Hiding out at the Pancake Palace by Nan Marino

Grades 4+
Realistic Fiction

Famous musician Elvis Ruby cannot go anywhere without being noticed.  At least not since he humiliated himself on national television!  Disguising his tween-star good looks, will Elvis be able to hide out as an "average" kid this summer?



Author website: http://www.nanmarino.com/

Athlete vs. Mathlete by W.C. Mack

Grades 4+
Realistic Fiction

For twin brothers Owen and Russell, life is simple.  Owen is the athlete and Russell is the mathlete in the family.  Then, a new basketball coach comes to town.  He wants Russell to try out for the basketball team and won't take no for an answer.  What will Owen do?


Author website: www.wcmack.com/‎

Bats: Biggest! Littlest! by Sandra Markle

Grades 3+
Nonfiction

Did you know that some small bats build tents and some small bats drink blood?  Did you know some bats catch fish and some big bats carry their young?  Learn all about the special adaptations that help big and little bats survive.


Author website: none

The Blessing Cup by Patricia Polacco

Grades 3+
Picture Book

Fleeing from their burning Russian village in the middle of the night, Anna and her family struggle to find their way across the country.  Throughout their journey towards America and through the generations, this tea set becomes a symbol of hope, family and love to Patricia's family.


Author website: www.patriciapolacco.com/

Charlie Bumpers vs. the Teacher of the Year by Bill Harley

Grades 3+
Realistic Fiction

How can the "teacher of the year" be the strictest teacher in school?  Of course Charlie is assigned to her class for fourth grade.  How will he ever make it through?  Laugh out loud funny!


Author website: www.billharley.com/

Doll Bones by Holly Black

Grades 5+
Suspense

What if the only way to stop a ghost from entering your dreams is to do what they ask, even if it's dangerous? Three preteens love playing fantasy games with the antique china doll being the evil queen, until one of them refuses to play.

Author website: www.blackholly.com/‎

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Grades 4+
Fiction

Within the walls of Mr. Lemoncello's Library, a magical and super high tech challenge leaves contestants wondering whom they can trust and how to escape.  Can you figure it out?



Author website: www.chrisgrabenstein.com/‎

The Fourteen Fibs of Gregory K. by Greg Pincus

Grades 4+
Realistic Fiction

Gregory's family loves math.  Gregory does not.  All he wants to do is go to author camp.  After telling a few "fibs," Gregory ends up in a city-wide math competition.  Can he use his love of writing to survive the competition?


Author website: www.gregpincus.com/‎

Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantes

Grades 3+
Realistic Fiction

Gaby is devastated when her mother is deported to Honduras, and she is left to adjust to life with a father who is rarely home.  Gaby survives the loneliness and neglect by escaping to her best friend's welcoming home and volunteering in an the animal shelter.  Along the way she discovers a unique talent that helps her to cope.




Author website: angelacervantes.com/

Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger

Grades 3+
Poetry

A special day of fishing for dad and son...what, my sister is coming?  Sam finds that a day of fishing brings more than just catching fish.  This novel in verse will bring back fond memories for older readers, and create new ones for the novice reader.


Author website: www.tamerawillwissinger.com/‎

Grades 4+
Realistic Fiction


Author website: www.nanmarino.com/‎

Island: A Story of the Galapagos by Jason Chin

Grades 3+
Nonfiction


Millions of years come alive on pages that chronicle the evolution of the Galapagos, and its unusual inhabitants.  The accurate depictions of the creatures that evolved on this island will make you wish you were Darwin too!



Author website: jasonchin.net/‎

Kelsey Green, Reading Queen by Claudia Mills

Grade 3+
Realistic Fiction

Third grader Kelsey Green loves to read and is determined to help her class win the all-school reading contest and the pizza party prize.  She also has her eye on getting the certificate for top reader in her class.  But will she succeed when some of her classmates don't live up to her expectations?



Author website: www.claudiamillsauthor.com/

Legend of the Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Grades 4+
Mystery

According to the local legend, a mysterious ghost dog haunts the woods of Anita's new hometown in the Alaskan wilderness.  Could these spooky stories be true?  And if so, who is this ghost dog...and what does it want?


Author website: www.codykimmel.com/‎

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

Grades 5+
Historical Fiction

Deza has a close and loving family-even though it's the middle of the Great Depression, where there is no work, no money and not enough food.  When Deza's father leaves to find a job, the rest of the family must stick together to face extreme poverty with courage, wits, and even humor.



Author website: http://www.nobodybutcurtis.com/

Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle

Grades 4+
Novels in verse

After his mother was sent to jail, Tony is forced to live with an uncle he barely knows in Nevada.  Find out how a mountain home, an amazing search and rescue dog named Gabe, a Mountain School, and a Cowboy Church show Tony just what it means to be loved.


Author website: www.margaritaengle.com/‎

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Grades 5+
Fiction

Jack is put in a boarding school in Maine after the death of his mother and deployment of his father.  He finds friendship with Early, a very different kind of boy.  They embark on a camping adventure with exciting twists and turns that will keep you guessing.



Author website: www.clarevanderpool.com/‎

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson

Grades 3+
Nonfiction

Nelson Mandela was sent to jail in South Africa in 1964 for speaking out against laws that kept people apart based on their skin color.  He was held there for twenty-seven years.  Mandela continued his protest, even in prison, and became one of the most famous world leaders of our time.





Author website: https://www.kadirnelson.com/‎

Odessa Again by Dana Reinhardt

Grades 3+
Fantasy

Odessa discovers that she has the ability to go back in time to re-do the previous day.  This comes in handy as she goes back again and again to fix all sorts of small problems.  However, she finds that time is running out, and she has no idea how to solve her biggest problem....her father is getting remarried!


Author website: danareinhardt.net/‎

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Grades 5+
Fantasy

What's in a name?  Young Rump is convinced his name is incomplete and sets out to discover his true name and destiny.  Find out the real story of Rumpelstiltskin.



Author website: lieslshurtliff.com/

Wild Born (Spirit Animals book 1) by Brandon Mull

Grades 3+
Fantasy

Love a good fantasy?  Eager for some adventure? Join four twelve- year-olds from very different backgrounds who learn their destiny is more than they imagined.  Each one has a spirit animal they must work with to help save the world from dark forces.

Author website: http://brandonmull.com/site/