Grades 5-8

BURG , Ann E. Serafina’s Promise. 304p. glossary. Scholastic. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780545535649; ebk. $16.99. ISBN 9780545549943.

Gr 4-6 –Serafina is just 11, but she fetches water from a stream every day and helps her family add to the coin jar by bundling the herbs her mother and grandmother sell. She has witnessed the death of her infant brother, wishing and wondering if she could have done more to save him. Told in verse, this first-person account of a young girl’s life in Haiti is filled with sadness and the harsh realities of poverty, yet the poetic narrative sings of hope and promise. Inspired by Antoinette Solaine, the doctor who attends to her dying brother, Serafina vows to find a way to go to school and one day help others. But who would bring the water and help Manman with the chores? And the few coins in the jar do not come close to the cost of a school uniform and shoes. The story unfolds as the family, already victims of political unrest, now faces natural disasters and separation. Serafina, always the healer, rises above obstacles and hardship, keeping her dreams and her promises close at hand. A powerful and uplifting story of family and sacrifice, perfect even for reluctant readers.–Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH

URSU , Anne. The Real Boy. illus. by Erin McGuire. 341p. HarperCollins/Walden Pond. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780062015075.

Gr 4-7–The island of Aletheia boasts as its crown jewel the city of Asteri, powered by the lingering magic of ancient wizards. Nowadays there is only one, mildly magical magician, Caleb, and his lowly assistant, Oscar, to provide magical solutions for Asteri’s demanding residents. People, social situations, and breaks in routine discomfit the orphaned Oscar in ways reminiscent of autistic spectrum children. He prefers to gather plants from the forest and converse with Caleb’s cats. Circumstances force Oscar to depart from routine when Asteri’s magic goes awry. Oscar teams up with Callie, the healer’s apprentice, to cure the ailments and repair the broken magic that threatens Aletheia. In the process, Oscar discovers Caleb’s illicit use of magic, questioning his own origins and purpose. This is a tale replete with memorable settings and weighty issues. Readers will dog Oscar’s footsteps, wondering as he does, when magic moves from being a gift to becoming a crutch. His friendship with Callie serves as a bridge between him and the larger community, and it often puzzles him. Ursu subtly proves that Oscar and Callie have a mutually beneficial relationship that gives both needed insight and support. As the novel concludes, the dense plotlines pull in as tight as they can, but there are still unanswered questions and a rather quick ending. Still, Oscar’s tremendous heart fills every nook of this richly told story. His heroic stumbles will fondly remind readers of Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997) and Meg from Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time.–Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT

ANGLEBERGER , Tom. The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett. illus. by author. 218p. (Origami Yoda Series). illus. Abrams/Amulet. 2013. Tr $12.95. ISBN 9781419708589.

BASTEDO , Jamie. Nighthawk! 245p. Red Deer. 2013. pap. $12.95. ISBN 9780889954557.

BISHARA , Cristin. Relativity. 304p. Walker. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780802734686; ebk. $12.99. ISBN 9780802734693.

BRADLEY , Timothy J. Hive Mind. Bk. 1. 143p. (Sci Hi Series). illus. Teacher Created Materials/Argosy. 2013. pap. $5.99. ISBN 9781480721883. ebook available.

BULLARD , Lisa. Turn Left at the Cow. 304p. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780544029002. LC 2012047542.

CARRIGER , Gail. Curtsies & Conspiracies. Bk. 2. 310p. (Finishing School Series). Little, Brown. Nov. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780316190114.

CONSTABLE , Cathryn. The Wolf Princess. 309p. Scholastic/Chicken House. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780545528399; ebk. $16.99. ISBN 9780545528405. LC 2012040544.

DEWITT , Fowler. The Contagious Colors of Mumpley Middle School. illus. by Rodolfo Montalvo. 272p. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442478299; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781442478312. LC 2012043783.

FFORDE , Jasper. The Song of the Quarkbeast. Bk. 2. 289p. (Chronicles of Kazam Series). Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780547738482. LC 2012047318.

FISHER , Sam. Scare Scape. illus. by Sam Bosma. 298p. Scholastic. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780545521604.

FRIEDMAN , Laurie. Can You Say Catastrophe? Bk. 1. 151p. (The Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair Series). Darby Creek. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781467709255; ebk. $13.95. ISBN 9781467716208. LC 2012048867.

FRY , Michael. Zero Tolerance. illus. by author. 228p. (The Odd Squad Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 9781423170990.

GATES , S. P. The Monster in the Mudball: An Artifact Inspector Book. 224p. Lee & Low/Tu. 2013. RTE $16.95. ISBN 9781620141410. ebook available.

