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Past
Featured Books Ages: 9 - 12, A to H
A B C
D E F G
H
Books
are listed Alphabetically by Title:
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A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama |
Always in trouble at the orphanage, eleven-year-old Maud is thrilled when the elderly Hawthorne sisters adopt her and take her to their comfortable. Maud vows to be good and do as she is told. But why do the sisters insist that she remain hidden? It turns out that they want her to play the part of the ghost of a dead girl at a series of seances to trick a rich, grieving mother. At first Maud goes along with it, but she tires of having to remain indoors all the time so she starts to sneak out when the sisters are away. While she is exploring she meets the mother of the dead girl and starts to have second thoughts about tricking her. Will Maud go along with the scheme? What might happen to her if she defies the sisters? This is a page-turner that has interesting plots twist and turns. |
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Ackamarackus:
Julius Lester's Sumptuously Silly Fantastically Funny Fables |
| This hilarious book is loaded with puns, alliteration and clever word play. You will meet a variety of zany characters in the six different tales. Among them are a bee who falls in love with a balalaika-playing girl bee and learns to play the bongos after losing his buzz ("A bee without a buzz would be a used-to-be bee who was now a been"). Then there are the flies who go to fly school and the alligator who moves to Vermont to beat the heat in Florida. Very clever and very funny, a delight for readers aged 9 and up. | |
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Agony
of Alice |
| The first book in the series of novels about Alice McKinley and her struggles to grow up without the guidance of a mother. In this book Alice is in sixth grade, about to become a teenager and full of anxiety about her unanswered questions in a household with no other females. Alice stumbles from one hilarious situation to the next in her quest to find the perfect role model and learn what she feels she needs to know in order to become a teenager. | |
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Airborn |
| From the author of Silverwing comes this thrilling adventure story about Matt, a 15 yr. old cabin boy on the giant luxury airship Aurora. One night Matt helps rescue an elderly man from a crippled hot air balloon and, before dying, the man tells Matt about fantastic. creatures he has seen flying through the clouds. A year later, a young woman, named Kate, arrives on board the Aurora. She and Matt become friends, much to the distate of Kate’s chaperone, and Matt learns that Kate is the grandaughter of the man from the hot air balloon. Kate has read about the winged creatures in her grandfather’s log book and is determined to find them. Before Matt can help Kate in her quest the Aurora is attacked by pirates and shipwrecked on a tropical island. As the crew works on repairing the airship Kate and Matt explore the island. They make an amazing discovery and encounter terrible danger from predators both human and non-human. This is a gripping, fast-paced novel that will keep you totally absorbed until the final pages. Be sure to check out the web site. | |
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Alma
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| Did you ever long to meet your favourite author? Alma loves books and would like to be a writer. She is so disappointed when her favourite author, R.R. Hawkins, retires. But when Alma takes a part-time job writing letters for a new resident in her town, an elderly woman by the name of Olivia, she discovers several clues that lead her to believe that the reclusive Olivia is actually R.R. Hawkins. Is Alma right? How can she find out and still honour Olivia’s need for privacy? | |
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Amazing Animal Adventures Around the
World |
| Brian Keating, conservation director at the Calgary Zoo, describes amazing adventures that he has experienced all over the world. Brian tells about being attacked by lions in Zimbabwe, exploring Australia’s outback, filming penguins in Antarctica, swimming with iguanas in the Galapagos and many other adventures. Each of his stories is filled with fascinating facts about the animals and birds he encounters. Brilliantly illustrated with photographs of his expeditions, this book is both entertaining and an amazing way to learn more about animals. | |
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Amazing
International Space Station, The
|
| Here is a book that is packed with interesting information about the technological marvel that is the International Space Station. Dialog bubbles, sample entries from the ship’s log, and tons of photographs will show you what daily life is like for the astronauts aboard the station. You can also try some of the activities in the book. There are directions for making a rocket, growing crystals and a recipe for freeze-dried soup. This fascinating book will keep you entertained for hours. | |
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Amulet of Samarkand |
| Nathaniel is an apprentice magician who was sold to the government by his parents at the age of five to receive training in the art of magic. His new master, Underwood, is a cold, demanding man of average abilities who regularly demeans Nathaniel. As the young boy matures, he secretly pours over the ancient texts in Underwood’s library and advances his skills well beyond his years. At a meeting of magicians he is interrogated by a ruthless, arrogant magician named Simon Lovelace and Nathaniel gets publicly humiliated. He swears revenge on Lovelace and conjures up the five-thousand year old djinni Bartimaeus to help him. Alternate chapters are written in first person by the witty, hilarious, sarcastic, powerful Bartimaeus who cannot believe he has been summoned by a ‘squirt’! Will Nathaniel be able to control the djinni and the wicked Lovelace? A very intriguing, funny, action-packed, magical fantasy! | |
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Animalia |
| “Within
the pages of this book You may discover, if you look Beyond the spell of written words A hidden kind of beasts and birds.” This is a classic book for children of all ages, by an Australian author with a wonderful reputation for finely crafted classics (Jabberwocky, The Eleventh Hour, The Water Hole, Discovery of Dragons, Worst Band in the Universe, etc.) Each page is a fantasy feast about a letter of the alphabet. For example, “Jovial Jackals Juggling Jugs of Jelly in the Jungle” not only features the jackals, but a rich collection of other “J” animals and objects. Every painting also includes an image of Graeme as a young boy…if you can find it. This is a book that readers will never tire of for visual delight and brain teasing! |
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Anne
of Green Gables |
| The first book in the series of stories about the orphan Anne Shirley who comes to live with an elderly brother and sister on their Prince Edward Island farm. Although Anne desperately wants to be adopted, her temper and wild imagination keep getting her into trouble. The irrepressible 11-year-old heroine of this classic, is one of the most beloved characters in Canadian literature. Check out the website and take a virtual tour of the real Green Gables. | |
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Anybodies, The
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| Wow! This book will have you puzzled, chuckling, thinking, and looking over your shoulder to see if Anybody or N.E. Bode is watching you reading it! A fast-paced rush of mystery, humour, sinister characters, magic, switched babies, and odd happenings as Fern, the central character moves to her grandmother’s house in search of details about her dead mother. After she discovers that she was switched at birth, she is taken from the Drudger family into the care of her father, Bone. He introduces her to the organization of the Anybodies and to their arch enemy, the Miser. See if you can identify the 39 different children’s stories that are dropped into the story (eg. Who is Fern named after? Why does the Grandmother’s sidewalk End? Why is there a peach tree with only one giant peach?) Read the sequel (The Nobodies) and be sure to check out the zany website as well! | |
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Artemis
Fowl |
