IMAGINATION AT FULL SPEED

Max just finished cleaning his room and off he zooms on a super adventure: dodging volcanoes, dealing with sharks and super secret underwater caves, and just having a good time. An adorable preschooler, Max is drawn with bright simple illustrations, shown having a good old time imagining himself in fun and exciting fantasy play.  

Max Speed by Stephen Shaskan makes for great read aloud fun with your toddlers up through kindergarteners. 

KEEPING UP WITH AUNT KATE

In the 1860s before Abraham Lincoln became president, an orphan girl, Nell Warne, was dropped off at the doorstep of her only living relative Aunt Kate.  Aunt Kate wanted no part of Nell since leaving their small town after the death of her husband. You see, she blamed Nell's beloved father for that particular tragedy and has never gotten over it.  Nell was determined to change Aunt Kate's mind by being helpful as possible so she won't be sent away to some orphanage to live with total strangers which Aunt Kate kept threatening her with.

So begins the relationship between Nell and Aunt Kate based on necessity and mutual respect as the two hire themselves as undercover female detectives with The Pinkerton Detective Agency to root out crime and deceit.  The story is loosely based on the real life Kate Warne told through the point of view of fictional Nell through narrative and letters with her best friend of the same age whose family escaped slavery by using the Underground Railroad.  

Readers will enjoy the adventures of Nell and her no nonsense Aunt Kate in The Detective's Assistant by Kate Hannigan. For readers in 6th- 8th grade who enjoy historical fiction and strong female protagonists in an action packed story. 

SURE BEATS BOILING OIL

If you read Harry Potter or the Hunger Games, and you like stories where society is out to destroy the lives of children, then THE UNWANTEDS by Lisa McMann is a good book to read along the same lines. In the dark, dreary land of Quill, some kids become "wanteds" and some are relegated to "unwanted" status, which means they are sent to die in a giant pit of boiling oil. Only the unwanteds actually end up in a magical world of creativity and free thought, something completely frowned upon in the land of Quill. Kids learn magical fighting techniques, in preparation to fight for their beliefs in a battle that comes when not everyone is prepared to fight. It's not to difficult to read, it is action-packed, and reflects positively on those that are more creative than calculating. For grades 4 and up.

YOUR NEW SUPERHERO IS A GIRL

The Adventures of Jo Schmo by Greg Trine is the latest series by the author of the Melvin Beederman series. 

In Dinos Are Forever, Jo Schmo is the latest caped crusader in a family of caped crusaders living in San Francsico.  Along with her sidekick dog, whose weapon is creating a puddle of slobber, Jo tackles villains of all sorts after receiving a red cape in the mail from her newly retired uncle.  

After some training from her grandfather, 4th grader, Jo goes after an evil scientist who tries to resurrect dinosaurs in order to rob banks.  Greg Trine gives us another fun action-packed series with a cast of outrageous characters, but in a believable setting.  

This new superhero series is perfect for beginning chapter book readers 2nd-4th graders. 

WHEN THE WALLS TALK?

When forced to move, what better than to find a house that has a history, a mysterious past, one might even say a "haunted" house. This is exactly how the Walker children feel when their parents buy a creepy Victorian home in San Francisco, which used to belong to a famous scary author. Turns out this author's daughter, Dahlia, who's pretty creepy herself, lives right next door and leads the Walkers on some very strange adventures - almost as if they are reliving some of her father's stories! HOUSE OF SECRETS by Christopher Columbus and Ned Vizzini is a long book, but well worth the read for anyone interested in adventure, mystery, and the ever popular family dynamics that crop up in lots of books nowadays. For grades 6 and up.

JULY 2013

THE WORM HOSPITAL THAT WASN'T

What he thought was going to be a boring summer turns intriguing when Ben sees a dark shadow flying overhead.  It looks like a bird, but with a really long tail.   What was that thing he saw in the night sky?  Did that girl mouth the word dragon?  By the morning's bright light, an injured bat like creature is dropped onto his bed by his grandpa's cat and the only vet in town is a worm vet in the abandoned old button factory. 

The veterinarian seems to treat all types of animals not just worms, but not your typical dog or cat either.  Strange creatures seem to lurk in this down and out Oregon town with mostly senior citizens who look forward to pudding day. 

The Sasquatch Escape :  the Imaginary Veterinary:  Book 1 by Suzanne Selfors is the beginning of a new series for those reluctant readers who love animals and fantasy. For readers in 4th - 6th grades.   

