Durham, Paul. THE LAST GARGOYLE

Durham, Paul.  
THE LAST GARGOYLE
New York ; Random, 2018
IL 5-8
ISBN 1524700568
"What goes bump in the night? If you're lucky, I do."  Meet Penhallow.  Maybe you have even seen him. You know those stone creatures that are in the tops of some buildings? They crouch on the roofs and scowl at you. You may call them gargoyles. But don't call Penhallow a gargoyle. He gets offended easily. He is a grotesque and his job is keeping the residents in the apartment building in Boston safe And they are going to need him more than they know. There are only 3 grotesques left in Boston and they are trying their best to keep their charges safe. But things are getting more and more dangerous as someone or something is trying to kill off the grotesques of Boston.

Williams-Garcia, Rita. CLAYTON BYRD GOES UNDERGROUND

Williams-Garcia, Rita.  
CLAYTON BYRD GOES UNDERGROUND
New York : Amistad, 2017
IL 3-6, RL 4.4
ISBN 0062215914


Cool Papa Byrd is a blues man.  And his grandson Clayton thinks he is the best. Cool Papa lets Clayton come to some of his gigs even though they have to keep it secret from his mother.  Clayton doesn't understand why she hates her own father so much. Especially since it is Cool Papa Byrd. But she wants nothing to do with the blues or that life even mentioned in her house.  When Cool Papa dies in the night, Clayton's life is turned upside down. How can he go on without Cool Papa? Without the blues? He has to come up with a plan.

Winters, Ben H. WORLD OF TROUBLE

Winters, Ben H. 
WORLD OF TROUBLE
New York : Quirk Books, 2014
IL AD
ISBN 1594746850
With the end of the world just weeks away, Detective Henry Palace is determined to find his sister before it is over. Nico has banded with a group of people who still believe that there is a way to prevent the asteroid from impacting the earth. They have traveled to Ohio to follow that belief. Henry has left his sanctuary in the woods to find her and try to convince her that world is going to end no matter what the conspiracy theories say. Henry just wants to be with her when the end come. Along the way he meets a few people -- some good and some not so good -- who are all dealing with the world the best they can. This is the final book in the Last Policeman trilogy. Who is right? The people who believe it is the end? Or those who believe that there is a way to prevent this?

Winters, Ben H. COUNTDOWN CITY

Winters, Ben H. 
COUNTDOWN CITY
New York : Quirk Books, 2013
IL AD
ISBN 1594746850

The world is going to end. They all know that. How would you act if you knew? Detective Henry Palace is a policeman who continues to do his job. Actually, the police station has been taken over by the federal government and Henry has been forced to retire. When he is hired to find a missing person, he doesn't hesitate. Of course, a lot of people have just taken off to enjoy their last few months. But this is different. The missing man is a family man who is described as noble. Henry gets a tip on where he is going but he needs his sister's help to investigate. The entire campus of UNH is off limits to anyone who is not part of the Free State. His sister is known there and can get them in. What Henry finds is so much more than he could have expected.

Winters, Ben H. THE LAST POLICEMAN

Winters, Ben H. THE LAST POLICEMAN New York : Quirk Books, 2012 IL AD ISBN 1594746745 When Detective Henry Palace is called to the scene of an apparent suicide, he is not surprised.  New Hampshire has become the scene of numerous hangings since the word came that the world is about to end.  A large meteor is on a collision path with Earth and there is now a 100% chance that it will hit and end our world.  Since then, people have been opting out in a variety of ways.  Some choose suicide.  Some decide to chuck it all and work on their bucket list.  But Henry Palace has chosen to stay on the job and try to do his best.  So when he arrives at the scene, he doesn't assume suicide.  As a matter of fact, he suspects that the man was murdered.  And Henry sets out to solve the case.  Along the way, he comes up against those who don't think it is even worth the investigation.  After all, in a few months, everyone will be dead.  But it is important to Henry to solve this crime.  This is the first of a trilogy.

Colfer, Eoin. ILLEGAL

Colfer, Eoin.
ILLEGAL
New York : Sourcebooks, 2018
IL 5-8
ISBN 1492662143
A powerful graphic novel that follows Ebo, a young boy from Ghana as he tries to escape to Europe. Ebo's brother leaves their village without him but Ebo searches for Kwame and Finally finds him in the city. They travel through the desert towards the sea. Join the boys on their harrowing journey to Europe as they face hardships along the way.