| Artemis Fowl is a 12-yr. old criminal genius. In this James Bond type tale he plans to capture gold from the fairies by stealing their special book that spells out the history and commandments that govern a fairy's life. The humour, non-stop action and high-tech plot combined with magical characters such as fairies, dwarves and trolls make this a hit with kids who love fantasy and adventure. | |
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Arthur,
High King of Britain |
| King Arthur himself tells nine familiar stories about Arthur Pendragon and the Knights of the Round Table to a 12-year-old boy who awakes in Arthur's cave after attempting to walk the seabed to the Emerald Isles. The boy learns how Arthur became king, hears the legend of Excalibur and the adventures of the knights, and finds out about the end of Camelot. Lovely drawings accompany these stories of adventure and tragedy. | |
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Bad Beginning, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The |
| This is the first book in a series (now up to 10 titles) of stories about the three orphaned Baudelaire children and their troubles. Although things never turn out as the reader would hope, the stories are delightful and remind you of the writing of Roald Dahl. Once you start reading this series you will want to keep reading to find out if things will ever get better for these poor children. | |
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Baking Book, The |
| YUM! Cookies, monkey bread Scones, tweetie pies Sponge cakes, meringue mountains Braided breads, and pies! YUM! All these child-friendly foods and the simple instructions to make them in another of Jane Bull’s attractive books! You will want to try every one of the baked goods (with some sample tasting along the way) and show off your baking expertise to family and friends. Chefs – roll up your sleeves, wash your hands, and begin! |
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Bartleby
of the Mighty Mississippi |
| Bartleby is a pet turtle that lives in a bowl in a house with three young boys. When he sees a program on TV about red-eared turtles that live in the Mississippi river, Bartleby longs for his freedom and to be with others of his kind. Amazingly Bartleby escapes his life of captivity when the youngest of the boys tosses him into a pond. But life on his own in the wild is much different, both dangerous and wonderful, and Bartleby must learn to survive. He meets some friends who teach him to find food and warn him about Seezer, the alligator, another pet that has been abandoned in the pond. Bartleby learns that Seezer also longs to go to the Mississippi. Will the two of them be able to make the long and perilous journey to the mighty river? Is it wise for Bartleby to trust an alligator? This wonderful story about courage and friendship is the perfect read for animal lovers. | |
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Battle
Cry at Batoche |
| Ben and his sister Charity are sent to stay with Madeline Dumont (the wife of Gabriel Dumont). Ben makes friends with the infamous Gabriel Dumont and becomes aware of the struggles of the Metis and the Cree. He is torn between his loyalty to his uncle who is a Hudsons' Bay employee and his friendship with Dumont and Red Ealge. An engaging story about the Riel Rebellion. | |
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Because of Anya |
| Keely is astonished when she notices that her fourth-grade classmate, Anya, appears to be wearing a wig. Keely thinks the worst, that Anya must have cancer and she agonizes about how she can show her support without embarrassing Anya. In fact, Anya has alopecia areata, a disease that causes hair loss. Anya desperately wants to keep her condition a secret but a terrible accident happens and she can no longer hide what is happening to her. Can Anya learn to live with this disease and will Keely be able to stand up to her classmates and become a friend to her? This is a moving, believable novel of friendship, tolerance and family. | |
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Because of Winn-Dixie |
| Ten-year-old Opal and her preacher father are new to the town of Naomi, Florida. They live in a trailer park without Opal’s mother who left them years ago. One day Opal rescues a stray dog from the grocery store and convinces her father to let her keep him. She names the dog Winn-Dixie (after the grocery store) and he goes everywhere with her. Because of the lovable Winn-Dixie Opal makes friends with some of the eccentric residents of the small town, including an ex-con pet store clerk who plays music to the animals, an elderly librarian who once fought off a bear with a copy of War and Peace and Gloria Dump who is almost blind but sees with her heart. Because of Winn-Dixie Opal learns ten things about the mother who abandoned her and comes to terms with her feelings. This Newbery honor title is a wonderful, warm story with marvelous characters. This is a “feel good” novel that will make you smile. | |
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Beloved Dearly, The |
| The neighbourhood hasn’t had a businessman like 12 year old Ernie ever before! His get rich schemes of the past have had limited success (skateboard rentals, used homework, etc.), but he’s really onto something this time – the pet funeral business! With help from the neighbourhood artist/coffin designer, Dusty; the neighbourhood hole-digger/grave digger, Tony; and the neighbourhood actress/crier, Swimming Pool, Ernie is certain that he can offer unique and touching funerals for any pet. Of course things seldom go quite as Ernie plans! A touching read about ‘big business’, friendship, loss and family. Watch for the companion book as well – I Know who Likes You. |
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Best Halloween Ever, The |
| Every Halloween the Herdman kids, all six of them, terrorize their town by robbing candy, spray painting other kids, and stealing everything in sight. This year, the town mayor has decided to cancel Halloween trick or treating. Instead, everyone is invited to attend a rather boring party at the school. As the party goes on, people start to get nervous because they haven’t seen any of the Herdmans. Are the Herdmans planning something? Will they make this the best or worst Halloween ever? Lots of suspense, plot twists and humour make this one of the best Halloween reads ever! | |
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Bigbeard’s Hook |
| Nathaniel McDaniel is thrilled when he discovers his grandfather’s attic is full of fascinating old artifacts and treasures - suits of armour, an Egyptian mummy, lanterns, compasses and even a rusty pirate’s hook. But when Nate picks up the pirate’s hook to examine it, he is transported back in time to a real pirate’s ship. He comes face to face with the meanest pirate of all, Captain Bigbeard. Bigbeard wants his hook back and he wants to punish Nate! How will Nate escape Bigbeard and get back home to his grandfather’s attic? Lots of action, a fast-moving rhyming story and loads of illustrations make this a great read for those of you who love adventure! | |
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Bloomability |
| Thirteen-year-old
Domenica Santolina Doone, better known as Dinnie, is accustomed to
change. Her family is constantly moving from town to town as her father
searches for "opportunity." But when her aunt and uncle
whisk her far away to an international school in Switzerland, she’s
not sure she’s ready to face this "opportunity" alone. Switzerland is the picturesque backdrop of this story about a young girl discovering the beauty of nature, her place in the world, the value of friendship-and that life is full of wonderful "bloomabilities". |
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Book
of Fairies, The |
| Beautiful, detailed color and line drawings of fairies make this an appealing book for young and old. Included are stories, songs and poetry about a variety of fairies. Many of them will be new to most readers. The author includes interesting notes about the various works in the book. | |
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Book of Three, The |
| Taran, the assistant pig-keeper, longs to have adventures and be a hero. When one of his pigs runs away, Taran is led far from home and into danger. With a collection of strange and wonderful friends whom he meets on his journey, Taran fights the forces of evil that are trying to conquer his beloved land of Prydain. This is the first of five books of the Prydain chronicles, all of them filled with quests, magic, and humour. A classic fantasy series. Other titles in the series are The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer and The High King. | |