CAN'T GO WRONG WITH TALKING ANIMALS

An odd cast of characters takes the stage in this book, including a Black Bear named Walden (he's very philosophical), a gruff and tough Badger named Banderdock, and a mean, scrappy cat called McTavish the Monster.  These are the animals that expert boy scout Max "the wolf" encounters when he awakens from a strange sleep and cannot remember anything that happened.  Max and his friends quickly become THE HUNTED as they simultaneously run for their lives while trying to figure out who Max is and how he got to this strange world.  Max's adventures are woven with other side stories that all tie together in a nice pretty bow, but take some quirky turns getting there.  DOWN THE MYSTERLY RIVER by Bill Willingham is an exciting book for grades 5 and up.

May 2013

MAGIC AND MYSTERY

Remember Stuart Horten? Tiny Stuart from Lissa Evans' first book Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery & a Very Strange Adventure? Well, now that he's located his Uncle's miraculous mechanisms, he's back in a new book called HORTEN'S INCREDIBLE ILLUSIONS: MAGIC, MYSTERY & ANOTHER VERY STRANGE ADVENTURE to see what those mechanisms do. As usual, his friend and neighbor April is by his side helping him unravel the mysteries that lie waiting for discovery. But danger is around every turn with these kids, and you never know what's going to happen next! This is a great continuation of an intriguing, quick-paced series. 

For 4th-8th grades.

MAY 2013

ZOMBIES ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WE THOUGHT

There's actually three levels of zombies, at least according to DEAD CITY  by James Ponti. You won't necessarily be able to tell if a zombie is a Level 1 because they look and act exactly like living humans, just with a lot more make up.  Level 2s try to be like Level 1s, but they have no soul and can't tell right from wrong.  Level 3s are pretty much like the zombies you're already familiar with - mindless, brain-eating blobs.  Of course, there's a team of kids out to save the city from the zombies.  They're called the Omegas, and are a highly secret organization, and it turns out that Molly, the newest member, is the greatest Omega since...well, since the death of someone very important to Molly. 

For grades 5 and up.

MARCH 2013

TRY SAYING DARWEN ARKWRIGHT 5 TIMES FAST!

Much like many stories today, Darwen is from England and both his parents are dead. Not to worry, they just died in a car accident - nothing to do with Voldemort.

So Darwen's moved to the U.S. to live with his Aunt Honoria. He's not very happy about it, but at least he has a distraction one day when he's at the mall - a strange bird! He follows the bird into an even stranger shop filled with mirrors. Well, it isn't long for this chance meeting to result in a crazy adventure, one that takes Darwen to another world just by stepping through a mirror! Along the way, Darwen picks up some unlikely friends AND enemies. Words like scrobblers, dellfeys and flittercrakes will all make sense once you read this book. You'll really enjoy DARWEN ARKWRIGHT AND THE PEREGRINE PACT by A.J. Hartley!

For grades 5 and up.

JANUARY 2013

THE KID WHO WENT TO SPY SCHOOL

Ben has just been recruited to become a spy and train at a very secret spy school but he soon realizes that he is in way over his head.  His personal file lists skills he doesn't have and as soon as he walks onto the school campus, he has to fight for his life.  

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs author of Belly Up.  If you liked the intrigue and adventure of Belly Up then you will also enjoy reading this fast paced story of a middle school spy wannabe.  

For readers in 6th-8th grades.  

THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE!

If you want to read a book where you can change the journey or the faith of the characters in a story, than this is the book for you! The book is about a group of young hikers who have decided to reach the very top of Mount Everest. However, while the reader is enjoying the great expedition, he/she is also going to be responsible in making choices about the directions that the group should take to reach to the top of the mountain. This means that a lot of logical and strategic thinking needs to be made in order to have a successful expedition for the young hikers.
This Choose Your Own Adventure book is full of interesting scenarios, graphs and pictures that will really make you feel as though you are actually on the expedition yourself. The only thing is that you might not get to feel the actual snow or the cold. However, your imagination will do that for you since it’s written very descriptively….

So lets begin our adventures...

Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Everest: You Decide How to Survive! by Bill Doyle and David Borgenicht.

For grades 5th-7th.

COWBOY BOY

A new neighborhood, a new school and a new nemesis are just a few things that Ricky V. (“Very Afraid”) has to deal with when his dad gets a new job and the family has to relocate.

