Circle of Secrets

by Kimberley Griffiths Little

When her father has to leave the country for his job, eleven-year-old Shelby Jayne is forced to go stay with a mother that walked out on her family a year ago. Her mamma's house is deep in the heart of the Louisiana bayou, and her mamma is a "traiteur" (healer), but some people just call her "swamp witch." Shelby is relieved to meet a new friend named Gwen, but wonders if Gwen is who might be leaving puzzling messages hidden in the blue bottle tree.
Smell the swamp -- and enjoy the ghost story.
J LIT

An Elephant in the Garden

by Michael Morpurgo

It’s 1944. Elizabeth's father is fighting with the German army on the eastern front. Her mother works at Dresden zoo, where her favourite animal is a young elephant named Marlene. When the zoo director tells her the dangerous animals must be shot to prevent them running amok if the town is bombed, Elizabeth's mother moves Marlene into the back garden to save her… and then the bombs start to fall.
Their home destroyed, Elizabeth and her family must flee the bombed-out city and through the wintery landscape, all the while avoiding the Russian troops who are drawing ever closer. It would be hard enough, without an elephant in tow…

J MOR

The Hijab Boutique

by Michelle Khan

Farah has a hard time fitting in to the exclusive private girls' school she attends. When she is asked to bring something representing her mother to a talk about "International Women's Day" she has no idea what she could possibly share with her classmates. But Farah ends up bringing her mother's hijab (headscarf) and discovers her mother has plans for making a new start in life by opening up a hijab boutique.

J PB KHA

The Mighty Miss Malone

by Christopher Paul Curtis

(author of Bud, Not Buddy and the Watson's Go To Birmingham--1963)

This book is set in Gary, Indiana and Flint, Michigan, and is about an African-American family that is struggiling greatly during the Depression. Deza Malone's father leaves the family trying to find work, and Deza's mother soon packs up her family to catch up with him. The Malone family motto is "We are a family on a journey to a place called Wonderful."
Deza Malone is a strong character that will make you laugh and cry at the same time.
J CUR

Ivy + Bean: No News is Good News

by Annie Barrows
When Ivy + Bean need money they can't find any chores that seem appealing. Then they hit upon the idea of writing their own newspaper -- and start to snoop around the neighborhood to get some gossip.
J BAR

Check out activities on the author's web page at http://www.anniebarrows.com/ivyandbean/

Darwen Arkwright and the Peregine Pact

by A.J. Hartley

Darwen Arkwright has been forced to move from England to Atlanta, Georgia to live with his aunt. When Darwen is killing time at a mall, he spies a strange creature flying through the air. When he finally chases the creature down he ends up at a mysterious shop called "Mr. Octavius Peregrine's Reflectory Emporium: Mirrors Priceless and Perilous." The owner of the shop gives Darwen a tarnished old mirror, and Darwen soon discovers that he can escape completely into a fantasy world just by going through the mirror.

J HAR

The Flint Heart

by Katherine Paterson & John Paterson

There is a magic charm that can give the bearer great powers, but steals away the wearer's own tenderness and compassion. When a kindly farmer discovers the charm, he turns into a cruel brute. His son is determined to get his father back, so he sets off into an enchanted world where animals talk and fairies hold elaborate banquets.
J PAT

The Apothecary

by Maile Meloy

It’s 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. There, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and becomes fascinated by his son, Benjamin Burrows—a boy who isn’t afraid to stand up to authority and who dreams of becoming a spy. When Benjamin’s father disappears, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary’s ancient book, the Pharmacopoeia, in order to find him, all while keeping those secrets out of the hands of Russian spies. Discovering transformative elixirs they never believed could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous race to save the apothecary and prevent impending nuclear disaster.

J MEL

Clementine and the Family Meeting

by Sara Pennypacker
When the Family Meeting sign goes up on the frig at Clementine's house, she just knows she must be in trouble for something! But her parents just want to talk about what is going to be different from now on in their family -- and clementine is not convinced that this change is for the good.
J PEN NEW

The Friendship Doll

by Kirby Larson
This book is written through the words of Miss Kanagawa, one of fifty-seven doll sisters sent to the United States from Japan as Ambassadors of Friendship. You will follow her journey as she becomes a part of four different girls' lives, each girl with a different story to tell.

When you are done, look into the true histories of the doll-sisters. They were sent in 1927. It is interesting that there were originally fifty-seven, but only forty-five have been found -- leaving a mystery to be solved.

Show Time

An Animal Rescue Team Book

by Sue Stauffacher

Squirrels gone wild! The squirrels at Mt. Mercy College are making everyone jumpy and super messy. It's time to call the Animal Rescue Team. In the meantime, Keisha is trying to get over her own nerves about the jump rope competition -- maybe Sergeant Pinkham can help with both problems!

J STA

Bongo Fishing

by Thacher Hurd Jason had a normal life until he met a short blue alien named Sam. Sam takes him bongo fishing in space and everything is cool until Jason's cat catches the blue measles and things start to get a bit weird. J HUR

Hothead

by Cal Ripkin, Jr.

Conor is one of the team's best players, but lately he has not been very good natured. No one knows if he has problems at home or is just too tired, but his anger is so out of control that even his best friend starts to avoid him. Will Conor be able to get his act together in time to help the team win the championship? This book has a lot of action!

J RIP

Drizzle

by Kathleen Van Cleve Eleven year-old Polly lives on a magical rhubarb farm where all the vegetables taste like chocolate. Will she be able to use her own strange powers to save the magic? J PB VAN

The Silver Guitar

An American Girl Story/ A Julie Mystery

by Kathryn Reiss

Julie is involved in a charity auction to raise money for the cleanup of an oil spill in the San Francisco Bay. A valuable silver guitar that belonged to a rock star is donated towards the auction -- a guitar that holds many secrets and could put Julie and some of her friends in jeopardy.

J REI

Tall Story

by Candy Gourlay

Andi's half brother has grown a bit since she last saw him -- when he stepped off the plane he was 8 feet tall! Bernardo is waiting fir te necessary papers to join his mother and sister -- and in the meantime is working miracles and being a hero!
J REI

Good Job, Kanani

An American Girl Story

by Lisa Yee

Kanani was busy raising money to protect the Hawaiian monk seal by selling shaved ice at the beach, but now she is lonely when her best friend Celina finds a surfing buddy that's not afraid to have adventures.

J YEE

Bink & Gollie

by Kate DiCamillo and Allison McGhee
Bink and Gollie are two marvelous companions who agree they like to have fun, but disagree on most everything else.
A great beginning chapter book with three short stories in it --and hysterical illustrations.
J DIC

The Tilting House

by Tom Llewellyn



TALKING RATS
GROWTH POTIONS
BURIED TREASURE

Josh and Aaron are about to discover that their new hose with the tilting floors hides many msteries. When the boys discover the hidden diary of the brilliant but derange inventor that built the house, they learn a dark secret that may mean disaster for the family. Can they solve the riddls of the tilting house before time runs out?

J LLE

Elvis & Olive: Super Detectives

by Stephanie Watson



Natalie and her best friend Annie decide to open up a detective agency to solve mysteries that seem to be happening in their neighborhood. But when Natalie starts running for Student Council Secretary, and Annie is on a quest to find her Mom, they encounter quite a few mysteries of their own.

J WAT