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Past
Featured Books Ages: 9 - 12, Q to Z
Q R S T
U V W X Y
Z
Books
are listed Alphabetically by Title:
 
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Queen’s Progress, The
: an Elizabethan Alphabet |
| Have you ever wondered whether queens get holidays, or what they do on a holiday? Well, follow the famous Queen Elizabeth Tudor on her summer tour through the English countryside in this magnificent alphabet book! Learn all about the knights, jesters, maids, and traitors who joined her; the 100-course feasts that were created for her; the 400 carts of luggage that carried her gowns and jewels, and much more! Each page has a short poem to match an alphabet letter and a fascinating note about the topic. The rich illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline will have you studying every page with awe and delight. Take a royal holiday and enjoy! | |
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Raven Quest |
| Tok, a young raven, is unkora – he has been so dishonoured that he cannot possess a real family name and is cast out of the Raven Mountains. He must perform a heroic deed to reclaim his place in the raven roost. As he wings away from the only home he knows, he remembers the legendary stories of the Grey Lords and seeks to find out what he can about them. Who are they? Do they still exist? Would they help him regain his status in the raven world? The challenge is set for Tok. He must pursue his quest in order to restore his kora and return home. Great fantasy from the raven world! | |
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Report
to the Principal’s Office! |
| It’s the first day at a brand new middle school for sixth graders Eddie, Salem, Sunny and Pickles. Will they survive? Eddie is picked on by the eighth graders, Sunny is doing her best to be expelled, Salem is an aspiring author and thinks all the challenges are good story material. Pickles likes to invent things. They are all surprised when the brand new principal invites them to his office for lunch. He assigns them a task that seems simple but only gets accomplished after a serious of hilarious events, including losing a hamster. Each chapter of this novel is laugh-out-loud funny. Other books about Pickles and the gang include Who Ran My Underwear Up the Flagpole?, Picklemania, and Do the Funky Pickle. Guaranteed to make you laugh. | |
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Reunion, The
|
| When Shannon and her friend, Rina, have a disagreement, Rina’s grandmother tells them a sad story about when she was a young girl during World War II and had a fight with her good friend, Mitsu. Canada was at war with Japan and, because Mitsu’s parents were born in Japan, she and her family were forced to leave their home on Vancouver Island and live in another place. Grandmother never got to make up with Mitsu and she never saw her again. Will Grandmother’s story help Shannon and Rina become friends again? And will Grandmother ever get to see Mitsu again? A short, easy-to-read chapter book about a real event in Canadian history. | |
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River
Apart, A
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| James, a Canadian, and Jared, an American, are two good friends who are torn apart by the war of 1812, the war between the United States and the British-Canadians. Both boys enlist to fight for their countries. But they dread the fact that they might meet in battle. Which will be stronger, their friendship or their loyalty to their respective countries? A historical novel with lots of adventure and excitement. | |
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Rodzina |
| Between 1850 and 1929, about 250 000 poor children were sent by train from eastern U.S. city slums out to the west. Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski is one of them. It is 1881 and her future looks bleak. Without a family or a home, she wonders who would want an over-sized, stubborn, plain Polish girl in her father's boots anyway. Probably someone who would sell her into slavery or give her away as a servant. But Rodzina has little choice in the matter and the train chugs out of Chicago packed with a very interesting collection of homeless children. As the journey progresses, all sorts of funny and tragic events occur. Another brilliant story from this masterful historical fiction writer. |
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Ruby
Holler |
| Thirteen-year-old Dallas and his sister Florida are known as the "trouble twins". They are orphans and have been shuffled between foster families and orphanages all their lives, each situation more terrible than the last. They trust only each other. Then they are invited by an eccentric elderly couple named Tiller and Sairy to live in a rural setting called Ruby Holler. Sairy says ""You are now entering Ruby Holler, the one and only Ruby Holler! Your lives are never going to be the same." Have the twins found a home at last? A beautiful story filled with humour and interesting, authentic characters - a wonderful, engaging read. | |
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Runny Babbit: a billy sook |
| Shel Silverstein fans will be delighted to discover this humorous little gem of a book. Though he worked on this collection of poems for over 20 years before his death, it was only just released. In the world of Runny Babbitt, words come out a little differently – with hilarious results! For example, “Runny fad a hamily-/Matter of fact, he had/A sother and two bristers/A dummy and a mad.” Does that make sense to you? With line drawings to illustrate his clever verses, this book will fit in perfectly beside Where the Sidewalk Ends, Falling Up, A Light in the Attic, and other favorites by this unique poet. | |
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Saffy's Angel |
| Saffron Casson's family all have names found on colour charts - Indigo, Cadmium, and Rose. When, as a youngster, Saffron cannot find her name anywhere on the colour chart hanging in their kitchen, she begins to feel separate from the rest. She pursues this, discovers mysteries from her own history, and her world is turned upside down. Her non-conforming artist parents, Eva and Bill, and her riotous siblings all complicate her life. Caddy is on her ninety sixth hilarious driving lesson; Indigo confronts his fears systematically and cooks unusual meals; Rose, the youngest, manages her parents and together they live a madcap, funny life together in their home (affectionately called Banana House)! Saffron and a new friend decide they will trace her roots, find the stone angel that Saffron remembers in distant dreams, and discover how she came to be a part of this crazy family. A really funny, delightful read! | |
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Sahara Special
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| Sahara Jones has been labeled “special needs” and must repeat fifth grade. But her new teacher, Madame Poitier, is like no other teacher she has known. She teaches “time travel”, “world exploring”, and “mad science” and her classroom is full of surprises. Even the disruptive trouble-maker, Darrel Sikes, isn’t able to fluster Miss “Pointy”. Before long Sahara gains hope and confidence in herself. Perhaps she is “special” in a very good way. With memorable characters, humorous situations and a warm, moving story, this novel is a delight. | |
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Sands
of Time, The |