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Brian’s Hunt |
| Gary Paulsen receives hundreds of letters each year to continue to write about his survival character, Brian Robeson. After his experiences in Hatchet (and sequel books The River, Brian’s Winter, Brian’s Return), Brian is a seasoned outdoorsman. In this latest adventure, Brian is camping alone in the Canadian north woods. One night, he is sleeping in his canoe out on a lake, when some strange whimpering awakes him. He heads to shore only to find a wounded dog. Brian’s senses are immediately alerted – he knows the dog must belong to someone, but the only people he knows living in the area are his Cree friends. He heads out towards their lake camp with a feeling of foreboding – where will his hunt lead him? what will he find? what has the dog experienced? A riveting new tale by this award-winning author. | |
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Bridge
to Terabithia, The
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| The beautifully written story of the friendship between Jess, a 5th grade boy, and Leslie, a tomboy who becomes his soul mate. The two friends create a secret kingdom in the woods where they reign supreme, sharing their hopes and dreams and plotting against the kids who tease them until tragedy ends their friendship forever. This is an unforgettable story, a must read for everyone. Winner of the Newbery medal. | |
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Buddy
is a Stupid Name for a Girl |
| Amy Kate known to her friends and family as Buddy, goes to live with her mother's family while her brother searches for their father who is a trucker. Her mother's sisters do not make her particularly welcome. Her aunt Cassie is a stepmother to Max, the son of an alcoholic father, who also lives in the household. Buddy's great-grandfather, suffering from macular degeneration and growing dementia, still lives with his granddaughters. Buddy discovers that her aunts suspect her mother of theft. When her great-grandfather sold his store, he insisted on payment in cash, which disappeared after Buddy's mother's last visit. Shortly thereafter, she died in a car accident. Buddy's gentle character and persistence help her resolve her family circumstances. A believable story of the value of family, loyalty and trust. | |
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C is for Chinook: An Alberta Alphabet |
| A
is for Awesome! B is for Beautiful! C is for Chinook: an
Alberta Alphabet book! Even if you thought you knew everything about Alberta, you’re bound to find something new and fascinating in this wonderful alphabet book! Each letter of the alphabet focuses on a landscape feature, famous people, history or events of Alberta. For example, “Dinosaur begins with the letter D./Near the Red Deer Valley they roamed./Today we excavate to find/Raptor and duckbill bones.” Each letter has a short rhyming verse, a beautiful watercolour illustration, and a sidebar with further fascinating factual information. From dinosaurs to the Famous Five, to Turtle Mountain and petroglyphs, to Mary Percy Jackson and giant Ukrainian Easter eggs – this is a great read for Alberta’s 2005! |
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Can You Find It, Too? |
| In this book you are challenged to find items in 20 different paintings from museums around the world. For example, in a painting from ancient Egypt you look for 1 hare, 3 cobras, 4 beards, 1 falcon and 22 eyes. The paintings are different styles and different subjects but all contain many fascinating details. An answer key is included in the back of the book along with information about each of the paintings. This is more challenging than the “I Spy” series and you can learn something about famous works of art while you stretch your brain! | |
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Capture,
The (Guardians of Ga’hoole, Book 1) |
| Little Barn Owl, Soren is enjoying the comforts of the family nest and looking forward to learning to fly. He is being fed by Mom and Dad and told legends about the Guardians of Ga’hoole – famous owls who perform noble deeds. Then Soren is suddenly knocked out of the nest and while on the forest floor, is captured by some strange owls who fly him to St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. Very quickly, Soren realizes that this is a place of darkness and horrible happenings. With another young owlet, Gylfie, he begins to plot an escape. But what is really going on at the Academy? What can two young owlets do about it? Can they even find their way back to their families? This is only the beginning of the adventures for these owls and fantasy lovers will enjoy Lasky’s research and ability to immerse readers in her owl world! Look for the sequels – The Journey and The Rescue as well! |
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CDC?
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| This is a very different kind of riddle book. To solve the puzzles you look at the illustrations and read the letters out loud. So, CDC means, “see the sea” and E-R I M means, “here I am”. Humorous cartoon drawings will help you solve the riddles, some of which are relatively easy and some of which are very challenging. This is a unique, fun book to enjoy whenever you want to stretch your brain and have a smile at the same time! | |
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City Through Time, A
|
| Imagine
the city you live in 14 000 years ago! Who lived there? How were their
lives like yours? What activities filled their days? This is another in a series of fascinating books showing how a location has changed through time (read A Street through Time and The Story of the Nile). Every double page is packed with colourful cutaways, cross-sections and close-ups. This one looks at a city from its beginnings as a Greek colony (550 BC) through the Middle Ages and other times up to a modern city (2005 AD). Various characters that lived at the time period are described – a who’s who of pedlars, slaves, gladiators, sailors, musketeers, lamplighters, paramedics, commuters, etc. Look for extra information at the end of the book about Greek, Roman, Medieval, 17thC, 19th C and modern times. There’s even a time-traveling quiz! You will pour over this book for hours! |
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Chameleon
Wore Chartreuse, The:
From the Tattered Casebook of Chet Gecko, Private Eye
|
| A fun read about a private detective, Chet Gecko, who is hired by a fellow fourth grader to find her missing brother. Chet uncovers a plot involving Gila monster's revenge upon the school football team. This is a hilarious take-off on detective stories. Kids will love the corny puns and funny pencil drawings. | |
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Chaos in Halifax |
| On a family vacation to Halifax, twelve yr. old twins, Jolene and Michael, travel back in time to 1917, the date of a major Canadian disaster. In 1917, two ships, one carrying explosives for the war, collided in Halifax harbor setting off an explosion that killed over two thousand people. Jolene and Michael arrive on the scene only days before the disaster and make friends with children who live in the area devastated by the explosion. They know that they cannot change history but Michael is determined to try and leads the twins into incredible danger. Written by a Calgary author, this is a fascinating adventure novel about an incredible event in Canadian history. | |
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Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory |
The classic story of young Charlie Bucket who wins a tour of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Charlie and the four other winners, who are very nasty and undeserving, have an extraordinary adventure far beyond their wildest dreams. An exciting, hilarious and imaginative story. |
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Chasing Vermeer |
| Petra and Calder are in the same class in a school in Chicago. They have an unusual teacher who makes learning a real adventure for her students. When a famous painting by the artist, Vermeer, goes missing, Petra and Calder try to solve the mystery. Many different things play a role in unraveling the mystery - encoded letters, Calder’s set of pentominoes, wordplay, numbers, unusual coincidences and strange dreams that Petra has about the woman in the missing painting. They even suspect that their teacher might somehow be involved in the crime! Lots of action, quirky characters and an intriguing plot make this book a real treat for mystery lovers. | |
