New Children's Fiction

Abby Braverman strives to navigate seventh grade without her best friend, keep up her older brother's spirits while he undergoes cancer treatment, and figure out her surprising new feelings for the boy next door. Includes facts about testicular cancer.

Left at the Mostly Silent Monastery as a toddler and home-schooled by a retired nun, twelve-year-old Bicycle rides cross-country to meet a famous cyclist who she hopes will be her first friend.

"Claudia has always been the most creative kid in her class... until Ashley Wyeth comes along. Ashley's really different: She wears hippie clothes and has multiple earrings, and she's the most fantastic artist Claudia has ever met. Ashley says Claudia is a great artist, too, but thinks she's wasting her artistic talent with The Baby-sitters Club. When Claudia starts spending more time with Ashley and missing BSC meetings, it becomes clear that Claudia has to make a decision -- one of them has to go!"--Back cover.

Eight-year-old Ben takes a fortune cookie literally, and believing he has only one day left to live, tries to do everything he has always wanted to before nightfall.

"It's Yom Kippur Eve in 1973, and twelve-year-old Beni thinks his biggest problem is settling in at his new school in the Golan, where his family moved at the end of the Six-Day War. But on Yom Kippur, shocking news comes over the radio: a stunning strike on Israel has begun, led by a coalition of Arab states. In the blink of an eye, Beni's older brother Motti is off to war, leaving Beni behind with his mother and father. As bombs drop around Beni and his family, they flee to safety, every day hoping for news of Motti and the developments of the war. Beni must find a way to aid the war effort in his own way, proving that he too can be a hero, even as he learns along the way that there is dignity in every person, including the people he considers the enemy"-- Provided by publisher.

Sami loves his life in Damascus, Syria, but when war breaks out his parents decide they must flee their home for the safety of the UK.

"Buddy is a dog with a big appetite and an even bigger heart--which means he's absolutely perfect for doing a Very Important Job. When Buddy becomes Noah's service dog, he is excited to have a family of his own. Noah has anemia, and he needs his canine companion to keep an eye on him. It's a big responsibility, but to Buddy, it's the best job in the world. One day on a trip to the beach, Noah gets sick and desperately needs Buddy's help. Can Buddy overcome slippery rocks, a dark cave, and strong ocean waves to rescue his friend?" -- Amazon.

"It's a dark and stormy night when three sleuthing little girls get pulled into a web of mystery. They have mistakenly uncovered a secret society of some of the most famous female spies in history. A glamorous spy named Josephine Baker enlists the girls to find out who has kidnapped Chiquita, her precious pet cheetah. Do the girls have what it takes to become spies themselves?"-- Publisher's description.

"Olive, meet Natasha. There’s a new kid in town! From the moment Natasha sets foot in class, it’s clear she’s one of the coolest kids in sixth grade. Everyone wants to be her friend, including Olive ... but things might not be so easy. Olive tries her best to befriend Nat, but it seems like the only thing they have in common is that they both want to hang out with Olive’s friends! Watching as Natasha gets closer with some of her best buds, Olive can’t help but worry that they’re starting to like Nat more than they like her ... and who could blame them? Nat is just that cool ... and Olive is, well, just Olive.".

On Dead Wednesday, every eighth grader in Amber Springs is assigned the name and identity of a teenager who died a preventable death in the past year. The kids don black shirts and for the whole day everyone in town pretends they're invisible—as if they weren't even there. The adults think it will make them contemplate their mortality. The kids know it's a free pass to get away with anything. Worm Tarnauer feels invisible every day. He's perfectly happy being the unnoticed sidekick of his friend Eddie. So he's not expecting Dead Wednesday to feel that different. But he didn't count on being assigned Becca Finch (17, car crash). And he certainly didn't count on Becca showing up to boss him around! Letting this girl into his head is about to change everything. This is the story of the unexpected, heartbreaking, hilarious, truly epic day when Worm Tarnauer discovers his own life.

