Barry, Boyhound by
This is the story of a boy named Barry. Some stuff happens, and overnight like magic he turns into a boyhound. Not a hound, but a boyhound–which means while he may still look like a boy, he is, in fact, a dog. And even in his boyhound brain, Barry knows there are lots of advantages to being a dog. You don’t have to clean your room or use dental floss, for example. But things get crazy. He eats something too disgusting to mention. He’s attacked by telepathic squirrels. An innocent squashed frog becomes involved. Plus, his mother’s getting pretty mad. And that’s all before the really bad thing happens. . . .
The Crazy Man by
It is 1965, and 12-year-old Emaline, living on a wheat farm, must deal with a family that is falling apart. When her dog, Prince, chases a hare into the path of the tractor, she chases after him, and her father accidentally runs over her leg with the machine, leaving her with a long convalescence and a permanent disability. Even worse, from Emaline’s point of view, is that in his grief and guilt, her father shoots Prince and leaves Emaline and her mother on their own. Despite the neighbors’ disapproval, Emaline’s mother hires Angus, a patient from the local mental hospital, to work their fields. Angus is a red-haired giant whom the local children tease and call "the gorilla." Though the small town’s prejudice creates a cloud of suspicion around Angus that nearly results in tragedy, he just may hold the key to Emaline's coming to grips with her injury and the loss of her father.
Domenic's War by
On a rugged mountain in the center of Italy stands an ancient Benedictine monastery. It is January 1944, and Monte Cassino, the mountain on which the monastery stands, becomes the staging ground for one of the most fiercely fought battles of World War II. Young Domenic and his family, who live on a farm north of Monte Cassino, are helplessly caught in the war. With battle lines approaching, they struggle against all odds. Will they be caught hiding two escaped prisoners-of-war? Will the innocent people sheltering in the monastery survive? This fascinating novel is based on the true story of the fateful events at Monte Cassino during that long cold winter. In the fast-paced style of Storm-Blast and Sea Chase, Domenic's War is Curtis Parkinson at the top of his form.
The Dragon Prince by
A dangerous and exciting journey featuring dragons, magic and friendship! Dragons and humans are known enemies, but when theyoung dragon Ember wakes to find a frightened young boy in her cave, she does the unthinkable and tries to save him from being killed by her own clan. With the help of her dragon friend Brand, the boy is rescued and taken to Cidrok's Mountain. It is there they learn that the boy is a prince whose parents were Dragon Lords - humans who partner with dragons to create great magic. Cidrok, the wise old dragon, tells them to take the boy to Kowtow, the land of humans, where he will be safe. Knowing they are being pursued by dragons from their own herd, Ember and Brand must embark on the most dangerous journey of their lives.
Ingrid and the Wolf by
Like all of us, Ingrid wants to belong, especially to a family. Now, she does have parents whom she loves very much, but she has a sense that there is more to her past than she’s been told. When the opportunity presents itself for her to visit Hungary, Ingrid takes it despite her parents’ objections. What she finds in the old country is enchanting, gorgeous, and terrifying. Her legacy is nothing like she expected. It is a creature that is, by turns, loving and vicious. It is a wolf. Ingrid realizes that she is the caretaker of her unusual inheritance, like it or not. Award-winning author André Alexis delivers his storytelling skills to a new generation of readers in this, his first children’s book.
Mella and the N'Anga by
Ages 8 to 13 years. Mella lives in the long-ago time when the place we now call Zimbabwe was known as the Land of the People. Within the great hilltop town of Mopopoto, Mella's beloved father, the King, lies gravely ill. Beyond the high stone walls, the land has been overcome by drought and unrest grows between the warrior tribes of the kingdom. Senior Sister, one of the wisest elders in the town, has taught Mella the forbidden song that will call the Great N'anga, a strange and powerful figure who is viewed with suspicion by most townspeople. The N'anga comes to the town in answer to her call and chooses three girls to train in the ways of the ancient Daughters of the Hunt. The girls learn the skills of the hunt, the ways of the forest and, when the N'anga and Senior Sister think they are ready, are initiated into the ways of the ancient sacred drum, which has lain hidden and waiting for decades for a worthy girl to bring it to life again in a time of need. Mella learns from the N'anga that the only way to restore her father's health is to seek out the much-feared Python Healer, a perilous journey that few would undertake. When Mella's brother, the warrior Dikita, fails to bring back the Python Healer, Mella knows there is only one thing to do: she must face the Python Healer herself. In this tale of courage and wisdom, Gail Nyoka brings to life a mythic time and gives us a fascinating glimpse of society in ancient Africa.