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Children of the Lamp
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| What would you do if you discovered that you had the ability to grant wishes? Twelve-year-old twins, John and Philippa, discover that they are descendants from a tribe of djinn when they go to visit their uncle Nimrod in London, England. Nimrod plans to train them to use their new magical abilities by taking them to Egypt where they set out to try and find the lost tomb of the pharaoh Akhenaten. This pharaoh bound 70 djinn to his service and whoever finds and releases them will be able to command them for good or evil. However, Iblis, a djinn from an evil tribe is also looking for the tomb and will stop at nothing, including murder, to find it. Will John and Philippa be able to use their untrained powers to help find the 70 djinn and preserve the balance of good and evil in the world? This is an exciting adventure story with interesting characters and lots of Indiana Jones-type action. You will have a hard time putting this one down. Be sure to check out the author’s incredible website. | |
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Chu Ju’s House |
| It is the law in modern Chinese society that a rural family may only have two children. When Chu Ju’s parents have a second daughter, it eliminates their chance of having a son to carry on the family name and tradition. They decide to sell the new baby, Hua, to make room for another attempt at a boy baby. When fourteen-year old Chu Ju hears of the plans for her adorable baby sister, she decides she must leave her home and ‘disappear’. Then her parents will have only one official child. In the middle of the night, she hurries from her hut to the river to begin a journey that will take her far from her family and home. Read to find out what becomes of her in the vastness of China. This is a page-turning story of love and survival. | |
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City of Ember, The |
| Ember is a domed city surrounded by darkness with the only light provided by a patched and disintegrating generator system that is powered by an underground river. Despite the conservation and recycling efforts of the citizens of Ember, food and other supplies are running low and power outages are longer and more frequent. Twelve-year-old Lina and her friend, Doon, are convinced that survival means finding a way to leave Ember. One day Lina discovers a fragmented piece of paper that she and Doon believe are the instructions for a way out of the city. But the way out appears to be through the dangerous maze of the underground pipeworks. Will Lina and Doon be able to solve the puzzle and find their way out of the doomed city? This is a gripping adventure story that you will not be able to put down. The story continues in the sequel, The People of Sparks. | |
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Clementine |
Clementine is a third-grader with a unique view of the world. She says "spetacularful ideas are always springing up in my brain". Unfortunately, although she always has the best of intentions, most of these ideas land Clementine in the principal's office or in trouble at home, or both. For example, after she helps her friend, Margaret, get glue out of her hair by chopping it all off, she makes things worse by drawing hair back on Margaret's head with a bright red permanent marker! Illustrated with humorous black and white drawings this is a laugh-out-loud beginner chapter book, a great choice for fans of Ramona and Junie B. Jones. |
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Company
of Fools, A |
| It is 1349, in the Abbey of St. Luc near Paris, France. Henri, one of the choir boys at the monastery writes about his life starting with the arrival of a ‘criminal’ boy named Micah. Henri and Micah become fast friends though they are very different. They roam the halls of the abbey feeling quite carefree and even mischievous. Then one day, the Black Plague arrives. The reader is drawn into this medieval world and the misery of the pestilence in such a real way that you feel like a member of the Abbey of St. Luc’s yourself. Deborah Ellis writes that A Company of Fools is her favourite of all the stories she has written. Make it one of your favourites too! | |
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Convicts, The
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| This is the first book in a new fantasy series, The Land of Elyon. In this novel we meet 12-yr. old Alexya who lives with her father in Elyon, a land of dark hills and enchanted forests. The people of Elyon live in cities and travel roads that are surrounded by walls to keep out an unnamed evil that lurks beyond. Alexya longs to get past the guards and the walls and explore the mystery of the wilderness. She gets her chance when she finds a secret tunnel that leads her to the woodlands. There she meets creatures of the forest and learns of an impending invasion of her homeland. She must find a way to save her people. Will her father and the others believe her when she tells them about the danger? Check out the website to find out more about this great new series. | |
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Cool! |
| After being hit by a car, ten-year- old Robbie lies in a hospital bed in a coma. He can't move or speak but he can hear and think and is aware of what is going on around him. Everyone tries desperately to reach Robbie, even a famous soccer player, but he is on the brink of death and nothing is working. A brief, but very absorbing novel with a very "cool" ending. | |
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Coraline |
| When Coraline and her parents move into a new apartment, she begins to explore. A mysterious locked door which opens onto a brick wall at first, opens one day into another apartment. As Coraline ventures in, she discovers an ‘other’ set of parents who beg her to stay with them in their world. She becomes suspicious and flees back to her own apartment, only to discover that her real parents are gone. Suspense mounts as Coraline ventures back into the world of her ‘other’ parents, where even the neighbours seem strangely different. With the knowledge that her real parents are being held captive along with other lost children, it is up to Coraline to make her way through this eerie world of changed reality to try to rescue them. Black and white sketches by Dave McKean leap out at the reader at the turn of a page and add deliciously to this haunting tale. A thrilling read for those who like scary stories! | |
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Coyote
Autumn |
| Thirteen year old Brad rescues a coyote pup from a group of hunters but hides it from his family while training and caring for it. When Brad's father gives him a dog for his birthday, the pet coyote is discovered. When a hunter shows up again, Brad risks his life to save his pets. He realizes however, that his pet coyote needs to be free. Will Brad be able to make the difficult decision to free his pet? This is a great choice for animal lovers. | |
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Crazy Man, The
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| Set on a Saskatchewan farm in the 1960’s, this beautifully written novel tells the story of 11-yr.-old Emaline who has an accident on her father’s tractor and must adjust to many changes in her life. Her dad leaves the family and her mom hires Angus, a man from the mental hospital, to help out on the farm. The neighbors and the people from town are afraid of Angus but Emaline’s family learns that he has a kind heart. Then a terrible prairie blizzard and an act of heroism cause the community to look at Angus in a different way. Written in free verse, this is a wonderful story of friendship and loyalty. Winner of the 2005 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature. | |
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Crispin:
the Cross of Lead |
| Suspense, adventure, mystery and action make this book a page-turner from beginning to end. Crispin is a 13-year -old orphan who lives in 14th century England. Learning that he is in mortal danger, Crispin flees his village and is befriended by a traveling juggler named Bear. As he tries to keep from being captured, Crispin learns his true identity. But will he be able to claim his rightful title? Winner of the 2003 Newbery Award. | |
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Curse
of the Gloamglozer, The |
