Kidsreads.com Founder Carol Fitzgerald frequently has been told by mothers how difficult it is to get their sons to read. Some are busy participating in sports and other extracurricular activities, watching television, playing video games and surfing the Internet, while others simply don't like to read, no matter how much free time they may have.

This inspired her to enlist her son Cory, an avid reader, to compile a list of books that he thinks are great reads for boys. Included are series titles and stand-alone fiction that cover a variety of genres: fantasies, mysteries, thrillers, action/adventure novels and historical fiction. While many of these selections also will appeal to girls, they especially will capture the attention of boys, who often are much more reluctant readers.

Here are the titles we’ve added most recently:
 
THE BROOKLYN NINE: A Novel in Nine Innings, by Alan Gratz
CAPTAIN NOBODY by Dean Pitchford
THE CIRCLE OF GOLD: The Book of Time III by Guillaume Prevost
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS by Jeff Kinney
THE FROST CHILD: The Final Battle of the Harsh, by Eoin McNamee
JAKE RANSOM AND THE SKULL KING’S SHADOW by James Rollins
MUDSHARK by Gary Paulsen
THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PRISONER’S DILEMMA by Trenton Lee Stewart
OATH BREAKER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, Book Five by Michelle Paver
THE SEEMS: THE LOST TRAIN OF THOUGHT by John Hulme and Michael Wexler
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS - Casebook No. 1: THE FALL OF THE AMAZING ZALINDAS by Tracy Mack and Michael Citrin
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS - Casebook No. 2: THE MYSTERY OF THE CONJURED MAN by Tracy Mack and Michael Citrin
SIMON BLOOM: THE OCTOPUS EFFECT by Michael Reisman
SKELETON CREEK #2: GHOST IN THE MACHINE by Patrick Carman
SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT: THE FACELESS ONES by Derek Landay
THIS BOOK IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU by Pseudonymous Bosch
THE YGGYSSEY: How Iggy Wondered What Happened to All the Ghosts, Found Out Where They Went, and Went There, by Daniel Pinkwater

AIRBORN
Kenneth Oppel
Eos
ISBN: 9780060531829
Ages 12-up
544 pages

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Matt Cruse works as a cabin boy on a luxury airship that carries wealthy passengers from city to city, hundreds of feet above land and ocean. One day, he meets a dying balloonist who rants about mysterious and beautiful creatures soaring through the air, above an uncharted island. It is not until Matt meets the man's granddaughter a year later that he discovers that the man's seemingly crazy ravings may be true, and that the sky is, in fact, populated by transcontinental voyagers, pirates and other unimaginable beings.

SKYBREAKER
Kenneth Oppel
Eos
ISBN: 9780060532277
Ages 12-up
384 pages

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In this thrilling sequel to AIRBORN, Matt Cruse --- now a student at the Paris Airship Academy --- spots a ghost ship that has been missing for the last 40 years. Along with the help of some friends he meets along the way, he attempts to reach it before it falls into the hands of pirates who will stop at nothing to get at its mythical loot.

AIRMAN
Eoin Colfer
Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN: 9781423107507
Ages 10-up
416 pages

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In the 1890s Conor Broekhart and his family live on the sovereign Saltee Islands, off the Irish coast. But his idyllic life changes forever the day he discovers a conspiracy to overthrow the king. When Conor tries to expose the plot, he is branded a traitor and thrown into jail on the prison island of Little Saltee. There, he has to fight for his life as he and the other prisoners are forced to mine for diamonds in inhumane conditions.

ALEX RIDER Series
Anthony Horowitz
Philomel Books/Penguin Young Readers Group
Ages 8-12

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Following the untimely death of his beloved uncle, 14-year old Alex Rider is recruited by Britain's top-secret intelligence agency to investigate some of the most high-profile and dangerous men in the world. Alex is quite reluctant to take on such a huge responsibility, but he ultimately chooses to accept his mission and help rid the world of evil.

The Alex Rider series consists of seven books so far: STORMBREAKER, POINT BLANK, SKELETON KEY, EAGLE STRIKE, SCORPIA, ARK ANGEL, SNAKEHEAD and CROCODILE TEARS.

Alfred Kropp

THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ALFRED KROPP
Rick Yancey
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN: 9781582346939
Ages 12-up
288 pages

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Just what can an overgrown, underachieving teenager do to save the world from imminent destruction? A lot more than you would think, especially if his name happens to be Alfred Kropp. With his huge head, tree trunk-like body and uncanny ability to screw up at nearly everything he undertakes, Alfred is both the world's first accidental superhero and the last person you'd rely on in a time of need.

ALFRED KROPP: THE SEAL OF SOLOMON
Rick Yancey
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN: 9781599902777
Ages 12-up
352 pages

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The ancient seals of Solomon --- used by Kind Solomon to imprison the fallen angels of heaven --- have disappeared. Should they fall in to the wrong hands, all hell could break lose…literally. And when Alfred Kropp goofs up as usual, the ring ends up in the hands of King Paimon, a terrible demon with a special bone to pick with our reluctant hero. Alfred must find a way to right his wrong and save the world from imminent destruction…again!

ALFRED KROPP: THE THIRTEENTH SKULL
Rick Yancey
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN: 9781599901145
Ages 12-up
304 pages

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Alfred Kropp lost --- then found --- the legendary sword Excalibur. Then he defeated King Paimon, arguably the nastiest of demons ever to roam the earth. What could possibly be in store for him now? Plenty. Not only is a dangerous new enemy tracking Alfred’s every move, even the people who have sworn to protect him no longer seem trustworthy. Who, or what, is "Sofia," and is there a connection between Sofia and the mysterious Thirteenth Skull? The reluctant hero who has always narrowly avoided death may not be getting out of this adventure alive.

ARTEMIS FOWL Series
Eoin Colfer
Miramax/Hyperion Books for Children
Ages 9-12

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Set in two sharply contrasting realms --- the aboveground world that humans inhabit and the imaginative underground netherworld where "the People" (otherwise known as fairies, gnomes, goblins and trolls) reside --- the Artemis Fowl series is an interspecies fantasy thrill ride that will keep readers alternately holding their breath in suspense and laughing out loud during many comic moments.

