Quintessence by Jess Redman Happy Book Birthday to Jess Redman’s Quintessence, a beautiful tale of hope that is equal parts fairy tale and STEM science. Alma suffers from panic attacks. Things have gotten so bad for her she feels like the spark that makes her herself is fading. Moving to the town of Four Points has only made things worse. She struggles to fit in. But then she meets [...]
Monsterstreet #4: Camp of No Return by J.H. Reynolds Welcome to the fourth installment of the series R.L. Stine calls “Fast, Funny and Frightening.” It’s the week after the Fourth of July but it feels more like Halloween. Harper is thrilled to be going to the prestigious Camp Moon Lake where she can leave her parents’ looming divorce behind. With its outdoor movie theater, water park and chocolate buffet [...]
The Stitchers (Fright Watch #1) by Lorien Lawrence Congratulations to Lorien Lawrence on her debut middle grade novel, The Stitchers (Fright Watch #1) (August 18, 2020 from Abrams Kids/Amulet Books.) Puts the thrill back into chill. Why don’t Quinn and Mike’s neighbors ever age? Have they discovered a fountain of youth or is there something much more sinister going on? Creepy neighbors, funeral homes and a dangerous secret spell [...]
Alan L. Hart (1890-1962) was a leader in the field of medicine. He pioneered the use of the new x-ray technology to diagnose tuberculosis which was the number cause of death at the beginning of the 20th century. His innovative test meant tuberculosis could be diagnosed early enough to save patients’ lives. The death rate dropped dramatically after his method became standard. Alan was also the first person in the United States to have gender [...]
Twelve-year-old Malcolm Greeley is never lonely when he’s alone. He has a cast of characters sharing space in his brain. Creative, imaginative, smart, and painfully shy, Malcolm’s interior life is where he feels safe, unlike his attempts at sports. After three years of trying to play baseball, it’s apparent that Malcolm did NOT inherit his father’s athletic ability. He knows that his father is disappointed in him and wonders if that is one reason his [...]
There are two types of kids, ones who have a dog and ones who ask for a dog sometime in their life. This is the reason dog books are a popular category in children's literature. What makes books stand out from the rest in this category is the author's ability to tell a story that connects with the reader on a truly emotional level. Jennifer Li Shotz, author of Max and Scout, delivers once again in her [...]
Close A completely original page-turner that will have you wishing for more. When Grandpa Zach dies, Stuey feels like he has lost his best-friend until he meets Elly, a girl who shares his birthday, his love for the woods and a secret. Decades earlier Stuey’s and Elly’s great-grandfathers mysteriously disappeared. Grandpa Zach claimed he saw their ghosts. When Elly disappears into thin air right before Stuey’s eyes, he must solve the mystery of what [...]
Aven was born without arms, but that hasn’t slowed her down at all. She can do almost everything with her feet that other people do with their hands, including going to the bathroom by herself. (Don’t ask). She’s a real trooper about trying new things, but when her parents accept a job to manage a western theme park in Arizona, Aven is not happy. Leaving her friends behind in Kansas is the last thing she [...]
Baughman’s debut is a powerful story about family, friendship and the different ways to process grief. When Addie’s twin brother drowns in Maple Lake, her parents withdraw choosing to deal with their grief alone away from the lake. Addie does the opposite. Determined to prove her brother’s theory that a mysterious creature lives in the lake, she joins a scientific team doing work there. She soon discovers there may be a connection between what Amos [...]
Hot off the press is a fun middle grade novel about a seventh-grade girl who finds her voice working as a cub reporter. A quasi-memoir by New York Times bestselling author, Cynthia L. Copeland, CUB is about her own experience in middle school navigating muddy social waters, friendships and pursuing her goal of becoming a real reporter. Although set in the 1970s, the content is very relavent to today's young girls and educates them about [...]