| In the sequel to Time Stops for No Mouse, mouse watchmaker Hermux Tantamoq teams up with a chipmunk to investigate an ancient Cat Kingdom. Together with dashing aviatrix Linka Perflinger, they brave mystery and danger in the desert to try to discover the truth about mouse history. Lots of wit and action and detail about the mice society will keep readers involved. Fans of the Redwall series, Stuart Little and the Rats of Nimh will love this book. | |
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Sarah and the Magic
Science Project |
| “On a bright morning in May the lady at the corner grocery store turned Derek Henshaw into a frog.” Sarah and her good friend Ben saw it and were amazed. The question Sarah asked herself was: could that lady at the corner store possibly help her with her science project? She and Ben decide to investigate this magical lady using the best scientific methods they know (and without becoming frogs themselves!). Sarah even begins to think about some very creative ideas for her project – what about growing seeds in just ten minutes? what about creating a real tornado in a bottle? All she’d need would be a little magical assistance. This could be her best science project yet for Mr. Wyanth! A great read for those interested in science - with just a touch of magic! | |
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Sea Trolls, The |
| A young Saxon, Jack, is apprenticed to his village bard when he and his little sister Lucy are kidnapped by Viking berserkers. Using his knowledge of magic and spells, Jack slowly wins the respect of his captors until one of his spells causes the evil half-troll queen Frith, wife of King Ivar the Boneless, to lose her hair. Unless he can undo this damage, his beloved sister will be sacrificed to the goddess, Freya, favourite deity of Frith. Jack’s quest for the spell he needs takes him on a journey that includes encounters with troll-bears and human-consuming spiders, each obstacle overcome building his wisdom and knowledge. A sprawling story, this adventure is filled with memorable characters, exciting turns of events and clever humour. | |
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Secret Journey, The |
| Twelve year old Emma decides to stow away on a ship carrying her parents to France. But she mistakenly stows away on a slave ship bound for Africa. A storm destroys the ship along the coast of Liberia and Emma is the only survivor. Somehow she must survive on her own in the African jungle and hope for rescue. This is a fast-paced realistic adventure. | |
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Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups, The |
| This is a very funny book about the “real” reasons that parents tell you to do things. For example, the reason they tell you to eat your vegetables is so that vegetables won’t take over the world. And you shouldn’t pick your nose or your brain will cave in. The pictures are bright and zany, too. | |
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Secret
Life of Owen Skye, The
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| For ten-year old Owen Skye, life is full of mystery, adventure, danger and romance. The Bog Man slithers out of the swamp to suck out cows' brains; Sylvia, the love of his life, invites Owen to her girls' birthday party; aliens try to contact Owen and his brothers from Dead Man's Hill; two girls try to perform surgery on Owen to remove his heart and liver - all of these are 'normal' events in the life of Owen Skye. Each chapter contains a new and hilarious adventure undertaken by Owen, his older and wiser brother Andy, and his younger and wiser brother Leonard. Nominated for the Governor General's Award for Children's Literature, this is a very funny read by Ottawa author Alan Cumyn. | |
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Secrets of Vesuvius, The |
| This is the second book in the Roman Mysteries series, mystery stories that are packed with interesting details about life in Roman times. In the summer of AD 79, Flavia Gemina along with her friends Jonathan , Nubia and Lupus go to stay with Flavia's uncle near Pompeii. They are soon absorbed in trying to solve a riddle that may lead to treasure. But then tragedy strikes - Mount Vesuvius erupts and everyone must flee for their lives. | |
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Seeing Stone, The(Arthur Trilogy, Book One)
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| In the year 1199, young Arthur de Caldicot is waiting impatiently to grow up and become a knight. One day his friend's father, Merlin, gives him a magical stone, and his life becomes entwined with that of his namesake, the Arthur whose story he sees unfold in the stone. In 100 very short chapters, the boy tells about his life in the12th century and the ways in which his life parallels that of the legendary King Arthur. A very unique telling of the Arthurian legends. | |
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Septimus Heap: Magyk |
| A seventh son of a seventh son is born to the Heaps family and they name him Septimus. But, immediately after his birth, the midwife takes him away claiming that he is dead. At the same time the family finds an orphan child and raise her as their own. When the foundling child, Jenna, is ten it is discovered that she is a princess and is being pursued by the evil Necromancer, DomDaniel, who wants to destroy the royal family. The Extraordinary Wizard, some of the Heap family and a mysterious young army guard, known as Boy 412, must somehow get Jenna to safety. This is a lengthy, exciting fantasy novel, perfect for lazy summer days. Look for the sequel, Septimus Heap: Flyte. | |
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Several Lives of Orphan jack, The |
| A short, but very entertaining novel about an orphan boy named Jack who leaves the orphanage at age 12 to pursue his “opportunity” and make his way in the world. He finds his way to a village market and discovers that he has something valuable to sell. His ideas and thoughts. He sells impressions, concepts, plans, notions and fancies. Although Jack is successful at his new trade, not everyone approves of him. Some of the village officials think that “new ideas are hazardous and untidy” and decide to put Jack in jail. Will Jack be able to keep his freedom? This is a delightful read, especially if you like interesting words, phrases and whims. | |
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Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars |
The greatest crime solver of all time, Sherlock Holmes, did not work alone. This story tells you of a gang of street boys who await Holme's next case in hopes that he will hire them yet again, to be his eyes and ears on the street. They have helped to solve cases in the past and sure enough when three trapeze artists fall to their deaths and Holmes is hired, the boys become involved too. Led by their street-smart leader Wiggins, and with the excellent mind of their new asthmatic boy, Ozzie, the group soon becomes involved in a very dangerous case. This is the first book in a new series that promises to have great appeal to all mystery lovers! You feel like a part of the gang as they race through the 19th century streets of London trying to solve this case - and stay alive! |
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Single
Shard, A |
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In this tale of courage and devotion, a single shard of pottery changes the life of a young boy and his master. Tree-ear, a 13-year-old orphan who lives in medieval Korea admires master potter Min's work. Even though Tree-ear is poor and lives under a bridge with his friend Crane-man, he manages to get a job working for Min. The work is hard and Tree-ear longs to learn the craft of pottery himself. A fascinating story about life in Korea during the 12th century. Winner of the 2002 Newbery medal. |
