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First Man: Reimagining Matthew Henson (Fiction - Young Adult)
First Man
Simon Schwartz
In this graphic novel, Simon Schwartz weaves biography and fiction together to explore the life of Arctic adventurer Matthew Henson. Moving between different time periods and incorporating Inuit mythology, Schwartz offers fresh perspective on the many challenges Henson confronted during his life. As a member of early missions to reach the North Pole, Henson braved subzero temperatures and shifting sea ice. As an African American at the turn of the twentieth century, he also faced harassment and prejudice. Henson won a place on Arctic expeditions through skill and determination--though he didn't receive the same credit as his teammates. He also won the respect of the native peoples he met during his journeys--though he couldn't prevent the harm that the expeditions caused them. More than a biography, First Man: Reimagining Matthew Henson is an artistic homage to Henson's accomplishments and the complicated realities of being a trailblazer in a society that didn't recognize black men as equals.

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The House of Memories (Dark Hunter)
Dark Hunter - The House of Memories
Nelson Evergreen, Benjamin Hulme-Cross
Mr. Blood leaves Mary and Edgar alone in a strange, dark house. The old woman who lives there knows all about them. But what does she want from them?

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The Marsh Demon (Dark Hunter)
Dark Hunter - The Marsh Demon
Nelson Evergreen, Benjamin Hulme-Cross
A demon from the marsh is stealing children. Can Mr. Blood stop it? Or will Mary and Edgar be the next victims?

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The Red Thirst (Dark Hunter)
Dark Hunter - The Red Thirst
Nelson Evergreen, Benjamin Hulme-Cross
Mr. Blood and Mary want to hunt a vampire. Edgar is scared. But when the monster attacks, only Edgar can stop it!

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Ship of Death (Dark Hunter)
Dark Hunter - Ship of Death
Nelson Evergreen, Benjamin Hulme-Cross
A ghost ship comes from nowhere. Anyone who goes on board never comes back. Can Mr. Blood stop it before it kills again?

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The Afterlife Academy
The Afterlife Academy
Frank L. Cole
Fans of Adam Gidwitz and Neil Gaiman will love this middle-grade adventure about two boys, a mysterious, old book with some dark secrets, and a horde of angry demons. Nothing could go wrong, right? When Walter Prairie is struck dead by a bolt of lightning, he’s fast-tracked through the Afterlife Academy and assigned as a Guardian Agent to protect a High-Level Target.   Walter’s HLT, Charlie Dewdle, isn’t the most popular kid in school. He’s a bit paranormally obsessed. And he has just found an old book that could be used to open the Gateway for demons to wreak havoc on earth.   Now, it’s up to Charlie and Walter to fight an eclectic horde of enemies and protect humankind at all costs. But saving the world isn’t so easy. Especially when your protector doesn’t know the first thing about the underworld, bullies like Mo Horvath are trying to hunt you down, pretty and popular Melissa Bittner is suddenly talking to you, and your parents think you’re going crazy. A Whitney Award Nominee   “An appealing ghost story without being creepy, this title would be a great read for any reader looking for a mix of adventure and humor.”—School Library Journal   “A fun, suspenseful read. . . . Cole's fast-paced fantasy can be enjoyed by the entire family.”—Deseret News "The adventure of a lifetime--or after-lifetime."--OBERT SKYE, author of the Leven Thumps series "A fast-paced and fun adventure that puts a new twist on the afterlife!"--PLATTE F. CLARK, author of Bad Unicorn   “Tons of fun and adventure with every turn of the page. . . . This is the perfect middle-grade book, and I loved it!”—LDSWBRA Whitney Award Nominee   “An appealing ghost story without being creepy, this title would be a great read for any reader looking for a mix of adventure and humor.”—School Library Journal “A fun, suspenseful read. . . . Cole's fast-paced fantasy can be enjoyed by the entire family.”—Deseret News"The adventure of a lifetime--or after-lifetime."--OBERT SKYE, author of the Leven Thumps series"A fast-paced and fun adventure that puts a new twist on the afterlife!"--PLATTE F. CLARK, author of Bad Unicorn   “Tons of fun and adventure with every turn of the page. . . . This is the perfect middle-grade book, and I loved it!”—LDSWBR

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Until I Find Julian
Until I Find Julian
Patricia Reilly Giff
Newbery Honor–winning author Patricia Reilly Giff tells a vivid, contemporary story about a remarkable boy who risks everything for his family and a bold girl who helps him. At home in Mexico, Mateo knows where he belongs: with Mami, Abuelita, little brother Lucas, and big brother Julian. When Julian leaves to work in el Norte, the United States, Mateo misses him. And when the family stops hearing from Julian, Mateo knows he has to find his beloved brother.   With only his old notebook and a backpack, Mateo heads for the border, where dangers await: robbers, and the border police, who will send him back home or perhaps even put him in prison. On his journey, Mateo meets Angel, a smart, mysterious girl who can guide his crossing. Angel is tough; so is Mateo, and his memories of his loving family sustain him. Because no matter what happens, he can’t go home until he finds Julian.

