ALMOND, David. The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas. illus. by Oliver Jeffers. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763661694. JLG Level: A : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Stanley’s uncle Ernie becomes obsessed with canning fish. After a shocking demise to twelve of his pet goldfish, Stanley takes the last surviving one and goes for a walk that leads him to run away with the fair. His new family comes with an encouraging father-figure and an angry young girl. Putting his good heart to use, the orphan finds a way to protect the fish at his Hook-a-Duck booth, quiet the heart of his companion, and accept his dangerous destiny. Not every child could be a boy who swims with piranhas. Add a prejudiced policeman, a madcap group of “DAFT envistigators,” with a loving couple who miss their precious nephew and you have a charming novel about a boy who blossoms while changing everyone around him.

FLEMING, David. The Saturday Boy. Viking. 2013. ISBN 9780670785513. JLG Level: B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Life without your dad is difficult for Derek, a fifth grade boy, whose father is stationed in Afghanistan. He has letters and comic books for support, but those things don’t prevent him from getting in trouble at school. His former friend Budgie bullies him, and he’s frequently caught when his anger gets the best of him. Getting a part in a school play gives Derek a creative outlet. Being the “bigger person,” as his mom advises, is so hard. When his mom withdraws into grief, he doesn’t understand why, and his cool aunt moves in to help out. Derek accidentally learns the source of his mother’s depression. Sending letters to his dad won’t help him this time. Fleming’s first novel keeps readers tense with anticipation, while drawing them close to a boy who just can’t seem to get a break.

VAWTER, Vince. Paperboy. Delacorte. 2013. ISBN9780375990588. JLG Level:  C+ : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

In the late 1950s, a stuttering eleven-year-old boy has life-changing experiences while substituting on a paper route for his best friend. Mam, his nanny, warns him to stay away from Ara T, the neighborhood junkman, but he gives him his knife to sharpen anyway. He’ll need it to cut the string on the paper bundle. Collecting subscription money will also be a problem when Little Man will have to say words that he finds difficult to say, even if he uses his therapist’s speaking tricks. Miss Worthington’s beauty makes him want to try. The Boy Who Sits in Front of the TV just makes him angry. Mr. Spiro is one of two adults who speak to him like a grown-up. Little Man could learn a great deal from him and his books. A month of delivering papers gives him an opportunity to think beyond his problems and try to find ways to help these new people, even if it’s outside of his comfort zone. Vawter’s unforgettable first novel is more memoir than fiction, illustrating that though you may not be able to cure a stutter, you can certainly overcome it.

For audio/video versions of these booktalks, please visit JLG’s Shelf Life Blog.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BARTOLETTI, Susan Campbell. Down the Rabbit Hole. Scholastic. 2013. ISBN 9780545297011. JLG Level: B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

A Dear America adventure set in 1871 Chicago, Bartoletti’s orphan tale features the diary of Pringle Rose―a strong female character who takes care of her younger brother who has Down syndrome. When their hopes of shelter end on the steps of a Chicago mansion, the siblings turn to a family they’ve met on the train from Pennsylvania. Pringle becomes the governess and amidst the constant fires of a city built of wood, learns to cook, clean, and manage a household. While she learns about the life of the worker, she begins to struggle with her upper class beliefs. Was her father wrong? Are the workers underpaid and overworked?  Whether readers recognize the date of the Great Fire or not, the foreboding sense of tragedy looms over the city, creating suspense in the center of Pringle’s conflicting emotions.

GOLDBLATT, Mark. Twerp. Random. 2013. ISBN 9780375971433. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7) .

“I’ve done worse, much worse, and never written a word about it.” After a week of suspension, Justin chooses to write about what happened instead of completing his Shakespeare assignment. He has no trouble retelling the mischief he and his neighborhood buddies get into. “His entire head was surrounded by smoke. It was like something you’d see in a comic book…but only for a split second. Not enough time to realize what was going on, or to think about the consequences―like maybe Quentin was going to be dead once the smoke cleared.” (It took six weeks for his eyebrows to grow back.) Justin finds that writing an account of his sixth-grade year is harder than he thought. From tales of love letters gone awry to heartfelt narratives about an argument between friends, Goldblatt’s first novel for younger readers will have them laughing out loud and reflecting on their own choices as Justin learns about the effects of bullying.