| ‘Living on the Edge’ never held so much incredible adventure as it does in this book! The wonderful world of the Edge - Deepwoods, Mire, Undertown, Sanctaphrax and more, created by Paul Stewart and amazingly illustrated by Chris Riddell will appeal to all Tolkien/Pratchett fans. In this book, another of the Edge Chronicles, Linius Pallitax, the Most High Academe, discovers that deep down within the rocky tunnels of the floating city of Sanctaphrax, lives an evil force. He summons assistance from his young apprentice Quint, but soon things spin painfully out of Linius’ control. Quint and Linius’ only daughter Maris find themselves squeezing through the maze of passages under Sanctaphrax in an effort to find out for themselves what Linius has already discovered. The result is a terrifying, thrilling, action adventure. The inhabitants and landscapes of the Edge are so unique and the storytelling so rich, readers will want to read every tale from the Edge! | |
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Dark
Hills Divide, The
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| This is the first book in a new fantasy series, The Land of Elyon. In this novel we meet 12-yr. old Alexya who lives with her father in Elyon, a land of dark hills and enchanted forests. The people of Elyon live in cities and travel roads that are surrounded by walls to keep out an unnamed evil that lurks beyond. Alexya longs to get past the guards and the walls and explore the mystery of the wilderness. She gets her chance when she finds a secret tunnel that leads her to the woodlands. There she meets creatures of the forest and learns of an impending invasion of her homeland. She must find a way to save her people. Will her father and the others believe her when she tells them about the danger? Check out the website to find out more about this great new series. | |
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Dark is Rising,
The |
| On his 11th birthday Will Stanton discovers that he is no ordinary boy. He is the Sign-Seeker, last of the immortal Old Ones, destined to fight the forces of evil, the Dark. He must take on the frightening and dangerous task of finding and guarding the six magical Signs that will one day help the Old Ones in the final battle between Dark and Light. This is the first book in the Dark Is Rising Sequence which includes the other award-winning novels Over Sea Under Stone, Greenwitch, Silver on the Tree and the Grey King. A classic fantasy series. | |
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Detective
LaRue, Letters from the Investigation
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| When two of the neighborhood cats disappear, Ike, the dog, ends up in jail as the number one suspect. In a series of letters to his owner, Mrs. LaRue, Ike describes his terrible time in jail (in reality he is eating doughnuts and playing checkers with the police), then his escape and his efforts to locate the missing cats. Amusing, detailed illustrations accompany Ike’s melodramatic descriptions. A very funny book to be enjoyed by all ages. | |
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Discovering
Emily
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| Young Emily Carr has no interest in behaving like a lady. She likes to be outside, loves animals and would rather try to ride the family cow than play with dolls! But Emily discovers that the thing she loves to do the most is draw. Instead of learning the things that young girls in nineteenth century Victoria, B.C. are expected to learn, Emily likes to spend time with her pencils and her paints. Will Emily be able to do what she really wants and become an artist? Or will she have to behave like all the other young girls? This is a charming, fact-based story about one of Canada’s most well known artists. | |
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Double
Fudge |
| Fudge (aka Farley Drexel Hatcher) is back! And, he is still driving his seventh grade brother Peter crazy! In Blume's fifth book about the Hatcher family, Fudge is obsessed with money - in fact, he is making his own Fudge Bucks and is curious about buying New York City or Disney World!! When long-lost relatives arrive from Hawaii, including twin sisters (the Natural Beauties) and their odd little brother (Farley), Peter's life looks like it is going to be even crazier and more embarrassing than usual. Fudge discovers that he is not the only Farley Drexel Hatcher in the world, so look out, it's double Fudge! A wonderfully funny and zany read! | |
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Dovey Coe |
| Dovey Coe, age twelve, is accused of murder. She lives in the hill country of North Carolina with her parents and siblings – her beautiful sister Caroline and her deaf older brother Amos. When her sister is courted by Parnell Caraway, son of the richest man in town, Dovey is quickly convinced that he is a wicked, selfish person. Being the kind of girl she is, Dovey doesn’t hesitate to let her feelings be known. “…I hated Parnell Caraway as much as the next person, but I didn’t kill him.” When marriage plans fall apart, the young man turns his anger and humiliation toward Dovey by attacking her dog and then her. Dovey gains consciousness only to find Parnell’s dead body lying beside her. How will she talk her way out of this predicament? If she didn’t kill Parnell, who did? An adventurous, mysterious read! | |
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Earthly Astonishments |
| When Josephine is seven years old she is only 55 cm. (22 inches) tall and her parents charge the neighbors a penny to see her. Then they discover that the headmistress of the McLaren Academy for Girls will pay them more for Josephine to work at the Academy as a servant. Josephine is no more than an abused slave at the Academy so, at age 12, she runs away to New York City. There she meets Mr. R.J. Walters, the owner of the Museum of Earthly Astonishments. Mr. Walters dresses her up and puts her in his show as Little Jo-Jo. Along with Charley, the albino boy, and his mother, Nelly, Josephine finally feels part of a family. But then the evil Mrs. McLaren from the Academy tracks her down - will Little Jo-Jo have to return to her terrible life at the Academy? This is a great read with a fast-paced, exciting plot, interesting characters and a fascinating look at Manhattan in the 1880’s. | |
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Eldest |
| The long-awaited sequel to Eragon continues the story of young Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, who helped the rebels defeat the forces of Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. To complete his training as a Dragon Rider, Eragon must now travel to Ellesméra, land of the elves. New places, new people and amazing adventures await him. Meanwhile, his cousin, Roran, has become the target of soldiers of the Empire and must fight a different battle, one that could put Eragon in even more danger. Fans of Eragon will not be disappointed in this second book of the Inheritance trilogy. | |
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Elixir |
| While her mother works as a cleaning lady at the University of Toronto, Ruth occupies herself by reading and studying. She and her mother occasionally have tea with a professor, Dr. Frederick Banting, and Mr. Best who are conducting research and doing animal testing to discover a cure for diabetes. Ruth is torn between her admiration for the team’s work in trying to solve a medical disease and her sympathy for the animals used in the process. When she meets Emma, a young girl suffering from diabetes, her decision-making gets even more complicated. A fascinating story about one of Canada’s most incredible heros – Sir Frederick Banting. | |
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Eragon |
| A poor farm boy,15 year old Eragon, finds a polished blue stone in the forest which hatches into a beautiful blue baby dragon. Eragon secretly raises the dragon in the forest and names it Saphira. Then, with the arrival of evil strangers to the town of Carvahall, Eragon’s simple life is forever changed. The strangers are searching for the dragon and the one who cares for it. With the help of the elderly storyteller, Brom, Eragon and Saphira leave their valley and begin an epic journey to fulfill Eragon’s destiny as a dragon rider. This is the first book in a planned trilogy written by a 19-yr.old student who started the novel when he was 15. Wonderful storytelling in the vein of Tolkien and Star Wars, this is sure to be a huge hit with lovers of fantasy. | |