The series consists of six books so far: ARTEMIS FOWL, THE ARCTIC INCIDENT, THE ETERNITY CODE, THE OPAL DECEPTION, THE LOST COLONY and THE TIME PARADOX.

Atherton Trilogy

ATHERTON: THE HOUSE OF POWER
Patrick Carman
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316166706
Ages 8-12
352 pages

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Edgar, a gifted climber, is a lonely boy scaling the perilous cliffs that separate the three realms of Atherton: a humble fig grove, a mysterious highland world of untold beauty and sinister secrets, and a vast wasteland where he must confront an unspeakable danger that could destroy the people of Atherton. When Edgar discovers a book that contains the history of Atherton's origins and ultimate apocalypse, his world --- quite literally --- begins to turn inside out.

ATHERTON #2: RIVERS OF FIRE
Patrick Carman
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316166720
Ages 8-12
320 pages

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Atherton was once a magnificent three-tiered world, but few inhabitants know the truth of its dark origin: it is a giant man-made satellite, created as a refuge from a dying Earth. Now this strange place is torn apart --- its three lands, formerly separated by treacherous cliffs, have collapsed and collided. But a gifted climber and adventurous orphan boy, Edgar, is determined to discover the secret of Atherton's survival, and embarks on a life-or-death quest to find its mad maker.

THE BIG FIELD
Mike Lupica
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399246258
Ages 10-up
288 pages

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For Hutch, shortstop has always been home. It’s where his father once played professionally, before injuries relegated him to watching games on TV instead of playing them. And it’s where Hutch himself has always played and starred. Until now. The arrival of Darryl “D-Will” Williams, the top shortstop prospect from Florida since A-Rod, means Hutch is displaced, in more ways than one.

THE BOOK OF LIES
James Moloney
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060578428
Ages 8-12
368 pages

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The newest boy at Mrs. Timmins's Home for Orphans and Foundlings isn't sure who he is. But a strange girl who hides among the shadows of the orphanage tells him that a mysterious wizard's creation, the Book of Lies, holds the answers, and then gives him one clue: "Your name is Marcel." With that knowledge, and the help of three new friends, Marcel begins a quest to find the truth about his real identity --- a truth hidden in the Book of Lies. As Marcel learns more about his past, he begins to wonder if the old book's so-called magical truth might be the greatest lie of all.

THE BOOK THIEF
Markus Zusak
Knopf
ISBN: 9780375831003
Ages 12-up
512 pages

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Set during World War II in Germany, young Liesel Meminger, who lives outside of Munich, scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist --- books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

The Book of Time Trilogy

THE BOOK OF TIME
Guillaume Prevost
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439883757
Ages 9-12
224 pages

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In the first installment of Guillaume Prevost's trilogy, 14-year-old Sam Faulkner begins his quest to find his missing father, who left for a business trip and hasn't been heard from in more than a week. What Sam discovers in his dad's antique bookstore will change his life and test his courage. But will it help him find his father?

THE CASTAWAYS
Iain Lawrence
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780385730907
Ages 10-up
245 pages

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Adrift at sea, Tom Tin and his four convict companions are only too glad when they come upon a deserted ship. The boys clamber aboard, not knowing whether they've been saved or set on a course toward doom. But after rescuing two men stranded on a melting iceberg, Tom begins to suspect that these unsavory sailors are dangerous castaways from this very vessel.

CHASING VERMEER
written by Blue Balliett
illustrated by Brett Helquist
Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN: 9780439372978
Ages 8-12
272 pages

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When a book of unexplainable occurrences brings sixth graders Petra and Calder together, strange things start to happen: Seemingly unrelated events connect, an eccentric old woman seeks their company and an invaluable Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the center of an international art scandal, where no one is spared from suspicion. Can they solve a crime that has stumped even the FBI?

Sequel to CHASING VERMEER

THE WRIGHT 3
written by Blue Balliett
illustrated by Brett Helquist
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439693677
Ages 9-12
318 pages

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Spring semester at the Lab School in Hyde Park finds Petra and Calder drawn into another mystery when unexplainable accidents and ghostly happenings throw a spotlight on Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and it's up to the two young sleuths to piece together the clues. They become tangled in a dangerous web thanks to the return of Calder's friend Tommy, H.G. Wells's THE INVISIBLE MAN, 3D pentominoes, and the hunt for a coded message left behind by Wright.

Sequel to CHASING VERMEER
and THE WRIGHT 3

THE CALDER GAME
written by Blue Balliett
illustrated by Brett Helquist
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439852074
Ages 9-12
400 pages

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When Calder Pillay travels with his father to a remote village in England, he finds a mix of mazes and mystery, including an unexpected Alexander Calder sculpture in the town square. Calder is strangely drawn to the sculpture, while other people have less-than-friendly feelings towards it. Both the boy and the sculpture seem to be out of place…and then, on the same night, they disappear! Calder's friends Petra and Tommy must fly out to help his father find him. But this mystery has more twists and turns than a Calder mobile --- with more at stake than first meets the eye.

Children of the Lamp Series

THE AKHENATEN ADVENTURE: Children of the Lamp, Book 1
P. B. Kerr
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439670203
Ages 9-12
384 pages

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One day, 12-year-old twins John and Philippa Gaunt discover that they're descended from a long line of djinn. All of a sudden, they have the power to grant wishes, travel to extraordinary places, and make people and objects disappear. They are about to embark on a search to locate a monstrous looking (but supposedly dead) pharoah named Akhenaten and his tomb, which may be holding 70 lost djinn. Will the twins be strong and clever enough to outwit the most evil djinn in the universe and live to see another day?

THE BLUE DJINN OF BABYLON:
Children of the Lamp #2
P. B. Kerr
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439670210
Ages 9-12
384 pages

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John and Philippa Gaunt, who have recently discovered themselves to be descended from a long line of djinn and in possession of magical powers, continue on their extraordinary adventures in this sequel to THE AKHENATEN ADVENTURE. When a powerful book of djinn magic goes missing, John and Philippa are called upon to retrieve it. But the book isn't really missing. The trap was set and Philippa is abducted by the Blue Djinn. Now, John and his uncle Nimrod must find Philippa before it's too late.

