Recent Posts

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  The Thirteenth Princess, by Diane Zahler
  For years, a certain king hoped for a son to inherit his crown.  As each successive daughter is born, the king became angrier with his wife for her failure to produce an heir.  The queen dies when Zita, the thirteenth daughter, is born.  Unable to bear the child’s presence, the…
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  The Traitor’s Gate, by Avi
  The Huffman family lives a respectable life in 1849 London.  The father, Wesley John Louis Huffman, works for the Naval Ordinance department as a clerk and earns 100 pounds a year.  Mr. Huffman thinks of himself as an actor on the world’s stage.  One day, fourteen-year-old John Huffman’s entire world…
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  Cam Jansen series, by David Adler
  Fifth-grader Cam Jansen’s photographic memory helps her solve mysteries.  When she wants to remember something, she focuses on the object or scene, closes her eyes, and says “click.”  This is how Jennifer Jansen got the nickname, Cam, which is short for camera. Cam works with her best friend and detective…
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  The Devil’s Arithmetic, by Jane Yolen
  It is Passover, and Hannah dreads attending the first night’s Seder at Grandpa Will, Grandma Belle, and Aunt Eva’s house.  Her grandfather’s strange outbursts about the Holocaust embarrass and frighten her.  Following ancient tradition, Hannah opens the door for the prophet Elijah, but instead of seeing a hallway filled with…
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  Fuzzy, by Tom Angleberger
  Maxine Zelaster (aka Max) attends seventh grade at Vanguard One Middle School.  Students at Vanguard must pass weekly tests in each subject as a mandate of the Federal School Board’s Constant UpGrade program.  They must also follow a very strict conduct code or incur discipline tags (dtags) and citizenship infractions…
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  Beauty, by Robin McKinley
  When disasters at sea and other economic setbacks ruin Mr. Huston’s business and destroy his fortune, the family sells everything at auction.  He and his three daughters, Grace, Hope and Beauty, must rely on the kindness of Gervain, Hope’s suitor.  Gervain moves them all to his hometown of Blue Hill…
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  Don’t Talk to me About the War, by David Adler
  The year is 1940.  Growing up in the Bronx, thirteen-year-old Tommy Duncan divides his time between school, friends, and family.  He listens to Brooklyn Dodgers games on the radio, plays stickball after school, and worries about his mother’s declining health.  He doesn’t share his friend Beth’s fascination about the war…
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  Mo Jackson Sports series, by David Adler
  To say that Mo Jackson loves sports is an understatement!  Unfortunately, Mo isn’t the best player on his football, baseball, basketball, or soccer team.  He’s not the strongest swimmer or runner. His lack of stature and skills keep him on the bench, but one thing Mo doesn’t lack is enthusiasm. …
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  The Danger Guys series, by Tony Abbott
  Noodle really likes waffles, but he likes his best friend, Zeek, more than he likes waffles.  And, Noodle and Zeek absolutely love danger.  Which is good, because they always seem to find it…danger that is.  They make a great team.  Noodle has all the ideas, and Zeek provides the muscle….
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  The BFG, by Roald Dahl
  One night, orphan Sophie is awake during the “witching hour” and sees a giant from her dormitory window.  Curiously, she watches as the giant blows something into a nearby window.  When the giant sees Sophie, he snatches her up and carries her off to prevent her from telling anyone about…
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  The Great Jeff, by Tony Abbott
  Stand-Alone Companion to Firegirl When Jeff Hick’s father stopped paying the tuition for St. Catherine’s, Jeff was forced to attend public school for eighth grade.  He hates it, but he soon learns that this is the least of his problems.   When his mom loses her job, any hope of…
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  Firegirl, by Tony Abbott
  Tom Bender and his seventh-grade classmates at St. Catherine’s watch with anticipation as the school janitor puts another desk at the back of the classroom.  What will the new student be like?  Then, Mrs. Tracy tells them about Jessica Feeney and her burn injuries.  Nothing can prepare them for Jessica’s…
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  How to Avoid Extinction, by Paul Acampora
  Since Leo’s grandfather died, his grandmother has spent a lot of her time wandering around the park, walking by the river, eating free grocery store samples, reading at the library, or sitting at a table at Good Eats, the 24-hour donut shop.  Missing her husband is Gram’s full-time job.  Leo’s…
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  Sing Down the Moon, by Scott O’Dell
  When spring waters flow into the river, and everything in Canyon de Chelly comes alive, Bright Morning wants to shout for joy.  She restrains herself because such joyous emotions anger the gods.  Her brother was killed by lightning because of his pride over killing a six-point buck.  With the return…
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  After the Dancing Days, by Margaret Rostkowski
  Dr. Metcalf served as a doctor in the field hospitals during World War 1.  After the war, he returns to Kansas and goes to work at St. John’s Hospital where he continues to treat wounded soldiers.  Mrs. Metcalf, haunted by her brother’s death in the trenches of France, wants to…