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Past
Featured Books Ages: 9 - 12, I to P
I J K
L M N O
P
Books
are listed Alphabetically by Title:
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I Am a Taxi |
Home for 12-yr.-old Diego is a small cell that he shares with his mother and little sister in a women's prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Diego's parents were wrongly imprisoned for drug smuggling. To help support his family Diego works as a "taxi" (he runs errands for other prisoners) and does homework for kids at his school. It is a very hard life and when Diego hears about an opportunity to make lots of money, he decides to take it. He is taken deep into the jungle where he is forced to work in terrible, dangerous conditions. Will he be able to escape and return to his family? This tense, action-filled novel will keep you totally involved to the very last page. |
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I
Believe in Unicorns |
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Young Tomas hates school, books and stories until, one day, his mother forces him to wait for her at the library. There he stops to listen to the librarian tell the legend of the unicorn while sitting on a life-size wooden unicorn. Tomas decides to go back every afternoon to hear the librarian tell more tales. He is enchanted by both the stories and the life-like unicorn. Then war comes to Tomas’ village and his beloved library and unicorn are in danger. With great courage the people of the town band together to try save their library, but will Tomas’ unicorn survive? A beautifully illustrated short novel that celebrates the love of books and the power of story. |
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I Was a Rat! |
| “I was a rat!” says the tattered looking boy who appears at the home of Bob, the shoemaker and Joan, the washerwoman. They take him in and try to help him by naming him Roger, giving him a place to stay and sending him to school. They teach Roger to stop shredding his bedding, not to eat pencils and to use a knife and fork. But Roger’s unusual, rodent-like way of behaving leads him through a series of misadventures. He is kicked out of school for biting the teacher, then appears as an exhibit in a travelling freak show and eventually falls in with a band of young burglars and goes to prison. Throughout the story, news articles from the “Daily Scourge” about a newly wed princess give us clues to Roger’s real identity. Happily, Roger is saved by some royal intervention and the loyal Bob and Joan. A fast-paced story with loads of humour. | |
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I’m
Too Fond of My Fur!
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| Geronimo Stilton is a mouse who runs a newspaper and writes tales of adventure. In this story, Geronimo, his friends, Thea and Rat, and his young nephew, Benjamin, travel to the Himalayas to Mouse Everest to try to find Geronimo’s friend, Professor von Volt. The trip is long and dangerous and Geronimo is kidnapped by a yeti! Will he be able to escape from the yeti and rescue Professor von Volt? This is a fun series to read. The short novels have lots of colored, cartoon-like illustrations and many of the words are different shapes and fonts. Check the website to read about more titles in this series. | |
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I’ve Got an Idea |
| Best friends Alex and Sam have met their match! When the new girl to their class who looks like a rock star, calls them “dangerous”, the boys are somewhat flattered. “We’d been called a lot of things over the years; dangerous wasn’t one of them. But it sure had a nicer ring than ‘brainer’ or ‘brainiac’ or ‘geekoid’, names we were usually called.” Twilight shows the boys tickets she has to a huge rock concert in New York City and they are impressed. All it would involve would be for them to find a way to get themselves into the city for a weekend while also making their parents believe they were being supervised by Twilight’s absent father. And so the adventure begins as the three new friends leave home for the Big Apple and a weekend they wouldn’t easily forget! | |
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Ida
B...and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly)
Save the World |
| Ida B thinks she has the perfect life - interesting, fun-filled days, parents who dote on her, a home where she is surrounded by nature and she doesn’t even have to go to school! Then something happens that totally changes everything for Ida and her life becomes “a million miles beyond wrong”. Ida reacts by making a plan to put things back to perfect, but will she succeed? If you love books with funny, interesting, unusual characters, don’t miss this one. | |
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If
you're not from the prairie |
| Beautiful, detailed illustrations show a child’s life on the prairie - playing hockey, walking through the snow, lying on the grass watching the clouds. The lyrical poetry describes prairie life in terms of the weather and the landscape. Anyone who has lived on the prairie will love this book. | |
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Imagine a Day |
| “Imagine a day....when a book swings open on silent hinges, and a place you’ve never seen before welcomes you home.” That’s exactly what happens with this beautifully illustrated collection of fantasies. Each 2-page spread stretches the mind with a gorgeous, detailed acrylic painting and an invitation to imagine....This is an intriguing book that will stimulate wonder and can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. | |
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In Our Backyard Garden |
| This is a collection of poems about a loving, extended family and the times that they share in their backyard garden over the course of the four seasons. We read about planting trees, family picnics, squabbles and celebrations. In the poem “Granddad Makes Use of the Handkerchief Wayne Newton Tossed to Grandma and Almost Ends Up in Divorce Court”, Grandpa gets in trouble for using the handkerchief to stake his tomatoes. The colorful line drawings add to the warmth and humour of the verses. This lovely book will help you appreciate the wonders of your own backyard. | |
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In Print: 40 Cool Publishing Projects for
Kids |
| “Get
ready to kick-start your life as an author!” This is a fantastic, jam-packed book of ideas for presenting and publishing your writing. Envelope books, scroll books, maze books, calendars, rock poetry holders, altered books – so many brilliant ideas! Detailed instructions are provided for each concept. There is also a chapter of advice on getting published and places to send your writing. This is a must for creative, thinking, imaginative, ingenious, determined writers. |
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Inkheart
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| Meggie and her father, Mo, share a love of books. After a mysterious stranger, named Dustfinger, arrives at their home one dark night, Meggie discovers that her father has the magical ability to bring book characters into the real world by reading aloud. Nine years ago Mo accidentally released Dustfinger from the book “Inkheart” as well as an evil villain named Capricorn. Now Capricorn has sent his henchman, Basta, to track down Mo and intends to force him to read an evil monster out of Inkheart to get rid of his enemies. Meggie and Mo flee to great-aunt Elinor’s but they, along with Dustfinger, are captured and taken to Capricorn’s village. They must find a way to escape and stop the evil Capricorn. This novel has a very exciting plot and great characters. The story is totally absorbing and you won’t be able to put it down until you find out what happens to Meggie and her family. | |
