Cabin Creek Mysteries (series), K. Gregory. Two brothers and cousin Claire find adventure in the mountains, islands and lakes near their wilderness home.
The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean, A. Smith. The extraordinary talents of Harriet’s detective aunts (mind reading, rattlesnake knotting) will amuse boys as well as girls.
The Earth Dragon Awakes, L. Yep. Friends Chin and Henry survive the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Just Grace, C. Harper. A laugh out loud story of how Grace’s good intentions backfire making her a suspect in what looks like an elaborate cat-napping plot.
Oggie Cooder, S. Weeks. Oggie’s talent for carving cheese into shapes propels him into reality tv fame and sudden popularity at school.
Rickshaw Girl, M. Perkins. Naima disguises herself as a boy so she can earn money for her family in Bangladesh.
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The Saturdays, E. Enright. The Melendy siblings pool their allowances so each can have a turn going somewhere fun in New York City. A good read aloud choice for Penderwick fans.
Space Station Rat, M. Daley. Jeff ignores the warnings of his scientist parents and gets into danger trying to save a highly intelligent escaped lab rat.
Sticky Burr: Adventures in BurrWood Forest, J. Lechner. A funny graphic novel about the ‘prickly perils and sticky situations’ that befall an intrepid forest hero.
Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, R. L. LaFevers. Theodosia keeps her parent’s museum free of ancient Egyptian curses. A witty read aloud that Lemony Snicket fans should enjoy.
The Treasures of Weatherby, Z. Snyder. Fans of Eva Ibbotson will like Harleigh’s search for treasure in the old mysterious house where he lives with eccentric relatives. |
Bella at Midnight, D. Stanley. Isabel, raised by a peasant family, finds her true destiny in this story with echoes of Cinderella.
Close Encounters of a Third-World Kind, J. Stewart. Do you think you could get used to living in a remote village high in the Himalayas?
The Curious Boys’ Book of Exploration, S. Martin. 100 challenges, puzzles and experiments (put your head through a postcard!) with many fun to browse science facts also.
Diary of a Would-Be Princess, J. Green. Lively journal entries tell the ups and downs of Jillian’s 5th grade year in Australia, proving that school and friend issues are the same around the world.
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair, L. Schlitz. Maud is rescued from an orphanage, only to fall into the hands of guardians who expect her to help them in an unethical money making scheme.
Escape!, S. Fleischman. The true story of the great magician Houdini. |
Exiled, K Karr. Ali the camel tells the fascinating adventure of his journey from Egypt to Texas, where camels were used by the US Army in the 1800’s.
Free Baseball, S. Corbett. Felix volunteers as batboy to try to find out more about his dad, who was a famous baseball star in Cuba.
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, W. Maas. A box arrives on Jeremy’s 13th birthday, from his dad who died 5 years earlier, and his search to find the keys that will open it leads to all sorts of discoveries.
The Mysterious Benedict Society, T. Stewart. Test your wits along with the students in this book, as they try to be selected for an undercover mission.
The Navigator, E. McNamee. Owen’s world vanishes when Time flows backwards, and he must help defeat an ancient evil to set things right.
Shakespeare’s Secret, E. Broach. A valuable diamond is rumored to be hidden in Hero’s new house, and it may hold the key to a mystery involving Queen Elizabeth, Anne Boleyn and Shakespeare. |
Being, K. Brooks. During a routine exam doctors discover something shocking inside Robert, and now Robert is on the run for his life.
The Christopher Killer, A. Ferguson. Working as an assistant to her coroner father, Cam uses what she learns about forensics to track down a killer. Not for the squeamish!
The Diary of Pelly D, L.J. Adlington. When a futuristic space colony starts segregating people by their DNA, Pelly’s perfect life unravels.
First Boy, N. G. Schmidt. A mystery surrounds Cooper’s adoption, plunging him into intrigue when two rival campaigns for President start snooping around his New Hampshire farm in search of the truth.
Just Listen, S. Dessen. During a troubled high school year Annabel’s friendship with music-obsessed Owen gives her the courage to confess what has been bothering her.
Life As We Knew It, S. Pfeffer. Everyday suburban life becomes a harrowing survival story after a meteor hits the moon and changes the world’s weather patterns.
Mortal Engines, P. Reeve. For fans of Airborn and the Bartimaeus trilogy, an inventive fantasy set in a far future when London is a great city that moves about in search of prey.
PICTURE BOOKS
And The Good Brown Earth, K. Henderson. Gram and Joe work together year round and watch the magic of a growing garden.
Elsie Piddock Skips In Her Sleep, E. Farjeon. Elsie’s skipping skill earns her a reward from the fairies.
Running Shoes, F. Lipp. When Sophy receives sneakers, she is able to leave her village in Cambodia and go to school.
Scaredy Squirrel, M. Watt. This lovable little squirrel is too worried to have fun – until the unexpected happens.
Teeth, S. Collard. Animals use their teeth in amazing ways.
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Shell, L. Colandro. A silly, summery version of the classic song.
There Was Once A Boy Called Tashi, A. Fienberg. Tashi bravely faces the Gloomin in this fairy tale adventure.
The Way Back Home, O. Jeffers. Jeffers excels at tales of offbeat friendships – in this case an intrepid boy and the alien he meets on the moon. |
New Boy, J. Houston. In the 1950’s Rob leaves the segregated South to attend an exclusive New England prep school, but wonders if he should be helping with the Civil Rights movement back home.
Nobody’s Princess, E. Friesner. History and myth combine in this light-hearted look at what Helen of Troy’s life would be if she was up for heroic adventures.
Rash, P. Hautman. A funny satirical look at a future society obsessed with safety, where the illegal game of football is played only for punishment.
Samurai Shortstop, A. Gratz. Toyo’s samurai training influences how he plays baseball at boarding school, in this novel that provides a glimpse of the history of baseball in Japan.
Twelve, L. Myracle. Everything seems to be changing for Winnie – friends, her body, even her personality, but she keeps her sense of humor during her 7th grade year.
Vanishing Act, J. Feinstein. How can a top-ranked tennis player disappear during the U.S. Open?
Wicked Lovely, M. Marr. Aislinn, a mortal, has no interest in being pulled into centuries old love and power triangles between rival faery courts. Like Holly Black’s Ironside (coming in paper in July), a mature, contemporary and sensual spin on faery legends.
Wildwood Dancing, J. Marillier. Five sisters who live in Transylvania use a hidden portal to enter a magical world where enchantment and danger mask their true loves.
EVENTS
SUMMER BABIES AND BOOKS
Sharon Carter Grimes has a 4 week mini-session of Babies and Books from June 17th - July 16th. The classes are on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings, at 9 or 10 a.m. (no class the week of July 4). Classes are for children from ages 6 months to 3 ½ years old, mixed ages in all the groups so siblings can come together. The cost is $50.00 per child. Call the bookshop at 978-468-4040 to register.
GREAT PARENT RESOURCE
Playgrounds Of The North Shore by Ejyo Katagiri. $15.95 A useful spiral bound guidebook with maps, pictures, and a list of amenities to be found in 135 local playgrounds. The second edition is here: more towns included! |
