As the weather turns and fall begins to settle in, now might be a great time to curl up to a new book. Your L@H K-7 library has wonderful new selections to share with you.
Happy Reading <3 Val Martineau
Virtual Library Coordinator
The Swap by Megan ShullGr. 6/7 and up Multiple perspectives/ Character Driven
This was my favourite Young Adult (YA) read this summer has been the Swap by Megan Shull. 12-year-old Ellie was dumped by her best friend, is getting harassed at school and is feeling anything but good about herself. Jack is 13 and a hockey prodigy. He is pushed to the limit by the military style discipline of his father, where nothing he does is good enough for The Captain. Ending up in the nurse’s room for different reasons, both Jack and Ellie are wishing they had different lives. With the magic of a mystical, unfamiliar nurse the two switch bodies for the weekend. This fun, authentic, genuine story tells the tale of a boy and girl struggling to be themselves but realizing by being someone else they have a better perspective on who they are and what they can become. It is funny and awkward as they deal with puberty in bodies of the opposite gender. Friendships are formed, lessons are learned and best of all a realization that you are the best you, you can be. It’s a story of overcoming fear and shining from the inside out.
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Gr. 4 and up Autobiographical Graphic Novel
If you enjoyed Smile, Sisters and Drama by Rania Telgemeier you will likely enjoy El Deafo. Rated one of the top graphic novels of 2015, El Deafo is the autobiographical story of Cece who at four-years-old, contracts meningitis and loses her hearing. It’s a wonderful look at being deaf from the deaf child’s perspective. What is frustrating, what she likes, what drives her crazy and how she copes. Like Smile, it’s told with humour and compassion. El Deafo is a great read centering on acceptance, friendship and understanding. I really enjoyed Cece’s story.
How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor Gr. 4-7
Realistic Fiction
Georgina lives in her car with her mom after her parents separate. Her mom is working two jobs just to feed the kids. Georgina is looking to do anything to help her mom. When she sees a poster with a $500 reward for the return of a lost dog, Georgina decides to take things into her own hands. After looking for the dog and not finding it, she decides to steal a dog to claim the reward. This funny, well written story tells an unconventional tale of love, family and a moral quandary. It is a great book to read and discuss.
Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
Gr. 4-7 Mystery Fast-paced
This face paced mystery takes 13-year-old Theo and her friend Bodhi on an adventure to find the truth behind a painting. Is it a real Raphael? As her grandfather lays dying he whispers to Theo “There's a letter… And a treasure" hidden "under the egg.". If you like mystery and adventure mixed in with a bit of humour and a quirky friendship this story is for you.
Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Gr. 4-6 Mystery Plot Driven
Synopsis from Novelist K-8 Just after twelve-year-old Emily and her family move to San Francisco, she teams up with new friend James to follow clues in an odd book they find, hoping to figure out its secrets before the men who attacked Emily's hero, publisher Garrison Griswold, solve the mystery or come after the friends.
Gangsta Granny by David Walliams
Gr. 3-6 Humour
This funny book is another hit for David Walliams. Ben has to spend time with his really old Granny and soon learns she has a secret life. It’s funny, silly and overt the top ridiculous at times but its also about seeing someone for who they really are and realizing how important it is to get to know the person before judging them. Telegraph Magazine review: "An enjoyable read with an unexpected bittersweet ending" - The Sun "Hugely entertaining... a comic, touching and at times sad story" - Daily Express "This is possibly David's funniest book ever." - Heat "Anyone who thinks that all grannies do is wear mauve...will laugh out loud at David Walliams' new book"
Poison Ivy by Amy Goldan Koss
Gr. 7 -10* (some mature language)
Booklist review from Novelist K-8: What better way to explain government in action than to stage a mock trial, in this case a trial in which one unpopular girl, Ivy (aka Poison Ivy), seeks to bring three bullies to justice. Alas, the questionable ambitions of a teacher, the fearful power of popularity, and the sad truth of how losers are made combine to make things ugly. The trial unfolds through the alternating viewpoint of several students, each of whom has a distinctive voice: Marcus is penetrating and contemptuous; Ivy's is strangely cool; Ann's bubbles with cruelty. Sometimes the dialogue sounds candid and natural; at other times, it’s overly dramatized. And, unfortunately, because readers never see how Ivy is bullied (were just told its bad), the story lacks an emotional punch. The message is clear: beauty, popularity, and fear are the trinity by which girls rule, and although most teenagers aren’t cruel, many are indifferent to the suffering of their peers and are thankful they aren’t the ones in the spotlight. School stories like this aren’t rare, but they make compelling reading for teenagers in the trenches. -- Krista Hutley (Reviewed 02-15-2006) (Booklist, vol 102, number 12, p93)
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