart. Suddenly, Avery finds herself surrounded by worry, stress, and jealousy that affects the whole team. Can the girls come together for the upcoming tournament, or will insecurities get the better of the Lady Tigers?And can Avery learn to accept her friend’s new interest…and herself?
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A Jar Full of Angel Feathers
Susan Russell
Alex is angry and miserable. He has lost his mum, his Dad has packed him off to live in Cornwall with Great Aunt Mary for a year, and his most treasured possession has vanished. He hates the countryside after the noise and bustle of London, and there’s the Gnarly Man in Tappers Wood to worry about. Can the down-to-earth love of Aunt Mary, the friendship of a mysterious young girl, and a little bit of magic help Alex to turn his life around?
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A Gypsy curse that must be broken, a dangerous secret that cannot be revealed…Clara is a shape-shifter who is cursed. The curse is presenting her with huge problems and she wants rid of it, even though she’s been told it can’t be done.Luke is a Gypsy, whose clan has camped by Clara’s town. He happily spends his days exploring the woodland, while avoiding the ‘townies’ that live on the other side.When Clara bumps into Luke an opportunity presents itself. Luke’s family may know how to free Clara from the curse, if only she can gain their trust. But in becoming friends with Luke, Clara puts her own secret at risk. When the Gypsies abruptly disappear, Clara is left confused, anxious and alone.Will Clara ever see Luke again? Will she ever find a way to break the curse? And just how far is she willing to go to do so?A Litpick Top Choice Award winner, ‘A Gypsy Curse’ is the second book in the Full Moon series. If you enjoy a rollercoaster ride of action and suspense, then this book is a must read.
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Sticky Notes
Dianne Touchell
For fans of Counting by 7s and Fish in a Tree, a touching story about the power of love and family in the face of a parent's early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Foster Sumner is ten years old. He likes toy soldiers, tadpole hunting, going to school, and the beach. Best of all, he likes listening to his dad's stories.But then Foster's dad starts forgetting things. No one is too worried at first. Foster and Dad giggle about it. Dad goes out for milk and comes back with cat food, when the cat has been dead for five years. But then the forgetting gets worse. And suddenly no one is laughing anymore.A heartbreaking story about what it means to forget and to be forgotten, as well as the devastating effects of Alzheimer's and the strong families behind those who suffer from it."Heartbreakingly realistic." --SLJ"Touchell presents honest, believable characters in this heart-wrenching account of one family's attempt to cope with an unexpected life-altering event." --Bulletin"Heartwarming, heartbreaking and honest...a great family read." --The Monitor
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Without Refuge
Jane Mitchell
Thirteen-year-old Ghalib wishes his life could go back to normal. He wishes he could still hang out at the market with his friends, root for his favorite soccer team, even go to school. But civil war has destroyed his home.As violence rages around them, his family makes the difficult choice to flee Syria. Together they start out on a dangerous journey toward Europe. Along the way, they encounter closely guarded borders, hardscrabble refugee camps, and an ocean crossing that they may not survive.The gripping story of one boy's journey to find refuge pays tribute to struggles millions of Syrians face in today's real-world crisis.
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A Side of Sabotage
C. M. Surrisi
For decades, Gusty's Café has been a beloved staple in Maiden Rock, Maine. Quinnie Boyd's dad runs the café, just like Quinnie's granddad before him. But the family business has new competition when a bad-boy chef from Boston opens his own place in the small vacation town. The new restaurant takes fancy dining to the extreme. Still, that's not a crime . . . but when things start to go wrong at Gusty's, Quinnie suspects foul play. Are the people behind Restaurant Hubert trying to squash the Boyds' family café? Quinnie is about to find out if it is a coincidence--or sabotage.
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Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen
Elizabet Vukovic, Debbi Michiko Florence
A Junior Library Guild Fall 2017 SelectionAn Amazon's Best Children's Books of 2017An Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids List 2017A Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books 2017A 2017 Nerdy Book Club Award WinnerThe first book in a new chapter book series featuring a spunky Japanese-American heroine!Eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi is a flamingo fan, tree climber, and top-notch mess-maker! She's also tired of her big sister, Sophie, always getting to do things first. For once, Jasmine wishes SHE could do something before Sophie―something special, something different. The New Year approaches, and as the Toguchi family gathers in Los Angeles to celebrate, Jasmine is jealous that her sister gets to help roll mochi balls by hand with the women. Her mom says that Jasmine is still too young to join in, so she hatches a plan to help the men pound the mochi rice instead. Surely her sister has never done THAT before. But pounding mochi is traditionally reserved for boys. And the mochi hammer is heavier than it looks. Can Jasmine build her case and her mochi-making muscles in time for New Year's Day?
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The Bolds on Vacation
David Roberts, Julian Clary
It's summertime, and the Bolds are going camping by the sea, where new adventures await them. Uncle Tony becomes a surfing sensation. The family befriends a chatty puffin with lung trouble and a cougar with a dark past.Bobby must assume yet another disguise, pretending to be the family's pet dog!But it's not long before trouble sniffs them out, and Bobby goes missing. Can the Bolds come to the rescue and salvage their vacation, while maintaining their human masquerade?
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The Heir (Kick!)
Israel Keats
Rob Briggs is known for two things: being the son of a former soccer pro and being a varsity soccer star. He had plans to follow in his dad's footsteps, but after joining his friend's band, Rob starts to wonder if there could be more to life than just soccer. When a local Battle of the Bands competition winds up taking place on the same day as a major soccer tournament, Rob will have to choose which matters more.
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The Captain (Kick!)
Chris Kreie
Malik's senior soccer season is off to a great start. He's the team captain, he plays with his best friend, and Coach Washington treats him more like a coach than player. But everything changes when several other teammates—including his best friend—and Coach Washington are accused of participating in a cheating scandal. As Malik struggles to come to terms with what they have done, he must learn how to work with a new coach and lead his new teammates to victory.