Ricky has to think and come up with different ways to fight the evil bullies who are prepared to do everything and anything to make his life miserable...
Instead of turning himself to any kind of a superhero, he decides to transform himself into a Cowboy! Hence the name of the book Cowboy Boy!

Now... Imagine all the tricks and the gimmicks that can be pulled as a cowboy to fight the nemesis… This is a fun and adventurous story that will capture you attention. Additionally, the book is filled with humorous illustrations/cartoons which add a fun twist to the story. COWBOY BOY is written by JAMES PROIMOS.

For grades 3rd-6th.

ROBIN HOOD!

I am pretty sure that you are already familiar with the story of Robin Hood. However, if you want to read it in a different format, than here is a great title for you! OUTLAW- THE LEGEND OF ROBIN HOOD: A GRAPHIC NOVEL by TONY LEE. The young Robin Hood witnesses the shooting of his father’s friend by non other than his own father… Shocked and confused, he asks his father why he did the unimaginable…The answer to that question confuses and shocks him even more. Hence, begins his adventures and his countless victories, including taking money from the rich and giving it to the very poor! The story is well written and the graphics have a very realistic look to them.

For grades 4th and up!

A NEW SPY ADVENTURE

Q, short for Quest, and his newly minted stepsister are quickly thrown into a world of spies and lies when their parents' honeymoon/music tour turn into an adventure in dodging agents from the Mossad, the Israeli spy agency. Angela has been led to believe that her mother, a secret Service agent, died protecting the United States. All that is being questioned now as foreign spies follow them in order to track down her mother, believed to be still alive and one of the world's most deadly terrorist.

I.Q.: Book One: Independence Hall by Roland Smith is a fast pace thrilling spy adventure for readers in 7th-9th grade. A new spy series.

FIND THE RED-HEADED FROG!

Shoe repair guy, Johnny, is so poor and desperate for money that he is willing to help a beautiful princess find her brother, a frog with red hair. Yes, that's right a frog! Really, he was a PRINCE who was turned into a frog by an evil witch and is now somewhere in Florida. She's desperate and would even marry him if he can find her brother! What sane guy would turn down an offer of money and marriage to a hottie of a princess? Not Johnny.

Cloaked by Alex Flinn is an action packed fantasy adventure chockful fairytale characters, talking animals, and of course, romance.

For readers in 6th-8th grade.

HEIST SOCIETY

Warning: The adventures that you will read in this book are not to be duplicated, unless you want to be arrested and put in a jail...

So here it goes... This is a story about a girl named Katarina. She has gotten tired traveling all over the world with her family so much that she decides to break free of her dependence and pursue her own endeavors.

Her family travels were not the typical beach getaways, they all consisted of stealing treasures from world famous buildings and museums. Feeling that she has enough training from the family, she goes on her own to "travel." The question is, can she pull off these grandiose heists or will she be back with the family... Let the adventures begin...HEIST SOCIETY is by ALLY CARTER.

For grades 7th and up.

For grades 7th and up.

YOUNG FREDLE

You might wonder what can a small, white- brownish mouse with pink ears teach you about life's hard lessons or the extend of adventures the little one might be able to embark on. How can it be possible for Fredle, who happens to be this mouse, fight raccoons, chickens, and humans? Well... get ready to be blown away by this precocious mouse's great discoveries and adventures in ways that only perhaps Superman could embark.
Fredle is such a curious and smart mouse that nothing in his surroundings satisfies him and even though he knows that certain things are not good for him, he still goes out and tries them anyway. Like for example, eating too much chocolate. However, he must pay for his "curiosities" in order to learn life's hard lessons...

YOUNG FREDLE by CYNTHIA VOIGT is a fun summer read not to be missed.

For grades 4th and up.

JACK AND THE PUNK PRINCESS

Jack, being the son of Jack of the Beanstalk, is trying to figure out something great to do when a girl falls out of the sky and lands on top of him. Her shirt says that she is a "Punk Princess" but she claims to be no such thing. All she wants is to find her grandmother who just suddenly disappeared. As Jack and May search the magical land for her kidnapped grandmother they realize that May might be a descendant of frfairy tale royalty.

Half Upon a Time by James Riley is for fantasy adventure lovers from 6th-8th grade.

A BOY + A DOG = ADVENTURE

Mystery, adventure, betrayal and riches are all here in one action-packed book. At the death of his uncle, Homer inherits his dog. He seems like any other ordinary dog except that he holds the clue to this madcap adventure.

Smells Like Dog by Suzanne Selfors is a over the top goofy adventure for readers in 6th- 8th.