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Iqbal |
| “You see, for Iqbal I was not invisible. I existed and he made me free.” Fatima, a young Pakistani girl, is forced to work in a carpet factory to pay off her parents’ debt. The child workers in the factory are forced to work long hours in terrible conditions with little food or water, some of them chained to their looms so they cannot escape. When 13-yr. old Iqbal arrives to work at the factory the children are given some hope that one day their lives might be better. Iqbal tries to escape and get them some help but is captured and tortured. His spirit remains strong, however, and he eventually helps to change the lives of child laborers around the world. This moving novel is based on the true story of the courageous Iqbal Masih who knew his life was worth more than a carpet and that treating children like slaves is wrong and how he sacrificed everything to help others. Go to the website to read more about the life of Iqbal. | |
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Island:
Shipwreck Book 1 |
| Six Kids. One shipwreck. One desert island. They didn't want to be on the boat in the first place. They didn't want to be stuck at sea with a bunch of strangers. But when you're out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, there's no easy way out. And when a terrifying storm hits, there's no way to fully prepare. It's all about survival. | |
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James
and the Giant Peach |
| Poor orphaned James is forced to live with his two mean aunts and is very sad. Then one day he is given some magic crystals and when he accidentally spills some on his aunts' peach tree, his adventure begins. A giant peach grows from the tree and James climbs inside and rolls away to a new life. He makes friends with some very funny characters, including Miss Spider, Centipede, Grasshopper and Earthworm. Another very imaginative tale from a well-loved author. | |
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Journey
to the River Sea |
| In 1910, Maia, an orphan, journeys with her governess, Miss Minton, to a rubber plantation in Brazil to stay with distant cousins. Maia is excited at the idea of exploring the Amazon and seeing exotic wildlife. However, her cousins don’t like her or living in the jungle. They won’t go outdoors or have anything to do with the way of life of the local people. Maia feels like a prisoner until she meets two other orphans, Clovis, a travelling actor, and Finn, a rich young man who doesn’t want to claim his inheritance. Thanks to the care of the Brazilians, some amazing adventures and good luck, all three orphans manage to change their destinies. This is a wonderful historical adventure. Readers who enjoy Louisa May Alcott and Frances Hodgson Burnett will treasure this novel. | |
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Keeper and the Crows, The
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| When Misha goes to stay with his Aunt Dora he makes an amazing discovery. Aunt Dora is the Keeper of an ancient box with great power. Each day Dora must unlock the box and let some Hope into the world. A threat exists in the form of the crows that have stolen a second key to the box. The greedy crows want the box so they can control it. But if the box is opened the wrong way, Hope will be destroyed. The crows won’t let Dora out of their sight so Misha must search out and retrieve the second key. How can he do this all on his own? This short novel is easy to read, has a fast moving plot and lots of suspense. | |
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Keepers,
The |
| The Imperial Wizard, Keeper of the Light, is growing older and weaker and the evil forces of Lord Graieconn threaten the balance. The Kingdom of Eldearth is searching for an apprentice wizard who might be able to fill the role of Keeper of the Light, but so far, all who have attempted the quest have failed. Princess Arenelle decides that she may just have the qualities to undertake the challenge – except that she is a girl. Against her father’s wishes, she secretly begins the quest and convinces a peasant boy, Owen, to take her place at the Academy of Witchcraft while she is gone. This is the first book in a fantasy trilogy by Koller, and readers will be eager to follow Nell on her quest and Owen in his attempt to impersonate her. A fast-paced fantasy filled with wizards, witches, dragons, unicorns, weefolk and magic! | |
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King
in the Window, The |
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When Oliver Parker puts on a golden paper crown and looks into his reflection in the kitchen window, he is amazed at what he sees reflected back at him. This begins a mysterious chain of events that leads him into a world within Paris that he would never have contemplated. With curious companions like the old Mrs. Pearson, his skateboarding American friend Charlie, and the stubborn, beautiful girl from the downstairs apartment Neige, Oliver tries to understand the spirits he meets who inhabit glass and water. “When you look into a window, what you see is not you –or not entirely you. There's a window wraith inside every old window…(we) look back at you the way you'd like to look, not quite the way you really look.” Curious, Oliver tries to discover why he is involved in this and is stunned to discover what the Window Wraiths expect of him. A glistening battle of good and evil awaits! |
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Kite Rider, The |
| Set in 13th century China, this is the fascinating story of Haoyou, a young kite flier who is repeatedly strapped onto a kite and sent into the heavens to communicate with the spirits. He works for the travelling Jade circus along with his cousin Mipeng, who pretends to interpret Haoyou’s sitings into advice from the gods above. But Haoyou has more worries in his life than staying alive on a kite tossed into the sky. He must protect his mother from an evil suitor, fend off his greedy Uncle Bo, please the mighty Mongol emperor Kublai Khan, or die! Life as a poor 12 year-old in this ancient China is a test of survival that makes for a great adventure story. |
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Kira-Kira |
| The Takeshima family has moved from Iowa to Georgia in the 1950s. Lynne’s and Katie’s parents work long hours in arduous work at the poultry processing facility in their community. In the aftermath of World War II, being Japanese in America is difficult, but Lynne tries to see the kira-kira, the glittering, in daily living. Katie adores her older sister who seems to know everything. So it is devastating when Lynne develops lymphoma that eventually takes her life. Katie struggles to carry on the legacy she believes Lynne has left, in spite of the many challenges that beset her and her family. A poignant story of family life in difficult circumstances, this is the 2005 winner of the Newbery Medal. |
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Knights