Riordan, Rick. THE HAMMER OF THOR

Riordan, Rick.  
THE HAMMER OF THOR
Orlando : Disney Hyperion, 2016
IL 5-8, RL 5.1
ISBN 1423160924

Thor's hammer is missing yet again. He loses that thing so often. But this time it is a bit different. The hammer is in enemy hands. And Magnus is going to try to help get it back.After all, that is the only way to stop Ragnarok.  His friend Samirah is being forced to marry a giant king. And her father Loki may be behind it. And then there is her gender fluid half-brother Alex who may be working with Loki. Come along on another adventure with Magnus Chase and his friends as they make the most of death.

Reynolds, Jason. GHOST

Reynolds, Jason. 
GHOST
New York : Atheneum, 2016



Caleb Cranshaw has been running for three years. Ever since his father tried to kill him and his mother.  Dad is in prison and his mother is working at the hospital cafeteria to pay the bills. Caleb, or Ghost as he prefers to be called, is a pretty good runner. When he watches a track team practice, he decides to show up the cocky kid who thinks no one can beat him. And he smokes him. He wasn't doing it to get on the team but when the coach sees how fast he is, that is just what happens. His mother has said it is fine as long as he doesn't get into trouble at school. Well, that has been happening quite a bit recently. Try as he might, Ghost just can't do it. But as he realizes how much being part of the track team means to him, he is determined to stay. 

Reynolds, Peter H. HAPPY DREAMER

Reynolds, Peter H. 
HAPPY DREAMER
New York : Orchard, 2017
IL K-3, RL 1.4
ISBN 0545865018


Are you a dreamer? Does your mind take you places that make you happy? Do adults sometimes tell you to sit still and be quiet but you can't? Dreams can come in all varieties and emotions. Some dreams make us very excited.  Some make us want to sit and be still. Whatever your dreams are, I hope they are happy dreams.

Perez, Celia C. THE FIRST RULE OF PUNK

Perez, Celia C. 
THE FIRST RULE OF PUNK
New York : Viking, 2017
IL 5-8, RL 6.2
ISBN 0425290409

Twelve-year-old Maria Luisa, or Malu as she prefers to be called, loves punk. She loves the music. She loves the look. She also loes skateboarding and zines. She shares these interests with her dad but now she and her mom are moving away. Her mother has a new job in Chicago and they move just before the start of 7th grade. Not a great time to be the new kid. And Malu find herself in trouble right from the start. She has violated the dress code by wearing makeup. And the class queen bee has her sights on Malu.  It is not a great start. But Malu does find a few kids with similar interests and they decide to start their own punk band. But Malu learns that it is not always easy to stand up for what you believe in and be yourself.

Pearson, Scott. ZEBRA MUSSELS (INVASIVE SPECIES TAKEOVER)

Pearson, Scott.
ZEBRA MUSSELS (INVASIVE SPECIES TAKEOVER)
Mankato, MN : Black Rabbit Books, 2017
IL 3-6, RL 5.0
ISBN 1680720198

People in Monroe, Michigan had a problem. Something was clogging the water pipes and cutting off the supply. When they investigated, they found that the pipe were clogged with lots of shells. These were shells of zebra mussels. This was a big problem. Zebra mussels were not usually found in Michigan and they were spreading into lots of pipes and they stuck to everything. This is what is knows as an invasive species. There are no natural predators in the area to keep the zebra mussels from taking over. But how were the mussels getting in to Michigan?  And what can be done?

Olson, Tod. LOST IN THE PACIFIC, 1942: NOT A DROP TO DRINK

Olson, Tod.  
LOST IN THE PACIFIC, 1942: NOT A DROP TO DRINK
New York : Scholastic, 2016

Imagine being lost at sea and having no one know where you are.  That is just what happened to a group of military men during World War II. The plane was on the way across the Pacific Ocean to deliver war hero Eddie Rickenbacker to a meeting. But the plane went down and in their haste to evacuate, they have left all the food and water on the plane. Now it is 8 men on 3 tiny rubber boats on a very large ocean with no one knowing where they are. How can they survive? Is anyone even looking for them? As they days go by, their hopes lesson.