KADOHATA, Cynthia. The Thing About Luck. illus. by Julia Kuo. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. ISBN 9781416918820. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Summer’s life has always revolved around the harvesting of wheat. When her parents are called to Japan, she helps take the harvest season on the road as her grandmother’s assistant in the kitchen. She’ll also take care of her younger brother, Jaz, and their dog, Thunder. Timing is everything in this business, so when her grandfather becomes ill and her grandmother’s back causes great pain, the family’s job becomes jeopardized. Can they beat the deadline before the rains come and ruin the profit? Can she save the harvest? Kadohata’s novel combines the power of family responsibility with the story of a young girl determined to triumph over luck.

MILLS, Claudia. Zero Tolerance. Farrar. 2013. ISBN 9780374333126. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Turning in the knife in her mother’s lunch bag (which she mistakenly took) seemed to be the right thing to do. Sierra never thought it would lead to in-school suspension and an expulsion hearing. Though she is an honor student, the zero tolerance policy at her middle school required immediate action. Her passionate attorney father is determined to gain publicity that will force the principal to back down―even if it means sullying his reputation. Sierra has some hard decisions to make. Should she go to another school? Should she admit to writing the letter from the school secretary? And what about Luke, who is always in trouble, but seems to really like her? Middle grade readers will have much to discuss about the issue of zero tolerance.

WILLIAMS-GARCIA, Rita. P.S. Be Eleven. HarperCollins/Amistad/. 2013. ISBN 9780061938634. JLG Level:  B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Delphine and her sisters have come home inspired by their mother and the Black Panthers, but Big Ma has other ideas. Order, tradition, and rules must be upheld. Uncle Darnell returns from Vietnam, but seems sick all the time. He’s also lost his laughter. When Pa brings home his new girlfriend, it seems that Delphine can’t control anything. She feels responsible for everyone, especially her sisters. In a series of letters from her mother, Cecile, she gets advice to let things go. Sister Vonetta can be in charge of the savings for the Jackson concert. Baby sister Fern can be excited for a new stepmother. Maybe it’s time for Delphine to enjoy her family, her childhood, and to just be eleven.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

Authors of SLJ’s DOD 2013 panel “Middle School Drama and Trauma.” l. to r. Holly Sloan, Ayun Halliday, Gordon Korman, Linda Urban, and Josh Farrar.

From tragic turning points to budding first love, some of the most talented and up-and-coming authors for the middle grade audience shared their insights on the writing process, connection to their intended audience, and how humor plays a part in all of their works at SLJ’s annual Day of Dialog.

Held at Columbia University’s Faculty House and moderated by Caroline Ward, head of youth servicesat Ferguson Library in Stanford, CT, the second panel of the day focused on themes of friendship, loss, identity, and overcoming great obstacles. Ward posed several questions that led to lively conversation among the panelists.

The speakers noted that readers between the ages of 10 and 12 were special because they’re beginning to take charge of their own opinions and experiencing important emotions for the first time, something Josh Farrar noted was “gold to authors.” Farrar explores first crushes in his book A Song for Bijou (Bloomsbury, 2013), a tale about Alex, a boy who falls for Bijou, a girl who relocates to Brooklyn, NY, after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

The prolific Gordon Korman incorporates humor in most of his titles, including Hypnotize Me (Scholastic, 2013), which features a main character who doesn’t know that he’s descended from the two most powerful hypnotist bloodlines on the planet. Middle schoolers see humor in their world and often use it to protect themselves, noted Korman. The other panelists agreed that because of the age level of the protagonists, there will always be some underlying humor in even an issue-filled book for tweens. While Farrar’s story is about a survivor of the tragic earthquake, humor and positive relationships lighten the tale’s mood and offer hope.

Ward’s inquiry to the novelists about writing gender specific novels stirred up passionate reactions from the crowd. Linda Urban, author of The Center of Everything (Houghton Harcourt), whose main character turns 12 while coming to terms with her grief following the death of her grandmother, made a plea to the editors and publishers in the room to create gender neutral covers for middle grade titles. Urban argued that the cover art often will make the book interesting to either girls or boys, even though the story itself might have more universal appeal.

