Guest

Guest
by Mary Downing Hahn

Mollie's baby brother has been taken the Kinde Folk!   In his place have they left a changeling, one of their own babies.   The changeling, whom Mollie and her mother call Guest, is a sickly, scrawny, mean creature.   Determined to get her sweet baby brother back, Mollie journeys with Guest to the dangerous world of the Kinde Folk, hoping that they will be willing to trade her brother for the baby they swapped him with.  Will Mollie be able to convince them to return her brother? 

Guest is a creepy,  twisted tale by Mary Downing Hahn!   Full of suspense and magic, this is a fantastic choice for readers looking for an eerie story to read!

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The Eleventh Trade

The Eleventh Trade
by Alyssa Hollingsworth

When his grandfather's beloved rebab is stolen, Sami is determined to recover the missing instrument they brought with them when they escaped from Afghanistan.    With the help of a new friend, he is able to locate the rebab in a store, however he must pay $700 to get the instrument back.   Unable to pay, Sami soon discovers a creative method of raising the money: trading items.   Through a series of trades, Sami begins to raise the money he needs, but will he make enough in time to get the rebab back?

The Eleventh Trade is a powerful story about a young man facing challenges in a new country while struggling with the heartbreaks of his past.   This is an amazing selection from the current MSBA list!

Author's website: https://alyssahollingsworth.com/https://alyssahollingsworth.com/

You Go First

You Go First
by Erin Entrada Kelly

Charlotte and Ben live more than a thousand miles apart and have never met.    However, they are connected through their regular online Scrabble games.  When Ben faces an unexpected challenge at home, he feels the need to connect more with Charlotte, unaware that she has also recently encountered struggles of her own.   This story, which alternates between the two narrators, tells of the difficulties that Charlotte and Ben face at school and home over the course of a week. 

This is a powerful story and many readers will be able to connect to the different challenging situations, including struggles with family, school, and friends, that Charlotte and Ben deal with. 


Author's website: http://www.erinentradakelly.com/

The Mad Wolf's Daughter

The Mad Wolf's Daughter
by Diane Magras

When knights capture her father and brothers, young Drest is determined to rescue them before it is too late.  In order to do so, she must make a dangerous journey to the castle where they are being held.  She finds help in an unlikely source, an injured knight that was left behind after her family was captured, but can she really trust him with her seemingly impossible task?

Set in Scotland in 1210, The Mad Wolf's Daughter is an action-packed story full of adventure!   I'm looking forward to the sequel to this exciting book!

Author's website: https://www.dianemagras.com/

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Shouting at the Rain

Shouting at the Rain
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Storm-loving and frequently barefoot, Delsie is facing a summer of questions and challenges.   One of her best friends has suddenly abandoned her, choosing to instead spend her time with a new, mean girl.   Delsie, after spending her entire life living with her grandmother, is starting to wonder about her mother and why she left her so many years earlier.   As Delsie struggles to find answers, she is drawn to a new boy in town, Ronan, who comes with similar struggles of his own.

Shouting at the Rain is a wonderful, emotional story!   Many readers will be able to connect to Delsie and some of the issues that she, and her friend Ronan, are working through. 

Author's website: https://www.lyndamullalyhunt.com/

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Skylark & Wallcreeper

Skylark & Wallcreeper
by Anne O'Brien Carelli

When Lily and her grandmother are forced to evacuate a nursing home during Superstorm Sandy, her grandmother gives her a pen to take care of.   However, Lily later realizes that she has lost the pen that her grandmother entrusted her with.  What is so special about the pen?  Will Lily be able to find it?  

Alternating between 2012 and 1944, this historical fiction tells the story of two brave girls and their dangerous work during World War II.  This fantastic story will be a great choice for readers who enjoy books that are set during World War II!