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Escaping the Giant Wave |
| Thirteen-year-old Kyle has never seen the Pacific Ocean so he is really looking forward to his vacation on the Oregon coast with his parents and little sister, BeeBee. But Kyle’s holiday quickly becomes a nightmare while he is looking after his sister. An earthquake hits the coast and starts a fire in the hotel. Kyle remembers seeing a sign warning about the possibility of a tsunami after an earthquake so he knows he must get himself and BeeBee as far away from the ocean as quickly as possible to escape the giant wave. Will Kyle and BeeBee ever see their parents again? A fast-moving plot makes this a book that you will find difficult to put down. A great adventure story. | |
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Everything
on a Waffle |
| Primrose Sharp loves her hometown of Coal Harbour, especially the quaint restaurant where everything is served on a waffle. When her parents are lost at sea, Primrose refuses to believe they are dead. She is taken in by a variety of adults but has one misadventure after another. A laugh-out-loud book with great characters. Winner of the Newbery honor medal. | |
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Fair
Weather |
| Thirteen-year-old Rosie Beckett has never strayed further from her family's farm than a horse can pull a cart. Then a letter from her Aunt Euterpe arrives, and everything changes. It's 1893, the year of the World's Columbian Exposition -- the "wonder of the age" - a.k.a. the Chicago World's Fair. Aunt Euterpe is inviting the Becketts to come for a visit and go to the fair! Award-winning author Richard Peck's fresh, realistic, and fun-filled writing truly brings the World's Fair - and Rosie and her family - to life. | |
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Falling
Up |
| A collection of funny poems that introduce a variety of unusual characters like Headphone Herald and the Terrible Toy- Eating Tookle. The poetry is simple, irreverent, funny, gross, with lots of word play. Kids will love this. Lots of fun to read aloud. | |
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Farm Year |
| This is the gentle story of Anna, a Holstein calf, that is purchased at auction and taken to live on a Manitoba beef farm. Anna’s owner, Victor, gives the calf to his young son, Jan. Jan loves taking care of Anna even when she gets into trouble. This lovely book describes a year on the farm for Jan and Anna. They go through blizzards, a muddy spring thaw, summer drought and a brush fire, fall thunderstorms and hailstorms. Warm, watercolor illustrations add detail to the wonderful descriptions of life on the farm. | |
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Flames
of the Tiger |
| This is an unusual story of World War II. It is told from the point of view of a German family during the final days of Berlin. The central character, Dieter, has an older brother Reinhard who is at first, caught up in the excitement and ‘glory’ of war as a soldier in Hitler’s SS. Dieter’s parents however are fearful for the future of their country, their Jewish neighbours and indeed for their own lives. Reinhard and his father have fierce arguments about what Hitler is doing. Dieter listens and watches as his family and world disintegrate. When his parents are killed, it is up to Dieter to make his way towards a Canadian unit on the battlefield in hopes of seeking refugee status for himself and his sister. Gripping historical fiction by the writer of Across Frozen Seas, And in the Morning, Ghosts of James Bay and many others! | |
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Flood
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| Eleven-year old Andy’s world literally collapses when his home in North Vancouver is washed away, along with his mother and stepfather in a horrible flood. When he moves to Halifax to live with his stern Aunt Mona, he discovers his real dad is not the dead war hero, as he had always been told. Instead he is a living character right there in Halifax. Andy is immediately determined to connect with his father, but finds he is not the parent he would ever have expected! As Andy bravely tries to decide where to call home, he is helped unknowingly by the sheehogue or Little People of Ireland. The short, funny conversations by these fairies at the end of each chapter update the reader to their latest antics. A wonderful read right up to the last page when we say good-bye to the Irish sheehogue on an Air Canada flight home! | |
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Folk
Keeper, The
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Orphaned Corinna disguises herself as a boy so the she can be a folk keeper, someone who keeps the Evil Folk (gremlins) at bay. She must make sure they are fed and amused so that they will not play their evil tricks on humans. One day she is summoned to go and be the Folk Keeper with Lord Merton at his seaside estate. While there Corinna learns where her unusual powers come from, why she is drawn to the sea and what her relationship is to the family at the Cliffsend estate. A frightening novel that will keep you glued to the pages right until the end. |
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Following Fake Man |
| “Something major was up. Something bigger than a vacation – something much bigger.” Twelve-year old Homer Winthrop is on his way to a summer home he had never known about and a personal history he is about to discover. Soon after his arrival in Herring Cove, Maine, he meets a best friend and a most mysterious, limping old man who is not who he appears to be. When Homer and Roger Sweeney team up to follow the “fake man”, they are both in for a surprise neither of them had imagined! | |
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Forests of Silence, The , Deltora Quest 1
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| Leif, a young blacksmith, faces a great challenge. He must venture on a quest to retrieve the seven magical gems stolen from the belt of Deltora. Once the gems are restored to the belt, the evil Shadow Lord can be defeated and the people of Deltora can be freed from his tyranny. Along with two unlikely companions, Barda and Jasmine, and a hand drawn map, Leif sets out for his first goal, the sinister Forests of Silence. This is the first book in a series of eight fantasy adventures about the quest for the gems. The story line is very similar to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but much easier to read. A great series for readers who love fantasy and adventure. Check out the website to read about the other books in the series. |
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Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich |
| In this hilarious book of poetry we get a look at the lives of several famous monsters - Frankenstein, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Phantom of the Opera, Dracula and many others. Frankenstein is upset that the villagers have pelted him with garbage until he realizes he can create a great sandwich from all that food. The Phantom of the Opera can’t get the “It’s a Small World” song out of his head and is going crazy. Count Dracula has spinach in his teeth and no one will tell him. The illustrations are creepy and funny at the same time. This is a book guaranteed to bring you lots of Halloween howls (of laughter). | |
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Galileo’s Universe |
| Galileo Galilei is a fascinating historical figure, a scientist who lived in the 16th century. He discovered and created many theories about how the earth works. He invented things like the thermometer and the telescope. But not everyone liked his ideas and Galileo was eventually arrested because of what he believed was the truth about the universe. This wonderful book tells Galileo’s story through poetry and beautiful images in a pop-up design. Sure to be enjoyed by all ages, this book is a tribute to a brave, brilliant man. | |
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Game of Sunken Places |
| Nothing can prepare the two friends for what awaits them at a relative’s mansion. Gregory and Brian think they are embarking on a two-week vacation, but they quickly realize that things are seriously amiss. A board game they begin to play launches them into a world where the game and reality become one. Who has organized the game? Who are they playing against? How do they win? Is there any way of stopping the play? This novel is full of fast action, mysterious creatures (man and beast), twists, turns, and so many surprises that you will be caught up in the Game of Sunken Places right to the last paragraph! | |