Ayun Halliday, author of Peanut (Random), a graphic novel about a girl who fakes a peanut allergy in the hope that she will get sympathy and make friends in her new school, raved about her novel’s unique cover design, which features a single peanut against a blue background, and has no obvious intended audience. Holly Sloan, a former TV and film screenwriter, wrote Counting by Sevens about a 12-year-old girl genius whose world is forever changed when her parents die in a car crash, declared “There are no books for boys or girls. There are books for people”.

COLUMBUS, Chris and Ned Vizzini. House of Secrets. illus. by Greg Call. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. 2013. ISBN 9780062192462. JLG Level: FM : Fantasy/Science Fiction Middle (Grades 5–8).

From the director of the first “Harry Potter” films in collaboration with a bestselling YA author, comes a new fantasy that even J. K. Rowling calls, “a breakneck roller coaster of an adventure.” Dr. Walker remembers falling asleep in the hospital, but he wakes up standing over a patient, holding a bloody scalpel. He has carved a symbol into the man’s stomach. With the loss of his job, the family must move to a less expensive home. The Kristoff House, owned by an occult novelist, seems too good to be true―a fully furnished, two-story mansion with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Eldest son Brenden is sure that he sees the creepy old lady next door spying on them. Too late, the family realizes that they are in grave danger. Screeching that she wants revenge for her father, Dahlia Kristoff reveals her true identity―the Wind Witch. The children’s parents are struck down, the house shakes, and when the chaos is over, a primitive forest now lies outside their door. Will they have to conspire with the Wind Witch? Can they defeat her? How will the children get home? Pirates, enormous pre-historic creatures, and a cowboy meld with magical characters in a fantasy novel with nonstop action.

FERRIS, Jean. Thrice Upon a Marigold. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547738468. JLG Level: B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

In the kingdom of Zandelphia-Beauridge, a new princess is born―Princess Poppy Allegra April Rosemary. A Welcome Party will introduce her to the empire, but past events lead King Christian and Queen Marigold to worry that well-meaning fairy wishes could put Princess Poppy in danger. Phoebe, daughter of the exiled torturer-in-chief, and Sebastian, son of exiled poisoner-in-chief, stumble on an evil kidnapping plot. When they lose the evidence, they must find another way to convince the royal family of their loyalty. With the aid of an elephant and a dragon, the pair of rescuers will unite with the King and Queen to fight against none other than their own fathers. The third installment of the series continues the wit and pace of a fairy tale with no boundaries.

FISHER, Catherine. Obsidian Mirror. Dial. 2013. ISBN 9780803739697. JLG Level: FM : Fantasy/Science Fiction Middle (Grades 5–8).

In the first of a new trilogy, Fisher sends readers to the past, where magic lurks and possibilities seem infinite. A scientific invention―the obsidian mirror, takes travelers through time, but no one is able to control its powers. A son leaves school to track down the man who murdered his father. The widower who owns it fights desperately to repair the mirror, so that he can be reunited with his beloved. A mysterious runaway volunteers to be the test subject, even though she is aware of the danger. Magical creatures live in the woods nearby, though their connection to the strange house and its inhabitants remains a mystery. The mirror unites them all and no one knows what the future really holds. Dark and suspenseful, Fisher’s characters weave in and out of the tapestrylike plot, leaving readers spellbound.

LERANGIS, Peter. The Colossus Rises: Seven Wonders Book 1. illus. by Mike Reagan. HarperCollins. 2013. ISBN 978006207040. JLG Level: FM : Fantasy/Science Fiction Middle (Grades 5–8).

“On the morning I was scheduled to die, a large barefoot man with a bushy red beard waddled past my house.” So begins the first adventure of Jack McKinley―hero elect who learns he has inherited a gene that gives him powers that could also kill him if he doesn’t get treatment. Finding the seven Loculi with others who have the same genetic trait is their only chance for survival. The first missing Loculus, however, is in a lost world―the city of Atlantis. Professor Bhegad provides training and direction, but it’s up to him and his companions to survive an adventure in which they scale a cliff, fight a griffin, and find a life-saving waterfall. Fans of Rick Riordan will welcome this new seven-book series that blends adventure, magic, and the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World into a fast-paced quest.

MULL, Brandon. Chasing the Prophecy: Beyonders. S & S/Aladdin. 2013. ISBN 9781416997962. JLG Level: FM : Fantasy/Science Fiction Middle (Grades 5–8).