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Skinny-Dipping at Monster Lake |
| Twelve year-old Kent and his friends are on summer vacation! They fill their endless days with adventures - fishing, playing war games, riding, and camping overnight at Cedar Lake. The local story goes that there is a yellow-eyed monster inhabiting the lake, but that doesn’t deter the boys and they are soon spending their time skinny-dipping and having great summer fun. When Kent sees something glowing in the dark lake water one night, he is terrified. What is under there? A suspenseful and funny summer read, especially for boys! | |
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Skybreaker |
| Matt Cruse, the 16-yr.-old hero from Airborn, and his friend, Kate, have another incredible adventure in this action-packed novel that you won’t be able to put down. While on a training mission from the Airship Academy Matt discovers the coordinates of the ghost ship, Hyperion, a legendary airship supposedly loaded with treasure. The ship is drifting at a very high altitude and covered in ice. Matt, Kate, and a mysterious girl, Nadira, team up with Hal, the owner of an airship equipped to travel at high altitudes. Will they be able to thwart pirates, conquer altitude sickness, lack of oxygen and bitter cold to recover the amazing cargo of the Hyperion? Be sure to check out the website for fascinating background information. | |
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Small Steps |
| This sequel to the award-winning novel Holes focuses on Armpit, former resident of Camp Green Lake. In the two years since his release Armpit has moved back to his home in Texas and is working for a landscaper. His best friend is his 10-yr.-old neighbor, Ginny, who has cerebral palsy. Armpit seems to be succeeding at turning his life around when X-Ray, another former resident of the juvenile detention center, gets him involved in a ticket scalping scheme for a concert by the pop star Kaira DeLeon. The ticket scheme goes terribly wrong but Armpit ends up meeting Kaira and becoming a hero. This is a different type of story than Holes but still a compelling read with lots of humour and memorable characters. | |
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Smile! |
| When Flash’s plane crashes in the middle of the desert he is rescued by people who live in a remote village. The only thing Flash has saved from the plane is a Polaroid camera with ten remaining pictures. The people of the village have never seen a camera and they are afraid of it at first. But they decide to help Flash find the most important subjects for the last ten photographs. And each photo that Flash takes seems to have a magical effect. This short novel will captivate you and make you Smile! | |
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Sparks |
| Todd Foster, aka Retardo, Brain-dead, Gump, has been moved out of the Grade Four Special Needs class into a regular Grade Five class. He is terrified and sustains cruel name-calling just in hopes that he can do the work and stay in the regular stream. His best friend, Eva, remains in the Special Needs class and he makes every attempt to ignore her as he bravely makes his own way in the new environment. But, everything seems impossibly difficult and he is sure he won’t last long, especially with a major assignment looming that he doesn’t even know how to begin. A touching story about being on the outside – you will be cheering for Todd. | |
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Spot 7 Christmas |
| Here is an entertaining seek-and-find book to keep you busy over the holidays! This book contains several Christmas picture puzzles that are in pairs. At first glance the photographs on each 2-page spread look exactly the same, but they are not. The challenge is to spot 7 differences in each pair of photographs. Then can you solve the riddle at the bottom of the page? There’s even an extra challenge to stretch your seeking skills even further. The photo spreads are bright, colorful and full of interesting objects. This is a fun book for the whole family. | |
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Star of Kazan
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| Abandoned as a baby, 12-yr. old Annika lives in Vienna with Ellie and Sigrid, the cook and housemaid for three eccentric professors. She has a happy life but wonders about her real mother. Everything changes when an elegant woman shows up at Annika’s house, tells her she is her mother and takes her away to a decrepit castle in Germany. Before long Annika is in real danger from her new “family” as they try to find out the whereabouts of the mysterious Star of Kazan, a fabulous jewel that was left to Annika by an elderly woman she befriended. Annika is suspicious but is unaware of the value of the Star of Kazan and does not realize the true intentions of the people who are now caring for her. Will her friends in Vienna discover the truth and be able to rescue her? This is a very entertaining novel - a mixture of suspense, mystery and adventure with wonderful characters and a page-turning plot. | |
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Stinky
Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, The 1992 Picture Book Humour Age: 9 - 12 |
| This is a collection of hilarious versions of well-known tales. Little Red Running Shorts, Cinderumpelstiltskin and the Princess and the Bowling Ball are just a few of the wild stories in this book. The crazy illustrations by Lane Smith add to the fun of this very humorous book. | |
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Stop the Train |
| In 1893 a group of settlers get off the train in Florence, Oklahoma to discover that there is no town. This is the story of their determined efforts to build a new town and new lives. When they refuse to sell their land claims to the owner of the railroad, the owner won’t allow the train to stop in Florence. Without the railroad the town is doomed so the settlers try one hilarious scheme after another to try to get the train to stop. This novel has a wonderful cast of eccentric, lovable characters, including a teacher who runs the most unusual school you can imagine. A highly entertaining read. | |
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Stormstruck |
| Jolene and Michael, the time travelling twins who we met in Shadows of Disaster and Chaos in Halifax, are staying on the shores of the Great Lakes while their father and grandfather conduct research into the Great Storm of 1913. When Grandfather discovers a time crease, he takes the twins back to the year 1913 where Jolene meets a girl named Em who is involved in the suffragette movement. Jolene admires Em’s passion and commitment to the cause. Their time travel adventure turns dangerous when Jolene and Michael join Em aboard the Regina, one of the ships that were involved in the Great Storm. When the Regina starts to sink Em, Michael and Jolene escape to a lifeboat. Michael is injured in the escape so it is up to Jolene to find the strength to save them from the sea and return them to their own time and their home. An action-packed adventure story about a real event in Canadian History. See and hear an interview with the author on the Wired for Words site. | |
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So B. It
