Table of Contents
Contact Information ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Classroom Connections…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4
Assignment Alert…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..5
Class Project Reserve Shelf…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5
Accessing Electronic Resources/Databases……………………………………………………………………………………………5
Description of Youth Electronic Resources/Databases…………………………………………………………………………..6
Professional Development Workshops………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Professional Teaching Collection…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7
Teacher Connection Newsletter…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
School Card……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
School Textbooks Reserve Shelf…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
Insufficient Resources Form…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8
Display Case Request…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9
2nd Grade Library Cards………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10
Formats in our Collection…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10
Launchpads ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..11
Playaways…………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………..11
Dowloadable Electronic Resource Apps……………………………………………………………………………………………….12
Overdrive
Axis 360
Zinio
Freegal
Library Smarts……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..13
2016 Monarch Nominees…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….14
2016 Bluestem Nominees……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………16
2016 Caudill Nominees………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..18
5th-8th Battle of the Books………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………..20
2
Contact Us:
If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns during
the school year, please let us know. The School Liaison will
be your primary contact, but any Youth Services staff are
happy to assist you. We are here to support you in your
teaching and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Rachel Reinwald, School Liaison
847.245.5113
[email protected]
Fax 847.265.9595
Kerry Reed, Head of Youth Services
847.245.5112
[email protected]
Elisa Gueffier, Youth Services Librarian
Cathy Cheesbrough-Gola, Youth Services Associate
Julie Bachinger, Youth Services Associate
Carol Rietzke, Youth Services Associate
Emily Szpak, Youth Services Associate
Kathy GutKnecht, Youth Services Clerk
Diane Boddicker, Youth Services Clerk
Val Buchtenkirch, Youth Services Clerk
Youth Services Desk
847.245.5116
3
Classroom Connections
A Classroom Connection bag is your resource to add supplemental
materials for your classroom: books (fiction or nonfiction), audio
books, CDs and videos. We will let you know when the bag is available
for pick up at the Youth Services desk. You can get up to 30 items, and
these items are yours for four weeks. Please allow a one-week turnaround from the time that you submit your request. A Team
Connection is a request for materials to be shared across three or more
classrooms. For your team, we can provide up to 75 items (if available).
Classroom Connection Ideas:

Science unit (magnets, matter,
simple machines, solar system,
etc…)

Social Studies unit (local history,
Civil War, Colonies, American
Revolution, primary sources, etc…)

ELA terms (plot, setting, character,
point of views, alliteration, etc…)
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Author studies
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Read alouds
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Award books

Reader books (K-2nd grade
independent reading)
4
Get Ready For Student Research
1. We love to know what projects and topics your students are learning and researching.
Keep us in the loop with an Assignment Alert. This information allows us to:

Be prepared for students’ questions on this project

Have resources close at hand on that topic

Know teacher requirements for the project (ex: books need to be 100+ pages)

