FICTION
CHALICE OF THE GODS by Rick Riordan. Percy Jackson is back! Now a senior in high school, applying for college and needing letters of recommendation. As usual, the gods use him as a pawn in their own game, requiring him to get back a chalice, among other quests, in exchange for the letters. For all Lightning Thief fans, past and present.
WRECKER by Carl Hiaasen. The author of Hoot and other eco based Florida adventures returns with an exciting, snappy story about smuggling, historical racism and the impact of tourism on Florida’s Keys. Great choice for boys who want exciting outdoor adventure stories. Gr 6-9.
THE DARK LORD’S DAUGHTER by Patricia Wrede. Kayla’s day at the state fair is interrupted by the news that she's the daughter of a “Dark Lord”. She and her family are quickly whisked to another world—one that's chock-full of magic but lacking in technology! Clever concept (Kayla’s tablet turns into a familiar, etc) combined with a fast-paced story. Gr 4-7.
SECRET SISTERS by Avi. Sequel to The Secret School, with Ida Benson going to the “big city” of Steamboat Springs, CO, to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Set in the Roaring Twenties and reminiscent of the later Betsy & Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. Gr 4-7.
A HORSE NAMED SKY by Rosanne Parry. Exiled from his band, a young, wild horse must find his way across treacherous terrain to reunite with his family after being captured for the Pony Express. Told from the horse’s point of view; illustrated throughout. Gr 2-5.
TESSA MIYATA IS NO HERO by Julie Abe. Although Tessa is initially excited to travel from California to Japan to stay with her grandparents, she is bummed out when she is still treated like a little kid with no freedom or independence. Then things get interesting! Accidentally breaking an ancient heirloom, she releases a malevolent spirit that she, her reluctant friend, Jin, and a fox familiar must try to recapture. Gr 3-6.
REWIND by Lisa Graf. Party like it’s 1999 (or ‘93) in this fun time travel story. Gr 3-7.
THE SECRET OF THE DRAGON GEMS by Rajani LaRocca. Two campers start a correspondence over their mutual love of Dragon Gems books that turns into a trusting friendship. Told entirely through letters, emails, video chats, etc. Heartwarming and engaging. Gr 3-7.
THE SPIRIT GLASS by Roshani Chokshi. Corazon yearns to finally start training as a mystical healer and spirit guide under her powerful guardian, Aunt Tina. As soon as her magic awakens, Corazon plans to bring her parents back from the dead and no longer have to rely on a soul key to allow visits with their ghosts for only a few hours every Saturday night. Gr 4-7.
DUST by Dusti Bowling. After Avalyn nearly died from an asthma attack, her parents moved to the clear, dry air of Clear Canyon City, Arizona, which seemed to help... until now. A new student with whom she feels an especially strong empathy also seems to be connected to an increase in major dust storms. Bowling sprinkles in a bit of magical realism to create a compelling narrative. Gr 4-7.
THE LOST LIBRARY by Rebecca Stead/Wendy Mass. When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, 11-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change. Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. Gr 4-7.
THE HURRICANE GIRLS by Kimberly Willis Holt. A coming-of-age novel about three best friends born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina who must confront storms of their own 12 years later as they compete as a triathlon team. Gr 4-7.
THE GHOST JOB by Greg Van Eekhout. Zenith and her friends may be dead, but even getting ghosted wasn’t enough to tear them apart. The four of them were thick as thieves long before an unfortunate lab accident sent them careening into the afterlife. So when they hear about a machine that could return them to the land of the living, they are determined to steal it. Light-hearted heist caper. Gr 3-7.
ABENI’S SONG by P. Djèlí Clark. An epic West African and African Diaspora-inspired fantasy adventure about a reluctant apprentice to magic and the stolen villagers she sets out to save. Gr 4-8.
GRAVE MISTAKES by Kitty Curran. Molly feels like she is part of the Addams Family. Her mom is a ghost, her brother a poltergeist and her little sister a zombie. How’s a girl supposed to ace an important violin audition with those pesky paranormals? Gr 4-7.
TOTALLY PSYCHIC by Brigid Martin. Cuban-American tween medium Paloma navigates friends, family and ghosts. Gr 4-6.
SOMETHING LIKE HOME by Andrea Arango. A moving novel in verse in which a lost dog helps a lonely girl find a way home to her family . . . a family she must learn to trust and love. Gr 5-8
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GRAPHIC NOVELS
CAT ON THE RUN by Aaron Blabey. From the creator of The Bad Guys, another foray into chaos as a feline social media star, Princess Beautiful, runs afoul of the law during her outrageous antics. Not so much a story as episodic mayhem. Gr 2-5.
SCHNOZZER & TATERTOES: TAKE A HIKE! by Rick Stromoski. The laughs start with the names and don’t let up. Clueless Tatertoes and long-suffering friend, Schnozzer, encounter many mishaps (a wasp’s nest they think is a piñata, cattails they think are corn dogs), as they journey to visit Tatertoes’ mother. Gr 3-5.
BILLIE BLASTER AND THE ROBOT ARMY FROM OUTER SPACE by Laini Taylor/Jim Di Bartolo. The genius child of two famous scientists, Billie is an inventor extraordinaire in this futuristic space romp with a few life lessons slipped in. She must save Earth, fight her nemesis and put up with a smart aleck goat sidekick. A step up for readers of Hilo, the Boy Who Crashed to Earth and the Bright Family books. Gr 3-6.