Nikki's diary is up to the month of April, and springtime is sure to bring more wacky adventures with Nikki and her friends Chloe, Zoey, and Brandon!

After a series of spectacular-and at times, hilarious-disasters, including being expelled from school, perfectionist Elfie Oster discovers what truly matters as she tries to make sense of everything that is happening to her.

After being sadly brought home from the animal shelter Elvis learns to appreciate his new family, especially ten-year-old Georgina Pemberton who builds skyscraper buildings in her bedroom, and Elvis realizes that both humans and animals can build a world of their own choosing, even if the choices are not what they had initially expected.

When eleven-year-old Georgie and her sister Peaches relocate to Bogalusa, Louisiana, with their mother to help their Great Aunt Vie, Georgie becomes involved in the search for the truth about her new friend Markie's mother.

"After Kitty's mother dies on an inappropriately sunny Tuesday, all Kitty wants is for her life to go back to "normal"--whatever that will mean without her mum. Instead, her dad announces that he, Kitty, and her sister are moving from their home in London to New York City, and Kitty will need to say goodbye to the places and people that help keep her mother's memory alive. New York is every bit as big and bustling as Kitty's heard, and as she adjusts to life there and befriends a blue-haired boy, she starts to wonder if her memories of her mum don't need to stay in one place--if there's a way for them to be with Kitty every day, everywhere."-- Publisher's description.

Haylee and Comet share one simple wish: a friend. And as with all great best-friendships, the universe brings them together in the right place at the right time. With each adventure, Haylee and Comet learn about what it takes to grow a strong and long-lasting friendship: accepting their differences, discovering the things they share, communicating with honesty, and being open to forgiveness. And just maybe, there'll be some surprises along the way.

"A brother and sister are transported to a strange world based on the game hide-and-seek, where they are pursued by a cursed witch"-- Provided by publisher.

Broadening his horizons, Arlo listens to Pips and makes friends with a smart and clever crow named Marla, who has good ideas and knows so many interesting things.

"A mysterious jukebox, old vinyl records, and cryptic notes on music history, are Shaheen's only clues to her father's abrupt disappearance. She looks to her cousin, Tannaz, who seems just as perplexed, before they both turn to the jukebox which starts ... glowing? Suddenly, the girls are pulled from their era and transported to another time! Keyed to the music on the record, the jukebox sends them through decade after decade of music history, from political marches to landmark concerts. But can they find Shaheen's dad before the music stops?"-- Provided by publisher.

"My name is Grace, not 'Kyle's little sister!' Having a good-looking, friendly, outgoing older brother sucks--especially when you're the total opposite, someone who likes staying home and playing video games. Your parents like him better (even if they deny it!), and everyone calls you 'Kyle's little sister' while looking disappointed that you're not more like him. I was really hoping I'd get to go to a different middle school, but no such luck. At least I have my friends...until he finds a way to ruin that, too...! Argh! What do I have to do to get out of his shadow?!"--back cover.

"A family feud before the start of seventh grade propels Meilan from Boston's Chinatown to rural Ohio, where she must tap into her inner strength and sense of justice to make a new place for herself"-- Provided by publisher.

After her first day of middle school is ruined by a dress code violation, Margie Kelly begins to notice blatant sexism and decides to protest the school's gender inequality.

A forgotten homemade robot comes to life just when aspiring fifth-grade scientist Maya needs a friend--and a science fair project.

Sonia Patel hopes having a full summer in her new house in Metropolis Grove will let her make friends before school starts, but new pals Duncan and Alex do not believe her when she tells them she has actually seen Superman in their town.

"Aren't school lunches a bit strange? Chicken nuggets? Again? On Pizza? Covered in chocolate? Nobody wants to live on lettuce and broccoli, but children are losing teeth over this! This needs investigating. This looks like a case for Mina Mistry."-- Publisher's description.

