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Dinosaur Eggs and Blue Ribbons: A Look at Science Fairs, Inside & Out
Dinosaur Eggs and Blue Ribbons: Science Fairs Inside and Out
A personal look at science fairs from the varied perspectives of a successful participant, judge, policymaker, and science fair organization leader   Dinosaur Eggs and Blue Ribbons takes young readers on a journey into adventure science as experienced by a young aspiring scientist who turned scientific inspiration into scientific success. The book is full of anecdotes and advice from the world of STEM education and contains practical advice about judging, display boards, and other preparations for the big science fair day. Throughout the text and appendix are examples of original, winning science fair materials as well as links to a wide variety of proprietary online resources which complement the text. In the end, the hardships are all worthwhile when you work alongside some of the top scientists in the field, make groundbreaking discoveries, and win big in the science fair and beyond!

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Prairie Pictures (Wandering Fox)
Prairie Pictures
For twelve-year-old Sherri, moving is a way of life. Her family has lived in seven different places in as many years, three in the last year alone. But no place has ever been as strange as the ranching community of Gardin, where the Old West meets new industry and the community is divided between longtime residents and recent arrivals. Initially aligning herself with another outsider, Sherri realizes that she would rather look for friendships based on more than the arbitrary divisions that exist among her peers. But just as she starts to feel at home in Gardin, her parents announce plans to uproot the family once again.

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No Place for Kids (Wandering Fox)
No Place for Kids
Sisters Jennifer and Sarah were once part of a happy, stable family, but their idyllic life comes to an abrupt end when their mother dies and their father, overcome with grief, loses his grip on his family. With nothing left to lose, the two sisters, aged ten and twelve, decide run away to their mother’s sister in Vancouver, setting out with very little money and no clear plan. Along the way, they must overcome fear, loneliness, illness, and the conflict inherent in their sibling relationship. This emotional story deals with mature themes, but is ultimately about the enduring bonds of family.

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History in the Faking (The Shenanigans)
History in the Faking
Life is getting more dismal by the minute in the tiny town of Sultana. The tourists are gone, business is slow, and if it gets any slower, Eric and Rachel’s family will be forced to move away. Luckily, Eric, Rachel, and their friend Cody have a plan to transform this sleepy town into a hotbed of activity. In an elaborate hoax that makes headlines and sends archaeologists and tourists flocking to Sultana, the kids orchestrate the discovery of an “ancient Egyptian” tablet in a local riverbed. But sometimes the best-laid plans work out a little too well. How are the three friends going to explain their way out of this one?

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Adventures with Waffles
Adventures with Waffles
Guy Puzey, Kate Forrester, Maria Parr
"Adventures with Waffles follows friends Trille and Lena as they share wonderful adventures and help each other through difficult times. A Norwegian story of family, friendship, and waffles that works well for kids starting to read early middle grade novels." - Seira Wilson, Amazon EditorLena is Trille’s best friend, even if she is a girl. And there is never an ordinary day when you’ve got a best friend like Lena.Hardly a day passes without Trille and Lena inventing some kind of adventure that often ends in trouble. Whether it’s coaxing a cow onto a boat or sledding down the steepest and iciest hill with a chicken, there is always a thrill—and sometimes an injury—to be had. Trille loves to share everything with Lena, even Auntie Granny’s waffles. But when Lena has to move away and Auntie Granny leaves the world, it sometimes seems like nothing will ever be right again. The warmth of friendship and the support of family suffuse this lightly illustrated novel, proving that when times are tough, a little taste of sweetness can make all the difference.

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Wild Boy and the Black Terror
Wild Boy and the Black Terror
Rob Lloyd Jones
From London’s vilest slums to its grandest palaces, Wild Boy and Clarissa hunt a murderous poisoner in hope of proving themselves to a skeptical society.London, 1842. Wild Boy, master detective and former freak-show performer, and Clarissa, circus acrobat and troublemaker, are the secret last hope of a city beset by horror. A poisoner stalks the streets, leaving victims mad with terror—and then dead. Can the Black Terror be traced to a demon called Malphas? With their partnership threatened by rules and regulations, can Wild Boy and Clarissa uncover a cure in time to save the queen and the city?

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True Son (The Psi Chronicles)
True Son
Lana Krumwiede
Powerful forces collide in this explosive conclusion to the middle-grade dystopian Psi Chronicles trilogy.Four months ago, Taemon was able to stave off an invasion by the Republikite army by using tricks to convince his enemies that the people of Deliverance still had the telekinetic ability known as psi. Now, though, the truth of his deception has come to light, and the Republik is prepared to mount another attack, led by General Sarin and his son, Gevri. Once an ally, Gevri is fuming over Taemon’s perceived betrayal. Now that his father has put him in charge of a special archon unit, Gevri is ready to exact revenge on his foe—and, with Deliverance securely in the control of the Republik, to end the centuries-long war between the Republik and the Nau nations. Can Taemon—the supposed True Son and savior of Deliverance—find a way to save his people one last time?

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Cody and the Fountain of Happiness
Cody and the Fountain of Happiness
Eliza Wheeler, Tricia Springstubb
Middle-grade readers drawn to Judy Moody or Clementine will find a funny and charismatic companion in Cody, star of this delightful new series.For whimsical Cody, many things are beautiful, especially ants who say hello by rubbing feelers. But nothing is as beautiful as the first day of summer vacation, and Cody doesn’t want to waste one minute of it. Meanwhile, teenage brother Wyatt is moping over a girl, Mom is stressed about her new job as Head of Shoes, Dad is off hauling chairs in his long-distance truck, and even camp has been closed for the summer. What to do? Just when all seems lost, Cody bumps into a neighborhood boy named Spencer who is looking for a runaway cat. With a new friend and a soon-to-be-found cat, Cody is on her way to the fountain of happiness.

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Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins?
Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins?
From New York Times best-selling author Liz Kessler comes the magical tale of a (sometimes invisible) teen—and her truly super friends.Jessica Jenkins has always been a perfectly ordinary girl—until one day part of her arm vanishes in the middle of geography class! Jessica’s friends Izzy and Tom are determined to help her develop her newfound invisibility, though Jessica is more concerned with discovering where the ability came from. When it becomes apparent that there may be other kids developing strange powers of their own, Jessica marshals them into a slapdash band of “slightly superheroes.” But when an unscrupulous adult discovers the origin of their powers and kidnaps one of the team, the rest must put their heads—and all of their skills—together to avert disaster.

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Smashie McPerter and the Mystery of Room 11 (Smashie McPerter Investigates)
Smashie McPerter and the Mystery of Room 11
Kate Hindley, N. Griffin
Who stole the hamster from Room 11? A once-happy class is set on edge in this humorous, highly relatable mystery perfect for middle-grade readers.The day the hamster disappears from Smashie McPerter’s class begins like any other. Well, except for the fact that the teacher is out sick and Smashie’s class is stuck with Mr. Carper, the worst substitute in the world. And except for the mysterious business with the glue. And except for the fact that Smashie is wrestling with a terrible problem, which only partly stems from her extreme aversion to hamster feet. As the peaceable and productive days of Room 11 turn into paranoia-fueled chaos, as natural suspects produce natural alibis and motives remain unmotivated, Smashie and her best friend, Dontel, are forced to the limits of their parlor-room detecting to set things right.

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