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OLDER CHILDREN

The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins $8.99
     The future is frightening in post-war Panem (previously called North America). The yearly highlight in this nightmarish world is the “Hunger Games”, a bloodthirsty reality TV show in which 24 teenagers chosen by lottery must fight each other in a desolate environment called the ''arena.'' The winner gets a life of ease; the losers get death. Full of non-stop action, gripping suspense, and some violence. Ages 14 and up.
--Hannah

Purple Heart
By Patricia McCormick  $8.99
    
Is Matt Duffy a hero? He has been awarded a Purple Heart. When he awakes in an army hospital with a traumatic brain injury, he can only remember bits & pieces of the incident. Fear and guilt surround him as he pictures a 10 year-old Iraqi boy who was fatally shot. Was Matt responsible? This true-to-life novel raises many questions about war. What is the life of an 18 year-old soldier? The comradery, danger, and the loss of life on military and civilian sides are all explored in this well-written novel. Ages 12 & up.
--Judi

And Both Were Young
By Madeleine L’Engle   $9.99

     Philipa Hunter, or Flip, has been whisked away to a boarding school in Switzerland. Feeling abandoned and out of place, she adjusts poorly until she meets Paul. He becomes her friend and confidante, and eventually her struggles lessen. But Paul has a dark secret, and in an effort to help him, Flip puts herself in a dangerous situation. Self-awareness, intrigue and first love combine to make a satisfying read.
--Judi

Pop
By Gordon Korman $8.99

     How will Marcus prove himself a valuable football player to the tight-knit team at his new school? With the help of Charlie, his new but unlikely middle-aged friend (who just happens to be a former NFL linebacker) he gains confidence and hones his skills. Problems arise when Troy, the ace quarterback at school warns Marcus to stay away from Charlie, who is his father. What is the secret that surrounds Charlie and his family? Marcus is about to find out.
--Judi

The Search For WondLa
By Tony DiTerlizzi   $17.99
     From the creator of “The Spiderwick Chronicles” comes a delightfully original story that combines old-fashioned story-telling with exciting new fantasy. Eva Nine is a 12-year old girl raised underground by a robot and is intensely curious about humans and the outside world. When a marauder destroys the Sanctuary where she lives, she has no choice but to adventure into the exciting unknown!
--Hannah

I,Q (The Series)
By Roland Smith    $8.95

     This mystery series has everything: secret service spies, crime, rock and roll, action, dog side-kicks, martial arts, terrorists, magic, and more! Recommended by the 6th grade students of Mr. Dole.
--Lynn

 

The Maze Runner
By James Dashner     $9.99
    
Thomas wakes up to discover his memory is gone and he is among a group of teenage boys in The Maze, a terrifying, controlled environment with mile-high walls and evil creatures that lurk in darkness. It’s a race against time as they desperately try to solve the mystery of the maze in the hope to escape with their lives.
-- Hannah

The Scorch Trials
By James Dashner     $9.99
    
The Maze was only the beginning… and the survivors now find themselves in a more desperate world than ever! Thomas and his friends are at the mercy of WICKED, a mysterious organization of scientists bent on testing them to their limits. A great book 2 in The Maze Runner Triology.
--Hannah

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
By John Grisham    $7.99
    
Thirteen-year-old Theo has everything going for him. His parents allow him a closet office in the back of their law firm where he counsels his friends through a range of legal issues, from divorcing parents, custody, and even illegal immigration. Suddenly, he finds himself in the middle of a murder trial holding crucial information.    Full of intrigue and suspense, the surprise ending leads us to believe that we have not heard the last from Theo!
--Sandy

Strange Case Of Origami Yoda
By Tom Angleberger         $12.95

     Dwight is the school weirdo. When he comes into school with a talking, advice giving origami Yoda on his finger, Dwight becomes an instant celebrity! This story is unique. Read this you must. Laugh you will!
--Judi

Ender’s Game
By Orson Scott Card  $5.99
     The future of Earth is in jeopardy… again. But this time, there is hope for a future- and it’s resting on the shoulders of a bunch of kids. Andrew “Ender” Wiggins, among others, was chosen to attend Battle School, an orbiting space station where children are shaped into the greatest military strategists ever to live. Can Ender survive the grueling training to be the greatest leader the world has ever known? By far one of the greatest stories I’ve ever read! Chock full of action, suspense, and unlikely heroes, this under-dog story is one you’ll be thinking about long after you turn the last page.
     Recommended 14+ for language, content
--Jessica

Mockingbird
By Kathryn Erskine $6.99

     Caitlin sees everything in black and white; her world is much easier to figure out that way. Her brother Devon was her chief helper and support, but now that he is dead, she must help herself and her father find “closure.” As a girl with Asperger’s Syndrome, she finds everyday tasks difficult, but is determined to “work on it.” Seeing the world through Caitlin’s eyes will inspire the reader to also find the empathy that Caitlin discovered. --Judi

Red Pyramid: Book 1 of the Kane Chronicles
By Rick Riordan  $9.99    
    
Who knew that Egyptian gods were still alive and exerting their influence in the modern world? Carter and Sadie get caught up in the magic and danger as they begin the mission to save their father, Dr. Julius Kane, a famous Egyptologist. As they begin to realize their own powers, and uncover the mysteries of their family’s involvement in this world, the must battle Set, an evil Egyptian god who is bent of destroying them and the world as they know it. A new spellbinding series by the author of “Percy Jackson and the Last
Olympians.”