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Ingrid Law delivers another heartwarming story about the magic of friendship and the power of family in this companion to her Newbery Honor winning Savvy Gypsy Beaumont has always been a whirly-twirly free spirit, so as her thirteenth birthday approaches, she hopes to get a magical ability that will let her fly, or dance up to the stars. Instead, she wakes up on her birthday with blurry vision . . . and starts seeing flashes of the future and past. But when Momma and Poppa announce that her very un-magical, downright mean Grandma Pat has Alzheimer’s and is going to move in with them, Gypsy’s savvy—along with her family’s—suddenly becomes its opposite. Now it’s savvy mayhem as Gypsy starts freezing time, and no one could have predicted what would happen on their trip to bring Grandma Pat home  . . . not even Gypsy.   With her trademark style and whimsical, beautiful language, Ingrid Law has written another wonderfully moving companion to her Newbery Honor winning Savvy.

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The Galaxy Pirates: Hunt for the Pyxis
The Galaxy Pirates - Hunt for the Pyxis
Ordinary kids are introduced to an extraordinary galaxy full of pirates, monkeys, and other colorful creatures—both human and otherwise—in this first book of this “absolutely action-packed” (School Library Journal) fantasy-adventure trilogy.   On the night Emma Garton’s supposedly boring parents are kidnapped, she is forced to face the truth that they’ve been lying to her about many things. The most important of which? They aren’t even from planet Earth.   To find her mom and dad, Emma and her best friend, Herbie, must leave Earth and enter the Strands—the waterways of space, where huge galleons ply the intergalactic seas. But a journey through the constellations won’t be easy—not with every scoundrel in the galaxy determined to find them.   In this interstellar adventure, YALSA Alex Award–winning author Zoë Ferraris transports readers to a vast magical universe filled with fantastical creatures, merciless villains, and fearless heroes. Praise for THE GALAXY PIRATES: HUNT FOR THE PYXIS "[A]bsolutely action-packed. This first book in a trilogy will keep kids reading in order to find out what happens next." –School Library Journal   "This book will have an audience and will appeal to younger fans of Dave Barry's Peter and the Starcatchers." —Booklist

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Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
Hilo - The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
Judd Winick
"An action-packed page turner with heart!"—Dav Pilkey, author of DOG MANDog Man meets Big Nate in HILO-the hilarious New York Times Bestselling GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES kids love! "A Total BLAST," says the Miami Herald!BOOM! CLANG! CRASH! D.J. and Gina are totally ordinary kids. But Hilo isn't!  Hilo just fell out of the sky and doesn’t know where he came from, or what he’s doing on Earth. (Or why going to school in only your underwear is a BAD idea!) . . . But UH-OH, what if Hilo wasn’t the only thing to fall to our planet? Can the trio unlock the secrets of Hilo's past? Can Hilo SURVIVE a day at school? Find out in HILO-a laugh-out-loud, epic story of friendship! Adventure! (And the occasionaly mutant space robot).  Here's what people (and robots!) are saying about Hilo!* Children's Choice 5th-6th Grade Book of the Year!* Nominated for multiple State Awards—including the Pennsylvania's Young Reader's Choice Award!“More giant robotic ants and people going 'Aaaah!' than in the complete works of Jane Austen”—Neil Gaiman, bestselling author“Every kid would love a pal like HILO, and every kid will love this book!” —Lincoln Peirce, bestselling author of the Big Nate series“HILO is delightful, silly, tender, and most importantly: funny.” —Jeff Smith, bestselling author of the Bone series"Fast paced, furiously funny, and will have kids waiting on the edge of their seats for more."—Jeffrey Brown, bestselling author of Jedi Academy"A perfect book for any kid who ever needed a friend and then had one with superpowers fall from space.” —Seth Meyers, actor, comedian and writer* "A wholeheartedly weird and wonderful tale of friendship, acceptance, and robots."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review * "A must-have."—School Library Journal, Starred Review"Good clean laser-beams-coming-outta-your-hands fun for the whole family."—http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/ "A story that can be enjoyed by the entire family."—The New York Times"My students are obsessed with this series. OBSESSED!"—Colby Sharp, teacher, blogger, and co-founder of Nerdy Bookclub

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