Book Reviews
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The Captain’s Daughters
For most adolescents, growing up is hard enough when one has both feet planted firmly on the ground. But for mischievous, twelve-year-old sisters Diane and Robin, life is complicated further by the fact that their father, Captain William Marsh, is the commander of the Starship Polaris. Living among the stars provides a never-ending realm of creative possibility for the free-spirited girls’ pranks and adventures.
When aliens bent on profit and revenge kidnap Diane and Robin, only their indomitable spirit, ingenuity, and a common love of trouble allow the pair to escape the alien vessel. Finding their way home seems assured until the sisters realize they have been taken further from home then they could ever have imagined, and that they must evade an enemy who will stop at nothing to get them back into his evil clutches. Blocked by interstellar battles, malevolent creatures, and overwhelming obstacles, the sisters fear they may never find a way to return to their own universe and to the father they love.
From author Doreen D. Berger for Readers 8-12.
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Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key
Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key is an enchanting adventure in the tradition of Tolkien and Lewis, as well as Spielberg and Lucas. But this fantastical journey launches in rural West Virginia in the eighties, with a half-Appalachian, half-African kid trying to escape the town he sees defining his small, sad life. Jack discovers a gate hiding a city between twelve realms and finds out where he truly belongs in a surprising, satisfying adventure.
From authors S.D. and J.C. Smith for Readers 9-12.
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Crenshaw
Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There’s no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.
Crenshaw is a cat. He’s large, he’s outspoken, and he’s imaginary. He has come back into Jackson’s life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?
This is an unforgettable and magical story about family, friendship, and resilience from author Katherine Applegate for Readers 8-10.
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Stealing Magic (The Legacy of Androva Book 1)
Jax is a fourteen-year-old magic-taker from Androva. He’s also a rule breaker. He should not have opened a portal to our world in daylight, no matter how fed up he was with the rules, or how interested he was in Shannon.
Shannon considers herself to be ordinary. She loves escaping into fantasy books, but she never actually believed in magic. Not until the day she opens her eyes to find herself surrounded by it. And that boy, the one with the green eyes, who winks at her before he disappears into thin air. Who is he? Where does he come from?
When Shannon first touches the silver force field created by Jax, a treaty is broken, giving an ancient enemy the chance he needs to regain his power. The two teenagers don’t have much time to figure out what is going on, and they’re going to need all of their combined magical ability to stand a chance of surviving.
The next ten days will be the most exciting and terrifying of their lives (so far!).
From author Alex C. Vick for Readers 10-14.
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Race to the Sun
Lately, seventh grader Nizhoni Begay has been able to detect monsters, like that man in the fancy suit who was in the bleachers at her basketball game.
Turns out he’s Mr. Charles, her dad’s new boss at the oil and gas company, and he’s alarmingly interested in Nizhoni and her brother, Mac, their Navajo heritage, and the legend of the Hero Twins. Nizhoni knows he’s a threat, but her father won’t believe her. When Dad disappears the next day, leaving behind a message that says “Run!”, the siblings and Nizhoni’s best friend, Davery, are thrust into a rescue mission that can only be accomplished with the help of Diné Holy People, all disguised as quirky characters.
Their aid will come at a price: the kids must pass a series of trials in which it seems like nature itself is out to kill them. If Nizhoni, Mac, and Davery can reach the House of the Sun, they will be outfitted with what they need to defeat the ancient monsters Mr. Charles has unleashed.
But it will take more than weapons for Nizhoni to become the hero she was destined to be.
From author Rebecca Roanhorse for Readers 8-12.
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I Shrunk My Best Friend! – Book 1 – Ooops!
Bella and her best friend, Joe are two very smart kids who spend every spare minute together. One day, they devise a plan, a plan that is going to make them super rich and super famous. It is such a great plan that they’ll be able to skip school and even have their own TV show! What could be better than that?
However, this particular plan does not go ahead the way Bella and Joe had hoped, and they quickly find themselves faced with a huge problem; one that they are unable to solve on their own. Then when Bella’s secret crush at school becomes involved, things begin to get very interesting.
From start to finish, this is a very funny book that will keep you laughing as well as trying to guess what is going to happen next.
From author Katrina Kahler and John Zakour for Readers 8-12.
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Hocus Pocus: The Illustrated Novelization
Relive the classic Halloween film Hocus Pocus with an Illustrated Novelization that retells the story alongside stunning original artwork from Gris Grimly!
For the first time ever, fans and readers of all ages can enjoy the full story of the immensely popular Hocus Pocus with this deluxe Illustrated Novelization that will show fans the likes of Max and Dani Dennison, the Sanderson Sisters, Thackery Binx the cat, and other iconic characters as only celebrated, renowned artist Gris Grimly can: in all of their darkly humorous, unique gruesome glory!
From author A.W. Jantha and Illustrator Gris Grimly for Readers 8+.
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Portal Through the Pond (Empty World Saga Book 1)
They said her grandfather was dead. They said her grandmother was crazy. Christy knows they’re wrong.
When her grandmother dies, 13-year-old Christy inherits an old family secret: the pond behind her house is in fact a portal to another world. What’s more, she learns that her grandfather went through the portal when he mysteriously “disappeared” nine years ago. Christy tries to respect her grandmother’s final wishes and not go exploring, but when a classmate named Rob falls into the pond, she has to act.
Since no one would believe her if she told them the truth about the pond, Christy arranges her own rescue party. In order to rescue Rob, she’ll have to brave a bizarre alien landscape, evade hostile creatures, and protect Danny, the boy from next door who followed her through the portal.
Meanwhile on Earth, the grown-ups launch a frantic search, and they’re willing to drain the pond to find out what happened. Will Christy be able to find her grandfather, rescue Rob, and return safely to Earth before she becomes a permanent resident of the Empty World?
From author David K. Anderson for Readers 8-13.
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Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School Book 1)
Gilly wouldn’t call herself wicked, exactly. But when you have five little brothers and sisters and live in a run-down boot, you have to get creative to make ends meet. Gilly’s a pretty good thief (if she does say so herself).
Until she gets caught.
Gilly’s sentenced to three months at Fairy Tale Reform School where all of the teachers are former (super-scary) villains like the Big Bad Wolf, the Evil Queen, and Cinderella’s Wicked Stepmother. Harsh. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there’s more to this school than its heroic mission.
There’s a battle brewing and Gilly has to wonder…just how good these bad guys really are?
From author Jen Calonita for Readers 9-12.
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BODY SWAP: Catastrophe!!!
Swapping bodies might be fun for some, but when 12-year-old Jack Stevenson wakes up from a freak accident one day and finds himself in his dad’s body, his life abruptly becomes one huge disaster after another. When he realizes that his dad will have to go to school in his place, things instantly get much, much worse. Will he be able to remain captain of the school football team, and what will happen to Holly, the prettiest girl at school? She is also the girl he has a huge crush on and is hoping to be his girlfriend. What will all his friends think of his strange behavior, and how will he ever cope with the sudden catastrophe he’s been faced with?
This hilarious book for girls and boys of all ages with have you laughing from start to finish and keep you wondering what is going to happen next.
From author Katrina Kahler for Readers 8-13.
