MEET THE PAIN:My sister's name is Abigail. I call her The Great One because she thinks she's so great. Who cares if she's in third grade and I'm just in first?MEET THE GREAT ONE:My brother's name is Jacob Edward, but everyone calls him Jake. Everyone but me. I call him The Pain because that's what he is. He's a first-grade pain. I'll always know exactly what he's thinking. That's just the way it is.These seven warm-hearted stories will give readers a peek at how a brother and sister relate to each other.From the Hardcover edition. Views: 43
From Publishers WeeklyStarred Review. In his first novel for kids, bestselling author Abrahams unspools a tale that fittingly gets curiouser and curiouser. The story shines on audio via a fine performance by Siegfried. As 13-year-old Ingrid Levin-Hill, Siegfried uses a youthful voice to convey the protagonist's age-appropriate blend of smarts, awkwardness and stubborn streak. Budding thespian and sudden amateur sleuth (who idolizes Sherlock Holmes) Ingrid finds herself in the middle of both the community theater production of Alice in Wonderland and a local murder mystery. Will her connection to the deceased be discovered? Does the creepy new actor-director in town have something to do with it all? Listeners will stick with Ingrid to find out—and may well gather some of their own theories—in this satisfyingly suspenseful outing. The fresh dialogue and believable small-town setting will tempt fans to visit Echo Falls again for any sequels. Ages 10-up._ (Apr.)_ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From School Library JournalGrade 6-9–An avid reader of Sherlock Holmes, Ingrid Levin-Hill, 13, is also a fleet-footed soccer player with a knack for stage acting–skills that come in handy when she finds herself caught in a police investigation following the murder of an eccentric woman. The deceased was associated with the Prescott Players, a local theater troupe in which Ingrid lands the title role in a production of Alice in Wonderland. Plot scenes incorporate play rehearsals, family life, middle school, and soccer games along with plenty of intriguing twists and mounting tension. Taking courage from her crusty grandfather, who refuses to sell his farm to an affluent developer, Ingrid acts with aplomb as she secretly undertakes a series of suspenseful adventures to track down the killer. She also maintains the cool-headedness to enjoy the friendship of the police chief's son, Joey Strade, while keeping the officers who'd like to question her at bay. Ingrid's poise, however, is tempered by her self-doubt and troubled dreams, making her a believable human. She and the other main characters are all solidly drawn, including the newest member of her family, a droopy-eyed dog named Nigel. Deft use of literary allusions and ironic humor add further touches of class to a topnotch mystery._–Susan W. Hunter, Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VT_ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Views: 43
Alexander McCall Smith's wildly popular 44 Scotland Street series chronicles life in a corner of Edinburgh brimming with wit and humor.Newlywed painter and sometime somnambulist Angus Lordie might be sleepwalking his way into trouble with Animal Welfare when he lets his dog Cyril drink a bit too much lager at the local bar. The longsuffering Bertie, on the cusp of his seventh birthday party, has taken to dreaming about his eighteenth, a time when he will be able to avoid the indignity of unwanted girl attendees and the looming threat of a gender-neutral doll from his domineering mother Irene. Matthew and Elspeth struggle to care for their triplets, contending with Danish au pairs and dubious dukes to boot, while the narcissistic Bruce faces his greatest challenge yet in the form of an over-eager waxologist. As ever, when Alexander McCall Smith visits 44 Scotland Street, fun is sure to follow. Views: 43
Set at an experimental community on Mars in the year 2039-2040, Robot Wars features 14-year-old virtual reality specialist Tyce Sanders. Life on the Red Planet is not always easy, but it is definitely exciting. As Tyce explores his strange surroundings, he finds that the mysteries of the planet point to his greatest discovery—a new relationship with God. He talks about his growing faith and curiosity in a manner that kids can relate to as they are probably wondering some of the same things. Book four, Counterattack, opens with Tyce and some of the Mars Project’s staff captured in a prison; they end up in prison while carrying out a special mission on Earth. Tyce has to figure out a way to fulfill their mission and rescue kids—all before a world war breaks out. Views: 43