Purchase books that we know the students will need information on
2. Do you have an involved research project coming up for your students? Let us know and
we can place limited resources and materials on a reserve shelf here in the library. We
gather titles and hold them in the reference area of Youth Services so that all of your
students coming to the library have equal access to the same materials.
3. Are you tired of your students using Google for their research information? Our
electronic resources can be accessed in the library or from school with a valid LVDL card.
The electronic resources contain digital reference resources that are authoritative, reliable
and accessible for a wide range of grades, reading levels and topics. It’s like using
reference books, but on the computer.
How to Get to Electronic Resources (Databases)
Go to www.lvdl.org.
Click Resources
Scroll to which resource you would
like. A box will prompt you to enter
your LVDL library card number to
enter.
The following page has a break
down of our student-friendly
electronic resources.
5
Electronic Resources
A to Z Maps
A to Z: USA
6th + (Teachers can print or project maps Different types of maps by state,
for any grade level)
country, continent, world. Temperature,
population, political, landforms, natural
disasters, battles, outline maps, flags
African American History
American History
Ancient and Medieval History
American Indian History
[Modern] World History
Videos and Pictures (1st +)
Biography in Context
6th +
Higher lexile; divided by type of source:
news, images, websites, etc.; easy to
use; can browse by type (artists, etc.)
Curriculum Resource Center
4th+
Science diagrams; experiments; math
activities; maps; images; timelines; fact
sheets.
(GALE) Online Courses
Professional Development
CE classes for teachers under the
Teaching and Education tab. Over 240
hours of classes.
Global Road Warrior
4th+
An easy to navigate and comprehensive
guide to any country. Side bar includes a
clickable table of contents for efficient
searching.
Kids Encyclopedia (Kids Info Bits)
1st + (once you get into Info Bits)
Search by hierarchy. General
encyclopedia: animals, music, history,
geography, social studies, bios, etc. Has
kids magazines, articles, and books.
Muzzy Online
K-5th
Beginning language (for harder, use
Mango Languages). ESL, French, Spanish,
German, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian,
Italian.
NoveList K-8
K-8th
Read-a-likes; book discussion guides;
book reviews; lexiles; reading lists by
genre, Grab + Go Lists
Scholastic Go
3rd +
Set up more like an index, has topic links
to click on. You can also use search box.
Science; culture; bios; general
encyclopedia, lexiles for every article.
World Almanac for Kids
1st +
Easy to use. Search box or click pictures.
Has all school units. Great use of text
features.
Encyclopedia text (5th +)
Videos/slideshows; key people; primary
resources; maps/graphs; timelines; topic
eras; research tools/lessons for students.
All 5 are cross-referenced.
6
Professional Development
Continuing Education Workshops for Credit
Each workshop will range from 1-2 hours and will occur throughout the school
year. Keep an eye out for our newsletters announcing the upcoming dates,
registration information and future workshop topics. Space is limited. Free of
charge.

Tuesday, October 25th, 4:30: New Teacher Orientation

Tuesday, January 17th, 4:30: Content Area Literacy - Questioning Strategies

Wednesday, February 15th, 4:30: Booktalking Magic

Thursday, April 27th, 4:30: Teaching History without Textbooks
Professional Teaching Collection
We have a collection of professional development
books and materials chosen for teachers! Our goal
is to provide you with materials that you can use to
support your classroom curriculum and professional
development goals. Some examples:

Common Core State Standards implementation

Next Gen Science Standards integration

Vocabulary building

Differentiation

Content Literacy

New teacher advice
7
Teacher Connection Newsletter
Every month we will email your Teacher Connection newsletter. It is filled with information, updates,
reminders and professional resources from LVDL. Look for CCSS connections, activities linked to award
books, and other supplemental materials to support your teaching. Get back issues at: http://www.lvdl.org/
teacher-connection.
School Card
Need to pick up a handful or two of materials in a pinch? The School Card is the perfect solution. Here's how
it works:



