F TAY	Secrets! (age 9-12) by Karen Tayleur humor ... letters/journal ... friendship ... authorship Publisher comments: David Mortimore Baxter becomes famous for being good at keeping secrets. Big secrets. More and more people confide in him, until David's ready to explode. How can he keep so many secrets, when he knows that blabbing them out loud might actually help his family and friends?
F EXQ	The Exquisite Corpse Adventure (age 9-12) by Exq authorship ... humor ... adventure ... action ... fantasy Publisher comments: Take twenty top kids' authors and illustrators. Give them free rein to take turns creating a zany progressive story. What could possibly happen next? It all starts with a train rushing through the night. . . . Well, actually, it starts when Jon Scieszka, former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, writes a cliff-hanger episode and passes it on to the next member of a cast of celebrated writers and illustrators, who continues the story and passes it on. And what happens between episodes one and twenty-seven? Think werewolves and mad scientists, a talking pig, plenty of explosions, a blue Star Wars lunchbox, two meatballs, a whole army of villains and varmints, and one just plain bad egg. Not to mention our heroes, eleven-year-old twins Nancy and Joe, raised in a circus, who must find the pieces of a Top-Secret Robot in order to rescue their parents before . . . tick, tick, tick!
F KLI	43 Old Cemetary Road Series (age 9-12) by Kate Klise humor ... authorship ... letters/journal ... spooky ... mystery Publisher comments: Ignatius B. Grumply moves into the Victorian mansion at 43 Old Cemetery Road hoping to find some peace and quiet so he can crack a wicked case of writer's block. But 43 Old Cemetery Road is already occupied by eleven-year-old Seymour, his cat Shadow, and an irritable ghost named Olive. It's hard to say who is more outraged. But a grumpy old ghost just might inspire this grumpy old man--and the abandoned kid? Well, let's just say his last name's Hope. title: Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetary Road title: Over My Dead Body title: Til Death Do Us Bark
F HIL	A Neckace of Fallen Stars (age 9-12) by Beth Hilgartner fantasy ... magic ... folklore ... authorship When Kaela, youngest daughter of the King of Visin, defies her father and runs away, the king sends a Fytrian wizard to bring her home. Storytelling is Kaela's gift, and allows her to cling to her freedom even as she is pursued.
	Choose Your Own Adventure Series (age 9-12) authorship ... action ... adventure You decide the outcome of each of these breathtaking adventures. title: Abominable Snowman by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: By Balloon to the Sahara by Douglas Terman F TER title: The Cave of Time by Edward Packard F PAC title: The Creature from Miller's Pond by Susan Saunders F SAU title: A Day With the Dinosaurs by Edward Packard F PAC title: The Deadly Shadow by Richard Brightfield F BRI title: Escape by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: The Genie in the Bottle by Jim Razzi F RAZ title: Gorga, the Space Monster by Edward Packard F PAC title: The Green Slime by Susan Saunders F SAU title: Help! You're Shrinking by Edward Packard F PAC title: Hyperspace by Edward Packard F PAC title: Indian Trail by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Inside UFO 54-40 by Edward Packard F PAC title: Lost on the Amazon by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Mountain Survival by Edward Packard F PAC title: The Mystery of Chimney rock by Edward Packard F PAC title: The Mystery of the Highland Crest by Louise Munro Foley F FOL title: The Phantom Submarine by Richard Brightfield F BRI title: Prisoner of the Ant People by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: The Race Forever by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: The Search for the Champ by Shannon Gilligan F GIL title: Search for the Mountain Gorillas by Jim Wallace F WAL title: Secret of the Pyramids by Richard Brightfield F BRI title: The Secret Treasure of Tibet by Richard Brightfield F BRI title: Space and Beyond by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Space Patrol by Julius Goodman F GOO title: Spy for George Washington by Jay Leibold F LEI title: Spy Trap by Edward Packard F PAC title: Stranded! by Sara Compton F COM title: Summer Camp by Judy Gitenstein F GIT title: Sunken Treasure by Edward Packard F PAC title: Supercomputer by Edward Packard F PAC title: The Three Wishes by Shannon Gilligan F GIL title: Treasure Diver by Julius Goodman F GOO title: Trouble on Planet Earth by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Vampire Express by Tony Koltz F KOL title: You Are a Shark by Edward Packard F PAC title: You Are Invisible by Susan Saunders F SAU title: You Can Make a Difference by Anne Bailey F BAI title: Your Very Own Robot by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Secret of the Ninja by Jay Leibold F LEI title: Terror on the Titanic by Jim Wallace F WAL title: War With the Evil Power Master by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: The Lost Jewels of Nabooti by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: The Brilliant Dr. Wogan by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: The Abominable Snowman by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Tattoo of Death by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Return to Atlantis by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Race Forever by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Journey Under the Sea by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: House of Danger by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Forecast from Stonehenge by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: Beyond Escape! by R. A. Montgomery F MON title: The Case of the Silk King by Shannon Gilligan F GIL title: Struggle Down Under by Shannon Gilligan F GIL title: Cup of Death by Shannon Gilligan F GIL title: Inca Gold by Jim Becket F BEC
F SHA	Mysteriously Yours, Maggie Marmelstein (age 9-12) by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat authorship ... school Named the mystery column writer for the school newspaper, Maggie revels in the power she can exert.
