GOSSAMER SUMMER by H.M. Bouwman. Four sisters make a friend, find a grubby fairy, and defend the neighborhood against evil birds in this book about grief, magic, and the power of stories. (Alert – the evil birds may be frightening to younger, sensitive readers.) Gr 2-5.
THE ISLANDS OF ELSEWHERE by Heather Fawcett. Staying at their Granddaddy's seaside property for the summer, which includes the mysterious Fairy Islands, the Snolly sisters hunt for a long-buried treasure on these magical 'in-between' places. Old-fashioned fun, sweet as the cookies Granddaddy makes. Gr 3-7.
THE MCNIFFICENTS by Amy McKechnie. The sweet and rambunctious McNifficent brood are watched over by a special nanny – Lord Tennyson, Tenny for short, their miniature schnauzer. However, there are rumblings about getting a “real” (aka human) nanny. Tenny is determined this shall not happen and uses all his doggie skills to prove his worth. Humorous and heartwarming. Gr 3-7.
GINNNY OFF THE MAP by Caroline Hickey. What was going to be a fun summer despite yet another move for Ginny suddenly goes south when she learns her Army doctor dad is actually being deployed overseas and her camp is canceled. How is she going to navigate this change? Ginny’s love of geography carries her through. Fun read for geography trivia lovers. Gr –3-7.
WHEN GIANTS BURN by Beth Vrabel. Set against a raging wildfire, a drama of 2 anti-social kids who decide to flee, using the plane they built. Strong themes of children whose lives are shaped by misdirected parents and learn to survive. Gr 3-7.
STARBOARD by Nicola Skinner. Reality TV child star Kirsten is just starting to live a “normal” life when she visits an old Steamship on a class trip, that turns out to be a ghost ship and starts on a voyage with Kirsten aboard. Paranormal fun. Gr 3-7.
HALF MOON SUMMER by Elaine Vickers. Drew and Mia take up training to win a half-marathon for different reasons. We read their stories - prose for Drew, poetry for Mia. Gr 5-8.
CONTROL FREAKS by J.E. Thomas. A major STEAMS competition at Benjamin Banneker College Prep brings out the best and worst in Frederick Douglass Zezzmer, who would rather invent than play football like his ex-Bronco dad. Similar to some of Gordon Korman’s books (Schooled, Ungifted, Supergifted), full of humor and attitude. Gr 4-7.
THE RUBY CODE by Jessica Khoury. A high-action sci-fi adventure about a video game AI come to life. Set in a near future NYC at its worst, for middle graders and teens who are fans of Ready Player One and Free Guy. Gr 5+
GRAPHIC NOVELS
SQUIRE & KNIGHT by Scott Chantler. A brawny knight and a brainy squire come upon a village besieged by a dragon and set out on intersecting quests. Easy to get through; fast-paced with strongly delineated illustrations and not too much text. Gr 3-7.
The Do-Over by Rodrigo Vargas/Coni Yovaniniz. Newly transplanted middle grader Mariana Gutierriz is finding it hard to fit into Columbus, Ohio after the colorful life of LA until she meets some fellow hairstyling enthusiasts. They start their own business, with predictable hil- hair-ious results. Should appeal to fans of The Baby-sitters Club. Gr 4-8.
SHAKTI by SJ Sindu/Nabi H. Ali. Fierce, feminist, and fun middle-grade fantasy graphic novel about a twelve-year-old Indian American girl named Shakti who must learn the power of her ancestral magic if she wants to save her family and town from a dangerous curse. Beautifully colored, often full-page panels transport the reader back and forth between the realms of reality and folklore. Gr 5-8.
GARVEY’S CHOICE by Nikki Grimes/Theodore Taylor III. Young Garvey is not the son his father wants, being interested in anything other than sports. He struggles to validate his choices, stand up for himself and win his father’s acceptance. This novel in verse is now re-imagined as a graphic novel, each poem a separate illustrated episode. Gr 4-7.