Becky Thatcher has her side of the story to tell—and it's a whopper—in this creative spin on Mark Twain's beloved The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, complete with illustrations.
Tom Sawyer's and Huckleberry Finn's adventures are legendary, but what about the story you haven't heard? In 1860, eleven-year-old Becky Thatcher is the new girl in town, determined to have adventures like she promised her brother Jon before he died. With her Mama frozen in grief and her Daddy busy as town judge, Becky spends much of her time on her own, getting into mischief. Before long, she joins the boys at school in a bet to steal from the Widow Douglas, and Becky convinces her new best friend, Amy Lawrence, to join her.
But the theft doesn't go as planned, and Widow Douglas ends up being unfairly accused of grave robbing as a result. So Becky concocts a plan to clear the Widow's name. If she pulls it off, she might just get her Mama to notice her again, as well as fulfill her promise to Jon in a most unexpected way. That is, if that tattletale Tom Sawyer will quit following her around.
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man, by Michael Chabon. (Audio, narrated by Marc Thompson.)
Awesome Man can shoot positronic rays out of his eyeballs, fly as
straight as an arrow, and hug mutant Jell-O! Even villains like
Professor Von Evil and the Flaming Eyeball are no match for this caped
crusader. But Awesome Man also has a secret. . . . Can you guess what it
is? The first picture book from Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael
Chabon perfectly captures the fantasy life of young superhero fans.A Hitch at the Fairmont, by Jim Averbeck.
An intrepid boy teams up with Alfred Hitchcock himself in this
rollicking mystery rife with action, adventure, intrigue, and all the
flavor of film noir.After the mysterious death of his mother, eleven-year-old Jack Fair is whisked away to San Francisco's swanky Fairmont Hotel by his wicked Aunt Edith. There, he seems doomed to a life of fetching chocolates for his aunt and her pet chinchilla. Until one night, when Aunt Edith disappears, and the only clue is a ransom note written...in chocolate?
Suddenly, Jack finds himself all alone on a quest to discover who kidnapped Aunt Edith and what happened to his mother. Alone, that is, until he meets an unlikely accomplice—Alfred Hitchcock himself! The two embark on a madcap journey full of hidden doorways, secret societies, cryptic clues, sinister villains, and cinematic flair.
Hold Fast, by Blue Balliett.
Where is Early's father? He's not the kind of father who would disappear. But he's gone . . . and he's left a whole lot of trouble behind.
As danger closes in, Early, her mom, and her brother have
to flee their apartment. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to
move into a city shelter. Once there, Early starts asking questions and
looking for answers. Because her father hasn't disappeared without a
trace. There are patterns and rhythms to what's happened, and Early
might be the only one who can use them to track him down and make her
way out of a very tough place.With her signature, singular love of language and sense of mystery, Blue Balliett weaves a story that takes readers from the cold, snowy Chicago streets to the darkest corner of the public library, on an unforgettable hunt for deep truths and a reunited family.
The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story, by R.J. Palacio.
Over 1 million people have read Wonder and have fallen in love
with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. Now
readers will have a chance to hear from the book's most controversial
character--Julian. From the very first day Auggie and Julian met in the pages of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wonder, it was clear they were never going to be friends, with Julian treating Auggie like he had the plague. And while Wonder told Auggie's story through six different viewpoints, Julian's perspective was never shared. Readers could only guess what he was thinking.
Until now. The Julian Chapter will finally reveal the bully's side of the story. Why is Julian so unkind to Auggie? And does he have a chance for redemption?
The Last Dragonslayer, by Jasper Fforde.
In the good old days, magic was indispensable—it could both save a
kingdom and clear a clogged drain. But now magic is fading: drain
cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and magic carpets are used for pizza
delivery. Fifteen-year-old foundling Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an
employment agency for magicians—but it's hard to stay in business when
magic is drying up. And then the visions start, predicting the death of
the world's last dragon at the hands of an unnamed Dragonslayer. If the
visions are true, everything will change for Kazam—and for Jennifer.
Because something is coming. Something known as...Big Magic.
Naked! by Michael Ian Black.
A hilarious new book about a boy who refuses to wear clothes, from comedian Michael Ian Black and illustrator Debbi Ridpath Ohi, the team that brought you I’m Bored, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book.
Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi, whose “smart cartoony artwork matches Black’s perfect comic timing” (The New York Times Book Review), have paired up again to showcase the antics of an adorable little boy who just doesn’t want to get dressed.
After his bath, the little boy begins his hilarious dash around the house…in the buff! Being naked is great. Running around, sliding down the stairs, eating cookies. Nothing could be better. Unless he had a cape…
The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet, by Erin Dionne.
All Hamlet Kennedy wants is to be a normal eighth grader. But with
parents like hers - Shakespearean scholars who actually dress in
Elizabethan regalia... in public! - it's not that easy. As if they
weren't strange enough, her genius seven-year-old sister will be
attending her middle school, and is named the new math tutor. Then, when
the Shakespeare Project is announced, Hamlet reveals herself to be an
amazing actress. Even though she wants to be average, Hamlet can no
longer hide from the fact that she- like her family - is anything but
ordinary.Waiting for Normal, by Leslie Connor.
Addie 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.
(All descriptions from OverDrive.)
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