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Come to the library, choose up to 10 items, show your school ID at the Youth Services Desk and check out
your materials
You can also call in advance and we'll hold your requested items up to 24 hours
Items check out for the normal timeframe (3 weeks for books and audio materials; 1 week for DVDs and
magazines)
This service is available to schools within the Lake Villa Library District
Textbooks on Reserve
Let your students know that we have a collection of textbooks from District 41, Oakland, and Prince of Peace
located in the Youth Services reference area. These are available for in-library use only.
Insufficient Resources Form
Occasionally while assisting student research, we cannot find the information needed to complete an
assignment. Should this happen, we have an “Insufficient Resources” form that we will fill out and send in
with your student indicating that we did our best to locate the information together in the Library.
8
9
2nd Grade Library Cards
Last year District 41 and the Lake Villa Library District
embarked on an initiative to get a public library card
into every 2nd grader’s hand. The Library will once
again invite area 2nd grade classes for a tour and
opportunity to checkout out up to 3 print items. We
will send home a library registration form with each
student. Students need only bring back the complete
form to their teacher and the library will send their
new library card to the child’s home.
What’s In our Collection?
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Audio books
Audio kits (audio + picture book)
Award nominee books (Caudill,
Bluestem and Monarch)
Biographies
CDs
Digital resources and online databases
Beginning reader books
E-books
e-audio books
Fiction chapter books
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Playaways
J Graphic Novel Collection
Magazines
Nonfiction
Parent and Teaching collections
Reference collection
Transitional chapter books
DVDs (fiction and nonfiction)
Launchpads (tablets)
10
Launchpads are tablets for kids that can be circulated. They come with pre-loaded apps on STEM topics
grouped by age range.
Playaway is the simplest way to listen to an
audiobook on the go. With the audio
already contained within, and a battery to
make it play, there’s nothing left to do but
plug in earphones and enjoy.
Search the term "playaway" in our catalog to
see what titles we own.
AAA Battery and headphones are not
supplied.
11
Download Books, Movies, Music
& Audio Books
You can borrow ebooks and audiobooks, for free, from LVDL. The best part? No more late
fees. Books are checked out for 14 days and are automatically returned, unless you have the
option to renew for that book. As long as you have your library card and the app installed on
your favorite reading device, you're in business. Once you've selected your library, you can
access its official website within the app. You'll be prompted to enter your LVDL library card
number.
The last step is to borrow books or audiobooks, but be aware selection will vary by library and
availability. Yes, even though these are digital files, there's not an infinite number of them. If
the book you want is available, you can download it immediately via Wi-Fi or cellular
connectivity, and start reading it on your device (or hearing it, if it's an audiobook). You won’t
need to be connected to the internet to read books in the app that you have already
downloaded. You'll see the day it expires, which means you won't have access to it after that.
If the book you want isn't available, you can place a hold on it and you'll be notified via email
when it's available. You can also create "wish lists" for your own reference.
You flip pages with your finger; you can adjust font size and style, adjust the background color,
access table of contents, place a virtual bookmark and get a dictionary definition on a word.
Borrowing ebooks or eaudiobooks might seem like a daunting task but the apps make it a
simple process. While it doesn't take too long, the only tedious part is creating and
authorizing an Adobe account, choosing a library and typing in your card number. After that,
it's smooth sailing.
Click on an app below for install and user instructions. Need help? Bring your device in and
we will help you set up.
Read ebooks and eaudiobooks with
Overdrive, and Axis 360.
Read digital
magazines with
Zinio.
Download music
from Freegal.
12
Library Smarts
Lake Villa District Library has revamped its Library Smarts program to better meet your goals in the
classroom. Designed to teach research skills, our new program is now aligned with Next Generation Science
Standards and fits into your curriculum. The Library Smarts program is available to 2nd and 3rd grade
classrooms in District 41, 24, and Oakland Elementary. You can opt to get a Classroom Connection of
supplemental materials to go with the lesson content. As always, if you tell use
what type of unit you are covering (any subject), we can tailor a resource lesson
to go with it to teach your students research and digital literacy skills.
In the first lesson for 2nd graders, students will learn how to locate and use the
World Almanac for Kids database using the example of finding what plants need to
survive. They will learn about keywords, search boxes, icons, headings, table of
contents, reading for information, and note-taking. 1 hour using Chromebooks.
(CCSS RI.2.1, RI.2.5, RI.2.10, W.2.8; NGSS K-LS1-1, 2-LS2-1)
In the next lesson for 2nd graders, students will learn how to use nonfiction text features to make a landforms flip-book. They will learn
about the table of contents, glossary, index, headings and keywords.
1 hour. (CCSS RI.2.5; NGSS 2ESS Earth’s Systems)
In the next lesson for 2nd graders, students will learn to use
encyclopedias by comparing plant and animal life in different
habitats. They will learn about guide words, searching the index,