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| Heidi is twelve but doesn’t know the date of her birth, her father’s name or if she has any family other than her mother who is mentally disabled and can speak only 23 words. Since she was a baby, Heidi and her mother (So B. It) have been looked after by their neighbor, Bernadette. One day Heidi discovers an undeveloped roll of film that gives her some clues to her mother’s early life. Heidi sets off alone on a risky cross-country trip from Nevada to New York to find answers to her questions about her mysterious past. What will she discover about herself? A very compelling read. | |
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Something
Upstairs |
| Kenny Huldorf's family moves to a 1789 house and Kenny decides to sleep in the small bedroom at the top of the flight of narrow stairs that lead up from the kitchen. After hearing strange noises that awaken him in the night, Kenny discovers a mysterious dark red stain in the small closet in his room. Then one night he sees a white glow and then two hands rise from the stain, followed by two arms, a head, and then a neck. The human-like shape becomes the ghost of Caleb, a young slave who takes him on a time travel adventure to try and solve the mystery of Caleb's murder. A suspense story that you won't be able to put down. | |
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Sorcerer's Companion, The: The Magical World of Harry Potter |
| Where did J.K. Rowling get her ideas for the basilisk, the hippogriff or the grindylow? Who was the real Nicholas Famel and how did the Philosopher's Stone get its power? This interesting book explains the background of many of the creatures, objects, characters and magic of the Harry Potter series with references to medieval and modern literature, legend and mythology. A fascinating read for Harry Potter fans. | |
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Strange New Species, Astonishing Discoveries of Life on Earth |
| Here is a fascinating look at how scientists discover new species using everything from submarines to spaghetti strainers. You will meet amazing animals such as a lizard that can fit on a dime, a monkey the size of your finger and deep-sea creatures that can live in temperatures that reach 426º C! From the rainforest to the deepest seas to the planet Mars to laboratories, scientists are searching for new life. Loaded with colorful photographs and interesting fact boxes, this is a book for anyone who loves animals or science. | |
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Stonewords
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| Zoe's grandparents think that Zoe Louise is Zoe's imaginary friend. The truth, however, is that Zoe Louise lived in Zoe's house a century ago, and her ghost has returned to solve a terrible mystery. An eerie, suspenseful time travel ghost story. | |
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Author: Hesse, Karen
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| This novel is based on the true story of 11-yr. old Nicholas Young who stows away on the ship H.M.S. Endeavor during Captain Cook's first voyage. Through Nick's journal we learn of his adventures, including hurricanes, cannibals, a near shipwreck and a deadly bout with typhoid. A wonderful novel, with very real characters. You can easily imagine that you are with Nick, sharing his many experiences. | |
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Straw
Into Gold |
| What might have happened if the Queen hadn't guessed Rumpelstiltskin's name? Why did the little man want her child anyway? This fantasy tale answers those questions in a suspenseful adventure story about young Tousle who, along with his blind friend, Innes, goes on a dangerous journey to find the answer to a puzzling riddle. A great book for Lloyd Alexander fans. | |
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Summer
Reading is Killing Me |
| It's summer vacation, but instead of relaxing, Joe, Sam and Fred find themselves trapped in Hoboken (from the book,The Hoboken Chicken Emergency) with characters (good and evil) from the books on their school's summer reading list. They encounter George and Martha, Long John Silver, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland and many other well known characters. Trouble erupts when the bad characters decide to knock off the good characters and take over the stories. How will the trio get themselves out of this predicament and save their favorite story characters? Non-stop action and lots of laughs in this brief novel make it a great summer read. | |
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Supernaturalist, The |
| In the futuristic Satellite City a giant satellite controls everything and everything is run as a business, including orphanages. At the Clarissa Frayne orphanage, the “parentally challenged” residents are used as human guinea pigs for food and drug testing. Cosmo Hill realizes he must escape the orphanage if he is to survive. He finally gets his chance but almost dies in his attempt. He is rescued by a group of young people called Supernaturalists who are dedicated to destroying supernatural Parasites, hairless blue creatures that feed off living things that have been wounded. When Cosmo realizes he has the unusual ability to see these creatures, he joins the group as a Spotter. The group roams the city seeking and destroying Parasites until facts start to emerge that make them think that their ideas about the creatures might be wrong. By the author of the Artemis Fowl series, this is a totally gripping adventure story with non-stop action, high tech gadgets and twists and turns in the plot that will keep you engrossed until the very last page. | |
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Surviving the Applewhites |
| Jake Semple, 13, faces his last chance before Juvenile Hall. He has apparently burned down his former school, and been kicked out of every other school in his home state. His last chance -- to survive a home school (called Wit’s End) operated by the extended Applewhite family. But, as Jake meets the chaos of the artistic Applewhite home (Dad – theatre director, Mom – writer, daughter – dancer, son – designer, Winston – basset hound, etc.) we are quickly aware that he, quite possibly, has met his match. A very funny novel about one ‘tough’ boy and one extremely eccentric and memorable family. |
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Tale
of the Swamp Rat, The |
| After being orphaned by an evil rattlesnake, a young swamp rat, named Ossie, is rescued by the wise, old alligator, Uncle Will, who takes care of him and teaches him about living in the swamp. Ossie makes friends with a variety of animals - a turtle, birds, possum, armadillo, a timid mouse, a slow-talking gopher and a beautiful young swamp rat named Emma. All of them have very unique and interesting personalities. When the swamp suffers a terrible drought Ossie must struggle to survive and help his friends. And the evil snake, Took, is still a danger. This book is a sure winner for animal lovers. A wonderful tale of friendship, bravery, and the beauty of nature. | |
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Tale of Despereaux, The
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Meet
Despereaux, an endearing mouse who appreciates words and fine
music but is a disappointment to his family (his ears are too
big and he doesn’t like to scurry). He falls in love with
Princess Pea, a human princess who appreciates Despereaux even
though her father doesn’t like rodents. Then there is Roscuro
Rat who likes soup and light and Miggery Sow, a rather slow peasant
girl who believes she can become a princess. This is a wonderful
tale of love, adventure, kidnapping and rescue that weaves the
stories of the four characters together with suspense, twists
of plot and lots of wit and humour. |
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Terrific |