of the Kitchen Table |
| A magic book transports Joe and his two friends, Sam and Fred to King Arthur's Britain. They are mistaken for heroes when they defeat the fearsome Black Knight and trick a giant into fighting a terrible dragon. Lots of adventure and comedy in this book, the first in the series of the Time Warp Trio. A must read for fans of the Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. | |
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Kringle |
| Set in the last days of Roman Britain, this is the story of how a small boy confronts earth-dwelling goblins, pirates, elves, and flying reindeer to become the generous spirit of Yuletide, Kringle (aka Santa). How can a lonely orphan battle the goblins that have enslaved all the children in underground mines? How does he come to live in the far north, to have a circle of elf friends, to steer a sledge with flying reindeer, to venture out on the longest day of each year to quell goblins and give gifts to children? Abbott’s fantasy will add to the legends of this magical being with an action adventure story that you would never have dreamed. | |
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Last
Wolf, The
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| The orphan, Robbie McLeod, has escaped from the battlefield after seeing the defeat of his Scottish companions, and he is on the run from English soldiers. At one point, when he thinks they are closing in on him, he realizes that the horsemen are after something else. He soon sees a bloody sign indicating that the last wolf of Scotland has been killed. Or has it? When Robbie finds Charlie, the abandoned wolf cub, it is the beginning of an incredible adventure and story of survival. Wonderful illustrations by Michael Foreman highlight the action and depict the bravery and loyalty of a boy and his wolf cub. | |
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Legend of the Wandering King, The |
This story is based on an Arabian legend and tells the story of a desert prince named Walid. Walid is accomplished at many things but the one thing he wants more than anything is to be known as the greatest poet in his kingdom. Every year he holds a poetry contest but is always defeated by a humble carpet weaver named Hammad. In retaliation Walid orders Hammad to weave a carpet that shows the history of the world, past, present and future. Amazingly, Hammad accomplishes this task and creates a carpet that has magical powers. When the carpet is stolen Walid sets out on a long and dangerous journey to retrieve the carpet and give it to Hammad’s family. A magical tale of self-discovery that will enthrall readers of all ages. |
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Lightland |
| For her birthday Lottie’s father gives her a beautiful carved cherry wood box. The box turns out to be magical and it transports Lottie and her best friend, Lewis, to a dreamlike world called Lightland. Lightland has been created by the memories of real people and is ruled by the evil NightKing who steals memories from unsuspecting sleepers and strips them of their past. Lottie and Lewis must battle the evil NightKing in order to escape and return to their homes. This is a novel with interesting characters (Lottie has an amazing memory and wears only pyjamas to school and Lewis speaks to no one but Lottie, not even his mother), mystery and an imaginative, action-filled plot. | |
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Lionboy |
| Charlie Ashanti speaks Cat. He can communicate with all types of cats - domestic cats, lions and tigers. Charlie uses this ability when he learns that his scientist parents have been kidnapped for their newly discovered asthma vaccine. He joins a floating circus and teams up with the circus lions. He agrees to help them escape if they will help him with his quest. Charlie and the lions make a daring, suspenseful escape through the streets of Paris and are rescued by a very unexpected character. This intriguing novel is the first book of a trilogy. Charlie’s adventure continues in the sequel – Lionboy: The Chase. | |
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Little
Women |
| The classic story of four young women who grow up in New England during the time of the Civil War. With their father at war, the March sisters struggle to supplement their family's meager income and realize their own dreams. This sentimental story has humour, optimism and strong female characters. A well-loved classic. | |
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Locomotion |
| When Locomotion was seven years old, a family tragedy changed him forever. This is his writing as he tries to work through his feelings and tell his story. “…this whole book’s a poem because poetry’s short and/this whole book’s a poem because Ms. Marcus says/write it down before it leaves your brain.” With the encouragement of his teacher and the secure foster-home base of Miss Edna, Lonnie begins to pick up the pieces of his life again. The writing by Locomotion captures the reader immediately and draws one into seeing school, bullies, girls, tragedy and life through his perceptive eyes. A book you will pick up and not put down until he is finished writing. | |
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Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The |
| This fantasy classic is a set of 3 books which include "The Fellowship of the Ring", "The Two Towers", and "The Return of the King". It is an epic tale of a hobbit by the name of Frodo Baggins who goes on a quest to destroy a magical ring and save the world from evil. He is aided on his journey by dwarves, elves, hobbits, wizards and men but faces many dangers on his mission. This is a must read for lovers of fantasy. | |
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Looking
for Life in the Universe: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence |
| Are we alone? What is it like to look for life beyond our planet? This interesting book describes the work of astrophysicist Dr. Jill Tarter, a research leader at the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute.) Readers will learn about this fascinating work, where they can find out more about this topic and how they can actually take part in the search. | |
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Loser |
| You will never forget Donald Zinkoff. He’s the kid who wears a giraffe hat to the first day of school, waves his hand madly in the air to tell the teacher when he has misbehaved, laughs uproariously over almost anything and generally is the sloppy klutz. Though his classmates in the early grades think he’s just amusingly different, as he progresses through school Zinkoff becomes known to everyone as a real “loser” and the butt of many cruel acts. What makes Zinkoff so memorable is his utter failure to see himself as a loser. He is so enthusiastic about life and seeing the goodness in everything, that he doesn’t have time to dwell on what the other kids are saying. Zinkoff is irrepressible – Zinkoff is a hero. | |
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Lost City: the Discovery of Machu Picchu
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| In 1911, Hiram Bingham and a team of archaeologists set out on a search for a lost city of the Incas. This book traces their quest from the city of Cusco, Peru to the mountain top jungles where Hiram meets a young Quechua boy. The boy leads Hiram on a dangerous trip up a mountain to the site of the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu. Beautiful watercolor paintings illustrate this fascinating story of discovery. The author includes notes on the excavation of Machu Picchu and a pronunciation guide to Spanish and Quechua words. An excellent read with gorgeous illustrations. | |