selecting volumes, headings, reading for information strategies, and note-taking. 1 hour. (CCSS W.2.7, W.2.8,
RI.2.5, RI.2.10; NGSS 2-LS4-1)
In the first lesson for 3rd graders, students will use the World Almanac for Kids database to find the
classification characteristics of animals. They will learn about parts of a database, text features, search tools,
reading for information, and note-taking. 1 hour using Chromebooks. (CCSS RI.3.5, RI.3.7, RI.3.10, W.3.7,
W.3.8; NGSS 1-LS1-1)
In the next lesson for 3rd graders, they will use specialized encyclopedias to classify an animal, make a food
chain for the animal, and note some of its adaptations. Students will gain an advanced understanding of
using the index (general to specific searching, “see
also” notes, etc), the difference between a specialized
and general encyclopedia,
reading for information,
and note-taking. 1 hour.
(CCSS RI.3.5, RI.3.7,
RI.3.10, W.3.2.b, W.3.7,
W.3.8; NGSS 3-LS4-3, 3LS3-2)
13
Monarch Awards (K-3)
The nominee list features books from a wide range of reading levels and genres. Students need to read (or
listen to) 5 titles to qualify to vote. The Monarch award invites students to participate in an election process
where their vote counts. We would love to visit your classroom or school to talk about the award and to introduce some of the titles through storytelling and book talks—just give us a call!
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend
by Dan Santat. An imaginary friend waits a long time
to be imagined by a child and given a special name,
and finally does the unimaginable - he sets out on a
quest to find his perfect match in the real world.
Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea.
While Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to
decide what to play, they each share an important
secret.
Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by Lynne Cox.
Elizabeth, a real-life elephant seal made her home
in the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand.
When Elizabeth decides to stretch out across a two
-land road, the citizens worry she might get hurt and they tow
her out to sea, but Elizabeth keeps swimming back.
Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang. A
story presented as a series of framed portraits
features animals in dozens of combinations that
represent and celebrate all kinds of nontraditional families.
Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio. A proper bulldog raised
in a poodle family and a tough poodle raised in a
bulldog family meet one day in the park.
Going Places by Peter Reynolds and Paul
Reynolds. Laszlo is afraid of the dark which lives in
the same big, creaky house as him, until one night
the dark pays him a visit.
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha
Yim. On Chinese New Year, her mother sends
Goldy Luck to the pandas next door with a plate
of turnip cakes, but the pandas are out and
disaster follows.
How Did That Get in My Lunchbox by
Christine Butterworth. A look at the steps
in producing some common foods, from
planting wheat to mixing flour into dough.
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig. Brian
has always felt invisible at school, but
when a new student, Justin, arrives,
everything changes.
Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the
Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine
Applegate. The true story of Ivan,
known as the Shopping Mall Gorilla,
who lived alone in a small cage for almost 30 years
before being relocated to the gorilla habitat at
ZooAtlanta.
Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn
Davis. What George Ferris had to go
through to invent and build his Ferris
wheel for the Chicago World’s Fair.
New Shoes by Susan Meyer. Ella Mae
and her cousin Charlotte, both African
American, start their own shoe store
when they learn that they cannot try on
shoes at the shoe store.
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay &
Recycling Women of Gambia by
Miranda Paul. Plastic bags are cheap
and easy to use. But what happens when a bag
breaks or is no longer needed? In Njau, Gambia,
people simply dropped the bags and went on their
way. This led to disease pollution and death of their
livestock. Something had to change. Isatou Ceesay
found a way to recycle the bags and transform her
community.
14
The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean
Hale. A big blue monster is threatening the
goats! Stopping monsters is no job for dainty
Princess Magnolia. But luckily Princess Magnolia
has a secret —she’s also the Princess in Black, and stopping monsters is the perfect job for her!
Waiting is Not Easy by Mo Willems. Piggie tells
Gerald she has a surprise for him, but it is not
there yet so Gerald must be patient.
Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally Walker. When
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty. A
Harry Colebourn, soldier and vetrinarian saw a
young aspiring engineer must first conquer her
baby bear at a train station, he knew he could
fear of failure.
care for it. Harry named the bear Winnie, short for Winnipeg and he brought her along to the military camp in England. Before long, she became the regiment's much-loved
This Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard Byrne.
mascot. But who could care for the bear when Harry went
When her dog disappears into the gutter of the
to battle?
book, Bella calls for help. But when the helpers
disappear too, Bella realizes it will take more than a tug
Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman. When her
on the leash to put things right.
parents find a baby wolf on their doorstep and
decide to raise him as their own, Dot is certain
Trapped! A Whale’s Rescue by Robert Burleigh.
he will eat them all up until a surprising enThe true story of a large humpback whale that
counter with a bear brings them closer together.
is trapped in a fishing net and must be rescued
by a diving team.
15
Bluestem Awards (3-5)
