Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Lou loves her house - the oldest one in town. It has all sorts of hiding places, history and the library is right across the street. She and her friends have created all sorts of memories in that house. But now, hiding in her favorite spot, she overhears her parents talking. The town council has... Continue Reading →
Rick Riordan’s latest foray into the world of mythology encompasses the Norse gods. In fact, The Sword of Summer is similar to his Percy Jackson series in that Magnus Chase is a demigod - the son of a Norse god and a human. The difference is that Magnus is homeless. He’s living on the streets... Continue Reading →
Overnight, Gerta finds her family divided. One night, her father and next older brother went to West Berlin to find supplies for her family. The next morning, she finds East German soldiers building a massive concrete wall, sealing her, her oldest brother and their mother inside East Berlin. Gerta tries to live her life, but... Continue Reading →
Dash Gibson is one of the first people to live on the moon. Cool, right? Dash would be the first to tell you that living on the moon is not the luxurious vacation it's advertised to be. In fact, Dash finds it rather boring. So much so that school is an event to look forward... Continue Reading →
Life at an English boarding school can be so boring. Hazel Wong has discovered that. She's actually rather OK with boring, but her friend Daisy Wells is not. Daisy has been in trouble for reading mystery novels, but that doesn't stop her. Daisy convinces Hazel to start a secret detective agency at school. But they... Continue Reading →
If you love games and strategy, you’ll love Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein. The famous game inventor Mr. Lemoncello has built a brand new library in his home town in Ohio. To celebrate the grand opening, he’s invited twelve 12-year-olds for an all-night lock-in in the library. Kyle Keeley is determined to... Continue Reading →
I know I’m late to the party when it comes to Holes by Louis Sachar. When I pulled the audiobook out of the library stacks, my girls both said, “Oh, that’s a great movie!” I asked if they had read the book, but they hadn’t. I haven’t seen the movie, so I can’t compare the... Continue Reading →
Carley Connors has learned to be tough. But now she’s in a situation she never thought she’d be in. After a painful betrayal by her fun-loving mother, Carley finds herself entering a strange house to live with a strange family. She’s in foster care. One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is a thoughtful,... Continue Reading →
Tabitha feels unloved. In fact, she is unloved. Her parents don’t love her, in spite of her efforts to earn their love. Her best friend in the world is a mouse. One day her world changes because of an envelope. In the envelope is an invitation to visit the country estate of the reclusive Countess... Continue Reading →
Esther is determined to join her father in Cuba and work to get the rest of her family out of Poland. She is the oldest child, after all, even if she is a girl. Papa agrees, and Esther travels alone across Europe and the Atlantic to join him in Cuba. Her new home enchants Esther,... Continue Reading →