Ohi, Debbie Ridpath. WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?

Ohi, Debbie Ridpath. 
WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2015
IL K-3, RL 2.4
ISBN 144246741X

Spencer just loves his books. Especially Night-Night Narwhal.  His dad reads it to him every night before bed. And Spencer even knows some of the words himself. But one night, it just isn't on the shelf where it should be. Impossible. Spencer is very careful with his books and always puts them back where they belong. Each day, another book goes missing. Just what is going on here?

McCarthy, Jenna. POPPY LOUISE IS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING

McCarthy, Jenna.  
POPPY LOUISE IS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING
New York : Random, 2017
IL K-3, RL 2.3
ISBN 0385390866



Poppy Louise Littleton is fearless. She is not afraid of dogs or monsters. For Halloween, she doesn't want to be a ballerina. She wants to be a goblin. She is not afraid of the basement or the roof. Come on, there must be something she is afraid of.

Laybourne, Emmy. BERSERKER

Laybourne, Emmy. 
BERSERKER
New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 1250055202
This is part historical fiction and part fantasy. Hanne and her family live in Norway in 1883. Most of the children have inherited the power of the Nytte. These powers are a gift from the Norse gods and are handed down from generation to generation.  Hanne's father is a ship-wright. Older brother Steig is a storm-born.  But Hanne is a Berserker. These are the most dangerous of the Nyttes.  The Berserkers are killers.  If anyone Hanne loves is in danger, she can't help herself. And that is what happens.  Her father is in danger and Hanne's Nytte takes over. The men who threatened them are now dead as is her father. And now the kids are running for their lives. If they are found out, they will be killed.  They take a ship to America and head west searching for an uncle who they believe can help Hanne control her Nytte. But they are being chased by men who have a different idea of what should happen to them.

Kline, Christina Baker. ORPHAN TRAIN GIRL : THE YOUNG READERS' EDITION OF ORPHAN TRAIN

Kline, Christina Baker. 
ORPHAN TRAIN GIRL : THE YOUNG READERS' EDITION OF ORPHAN TRAIN
New York : Harper, 2017
IL 3-6, RL 5.6
ISBN 0062445944

Molly Ayer was only eight when she was placed in foster care. She has not had an easy life and now she is in trouble and forced to perform community service. She is assigned to an elderly woman who needs some help cleaning out her attic. Molly is not thrilled with this assignment but how bad can it be? As they get to know each other, Molly learns that Vivian was orphaned as a young child and sent from New York on a train to find a new home. These "orphan trains" were devised as a good way to find homes for city orphans and to help people in the midwest who could use         help. Vivian tells of her adventures on the train and of the homes that did not work out. Molly begins to bond with Vivian and can't wait to hear the next installment of the story.

Khan, Khizr. THIS IS OUR CONSTITUTION : DISCOVER AMERICA WITH A GOLD STAR FATHER

Khan, Khizr. 
THIS IS OUR CONSTITUTION : DISCOVER AMERICA WITH A GOLD STAR FATHER
New York : Knopf, 2017
IL 5-8, RL 6.1
ISBN 1524770914
Few who watched Mr. Khan at the 2016 Democratic National Convention can forget his powerful words. As an immigrant who lost his son while fighting for America, he gave an impassioned speech on the value, principals and ideals that America was founded on. Using the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, he inspires us all to believe in the ideals of the Founding Fathers again.

Kimmelman, Leslie. WE'RE AMAZING 1, 2, 3! : A STORY ABOUT FRIENDSHIP AND AUTISM

Kimmelman, Leslie.  
WE'RE AMAZING 1, 2, 3! : A STORY ABOUT FRIENDSHIP AND AUTISM
New York : Little Golden Book, 2017
IL K-3, RL 1.4
ISBN 1524766216

Elmo and his friend Julia have been friends for a long time. They both love the same things even though they may play with them differently.  When Elmo's friend Abby joins them, she is worried that Julia doesn't like her. But Elmo explains that Julia has something called autism and she acts a bit differently. As Elmo explains how to talk to Julia, Abby begins to make a new friend.