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Lost
Years of Merlin, The
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| This is the first book in the series about the wizard Merlin's youth and his coming of age. In this first book, a young boy is washed ashore, unable to remember who he is or where he came from. Taking the name Emrys, he sets out on a journey to find his true name and heritage. Along the way he discovers that he has magical powers that assist him and help protect him. Lots of magic, fantasy creatures and exciting adventures in this series. Others titles in the series include The Seven Songs of Merlin, The Fires of Merlin, The Mirror of Merlin and The Wings of Merlin. | |
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Mable Riley: a Reliable Record of
Humdrum, Peril and Romance |
| In 1901, 14-yr.-old Mable accompanies her sister Viola to the small town of Sellerton, Ontario where Viola has been hired as the schoolteacher. Mable hopes her new life will be full of adventure but she finds it rather humdrum living as a boarder on the Goodhand farm and helping her sister at school. Then she meets the mysterious Mrs. Rattle who dares to wear bloomers, ride a bike and live without a man. Mable’s life is soon more dangerous and exciting than she hoped for as she becomes involved in the suffragist movement. Told in journal format with lots of humour and drama, Mable’s adventures will remind you of Anne of Green Gables. This is a great Canadian read. | |
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Maria Chapdelaine |
| An adaptation of a story that was first published in 1914, this is the tale of Maria, a hardworking farm girl who lives with her family in the Quebec wilderness. Life is very hard and the family struggles to survive. Maria is engaged to marry but her fiancé dies and she must make a difficult choice between two other young men, one who lives close by and one who wants to take her to the city. Beautiful oil paintings complement the story perfectly and give us a wonderful glimpse of this time and place in Canadian history. | |
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Messenger
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| A companion to Gathering Blue and The Giver, this compelling novel tells the story of Matty who has found a home in Village with the blind Seer. Village has always been a place of peace and harmony, a welcoming place for strangers. But then attitudes start to change and some of the people of Village want to build a wall to keep others out. Seer sends Matty away from Village to another community to bring back his daughter, Kira, before the wall is built and no one will be able to enter. Matty must travel through the very dangerous Forest. Will he be able to return with Kira in time? Will his newly discovered gift be able to save him and Kira from the forest that wants to destroy them? | |
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Millions |
| What would you do with millions of dollars and only a few weeks to spend it? When fourth grader, Damian is hiding away in his secret spot one night, a train roars by and out drops a sack crammed with bank notes. He runs to tell his older brother Anthony – “And it’s from God, you reckon?” I nodded. “Well, he really wanted to cheer us up.” The boys have to decide what to do with this windfall before the British pound currency is worthless (the Euro dollar is about to become the standard). Ideas abound and soon everyone on the playground at school is involved in the new secret economy. In the end, the boys and their father must come to terms with what ‘wealth’ really means. Damian is a complex character with a passion for study about saints and a sense of deep loss over his mother’s recent death. A funny, ‘rich’ adventure with many touching moments and questions. | |
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Minstrel’s Daughter, The
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Catrina Ashdale desperately wants to find her father who she hasn’t
seen for 12 years. She purchases a finding spell from a wizard, which
leads her to the city of Freyfall. There she meets Garth, a young
wizard in training, who accidentally turns Catrina into a cat! While
waiting for Garth’s teacher to return to Freyfall so she can
be changed back, Garth and “Cat” continue to try to solve
the mystery of her father’s whereabouts despite the fact that
communicating with each other is a challenge. This story has lots
of action, intrigue and interesting characters. This first book in
a new trilogy is definitely a “spellbinding” read. |
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Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,
The
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| Edward Tulane was a well-dressed, much loved china rabbit who lived in a house with a little girl named Abilene. Edward was very pleased with himself and his life until, one day, while traveling by ship, Edward is accidentally dropped into the ocean. After some time, he is rescued by a fisherman who takes care of him for awhile but circumstances change and he is lost again. This time a homeless person rescues him. And so, Edward’s journey continues with many adventures and heartaches and, in the end, his journey comes full circle. Do you think he will ever see Abilene again? Superb writing and exquisite paintings combine to create this beautiful, elegant novel. Be sure to check out Edward’s wonderful website. | |
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Mob, The
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| For those of you who loved Silverwing (Oppel) or Poppy (Avi) this will have great appeal. As part one of a planned trilogy, this first time novel by Martini immerses the reader in the ancient world and lore of Crows. It is narrated by the wise Chooser, Kalum, who has difficulty keeping peace between the different, strong ‘personalities’ within the mob. When an independent youngster named Kyp endangers the whole migration, Kalum is forced to expel him from the group for six days. A blizzard and a group of determined domestic cats threaten the very survival of the mob though, and Kyp takes action. Will he be able to redeem himself and restore safety to his clan? At what cost? You will ‘crow’ about this one for sure and look forward to more from a bird perspective in the sequels. | |
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Molly
Moon’s Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure |
| She’s back! Molly Moon, master hypnotist, has been kidnapped by an evil Indian maharaja. Nothing stands in his way of controlling the world except for eleven-year old Molly Moon. He hopes to change history by traveling through time and catching up with earlier childhood Molly’s to ‘eliminate’ them. How will she stop this nasty plan without harming her three other selves? Are her time traveling, hypnotizing, world stopping skills good enough to challenge this master? There isn’t a moment to lose …read this one for sure! | |
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Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman? |