F SPI	The Library Card (age 9-12) by Jerry Spinelli growing up ... short stories ... authorship Mongoose, Brenda, Sonseray, and April have nothing in common...until a mysterious blue card appears as if by magic and begins to change each of their lives. None of them guesses it at first, but that strange blue card will be their ticket to the past--and to a future that they never imagined. In stories that range from humorous to heartbreaking, Newbery-award-winner Jerry Spinelli reveals the amazing possibilities lurking behind library doors.
F WIN	Adam Canfield of the Slash Series (age 9-12) by Michael Winerip mystery ... authorship ... school Late for math club, late for jazz band, late for soccer...Adam Canfield has to be the most overprogrammed middle-school student in America. So when super-organized Jennifer coaxes him to be coeditor of The Slash, Harris Elementary/Middle School's student newspaper, he wonders if he's made a big mistake. Not only do editors get stuck with assigning stories (like an investigative report on the edibility of cafeteria food), but they also have to deal with annoying third graders like Phoebe, always pushing for a front-page slot. But when Phoebe's article on Eddie the janitor leads to a much bigger scoop, an eccentric woman's mysterious gift to the school, Adam and Jennifer rise to the challenge, risking their principal's wrath to uncover some shocking secrets. title: Adam Canfield of the Slash title: Adam Canfield, Watch Your Back!
F SNY	The Bronze Pen (age 9-12) by Zilpha Keatley Snyder brilliant protagonist ... humor ... friendship ... magic ... family ... authorship Twelve-year-old Audrey Abbott dreams of becoming a writer, but with her father's failing health and the family's shaky finances, it seems there is no room for what her overworked mother would surely call a childish fantasy. So Audrey keeps her writing a secret. That is, until she meets a mysterious old woman who seems able to read her mind. Audrey is surprised at how readily she reveals her secret to the woman. One day the old woman gives Audrey a peculiar bronze pen and tells her to "use it wisely and to good purpose." It turns out to be just perfect for writing her stories with. But as Audrey writes, odd things start happening. Did Beowulf, her dog, just speak to her? And what is that bumping under her bed at night? It seems that whatever she writes with the pen comes true. However, things don't always happen in the way that she wants or expects. In fact, it's quite difficult to predict what writing with the pen will do. Could the pen be more of a curse than a gift? Or will Audrey be able to rewrite the future in the way that she wishes---and save her father's life?
F SCH	4 Kids in 5-E and 1 Crazy Year (age 9-12) by Virginia Frances Schwartz letters/journal ... humor ... school ... authorship Told in four voices, this heartfelt and sometimes hilarious story chronicles the ups and downs of a unique group of city kids learning to cope with their complicated lives.
F KIR	The Pagemaster (age 9-12) by David Kirschner authorship ... fantasy A young boy finds shelter in a library, where to his peril, stories in the books come alive.
F MCK	Stargone John (age 9-12) by Ellen Kindt McKenzie authorship ... school Six-year-old John, emotionally withdrawn and resistant to traditional teaching methods, experiences ridicule and punishment at his one-room schoolhouse, until an old retired teacher reaches out from her blindness to share with him the world of reading and writing.
F BYA	Beans on the Roof (age 9-12) by Betsy Cromer Byars family ... authorship ... poetry Publisher comments: George Bean always wants to play on the roof of his apartment building. But only his older sister Anna can sit there, because she's writing a roof poem. Anna may be the first Bean to be in a book if the poem wins a contest at school. George decides to write a roof poem too. Soon all the Beans are on the roof writing the roof poems. All except George. He needs some inspiration. How will he get it?