THE COBRA KING OF KATHMANDU:
Children of the Lamp #3
P. B. Kerr
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439670234
Ages 9-12
384 pages

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Djinn twins John and Philippa Gaunt are on the trail of another magical mystery. As they travel from New York to London to Nepal and India on a whirlwind adventure, the twins try to help their friend and fellow djinn, Buck, find out who murdered his friend using the venomous snakebite of the king cobra. All too soon, John and Philippa find themselves caught up in the lethal world of the Cult of the Nine Cobras, only to discover that they themselves are a target of the creepy cobra cult.

THE DAY OF THE DJINN WARRIORS: Children of the Lamp #4
P. B. Kerr
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439932141
Ages 9-12
400 pages

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Djinn twins John and Philippa Gaunt are attempting to rescue their mother from her fate as the Blue Djinn of Babylon. Meanwhile, an evil force has awakened the terracotta warriors created by an ancient Chinese emperor, and someone with very bad intentions has cast a spell possessing the soldiers with wicked spirits. Can the twins stop the mysterious warriors, rescue their parents AND save the world before it's too late?

CHILDREN OF THE RED KING Series
Jenny Nimmo
Orchard Books/Scholastic
Ages 9-12

• Charlie Bone Website
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In this magical fantasy series, 10-year-old Charlie Bone discovers that he wields the unusual ability to hear people in photographs talking. When he learns that he is a descendant of the Red King, a mysterious ruler who had passed his extraordinary powers to his 10 children --- half of whom used their gifts to help their kingdom, and the other half to harm it --- Charlie finds himself caught in the middle of a generations-old battle of good and evil.

The Children of the Red King series consists of seven books so far: MIDNIGHT FOR CHARLIE BONE, CHARLIE BONE AND THE TIME TWISTER, CHARLIE BONE AND THE INVISIBLE BOY, CHARLIE BONE AND THE CASTLE OF MIRRORS, CHARLIE BONE AND THE HIDDEN KING, CHARLIE BONE AND THE BEAST, and CHARLIE BONE AND THE SHADOW.

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness

WOLF BROTHER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Book One
Michelle Paver
HarperTrophy
ISBN: 9780060728274
Ages 10-up
320 pages

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Six thousand years ago, evil stalks the land. Only 12-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined. Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle to save their world, in this first installment of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.

SPIRIT WALKER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Book Two
Michelle Paver
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060728281
Ages 10-up
368 pages

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WOLF BROTHER introduced readers to Torak, a boy who can talk to wolves and whose mission it is to vanquish the Soul-Eaters. As the Moon of No Dark intensifies in this second installment, the clans fall prey to a horrifying sickness. Fear stalks the Forest, and the very breath of spring seems poisoned. No one knows the cause --- and only Torak can find the cure. His quest takes him across the sea to the mysterious islands of the Seal Clan. Here, Torak battles an unseen menace and uncovers a betrayal that will change his life forever.

SOUL EATER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Book Three
Michelle Paver
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060728311
Ages 10-up
336 pages

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Torak has survived the summer and his heart-stopping adventure in the Seal Islands. He and Wolf are together again, but their reunion is short-lived. As midwinter approaches, Torak learns that the Soul-Eaters have snatched Wolf so that they can sacrifice him. Desperate to rescue Wolf, Torak hatches a perilous plan. He will find the Soul-Eaters, infiltrate the cult, and come face-to-face with the most feared and powerful mages alive. As Torak battles to save himself and Wolf, he learns an utterly chilling secret of his own.

OUTCAST: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, Book Four
Michelle Paver
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060728342
Ages 10-up
336 pages

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For two moons Torak has hidden a terrible secret --- and now it is revealed. He bears the mark of a Soul-Eater and must pay the price. Cast out of the clans and on the run from clan members who will kill him, he settles on an island in the Lake for the summer. But he is not safe there, either. Relentlessly pursued by Seshru the Viper Mage, one of the strongest Soul-Eaters, Torak must defend himself and the clans from her terrible plans. But how?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
Jeff Kinney
Amulet/Abrams Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780810993136
Ages 9-12
224 pages

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In this hilarious blend of comics and prose, fifth-grader Greg Heffley grapples with his classmates ("bunch of morons"), girls ("I have ALWAYS been into girls") and various misguided and ill-fated schemes to make himself popular and wealthy, all while avoiding the dreaded Cheese Touch.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES
Jeff Kinney
Amulet/Abrams Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780810994737
Ages 9-12
224 pages

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In this sequel to DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Greg Heffley continues his deadpan, laugh-out-loud funny tale of woe. But no matter how bad his life is, he can rest easy knowing that his big brother Rodrick lives to make it way worse. And Rodrick (who will gladly stoop to blackmail) also knows Greg's darkest secret.

DRAGON RIDER
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439456951
Ages 8-up
528 pages

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When the silver dragons' peaceful home in a Scottish valley is threatened by human settlers, young Firedrake is assigned to travel halfway around the world to find the mythical Rim of Heaven, a place where dragons can live safely. Accompanied by the sharp-tongued brownie Sorrel and the orphan boy Ben, Firedrake must avoid being captured by the wicked golden dragon Nettlebrand as he flies to complete his quest.

ELIJAH OF BUXTON
Christopher Paul Curtis
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439023443
Ages 9-up
288 pages

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Elijah was the first freeborn baby in Buxton, the Canadian haven for runaway slaves. Eleven years later, he enjoys one lighthearted escapade after another --- until the day he is forced to face adulthood during a heartwrenching quest testing his spirit --- in this often humorous but ultimately moving tale.

ENDER Series
Orson Scott Card
Tor
Ages 12-up

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With the human race in danger of being attacked by an alien society, the government has been breeding child geniuses and training them as soldiers. One of these prodigies is Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, who has been drafted for rigorous military training at the orbiting Battle School. Will he and his fellow child soldiers have the brains and skill to save the planet?

The Ender series consists of the Ender Quartet (ENDER'S GAME, SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD, XENOCIDE and CHILDREN OF THE MIND) and the Bean Quartet (ENDER'S SHADOW, SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON, SHADOW PUPPETS and SHADOW OF THE GIANT).

FLY BY NIGHT
Frances Hardinge
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060876272
Ages 10-up
496 pages

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Twelve-year-old Mosca can do something very few people in the almost-Medieval time period in which she lives can do --- she can read. However, her love of words leads her into trouble when she befriends Eponymous Clent, a trickster who adores the written word just as much as she does. The pair travels to the city of Mandelion, where they find themselves drawn into the middle of a war between two rival guilds vying for power.

