Dinosaurs Before Dark Graphic Novel

 

Jenny Laird has adapted Mary Pope Osborne's early chapter books to a graphic novel format.  These should be exterememly popular with the younger students who may not be able to read the originals.  These have a few words on each page yet tell the same story.  (GN LAI)

Willodeen

In this new novel by Katherine Applegate (The One and Only Ivan, Crenshaw), Willodeen is a lonely girl who lives with two older women after her family is killed in a fire.  She remembers her father's love and guidance in navigating the natural world and its wonders.  She especially loves the creatures that the townspeople are trying to eliminate, a stinky loud warthog-like animal called a screecher.  When a touch of magic sends her her own screecher, it leads to a discovery that will save the town's future, but only if the town is willing to let nature take care of itself.  It is a story of courage and conservation.  (FIC APP)

Gymnastics Jitters

The Jake Maddox series of sports books for early readers had eluded me until now.  This is one of many early readers, each concentrating on a different sport.  In this story, a team of four friends must compete against the top team in a final meet.  They are nervous, but how far will they go to win?  (BC MAD)

Sweeping Up The Heart

This Kevin Henkes novel left me wanting more.  It was a story of a twelve-year old girl named Amelia who has a strained relationship with her dad, the only parent she knows.  She meets a boy in the pottery studio she frequents whose parents are getting a divorce.  Somehow, he gets her to start believing that a woman on the street is her long-deceased mother for whom she has never really grieved.  The story takes too long to kick in for me, and I was disappointed with the character development of the father in particular.  Its credibility was questionable for me as well in that the author attributed thoughts that would be way beyond most normal twelve-year-olds.  (FIC HEN)

The Strangers (Greystone Secrets #1)

 

I love Margaret Petersen Haddix, author of the Shadow Children series and the Missing series.  This latest series is full of action and suspense and codes and students will LOVE it.  Chess, Emma and Finn hear about a kidnapping of three OTHER children across the country who share their names and birthdays.  That seems odd and interesting, until their mother starts acting very odd upon hearing that news and leaves them with an acquaintance.  When they discover that her plan is to not return to keep them safe, they know she is in trouble and vow to find her.  She leaves them clues to a secret room in the house that leads to another dimension.  Can they get their mom back and save the other children at the same time? (FIC HAD)

Out Of My Heart

Sharon Draper has written this sequel to Out of My Mind, her moving book about Melody, a girl with Cerebral Palsy,  Readers will enjoy reacquainting themselves with Melody, the summer after the events of the first book.  That book was beautiful and tragic whereas this one is more positive and happy.  Melody has found a camp for kids like her and spends a week there, making true friends and testing her strength and courage.  (FIC DRA)