Despite their differences, monster neighbors Reggie and Emily make the perfect pair of explorers, and with a map to make, a beach party to plan, and a sea monster to find, Reggie will have to learn to talk about his feelings and let new friends in.

After angering a number of hostile spirits in England, thirteen-year-old magician John Constantine is sent to the Junior Success Boarding School in Salem, Massachusetts where he and fellow misfit Anna try to find out if their teacher Ms. Kayla is a witch.

After twelve-year-old Lark, determined to escape her squalid life, steals a magical sword from the Royal Museum, she reluctantly becomes the next Nightingale, destined to vanquish an ancient evil.

"Ignored because she is a daughter, Princess Una sets out to find the Silva Flower, and her path crosses with Julien, a pauper hoping to free his father by finding the same flower"--Provided by publisher.

Owly and Wormy love making new friends, and when they spot an unfamiliar animal flying through the trees, they can't wait to meet her! Unfortunately, Shadow the flying squirrel doesn't want to be friends with Owly because she's afraid of him. Wormy tries to convince Shadow that she can trust Owly, but she's still scared... When Wormy gets stuck high up in a tree, Owly's own fear of flying keeps him grounded. Can Owly overcome his fears? And will Shadow be able to do the same?

"The Republic Fair is coming! Visitors from all over the galaxy are traveling to the planet Valo for a massive, awe-inspiring festival celebrating the Republic. While his fellow Valons prepare for the fair, Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram is hiding out in his favorite place: a dingy garage filled with mechanical parts and tools. But when a security alarm goes off on the nearby hilltop nicknamed Crashpoint Peak, he ventures out with his trusty droid V-18 to investigate. There he discovers that someone has knocked out Valo’s communications tower―a frightening sign that Valo, and the Republic Fair, are in danger. Sure enough, as Ram races to warn the Jedi, the dreaded Nihil unleash a surprise attack! It’s up to Ram to face down the enemy at Crashpoint Tower and send a call for help to the Republic. Luckily, he’s about to get some assistance from unexpected new friends…"--Back cover.

657 days ago Meg's British father left their home in France to fight the Nazis, leaving some codes in a jar for her to decipher, and Meg and her French mother moved to the Perche, a region in France near Normandy known for its forests now Meg watches the German soldiers in town, and sometimes carries messages for the French resistance--but suddenly things have gotten much more dangerous: there is a wounded British officer hiding in her grandmother's barn, a family of German refugees who are trying to get to Spain, and the Nazis have arrived on the doorstop searching for the fugitives.

When most of the adults on space station Wilnick come down with the flu, Sanity and Tallulah are tasked with delivering turbopumps to another station, but when they take a shortcut, they accidentally end up on the other side of the blockade.

Self-conscious of her stutter, Charlotte says nothing as her best friend is bullied, but as the school year goes on she realizes some things are worth speaking up for.

"When Uchenna and Elliot's classmate publishes an article in the school newspaper about the Schmoke Brothers, Professor Fauna notices something alarming in a photo. Mounted on the wall of the Schmoke's living room is a single spiral horn that he's certain could have come from only one animal--a unicorn! To save these magical creatures--and to finally see a unicorn themselves--the Unicorn Rescue Society heads to the rugged mountains of Pakistan."--Provided by publisher.

When Apophis, the chaos snake, threatens to plunge the world into eternal darkness, siblings Carter and Sade Kane plan to use an ancient spell to destroy the snake, but first must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician.

It is 1805 and Mary Lambert has always felt safe among the deaf community of Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard where practically everyone communicates in a shared sign language, but recent events have shattered her life her brother George has died, land disputes between English settlers and the Wampanoag people are becoming increasingly bitter, and a "scientist" determined to discover the origins of the islands' widespread deafness has decided she makes the perfect "live specimen"--and kidnapped her.

In three stories, Fox comforts Chick on a sleepover, helps Chick hang a painting, and throws Chicks a surprise birthday party.