Your students need to read or listen to just four of the 20 nominees. We would love to visit
your classroom or school to talk about the award and introduce some of the titles through
book talks—just give us a call!
Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff. Ten-year-old
Albie has never been the smartest, tallest, best at
gym, greatest artist, or most musical in his class,
as his parents keep reminding him, but new
nanny Calista helps him uncover his strengths and take
pride in himself.
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm.
Ellie's scientist grandfather has discovered a
way to reverse aging, and consequently has
turned into a teenager--which makes for
complicated relationships when he moves in with Ellie
and her mother, his daughter.
Becoming Babe Ruth by Matt Tavares. Examines
the childhood and formative years of the
baseball icon, who learned early that life is what
you make of it and to honor the place from
which you came.
The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan
Gutman. On a cross-country vacation with
their parents, twins Coke and Pepsi, soon to
be thirteen, fend off strange assassins as they
try to come to terms with their being part of a
top-secret government organization known as The
Genius Files.
The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner.
Gianna has less than one week to complete her
leaf project if she wants to compete in the
upcoming cross-country sectionals, but issues
like procrastination, disorganization--and her
grandmother's declining health--seem destined to keep
her from finishing.
Eddie Red Undercover: Mystery on Museum Mile
by Marcia Wells. Sixth grader Eddie Red has a
photographic memory and talent for drawing
anything he sees. When the NYPD is stumped by a
mastermind art thief, Eddie becomes their secret weapon
to solve the case
El Deafo by Cece Bell. Going to school and making
new friends can be tough. But going to school and
making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing
aid strapped to your chest? That requires
superpowers! It gives Cece the ability to hear--sometimes
things she shouldn't--but also isolates her from her
classmates.
Gone Fishing by Tamera Wissinger. In this
novel told through poems, nine-year-old Sam
loves fishing with his dad, so when his pesky
little sister horns in on their fishing trip, he is
none too pleased. Includes primer on rhyme, poetry
techniques, rhythm, stanzas, and poetic forms.
The Journey That Saved Curious George by
Louise Borden. Tells the true story of Hans
and Margret Rey, the creators of Curious
George. In 1940, the Reys fled their Paris
home as the German army advanced on the
capital city. They began their harrowing journey on
bicycles with their children's book manuscripts among
their few possessions.
Justin Case: School, Drool, and other Daily
Disaster by Rachel Vail. Justin didn't get the
teacher he wanted, he's not in the same class
as his best friend, and his little sister,
Elizabeth, is starting kindergarten at his
school. And to top it off, he's lost his favorite stuffed
animal, but he can't tell anyone, because technically
he's too old to still have stuffed animals. Right?
16
Lulu’s Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst. When
Lulu's parents go on vacation, the formidable Ms.
Sonia Sofia Solinsky comes to babysit and Lulu
behaves as badly as possible to get her to leave until
Ms. Solinsky reveals her secret.
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana
Levy. Relates the adventures of a family with two
fathers, four adopted boys, and a variety of pets as
they make their way through a school year,
kindergarten through sixth grade, and deal with a
grumpy new neighbor.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert
O’Brien. Having no one to help her with her
problems, a widowed mouse visits the rats whose
former imprisonment in a laboratory made them
wise and long lived.
Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy. An up
close look at the ocean's most fearsome and
famous predator and the scientists who study
them--just twenty-six miles from the Golden
Gate Bridge.
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin. Struggling with
Asperger's, Rose shares a bond with her beloved
dog, but when the dog goes missing during a
storm, Rose is forced to confront the limits of her
comfort levels, even if it means leaving her
routines in order to search for her pet.
Shooting at the Stars by John Hendrix.
In 1914 France, a British soldier writes
to his mother about the strange events
of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,
when German and Allied soldiers met on neutral
ground to share songs, food, and fun.
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by
Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney. A
celebration of the 50th anniversary of the
momentous Woolworth's lunch counter sit
-in, when four college students staged a
peaceful protest that became a defining moment in
the struggle for racial equality and the growing civil
rights movement.
Spirit Animals: Wild Born by Brandon
Mull. As a dark force engulfs the land, the
fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of
four young strangers who each have
forged a rare bond with their spirit beasts
-- a bond that gives great powers to all of them.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. The
Tuck family is confronted with an
agonizing situation when they discover
that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious
stranger now share their secret about a
spring whose water prevents one from ever growing
any older.
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly
Bradley. A young disabled girl and her
brother are evacuated from London to the
English countryside during World War II,
where they find life to be much sweeter
away from their abusive mother.
17
Caudill Awards (4-8)
Students need to read at least three of the 20 nominees to vote. We would love to visit your