The Path Through the Trees by
Thirteen-year-old Norah Bingham and her mother plan to spend Christmas in the country with Caroline Stoppard, Norah's great-aunt. When her mother is called away on business, Norah goes on her own to stay with the aunt, someone she has never even met. From the start, the woman makes it plain that she does not welcome Norahs company, nor that of Norah's cousins, Andrew and Becca, who arrive two days later. The isolated Stoppard mansion is as dismal as the Ontario winter. But the cousins soon discover there are puzzles to solve. Great-aunt Caroline has many secrets. Among them is the identity of the boy Norah sees in the backyard. Who is he? And why is he watching the house?
Sarah and the Magic Science Project by
Can magic and science live happily ever after? When a local grocer zaps a shoplifter into a frog, Sarah and Ben know that something's afoot. After all, nothing they've learned in science class explains how this lady can turn troublemakers into toads. It's not surprising, then, that their teacher, Mr. Wyanth, doesn't believe a word of it. Undaunted, Sarah sets out, with Ben reluctantly in tow, to make a science project out of this mysterious magic-caster known as Anastasia Morningstar. But Mr. Wyanth doesn't like what they're up to, and his quest for reason threatens Anastasia and the magical butterfly she secretly harbors. Soon Sarah and Ben are swept up in a rescue operation prophesized in a half-forgotten poem. In the end, it takes both imagination and a little scientific know-how to save the enchanted butterfly -- and Anastasia's very soul -- from extinction. Originally published in an earlier version as Anastasia Morningstar and the Crystal Butterfly, Sarah and the Magic Science Project has been rewritten by the original author and features all-new illustrations. An enchanting tale for adventurous readers.
Terror at Turtle Mountain by
At 4:00 a.m., April 29, 1903, Nathalie lies awake in the booming coal town of Frank, at the base of Turtle Mountain, listening for the whistle of a train--the Spokane Flyer, bringing her American cousin Helena for a visit. Instead, Nathalie hears rocks tumbling down the mountain onto the town and the railway track. She and her mother are safe, but what about others? As she helps search for survivors, desperate questions fill her mind. How many have died? Will the men inside the mine be safe? Will the train be stopped in time? That morning, the northeast face of Turtle Mountain dropped one hundred million tons of limestone on the town. Seventy-six people died, but twenty-three were rescued from under the rocks, seventeen escaped from the mine, and the Flyer was stopped in time. This is a beautifully written novel, with engaging characters and authentic historical detail. It's a story of discovery, as Nathalie--Nattie to her friends--finds her own strengths and skills and the courage to use them.
Walking with the Dead by
In this frightfully funny novel by L. M. Falcone, Alex's father brings home an ancient Greek corpse as an exhibit for Oddities, the weird museum in their basement. After Alex peeks in the coffin, he starts having crazy dreams, gets struck by lightning and falls through a door into the night sky. Then things take a turn for the seriously weird when, after more than 2000 years, the corpse wakes up This lively cadaver needs help, so big-hearted Alex and his sidekick, Freddie, find themselves on a mission to the world of the dead. They dodge monsters, three-headed dogs, gorgons with snakes for hair -- and much worse -- all in an attempt to help a lost soul in serious trouble. How in Hades will the boys ever get home again?
Walking with the Dead by
In this frightfully funny novel by L. M. Falcone, Alex's father brings home an ancient Greek corpse as an exhibit for Oddities, the weird museum in their basement. After Alex peeks in the coffin, he starts having crazy dreams, gets struck by lightning and falls through a door into the night sky. Then things take a turn for the seriously weird when, after more than 2000 years, the corpse wakes up This lively cadaver needs help, so big-hearted Alex and his sidekick, Freddie, find themselves on a mission to the world of the dead. They dodge monsters, three-headed dogs, gorgons with snakes for hair -- and much worse -- all in an attempt to help a lost soul in serious trouble. How in Hades will the boys ever get home again?