| Eugene, a grumpy old man, is the lucky winner of a cruise trip to Bermuda. “Terrific” is his response, as he then begins to worry about getting a harsh sunburn. When his ship sinks, Eugene’s response again is of course – “Terrific, I’ll probably get devoured by sharks.” And so poor Eugene’s story goes – he is stranded on a tiny island with little hope and many problems. Can a parrot, which is also stranded, help him? A ‘terrific’, hilarious read about friendship and cooperation. | |
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That’s
Very Canadian!: An Exceptionally Interesting Report About All Things
Canadian, by Rachel |
| Are you going to be travelling in Canada this summer? Here is another fascinating look at Canadian culture from the multiple-award-winning Wow Canada! series. Looking at Canadian symbols from coast to coast, this entertaining book answers such questions as “How did the beaver become the symbol of Canada?” “How did Alberta get its name?” “What is Canadian money made of?” “What are some of the differences between Canadians and Americans?” Loaded with fun illustrations and captions, this interesting book will give you a new look at amazing Canada. | |
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Thief Lord, The
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| A group of street kids survive together in the streets of Venice with the supervision and support of the Thief Lord. Two of the children, brothers Prosper and Bo, are orphaned runaways who are trying to escape an over-bearing, cruel aunt who would split them up. But, Aunt Esther is so determined to find the boys that she has hired a very skilled Venetian detective. All sorts of problems, deception, and magic await the children in this story, which twists and turns so the reader is kept in continual wonder and suspense. Who is the Thief Lord really? What is the detective, Victor Getz, up to? Is he really working for Aunt Esther? The intrigue and secrecy of old Venice with its murky canals and dark islands is the perfect setting for this cast of characters and their incredible tale of survival. | |
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Thief of Always, The
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| Harvey is very bored with his life until he meets a goblin stranger named Rictus who takes him to the magical Holiday House where every day is endless fun. When darkness falls, however, the fun turns to terror and Harvey discovers that dozens of children have gone into Holiday House, but no one has ever come out. | |
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Things Not Seen |
| What would it be like to be invisible? The central character in this novel, Bobby Phillips, wakes up one morning to find out that, though it seems impossible, it has happened to him. “I turn on the bathroom light and wipe the fog off the mirror to comb my hair. – I’m not there. That’s what I’m saying. I’m. Not. There.” As Bobby and his worried parents try to figure this out and perhaps find a way to reverse it, life seems unreal. Bobby manages to visit the Library and meets a blind girl, Alicia, with whom he shares his secret. She has her own “invisibility” problems. School authorities and the police are soon on Bobby’s trail as they begin to suspect a missing child case. This wonderful author (Frindle, Landry News, School Story, etc.) keeps us in suspense until the very end – will Bobby ever regain his visible form? How? A book which must be seen! | |
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Thora: a half-mermaid tale |
| “As
the Sea Shrew said, If you produce a child half of the land and sea,
it will have to live in both in order to be free. Ten years at sea!
Ten years on land! Between two worlds this girl must stand!” Thora is the daughter of a mermaid and a human. As the Sea Shrew’s prophecy suggests, she must return to the land (her father’s world) on her tenth birthday and try existence there. When she returns to her father’s village of Grimli, she meets the greedy businessman Frooty de Mare who has made a secret discovery and will stop at nothing to complete his take-over of the whole village. With her mother’s mermaid advice and that of her “Guardian Angle”, Mr. Walters, Thora tries to live in both mermaid and human worlds and stop Frooty’s plans. A delightful, funny book with many comic illustrations to add to the zany story! |
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Time
for Andrew
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| While staying with Great-Aunt Blythe in the ancestral home, Drew meets Andrew, a boy from the past who looks exactly like him. Andrew convinces Drew to trade places in time with him so that Andrew's diptheria can be cured with modern medicine. The two boys trade places and Drew goes back in time 100 years. The two boys look exactly alike but they are very different in character. Then Drew discovers that Andrew does not want to go back to his own time. A great story, full of suspense. | |
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Time
of Golden Dragons, A
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| A great book for dragon fans includes facts about dragon origins, dragon boat races, dragon homes and other interesting dragon information. Readers will enjoy the beautiful, detailed illustrations. | |
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Time
Windows |
| Miranda Browne is uneasy in her new home, an old house in the country, that seems evil and unwelcoming. Miranda discovers a dollhouse in the attic that is an exact replica of her new home. When Miranda peers through the windows of the dollhouse, she can see into the past and the events that led to the death of a child who lived in the house many years earlier. Miranda decides to see if she can save the child. An exciting ghost story, mystery and time travel fantasy. | |
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To
the Top of Everest |
| This is the true story of the first Canadian to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. Laurie Skreslet grew up in Calgary, Alberta and always dreamed of being a mountain climber. In this book he tells us how he achieved his dreams, including reaching the top of Everest in 1982. He gives detailed descriptions of the massive preparation and organization that it takes to put an expedition together and includes a great number of excellent photographs of the Himalayas, the daily life in the camps, and the climbers in action as they attempt to ascend the tallest and most dangerous mountain in the world. A well-written, fascinating book that inspires all of us to follow our dreams. |
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Top Secret Files of Mother Goose, The |
| When the Queen of Hearts discovers her strawberry tarts missing, she calls in Mother Goose, "Chief Detective of Nursery Rhyme Crime." Mother Goose follows the clues and interviews a variety of familiar nursery rhyme characters in order to solve the crime. This book has lots of humour with puns and word play. You will want to spend lots of time looking at the witty, detailed illustrations. This is a fun book to settle down with on a lazy summer day. | |
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Toys
Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray,
A Toughy Little Buffalo and Someone Called Plastic |
| This delightful book lets us peek into the lives of plush Stingray, Lumphy, the Buffalo and Plastic who are toy best friends. Stingray knows many things, Lumphy is a tough little character and Plastic doesn’t really know what she is at first. In six different stories the three toys have adventures and mishaps. When Lumphy gets sticky with peanut butter he is terrified of what will happen in the washing machine. Stingray thinks she should be able to float so decides to try it in the bathtub with disastrous results. Plastic is very excited when she finally discovers what she is but she has a scary experience with a dog. Lovely illustrations add to the charm of this warm, cheerful novel, a great choice for beginning chapter-book readers. | |
