Special Collections
Browse by Lexile: 500L - 590L
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Fancy Nancy
by Jane O'ConnorNancy's mom says Nancy has too many tutus! But what happens when her class hosts a swap-and-shop and Nancy finds the perfect tutu?
Fancy Nancy
by Jane O'ConnorWhere spelling is concerned, Nancy is better than great--she's splendid! But when Ms. Glass's spelling test is harder than Nancy anticipated, the self-professed spelling prodigy faces a tough decision.
Fancy Nancy
by Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss GlasserNancy wants to do an interesting school report on her ancestor. (That's fancy for a family member who lived long ago.) But will she remember to stick to the plain truth?
Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet
by Jane O'ConnorFancy Nancy is ready for the spotlight!
Fancy Nancy and her best friend, Bree, couldn't be more excited about their upcoming dance show. After all, it's all about mermaids--and who knows how to be a fancy, glamorous mermaid better than Fancy Nancy herself? But when another ballerina wins the coveted role of the mermaid, Nancy is stuck playing a dreary, dull tree.
Can Nancy bring fancy flair to her role, even though it isn't the one she wanted? And when disaster strikes right before the big ballet, who will step in to steal the spotlight?
From bestselling duo Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser comes a fancy, frilly ballet story with a lot of heart. Tiny fans will shout "Encore!" Picture descriptions present.
Fancy Nancy
by Jane O'ConnorA young girl who loves fancy things helps her family to be fancy for one special night.
The Fighting Ground
by AviApril 3, 1778
He may be just thirteen, but Jonathan knows he's ready to go to the war against the British. He can handle a gun. He yearns to battle for glory, just like his brother and cousin.So when Jonathan hears the tavern bell toll, calling men to fight, he runs to join them. He doesn't realize that in just twenty-four hours, his life will be forever altered -- by the war, by his fellow soldiers, and by the terrible choices he must make.
Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Imani's Moon
by Janay Brown-Wood and Hazell MitchellWanting to do something great, Imani, a young Maasai girl with a loving mother, decides she wants to touch the moon and works hard to reach her goal despite the teasing of detractors, in a story complemented by facts about Maasai folklore and culture.
Waiting for Normal
by Leslie ConnorAddie is waiting for normal.
But Addie's mom has an all-or-nothing approach to life: a food fiesta or an empty pantry, jubilation or gloom, her way or no way. All or nothing never adds up to normal. All or nothing can't bring you all to home, which is exactly where Addie longs to be, with her half sisters, every day. In spite of life's twists and turns, Addie remains optimistic. Someday, maybe, she'll find normal.
Leslie Connor has created an inspiring novel about one girl's giant spirit.
Schneider Family Award Winner
Crazy Lady
by Jane Leslie ConlyReceiving less and less attention from his widowed father, Vernon joins with his friends as they ridicule the neighborhood outcasts--Maxine, an alcoholic prone to public displays of crazy behavior, and Ronald, her retarded son. Then the social service decides to put Ronald into a special home, and Vernon finds himself fighting the agency. 1994 Newbery Honor Book
Notable Children's Books of 1994 (ALA)
1994 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
1994 Young Adult Editors' Choices (BL)
1994 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
Young Adult Choices for 1995 (IRA)
Three Times Lucky
by Sheila TurnageRising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she's been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her "upstream mother," she's found a home with the Colonel--a café owner with a forgotten past of his own--and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known.
Full of wisdom, humor, and grit, this timeless yarn will melt the heart of even the sternest Yankee.
Newbery Medal Honor book
The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate and Patricia CastelaoIvan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he's seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home-and his own art-through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.
Newbery Medal Winner
Flora And Ulysses
by K. G. Campbell and Kate DiCamilloWinner of the 2014 Newbery Medal. Holy unanticipated occurrences! A cynic meets an unlikely superhero in a genre-breaking new novel by master storyteller Kate DiCamillo. It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry -- and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart.
Newbery Medal Winner
Sam and the Tigers
by Julius LesterLittle Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman is re-created in a black southern storytelling voice in which the storyteller is involved--a voice readers may recognize from his retellings of The Tales of Uncle Remus, among others. He turns Sam's deals with hungry tigers into an exuberant battle of wits, and transforms his pancake dinner into a glorious feast for the whole community.
Dance Off
by Macky Pamintuan and Carolyn KeeneDance fever has hit River Heights!
Kids Can Dance, the famous reality tv show, is holding auditions at River Heights Elementary. Nancy and her friends are eager to try out, and meet the famous host, Bryce Brown.
But when something goes wrong with every dancer's equipment, music, or routine, could someone be trying to ruin the River Heights try-outs? Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew are on the case!
Princess Mix-up Mystery
by Carolyn Keene and Macky PamintuanNancy, Bess, and George have won the contest of a lifetime - a day of royal treatments at Prissy Princess Parlor! They couldn't be more thrilled.
But some of their classmates are jealous, and the owner of the local yoga studio, located above the parlor, thinks the new salon will disrupt his calm atmosphere.
