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Showing posts from July, 2021

Merci Suarez Can't Dance

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 by Meg Medina There's a lot going on in 7th grade Merci's life.  Her grandpa's confusion is increasing, middle school friendships are tricky to navigate, and it seems like her aunt is hiding something from her.  Merci gets involved running the school store with a boy named Wilson, who she really likes spending time with.  But there is no way that she would ever go to the Heart Ball, because if there is one thing that Merci can't do, it's dance.  When her aunt wants her to get involved with her after school dance program, Merci is sure it is just going to be one more hassle in her already busy life.  Sometimes new experiences can be exciting...is Merci open to new friendships and new activities?

Simon B. Rhymin'

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 by Dwayne Reed Genre:  Realistic Fiction Simon Barnes has big plans.  He wants to be the most famous rapper of all time.  At first he thinks his new teacher, Mr. James, might be someone who can help him, until he finds out that his first assignment will be to give a presentation to the class about something that matters to him.  Simon hates speaking in front of people so he's not looking forward to giving the presentation and he has no idea what matters to him!  With the help of his dad, Simon develops a plan to help raise awareness about the people who are homeless in his community.  

Sheets

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 by Brenna Thummler Genre:  Fantasy, Graphic Novel Who wants to spend time in a haunted laundromat?  Marge finds herself in that situation now that her mom is gone and she is trying to keep things going.  Life at middle school is hard as well...some days it feels like she is invisible and just going through the motions.  When Wendell the ghost shows up, things really get interesting.  Will Marge be able able to juggle all of her responsibilities and get on with her life?

Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer

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 by Gillian Goerz Genre:  Reaslitic Fiction, Graphic Novel Jamila Waheed wants to spend her summer playing basketball and Shirley Bones wants to solve mysteries., but their mothers have other ideas.  For Jamila that means science camp and for Shirley that means dance camp.  But what if the two girls team up together?  Can they come up with a plan to convince their mothers that they should spend their summer together doing the things they want to do?

allergic

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 by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel Maggie is so excited!  Her parents have finally agreed to let her get a puppy.  Her twin brothers have each other and her parents are preoccupied with the arrival of a new baby so Maggie figures the puppy will be something that is all hers.  But as they are looking for the perfect dog to bring home, Maggie starts sneezing.  Suddenly she is in the midst of a full blown allergy attack.  Her parents take her to the allergist where her worst fears are confirmed.  Maggie is not only allergic to dogs, but to all things with fur and feathers.  Will Maggie be able to find a pet that doesn't make her sneeze?

The Elephant in the Room

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 by Holly Goldberg Sloan Genre:  Realistic Fiction Sila's mother has been gone almost a year.  After she was fired from her job, she was notified that there was a problem with her immigration status and she had to return to Turkey to straighten things out.  Meanwhile, Sila and her father are trying to go on without her.  Sila has withdrawn from her friends and so she is picked for a special program at school that pairs her with a student who never speaks.  Sila and Mateo have a quiet existence until Sila shares with him about her new friend Gio who has recently rescued a former circus elephant.  Sila, Mateo, Gio, and Veda, the elephant, are about to have the best summer of their lives.

Max and the Midnights

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 by Lincoln Peirce Genre:  Fantasy Max wants to be a knight, but given the way life is going right now, it seems rather unlikely.  Max's Uncle Burdick has be kidnapped by the evil King Gastley and it will be up to Max to save him.  Max quickly realizes that help will be needed so a band of brave adventurers - the Midknights - form and set out on a grand adventure to defeat King Gastley and rescue Uncle Burdick.

City Spies

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 by James Ponti Genre:  Mystery, Adventure Sara Martinez is a kid who has been bounced from foster home to foster home, but now she is facing time in juvenile detention for hacking into the NYC juvenile justice system.  She is resigned to her fate when a mysterious visitor appears and tells her that he is her new lawyer.  She has to make a split second decision...does she trust this strange man who is offering her an opportunity to go free or does she take her chances with time in juvenile detention?  Sara takes a leap of faith and suddenly finds herself training as an undercover spy in a centuries old home in Scotland.  Could this finally be her chance to find a place where she can truly belong?

Scary Stories for Young Foxes

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 by Christian McKay Heidicker Genre:  Fantasy, Animal Story Seven little foxes think they are ready to hear a scary story...will they be able to last all the way though?  No fox kit is safe in spooky Antler Wood.  There is a teacher with dark, gooey eyes and a woman who peels foxes' skins and then there is the paw that keeps returning from the dead.  One by one, the seven little foxes slink away from the storyteller...will anyone stay to hear how the story ends?