Author's website: https://www.anneobriencarelli.com/

Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective

Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective
by A.B. Greenfield
illustrated by Sarah Horne

Ra, a Pharaoh's pampered cat, prefers to spend his days lounging by the pool.   His spoiled, uneventful routine is disrupted by the kitchen cat Miu, who requests his help in solving the mystery of a missing amulet.   Reluctant at first, Ra, along with his dung beetle buddy Khepri, agree to investigate the crime and help Miu prove that a young servant was not the culprit.   Will this team of detectives be able to solve the case?

With entertaining characters and many humorous moments, this fun mystery will be a great choice for many readers!

Author's website: https://www.amybutlergreenfield.com/

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Nightbooks

Nightbooks
by J.A. White

Alex loves to write scary stories, but he never imagined he would be trapped inside one!   On a late night trip to the basement of his building, he is magically lured to the apartment of Natacha, who soon reveals herself to be a witch.   In order to survive, Alex must read one of his creepy stories to Natacha each night, but soon finds himself running out of ideas.   With the help of Yasmin, another captive of Natacha, will he be able to find a way to escape? 

Nightbooks is a wonderful, yet eerie, selection from this year's MSBA list!  The dark, magical tale will be a fantastic choice for readers looking for a creepy story! 

Author's website: http://jawhitebooks.com/

Lifeboat 12

Lifeboat 12
by Susan Hood

Ken Sparks is being sent away.   It is World War II and he is one of 90 children selected to travel on the SS City of Benares, which will take them from London to Canada.   The beautiful ship is quite different from life in wartime London, with plenty of food for the travelers as well as other luxuries  never experienced by Ken and the other children escaping the war.   At first, it is a dream come true, until a torpedo changes everything and forces Ken, and the other passengers, to struggle to survive.

This outstanding historical fiction, told in verse,  is based on real life events.   I found myself eager to learn more about the City of Benares after reading this book.  This selection from the MSBA list is a great choice for fans of historical fiction as well readers who enjoy stories about shipwrecks and survival!

Author's website: https://susanhoodbooks.com/home

The House in Poplar Wood

The House in Poplar Wood
by K.E. Ormsbee

Twins Lee and Felix are only allowed to leave their house together once a year, on Halloween.  They live on opposite sides of the same house, with Felix unable to leave Poplar Wood.    Their mother, who works for Memory, is unable to see Felix and their father, who serves Death, can never see Lee.  This is how it has always been for Felix and Lee, because of the Agreement their parents made years earlier.   Felix and Lee tried to break the Agreement once before, with disastrous results.   Now they have been offered another opportunity to break the Agreement that has controlled their lives, but it involves working with Gretchen Whipple, whose family is the sworn enemy of the twins.  Will Lee and Felix accept the dangerous risk of destroying the Agreement so that they can bring their family together? 

This story is a great choice for readers looking for a creepy book!   It is a good blend of action, mystery, and suspense.   A wonderful selection from the 2019 - 2020 MSBA list!

Author's website: http://www.keormsbee.com/

Poetree

Poetree
by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds
illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani

Can a tree write poems?  After poetry-loving Sylvia attaches one of her poems to a tree, she is delightfully surprised to find, when she returns the next day, that a different poem has been put in its place.  Did the tree write back?   Unable to stop thinking about this special tree, Sylvia continues to share her poems.  A surprising, yet sweet, twist brings the story to a heartwarming conclusion.

This is a wonderful book that combines a sweet story with beautiful poetry!

Author's website: https://shaunalavoyreynolds.com/

Can I Be Your Dog?

Can I Be Your Dog?
by Troy Cummings

Desperate for a home, Arfy, who lives in a cardboard box, sends letters to residents of Butternut Street, hoping that someone will take him in.   His hopeful requests for a home are, sadly, met with rejections from each person he reaches out to.   Will Arfy ever find a home?

What a sweet story!  Told in letter format and accompanied by bright, engaging illustrations, Can I Be Your Dog is a wonderful story that will spark conversations about what we can do to help homeless animals like Arfy. 