| When a convict is gravely wounded, he comes under the care of an ambitious doctor. The physician uses the convict’s body to experiment with new techniques and soon is ‘showing off’ his patient to the scholars of Victorian London society. During many lecture series, the convict learns not only about medical discoveries, but also about the latest scientific accomplishments in other fields. One of these is the new, underground sewage system designed for London. When he is released, the convict takes on a double life – by day he is the refined gentleman Montmorency, by night he is the thief Scarper who travels via the stinking sewers to steal from the rich. Who will discover the dual personalities? For how long, can he keep up the deception? You will not put this book down for fear that he will be found out before you can pick it up again! | |
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Moonsilver |
| Heart Avamir is an orphaned child who was found as a baby by a stubborn, hard-hearted old man named Simon. Her only friend in the world is the village healer, Ruth, who named her. Life is a struggle for Heart as she does chores for Simon and tries to remember something about her past. When she finds a thin, injured horse in the woods, Heart is determined to help heal it and to stop Simon from selling it to the town’s soapmaker. When the mare has a disfigured foal, Heart realizes that she must save them both from Simon. How can this young girl care for two wild horses? Where can she find safety for herself and them? Read this exciting story and its sequels (Number 8 was just released) to discover what adventures await Heart and her ‘horses’. | |
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Mother
Teresa |
| This is a stunningly beautiful book that tells the inspirational story of the woman who gave her life to helping the poorest of the poor around the world. Demi follows Mother Teresa’s life story from her youth to her calling from God, to her founding of the Missionaries of Charity and her very significant work in helping the poor, starving, ill, and downtrodden people of India and the world. Quotes by her are found on the endpapers and you will want to spend time looking at the rich paintings throughout the book. Look for other amazing books by Demi such as The Legend of Saint Nicholas, Muhammad, Gandhi, and The Greatest Power. | |
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Music of Dolphins, The |
| Mila, a young girl who survives a plane crash at sea which kills her mother and everyone else on board, lives for some years with a dolphin family until she is spotted on a tropical island and rescued. Speaking through diary entries, Mila tells the story of her struggle to adjust to the human world. At first her writing is shown in large type. As she becomes better at speech and understands her new world better, her diary entries become longer and more descriptive. Mila finds the world of humans very difficult and longs to return to her dolphin family. This is a very moving and believable story. | |
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My Mother’s
Ghost |
| Something from the past is inhabiting Willow Creek Ranch. Jess’ Dad tries to make a trail-riding business successful, and her mother is a shadow of herself, lost in grief over their son’s recent death. Jess herself is trying to adjust to this new life, but eerily feels she is being watched. She hears a tinny harmonica when swirling fog surrounds her early in the morning, she sees a shadowy figure in the upstairs window, and she feels a spine-tingling sensation frequently as she wanders the ranch. As her mother behaves more and more strangely, Jess begins to realize that perhaps her mother’s behaviours are connected to something very frightening that haunts their new home. Another ghostly thriller from the author of Who is Frances Rain? | |
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Mystery of Eatum Hall, The
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| Horace and Glenda Pork-Fowler receive an invitation to Dr. A. Hunter’s estate (Eatum Hall) for a weekend of gourmet eating. They are thrilled and hungry! When they arrive to a dark house decorated with many paintings of wolves, they begin to wonder about their decision. But, delectable food is prepared by robotic machines, and they are content to relax and gorge themselves on the meals. Meanwhile, the reader knows exactly who Dr. Hunter is and can spot him on every page. What is he up to? A clever invention, and a fine pork/goose dinner perhaps? This is a hilarious story with many fun pages of clever illustrations to pour over! Delicious fare indeed! | |
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Mzungu
Boy |
| Set during the time of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, this is the story of two young boys who manage to form a friendship despite the differences in their backgrounds and cultures. Nigel is the grandson of the white bwana, the cruel owner of the land. Kariuki is the black African son of the bwana’s cook. Despite the wishes of their families, Kariuki and Nigel become close companions, roaming the forests and fields together. Then Nigel is kidnapped by the Mau Mau rebels and Kariuki must try to rescue him. This novel has action and suspense and is full of wonderful details about life in Africa. |
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Ned Mouse Breaks Away
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| Ned Mouse has been sent to jail because he wrote, “the government is unfair to mice” in his spinach. But he doesn’t like being in jail and he doesn’t think that he looks good in stripes. So Ned decides to escape. He tries and tries to get out but each time he is caught by his Keeper, a giant rat. Keeper is as large as a tree but his brain is very slow. You won’t believe the way that Ned finally escapes prison! This short, funny novel is a great choice for kids just starting to read chapter books or for anyone looking for a light, amusing story. Guaranteed to make you smile. | |
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Neela:
Victory Song |
| Set in rural India in 1939, Neela is a story of adventure and history in the making. The twelve year-old heroine’s family is struggling with British rule in their country. Finally her father decides to travel into Calcutta to join a freedom march led by a person named Mahatma Gandhi. When he fails to return, Neela disguises herself as a boy and embarks on a mission to find him. Will she be able to locate her father and bring him home? In an India of this time period, when Neela should have been looking forward to an arranged marriage, she is breaking all the rules, and setting herself on a very dangerous course. |
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Newton
and the Giant |
| Newton Wiggins is a geek who is trying to stay alive (and uninjured) from his four quadruplet brothers. He has just kicked the final soccer match goal into his own net, caused his coach to have a heart attack, and now meets the revenge and wrath of his sports-crazed, very nasty brothers. He decides the safest place to escape to would be the attic. When his brothers even find him hidden there, he is forced to open a small door he finds at the back of the attic. A huge arm pulls him through the narrow door into another world – one of tree-loving giants, the Kingdom of Merriwart. Newton is appalled, worried, panicked, fearing for his life and yet is somehow convinced that exploring this world can be no worse that returning to his family. A hilarious, adventure story that will have you cheering for Newton! | |