The Gatekeepers Series

RAVEN'S GATE: Book One of The Gatekeepers
Anthony Horowitz
Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN: 9780439680097
Ages 9-12
272 pages

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Matt Freeman is being punished for a crime he saw, but didn't commit. Instead of being locked up, he is sent to the middle of nowhere to live with a new foster mom, as part of a government scheme called The Leaf Project. But Matthew's new home provides anything but peace and quiet. His new guardian is involved in very sinister things --- and the whole town seems to be on her side. Everybody who tries to help Matt winds up either disappearing --- or dead. The truth is much bigger than Matt or the town --- and Matt is the only person who can stop the ultimate evil from being unleashed.

EVIL STAR: Book Two of The Gatekeepers
Anthony Horowitz
Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439679961
Ages 9-12
320 pages

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Matt thought his troubles were over when he closed Raven's Gate...but, in fact, they were just beginning. Evil forces will stop at nothing to track him down and destroy him. There's no choice but to fight back. Matt's fate --- and the fate of the world --- is tied to four other kids across the globe. The second is a street kid in Peru. He and Matt have never met; they don't even speak the same language. But destiny is going to throw them together as the threat of the Old Ones grows, a strange and insidious villain beckons, and another Gate suddenly comes into play....

NIGHTRISE: Book Three of The Gatekeepers
Anthony Horowitz
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9780439680011
Ages 9-12
368 pages

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The world is in great danger --- and only five kids can save it. But to do that, they must face off against some of the most powerful people in the world.

Two of the five, Scott and Jamie, have always known they were different. Twins whose birth is shrouded in mystery, they’ve always been able to communicate with each other telepathically. Their supernatural talent has landed them no farther than a gig in a Z-grade sideshow in Reno, Nevada...until they garner the attention of a very scary clientele. Soon their lives are in jeopardy, with one of them trapped and one of them on the run.

In NIGHTRISE, Anthony Horowitz ups the stakes in his most thrilling, intense novel yet.

THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES
Jody Feldman
Greenwillow Books
ISBN: 9780061214509
Ages 9-12
320 pages

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Twelve-year-old Gil Goodson prepared as well as he possibly could, and the day is finally here! He and nine other finalists are about to begin the Golly Toy & Game Company’s absolutely amazing Gollywhopper Games, a competition requiring clever brains, swift feet and a knowledge of Golly Toy history. Gil has all three, but will it be enough to win?

HEAT
Mike Lupica
Puffin/Penguin Young Readers Group
ISBN: 9780142407578
Ages 10-up
240 pages

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Michael Arroyo can throw some serious heat, and he dreams of pitching in the Little League World Series. But Michael --- newly orphaned after his father led the family's escape from Cuba --- must deal with the reality of his day-to-day life and can only rely on his older brother.

His Dark Materials Series

THE GOLDEN COMPASS
Phillip Pullman
Laurel Leaf
ISBN: 9780440238133
Ages 12-up
368 pages

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Young Lyra Belacqua journeys to the far North to save her best friend and other kidnapped children from terrible experiments by evil scientists.

THE SUBTLE KNIFE
Phillip Pullman
Laurel Leaf
ISBN: 9780440238140
Ages 12-up
304 pages

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Kyra journeys to the shimmering, haunted otherworld called Cittágazze, where she meets Will Parry. Together they travel from world to world and discover an object of extraordinary power, and uncover the truth of their own destiny.

THE AMBER SPYGLASS
Phillip Pullman
Laurel Leaf
ISBN: 9780440238157
Ages 12-up
480 pages

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Lyra and Will are in unspeakable danger. With help from Iorek Byrnison the armored bear and two tiny Gallivespian spies, they must journey to a dank and gray-lit world where no living soul has ever gone. THE AMBER SPYGLASS brings Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials to an astonishing conclusion.

THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION
Nancy Farmer
Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9780689852237
Ages 10-13
400 pages

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This futuristic novel is told from the point of view of Matteo Alacrán, a young boy harvested to be a clone for El Patron, a powerful ruler and drug lord. When Matt realizes what's in store for him, he escapes, only to discover that many sinister characters are now after him, including El Patron's power-hungry family.

The Inheritance Trilogy

ERAGON
Christopher Paolini
Knopf
ISBN: 9780375826689
Ages 12-up
528 pages

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Fifteen-year-old Eragon realizes that fate has much more in store for him than the life of a poor farm boy when he discovers that he, along with his newly found pet, are part of a legacy of secret heroes, the Dragon Riders. Armed with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon and the advice of a wise man, he sets off to fight in a long-standing war to free the Empire from a cruel and oppressive king.

ELDEST
Christopher Paolini
Knopf
ISBN: 9780375826702
Ages 12-up
704 pages

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Opening three days after the bloody battle that saved their rebel state from the cruel king of the Empire, this second book in the Inheritance Trilogy continues the epic adventures of Eragon and his dragon, Saphira. The duo experiences all new adventures as they travel to Ellesmera, home of the Elves, to complete Eragon's training as a Dragon Rider. Meanwhile, his cousin Roran is forced into a different kind of battle --- one that may result in even greater danger for Eragon and his village.

The Ink Trilogy

INKHEART
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439709101
Ages 9-12
544 pages

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Meggie lives alone with her father, a book restorer. But her father has a deep secret --- he possesses an extraordinary magical power. One day, a mysterious stranger arrives who seems linked to her father's past. Who is this sinister character, and what does he want? Suddenly, Meggie is involved in a breathless game of escape and intrigue as her father's life is put in danger. Will she be able to save him in time?

INKSPELL
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439554008
Ages 9-12
656 pages

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Things have just started to calm down now that Meggie is finally reunited with both of her parents in this sequel to INKHEART. But the quiet doesn't last for long when she finds herself trapped inside Inkworld, the magical land of her favorite book. She believes she has found a simple way to return home, but the story evolves in ways no one can control, and it doesn't seem to be heading for a happy ending...

