Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds The Sammy Lee Story by Paula Yoo and Dom Lee Hardcover, 1 v. (unpaged) Profiles the childhood dreams and realities of the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal, achieved in the 10-meter platform diving event in 1948. Excerpt: Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds Summer Page-Turners
Montmorency Thief, Liar, Gentleman by Eleanor Updale Hardcover, 232 pages In Victorian London, after his life is saved by a young physician, a thief utilizes the knowledge he gains in prison and from the scientific lectures he attends as the physician's case study exhibit to create a new, highly successful, double life for himself.In Victorian London, after his life is saved by a young physician, a thief uses the knowledge he gains in prison and from the scientific lectures he attends as the physician's case study exhibit to create a new, highly successful, double life for himself. Excerpt: 'Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman?' 'Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman'
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long and David Shannon School And Library, 1 v. (unpaged) When Braid Beard's pirate crew invites Jeremy Jacob to join their voyage, he jumps right on board thinking that pirate life will be great, but when he finds out that pirates don't get bedtime stories or tucking in at night, he reconsiders he decision. Children's BOMC. 75,000 first printing. Excerpt: 'How I Became a Pirate'
Summer Reading Is Killing Me by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith Paperback, 73 pages At the beginning of summer vacation Joe, Sam, and Fred find themselves trapped inside their summer reading list, involved in a battle between good and evil characters from well-known children's books. Excerpt: 'Summer Reading Is Killing Me!'
The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop Hardcover, 80 pages Readers can follow Sam Marshall, a spider scientist, as he explores the dense rain forest of French Guiana, knocking on the doors of tarantula burrows and trying to get a closer look at these incredible creatures. Excerpt: 'The Tarantula Scientist'
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell Hardcover, 214 pages Wanting to capture and train a fierce dragon in order to prove his courage to those in the Viking chiefdom, heir-to-be Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III finds the smallest dragon in the woods who ends up becoming the most loved creature in the land. Excerpt: 'How to Train Your Dragon' Rex Grignon, Reading Between the 'Toons
The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela Through Three Continents in the Twelfth Century by Uri Shulevitz School And Library, 1 v. (unpaged) Presents a fictionalized account of the travels of Benjamin, a Jewish man from Tudela, Spain, who, in 1159, set out on a fourteen-year-long journey that took him to Italy, Greece, Palestine, Persia, China, Egypt, and Sicily. Excerpt: 'The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela'
The Magician's Boy by Susan Cooper and Serena Riglietti Hardcover, 100 pages When the magician's apprentice loses the Saint George puppet, the angry magician sends the boy to the strange Land of Story to find Saint George, and he ends up meeting—and helping—a number of familiar fairy tale characters during his quest. Excerpt: 'The Magician's Boy'
An American Plague The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy Hardcover, 165 pages Recreates the devastation rendered to the city of Philadelphia in 1793 by an incurable disease known as yellow fever, detailing the major social and political events as well as the time's medical beliefs and practices. Excerpt: 'The American Plague'
Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest and Jon J. Muth School And Library, 1 v. (unpaged) While waiting on the porch for the school bus with an elderly musician named George, Harry is surprised to discover that he has many things in common with the one-hundred-year-old man and so is happy when their daily meetings turn into friendship that becomes something very special for the both of them. Excerpt: 'Mr. George Baker'
Hachiko The True Story of a Loyal Dog by Pamela S. Turner and Yan Nascimbene School And Library, 1 v. (unpaged) When his owner didn't come home one day, Hachiko the dog went to the train station and waited for him, every day, for ten years, becoming loved by all the passengers for his dedication and finding a new friend in a boy who understood his feelings. Excerpt: 'Hachiko, the True Story of a Loyal Dog'
Bindi Babes by Narinder Dhami Hardcover, 184 pages Three Indian-British sisters team up to marry off their traditional, nosy aunt and get her out of the house. Excerpt: 'Bindi Babes'
Broken China by Lori Aurelia Williams Hardcover, 265 pages China Cup Cameron, a fourteen-year-old single mother with only her paralyzed Uncle Simon for support, takes on tremendous personal debt in hopes of a beautiful funeral after her daughter dies. Alan Cheuse: An Armful of Books for Summer Excerpt: 'Broken China'
Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles Hardcover, 247 pages Comfort Snowberger is well acquainted with death since her family runs the funeral parlor in their small southern town, but even so the ten-year-old is unprepared for the series of heart-wrenching events that begins on the first day of Easter vacation with the sudden death of her beloved great-uncle Edisto.Ten-year-old Comfort Snowberger finds herself unprepared for the series of heart-wrenching events that begins on the first day of Easter vacation with the sudden death of her beloved Great-uncle Edisto. Great Opening Lines to Hook Young Readers Excerpt: 'Each Little Bird That Sings' Excerpt: 'Each Little Bird That Sings'