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Clear Skies
by Jessica Scott KerrinAs the US/Soviet Space Race heats up in 1961, eleven-year-old Arno finds his dreams of becoming an astronomer exploding like an extragalactic supernova. It is the summer of 1961, and eleven-year-old Arno Creelman wants nothing more than to be an astronomer. His claustrophobia rules out flying in a cramped space capsule, so instead, Arno dreams of exploring the galaxies with powerful telescopes back on Earth. Arno’s first move: Enter a local radio contest and win a visit to the new observatory that is about to open near his town. The ribbon will be cut by Arno’s idol, Jean Slayter-Appleton, a renowned astronomer whose weekly columns Arno clips for his own notebooks. When he finally manages to phone in and correctly answer the skill-testing astronomy question, Arno is thrilled. Then a new boy moves to the neighborhood, and he seems to challenge Arno in every way. Robert even believes in astrology, which Arno argues is not a science at all. Before long, Arno is feeling left behind, on the outs with his friends and even abandoned by his beloved dog, Comet. How did Arno’s dream become a cosmic nightmare? Key Text Features illustrations Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).
The Jessica Scott Kerrin Bundle
by Jessica Scott KerrinThe Missing Dog Is SpottedTrevor Tower doesn’t worry about being short until he is assigned dog-walking duty with Loyola Louden, the tallest person in his class. But the dogs are a wonderful distraction, and even before Trevor and Loyola vow to solve the mystery of a missed spotted dog, they are becoming good friends.The Spotted Dog Last SeenWhile tracking clues from a secret code penciled in the margins of mystery novels at the public library, Derek Knowles-Collier discovers a time capsule that may finally put his haunting past to rest. Includes a secret code for readers to decipher!
The Spotted Dog Last Seen
by Jessica Scott KerrinWhile volunteering at a local graveyard, Derek discovers that solving a mystery from long ago will also help him put his own present-day fears to rest. While tracking clues from a secret code penciled in the margins of mystery novels at a public library, Derek Knowles-Collier discovers a time capsule that may finally put his haunting past to rest. At QueensviewElementary, grade-six students are required to complete a community service unit as part of their school curriculum. Derek Knowles-Collier was sick when groups were assigned, so he is stuck with what’s leftover: landscape and repair duty at the local cemetery. Derek is not happy about his assignment. When he was very young, his friend Dennis was killed by a car after running into the road to catch a ball. Ever since, Derek has had recurring nightmares, and he is afraid that spending time in a cemetery will make it even harder for him to sleep through the night. It’s a relief, therefore, when his group’s lessons on all aspects of cemetery care are so interesting and strange that Derek just doesn’t have time to dwell on his experience with death. And when it rains, the lessons take place in the nearby public library, which takes him out of the cemetery altogether, at least for an afternoon. One day, a book arrives at the library, an anonymous donation that happens every year. On reading the book, Derek and his group mates find a secret code written on an inside margin. One code leads to the next, with the last code leading the students to a time capsule. Through a series of discoveries and deductions, Derek and his friends discover who has been sending books to the library every year. They also discover the truth behind Dennis’s long-ago death, which means that Derek is finally able to put his terrifying memories (and his nightmares) to rest. INCLUDES A SECRET CODE FOR READERS TO DECIPHER! Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.6 Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.6 Describe how a narrator's or speaker's point of view influences how events are described.
The Things Owen Wrote
by Jessica Scott Kerrin“A love letter to the process of research, the experience of writing poetry, and Iceland.”—School Library JournalOwen has always done well, even without trying that hard. He gets As in school, is an avid photographer and knows he can count on his family’s support. But then Owen makes a mistake. A big one. And now he must face his fear of disappointing his entire family. A last-minute trip to Iceland, just Owen and his granddad, seems like the perfect way out. For Owen’s granddad, the trip is about paying tribute to a friend with Icelandic roots. But Owen has a more urgent reason for going: he must get back the notebook his granddad accidentally sent to the Iceland archive. He can’t let anyone read the things he wrote in it!The pair gets on a plane, excited to leave their prairie town for a country of lava fields, glaciers and geysers. However, as they explore Iceland, the plan to recover Owen’s notebook starts to spiral out of control. Why does Owen’s granddad seem so confused and forgetful? And can Owen really hide the truth of what’s in his notebook? Key Text Featuresauthor’s notehistorical contextdialogue Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.