Second-grader Raven faces her fear of public speaking and makes a new friend when her wish backfires.

When their sister Charlie is kidnapped by poachers, Betty, Fliss, and their newfound friend Willow embark on a high seas adventure involving ghosts, fierce pirates and a journey to a mythic island that only exists in legend.

When a silly prank lands Squizzard in deep trouble, he comes down with a case of the barnacle blues. Instead of going to the Coral Carnival with his friends, he'll have to do the swim-possible and turn Seaweed Elementary's junk-filled basement into an activity room for after-school clubs. But there just may be hidden treasures to discover if Squizzard can stop all the funny business long enough to find them.

"When scientists discover a rare and mysterious mineral buried in the Earth’s crust, they have no idea that it just happens to be the most valuable substance in the entire universe. It’s not long before aliens show up to our little corner of the galaxy offering a promise of protection, some fabulous new technology, and entry into their intergalactic coalition—all in exchange for this precious resource. A material so precious that other alien forces are willing to start a war over it. A war that soon makes its way to Earth. Leo knows this all too well. His mother was killed in one such attack, and soon after, his father, a Coalition scientist, decides it would be best for them to leave Earth behind. It’s on this expedition that their ship is attacked, Leo’s father is kidnapped, and Leo and his brother are stranded in the middle of space. The only chance they have is for Leo to stow away on a strange ship of mercenary space pirates bound for who knows where and beg the captain to help him find his father. But the road is dangerous, and pirates, of course, only look out for themselves. Leo must decide who to trust as he tries to stay alive and save his family, even as he comes to understand that there aren’t many people—human or alien—that he can count on in this brave new universe."--Dust jacket.

"Fresh off their victory against Whiskerface, the superhero pets of Sunnyview Elementary face off against a fierce new foe: flying ninja squirrels!"-- Provided by publisher.

Determined to be the World's First Flying Hedgehog, Taylor sets out to realize his dream, while Sydney tries to keep him in one piece, in this humorous story that highlights the importance of friendship.

A collection of nearly seventy short and surreal stories told by Signor Bianchi, a traveling salesman, to his daughter over the telephone nightly.

In the summer before middle school, eleven-year-old Bug must contend with best friend Moira suddenly caring about clothes, makeup, and boys a ghost haunting and the truth about Bug's gender identity.;It's the summer before middle school and eleven-year-old Bug's best friend Moira has decided the two of them need to use the next few months to prepare. For Moira, this means figuring out the right clothes to wear, learning how to put on makeup, and deciding which boys are cuter in their yearbook photos than in real life. But none of this is all that appealing to Bug, who doesn't particularly want to spend more time trying to understand how to be a girl. Besides, there's something more important to worry about: a ghost is haunting Bug's eerie old house in rural Vermont...and maybe haunting Bug in particular. As Bug begins to untangle the mystery of who this ghost is and what they're trying to say, an altogether different truth comes to light--Bug is transgender.

"The Wizard boy Xar and the Warrior girl Wish must learn to work together in order to find the ingredients for an ancient Witch-killing spell if they are to save the wildwoods"-- Provided by publisher.

"Who knew being queen could sting so much? All Bee really wants to do is play with her two best friends, Pea and Jay. But when she's replaced by Lenny--an ambitious bee hungry for power--as queen of her hive, the friends set out to prove Lenny isn't exactly who he seems to be. Can Bee, with the help of her friends, regain her crown and throne, or has the Reign of Lenny officially begun?

"When kittypet Tiny crosses paths with some wild forest cats defending their territory, he is left with scars-- and a bitter, deep-seated grudge. As his reputation grows among the strays and loners that live in the dirty brick alleyways of Twolegplace, he changes his name to Scourge and puts everything about his old life behind him-- except his deadly desire for revenge"--Page 4 of cover.

Living near Boston, sixth-grader Emma tries to hide from family problems and changing friendships by spending the summer in Wyoming.