Jake Ransom

KEYS TO THE KINGDOM Series
Garth Nix
Scholastic Press
Ages 9-12

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Seven days. Seven keys. Seven virtues. Seven sins. One mysterious house is the doorway to a very mysterious world --- where one boy is about to venture and unlock a number of fantastical secrets. Arthur Penhaligon is not supposed to be a hero. He is supposed to die an early death. But then his life is saved by a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock.

The Keys to the Kingdom series consists of six books so far: MISTER MONDAY, GRIM TUESDAY, DROWNED WEDNESDAY, SIR THURSDAY, LADY FRIDAY and SUPERIOR SATURDAY.

Kingdom Keepers

THE KINGDOM KEEPERS: DISNEY AFTER DARK
Ridley Pearson
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN: 9780786854448
Ages 10-up
324 pages

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Finn Whitman --- a newly hired guide at Walt Disney World, called a DHI --- makes an unexpected visit to the theme park one night after closing time, and is shocked to find characters from famous Disney films walking through the Magic Kingdom. He soon learns that the park is in danger of being destroyed by the Overtakers, a renegade group of Disney characters led by the evil dark fairy Maleficent. It's up to Finn and his fellow DHIs to save the future of Walt Disney World.

THE KING IN THE WINDOW
Adam Gopnik
Disney Children's Books
ISBN: 9780786838943
Ages 10-up
512 pages

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Transplanted American Oliver Parker is living in Paris with his parents when he sees that his reflection in the kitchen window is not quite the mirror image he expects it to be. The boy staring back at him, who calls Oliver "Your Majesty" and wears an old-fashioned doublet, leads him to the mysterious world through the looking glass. There, he becomes entangled in the battle between the Window Wraiths and the malevolent Mirror Master over control of the universe.

LARKLIGHT: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space
Philip Reeve
illustrated by David Wyatt
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN: 9781599900209
Ages 10-14
384 pages

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Art and his sister Myrtle live with their father in Larklight, a rambling house that orbits the Earth. When their father is captured by an invasion of giant spiders, the two escape in a lifeboat and are launched into an interplanetary adventure across the solar system to save both themselves and the universe.

Sequel to LARKLIGHT

STARCROSS: A Stirring Adventure of Spies, Time Travel and Curious Hats
written by Philip Reeve
illustrated by David Wyatt
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
ISBN: 9781599901213
Ages 10-14
320 pages

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Art, Myrtle and their mother accept the kind invitation of a holiday to an up-and-coming asteroid resort. But they set out with visions of rest and relaxation only to be sucked into a dastardly plot involving spies, time travel and mind-altering clothing! Before their adventures are out, they’ll sail an aether-ship amid asteroid-strewn seas, dodge demonic puppets, and learn wisdom from an unlikely ally: the Moobs!

The Lionboy Trilogy

LIONBOY
Zizou Corder
Puffin/Penguin Young Readers Group
ISBN: 9780142402269
Ages 8-12
304 pages

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When his parents are kidnapped, 10-year-old Charlie Ashanti knows he must rescue them. He doesn't know who has taken them, or why. But he does know that one special talent will aid him on his journey --- his amazing ability to speak Cat. Charlie calls on his clever feline friends --- from stray city cats to magnificent caged lions --- for help. With them by his side, Charlie uses wit and courage to try to find his parents before it's too late.

LIONBOY: THE CHASE
Zizou Corder
Puffin
ISBN: 9780142404546
Ages 8-12
288 pages

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Charlie Ashanti has helped a pride of lions escape the circus ship and travel all the way from Paris to safety in Venice. He has also eluded the sinister Rafi and Maccomo for now. But the Venetian palace Charlie has taken to for safety feels suspiciously like a prison. His lions have been separated from him, and Rafi and Maccomo are closing in. If Charlie doesn't find his parents soon, he may lose them forever!

LIONBOY: THE TRUTH
Zizou Corder
Puffin
ISBN: 9780803729858
Ages 8-12
240 pages

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After months of searching, not to mention leading a pride of escaped circus lions through Europe and all the way back to Africa, Catspeaker Charlie Ashanti has finally been reunited with his parents --- and a long-lost relative with a huge secret to reveal. But their family reunion doesn't last long. Kidnapped and thrown in a boat, Charlie finds himself alone and bound for who knows where. Charlie's parents and his faithful lion friends are in hot pursuit, but can Charlie outwit his captor and topple the Corporacy's wicked enterprise?

Maximum Ride Series

MAXIMUM RIDE: THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT
James Patterson
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780446617796
Ages 12-up
416 pages

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In the first installment of this futuristic series by James Patterson, six children are on the run from a group of scientists who had kidnapped them as infants and used them as subjects of illegal experimentation. Bred as 98% human and 2% bird, the "Flock" --- as they're called --- must rescue one of their own who had been kidnapped by a pack of human/wolf hybrids and brought back to the lab.

MAXIMUM RIDE: SCHOOL'S OUT --- FOREVER
James Patterson
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316155595
Ages 12-up
416 pages

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In this sequel to THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT, the Flock begins to fly south in search of their parents and to uncover the truth behind their existence. However, they're discovered by an FBI agent who forces them to do something unlike anything they'd experienced before --- go to school!

MAXIMUM RIDE #3: SAVING THE WORLD AND OTHER EXTREME SPORTS
James Patterson
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316155601
Ages 12-up
416 pages

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The time has arrived for Max and her winged "Flock" to face their ultimate enemy and discover their original purpose: to defeat the takeover of "Re-evolution," a sinister experiment to re-engineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race...and to terminate the rest. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel have always worked together to defeat the forces working against them --- but can they save the world when they are torn apart, living in hiding and captivity, halfway across the globe from one another?

MAXIMUM RIDE #4: THE FINAL WARNING
James Patterson
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316002868
Ages 12-up
272 pages

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Maximum Ride is a perfectly normal teenager who just happens to be able to fly: the result of an out-of-control government experiment. Max and the other members of the Flock --- six kids who share her remarkable ability --- have been asked to aid a group of environmental scientists studying the causes of global warming. Their ability to fly could help the scientists conquer this epic problem. The expedition seems like a perfect combination of adventure, activism --- and escaping government forces who watch the Flock like a hawk. But even in Antarctica, trapped in the harshest weather on our planet, Maximum Ride is an irresistible target in constant danger. For whoever controls her powers could also control the world...

