Mrs. Malecha Reads!

by Shannon and Dean Hale Illustrated by Victoria Ying Lexile:  GN 320 Genre:  Fantasy, Graphic Novel Diana has a nearly perfect life, except for the fact that she is the only child living on an island which means every other adult is busy doing their own thing.  Diana is left alone to entertain herself and when she runs out of ideas, she decides to create her own friend.  She borrows some clay and with a little magic, creates Mona and brings her to life.  But the more time she spends with Mona, the more she wonders if Mona is a friend or..... a monster?

by Nancy Bo Flood Lexile:  590 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Tess's best friend is her sister and she loves spending time with her at home.  Even though Gaby is older than Tess and has started college, Tess still has big plans for the two of them.  But Gaby changes everything when she drops out of college and enlists in the army.  Tess is distraught over the fact that her sister will be going to Texas for basic training.  Everything changes again, when Tess learns that Gaby's unit is being deployed to Iraq.  Gaby asks Tess to take care of her horse, Blue, but Tess is so mad and hurt about being left behind and worried about Gaby's safety, that she is not sure she can do it.  When Gaby leaves, Tess has no choice but to take care of the horse and help her grandmother at sheep camp for the summer.  Tess can't stop thinking about her sister and can only hope that she will come home safely.

by Laura Tucker Lexile:  910 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Olympia is an aspiring artist, growing up with two parents who are professional artists.  But her dad has gone missing (he told her not to worry) and now her mom isn't getting out of bed.  This leaves Ollie free to roam New York City with her friends Richard and Alex as they try to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance.  Ollie is convinced if they can find him, then her mother will be able to get out of bed again, and life will get back to normal.  She doesn't want to think about what happens if she can't find her dad...

by Angela Dominguez Genre:  Realistic Fiction Stella Diaz is back!  And she is as adventurous as ever.  It's summer vacation and Stella can't wait to go to summer camp at the Shedd Aquarium and learn all about ocean life.  Stella wants to be a marine biologist and she has big plans for how she can help save the ocean.  Stella's mom surprises her with the news that their family is going on a trip to Mexico which will allow Stella to actually see the ocean for the first time.  The more Stella learns about ocean conservation, the more she wants to do to help, so she forms a club called The Sea Musketeers.  Together they are going to see what they can do to change the world.

by Thomas Taylor Lexile:  710 Genre:  Fantasy, Mystery Eerie-by-the Sea is a strange little town where some people believe in the malamander and some do not.  Whether you believe or not, you have heard the rumors and the stories about this strange creature that is said to lurk in the shadows.  Herbie Lemon and Violet Parma have teamed up to try and uncover the mystery.  Violet's father was writing a book about the malamnder when he disappeared.  Violet is determined to find out what happened to her parents and Herbie just wants answers to questions that no one in his town can agree on.  Will these two young detectives be able to solve the mystery that has haunted Eerie-by-the-Sea for decades?

by A. S. King Lexile:  580 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Liberty's world feels like it is falling apart.  Her dad has moved out and has stopped contacting them, even though he promised that Liberty and her younger sister, Jilly, would be able to come over all of the time.  Her mom seems happier, but without their dad, Liberty and Jilly feel lost. When their dad finally does agree to have them over, he seems distant and uninterested in them.  Liberty is starting to think that their dad has really moved on from the family, but all Liberty can do is to try and think of a way to bring him back.