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No
More Dead Dogs |
| Wallace Wallace, football hero, has been suspended from the team until he can write a book report that will please his English teacher, Mr. Fogelman. But Wallace always tells the truth and the truth is that he hated every minute of the book that his teacher considers a classic. Why, Wallace Wallace asks, does the dog in every award-winning book have to die at the end? As his teacher becomes more frustrated with Wallace Wallace, he forces him to attend the rehearsals of the school play which he is directing and which is about the very book that Wallace Wallace hates. The school football team is losing, someone is trying to sabotage the drama production and much to Mr. Fogelman's shock, with Wallace Wallace observing, the school play will now never be quite the same! Another hilarious read by Gordon Korman. | |
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No Small Thing |
| “Pony to give away to a good home. Call before 4 p.m.” Nathaniel and his two sisters, Queenie and Cid, can hardly believe their luck when they see the ad for a free pony in the paper. They are thrilled when the pony’s owners agree to let them have him. They call the pony Smokey and find a place to keep him not far from their home. Life is a struggle for Nat, his sisters and their mother. Their father abandoned them and money is scarce. Smokey brings a spark of joy to the three children and they work very hard to take care of him. They teach Smokey to pull them on their sled and love to ride him. Yet daily life also has its challenges - problems at school, a terrifying barn fire and Mom’s announcement that they must sell their house. Will they be able to keep their beloved pony? This is a moving, real story with authentic characters and an engaging style - a very satisfying read. | |
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Nothing to do |
| Have the words “There’s nothing to do!” ever crossed your lips? What do you do when there is a day with nothing planned - can you even imagine a day or a summer with no scheduled events? Well, clear the calendar! Find some blank spaces on it, and think about what it could be like without soccer practice, dance class, computer camp, etc. Begin your day with a read of this book, and you will soon have all kinds of ideas for simple pleasures that will stretch out time – catching fireflies, sitting quietly on a dock, climbing a tree, checking out cloud shapes, etc. A great read for summertime…or anytime the hectic pace of life gets you down! (P.S. share this one with an adult and they will thank you!) |
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Nory
Ryan's Song |
| In 1845 Ireland Nory Ryan struggles to help her family survive when all the potatoes are destroyed by a terrible disease. Nory's father is at sea and her older sister has emigrated to America so she must try to feed her family. A moving, realistic story of a terrible time in Irish history | |
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Number
the Stars
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| The beautifully written and compelling story of a Danish family who harbor a young Jewish girl during the Nazi occupation of Denmark in 1943. This book is based on the true account of how the Danish resistance saved over 7000 Jewish citizens from the Nazi death camps. This book is impossible to put down. Winner of the Newbery medal. | |
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Old Willis Place: a Ghost Story, The
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| This
may be the spookiest story about friendship that you have ever read!
Diana and Georgie have been living on the grounds of the Old Willis Place for a long time before the new caretaker and his daughter arrive. When they see Lissa and her possessions – a bicycle, books, teddy bear, and her solitary ways, they decide it may be worth developing a friendship with her. The three of them are fearful of the Old Willis House where it is said the owner died and lay undiscovered for a week. Does her ghost still haunt the premises? Yet, when Lissa wants to investigate, Diana and Georgie break the rules that they live by, to keep the friendship. What are they risking? What will they unleash? A spine-tingler! |
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Olden Days Coat, The
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| Sal is disappointed when her family takes her away from home to spend Christmas at grandmother’s house. Little does she know that she was about to have the adventure of a lifetime! One day, while rummaging through one of grandmother’s old trunks, Sal finds a child’s coat that transports her back in time when she tries it on. While in the past she meets her grandmother (who is ten at the time) and learns something about her family heritage. This Christmas classic is beautifully illustrated with bright, detailed watercolor paintings. A wonderful story by one of Canada’s most highly acclaimed authors. |
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Olden Days Locket, The
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| This is the story of two girls, Rose and Jess, who live apart 100 years in time but whose destinies are linked by the historic Point Ellice House in Victoria, B.C. In 1896 Rose survives a terrible streetcar accident in which her father is killed and must go to live with her aunt who is a maid for the wealthy family at Point Ellice House. In 2003 Jess visits Point Ellice House, which is now a museum, and becomes fascinated by its history. While volunteering at the museum for the summer Jess has visions which transport her back in time to 1896 where she learns about Rose and the missing locket that Rose lost in the tragic streetcar accident. Jess is determined to solve the mystery of the locket. This is a well-researched adventure novel about a real landmark home and an actual event in Victoria’s history. | |
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Olive’s Ocean |
| Martha is shocked when Olive Barstow’s mother comes to her door and gives her a page from Olive’s diary. Tragically, Martha’s classmate, Olive, was killed by a car while riding her bicycle. Martha didn’t know Olive very well, but Olive wrote in her diary that she thought Martha was the nicest girl in her class. That summer, while holidaying at the ocean, Martha thinks often about Olive and how they had many things in common. Martha also thinks a lot about her neighbor, Jimmy, who is paying her a lot of attention. When Jimmy plays a mean trick on her, Martha is devastated until an unexpected friend helps her over her embarrassment. Readers aged 11 and up will identify with the authentic characters in this novel. The wonderful, intelligent writing makes this a compelling read. A 2004 Newbery honor book. | |
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On
the Hockey Highway |
| Max
and Marty Mitchell are newcomers in Indian River and are anxious
to join the town’s hockey team. When the mill-owner’s
representative tells them that they will no longer sponsor a team,
the boys decide that won’t stop them. They will form a team
and they will play junior league hockey in Indian River. The only
problem is that they have no rink, no coach, no uniforms, and no
teams to play! How can they possibly overcome all these obstacles?