THE MISADVENTURES OF BENJAMIN BARTHOLOMEW PIFF: You Wish
Jason Lethcoe
Grosset & Dunlap
ISBN: 9780448444963
Ages 9-12
224 pages

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On his 11th birthday, an orphan named Benjamin Bartholomew Piff wishes for the ultimate wish --- and unknowingly sets into motion a chain of events that threatens to disrupt the balance between the magical realm of wishes and curses. Before long, Benjamin has been recruited by the Wishworks Factory director himself to fight the evil henchmen of the Curseworks Factory. In the process, Benjamin will reclaim his original wish --- giving new credence to the old adage "Be careful what you wish for…"

MUDDLE EARTH
Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780385733168
Ages 9-12
464 pages

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Joe Jefferson is an ordinary schoolboy from ordinary Earth. At least, he was. But something strange happened when he was walking his dog, and now he is Joe the Barbarian --- fearless warrior hero, summoned by Muddle Earth's leading wizard to slay ogres, wrestle dragons and bravely confront villains.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY
Trenton Lee Stewart
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316057776
Ages 8-12
496 pages

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ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES? Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests. Only four children succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden labyrinth of the school's underground tunnels is more than your average school supplies.

THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PERILOUS JOURNEY
Trenton Lee Stewart
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316057806
Ages 8-12
448 pages

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The fabulous foursome readers embraced as The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission, significantly closer to home. After reuniting for a celebratory scavenger hunt, Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance are forced to go on an unexpected search --- a search to find Mr. Benedict. It seems that while he was preparing the kids' adventure, he stepped right into a trap orchestrated by his evil twin Mr. Curtain.

The Navigator Trilogy

THE NAVIGATOR
Eoin McNamee
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
ISBN: 9780375839108
Ages 9-12
352 pages

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One day the world around Owen shifts oddly: Time flows backwards, and the world and family he knew disappear. Time can only be set right when the Resisters vanquish their ancient enemies, the Harsh. Unless they are stopped, everything Owen knows will vanish as if it has never been. And Owen discovers that he has a terrifying role to play in this battle: he is the Navigator.

CITY OF TIME: Book II of the Navigator Trilogy
Eoin McNamee
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
ISBN: 9780375839122
Ages 9-12
336 pages

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Cati, the Bold Watcher readers met in THE NAVIGATOR, returns from the shadows of time to summon Owen and Dr. Diamond, for time is literally running out. The moon is coming closer to the earth, causing havoc with weather, tides, and other natural cycles; people fear the world will end. To discover what’s gone wrong, Cati, Owen and the Doctor must take an astonishing journey to the City of Time, where time is bought and sold. There, Owen begins to understand his great responsibility and power as the Navigator.

THE NEDDIAD: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization
Daniel Pinkwater
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
ISBN: 9780618594443
Ages 10-14
320 pages

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It all begins when Neddie Wentworthstein reads about the Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles and tells his father he wants to eat there. So the family packs up and sets off from Chicago by train. During the course of their journey on the Super Chief, which includes pit stops in Topeka, Santa Fe and the Grand Canyon, Neddie meets many of the friends and foes who ultimately will be involved in a showdown to determine the fate of the world.

Sequel to THE NEDDIAD

Never Land

ESCAPE FROM THE CARNIVALE: A Never Land Book
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
illustrated by Greg Call
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books
ISBN: 9780786837892
Ages 7-10
144 pages

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Life on Mollusk Island has settled into a regular rhythm after all the excitement surrounding the arrival of Peter, Molly and the pirates. But one day when Little Scallop and a few of her mermaid friends venture beyond the boundaries set by their parents, big trouble awaits them. Then the young mermaid Surf is grabbed by Crookshank's men and taken aboard his ship, the Carnivale. To her shock, Surf finds that Crookshank plans to make her part of his circus at sea --- just another sideshow attraction. Little Scallop, Teacher, James and Surf's twin Aqua devise a plan in an attempt to rescue Surf.

'OLOGIES Series
edited by Dugald A. Steer
Candlewick Press
Ages 4-8

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In each installment of the ’Ologies series (EGYPTOLOGY, DRAGONOLOGY, WIZARDOLOGY, PIRATEOLOGY, MONSTEROLOGY and SPYOLOGY), Dugald A. Steer presents an "authentic" and interactive journal --- complete with pictures, letters, booklets and flaps to open and close --- filled with all the information, trivia and secrets of a master in his or her field. Through these fictional first-hand accounts, readers are called back in time and through their imaginations to explore ancient tombs, study mythical beasts, hunt pirates, and learn the art of Wizardry.

ON THE WINGS OF HEROES
Richard Peck
Dial Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780803730816
Ages 8-12
160 pages

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Davy Bowman adores his father (who looks forward to Halloween more than a kid) and his brother Bill (who flies B-17s) and tries his best to follow their lead, especially now. World War II has invaded Davy's homefront boyhood. There's an air raid drill in the classroom, and being a kid is an endless scrap drive. Bill has joined the Army Air Corps, breaking their dad's heart. It's an intense, confusing time, and one that will invite Davy to grow up in a hurry.

PENDRAGON Series
D. J. MacHale
Simon & Schuster
Ages 9-12

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Bobby Pendragon was living the life of a normal 14-year-old boy until his Uncle Press came by one night to say: "I need your help." From that moment on, nothing was the same. He and his uncle were swept off on a series of adventures that would take them through both time and space. Their mission? To protect the territories of Halla from a demon named Saint Dane, a cold-blooded villain who wants nothing less than the destruction of all humanity. The only force standing in Saint Dane's way is a mysterious group of people called...Travelers.

The Pendragon series consists of 10 books so far: THE MERCHANT OF DEATH, THE LOST CITY OF FAAR, THE NEVER WAR, THE REALITY BUG, BLACK WATER, THE RIVERS OF ZADAA, THE QUILLAN GAMES, THE PILGRIMS OF RAYNE, RAVEN RISE, and THE SOLDIERS OF HALLA.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

THE LIGHTNING THIEF: Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book One
Rick Riordan
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9780786838653
Ages 10-up
377 pages

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Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper at his boarding school. He could have sworn that his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows that it's time he finally knew the truth about where he came from. She sends him to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea.

Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends, Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

THE SEA OF MONSTERS: Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book Two
Rick Riordan
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423103349
Ages 10-up
279 pages

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After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year surprisingly quiet. But soon enough, Percy discovers trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia.

THE TITAN'S CURSE: Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book Three
Rick Riordan
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423101451
Ages 10-up
320 pages

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Percy's best friend, Grover, has made an important discovery: two new half-bloods, Bianca and Nico, whose parentage is unknown. But before Percy and his companions can escort Bianca and Nico safely back to Camp Half-Blood, they are intercepted by the manticore, and an impulsive move by Percy causes Annabeth to go missing. And she's not the only one: the goddess Artemis is believed to have been kidnapped. But who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? It's up to Percy and his friends to find out. But first, Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared --- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.

THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH: Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book Four
Rick Riordan
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423101468
Ages 10-up
368 pages

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Percy Jackson isnt expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse. In this latest installment of Rick Riordan's series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth --- a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.

Peter and the Starcatchers Trilogy

PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS
Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9780786849079
Ages 9-12
480 pages

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In Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry's prequel to PETER PAN, Peter is one of five orphans sent out on a ramshackle ship called the Never Land, on their way to be servants in evil King Zarboff's court. Soon Peter discovers that their ship also carries a secret cargo, the most precious and powerful treasure in the history of the world. Word soon gets out, though, and the nefarious pirate Black Stache is hot on the trail of the Never Land and its hidden treasure.

PETER AND THE SHADOW THIEVES
Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9780786837878
Ages 9-12
576 pages

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In this riveting and adventure-packed follow-up to PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS, we discover Peter leaving the relative safety of Mollusk Island --- along with his trusted companion Tinker Bell --- for the cold, damp streets of London. On a difficult journey across the sea, he and Tink discover the dark and deadly, slithering part-man/part-creature Lord Ombra. It seems that the dreaded Ombra has a variety of mysterious powers including the ability to make shadows disappear.

PETER AND THE SECRET OF RUNDOON
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9780786837885
Ages 10-up
496 pages

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In this action-packed finale to the Starcatchers series, Peter and Molly find themselves in the dangerous land of Rundoon, ruled by an evil king who enjoys watching his pet snake consume those who displease him. But that’s just the beginning of trouble for our heroes. Peter and Molly once again find themselves pitted against the evil shadow-creature, Lord Ombra, in a struggle to save themselves, not to mention the planet.

THE PHANTOM ISLES
Stephen Alter
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN: 9781582347387
Ages 10-14
244 pages

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When Ming, Orion and Courtney read an incantation from the pages of a book titled THE COMPLEAT NECROMANCER, they have no way of knowing that they're about to conjure up the ghosts of an entire nation. Because the ghosts that the three friends summon aren't just any ghosts. They were captured from an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean --- the Ilhas dos Fantasmas --- a place where the living and the dead once co-existed peacefully. Now confined to the pages of a few dozen library books in a New England town thousands of miles from their home, the ghosts must rely on the children and a determined librarian to free them before they are lost forever.

RALEIGH'S PAGE
written by Alan Armstrong
illustrated by Tim Jessel
Random House
ISBN: 9780375833199
Ages 10-12
336 pages

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Andrew has grown up near the Plymouth docks hearing the sailors talk about America. Knowing that Andrew's heart is set on going to the new world, his father sends him up to London to serve as page in the house of Walter Raleigh. In Queen Elizabeth's court, Raleigh is the strongest voice in favor of fighting with Spain for a position in the New World, and everyone knows that it's just a matter of time before Her Majesty agrees to an expedition. Can Andrew prove himself fit to go on an expedition to the New World?

Secret Series

THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET
Pseudonymous Bosch
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316113663
Ages 8-12
384 pages

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Warning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch. As much as he'd love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn't want you to hear about his brave 11-year old heroes, Cass and Max-Ernest. Or about how a mysterious box of vials, the Symphony of Smells, sends them on the trail of a magician who has vanished under strange (and stinky) circumstances. And he certainly wouldn't want you to know about the hair-raising adventures that follow and the nefarious villains they face. You see, not only is the name of this book secret, the story inside is, too. For it concerns a secret. A Big Secret.

The Seems

THE SEEMS: THE GLITCH IN SLEEP
John Hulme and Michael Wexler
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
ISBN: 9781599901299
Ages 10-14
288 pages

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Twelve-year-old Becker Drane works as a Fixer for The Seems, a secret organization that ensures our world keeps running --- and more importantly, sticks to The Plan that’s been made for it. When a Glitch is reported in the Department of Sleep, Becker is dispatched to Fix it, but he’s not so sure this is a routine mission. Could the Bed Bugs, who are behind our Worst Nightmares, be responsible for the problems? Or maybe it’s The Tide, an underground organization determined to destroy The Seems? No matter what, Becker is in for quite an adventure, and it’ll take all his training, a little luck and the coolest Tools™ known in (or out of) the Seems to Fix the problem.

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
Lemony Snicket
HarperCollins
Ages 10-up

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The 13 books in A Series of Unfortunate Events chronicle the misadventures of the three Baudelaire children, seemingly destined for perpetual bad luck. When their parents are unexpectedly killed in a fire that also destroys their home, Violet, Klaus and Sunny must depend on each other when Count Olaf --- their distant relative and appointed guardian --- tries to steal the family fortune time and time again.

The series consists of THE BAD BEGINNING, THE REPTILE ROOM, THE WIDE WINDOW, THE MISERABLE MILL, THE AUSTERE ACADEMY, THE ERSATZ ELEVATOR, THE VILE VILLAGE, THE HOSTILE HOSPITAL, THE CARNIVOROUS CARNIVAL, THE SLIPPERY SLOPE, THE GRIM GROTTO, THE PENULTIMATE PERIL and THE END.

Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars

Simon Bloom

SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER
Michael Reisman
Dutton Juvenile
ISBN: 9780525479222
Ages 9-up
256 pages

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Sixth-grader Simon Bloom can’t believe his luck when he finds a book that enables him to control the laws of physics. By simply reciting the formulas it contains, he can cancel gravity to fly around his bedroom, or decrease friction so he can slide down the street as if he were on Rollerblades. When two thugs with evil intentions come after Simon, he must use the formulas to save himself and the book from falling into their hands. This funny, fast and imaginative novel from first-time author Michael Reisman will appeal to fans of both fantasy and action adventure.