Author's website: http://www.troycummings.net/

Girl Running
by Annette Bay Pimentel
illustrated by Micha Archer

Bobbi Gibb loved to run.  After watching the Boston Marathon, she decided to train for it, practicing in all types of weather.  Through warm days and cold, snow and ice, Bobbi ran, preparing herself to run the marathon.  On the day of the race Bobbi is told that, because she is a girl, she cannot compete.  Did Bobbi find a way to compete despite being told she couldn't? 

This is a fantastic picture book biography of the first woman to run in the Boston Marathon.  An author's note at the end shares more about Bobbi and her efforts to officially compete in the Boston Marathon.   A wonderful story about an inspiring woman!


Author's website: http://www.annettebaypimentel.com/
Illustrator's website: https://www.michaarcher.com/

The Very Impatient Caterpillar 
by Ross Burach

It's time for the caterpillars to metamorphosize! Unfortunately,  one confused and anxious caterpillar continues to pester his companions with questions as he struggles to understand what is happening to them.    As time passes, he gets more impatient, wanting to leap out of his chrysalis before he's ready.  Will the impatient caterpillar be patient long enough to turn into a butterfly?

What a fun book!   The humorous tale, with hilarious illustrations, will bring out laughs in many readers.  This entertaining story will be a great book to share with younger readers learning about the butterfly life cycle! 

Author's website: http://www.rossburach.com/

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The Night Diary

The Night Diary
by Veera Hiranandani

For her 12th birthday, Nisha receives the special gift of a diary.   She uses the diary each night, writing to her mother who passed away when Nisha was born.   Nisha's diary tells the heartbreaking tale of the upheaval of her life as her nation is becoming more and more divided.   Soon she learns that she must leave the only home she has ever known and, with her family, is forced to make a dangerous, exhausting journey. 

The Night Diary is the recipient of a 2019 Newbery Honor and has recently been selected for the 2019 - 2020 Maine Student Book Award reading list.  It is a beautiful historical fiction that will allow readers to learn more about the history of India and Pakistan. 

Author's website: https://www.veerahiranandani.com/

Mae Among the Stars

Mae Among the Stars
by Roda Ahmed
illustrated by Stasia Burrington

From a young age, Mae wanted to view Earth from outer space.   Encouraged by her parents, she learned everything she could about space and astronauts.   Her desire to be an astronaut was not supported by all, however, as it was met with laughter from classmates and a suggestion for another career by a teacher.  Despite this, Mae continued on with her desire to wave to her parents from outer space!

This sweet tale, inspired by the life of Mae Jemison,  is a wonderful story of ambition and determination.  An author's note at the end details the many accomplishments of Mae Jemison.  Readers who enjoy this story may be interested in learning more about this amazing astronaut!


Author's website: https://www.rodaworld.com/

The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick

The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick
by Drew Daywalt
illustrated by David Spencer

An epic adventure begins when Huggie and Stick go tumbling out of Reese's backpack!   Their journey includes meeting pirates, hungry pandas, jungle animals, and many other creatures.   Told in diary format, Huggie and Stick each provide his own version of the events of their worldwide adventure, with Stick's excited retelling quite different than that of the grumpy Huggie, who would rather be far away from the happy-go-lucky Stick. 

What a funny story!  I love the diary format, which shows the very different personalities and perspectives of Huggie and Stick.   This hysterical story, with bright,  entertaining illustrations, had me laughing and will likely have many readers laughing as well!

Book trailer:

Lost in the Library

Lost in the Library
by Josh Funk
illustrated by Stevie Lewis

Dawn is approaching in New York City, and library lion Fortitude awakens to find his friend Patience missing!  Anxious to find the other lion before the sun rises, Fortitude ventures into the New York Public Library in search of his friend.   As he explores the massive building,  Fortitude seeks help from statues and portraits within the library, while reminiscing about his friendship with Patience.  Will he be able to locate his friend before sunrise? 

I was so excited to read this wonderful book about one of my favorite places!  Having visited NYC many times, I've been inside the beautiful NYPL as well as seen the massive lion statues of Patience and Fortitude.  Illustrator Stevie Lewis brings the stunning library to life with her beautiful pictures, detailing the amazing building as lion Fortitude explores it in search of his friend.

