Here are a few highlights from the list, all taken from different genre categories:
The Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles by Frank CamussoNew kid Artie just wants to ease into his new life at Camelot Middle School without any trouble. But trouble is exactly what he gets when he accidentally manages to get on the wrong side of both the school principal and The Horde, a bunch of brawny dodgeball-playing bullies who rule the school. Things get even stranger when Artie is assigned to strange locker that no one else has ever been able to open and always seems to find what he needs inside. The good news is that he's also made friends with two kids named Percy and Wayne and his science teacher, Mr. Merlyn, seems pretty cool. A modern tale based on the legend of King Arthur, this graphic novel is sure to be a hit.
A Dog Called Grk by Joshua DoderWhen Tim is followed home by a dog on the street, he's determined to find out who the friendly stray belongs to. But with a little investigating, Tim discovers that Grk's owners don't live in his town, or even in his country. Max and Natascha Raffifi, Grk's owners, have been kidnapped with their ambassador parents by the evil Colonel Zinfandel and taken to a prison in Eastern Europe! Tim knows he's about to undertake a mission his parents wouldn't exactly approve of. He sneaks out of the house in the middle of the night with Grk, catches a taxi to the airport, then hops a plane to Stanislavia. Together he and Grk will have to break into a high-security prison, pilot a helicopter, and make a nail-biting run for the border in this high-octane, international adventure. Great for anyone looking for a book full of humor and action.
Whales on Stilts by M.T. AndersonWhat sort of madman would unleash an army of stilt-walking, laser-beaming, thoroughly angry whales upon the world? Who cares! All that matters is that his dastardly plan be foiled. Lucky for Lily Gefelty, her two best friends are the intrepid stars of their own middle-grade series novels: Jasper Dash (better know as the Boy Technonaut) and Katie Mulligan (beloved by millions as the heroine of the Horror Hollow series). It's going to take all their smarts to stop this insane, inane plot from succeeding.
Don't forget to try listening to audiobooks! Listening to an audiobook is a great way to enjoy a story together with friends and family. Books that we recommend that are available on audio - either on CD or Playaway - are marked on the list itself.
Happy reading! -Ms. Sandy