Number Sense Routines: Building Mathematical Understanding Every Day in Grades 3-5
by Jessica ShumwayFollowing up her' best-selling book, Number Sense Routines: Building Numerical Literacy Every Day in Grades K-3, Jessica Shumway turns her focus to upper elementary classrooms. Number Sense Routines: Developing Mathematical Understanding Every Day in Grades 3-5 is about tapping into every child' s innate number sense and providing daily, connected experiences that are responsive to children's learning needs. Consistent, Daily Routines Work:' Adaptable to any curriculum, Shumway' s 5, 10, or 15 minute warm-up routines are an easy and effective way to build and solidify students' number sense foundations as a supplement to any program Planning and Facilitating Your Classroom:' No matter how familiar the routine, Shumway provides insight on how to keep daily warm-ups fresh. She reveals careful thinking and planning that goes into each routine and offers detailed vignettes and dialogues of how they unfold in real classrooms Assessment Strategies:' As students engage in the process, each routine becomes an exciting opportunity to gain insight into where they are in their understanding and help students articulate their mathematical thinking Identify Big Ideas: Not only will these math routines help develop students' mathematical understanding as they move towards using standard algorithms, but teachers will learn to better recognize the big ideas that emerge in discussions, how to encourage important strategies based in number sense, and how to facilitate conversations on key mathematical concepts. ' 'These routines may appear in other places, [but] I have never seen them written in such detail and with so many variations.. . .. Although she makes what she does sound easy, we all know that teaching math well is anything but easy. It is challenging and complex. Unpacking what students are saying, helping them make connections not only to the math but to each other's ideas, while simultaneously recording their ideas using mathematical models, visuals, or equations is no easy task. Jessica provides wonderful visuals, examples of student work, and so much more to help educators develop the tools they need to improve their practice and in so doing improve student learning. ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' – From the Foreword by math coach and consultant Lucy West
BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends): A Girl's Guide to Happy Friendships
by Jessica SpeerFriendships can be tough. With clever, on-trend graphics and writing, BFF vs NRF (Not Really Friends) helps preteen girls learn to identify true friends, spot toxic friendship behavior, and keep their friendship bonds strong!
Fire Escape: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires (Books for a Better Earth)
by Jessica StremerA timely middle grade nonfiction overview of the incredible ways animals detect, respond, and adapt to wildfires, as well as how climate change is affecting the frequency and severity of these devastating events in nature.Goats and beavers. Drones and parachutes. Pinecones and beetles. What do they have in common? Believe it or not, they are all crucial tools in fighting, preventing, and adapting to wildfires!These vicious fires are spreading faster and burning hotter than at any other time in history. Ongoing droughts, warming weather, and a history of poor forest management have extended the traditional wildfire season beyond the summer months. It is a matter of life and death for wildlife worldwide.This breathtaking nonfiction book focuses on unique angles to a hot topic, including injury rehabilitation efforts, species that use wildfires to their advantage, how to help area repopulation, and the animals that help to prevent/fight wildfires. A riveting, kid friendly text is accompanied by stunning woodcut illustrations and full-color photographs, as well as extensive back matter with glossary, sources, and index.Books for a Better Earth are designed to inspire children to become active, knowledgeable participants in caring for the planet they live on.A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Hollowpox: The Hunt For Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #3)
by Jessica TownsendMorrigan battles a new evil as a strange, frightening illness takes hold of Nevermoor in this captivating and heart-pounding third book of the instant New York Times bestselling series.Morrigan Crow and her friends have survived their first year as proud scholars of the elite Wundrous Society, helped bring down the nefarious Ghastly Market, and proven themselves loyal to Unit 919. Now Morrigan faces a new, exciting challenge: to master the mysterious Wretched Arts, and control the power that threatens to consume her.But a strange and frightening illness has taken hold of Nevermoor, turning infected Wunimals into mindless, vicious Unnimals on the hunt. As victims of the Hollowpox multiply, panic spreads. And with the city she loves in a state of fear, Morrigan quickly realizes it's up to her to find a cure for the Hollowpox, even if it will put her -- and everyone in Nevermoor -- in more danger than she ever imagined. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px} span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow Book 3 (Nevermoor #3)