Author's website:https://www.joshfunkbooks.com/
Illustrator's website: http://www.chocosweete.com/

The Unteachables

The Unteachables
by Gordon Korman

Imagine walking into your new classroom on the first day of school and finding your classmates roasting marshmallows over the trash can.   Meet the Unteachables,  a group of students that everyone, including their new teacher, has given up on.    The students in room 117 come with a variety of challenges and stories, yet share one thing in common: no one wants to teach them, including Mr. Kermit, who just wants to make it until the end of the year so he can retire.   Is there any hope for this group of unteachable students?

This is a very entertaining book!  As with many of his other books, Gordon Korman alternates narrators with each chapter, giving the reader insight into the different characters, including the teacher, Mr. Kermit.   With many humorous moments, this is a story that fans of Gordon Korman will want to check out! 

Author's website: http://gordonkorman.com/

Amal Unbound

Amal Unbound 
by Aisha Saeed

Growing up in a small Pakistani village, Amal loves school and dreams of becoming a teacher.  Unfortunately, the twelve-year-old's life takes a drastic, unexpected turn after a hostile interaction with a person who she later learns is a member of her village's ruling family.   Because of her actions, she is forced to leave her home and work as a servant for the ruling family in order to pay her family's debts.  As Amal struggles in her new situation, she faces the uncertainty of her future as she worries that she may be a servant for the Khan family forever. 

This is such a powerful, emotional story!  Amal is an amazing character facing a challenging situation.  While the story itself is fictional, the author's note at the end explains that character of Amal represents many girls who face similar situations.   I highly recommend this wonderful book!

Author's website: http://aishasaeed.com/

Zola's Elephant

Zola's Elephant
by Randall de Seve
illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

Zola has an elephant!  At least, that's what her new next-door neighbor thinks.   Why else would there be such a large box?   An unnamed narrator longingly imagines what it must be like over at Zola's, envisioning all the fun that Zola must be having with her elephant.  Why would Zola need a new friend if she already has an elephant to play with? 

What a sweet, engaging story!  The narrator's perspective of Zola and her elephant are shown in bright,  vivid images, while alternating illustrations, in grayer tones, show the reality of what is happening over at Zola's house.   Readers will enjoy the detailed illustrations and heartwarming story. 

Author's website: http://www.randalldeseve.com/

The Time Museum

The Time Museum
by Matthew Loux

Delia is competing for an internship at a unique museum: the Time Museum.   Her fellow competitors are kids from all over time, including ancient Rome and the distant future.  To prove themselves worthy of the internship, they participate in time-traveling missions where they realize that, in order to succeed, they must learn to trust each other and work together as a team. 

This fun graphic novel is the first in a new, exciting series!   Humorous, yet full of action and unexpected twists, this book will be a great choice for graphic novel fans as well as readers who enjoy science fiction.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, which is scheduled to be released in June!

Author's website: http://www.mattloux.com/

The Trail

The Trail
by Meika Hashimoto

There were 10 things on the list that Toby and Lucas were going to do during the summer before middle school.    There is now one last item to complete on that list, and Toby must do it alone.   The final task: hike to Mount Katahdin from their home, a 440 mile trek.   Will Toby be able to complete the daunting journey?

This is an emotional story full of a lot of action and adventure!   Fans of Lost on a Mountain in Maine will want to read this tale of a boy determined to fulfill a pact made with his best friend.

Train I Ride

Train I Ride
by Paul Mosier

It's a long train ride from California to Chicago for Rydr.  Because her grandmother can no longer care for her, she is forced to go live with a relative she's never met.   During the lengthy journey, Rydr learns more about some of her fellow passengers while, over time, heartbreaking details of her chaotic life emerge. 

This was a beautiful, emotional story that I could not put down until I finished!   Rydr is an amazing character that has faced many challenges and, despite putting on a tough, savvy exterior, struggles with the heartbreaks of her life. I highly recommend this outstanding book!