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Trading
Spaces Boys vs. Girls |
| Do you love to decorate your bedroom? If yes, then this is the book for you. This book features 20 different room makeovers from the television show, Trading Spaces, Boys vs Girls, which airs on Discovery Kids on NBC and the Discovery Kids Channel. Each chapter shows the before and after results of two rooms plus information on how the rooms were created. Included are tips on how to plan and design a room, how to create various decorating effects, and a variety of paint and craft techniques. The directions are very kid-friendly and the illustrations and photographs are helpful. Check out the before and after pictures on the web site. |
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Trespassers, The
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| “As
he twisted the knob back and forth and then tried to peek through
the keyhole, Neely began to feel it again, a strange uneasy tension
that made a tingle at the back of her neck and a tight, stretched
feeling across her face.” Neely and her little brother Grub, have found a way to sneak into the old Halcyon House, an abandoned mansion. Stories abound about the misfortune of the family that once lived there, including the mysterious death of a young girl. The dusty, silent old house becomes Neely and Grub’s secret hideaway. Still, some menace lurks there, and Neely is warned to protect her little brother. What dangers await the two trespassers? Read to find out! |
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Troll Mill |
| From the hauntingly creepy front cover of this book, to the wonderful writing that launches you immediately into the story, you will be flipping pages quickly with this latest read by Langrish. This is the second book in the series (Troll Fell, 2005) about young Peer Ulesson. With his past haunting his dreams, Peer now lives with his friend Hilde’s family near an abandoned mill, surrounded by dark forests that are alive with trolls, lubbers, a mischievous house elf and Granny Green-teeth who lurks in the quiet mill pond ready to grab the ankles of anyone who ventures near. The story opens with Peer rescuing a friend’s child and dashing home through a stormy night only to pass the mill and see it working on its own. When they unwrap the expressionless baby, they are amazed to find it has webbed fingers and toes. So much seems to be afoot in this threatening land by the sea…read on! | |
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Trout and Me |
| Sixth grader Ben has been known as “Ben Carter in Trouble” ever since first grade when he tried to flush a classmate’s teddy bear down the toilet. In fifth grade Ben meets a boy named Trout who also has learning difficulties and becomes his best friend. Trout is a whiz at troublemaking and the two boys are labelled “bad kids”. As much as Ben dislikes being called “bad” he refuses to abandon his friendship with Trout because he understands why Trout acts the way he does. Authentic characters, humour and realistic situations make this touching story of friendship and loyalty a very enjoyable read. | |
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Tuck
Everlasting |
| Would you like to live forever and never grow any older? In this story a family by the name of Tuck has discovered a magical stream that gives you immortality if you drink from it. They decide to protect the stream from others but a ten year old girl named Winnie learns the secret as well as a greedy stranger. This is a wonderful adventure story. | |
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Tunnel
King |
| This is the most amazing story of a Canadian who was part of the Great Escape. On his very first combat mission of WWII, Wally Floody was shot down, captured by the Germans and sent to a prisoner–of-war-camp. But all was not over for this miner’s son from Ontario. When a group of prisoners plotted an escape, they realized that they might just be able to use the expertise of this ‘tunnel-king’ from Canada. Wally became a key figure in the ingenious escape of 76 prisoners from Stalag Luft III. Using bedboards to prop up their tunnel, cookie tins for radios, and other amazing actions, these desperate men showed their courage and determination to escape enemy lines. An important story for all Canadian students to know and enjoy. | |
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Tunnels
of Time |
| Using the time tunnels under Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Andrea travels back to the 1920s. She meets the gangsters who use the tunnels. In trying to return to her own time, Andrea matures from a complainer to a person who knows her own strengths and values her family. | |
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Two Princesses of Bamarre, The |
| The two princess sisters couldn't be more different. Princess Addie is fearful and shy but Princess Meryl is bold and brave. Disaster strikes when Meryl becomes very sick with the Gray Death. Addie must face her fears and set out on a perilous quest to find a cure. How will poor, frightened Addie be able to battle ogres, specters, gryphons and dragons in order to save her beloved sister? | |
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Ultra
Hush-Hush: Espionage and Special Missions |
| Nineteen fascinating, true espionage stories tell about secrets, trickery, codes, covert operations, commando raids, double agents, daring airborne missions and underwater spies that helped to turn the tide of World War II and give victory to the allies. Well illustrated with colored illustrations, photographs, sidebars, maps and diagrams, this is an amazing behind-the-scenes look at the history of World War II. | |
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Van Gogh Café |
| “…there is a café – the Van Gogh Café – that is wonderful, like a dream, like a mystery, like a painting, and you ought to go there, they will say, for you will never forget it.” This is a magical book about the place in Flowers, Kansas where magical things happen simply and profoundly. Each chapter tells of something that has happened to the people who frequent or pass through the café run by Marc and his daughter Clara. There is the possum who, for a few days, hangs upside down in the tree across the street, the lightning bolt that causes lemon meringue pies to appear, the mysterious lady from New York who leaves muffins behind, and more. A clue at the end of each chapter leads the reader smoothly right into the next piece of magic. This is a classic that you will wish to read and re-read. Perhaps in your travels one day, you too will visit a magical place such as this. | |
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Venus
Among the Fishes
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| A young dolphin named Coral tells this story. Coral's family is in danger from killer whales so Coral is sent away to try and find her older brother and safer waters. Unfortunately she is captured by humans. First she is trained to perform at an amusement park, then to assist in naval research. A thought-provoking story with lots of interesting information about dolphins. Great for kids who love dolphins. | |
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View
from the Cherry Tree, The |