by Jessica TownsendDiscover the magical world of Nevermoor and the adventures of Morrigan Crow, in this bestselling, award-winning series for fans of Harry Potter and His Dark Materials.'Exciting, mysterious, marvellous and magical ... quite simply one of the best children's books I've read in years' Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike.Morrigan Crow is determined, daring and ready for a new challenge: to step into her destiny as a Wundersmith, master the mysterious Wretched Arts, and control the power that threatens to consume her. She and her friends are proud to be in their second year of attendance at the magical Wundrous Society, and together they can face anything. But a strange illness has taken hold of Nevermoor, turning its peaceable Wunimals into mindless, vicious unnimals on the hunt. As victims of the Hollowpox multiply, panic spreads. And with the city she loves in a state of fear, Morrigan quickly realises it is up to her to find a cure for the Hollowpox, even if it will put her - and the rest of Nevermoor - in more danger than ever before ... Enter a world of hope and imagination in this Wundrous series, winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and with film rights sold to Fox.Praise for Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow: 'A full-speed joy of a book; funny, quick-footed, and wildly, magically inventive' Katherine Rundell, author of Rooftoppers
Nevermoor Collection
by Jessica TownsendDiscover Jessica Townsend's magical bestselling Nevermoor series in this set including: Nevermoor, Wundersmith, and Hollowpox !A breathtaking, enchanting series, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world--and is tested beyond her wildest imagination.Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each with an extraordinary talent that sets them apart--an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests--or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.This fast-paced plot and imaginative world has a fresh new take on magic that will appeal to a new generation of readers.
Nevermoor: The Trials Of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor Ser. #1)
by Jessica TownsendO dia em que veio ao mundo — o dia de Eventide — marcou o início de uma era de azares para os habitantes de Jackalfax. O infortúnio que atrai para todos à sua volta condenou Morrigan e todas as crianças nascidas naquele dia a morrer na noite do seu décimo primeiro aniversário. <P><P> Ensombrada por esta maldição e sem qualquer perspetiva de futuro, tenta enfrentar o seu destino com bravura, apesar da indiferença dos pais. Mas, pouco antes de o relógio bater a hora marcada para a sua morte, a nossa heroína ganha uma nova esperança quando conhece Jupiter North, que a resgata do seu destino e a leva para a cidade secreta de Nevermoor, onde poderá ficar a salvo da maldição que a persegue. No entanto, para aí poder permanecer, terá de provar o seu valor e superar alguns desafios com a ajuda de um talento muito especial que insiste não ter
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #1)
by Jessica Townsend<P>A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world--but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday. <P>But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor. <P>It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart--an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests--or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate. <P>Perfect for fans of the Harry Potter series and Neil Gaiman, this fast-paced plot and imaginative world has a fresh new take on magic that will appeal to a new generation of readers. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow Book 1 (Nevermoor #1)
by Jessica TownsendWINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE 2018 YOUNGER FICTION CATEGORY WINNER OF RED MAGAZINE'S BIG BOOK 'BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK (7-12)' AWARD International bestselling new series. Enter the Wundrous world of Morrigan Crow and Nevermoor - the most fantastical children's series of the year."Exciting, mysterious, marvellous and magical ... quite simply one of the best children's books I've read in years" - Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike"An extraordinary story full of magics great and small" - Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars"Endlessly inventive, with a fresh delight on every page. Nevermoor rewrites the genre of the Chosen Child novel. This is a special book" - David Solomons, author of My Brother is a Superhero"A full-speed joy of a book; funny, quick-footed, and wildly, magically inventive" - Katherine Rundell, author of Rooftoppers"A wonderful, warm-hearted magical adventure" - Sunday Express"Funny and delightful" - The Sunday TimesMorrigan Crow is cursed, destined to die on her eleventh birthday. But, as the clock strikes midnight, she's whisked away by a remarkable man called Jupter North and taken to the secret city of Nevermoor.There she's invited to join the Wundrous Society. Mystery, magica and protection are hers - if only she can pass four impossible trials, using an exceptional talent. Which she doesn't have...Perfect for fans of the Harry Potter series and His Dark Materials, this series takes readers into an extraordinary world, setting hope and imagination alive.
Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor)
by Jessica TownsendIn the magical city of Nevermoor, long-buried secrets are coming to light, and Morrigan Crow&’s life is about to turn upside down. When Morrigan is invited into Nevermoor&’s wealthy Silver District, she discovers a world of extravagance and a family mystery she&’s eager to unravel. She could never imagine where it will lead: a white wedding, a golden dragon and a red pool of blood. Embroiled in suspicion and danger, Morrigan leaps head first into a murder investigation, while also grappling with her ever-growing Wundersmith powers. And although her friends are there to help, she fears that could change if they learn she&’s keeping a terrible secret of her own. As shadowy forces awaken in Nevermoor, can Morrigan find a killer and solve the mystery in her own past … before the clock strikes midnight? Jessica Townsend weaves a spellbinding tale of magic and mystery in this thrilling new installment of the Nevermoor series.
Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #2)
by Jessica TownsendThe captivating and heart-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling and #1 Kids' Indie Next Pick Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, as heroine Morrigan battles a new evil. <P><P>Morrigan Crow and her best friend Hawthorne Swift are now proud scholars in the elite Wundrous Society, but life is far from perfect. Does Morrigan have what it takes to prove that she belongs in the Society? <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Coyote Queen
by Jessica Vitalis“Winningly intense.” —Kirkus Reviews“A powerful novel of tremendous empathy and optimism.” —Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award finalist“Exquisitely written and painfully real.” —Megan E. Freeman, award-winning author of AloneWhen a twelve-year-old decides that she must get herself and her mother out of a bad situation, an eerie connection to a coyote pack helps her see who she’s meant to be—and who she can truly save. The Benefits of Being an Octopus meets The Nest in this contemporary middle grade novel about family, class, and resilience, with a magical twist.Twelve-year-old Fud feels trapped. She lives a precarious life in a cramped trailer with her mom and her mom’s alcoholic ex-boxer boyfriend, Larry. Fud can see it’s only a matter of time until Larry explodes again, even if her mom keeps on making excuses for his behavior. If only Fud could find a way to be as free as the coyotes roaming the Wyoming countryside: strong, smart, independent, and always willing to protect their own.When Larry comes home with a rusted-out houseboat, Fud is horrified to hear that he wants to fix it up for them to live on permanently. All she sees is a floating prison. Then new-neighbor Leigh tells Fud about Miss Black Gold, a beauty pageant sponsored by the local coal mine. While Fud doesn’t care much about gowns or talents or prancing around on stage, she cares very much about getting herself and her mom away from Larry before the boat is finished. And to do that, she needs money, in particular that Miss Black Gold prize money.One problem: the more Fud fantasizes about escape, the more her connection to the coyotes lurking outside her window grows. And strange things have started happening—is Fud really going color-blind? Are her eyebrows really getting bushier? And why does it suddenly seem like she can smell everything?Jessica Vitalis crafts a moving and voice-driven novel about family and resilience, with a fantastical twist. Coyote Queen is perfect for readers of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise and The Elephant in the Room.
The Rabbit's Gift
by Jessica VitalisWhat makes a hero or a villain? Can someone be both—or neither? When the delicate balance between the people of a small country and the mythic rabbits of age-old lore is broken, putting everyone at risk, a young rabbit and a young girl must overcome their prejudices and learn to trust each other. This vivid and inventive novel from the acclaimed author of The Wolf’s Curse will captivate fans of Orphan Island and Scary Stories for Young Foxes. Quincy Rabbit and his warren live a simple yet high-stakes life. In exchange for the purple carrots they need to survive, they farm and deliver Chou de vie (cabbage-like plants that grow human babies inside) to the human citizens of Montpeyroux. But lately, because of those selfish humans, there haven’t been enough carrots to go around. So Quincy sets out to change that—all he needs are some carrot seeds. He’ll be a hero. Fleurine sees things a little differently. As the only child of the Grand Lumière, she’s being groomed to follow in her mother’s political footsteps—no matter how much Fleurine longs to be a botanist instead. Convinced that having a sibling will shift her mother’s attention, Fleurine tries to grow purple carrots, hoping to make a trade with the rabbits. But then a sneaky rabbit steals her seeds. In her desperation to get them back, she follows that rabbit all the way to the secret warren—and steals a Chou.Quincy and Fleurine have endangered not just the one baby inside the Chou, but the future of Montpeyroux itself—for rabbits and humans alike. Now, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other to restore the balance. Told from both Quincy’s and Fleurine’s perspectives, The Rabbit’s Gift will enchant fans of Katherine Applegate, Gail Carson Levine, and Anne Ursu.
