HISTORY THAT PACKS A PUNCH

The phrase "Remember the Alamo!" is about the extent of what many people remember about the Alamo. But what else are we supposed to remember? There's so much more to the historical incident, packed full of exciting, treacherous, and gory details, all laid out to uproarious effect in Alamo All-Stars, the most recent entry in the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales graphic novel series from author-illustrator Nathan Hale. 

Like the other books in the series, this historical tale is told through the perspective of the spy (not the author!) Nathan Hale delaying his impending execution in 1776 by telling thrilling stories from American history to his eager hangmen. In this installment, they are joined by Hale's Mexican counterpoint, Vincente Guerrero, and his firing squad, and together they explore the events surrounding and key players involved in this piece of American and Mexican History: the state of Texas's fight for independence from the Mexican government. How did the small, ragtag bunch of frontiersmen end up blocked in a fort and fighting against a whole army? Why did Mexico mess with Texas? How exactly did Texas become a part of the United States? And what did Davy Crockett have to do with it? These answers and much, much more are found in this latest installment of the highly entertaining and informative graphic series that shows how it all went down. And don't skip the endpapers, title page, and other backmatter: every page is chock full of fascinating--and hilarious--information.

Other recent illuminating entries in the series include The Underground Abductor and Donner Dinner Party. Perfect for graphic novel fans, history buffs, and anyone else in grades 4 and up.  

A KOALA KIDNAPPING MYSTERY

Poached by Stuart Gibbs, author of Belly Up, Spy School, and Spy Camp is back with another hilarious and action packed adventure/mystery set once again in FunJungle.  

This time, he's starting at  a new school and the school bully decides it would be fun to drop a fake arm in the shark tank and watch the mayhem. Teddy winds up taking the fall for the shark incident because of his past history playing pranks and Marge, now head of security.  The fake arm is one thing but when the new loan, Kazu the Koala, from Australia comes to FunJungle goes missing, Marge suspects only one person, Teddy. He has to prove his innocence and get Kazu back before he's arrested  and sent to juvie.  

For readers in 6th grade and up. 

WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE IS NOT WHO YOU ARE

That's what Laura Ebony found out during a two week forced stay with her grandmother.  Although she wants to be a fashion model and popular, she's more of an outsider, called Larda by her classmates and the popular girls.  She thought all that would changed this year until she finds out that her class will be going on a field trip to her family's "slave shack". A shack to Laura's mind that has nothing but bad memories and now the whole class will know about her family's horrible past.  

The Laura Line by Crystal Allen turns in another engaging coming of age story weaving in history, genealogy, self esteem and even baseball.  For readers in grades 5th -8th. 

FRANKIE JOE IS NOT A FREAK, JUST LONELY.

Frankie Joe is a total misfit within his new family.  His mom will be in jail for awhile. He's being sent to live with a dad he barely knows all the way in Illinois, far far away from his trailer park home on the border of the Chihuahua Desert in Laredo, Texas.  His half-brothers are not very welcoming, especially the oldest, who is now bumped to the second place and boy does he hate that.  There's nothing more important to Matt than being number one.  Come the first day of school and Frankie Joe finds out he hasn't been going to school enough to put him in the sixth-grade, so he's going to be demoted and be in the same class as Matt!  Arrrghhh!  The injustice and loneliness sets him on a path to scheme and plot his way back to Laredo.  

Frankie Joe is trapped in a small town with all kinds of rules not suited to a young free spirit like himself.  All he wants is to be reunited with his mom and go back to the trailer park and hang out with his retired friends just like before.  Life just threw him a curve ball and all he can do is be Freaky Fast Frankie Joe and make a new start for himself.  

An endearing coming of age story by Lutricia Clifton for readers in grades 6-8th.  

A DEAD HIPPO MYSTERY

The meanest and most hated hippo is floating feet up in his habitat. Shocked by Henry the Hippo's death, Teddy is determined to find out how this could have happened in the best animal research facility in the country. When he discovers that the hippo might have been murdered, the only person willing to help find the hippo killer is Summer, the owner's daughter. Something stinks at Fun Jungle, and it isn't just the dead hippo.

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs is a fast pace mystery set in a Texas where the kids seem to know more than the adults. For readers in 6th - 8th grade.