| Rob's family are all preoccupied with his sister's wedding and no one seems to listen to him. When Rob witnesses a murder from his perch in the cherry tree, he is unable to convince anyone of what he saw and Rob is afraid he may be the killer's next victim. | |
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Wait
Til Helen Comes |
| This is a spooky treat for ghost story fans. Molly and Michael's mother remarries and they move to a new home situated right next to a graveyard. They dislike their whiny new stepsister, Heather, and try to avoid her. But Heather spends a lot of time playing in the graveyard and makes contact with a ghost child named Helen. Molly and Michael realize they must save Heather when she seems ready to follow the ghost child to her doom. | |
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Way to Schenectady,
The |
| “Are we there yet?” Are you ready for a hilarious summer road trip story? The Peeler family is heading out on a car trip from Toronto to Massachusetts where they will meet up with their mother. Dad is in charge of getting Jane, her two younger brothers, and her crotchety, chain-smoking grandmother into the car and onto the road. The mayhem begins with Dad’s breakfast - “We always end up cleaning out the fridge before we leave on vacation. Last summer we had fried eggs and spaghetti sandwiches before we left. I can still taste them sometimes.” Dad hasn’t any idea what he is in for, and neither does Jane when she meets a homeless man at a gas station along the way. He desperately needs a ride to his brother’s memorial service in Schenectady and Jane hatches a plan to help him. The result is a journey that none of them will forget. A great book to curl up with in the back seat this summer! | |
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Wee
Free Men, The |
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“Another world is colliding with this one,” said the Toad. “All the monsters are coming back…There’s no one to stop them…Then Tiffany said, “There’s me.” And so the adventure begins into the land of Discworld! Nine-year old Tiffany is determined to rescue her little brother from Fairyland and its wicked Queen armed with a frying pan, a talking toad companion, and a band of six-inch tall, blue-tattooed, red-bearded men called the Nac Mac Feegle or the Wee Free Men. The little men are famous for their “stealin’andrinkin’anfightin’!” and provide the reader with many laughs as they bumble along in their kilts and with their own version of Scottish. ‘Ach, crivens’ – it’s a great story of fantasy and adventure! |
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Week
in the Woods, A |
| The author of Frindle, School Story, Janitor's Boy and others is back with a tale of survival at school camp. Mark Chelmsley is in a new school with a teacher who has been coordinating the Week in the Woods program for fifth graders for 16 years. Mr. Maxwell has every detail planned and camp will be an experience that his students will remember all their lives. He is worried about his new student, though, because for wealthy, spoiled, smart-mouthed Mark, outdoor school sounds dumb. Then he begins to think it may be fun after all and joins the adventure. Something goes terribly wrong for Mark and for Mr. Maxwell that Week in the Woods. | |
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Whales
on Stilts |
| Career Day for Lily means finding out just what her Dad does in his abandoned warehouse office on the edge of town. When she meets his boss, Larry, with a peculiar blue rubbery hand, a tail sticking out the bottom of his pant leg and a gunnysack on his face, Lily gets slightly suspicious. She enlists the help of her two best friends. Katie Mulligan who lives in Horror Hollow and Jasper Dash who amazes everyone with his inventions. Together, they endeavour to unravel Larry's evil intentions and to thwart his plans to rule the earth. This is a madcap, hilarious, bizarre mystery adventure that will have huge appeal to keen readers! You'll want to follow it with The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen, the second in the series. | |
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What
does peace feel like? |
| Children from an international school in Rome answer the questions what does peace smell like? look like? sound like? taste like? feel like? For example, it smells like “fresh air that makes you want to go out and sleep in the sun”, it looks like “new babies just born yesterday”, it sounds like “voices singing”, it tastes like “ your favorite food times two”, and it feels like “a lot of fun because you know you are safe”. The book ends with a list of words that means peace in many world languages. A brightly illustrated book that could have you adding your own ideas for peace by the end! | |
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When Santa Fell to Earth |
When Ben is taunted by the school bullies to knock on the door of a mysterious caravan that has appeared in the neighbourhood, he cannot believe who answers the door. Later, when he visits again, he is incredulous! Who is this Niklas Goodfellow and why is he apparently ‘stuck’ on Ben’s street? With fun-loving black and white drawings, this is a Christmas tale that will warm your heart, get you into the spirit and make you believe! |
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Why
Did the Underwear Cross the Road? |
| Justin really wants his fourth grade group at school to win the Good Deeds contest so he tries to be as helpful as possible to as many people as possible. Unfortunately, a lot of his good deeds seem to backfire. Another hilarious book by this author of The Twinkie Squad and the Zucchini Warriors. | |
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Willow
and Twig
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| Willow and her deaf brother Twig are abandoned by their mother and must go to live with their grandmother in Ontario. The children must learn to adjust from their life on the streets in Vancouver to a rural setting in Ontario and to the ways of their grandmother. They also learn what it means to belong and to be loved. A realistic story. | |
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Wind Singer |
| This is the first book in the Wind on Fire trilogy that has more recently been completed. Set in the city state of Amaranth where families are located and given jobs according to yearly exam results, this adventure captures the reader immediately and transports him/her into a frightening futuristic world. What happens when a family member, Kestrel Hath, defies the rules and challenges the Chief Examiner himself? What punishment can deliver a harsh enough penalty to set an example for everyone around Kestrel and her family? She and her twin brother, Bowman, try to uncover the evil that is at the root of their ‘civilized’ world. Their family is torn apart, but the children know that if they can escape and uncover the ancient Wind Singer, they may be able to reconnect with their family and change their futures forever. Follow up this great read with the sequels - Slaves of the Mastery and Firesong. | |
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Wishing Star Summer |
| Eleven-year old Jillian Nelson has recently moved to Vancouver and is finding it impossible to break into the grade six group of girls at her new school. She is friendless and lonesome. When her teacher explains about the 1986 Chernobyl radiation disaster in Russia and how children in that part of the world are still suffering, Jillian devises a plan to help out a child there, but more importantly to help herself. If her family hosts a summer exchange student from Chernobyl, surely she will have a guaranteed friend to show off to the nasty Grade Six girls who have excluded her. The arrival of Tanya leads to much more adjustment than Jillian ever expected! A very real story about conflict and friendship. | |