--Judi

Trackers
By Patrick Carman  $14.99
    
As the story begins, Adam, a computer genius and inventor extraordinaire, is in deep trouble with the FBI. As he explains his innocence, we meet his group of “Trackers,” three friends with their own skills, who, with Adam, can track down anyone, even a careful criminal. As their talents lead them into dangerous territory, it is hard to know who to trust. Techies and non-techies alike will be fascinated by the ingenious gadgets and super developed remote digital cameras that make their transmissions and data gathering possible. This is a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat and begging for the sequel. Action is enhanced by optional online videos.
--Judi

The Year I Turned Sixteen
By Diane Schwenn $9.99
    
Don’t be put off by its size! Told in four interwoven vignettes, this novel focuses on exactly what the title says, and much much more. Each sister has a similar background- their father dies in a tragic accident, and now they are left to pick up the pieces and forge on. But their stories are as unique as the voices telling them. --Jessica

 

When You Reach Me
By Rebecca Stead   $6.99
     What does “The $20,000 Pyramid,” a sandwich shop, a kid named Sid and time travel have to do with growing up in 1979 New York? Find out in Stead’s expertly crafted tale of sixth grade Miranda, who finds herself in the center of an interesting predicament. What sounds like a hodge-podge of a tale (part mystery, part coming-of-age, part science fiction) combines effortlessly into one of the best “indescribable” books I’ve read in a long time. Winner of the Newbery Award for 2010, this highly deserving book is great read for adults and kids alike.
--Jessica

Incarceron
By Catherine Fisher  $9.99
     Finn is an inmate trapped within Incarceron’s ever-changing walls. Claudia is the daughter of Incareceron’s Warden, trapped within a cruel arranged marriage and by the Protocol, laws which force inhabitants to live according to 17th century norms. Fisher’s fast-paced and thrilling story whorls ever out of control as both Finn and Claudia make a bid for freedom. This book grabs you from the first page and never lets go. Look for the sequel, “Sapphique,” this December!
--Jessica

Peak
By Roland Smith $6.95
     In this high-altitude adventure, 14-year-old Peak Marcello's passion for climbing is clearly in the genes, but when he is arrested for scaling tall buildings, his mom and stepdad ship him to his father in the Himalayans where he has the chance to become the youngest person to ever scale Mount Everest. A well-crafted plot and exotic setting give the novel great appeal to survival adventure fans.
--Lynn

11 Birthdays
By Wendy Mass $6.99
     Amanda isn’t looking forward to her 11th birthday, especially since her ex-life-long-friend Leo is having the very cool party that same day. Oh well, it’ll be over soon, right? NOT! Repeating a really good day might be great, but repeating this crummy birthday 11 times??  What’s going on?! This turns out to be a weird, funny and heart-warming wild ride!!
--Judi

White Giraffe
By Lauren St. John     $6.99
     When Martine loses her parents in a tragic accident, she is shipped off to Africa to live with her grandmother on a wildlife preserve. She learns about the mythical & secretive White Giraffe. Join Martine on her exciting but dangerous mission to uncover the truth. A lovely, fanciful tale for ages 8 + up.
--
Judi

Dolphin Song
By Lauren St. John     $6.99
     In this sequel to St. John’s White Giraffe, Martine’s class takes a field trip off the coast of Africa. There Martine falls in love with the gentle spirit and beautiful ways of the dolphins. When a storm ravages their boat, Martine and her classmates become castaways on a supposedly desert island. Now they face a sinister plot while fighting for their own survival. This book celebrates loyalty, resourcefulness, and the wondrous relationship between humans and animals.
--Judi

The Last Leopard
By Lauren St. John $6.99
     Martine discovers more of her destiny in this wonderful third book in the White Giraffe series. On her summer vacation, Martine finds herself in Zimbabwe on a desperate mission to save a rare leopard believed to be the key to finding an ancient treasure. Pitted against unscrupulous treasure seekers and poachers, she and her best friend Ben must rely on their bush skills as well as their friendship to save the day.
--Judi

Nobody’s Princess
By Esther Friesner     $7.99
     Although she is destined to become Queen of Sparta, Helen is not your typical Princess. She prefers sword-play to embroidery, and longs for the kind of adventures that boys are allowed to do. How can she escape the confines of palace walls to follow her heart? This historical fiction explores the life of the young Helen of Troy. Ages 12 + up.
--Judi

A Northern Light
by Jennifer Donnelly $9.99
     A riveting based-on-a-true-story mystery is mixed with an engaging coming-of-age tale, with a little romance thrown in. Mattie Gokey is 16 when she finds herself motherless, poor, working at the Glenmore Hotel, and in the center of a grim murder plot. Ages 14 and up.
--Judi