The Wolf's Curse
by Jessica Vitalis“I am obsessed with this story!”—Erin Entrada Kelly, author of the Newbery Honor book We Dream of Space “Boldly tells readers to take a closer look at the stories they’re told—not to mention at the wolves that might be lurking in the shadows. A clear-eyed, big-hearted fable of compassion, friendship, and love.”—Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy“A lyrical tale of loss and survival, tradition and belief, in which tension and secrets build like a towering wave.”—Diane Magras, author of The Mad Wolf’s Daughter“A fable as polished and timeless as a fine wooden toy.”—Catherine Gilbert Murdock, author of the Newbery Honor book The Book of BoyShunned by his fearful village, a twelve-year-old apprentice embarks on a surprising quest to clear his name, with a mythic—and dangerous—wolf following closely at his heels. Jessica Vitalis’s debut is a gorgeous, voice-driven literary fantasy about family, fate, and long-held traditions. The Wolf’s Curse will engross readers of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and A Wish in the Dark. Gauge’s life has been cursed since the day he cried Wolf and was accused of witchcraft. The Great White Wolf brings only death, Gauge’s superstitious village believes. If Gauge can see the Wolf, then he must be in league with it.So instead of playing with friends in the streets or becoming his grandpapa’s partner in the carpentry shop, Gauge must hide and pretend he doesn’t exist. But then the Wolf comes for his grandpapa. And for the first time, Gauge is left all alone, with a bounty on his head and the Wolf at his heels.A young feather collector named Roux offers Gauge assistance, and he is eager for the help. But soon the two—both recently orphaned—are questioning everything they have ever believed about their village, about the Wolf, and about death itself. Narrated by the sly, crafty Wolf, Jessica Vitalis’s debut novel is a vivid and literary tale about family, friendship, belonging, and grief. The Wolf’s Curse will captivate readers of Laurel Snyder’s Orphan Island and Molly Knox Ostertag’s The Witch Boy.
Unsinkable Cayenne
by Jessica Vitalis“Intensely readable.” —School Library Journal (starred review)When her unconventional parents finally agree to settle down in one place, twelve-year-old Cayenne’s dreams come true—but the reality of fitting in is much harder than she imagined. Acclaimed author Jessica Vitalis crafts an unforgettable historical novel-in-verse about belonging, family, and social class, for fans of Lisa Fipps’s Starfish and Jasmine Warga’s Other Words for Home.As Cayenne enters seventh grade, her parents decide it's time to stop living in their van, roaming from place to place. Cayenne hopes that this means she will finally belong somewhere and make some friends. But it turns out that staying in one place isn’t easy at all.When her social studies class studies the Titanic tragedy (the wreckage has just been discovered and her teacher is obsessed), Cayenne sees more and more parallels between the social strata of the infamous ship and her own life. Will she ever squeeze her way into the popular girls’ clique, even though they live in fancy houses on the hill and she lives in a tiny, rundown home with chickens in the front yard? Is it possible that the boy she likes actually likes her back? Can she find a way to make room for herself in this town? Does she really want to? Maybe being “normal” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.Set in the mid-1980s, this literary novel is for readers of Megan E. Freeman’s Alone and Erin Entrada Kelly’s We Dream of Space.
Indigo Blue
by Jessica WatsonAlex feels like a fish out of water in her new hometown - the sleepy little lakeside village of Boreen Point where she is reluctantly sent to live with her slightly eccentric aunt for her final year of high school. None of Alex's classmates could care less about the new girl, so Alex couldn't care less about them . . . or so she tries to tell herself.As a distraction from what is quickly shaping up to be a very lonely year, Alex spends her savings on a rundown little yacht and throws herself into restoring it. A curious discovery leads to the beginnings of a friendship, but it's Sam - the sailmaker's apprentice - and his mysterious ways that capture Alex's attention and force her to question what is real and what matters most.A captivating novel about fate, friendship and finding yourself from Young Australian of the Year 2011, Jessica Watson.