In the thrilling conclusion to the Beyonders, the heroes follow the oracle’s prophecy, splitting into teams to defeat the evil emperor, Maldor. Jason and Rachel are not Lyrians, but time spent in their world teaches them about the power of friendship and good versus evil. The final battle is upon them, and the glimmer of victory is dim. Galloran, the Blind King, claims his throne and leads his people in a fight that could end their lives. Characters who can exchange body parts and drinlings who need no rest join with Rachel who has learned to control a person’s body through her mind. Jason has a powerful sword that he must learn to use if they are to beat Maldor. The evil emperor has his own support army―lurkers who can invade your dreams and learn your secrets. Will their plan be sabotaged in one incident? Do they have to sacrifice everything to gain freedom for the citizens of Lyrian? Though the series ends with this tome, fans will wait eagerly for future tales in this fantastical world.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

KLISE, Kate. Hollywood, Dead Ahead,. Bk. 5. illus. by M. Sarah Klise. (43 Old Cemetery Road Series) Houghton Harcourt. 2013. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

The fifth entry in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series takes the reader on a field trip to Hollywood. When Moe Block Busters buys the production rights for the threesome’s story, the reality of the unread contract hits Olive first. There’s no flight or hotel room for her. Her ghostly character is replaced by an elderly living legend, Ivana Oscar. To make matters worse, Ignatius gets an endless Hollywood makeover, and Seymour’s celebrity status goes to his head. The fine print calls for Ivana to die during production―even if the director has to kill her himself. Klise’s use of letter writing, journals, and newspapers keeps the story at a brisk pace, causing readers to race towards the dramatic conclusion.

NAYLOR, Phyllis Reynolds. Emily and Jackson Hiding Out. Delacorte. 2012. ISBN 9780375989780. JLG Level: A : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Emily couldn’t be happier to be adopted by Aunt Hilda. She and Jackson were also delighted to get away from Uncle Victor, who only wanted her fortune. Life settles into carrying out ordinary chores and always having plenty to do and eat. Jackson, however, is never far from mischief, and being a runaway orphan, he must hide from the child catcher who wants to send him to work out west. Aunt Hilda has gone to town when a mysterious widow appears at their door. The two become suspicious of all her questions. Who is this meddling woman? Why won’t she show her face? Have they escaped danger after all? In this sequel to Emily’s Fortune, the melodrama returns, complete with cliff-hanger questions at each chapter’s end―”Now what in steamin’ stompers would they do?”

PASTIS, Stephan. Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. illus. by author. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763660505. JLG Level: HE : Humor Elementary (Grades 2–6).

“It’s harder to drive a polar bear into somebody’s living room than you’d think.” So begins the prologue in the story of Timmy Failure and his detective agency―Total Failure, Inc. Named for his polar bear partner, Total, the young sleuth obliviously sifts through clues while the reader laughs out loud. He loses his Failuremobile and can’t seem to solve the mystery. It’s bad for business if a detective can’t solve his own problems. Punctuated with Wimpy Kid-type illustrations, one chuckle rolls right into the next. Add his buddy, Rollo Tookus who wants to get into “Stanfurd,” Molly with a huge crush on Timmy, and the Beast (also known as Corrina Corrina (who smells like tangerines), or the One Whose Name Shall Not Be Uttered, and you have an hysterical tongue-in-cheek first novel that will have you in tears of laughter by the end of chapter one.

PEIRCE, Lincoln. Big Nate Flips Out. HarperCollins. illus. by author. 2013. ISBN 9780061996641. JLG Level: A : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

When Big Nate and his friends decide to join the yearbook staff, they never expected that “Pushy McBossaround” Gina would be the editor. Francis becomes co-editor to bring balance and prevent the major mistakes from last year’s edition. Big Nate’s messiness gets out of control when he loses the school camera. His friends decide that hypnotism could be the answer to his problems; instead, the experiment results in a new Nate they no longer recognize. Who is this neat guy who draws comics in straight lines? Will the camera be found? Will Nate be neat forever? Has he really flipped out? Sprinkled with comic drawings and quick-witted dialogue, Pierce delivers another knockout.

VERNON, Ursula. Dragonbreath: Nightmare of the Iguana. illus. by author. Dial. 2013. ISBN 9780803738461. JLG Level: A+ : Intermediate Readers (Grades 3–5).