classroom or school to talk about the award and introduce some of the titles through book
talks—just give us a call!
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Fourteenyear-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan
wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court
as their father ignores his declining health.
The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier. Irish
orphans Molly, fourteen, and Kip, ten, travel to
England to work as servants in a crumbling
manor house where nothing is quite what it
seems to be, and soon the siblings are
confronted by a mysterious stranger and secrets of the
cursed house.
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Bradley.
A young disabled girl and her brother are
evacuated from London to the English
countryside during World War II, where they find
life to be much sweeter away from their abusive
mother.
Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper. When a
burning cross set by the Klan causes panic and
fear in 1932 Bumblebee, North Carolina, fifthgrader Stella must face prejudice and find the
strength to demand change in her segregated
town.
Nightbird by Alice Hoffman. Twig, aged twelve, is
practically ignored by classmates and other
residents of Sidwell, Massachusetts, but gets
along fine with just her mother and brother,
whose presence must be kept secret, until
descendants of the witch who cursed her family move in
next door and want to be her friends.
The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer. After
12-year-old Grace’s mother’s sudden death,
Grace is forced to live with a grandmother she’s
never met. Then she discovers clues in a
mysterious treasure hunt - one that will help her
find her true home.
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm.
Ellie's scientist grandfather has discovered a
way to reverse aging, and consequently has
turned into a teenager--which makes for
complicated relationships when he moves in
with Ellie and her mother, his daughter.
Rhyme Schemer by K.A. Holt. A novel in verse
about Kevin's journey from bully to being
bullied, as he learns about friendship, family,
and his talent for poetry.
The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson. Eel,
an orphan, and his best friend Florrie must
help Dr. John Snow prove that cholera is
spread through water, and not poisonous air,
when an epidemic sweeps across their London
neighborhood in 1854.
Fish In a Tree by Linda Hunt. Ally's greatest fear
is that everyone will find out she is as dumb as
they think she is because she still doesn't know
how to read.
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of
Trondheim by E.K. Johnston. In an alternate
world where industrialization has caused many
species of carbon-eating dragons to thrive,
Owen, a slayer being trained by his famous
father and aunt, and Siobhan, his bard, to face a dragon
infestation near their small town in Canada.
Masterminds by Gordon Korman. Eli has never
left Serenity, NM. Why would he ever want to?
Then one day he bikes to the edge of the city
limits and something crazy happens. Eli and his
friends investigate. The clues mount to reveal a
shocking discovery. The kids realize they can trust no one
-- least of all their own parents...
18
The Paper Cowboy by Kristin Levine. It’s
1953. Tommy faces escalating problems at
home, among his school friends, and with
the threat of a communist living nearby, but
taking over his hospitalized sister’s paper
route introduces him to neighbors who can help.
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My
Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights
March by Lynda Lowery. As the youngest
marcher in the 1965 Selma voting rights
march, Lynda Lowery proved that kids can
be heroes. Jailed 11 times before her 15th birthday,
Lowery fought alongside MLK Jr. for the rights of
African-Americans. Memoir.
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin. Struggling
with Asperger's, Rose shares a bond with her
beloved dog, but when the dog goes missing
during a storm, Rose is forced to confront
the limits of her comfort levels, even if it
means leaving her routines in order to search for her
pet.
Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan. Lost in the Black
Forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters
and finds himself entwined in a prophecy, a
promise, and a harmonica--and decades
later three children, Friedrich in Germany,
Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California find
themselves caught up in the same thread of destiny in
the darkest days of the twentieth century, struggling
to keep their families intact, and tied together by the
music of the same harmonica.
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny and the
Fights for Civil Rights by Sheinkin. An account
of the 1944 civil rights protest involving
hundreds of African-American Navy
servicemen who were unjustly charged with
mutiny for refusing to work in unsafe conditions after
the deadly Port Chicago explosion.
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud.
London has been affected by a horrifying
epidemic of ghosts. Psychic Investigations
Agencies have sprung up to destroy the
dangerous apparitions. Lucy Carlyle hopes for a
notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the
smallest, most ramshackle agency in the city, Lockwood
& Co. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, they
have to spend the night in one of the most haunted
houses in England, and try to escape alive.
How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle. A
Choctaw boy tells the story of his tribe’s
removal from the only land its people have
ever known, and how their journey to
Oklahoma led him to become a ghost - one
with the ability to help those he left behind.
A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman. In
India, a girl who excels at Bharatanatyam
dance refuses to give up after losing a leg in an
accident.
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