Book Reviews
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Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
What would you do if you had the power to reach through time and space and retrieve anything you want, including your mother, who is no longer living (in this universe, anyway)?
When Sal Vidon meets Gabi Real for the first time, it isn’t under the best of circumstances. Sal is in the principal’s office for the third time in three days, and it’s still the first week of school. Gabi, student council president and editor of the school paper, is there to support her friend Yasmany, who just picked a fight with Sal. She is determined to prove that somehow, Sal planted a raw chicken in Yasmany’s locker, even though nobody saw him do it and the bloody poultry has since mysteriously disappeared.
Sal prides himself on being an excellent magician, but for this sleight of hand, he relied on a talent no one would guess . . . except maybe Gabi, whose sharp eyes never miss a trick. When Gabi learns that he’s capable of conjuring things much bigger than a chicken–including his dead mother–and she takes it all in stride, Sal knows that she is someone he can work with. There’s only one slight problem: their manipulation of time and space could put the entire universe at risk.
From author Carlos Hernandez for Readers 8-12.
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Ocean Animals for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Whales, Sharks, and Other Marine Life
Explore the big world under the waves with the Junior Scientists series for kids.
The oceans are full of creatures that are beautiful and strange. Whether you’re a fan of sharks, snakes, penguins, or polar bears, Ocean Animals for Kids is full of fascinating critters to meet! Get ready to learn all about the mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and invertebrates that call the ocean home.
Dive deeper than other ocean books for kids with:
- Animal profiles―Take a look at dozens of marine species, from sea spiders to sponges, and find out where they live, what they eat, and more!
- An intro to marine science―This standout among ocean books for kids investigates currents, tides, climate, and what’s hiding in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean.
- Fun facts―Jump into the best in ocean books for kids and find out which sea-dwellers can open jars, who has pink poop, and what happens when marine iguanas sneeze!
See what’s happening underwater from author Bethanie Hestermann for Readers 8-12.
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King Khalid is PROUD
There is power in the word PROUD.
It feels good when someone tells you that they are proud of you. But imagine just how empowering it is when you do something that makes you proud of yourself!
King Khalid is a clever and courageous boy who loves to play video games, but his bedtime gets in the way. After his father reinforces the rules and makes him go to bed on time, King Khalid challenges himself to find a creative way around the rules so he has more time to play his games. – Even if he has to learn how to design his own video game!
He signs up for a coding class with the ultimate goal of staying up late, but in the process he accomplishes something that ultimately makes everyone proud.
From author Veronica N. Chapman for Readers 8-12.
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Kate and the Horses
Kate is used to being alone. When she’s welcomed into the fold by four-legged pals, will her new companions help her find her courage?
Nine-year-old Kate Calloway’s one wish is to finally have a friend. Always struggling to find the right words, the socially awkward bookworm can’t forget the magical day years ago when a carriage horse spoke to her and made her feel special. So, when she unexpectedly sees him on a poster for summer camp, she’s determined to persuade her parents to let her attend and take the reins.
Arriving full of excitement and stumbling upon a stable of talking horses, Kate can’t wait to tell her parents the names of her playmates… while cleverly hiding that they’re not actually human. But when the affectionate animals can’t help her bond with the other kids or avoid a super-mean girl, it’s up to the shy Kate to figure out by herself how to fit in.
Can Kate learn to brave her fears and find love and acceptance?
From author Wendy Ledger for Readers 8-11.
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Sharks for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Great Whites, Hammerheads, and Other Sharks in the Sea
Meet the ocean’s apex predators with the Junior Scientists series for kids.
Sharks come in all shapes and sizes, from giant whale sharks the size of school buses to tiny dwarf lantern sharks only eight inches long. Sharks for Kids introduces you to these magnificent creatures through vivid illustrations and photographs of some of the biggest, smallest, and strangest sharks swimming the seas. In this top choice among sharks books for kids, you’ll get to know goblin sharks, thresher sharks, and many more.