GRIMES , Nikki. Words with Wings. 96p. Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press. 2013. Tr $15.95. ISBN 9781590789858.

HAYS , Tommy. What I Came to Tell You. 304p. Egmont USA. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9781606844335; ebk. $15.99. ISBN 9781606844342. LC 2012046189.

HICKS , Deron R. Tower of the Five Orders. Bk. 2. 320p. (The Shakespeare Mysteries Series). Houghton Mifflin. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780547839530.

HOOVER , P. J. Solstice. 384p. Tor. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780765334695.

KIRBY , Matthew J. The Lost Kingdom. 348p. Scholastic. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545274265.

KROVATIN , Christopher. Terror Cove. 357p. (Gravediggers Series). HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780062077431.

KRUMWIEDE , Lana. Archon. Bk. 2. 320p. (The Psi Chronicles Series). Candlewick. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763664022; ebk. $16.99. ISBN 9780763667689.

LÓPEZ , Diana. Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel. 324p. Little, Brown. 2013. Tr $17. ISBN 9780316209960. LC 2012029856.

LUNDQUIST , Jenny. The Princess in the Opal Mask. 352p. Running Press/Teens. 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 9780762451098. ebook available.

MCKAY , Hilary. Binny for Short. illus. by Micah Player. 291p. S & S/McElderry. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442482753. ebook available. LC 2013000053.

MADORMO , John. The Camp Phoenix Caper. Bk. 2. 306p. (Charlie Collier, Snoop for Hire Series). Philomel. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780399255441; pap. $7.99. ISBN 9780142427620; ebk. $7.99. ISBN 9781101607794. LC 2012002315.

MESSNER , Kate. Wake Up Missing. 264p. websites. Walker. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780802723147. LC 2013013021.

OSBORNE , William. Hitler’s Secret. 333p. Scholastic/Chicken House. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545496469; ebk. $17.99. ISBN 9780545576512. LC 2012040706.

PFLUGFELDER , Bob & Steve Hockensmith. Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab: A Mystery with Electromagnets, Burglar Alarms, and Other Gadgets You Can Build Yourself. illus. by Scott Garrett. 240p. Quirk. Nov. 2013. RTE $12.95. ISBN 9781594746482. LC 2013930163.

PILEGGI , Leah. Prisoner 88. 144p. Charlesbridge. 2013. RTE $16.95. ISBN 9781580895606; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781607345343. LC 2012024443.

SKOVRON , Jon. Man Made Boy. 368p. Viking. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780670786206. LC 2012043217.

SNYDER , Maria V. Storm Watcher. 184p. Leap/Frolic. 2013. pap. $10.99. ISBN 9781616030339.

SPENCER , Octavia. The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit. Bk. 1. illus. by Vivienne To. 224p. (Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective Series). S & S. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442476813. ebook available. LC 2012037405.

STANLEY , Diane. The Princess of Cortova. Bk. 3. 320p. HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780062047304; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780062047335.

STANLEY , John P. Mickey Price: Journey to Oblivion. 308p. Tanglewood. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9781933718880. LC 2012045311.

STEINKELLNER , Teddy. Trash Can Days: A Middle School Saga. 347p. Hyperion/Disney. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 9781423166320. LC 2012015327.

SULLIVAN , Sarah. All That’s Missing. 368p. Candlewick. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763661021; ebk. $16.99. ISBN 9780763667665. LC 2013931468.

TAPIA , Jeff. Hippomobile! 240p. Clarion. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780547995489. LC 2012041303.

TINGLE , Tim. Danny Blackgoat, Navajo Prisoner. 160p. (Pathfinders Series). 7th Generation. 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781939053039; ebk. $6.99. ISBN 9781939053893. LC 2013013183.

VALENTE , Catherynne M. The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two. Bk. 3. illus. by Ana Juan. 256p. (Fairyland Series). Feiwel & Friends. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781250023506.

VAN LEEUWEN , Joke. The Day My Father Became a Bush. tr. from Dutch by Bill Nagelkerke. illus. by author. 104p. Gecko Press. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9781877579486.

WATTS , Irene N. Touched by Fire. 208p. Tundra. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781770495241. ebook available.

WOODROW , Allan. The Pet War. 272p. Scholastic. Nov. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780545513197; ebk. $16.99. ISBN 9780545513210. LC 2012049733.

ZETTEL , Sarah. Palace of Spies. Bk. 1. 368p. (Palace of Spies Series). Houghton Harcourt. Nov. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780544074118.