The children go to stay with their Aunt Jane's friend, Kay, who owns an old motel in Florida. They find that someone is trying to keep it out of business when they decide to help restore it. Views: 43
The German planes patrolled in hunting squads. They flew fast fighting craft, streaking across the sky in tight formation. The greatest of them was the Red Baron, the deadliest ace on the Front. He'd shot down twenty-one of our planes in a single month. And now we were in his firing line... The war in France rages in the skies, and support for the war in Australia turns cold. Alex flies high above the trenches of the Western Front, while a world away his sister Maggie finds herself in the midst of political upheaval. Somehow, both must find the courage to fight on. Views: 43
Knock, knock. Who's there? Jake. Jake who? Jake Drake, Class Clown.Miss Bruce is the new student teacher in second grade, and she never smiles. Never. But when Jake cracks up the class during a spelling bee, he sees the tiniest hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. Suddenly, Jake has a new mission in life: to be so funny that even Miss Bruce will laugh! But then things get out of hand, and Jake finds himself in big trouble. Has Jake discovered -- too late -- that not everybody loves a clown? Views: 43
Perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Seven Wonders series, Island of the Sun is the second book in an epic, fast-paced middle grade adventure trilogy by acclaimed author Matthew J. Kirby.Eleanor and her friends have shut down the mysterious Concentrator in the Arctic, but their mission is far from over. The earth is still spinning out of its orbit and growing colder by the day. Their only chance is to find the other Concentrators embedded around the world and deactivate them before it's too late.But doing so won't be easy. The Global Energy Trust has branded Eleanor, her mother, and their friends international terrorists and is tracking their every move. The G.E.T. will stop at nothing to harness the power of the Concentrators in order to preserve the select few people its leaders deem worthy, and Eleanor is soon forced to ask herself whether it's worth risking the lives of the entire human race for a slim chance to save it. Views: 43
Perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Seven Wonders series, The Rogue World is the third book in an epic, fast-paced middle grade adventure trilogy by acclaimed author Matthew J. Kirby.After the shattering new discoveries they made in Egypt, Eleanor and her mother, Samantha, have been separated: Samantha working with the sinister Dr. Watkins to ensure the survival of only a small number of humans, and Eleanor and her friends uniting in the desperate hope of saving the entire planet. They are preparing for a trek to the icy Himalayas, where they believe they'll find the Master Concentrator and a chance to end the threat of the rogue planet—one way or the other. But that's when something happens that none of them expected: an alien spacecraft crash lands on earth, throwing the globe into crisis and changing everything for Eleanor. She has just begun to understand the mysterious power that sets her apart from everyone else on the planet; now, everything... Views: 43
Once upon a time in Fairyland. . . . Jack Frost is up to his old tricks again. He has sent his goblins to steal the Storybook Fairies' magic objects — and now readers' favorite stories are all mixed up. Rosalie's magic hairbrush is missing— only Rachel and Kirsty can help her get it back! Views: 43
Get your cape on with the DC Super Hero Girls(TM)—the unprecedented new Super Hero universe especially for girls! Readers of all ages can fly high with the all-new adventures of Wonder Woman(TM), Supergirl(TM), Batgirl(TM), and some of the world's most iconic female super heroes as high schoolers! Bumblebee(TM) buzzes into action with the rest of the DC Super Hero Girls(TM) in this action-packed hardcover novel for young readers!When the world's honey supply starts to drop and some of her old tech disappears, super student Bumblebee enlists her friends Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Poison Ivy, and Beast Boy to help her find out why. Is it a new villain, or someone from the past? With so much going on at Super Hero High, Bumblebee isn't sure how she's going to keep an eye on everything, but she's determined to do it with style . . . and sting!Award-winning author Lisa Yee brings this edge-of-your-seat adventure to life with mystery, thrills, and laughs. Move over,... Views: 43