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Gatty's Tale |
Fans of Crossley-Holland ( The Seeing Stone, At the Crossing Places, King of the Middle March) will be excited to read this latest adventure. Gatty, is a fifteen year old orphan, who has been used to sleeping in the cowstall with the bugs, spiders, and her only possession, her cow Hopeless, on the Caldicot manor of medieval Wales. Her life changes however, when she is asked to accompany Lady Gwyneth de Ewloe on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with eight other companions. Gatty has nothing to lose – her only friend (Arthur from the Arthur trilogy) has already gone on a crusade and she is eager for the adventure. Much awaits this young girl and her companions as they journey through Europe, 1203, attacked by thieves, facing storms, fighting off illness and injury. Gatty’s life is changed forever and she wonders if she will ever see her friend Arthur again. |
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Ghost
Children, The
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| Here is a spine-tingling novel for all you mystery fans. Matt and his little sister, Abby, go to stay with their Aunt Gerda who has a collection of life-size wooden dolls that she talks to and calls her “children”. Matt knows they can’t be alive, but, then, how can one of them be “dead” and buried in Aunt Gerda’s backyard? When the dolls are vandalized and two of them are stolen, Matt suspects that someone is trying to force Aunt Gerda from her home. Why? And what about the rumours that the dolls actually speak? Can Matt solve the mystery of Aunt Gerda’s missing “children”? | |
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Girl
from Turtle Mountain, The |
| Keeley and her Pop are trying to start a new life in the little coal mining town of Frank, Alberta in the year 1901. From the beginning however, when Keeley disregards the rules and enters an all-boys running race because there wasn’t one for girls, she makes a name for herself. Unfortunately, it is not always for the best! She has numerous mischievous adventures above ground, while her father works in the coal mine. Soon everyone in Frank knows exactly who Keeley O’Brien is. All the while, we read about the town’s huge Turtle Mountain and the Kootenay Indians’ belief that it’s a mountain “on the move”. Could something else be in store for our prankster Keeley? Read about all the different girls from the past in this great Canadian series! | |
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Girl,
the Dragon and the Magic, The |
| Even though she tries really hard, Rhianna is failing magic school. Then a wizard appears with some incredible news. Rhianna is a Wild Talent, her magic is very strong - strong enough to suck up all the other magic around it! She must take special lessons in order to learn to control her wild magic. Will she succeed? Will she be able to save her town from a marauding dragon? This is the first book in The Rhianna Chronicles. Look for other adventures of Rhianna, including The Girl, the Apprentice and the Dogs of Iron and The Girl, the Queen and the Castle. | |
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Girl
With 500 Middle Names, The
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| Janie's parents move from their inner-city community to a more affluent area to give Janie a better education. The move is made possible by the money Janie's mother will earn from custom-made children's sweaters for a boutique in the area. When the boutique owner reneges on his commitment to buy the sweaters, the extras they would have bought are no longer affordable. When Janie begins wearing the name sweaters to school, she begins a trend. Her mother decides that she will start her own business to make and sell the sweaters. A quiet story of faith and belief in the strength of a family. | |
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Go
Figure! A Totally Cool Book About Numbers |
| Even if you think you don’t like mathematics, you will be fascinated by this very cool book. Illustrated with loads of diagrams, photographs and colorful collages this book presents puzzles to solve, math tricks, jokes, the history of counting, magic numbers and much more. Do you know why daisies always have 34, 55 or 89 petals? Or why the world’s phone numbers appear in pi? You will be amazed by what you read in this book! You will be challenged by the interesting problems shown here. A great book to stretch your brain and share with your friends. (And don’t worry; there is an answer key in the back of the book) | |
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Golden
Compass, The
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| In Book One of His Dark Materials Trilogy, young Lyra finds herself in possession of a rare compass-like device that can answer questions if she learns how to read it. Will the compass help her and her daemon on her dangerous journey to the north to try to help rescue missing children? Lots of fast-paced action, an intricate plot and a cast of fantasy characters, including witch clans and armored polar bears, make this a great choice for Harry Potter fans. The other titles in the trilogy are The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. | |
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Gooney Bird Greene |
| Gooney Bird Greene is a red-haired, freckle-faced second-grader who is as unusual as her name. She arrives for her first day at school in pajamas and cowboy boots and demands a desk in the middle of the room so she can be “right smack in the middle of everything”. Gooney’s teacher and classmates soon find out that she has a remarkable talent for storytelling. Every day Gooney tells them a new story, which she insists, is “absolutely true”. The stories sound like she is stretching the truth but they all have a clever and unusual twist. For example, Gooney tells how she used to live in China, (a town, not the country), spent time in jail (playing Monopoly), and directed a symphony orchestra (gave their lost driver instructions on how to get to the auditorium). This is a short, fun, novel - a totally entertaining read. | |
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Granny
Torrelli Makes Soup |
| When Granny Torrelli comes over and starts to rummage through the refrigerator for soup ingredients, Rosie knows her problems with her very, very best friend Bailey, will soon be over. At the moment Rosie is feeling a little frustrated with him “…my buddy, my pal for my whole life, knowing me better than anybody, that Bailey, that Bailey I am so mad at right now, that Bailey, I hate him today.” While Granny cooks up the broth and chats to Rosie and then to Bailey, her wisdom and amusing storytelling allow the best friends to think about their feelings and problems. A healthy, delicious cuppa of “zoopa” for readers of all ages. | |
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Green Dog,
The |
| Suzanne wants a pet dog so much she already knows what he will look like, what his name will be and how she will spend her days with him. The only problem is that her parents refuse to cater to her wishes and her brother is allergic to anything that has fur! When her dream comes true in the shape of a black and tan mutt they find on their doorstep one night, Suzanne is sure her dog has arrived. So begins a wild and mischievous summer trying to control and tame ‘Jeff’. It is a bigger job than Suzanne and her family had ever thought possible, but with many hilarious happenings along the way. A delightful read for pet owners, pet-lovers, and pet-wishers! | |
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Gossamer |
| Did you ever wonder how dreams are created? In this imaginative novel by a two-time Newbery Medal winner, we meet Littlest One and Thin Elderly, tiny spirits who collect memories and bestow dreams. We also learn about the wicked Sinisteeds who give nightmares and sometimes travel in frightening hordes. Littlest One inhabits the home of a lonely woman who takes in a troubled foster child, named John. Although Littlest One is just learning her craft, she desperately wants to help her humans. How will she be able to do that? This is a beautifully written, intriguing novel. | |
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Hana’s Suitcase: a True Story |
