With primary source documents and survivor interviews, Big Top Burning recounts the true story of the 1944 Hartford circus fire—one of the worst fire disasters in U.S. history. Its remarkable characters include: Robert Segee, the 15-year-old circus roustabout and known pyromaniac; and the Cook children, Donald, Eleanor, and Edward, who were in the audience when the circus tent caught fire.Guiding readers through the investigations of the mysteries that make this moment in history so fascinating, this book asks: Was the unidentified body of a little girl nicknamed "Little Miss 1565" Eleanor Cook? Was the fire itself an act of arson—and did Robert Segee set it? Big Top Burning combines a gripping disaster story, an ongoing detective and forensics saga, and World War II–era American history, inviting middle-grades readers to take part in a critical evaluation of the evidence and draw their own conclusions.
Emmy and Oliver, by Robin Benway.
Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends
forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In
Emmy's soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection
has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars?
Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible
to fit together?Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life. . . . She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents' relentless worrying. But Emmy's parents can't seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.
Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart. . . . He'd thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who had kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing, and his thoughts swirling.
Readers who love Sarah Dessen will devour these pages with hearts in throats as Emmy and Oliver struggle to face the messy, confusing consequences of Oliver's father's crime. Full of romance, coming-of-age emotion, and heartache, these two equally compelling characters create an unforgettable story.
Everybody Sleeps (But Not Fred), by Josh Schneider.
Every kind of bird and beast has to sleep, from the monkeys in the jungle to the whales in the ocean to the ants under the ground.But not Fred. His to-do list is far too long!
Armed with plenty of imagination, this determined little boy and his attempts to resist bedtime are sure to strike a chord with today's over scheduled families. Drowsy animals of all stripes look on in disbelief as Fred keeps on going and going and going, until . . .
Could it be that, after so much activity, even Fred needs to rest?
Shhh. Close the book softly, and please let Fred sleep.
The Pirate Pig, by Cornelia Funke.
Who needs a treasure map when you have a pirate pig with a nose for gold? Stout Sam and his deckhand, Pip, find a pig washed up in a barrel on the beach. They want to keep her as a pet, but they soon realize Julie is no ordinary pig. She can sniff out treasure! What happens if Barracuda Bill, the greediest and meanest pirate who ever sailed the seas, hears about Julie's special talent?Cornelia Funke's charming and fun chapter books are available to an American audience for the very first time.
The Porcupine of Truth, by Bill Konigsburg.
The author of Openly Straight returns with an epic road trip involving family history, gay history, the girlfriend our hero can't have, the grandfather he never knew, and the Porcupine of Truth.Carson Smith is resigned to spending his summer in Billings, Montana, helping his mom take care of his father, a dying alcoholic he doesn't really know. Then he meets Aisha Stinson, a beautiful girl who has run away from her difficult family, and Pastor John Logan, who's long held a secret regarding Carson's grandfather, who disappeared without warning or explanation thirty years before.
Together, Carson and Aisha embark on an epic road trip to find the answers that might save Carson's dad, restore his fragmented family, and discover the "Porcupine of Truth" in all of their lives.
The Rise and Fall of a Theater Geek, by Seth Rudetsky.
Broadway, New York. The shows, the neon lights . . . the cute
chorus boys! It's where Justin has always wanted to be--and now, with a
winter internship for a famous actor, he finally has his chance to
shine. If only he could ditch his kind, virtuous, upright, and--dare he
say it?--uptight boyfriend, Spencer. But once the internship
begins, Justin has more to worry about than a cramped
single-guy-in-the-city style. Instead of having his moment in the
spotlight, he's a not-so-glorified errand boy. Plus, Spencer is hanging
out with a celebra-hottie, Justin's best friend Becky isn't speaking to
him, and his famous actor boss seems headed for flopdom. Justin's
tap-dancing as fast as he can, but all his wit and sass might not be
enough to switch his time in New York from nightmare-terrible to
dream-come-true terrific.Seth Rudetsky's second YA novel is endearingly human, laugh-out-loud funny, and for any kid who's ever aspired to Broadway but can only sneak in through the stage door.
Stick and Stone, by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld.
When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, the pair becomes fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favor?Author Beth Ferry makes a memorable debut with a warm, rhyming text that includes a subtle anti-bullying message even the youngest reader will understand. New York Times bestselling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld imbues Stick and Stone with energy, emotion, and personality to spare.
In this funny story about kindness and friendship, Stick and Stone join George and Martha, Frog and Toad, and Elephant and Piggie, as some of the best friend duos in children's literature.
Woundabout, by Lev Rosen, and illustrated by Ellis Rosen.
In the wake of tragedy, siblings Connor and Cordelia and their pet capybara are sent to the precariously perched town of Woundabout to live with their eccentric aunt. Woundabout is a place where the mayor has declared that routine rules above all, and no one is allowed to as questions—because they should already know the answers.But Connor and Cordelia can't help their curiosity when they discover a mysterious crank that fits into certain parts of the town, and by winding the crank, places are transformed into something beautiful. When the townspeople see this transformation, they don't see beauty—they only see change. And change, the mayor says, is something to fear. With the mayor hot on their trail, can Connor and Cordelia find a way to wind Woundabout back to life?
(All descriptions from OverDrive.)
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