Jaeger, Paige. WHO WILL ROAR IF I GO?

Jaeger, Paige.  
WHO WILL ROAR IF I GO?
BQB Publishing, 2018
IL K-3
ISBN 1945448156

The King of the Beasts -- that's my claim to fame.
I've got a big crown of hair that's called a mane.
I'm swift and strong and sly, you see,
And everyone's afraid of me.
Recently I've lost my home;
There's no savanna on which to roam.
I'm king of this land, don't you know?
Who will roar if I go?

Do you know how many animals are endangered around the world? Too many. This lovely book showcases a few of them and explains why they are disappearing. What can you do to help keep these animals safe?

Green, John. TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN

Green, John. 
TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN
New York : Dutton, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 0525555366


Aza Holmes is 16 years old and losing her mind. She knows she should take her meds but just doesn't. Her anxiety is becoming more and more destructive. When the father of a boy she met in "Sad Camp" after her father died goes missing, she reconnects with Davis and learns that he has demons of his own that he is fighting. The two become close but Aza's demons won't let her be reallyclose to anyone. Aza questions her own existence and tries to find a way out of her fears. The spiral is getting tighter and she is not sure that she will ever learn to live with her demons.

Fogliano, Julie. WHEN'S MY BIRTHDAY?

Fogliano, Julie.  
WHEN'S MY BIRTHDAY?
New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2017
IL K-3, RL 1.9
ISBN  1626722935  
     
Here's a question I think all of us has asked -- when's my birthday?  It is so hard to wait for the special day, isn't it? I think all kids get excited for the big day. But do they all want the same kind of parties? Or the same kind of presents? Who will come to the party? Oh it is so hard to wait for my birthday.

Elya, Susan Middleton. LA PRINCESA AND THE PEA

Elya, Susan Middleton.  
LA PRINCESA AND THE PEA
New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2017
IL K-3, RL 1.8
ISBN 0399251561
There once was a prince who wanted a wife. But not any nina would do in his life. This book is a twist on the classic fairy tale. Sprinkled with Spanish words, the tale relates the story of a lonely prince in search of a wife. But, his mother doesn't want him to marry just anyone. So she devises a test for the beautiful young girl who the prince has chosen.  Will she pass the test?

Daywalt, Drew. THE LEGEND OF ROCK PAPER SCISSORS

Daywalt, Drew.  
THE LEGEND OF ROCK PAPER SCISSORS
New York : Balzer + Bray, 2017
IL K-3, RL 4.4
ISBN 0062438891
Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.  How did this game ever get started? Long ago, in an ancient and distant realm called the Kingdom of Backyard, there lived a warrior named Rock. Rock was the strongest in all the land, but he was sad because no one could give him a worthy challenge. So off he went in search of a worthy opponent. And the rest is history.

Anderson, John David. POSTED

Anderson, John David.  
POSTED
New York : Walden Pond Press, 2017
IL 5-8, RL 5.3
ISBN 006233820X

Middle schoolers without their cell phones. You just know they will find a way around this. When the school bans cell phones, the students turn to sticky notes to communicate with each other. It starts with Deedee passing silly notes to his friends. And then it spreads. The notes become mean and disturbing. So the school bans sticky notes. But the harm has already been done. Deedee, Frost, Wolf and Bench have been friends through middle school. When a new girl joins their circle, or should I say square, things begin to change for them. First Bench starts hanging out with other kids. Then Rose takes on the class bully. And then things change forever. 

Christofora, Kevin. AMIRA CAN CATCH, NEW KID IN SCHOOL

Christofora, Kevin.
AMIRA CAN CATCH, NEW KID IN SCHOOL
Woodstock, NY : Clarens Publishing, 2017
IL K-3
ISBN 098634933X
Nick and the Hometown All Stars are looking forward to t-ball practice after school.  But first they need to get through the day. A new girl joins the class today. Her name is Amira and she is from Syria. Nick offers to help her with her school work and she tells him of her days in the refugee camp. When Nick invites her to practice with the t-ball team. Amira is excited to learn to play. Today the kids will learn to catch the ball. Amira may just have a surprise for the team.