Breda's Island
by Jessie Ann FoleyIn the vein of When You Trap a Tiger and Shouting at the Rain, this is the story of the journey one girl undertakes to find herself.After Breda Moriarity gets caught stealing one too many times, Breda's mom sends her to Ireland, a place she has never been, to live with the grandfather she has never met.While Breda doesn’t want to be in this strange land, she finally gets to meet Granda, her mom’s father. He’s a grumpy farmer who is also a seanchaí, a traditional Gaelic storyteller. But the most important story is the one nobody will talk about: what happened to her absent father. If nothing else this summer, Breda is determined to figure out the truth about her family’s history—and herself.This powerfully poignant middle grade novel, the first from award-winning author Jessie Ann Foley, asks questions about estranged relationships, immigration, and family secrets.
Severe and Unusual Weather
by Jessie Ann FoleyIn this poignant novel, a young girl leaves her troubled home and, while investigating a destructive tornado with the class outcast, learns the importance of letting her guard down. A must-read for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, Dan Gemeinhart, and Corey Ann Haydu. Nadine has rules for surviving as the new kid:Keep your head down.Mind your own business.Don’t stick your neck out for anyone. Especially not for Francis Pepper, the boy everyone in school picks on.Nadine just wants to get through the rest of the year without any trouble. She knows that once her mom is out of rehab, it’ll be back to the unpredictable in Chicago.But when she’s paired with Francis for a project about Centralia, Illinois, her new hometown, she’s drawn to his story. Francis was born the exact day that a tornado, the Great Tornado of the New Millennium (GTNM), destroyed the area. The cyclone even killed his mom. Then Nadine finds a mysterious book that contains instructions for channeling weather. Before she can blink, she and Francis are caught in the swirling whispers and lies that surround the GTNM.Try as they might, they can’t figure out two things: Who would want to summon a tornado to Centralia? And why would they want to hurt Francis’s family?
A Blue for Beware (Beware the Mare #2)
by Jessie HaasNamed to the West Virginia Children&’s Book Award Master List: In the first horse show with her new mare, Lily competes against her best friend for the blue ribbon Today&’s the big day. Lily and her horse, Beware, are going to compete in the junior horse show. Lily&’s best friend, Mandy, is also in the competition, riding her horse, Shane. When Lily and her mother and grandfather arrive, Mandy looks so grown up, like a rider in a magazine. And with his shining copper coat, Shane looks just like a show horse. Worried that Beware looks shaggy next to Shane, Lily brushes her until she&’s sleek and polished. Then it&’s time for Lily to get ready. She puts on her breeches and boots and tries to remember everything her grandfather taught her about riding. Will Lily and Beware walk away with the blue? And will Lily and Mandy still be best friends when it&’s over?
A Horse like Barney (Barney #2)
by Jessie HaasIn the sequel to Keeping Barney, Sarah&’s finally going to get her own horse, but there are too many to choose from—and she wants one just like Barney With his broad chest, round rump, and short legs, Barney looks more like a Shetland pony than a big half-Morgan. And his coat is as woolly as a bear&’s. But thirteen-year-old Sarah loves him to pieces. Caring for him while his owner, Missy, was away at college took work, but eventually, she and the gelding bonded. Now Sarah&’s folks have promised her a horse of her very own. But Sarah&’s dad is writing his second novel, her mom is busy tutoring, and Sarah&’s best friend, Jill, is stuck babysitting. Facing a long, boring summer, Sarah is thrilled when Missy volunteers to help her look for her dream horse. Sarah wants a Morgan just like Barney. Eventually, she narrows it down to two: powerful, spirited Roy or lovable old Thunder, who&’s bound for the auction block if nobody buys him. Which one should she choose?
A Horse like Barney (Barney #2)
by Jessie HaasIn the sequel to Keeping Barney, Sarah&’s finally going to get her own horse, but there are too many to choose from—and she wants one just like Barney With his broad chest, round rump, and short legs, Barney looks more like a Shetland pony than a big half-Morgan. And his coat is as woolly as a bear&’s. But thirteen-year-old Sarah loves him to pieces. Caring for him while his owner, Missy, was away at college took work, but eventually, she and the gelding bonded. Now Sarah&’s folks have promised her a horse of her very own. But Sarah&’s dad is writing his second novel, her mom is busy tutoring, and Sarah&’s best friend, Jill, is stuck babysitting. Facing a long, boring summer, Sarah is thrilled when Missy volunteers to help her look for her dream horse. Sarah wants a Morgan just like Barney. Eventually, she narrows it down to two: powerful, spirited Roy or lovable old Thunder, who&’s bound for the auction block if nobody buys him. Which one should she choose?