Wendell’s nightmares are larger than life. Monsters chase him, things attack him, and he isn’t wearing any clothes. Usually he falls off a cliff. By the time he wakes up, he’s exhausted. He needs help, so he calls his friend Danny who agrees to watch him sleep. He is supposed to look for Night Mare tracks and the sounds of the Dream Wasp. Between glowing hoof prints and an angry buzz, it’s clear that it’s not just Wendell’s imagination. Great-Grandfather Dragonbreath would know what to do. And he does. Danny must enter Wendell’s dreams with a baku (a dream-eater) to prevent the Dream Wasp from laying eggs in his brain. Green highlighted cartoons guide the reader through the land of nightmares where secrets, wishes, and fears are revealed to the iguana’s closest friends. Can they stop the Wasp? Can they save themselves? Fans of the “Dragonbreath” series will be happy for the return, and new readers will want to check out the first seven books.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BLAKEMORE, Megan Frazer. The Water Castle. Walker. 2013. ISBN 9780802728395. JLG Level: FM : Fantasy/Science Fiction Middle (Grades 5–8).

Reminiscent of Tuck Everlasting (Farrar, 1975), the Appledore-Smiths move into the family castle known for its mythical, curative waters. Ephraim yearns to find the Fountain of Youth, hoping it will reverse the effects of his father’s stroke. Complicating the search is an ancient feud among the Smith, Wylie, and Darlings families. Against all expectations, grudge-holding ancestors unite to solve the mysteries of the mansion―interior rooms don’t fit the exterior floor plan. If the lake was the source of the magical water, why are there so many secret tunnels that lead away from the lake? A hidden lab reveals scientific research that points to amazing conclusions. Journal entries during the time of the Peary-Henson expedition disclose evidence to readers that all magic may not be mystical. Science may indeed be the missing ingredient.

Themes of being an outsider and friendships that overcome long-standing quarrels, strengthen Blakemore’s fantastical quest, urging readers to consider their own decisions, whether or not they are faced with a choice of living forever.

FEDERLE, Tim. Better Nate than Ever. S & S. 2013. ISBN 9781442446892. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Nate has never been the center of attention―unless he’s being bullied. Plotting an overnight trip to New York City, Nate and best friend Libby prepare for the worst-case scenario at his Broadway show audition. Unfortunately, the unexpected happens and the stagestruck teenager finds himself at callbacks with no money, a dead phone, and seriously big trouble if he doesn’t get on the bus to return home before his parents. Adding to his guilt is an estranged aunt, who gets caught in the middle of his deception.

Full of humor and irony, Nate struggles with self-worth and gay-bashing in a town where he finally seems to fit in―except for the fact that if he stays one second longer he could be grounded for life. Semi-autobiographical, the heartwarming story reminds readers that everyone deserves a second chance―no matter where you live.

GRAFF, Lisa. Tangle of Knots. Philomel. 2013. ISBN 9780399255175. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

Lives often intertwine like a tangle of knots. Follow one line, and it crosses with the life of another. In a modern day world with a good dose of magic, almost everyone has a a special magical ability. Cady has an award-winning Talent for baking the perfect cake that is just right for someone. Others have Talents for spitting, walking on air, or knitting at an amazing speed. When a hot air balloon creates a hole in the Ashers’s apartment building, all of the characters, except Miss Malory who runs the Home for Lost Girls, move into the lost luggage emporium and the tangle of knots begins to unravel. Who would ever think that blue luggage, a woman who has lost her voice, and a Talent Thief could bind together such an unlikely group?

Told from the perspective of different characters, the chapters offer different points of view, and readers will be able to gather clues to a mystery that is revealed in the exciting conclusion.

URBAN, Linda. The Center of Everything. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. ISBN 9780547763484. JLG Level: B : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5–7).

There is nothing easy about turning twelve, especially for Ruby Pepperdine. Still grieving from the loss of her grandmother, her efforts to right a wrong alters her whole world. Ruby becomes friends with Nero who seems to know everything; perhaps he can help her craft the perfect birthday wish. She neglects her self-absorbed best friend Lucy, who is wrapped up in a starring role in a school production of Hansel and Gretel. In an effort to save one relationship, she loses two friendships. The honor to read her essay about Captain Bunning provides her with an opportunity to fix everything. Can she take things back? Can she change the past or save the future?

