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Books & DVDs

Roller Girl
Victoria Jamieson
Ages 10-14

What would you do if your best friend ditched you? Astrid and her best friend, Nicole, get dragged to a roller derby match by Astrid’s mom as a “cultural experience” and the moment she sees the tough girls skating around the track Astrid is hooked.

Better yet, there is a summer camp starting for young girls and Astrid just makes the age cut. She is sure that Nicole will want to sign up too since they’ve always done everything together. But when her best friend decides to go to ballet class Astrid is left to face camp alone. Of course she can’t tell her mom that Nicole isn’t going to camp with her because that would mean questions and facing the truth that Nicole might not be her best friend anymore. 

Even worse, Astrid doesn’t even know how to skate and her first day at camp is an embarrassing disaster. As the summer progresses Astrid makes new friends at camp but will she succeed in her dream to be as good as the famous roller derby player Rainbow Bite? And will she ever make up with Nicole? Read the book to find out! If you liked Smile by Raina Telgemeier you will love Roller Girl. J GN Roller Girl

Jun 6, 2015
TamieB
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Chicago Gangster!: Some Dangerous Characters You’d Better Avoid
Rupert Matthews
8 yrs and up

After being down and out of luck with money in the 1920s, you decide to become an undercover cop and infiltrate the local gangs of Chicago. Work your way up from a lowly messenger till you get to meet “The Big Boss.” But don’t let the gangsters figure out you are working for the cops or you will be in big trouble! Can you bring down the gangs’ operations before you’re outed?

Reading You Wouldn’t Want to be a Chicago Gangster is a fun way to discover just how the gangsters ran things in the 1920s and what it would feel like if you were working for them. Some of the more scandalous gangster operations are left out of the book. However, to get a true picture of the gangs’ behaviors the author does not shy away from mentioning that these were nasty characters who would vandalize, steal, and cheat and that each day could be your last. Read the other books in the “You Wouldn’t Want to…” series for more excitement with history! J 364.106 Mat 

May 5, 2015
TamieB
Loot: How to Steal a Fortune
Jude Watson
Ages 9-12

When jewel thief Alfie McQuinn dies, he leaves his son, March, a set of cryptic clues.  Believing the clues would lead to a large amount of money, March is shocked to discover that the first clue actually leads to Jules, a twin sister he never knew he had.  With the help of two new friends, March and Jules embark on a quest to retrieve seven cursed moonstones. If they succeed, the foursome will be seven million dollars richer.  If they fail, the cursed moonstones may cost March and Jules their lives.

May 5, 2015
StaceyQ
Henry Holton Takes the Ice
Sandra Bradley
Ages 6-8

The Holton family is hockey CRAZY!  Henry's parents both play hockey, his sister and all of his 23 cousins play, and his Grandma played before she hurt her hip.  Even his dog, Gretzky, is dressed in full hockey gear to play goalie for the family on the weekends!  So how will the family react when Henry decides he'd like to try ice dancing instead?  A nice book about acceptance and the importance of finding one's own interests.

Apr 4, 2015
StaceyQ
Target Practice (Cleopatra in Space #1)
Mike Maihack
Ages 8-12

When the spunky young Cleopatra gets teleported to the future, which is run by a council of talking cats, she is told that she is destined to prevent the evil Xaius Octavian from taking over the galaxy! But in the meantime she has to go to school and avoid getting detention for not listening to her teachers…although the combat training is awesome. If you liked reading Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke make sure to give Cleopatra in Space a try! J GN Cleopatra

Apr 4, 2015
TamieB
Beasts of Olympus
Lucy Coats
Ages 8-10

Pandemonius, aka Demon, finds out he is half-god when his father steals him from his home on Earth and drops him on Mount Olympus. Demon is to be the new Beast Keeper for all the mythical beasts of Olympus and he doesn’t get any say in the matter. He must figure out how to heal all the immortal creatures that keep getting “slain” by Heracles or be sent down the poo shoot as a snack for the hundred-armed monsters. Beasts of Olympus is a fun and silly book for kids who like Greek mythology but aren’t ready for Percy Jackson. J FIC Coa

Apr 4, 2015
TamieB
Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade
Stephanie Green
Ages 5-7

Posey is not excited to start first grade. First of all, she
has to walk to class all by herself. Then there is the hallway monster that the neighbor boys told her about. On top of all that she can’t even wear her favorite tutu which makes her feel brave and turns her into Princess Posey! When she runs into her first grade teacher before the beginning of school, Posey has a few suggestions on how the first day of school should be run. Will
her teacher take Posey’s suggestions or will Posey have to face her first day of school without her special tutu? This is a sweet story with short pages and lots of pictures and would be a good book for those just transitioning to chapter books or beginning the first grade. J FIC Gre

Mar 3, 2015
TamieB
Touch Blue
Cynthia Lord
Ages 9-12

11-year-old Tess loves attending her small island school off the coast of Maine.  Unfortunately, the school may be forced to shut down due to low enrollment.  In attempt to save the school, several island families agree to take in foster children in order to increase enrollment.  The plan seems promising, until Tess meets Aaron, her family's 13-year-old foster child.  Aaron isn't excited to be living on the small island, and trouble ensues.  Will their plan work, or will Tess and her family be forced to move to the mainland?  Read to find out!

Mar 3, 2015
StaceyQ
When the Beat was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop
Laban Carrick Hill
ages 6-10

This is the biography of the first hip hop DJ, Kool Herc. Born in Jamaica and raised in the Bronx, New York City, DJ Kool Herc liked the way music made him feel so he put on dance parties for his friends. In the process, his friends became the first DJs and breakdancers and soon influenced a whole new way of life. Great pictures and a great timeline make this a hip hoppity good time. J BIOG DJ Kool Herc

Feb 2, 2015
Andy
The Book With No Pictures
B.J. Novak
5-8 year olds

What?!  A picture book with no pictures?!  Sounds boring doesn't it?  But don't be fooled. This book is anything but dull.  Packed with crazy, made-up words and silly sentences that will have you laughing out loud, The Book With No Pictures is sure to become a fast favorite! 

Feb 2, 2015
Laura

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