Publisher: Scholastic Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/01/2012
ISBN-13: 9780545395397
ISBN-10: 0545395399

Mystery. Snowed in at a chaotic Washington, D.C. airport, seventh-graders Anna, José, and Henry meet and discover that they have some surprising things in common. Then they learn that the U.S. flag that inspired "The Star Spangled Banner" has been stolen from the Smithsonian museum, and the three new friends deduce that the thief might be stuck at the airport, too. Soon they're in a race against time to save a national treasure! Full of intriguing and/or amusing characters -- such as a mysterious tattooed man, a flamboyant politician, and a rambunctious poodle -- this patriotic who-done-it will thrill fans of other fast-paced, attention-grabbing mysteries (such as Richard Newsome's Archer Legacy books).

Publisher: Clarion Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/10/2012
ISBN-13: 9780547125510
ISBN-10: 0547125518

Nonfiction. Horses are an important part of the history and culture of Native Americans from the Great Plains -- but they haven't always been (originally, Plains Indians employed dogs to carry things). This carefully detailed, easy-to-understand book documents the period in the early 16th century when Spaniards introduced horses to North America and explains how the noble beasts became a lasting, integral part of the Plains Indians' culture. History buffs who are fascinated by the effect that a single new element can have on a whole group may also want to read Sue Macy's book Wheels of Change, about the ways bicycles changed 19th-century women's lives.

Publisher: Candlewick
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/28/2012
ISBN-13: 9780763653804
ISBN-10: 0763653802

Historical Fantasy. Indulged by her wealthy father after the accidental poisoning deaths of all her siblings, lonely young Clara gets to have the amazingly talented -- perhaps supernaturally talented? -- puppeteer Grisini perform at her 12th birthday party. And then Clara gets kidnapped. Told from several different characters' points of view, this spooky, intricate story set in Victorian London will mesmerize fans of well-described settings and tales of sinister magic. For another richly detailed (and scarier!) puppet story, check out Joanne Owen's Puppet Master.

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/01/2012
ISBN-13: 9780545431699
ISBN-10: 0545431697

Fiction. Eleven-year-old Amar'e has a lot of different interests -- he's a good student, he likes skateboarding, and he enjoys shooting hoops with friends at the court in his neighborhood. He's feeling some pressure to pick one sport to focus on and isn't sure what to do. But when a group of guys older than Amar'e and his friends takes over the basketball court, he has no doubt that he's got to stand up to the bullies. This sports novel by New York Knicks power forward Amar'e Stoudemire is loosely based on the six-time NBA All-Star's own childhood, and it's a great pick if you like fast-paced stories packed with basketball action, such as Rich Wallace's Dunk Under Pressure.

Publisher: Random House
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/25/2012
ISBN-13: 9781594745911
ISBN-10: 1594745919

Humorous Horror. Robert Arthur is wary about starting sixth grade at Lovecraft Middle -- none of his friends will be attending the brand-new school. Things actually get worse when Robert learns that he does know someone else at Lovecraft: obnoxious bully Glenn Torkells. And then really weird things start happening, starting with rats popping out of students' lockers, and Robert suspects that there's something seriously wrong with his creepy science teacher. Can a freshly built, state-of-the-art school building...be haunted?!? Fans of spine-tingling horror that also tickles the funny bone (like R.L. Stine's It's the First Day of School -- Forever!) will love this fast-paced, spooky 1st volume in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Tundra Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/14/2009
ISBN-13: 9780887769627
ISBN-10: 0887769624

Nonfiction. Ah, candy. What makes people love it so much? The introduction to this chatty, fun history explains that it's partly biological! Taking readers on a tour of treats through the ages from ancient times to the present, Sweet! profiles candies, confections, and candy makers in mouth-watering detail (well, except for the parts that discuss candy ingredients like "bee barf, mammal secretions, aphid poop, stem sap, root pulp and bean fat"). Full of fascinating tidbits and facts about sweets and how they affect our lives for good or ill, this is one tasty read.

Publisher: Little, Brown
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/05/2010
ISBN-13: 9780316002585
ISBN-10: 0316002585

Fiction. Four lucky kids have been chosen as contestants in the Life is Sweet candy factory's competition to create the tastiest new confection in the country: Logan, son of the factory's Candymaker; Miles, who's allergic to everything from merry-go-rounds to pancakes; Daisy, an unusually strong girl who arrives at the factory on horseback; and Philip, who is super-competitive and quite secretive. When Life is Sweet's secret ingredient is stolen, the four contestants -- one of whom may be a spy -- work together to try to save the sweets (and the day). If you've always wished for another story like Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you'll devour The Candymakers, as will anyone who likes unusual mysteries.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/04/2010
ISBN-13: 9781416979708
ISBN-10: 1416979700

Nonfiction. In the late 1920s, Walter Diemer was an accountant at the struggling Fleer candy company, where scientists were trying (and failing) to invent the world's first bubble gum. Intrigued by what was happening in the lab next to his office, Diemer began to tinker with the formula himself. This fun history of bubble-gum's beginnings focuses on Diemer's tireless efforts and their eventual payoff, but it also includes a wealth of facts about gum (which, in one form or another, humans have been chewing for nigh on to 9,000 years!).

Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/11/2007
ISBN-13: 9781590387832
ISBN-10: 159038783X

Fantasy. There's a new candy shop in town -- and some of the treats there have magical side effects! Fifth-graders Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon learn this first-hand after they meet the store's owner, grandmotherly Mrs. White, and sample things like Moon Rocks, which give them incredible jumping power. But then Mrs. White asks the kids to retrieve a mysterious item for her...and they find that while befriending this candymaker may have benefits, there are also dangerous consequences. Riddled with outlandish characters, suspenseful adventure, and plenty of twists to keep you guessing, this is one sweet read.

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/24/2012
ISBN-13: 9780763657826
ISBN-10: 0763657824

Fiction. In this wacky British romp, Hooey Higgins badly wants the humongous chocolate egg in Mr. Danson's store window and devises a dubious scheme to raise enough money to buy it. A shark has been spotted off a nearby coast, and Hooey and his buddy Twig plan to catch the creature and charge people a fee to see it! Nothing goes according to plan, however, which is a good thing for readers who like goofy, fast-paced misadventures peppered with funny illustrations.