During the course of a single day, readers learn about the events leading up to Bunning Day and the effects of Ruby’s obsession with her wish and how it impacts everyone around her.

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

GALE, Eric Kahn. The Bully Book: A Novel. HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. ISBN 9780062125118. JLG Level: HIM : High Interest Middle School (Grades 5–8).

“The Grunt is a person. But it is also something you create. By the time you’re done, the Grunt will be the loser of all losers to everyone in your class. Your job is to make it happen.” Written in a handbook that has been passed down for years is the secret to being popular: choosing one person to be the bottom of the social order. In doing so, you become the leader of your grade. However, the handbook is secret until Eric becomes the Grunt. He finds a clue that makes him determined to change his course and maybe protect those “grunts” to come. Will he find the Bully book? Who wrote it and why? Can a kid really change his place in the social order? Can he stop the bullies?

Told in chapters alternating between the Bully Book and Eric’s journal, readers will cringe at the bullying tactics and cheer for those who stand up to their aggressors.

KLISE, Kate. Homesick. Feiwel and Friends. 2012. ISBN 9781250008428. JLG Level: C : Advanced Readers (Grades 6–9).

In 1983 (before the internet) the idea of a computer network is ludicrous. Radio is popular and everyone knows your business. In a small Missouri town, Benny has his hands full. His dad is a collector whose findings begin to take over the house. When his mom walks out, Benny is torn between his love for his mother and his loyalty to his father. His dad finds out that his son is cleaning the house for a school service project and goes ballistic―even calling to shout at the teacher. The boy even gets in trouble for throwing away stacks of pizza boxes. Benny realizes his father is more than a collector: he has a serious problem, and he needs help. The radio, the town clean-up project, and a fake piano recital might just do the trick.

Known for her works for middle grade readers, Klise delivers a powerful story about divorce, truth-telling, and the every-day challenges of life. With an amazing cast of characters, Homesick celebrates the importance of building relationships.

KRUMWIEDE, Lana. Freakling. Candlewick. 2012. ISBN 9780763659370. JLG Level: FM : Fantasy/Science Fiction Middle (Grades 5–8).

Taemon has always known he had powers that should be kept secret. He can see into an object and know how to make it work. “Be it so!” Without saying a word―without using his hands, everyone in the dystopian land of Deliverance can make it be so. Those without powers (or psi) are cast out. Taemon chooses not to use his powers for evil, and gives them up. He uses his knack for tinkering to hide his psi-less condition. Older brother Yens has a thirst for power and will stop at nothing―not even threatening the life of his brother―to get it. He will be the True Son. What is Taemon’s destiny? Will he be a freakling and forced to use labor instead of his mind? Has he really lost all his psi? What does it mean when the Elder Naseph changes the prophecy of the True Son’s purpose? How can Taemon battle the oncoming evil with no psi-power to stop it?

Krumwiede’s debut novel will rivet readers and hold them captive until its thrilling conclusion.

PATTERSON, James and Chris Grabenstein. I Funny: A Middle School Story. illus. by Laura Park. Little, Brown. 2012. ISBN 9780316206938. JLG Level: HIM : High Interest Middle School (Grades 5–8).

“No, I’m Jamie Grimm.” Delivering the punch line before the joke wasn’t his plan, but sometimes in the nerves of things, the unthinkable happens. Jamie also never planned to be an orphan in a wheelchair, but he makes the best of it. His humor keeps his spirits up, leaving echoes of laughter wherever he goes. He even stands up to the school bully, who happens to be his new adoptive brother. It seems that nothing can hold him back until he decides to enter the Funniest Kid Comic Contest. Can Jamie overcome his stage fright? What heavy burden is Jamie carrying?

Written in short chapters and full of jokes boys can use for their own material, Patterson and Grabenstein share a tale for kids who deal with disabilities, bullies, and other burdens far too heavy for kids their age.

PEACOCK, Shane. Becoming Holmes: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Final Case.  Tundra. 2012. ISBN  9781770492325. JLG Level: MM : Mystery/Adventure Middle & HS (Grades 7–11).