In one of the most engaging sharks books for kids, you’ll discover tons of in-depth facts about some of your favorite sharks.
From author David McGuire for Readers 8-12.
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Scion of the Sun: a time travel, druid mythology, adventure, fantasy
A mystifying time rift. An ancient civilization. Two worlds collide in an epic fight to the death.
My boring life is upended when a vision of the mom I never knew has me questioning everything I believe. Eager for answers, I enroll at a boarding school for highly gifted students in Wolfebane, New Hampshire. But the school and its students have secrets that leave me more confused than ever.
When I accidentally transport to a parallel existence and discover I have a whole other life waiting for me, I’m thrust into a mythological world that thinks I’m their unlikely savior. Torn between my old life and my new, confronting an ancient evil seems the least of my problems.
With the help of Joss, an enigmatic warrior sworn to protect me, and my new best friend, the equally hot Quinn, I face my fears. But I’m unprepared for the ultimate showdown against a terrifying adversary…
From author Nicola Marsh for Readers 9-12.
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Amazing Mazes for Minecrafters: Challenging Mazes for Hours of Entertainment!
Dozens of mazes to keep you entertained for hours!
Journey through snowy biomes, desert temples, Nether fortresses, and more—whether on a long car trip or at the beach! This inviting collection of unique mazes for gamers of all ages is jam-packed with colorful characters and settings straight from their favorite game. You will be challenged and entertained for hours upon hours.
This adventure series is created especially for readers who love the fight of good vs. evil, magical academies like Hogwarts in the Harry Potter saga, and games like Minecraft, Terraria, and Pokémon GO.
From author Jen Funk Weber for Readers 8-12.
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Interesting Stories for Curious Kids: A Fascinating Collection of the Most Interesting, Unbelievable, and Craziest Stories on Earth!
Want to impress your buddies at school?
Want to learn a bunch of random facts about history, science, and the paranormal?
If you answered yes to either of those questions then pick up Interesting Stories for Curious Kids: A Fascinating Collection of the Most Interesting, Unbelievable, and Craziest Stories on Earth! This book is the coolest collection of interesting facts about a whole bunch of several different topics.
Here you will find the answers to some of the following:
- How did a dog, a horse, and a cat become TV and movie stars?
- What were the first video game consoles?
- Why can’t you break an egg in the palm of your hand?
- How do parrots talk?
- Did Alexander the Great love his horse more than anything else?
And much, much more!
You’ll be glued to the pages of this book reading about interesting facts, scary stories, and how to do a few neat science experiments. Interesting Stories for Curious Kids brings learning to you in a new, fun way that is sure to keep you reading.
Whether science, history, or just weird facts are your thing, you’re sure to find something in here that will keep you interested and turning the pages. So, open this book and your mind and see other things that you may not know existed.
From author Bill O’Neill for Readers 8-12.
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Fish for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Diverse Habitats, Colorful Species, and Life Underwater
Splash into the incredible world of fish with the Junior Scientists series for kids.
Get up close and personal with the fascinating fish that live all around the world. Fish for Kids is full of colorful photos and illustrations that help you explore 35 different species, from goldfish and neon tetras to eels and great white sharks!
- Unlike other fish books for kids, this one features hands-on activities and tips for going fishing or keeping your own aquarium.
- Learn how fish use camouflage, how they find food, and which fish can swim almost 70 miles per hour!
- Go beyond other fish books for kids with complete profiles on freshwater and saltwater fish, including where they live, how big they get, and more.
From author Kevin Kurtz for readers 8-12.
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Adventure to Mars: Rocket Kids
Blast off on a journey to Mars that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow two young kid astronauts, Neil and Kate, through an adventure full of mystery and excitement.
Making history as the first kids to enter space, and the first humans to ever walk on Mars, Neil and Kate knew they were in for something big with their mission to find water on the Red Planet. It didn’t take long, however, before they found themselves on an adventure of a lifetime that went beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.
From author Lizzie Lipman for Readers 8-12.