| This book is a true story. Fumiko Ishioka, the curator of a children’s Holocaust museum in Tokyo, Japan and her students are very curious about a suitcase on display at the museum. The suitcase has the name “Hana Brady, May 16, 1931, Waisenkind (the German word for orphan)” written in white paint on the side. Fumiko embarks on a remarkable journey across Europe and North America to find out about Hana Brady - who was she, and what happened to her? In alternating chapters we read about Fumiko’s search and the story of Hana. Illustrated with black and white photographs, this is a fascinating story of a quest and the life of a young Jewish girl during the Nazi occupation of Czecholslovakia. Click on the website to hear a radio program about Hana. | |
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Hank Zipzer: Summer School! What Genius
Thought That Up? |
| His friends are heading to the summer program Junior Explorers, and Hank Zipzer (world’s greatest underachiever) is headed to summer school to improve his fourth-grade education. Things couldn’t look gloomier! Another comical adventure in Zipzer’s world. Check out the rest of the books in this zany series based on Henry Winkler’s true experiences. | |
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Harry
Potter |
| This
is the 4th of 7 books and Harry is growing up. After a long summer
with his horrid relatives, Harry looks forward to spending the rest
of his time with the Wealseys. He has the wonderful opportunity to
attend a Quidditch Tournament. Many adventures happen here along with
a close encounter. Back to school means a new teacher of the Defence
of the Dark Arts and the cancellation of Quidditch matches for the
rest of the year. This is the year of the Tri-wizard Tournament and
the main focus is who will be selected by the ancient Goblet of Fire
to represent Hogwarts. Many challenges confront 14 year old Harry
and his classmates. These are not only school-related, but after school
activities such as the learning of new spells, asking someone to the
first dance, and making it through the tournament. Harry wants to
be a normal wizard but as usual that is not what is in store for him. |
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Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince |
| Another
term at Hogwarts has begun, and another set of adventures begins. This one is full of humour, romance (snogging?), intrigue, suspicious characters, huge twists, and yes, death. We do not need to convince Potter fans of the need to read this, but would like to hear from you on our Reader Review pages, what you thought of Book Six. Do you have predictions for the culmination? Who is the writer of the mysterious horcrux letter? |
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Heartbeat |
| Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech’s latest book is a must for all Creech fans! Told in free-verse poetic style, the reader is introduced to Annie, a twelve year old who loves to run with her friend Max, draw, and spend time with her family. She is excited about many things in her life – her mother is expecting an “alien baby” and she has an art assignment to draw the same apple every day for 100 days. But, she is thoughtful about other changes in her life – her Grandpa showing signs of dementia and the urgency that her friend Max shows about escaping their town. Readers will love the rhythm of the story but more importantly, the spirit of Annie as she tries to remain true to herself and find her place amid change. |
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Hero
of Lesser Causes
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| This story takes place in 1946. Keely's brother Patrick seems to have everything going for him until he is paralyzed by polio. Keely takes on the challenge of trying to free her brother from his depression. The author gives an authentic picture of Canadian life during this period. A Governor General Award winner. | |
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Hiding
Place, The |
| In 1650 in New France, twelve-year-old Justine and her younger brother, orphaned and homeless, flee into the wilderness near their village where they meet an Aboriginal boy who helps them survive. A mystery thriller with a Canadian setting. | |
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Hockey Trivia for kids |
| Everyone
(hockey fan or not) will be amazed by the fascinating trivia in this
book! Did you know a hockey puck has gone on the space shuttle? Babies have been christened in the bowl of the Stanley Cup? Did you know that it usually takes a dozen pucks to get through an average NHL game when he was ten, Gretzky scored 378 goals in a single season the first goalie to wear a mask was a woman? Read on and enjoy the cartoon illustrations, photos, lists, charts, and short paragraphs about Canada's game from then till now! Zweig scores with this one! |
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Holes |
| Stanley Yelnats' family has a history of bad luck, so he isn't too surprised when he is sent to a juvenile detention center for boys, Camp Green Lake, for a crime that he did not commit. As punishment, the boys must each dig a hole a day, five feet deep, five feet across, in the hard earth of the dried-up lake bed. The warden claims that this pointless labour builds character, but she is really using the boys to dig for loot buried by the Wild West outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow. The story of Kissin' Kate, and of a curse put on Stanley's great-great-grandfather are part of this wonderful novel, both serious and funny. It won the Newbery medal in 1999. | |
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Home Child |
| Between 1870 and 1930, over 100,000 British “home” children were taken from harsh situations in England and sent to Canada to work as farm help. This is a story about Arthur, a 13-yr.-old orphan, who is sent to the Wilson farm in Ontario. Except for 12-yr.-old Sadie, Arthur is ignored by the Wilson family. Sadie’s mother, especially, seems to dislike Arthur and won’t even let him eat at the table with the family. Then a near tragedy changes everything and Sadie decides to take a stand for Arthur. Will the family accept him and stop treating him so poorly? Based on real-life experiences of home children, this is a very moving story about a sad part of Canadian history. | |
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Homeless
Bird
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| This is an incredible book about modern India and the tradition of arranged marriages. Koly is thirteen, and it is time for her to get married. Her poor parents struggle to collect a dowry for her and to find a husband for her who will accept their payment. Soon though, Koly is married to a sickly stranger and has said good-bye forever to her own family. This is her story, as she tries to survive and find happiness in the big, cruel world outside her village. Will the homeless bird ever find a home again? | |
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House
With a Clock in its Walls, The
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| After the death of his parents Lewis finds himself living in a mysterious old mansion with his Uncle Jonathan who, he discovers, is a wizard. They learn that the previous owner of the house was also a wizard, but an evil one, who has placed a ticking clock somewhere in the house that could mean the end of the world. Will Lewis and his Uncle find the clock in time, stop the clock and save the world? | |
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How
to be a Real Person (In Just One Day)
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| Kara's father has taken a job in another city, but her mother does not want to move there. As her mother deteriorates mentally, Kara works hard to preserve the illusion that her mother's medication is having the desired effect. Kara fibs and lies to her friend, Stephanie, her teacher and other adults that all is well, until it is no longer possible to maintain the facade. A story of a young person coping with adult problems, not of her making. | |
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Hunchback |
| Life for a 14-year-old hunchback in medieval times is extremely difficult. Hodge is given all the most unpleasant jobs – cleaning latrine pits, scooping grease out of castle ovens, etc. When a mysterious royal guest comes to stay for a time, Hodge is drawn into taking sides amid divided loyalties. Is the prince, whom he has formed a friendship with, to be trusted or is he a dangerous traitor? Is Hodge being made the fool, or is this his chance to become a hero? A thrilling adventure, especially for those who love tales set in the Middle Ages. |
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