Meet Max and Marty Mitchell! |
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Only
in Canada!: From the Colossal to the Kooky |
| Did you know that camels once lived in B.C.? Did you know that it once rained fish on Toronto? This is a fun book full of interesting trivia about Canadian weather, geography, nature and history. Loaded with photographs, illustrations and funny captions. This would be a great book to amuse kids on long car trips. | |
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Owls in the Family |
| This classic story of a boy and his pets cannot be missed and will get you into the mood for hot summer days of adventure! As a boy living on the Saskatchewan prairie, Billy roams the countryside with his unusual dog Mutt (who fails to believe he is a dog at all!). Though Billy’s collection of pets to this point includes not only Mutt, but several magpies, crows and gophers, he cannot resist the rescue of two suffering owlets. Weeps and Wol, as they are aptly named, turn the household and the town upside down with their hilarious antics. You will be laughing out loud and rereading this one for many years to come – definitely a Canadian keepsake to have on your own library shelves. | |
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Paint
By Magic
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| Something strange is going on with Connor’s mom. She has turned into a traditional homemaker, cooking meals from scratch, wearing old-fashioned clothes and getting rid of all their televisions. Even more disturbing are the strange trances that she keeps slipping into, trances that seem to terrify her. When Connor finds an art book about a painter who died many years ago he is stunned to see a woman who looks exactly like his mother featured in each one of the artist’s paintings. A sketch falls out of the book and when Connor rubs it with his hand he is transported back in time to 1926. To the home of the famous artist, Fitzgerald Cotton, who painted his mother. Suspense builds as Connor discovers that Cotton seems to be possessed by the evil spirit of an Italian painter who lived in the 15th century. Can Connor break the evil hold of the painter, save himself and his mother? This time-travel mystery will keep you glued to the pages until you find out what happens to Connor and his family. | |
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Passager,
The Young Merlin Trilogy, Book One |
| This is the first book in the Young Merlin Trilogy, a short, easy-to-read chapter book about an abandoned 8-yr. old boy who lives wild in the woods until rescued by a kindly man named Robin. Robin is a falconer who tames the wild boy and helps him to remember his name, Merlin, and the legacy of magic that he is meant to inherit. The other two books in the trilogy are Hobby and Young Merlin. | |
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Parents’ Day at Dragon Slayers’
Academy |
| Parents’ Day at the Dragon Slayers’ Academy has our hero Wiglaf and his friends very worried. Each one thinks that his/her parents will be the most embarrassing to have on campus. Wiglaf is afraid his father will start telling his dumb knock-knock jokes or that his mother will insist on serving everyone her horrid cabbage soup. Eric and Angus also have parents that could be really humiliating to have around. And then, there is the school play for the parents in which Wiglaf gets to star as Sir Tinybottom! The comedy and adventure of the popular Dragon Slayers’ Academy series continues in this tenth book. |
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Parzival:
the Quest of the Grail Knight |
| Parzival leaves his sheltered home determined to become a knight. He spends a short amount of time at Arthur's court and then goes on to have many adventures. After taking some bad advice, Parzival makes a tragic error and must spend years searching for the Grail, the sacred vessel of hope and eternal life, in order to make up for his mistake. A small book with loads of adventure and knightly deeds. | |
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Pendragon: The Merchant of Death |
| Fourteen-year old Bobby Pendragon writes a desperate record to his friend Mark about the extraordinary events that have recently happened in his life. He has had his first kiss from a girl, and he has been whisked off into another dimension with his rather odd, rather mysterious Uncle Press. ‘Denduron’ is a world in trouble and Bobby Pendragon is apparently going to lead a revolution to rescue some of its inhabitants. This is a surprise to Bobby who is still trying to figure out how he has missed his school basketball game and arrived in this unbelievable place! His letters to Mark are his only link to the world he has left behind. This is the first in an action-filled fantasy series that will thrill readers! | |
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Peter Pan in Scarlet |
In this official sequel to the well-known classic, Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie, the original characters (Wendy, John, the Lost Boys and Smee) are all grown up and have returned to Neverland. There they join Peter Pan (who has not grown up, of course) on a quest to the Unknown Territory and Neverpeak to find buried treasure. Along the way they have many adventures. They battle pirates, climb a mountain and meet the mysterious fellow, Ravello, who helps them discover more about Neverland's history, including the origins of the Lost Boys, Peter Pan himself and Peter's old enemy, Captain Hook. There are lots of plot twists and turns in this imaginative book, a great story for fans of Peter Pan. |
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Pictures of Hollis Woods |
| She is named after the place where she was found as an abandoned baby – Hollis Woods. And, she is moving to yet another foster home after running from all the previous ones. She is a “mountain of trouble”! Hollis Woods has even run from the Regan family who offered her a place in their hearts and a home. When she is placed with an elderly artist (Josie), Hollis connects with the old woman and learns much about herself and life. As the old caregiver sinks into forgetfulness however, Hollis realizes that Social Services will probably separate them. She must come up with a plan to keep Josie with her and protect what relationship they have. All the while, Hollis is remembering the Regans and the feeling of ‘family’ she had with them. How can she find her way through this latest mess? How can she cause so much trouble for so many people? A touching story about a tough, young character trying to find home. | |