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Witch’s
Eye, The
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| Lynn Morley and her friend Mouse think that their struggles with the witch, Mrs. Tuggle, have ended when her house burns to the ground. However, the witch’s glass eye survives the fire and forces its possessor to do frighteningly vicious things. Lynn and Mouse must continue to battle evil when Lynn’s younger brother finds the glass eye and comes under its spell. A very suspenseful novel. | |
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Witch’s Sister |
| What would you do if you suspected that your next door neighbor was a witch? Lynn and her friend, Mouse, are convinced that old Mrs. Toggle is an evil witch and is trying to get Lynn’s older sister, Judith, to join her coven. Lynn’s parents won’t listen to her suspicions and Lynn can’t prove anything. Lynn and Mouse become desperate when Lynn’s parents decide to go away for the weekend and leave Judith and Mrs. Toggle in charge of the household. Will Lynn and Mouse be able to save Lynn’s family? This scary novel is the first in a series of books about Lynn and Mouse and their battle with the evil Mrs. Toggle. A great read to get you in the mood for a spooky Halloween. Other books in the series include Witch Water, The Witch Herself, The Witch’s Eye (see Wired for Words Past Features, 9 - 12), Witch Weed and The Witch Returns. | |
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Wizard
of Earthsea, A (Earthsea Quartet, Part One) |
| After discovering that he has uncommon powers, Young Sparrowhawk becomes apprentice to the Master Wizard on his home island. Impatient to learn faster, Sparrowhawk leaves home and enters the School for Wizards. He learns quickly and accomplishes much but foolishly tries a dangerous spell before he is ready and unleashes a terrible evil on the land. Thus begins the quest of the young wizard to vanquish the shadow-beast from the land of Earthsea. This is the first of four books in this classic series. Other titles in the series are The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore and Tehanu. | |
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Wizardology:
the Book of the Secrets of Merlin |
| The magic of Merlin awaits you! Learn all about the great work of wizards, who can be a wizard, the essential tools they use, different spells, magical beasts and familiars, potions, magical items, divination, alchemy, and other famous wizards. Like other books in the series (Dragonology and Egyptology) this is full to the brim of fascinating facts, maps, spells, mini-books, 3-D touchables, ancient drawings, etc. There is also a challenge set out by Merlin in the first chapter to discover the Thirteen Magical Treasures of the Island of Britain hidden on the pages of the book. Take the challenge…become a wizard’s apprentice by pouring over this book! It’s a magical read! | |
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Wolf Brother |
This is the first book in the amazing Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series. The author draws the reader immediately back into an ancient time when different clans of people occupy regions of the earth and spirits dwell in living things. Torak, a young boy, has witnessed his father killed savagely by a huge bear. Before his painful death, his father orders Torak to seek the Mountain of the World Spirit and tells him that a guide will assist him. Torak is alone, chased by a demon bear, and feeling inadequate to follow his father’s wishes. He finds an orphaned wolf cub, and though he is tempted to kill it for food, the cub speaks to him and he realizes that he can understand wolf tongue. Could this young cub be the guide his father spoke of? He doesn't have long to find out before he is captured – by clans people he has avoided his whole life. They threaten to sacrifice him, but soon realize that Torak is someone very special – could he be the Listener as foretold in prophecies? An excellent read! Follow it with Spirit Walker(2006) and Soul Eater (2007). |
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Wrinkle
in Time, A
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| Meg's father, a scientist, had been experimenting with time-travel when he mysteriously disappeared. Meg, her brother and their neighbor take a dangerous journey through space and time to find Meg's father. Can they outwit the forces of evil to rescue Mr. Murry? A beautifully written fantasy adventure story. | |
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Yang
the Third and Her Impossible Family
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| Yimgmei’s family are new immigrants from China. Yingmei (Mary) tries her best to act like her American friends but her family keeps embarrassing her with their Chinese customs. Even though her parents don’t allow pets, Mary sneaks a kitten into her house and her brother tries to help her hide it by playing his squeaky violin when the kitten meows. A very enjoyable story. This is the sequel to Yang the Youngest and his Terrible Ear. | |
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Year
Down Yonder, A |
| In this sequel to A Long Way from Chicago, 15 year old Mary Alice and her cat Bootsie go to stay with Grandma Dowdel for a year. It's not easy living with her rather frightening Grandma who does things her own way and manages to get Mary Alice involved in many outrageous schemes. A very enjoyable book. You'll want to keep reading just to find out what Grandma might do next! Winner of the 2001 Newbery award. | |
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Young Man and the
Sea, The |
| Put this one on your shelf of classic survival stories. Skiff Beaman is a determined, resourceful, courageous young man who triumphs over many, many challenges to reach a goal. His father has not recovered from his mother’s tragic death, and young Skiff finds that he must take charge of the household and the income-earnings. He begins by trying to get their small boat, the Mary Rose, repaired so that he can use it for setting out lobster traps. Always, his mother’s advice – think smart, speak true, never give up – replays in his mind and despite his difficulties and the mean actions of the town bully, Skiff steers his own course. Finally, he ends up at sea and the challenge of his life. An amazing read! | |
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Zen Shorts |
| Addy, Michael and Karl are amazed to find a huge panda bear with a red umbrella sitting in their backyard. He even talks and introduces himself as Stillwater! Indeed, the four of them become best friends. When each of the children visits him over the next few days, Stillwater graciously chats with them and tells them stories. The stories are short, but cause each of the children to think a little more deeply about their actions and behaviors. From the author of The Three Questions, this is a story to love and puzzle over. | |
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Zucchini
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| Zucchini, a ferret born in the Bronx Zoo, is convinced that there is more to life than living in a cage. He makes a daring escape and tries to discover a better life, but there is danger everywhere. Luckily, Zucchini is rescued by the SPCA and is cared for by a shy boy named Billy. Both Zucchini and Billy benefit from their friendship. Animal lovers are sure to enjoy this wonderful novel. | |
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