With the death of Charles Dickens, Sherlock Holmes sees immortality everywhere he looks. Now an orphan with a gravely ill sponsor, he sinks deeper into melancholy until he is literally kicked out of the lab. Stumbling upon yet another mystery, the young detective is determined to bring in his arch enemy, Malefactor, at last. Grimsby could not have gotten the job on his own merit. What secret is the Governor of the Bank of England hiding? Can he stop the infiltration of his nemesis before it is too late?

Peacock lays the groundwork for the most well-known detective. What motivated him to detach himself from his work? To efficiently analyze everyone he meets? To see details that no one else sees? Though the novel is the last of the series, it stands well as a story all on its own.

For ideas about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

BARNETT, Mac. Brixton Brothers: Danger Goes Berserk. illus. by Matthew Myers. S & S. 2012. ISBN 9781442439771. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2-6)

Twelve-year-old detective Steve Brixton has a new case. The problem is that he will have to learn how to surf in order to go undercover to solve it. He and partner Dana suit up to solve the mystery of a stolen surfboard. In the midst of one case, two more evolve, leading readers to wonder how or if they are connected. From laugh-out-loud moments to nail-biting adventures, old and new fans will root for the middle schoolers as they encounter chaotic dangers.

FARREY, Brian. The Vengekeep Prophecies. illus. by Brett Helquist. HarperCollins/Harper. 2012. ISBN 9780062049285. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2-6)

Born into a family of thieves, Jaxter’s time has come to join in. Yet in the midst of his first heist, his clumsiness causes building to get on fire and lands his clan in the gaol. A prophecy found on the town’s tapestry names his kin as the saviors of Vengekeep. Jaxter and Callie leave town to find a way to stop the prophecies from coming true, otherwise they’re in for lots more trouble.

This standalone fantasy novel is filled with mystery and adventure. Fantastical creatures, non-magic spells, and period-type exclamations (zoc, bangers!) blend easily into a world where magic is believable. Readers will hope that Farrey has further adventures to offer us and that the Grimjinxes will return.

SCHLITZ, Laura Amy. Splendors and Glooms. Candlewick. 2012. ISBN 9780763653804. JLG Level: B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5-7)

Highly discussed as a Newbery contender, Schlitz offers a mystery filled with magic, adventure, and suspense. Clara is the only child in her family and is treated with kid gloves. Loving the thrill of a puppet show, she invites danger into her life when it is brought to her party. Lizzie Rose and Parsefall work for the master puppeteer, Grisini, and have a very difficult life. When Clara disappears and Grisini does as well, it’s up to the remaining two children to solve the mystery. What they find out puts them in greater danger than they’ve ever been in before.

Set in Victorian London, Schlitz creates a  Dickens-like world where magic is entirely possible. From witch and magician to drunken landlady, the characters are so well-developed, you’d recognize them in a crowded room. It’s a tale that lingers long after the pages close.

SNICKET, Lemony. Who Could That Be at This Hour? Little, Brown. 2012. ISBN 9780316123082. JLG Level: ME : Mystery/Adventure Elementary (Grades 2-6)

Chalk up another winner for Lemony Snicket. A boy is mysteriously whisked away after climbing out of a bathroom window while his adult companions sleep off a potion that was in their tea. Off to solve a mystery with a less-than-competent sponsor, Lemony seems to know more about getting the answers, even if he does ask the wrong questions. The first in a series of four, readers who clamor for more Snicket will be thrilled to begin the journey with him once again.

STEPHENS, John. The Fire Chronicle. Knopf. 2012. ISBN 9780375968716. JLG Level: B+ : Upper Elementary & Junior High (Grades 5-7)

After the children are discovered by their enemies, Kate is separated from her brother and sister. Michael and Emma are left on their own in Antarctica to find the legendary book of fire. Kate fights fires of her own in 1899 New York. Rafe seems to know her, but the adults are doing everything they can to separate the two. As the dangers for all three siblings grow stronger, their intertwining fates bring the three closer together. How long will they stay together?

The second of The Books of Beginning series will keep readers in suspense with alternating chapters between the separated siblings. New monsters, dangers, and magic wait around every corner. Stephens brings back characters and introduces new ones. Readers will have to wait for all their answers to their gripping questions, as The Fire Chronicle ends in a tremendous cliff-hanger.

For ideas about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.