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Pirateology: the sea journal of Captain
William Lubber |
| Arghh! Captain Lubber, under authority of the Governor General-in-Chief of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New England, leaves on a mission to hunt down pirates and to recover their stolen treasure hoards. The notorious Arabella Drummond is his chief rival and his journal reveals details of his chase around the world after her. Like the other “ology” books (Dragonology, Wizardology, Egyptology, etc.), this one is filled with letters to open, flaps to lift, and fascinating pictures and text about the life of a pirate in the 18th century. Pirate weapons, punishment, tools, maps, knots, castaways and more are referred to in this tale of adventure, plunder and piracy on the high seas. Read it or walk the plank, me hearties! |
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Pirate's Passage |
A winter storm on the Nova Scotia coast in 1952 blows a mysterious stranger to shore. He lands at the small inn run by a boy named Jim and his mother. Their guest seems polite enough, pays his bills, plays the pennywhistle by the fire, and even sings in the church choir. Yet, there is something strange and elusive about Captain Charles Johnson. He tells incredible stories to Jim about the pirate 'brotherhood'...almost as if he'd been there. The intrigue deeps as you read. A thrilling, page-turning adventure! |
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Pot
O'Gold, A Treasury of Irish Stories, Poetry
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| Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day comes this beautiful collection of Irish lore, music, poetry and even some recipes. Stories of fairies and leprechauns, traditional Irish legends and tall tales, limericks, riddles, classic poetry of Yeats and Joyce and much more are included. Lavishly illustrated in charming watercolours by David McPhail, this is a volume to be enjoyed by young and old alike. A wonderful family anthology and a splendid introduction to the culture of the emerald isle. Erin go bragh! Ireland forever! | |
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Prairie
Whispers
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| Colleen McCall has a terrible secret. Her baby sister was stillborn and when Colleen went to get help for her mother she found, in a covered wagon, a woman who had also just given birth all on her own. The woman was dying and made Colleen promise to take her newborn child. So Colleen switched her dead sister for the child of the woman in the covered wagon. Colleen’s family does not know that she has done this and they care for the new baby as their own. And what about the husband of the woman in the wagon? Will he find out what Colleen has done? When the real father of the baby girl returns and starts asking questions Colleen becomes desperate - how can she protect the baby? This is a captivating, suspenseful story with wonderful descriptions of pioneer life on the prairie. | |
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Private
Peaceful |
| Michael Morpurgo is the Children’s Laureate writer of England and his huge talent is very evident in this piece of writing about World War I. Thomas Peaceful, the central character, enlists for the war with his brother Charlie even though he is under age. The story is told from his point of view and describes in very real detail, the horrors of the battlefield. The reader can hear the squelch of the mud in the trenches and see the swirls of mustard gas descend into them. Bullets, blood, disease, rats, wounded men crying, listless men with vacant eyes – all are a part of Tommy’s experience at the front in France. The conclusion is disturbing as the reader discovers what has become of Tommy and Charlie. A difficult but powerful story of war. | |
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Prophet of Yonwood, The |
| It is fifty years before the settlement of the city of Ember and the world is in crisis. Eleven-year-old Nickie travels with her aunt to Yonwood to help get her great-grandfather’s house ready to sell. It’s not the quiet haven she thought it would be. The people of Yonwood believe that a woman in their town, named Althea, had a vision foretelling a terrible war that will destroy the world. Althea is in a partial coma and her mumbled words are interpreted by her caregiver, Mrs. Beeson, and treated by the residents of the town as rules to live by so they will not be harmed. Nickie tries to follow the rules but they don’t always make sense to her. As Nickie explores the mysteries of her surroundings - a reclusive neighbor, her great-grandfather’s journals and papers, a possible terrorist in the woods and a boy named Grover who has a secret - she becomes more and more confused as to what she should believe. Will the prophet’s vision come true? Is there something Nickie can do to help the world? This novel contains suspense, action, mystery and some interesting ideas to think about. | |
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Puppeteer’s Apprentice |
| This is a wonderful adventure story set in Medieval England. Mouse, a hungry, sad, hard-worked kitchen maid, runs away from her master in Lord Dunston’s castle. She quickly finds life on the road harsh as well, but comes across a caravan wagon with a mysterious puppeteer. She soon becomes the puppeteer’s apprentice and they travel from one little village to another entertaining with minstrels and jesters at fairs. But, who is this puppeteer? What secrets is he hiding? Who lurks in the crowds watching them? Great characters and suspense make this a must read – especially for fans of the Middle Ages. | |
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