F BUT	Tank Talbott's Guide to Girls (age 9-12) by Dori Hillestad Butler school ... humor ... authorship Publisher comments: Tank's summer is not shaping up the way he'd hoped. It's bad enough that his three stepsisters will be sharing his cramped house for the summer vacation. Then he finds out that he has to work with a math tutor every day and fill a big notebook with his writing--just to pass fifth grade! Tank wishes he could just sell his friend Jason's movie script to Hollywood. After all, Tank is Jason's agent. But passing fifth grade is a big deal too and soon, inspired by his brother's breakup with Jason's sister, Tank realizes he can fill his notebook writing a guide to girls. It will be a bestseller! See also, "Trading Places With Tank Talbott".
F WAR	Dog Years (age 9-12) by Sally Warner authorship ... friendship ... school After his father is imprisoned, twelve-year-old Case switches to a new school, where he makes some important discoveries about friendship and honesty.
F TOL	Save Halloween! (age 9-12) by Stephanie S. Tolan traditions ... identity ... authorship ... folklore ... school Eleven-year-old Johnna, who is deeply involved in the sixth grade Halloween pageant although her family views it as a celebration of an un-Christian holiday, decides that she must follow her own beliefs.
F NAY	Beetles, Lightly Toasted (age 9-12) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor humor ... enterprise ... authorship Andy's entering the fifth-grade essay contest stirs his imagination to creative heights as he competes with his know-it-all cousin by making recipes with some unusual food sources and testing them on unaware friends and family.
F HUT	The Prince of Tarn (age 9-12) by Hazel Hutchins authorship ... fantasy ... adventure Fred can't believe the Prince is actually standing in his bedroom. Are his mom's stories becoming real? He tries to send the Prince back home to his magical kingdom of Tarn, but in the meantime the Prince barks orders at everyone, including Fred's teacher. It is only when Tarn is being destroyed that they find a way to get there--and in the process each boy finds that the other isn't so bad after all.
F DUF	Utterly Yours, Booker Jones (age 9-12) by Betsy Duffey authorship ... school ... family Middle school student and aspiring author Booker Jones is evicted from his bedroom when his grandfather moves in, creating problems both at home and at school.
F BAN	Alice by Accident (age 9-12) by Lynne Reid Banks identity ... family ... school ... authorship It's Just so stupid, asking us to write our life for homework. It's not even a weekend! Alice Williamson-Stone doesn't see how she can write her life story as a class assignment. What's interesting in her life is not the "family and pets" stuff her teacher asked for. Her pets have died, and the only family she has is her mother. Until recently she had a beloved, interfering grandmother--Gene--but she's gone from Alice's life. Besides, as Alice discovered ages ago, she was born by accident, and that's the sort of private thing you don't write about for school. Alice does the assignment but she thinks it's pretty boring, until in doing it she discovers a need to write about her true life--the exciting, complicated, private parts.
F ARM	Whittington (age 9-12) by Alan Armstrong authorship ... folklore ... family ... fantasy Abby and Ben come to the barn every day to help feed the animals. Abby shares her worry that Ben can't really read yet and that he refuses to go to Special Ed. Whittington the cat and the Lady, the leader of the barnyard animals, decide that Abby should give Ben reading lessons in the barn. It is a balm for Ben when, having toughed out the daily lesson, Whittington comes to tell, in tantalizing installments, the story handed down to him from his nameless forebearer, Dick Whittington's cat: the legend of the lad born into poverty in rural England during the Black Death, who runs away to London to seek his fortune. This is an unforgettable tale about how learning to read saves one little boy. It is about the healing, transcendent power of storytelling and how, if you have loved ones surrounding you and good stories to tell, to listen to, and to read, you have just about everything of value in this world.
F LIS	How I Became a Writer and Oggie Learned to Drive (age 9-12) by Janet Taylor Lisle authorship ... adventure ... family Anyone anywhere near Garden Street knows to stay away from the Night Riders, and Archie is no different. He and his little brother, Oggie, know the gang is up to no good. When they steal Oggie's prized red wallet and his entire life savings, Archie has to get it back. After all, Archie has been looking out for his little brother ever since their parents separated. But the only way the Night Riders will give the wallet back is if Archie joins the gang to retrieve it. Archie is afraid that he's headed for trouble, but can he really turn back now? It's going to take all of Archie's courage--and creativity--to come out on top.
F SIN	Naftali the Storyteller and His Horse, Sus (age 9-12) by Isaac Bashens Singer folklore ... authorship ... short stories ... historical A collection of short stories which explores the humor and life of the people of Poland in a bygone era.
F CLE	Dear Mr. Henshaw (age 9-12) by Beverly Cleary identity ... friendship ... authorship ... letters/journal In his letters to his favorite author, ten-year-old Leigh reveals his problems in coping with his parents' divorce, being the new boy in school, and generally finding his own place in the world.

Sat Aug 25 11:55:25 2012 Other themes and genres