When their makeovers are sabotaged, who is to blame? With so many potential suspects, the Clue Crew has their work cut out for them. It's time to put down the hair spray and crack this case!
Unicorn Uproar
by Macky Pamintuan and Carolyn KeeneThe Great Unicorn Caper!
Sparkle the unicorn has gone missing from the town's medieval festival. Did third-grade diva Destiny Delgado or the mischievous Toby Leo steal Sparkle?
Or did the wand Nancy bought from the fortune-teller make Sparkle disappear?
Once again it's up to Nancy, Bess, and George to look for clues and find the culprit. Follow the Clue Crew as they solve this magical mystery!
Double Take
by Carolyn KeeneIn Treasure Trouble, Nancy, George, and Bess are headed to Barnacle Beach for a pirate-themed birthday party. But when the treasure chest filled with party favors disappears, playtime is over. With the help of a mysterious treasure map, the Clue Crew needs to reclaim the missing loot before the party’s completely ruined. In Double Take, the Clue Crew has competition—one of their classmates has started a rival sleuthing club! Can Nancy and the girls solve the latest case before the phony detectives do?
Treasure Trouble
by Carolyn KeeneIn #20, the girls run into trouble at Barnacle Beach when a party's treasure chest is stolen. In #21, a rival sleuthing club is formed at River Heights Elementary School, will Nancy's club be permanently off the case?
April Fool's Day
by Carolyn Keene and Macky PamintuanNancy, George, and Bess have been invited to an April Fool's Day party at their new schoolmate's house. It sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun -- each guest is bringing a gag to the party, and the best prank will win a special prize.
When two of the guests' fancy new electronics go missing, Nancy knows something's up. Is this someone's idea of a joke? The Clue Crew certainly isn't laughing, and they're on the case to find the missing gadgets.
The Zoo Crew
by Carolyn KeeneThis camp is WILD! Nancy, George, and Bess are attending a three-day overnight camp at the local zoo. They'll get to spend lots of time with all of the animals and learn about them too. The best part is, they will be helping the zookeeper make toys for the animals -- just like real staffers! But when the toys the girls make by day are disappearing at night, it looks like everyone is a suspect! Can Nancy tame this wild case, or will the zoo animals be without anything fun to do?
Chick-napped!
by Macky Pamintuan and Carolyn KeeneChickens on the loose!
Spring has sprung in River Heights! Nancy's class is hatching chickens to celebrate. Some of Nancy's classmates are excited, especially Tommy Maron. Tommy has even named all the eggs! But other classmates are less thrilled about the arrival of the little birds.
Catherine Spangler is peeved because the chicks are due to arrive on HER birthday -- the nerve! But when the chicks vanish from the classroom, everyone is upset. Who would steal helpless chick eggs? Nancy knows she has a real egg of a mystery to crack this time!
Valentine's Day Secret (
by Macky Pamintuan and Carolyn KeeneBess and George are fighting - and Nancy's caught in the middle!
It's Valentine's Day, but things are not all hearts and flowers for Nancy! While she and her best friends, Bess and George, are making their own stuffed animals at Farmer Fran's Barnyard Buddies, someone slips a mean valentine into Bess' animal's pocket.
What's worse than a mean valentine? Bess thinks it came from George! Now the two are in their worst fight ever - and Nancy's caught in the middle! How can she sew Bess and George's friendship - not to mention the Clue Crew - back together?
Ski School Sneak
by Carolyn Keene and Macky PamintuanSnowy situation!
Nancy, George, and Bess are on a ski trip! They are having tons of fun, and Bess proves a natural for the slopes. She even wins a special award! But when the ski supply room is suddenly trashed, all eyes turn to Bess. It looks like she's a suspect this time around.
Nancy is sure Bess is innocent, but how can she prove it? And just when it seems things can't get any worse, a snowstorm closes the road home. The Clue Crew is trapped at the ski lodge! Can Nancy find a way to clear Bess's name...and will they ever get home?
Ticket Trouble
by Macky Pamintuan and Carolyn KeeneWhat fun is a fair with no tickets?
River Heights Elementary is throwing a fall festival! It promises to be full of fun games, great food, and amazing amusement park rides -- even a roller coaster! All of the kids in River Heights, including Nancy, George, and Bess, are very excited and have been working hard to earn extra money for festival tickets.
So when Nancy's friend Ned claims someone stole his hard-earned tickets, the Clue Crew jumps into action. The girls are in a race against time to find Ned's tickets. And it turns out the culprit might have a very different reason for needing them....
The Halloween Hoax
by Carolyn Keene and Macky PamintuanBoo! The Clue Crew is in for a fright!
It's Halloween in River Heights! The girls can't wait to go trick-or- treating and are busy getting their costumes ready. They also can't wait for the Halloween special of their favorite TV show. They even get the chance to visit the TV studio while the show is being taped!
But soon after they arrive, Nancy is spooked. With all the scary noises the Clue Crew keeps hearing and the creepy shadows that seem to be lurking, it seems like the studio is haunted! Is it just Halloween jitters...or are there really such things as ghosts?