Skeleton Creek

Skulduggery Pleasant

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT
Derek Landy
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780061231155
Ages 10-up
400 pages

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Meet Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton. Sure, he may lose his head every once in a while (in fact, he won his current skull in a poker match), but he's much more than he appears to be. Skulduggery avoided the grave so he could save the world from an ancient evil. In order to defeat it, he will need the help of a new partner: a not-so-innocent 12-year-old girl named Stephanie.

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT: PLAYING WITH FIRE
Derek Landy
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780061240881
Ages 10-up
400 pages

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Valkyrie Cain --- once known to the world as 12-year-old Stephanie Edgley --- has learned a great deal since beginning her apprenticeship to Skulduggery Pleasant, the well-dressed living-dead wizard-detective. But she hasn’t learned nearly enough to defeat the horrors massing against her and her friends. An old foe of Skulduggery’s, Baron Vengeous, is bent on bringing back to life the horrible Grotesquery --- an unkillable monster assembled from the most fearsome beasts of legend. It’s up to the ingeniuos, fearless and hilarious Valkyrie and Skulduggery to stop the Grotesquery from coming fully to life.

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster
Ages 7-up

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Jared Grace, his twin brother Simon, and their older sister Mallory have a legitimate reason to worry --- their lives are being turned upside down by faeries. These small, mischievous creatures cause quite a ruckus in the Graces' new house, even going so far as to physically harm Mallory, Simon and his pets. Unbeknownst to their mom, the Grace children are determined to do whatever they can to rid themselves of these annoying and potentially dangerous creatures.

The Spiderwick Chronicles consists of five books: THE FIELD GUIDE, THE SEEING STONE, LUCINDA'S SECRET, THE IRONWOOD TREE and THE WRATH OF MULGARATH.

Steel Trapp

STEEL TRAPP: THE CHALLENGE
Ridley Pearson
Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423106401
Ages 10-up
336 pages

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Fourteen-year-old Steven “Steel” Trapp is on a train bound for the National Science Competition in Washington, D.C. While his ingenious mind and photographic memory earned him the right to participate in the Challenge, he has no idea that his talents are about to lure him into an international espionage adventure involving the FBI.

THE THIEF LORD
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439420891
Ages 9-12
376 pages

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On the run from their cruel aunt and uncle, Prosper and Bo decide to hide out in Venice. With a detective sent by their family close on their heels, they are happily taken in by the mysterious "Thief Lord" and his gang of street children. The boys discover that nothing is quite as it seems when they take part in a special mission with magical consequences.

Tom Trueheart

THE SECRET HISTORY OF TOM TRUEHEART
Ian Beck
Greenwillow Books
ISBN: 9780061152108
Ages 8-12
352 pages

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On Tom Trueheart's 12th birthday, a letter comes from the Story Bureau, addressed to him. His six brothers --- big, brave and bold --- are all away on quests and adventures in the Land of Stories, but they should all have been back by now. The letter says that someone has sabotaged their adventures and prevented them from getting to the end of their stories! Tom must gather his courage and go to the land where stories are made. There he needs to unmask a wicked villain and enable the tales his brothers have started to be completed.

TRAVEL TEAM
Mike Lupica
Philomel Books
Puffin/Penguin Young Readers Group
ISBN: 9780142404621
Ages 10-up
288 pages

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Twelve-year-old Danny Walker may be the smallest kid on the basketball court, but he plays with lots of heart and a great deal of court sense. But none of this matters when he's cut from his local travel team, the same team that his father led to national prominence as a boy. Danny's father knows that his son isn't the only kid who was cut for the wrong reason, and he and a bunch of never-say-die kids prove that heart simply cannot be measured.

Sequel to TRAVEL TEAM

SUMMER BALL
Mike Lupica
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399244872
Ages 10-up
256 pages

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Leading your travel team to the national championship may seem like a dream come true, but for Danny Walker, being at the top just means the competition tries that much harder to knock him off. Now Danny is leaving Middletown for the summer and heading to Right Way basketball camp, where he's out of his element and maybe out of his league. The country's best players are in attendance, and Danny will need to raise his game if he wants to match up. But it won't be easy. Old rivals and new battles leave Danny wondering if he really has what it takes to stand tall.

VAMPIRATES

VAMPIRATES: DEMONS OF THE OCEAN
Justin Somper
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316013734
Ages 9-12
336 pages

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Twins Connor and Grace never dreamed that there was any truth to the Vampirate shanty their late father sang to them, but that was before the two were shipwrecked and separated from each other. Connor, who is taken aboard a pirate ship, has the opportunity to learn how to swordfight, but for Grace, aboard a mysterious ship of vampire pirates, the danger is great. Will the twins be able to find each other before it's too late?

VAMPIRATES: TIDE OF TERROR
Justin Somper
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 9780316013741
Ages 8-12
464 pages

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In this sequel to VAMPIRATES: DEMONS OF THE OCEAN, there's a traitor aboard the Diablo and enemies at every turn. As the danger intensifies, Grace discovers a place where her twin brother Connor could learn more about the pirate way without risking his life: the elite Pirate Academy. Will Connor choose an education by sea or by school, and will Grace be forced to follow him wherever he goes?

VAMPIRATES: BLOOD CAPTAIN
Justin Somper
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316020855
Ages 8-12
576 pages

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Grace, unable to forget the blindness she caused her Vampirate friend Lorcan, chooses to journey with him to see if his sight can be restored. As for Connor, he must endure the latest addition to the Diablo crew: Captain Wrathe's awful nephew, who seems to dislike him from the very start. Will both twins find success, and what will it take to bring them back together?

The Zeke Armstrong Mysteries

RED CARD
Daniel J. Hale and Matthew LeBrot
Top Publications, LTD.
ISBN: 9781929976157
Ages 9-12
180 pages

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When 13-year-old Zeke Armstrong and his soccer team go to Houston for the playoffs, he finds himself in the middle of an adventure when someone tries to kill his coach. Will Zeke solve the mystery and help his team win, or will he be the next victim?

GREEN STREAK
Daniel J. Hale and Matthew LaBrot
Top Publications, LTD.
ISBN: 9781929976287
Ages 9-12
231 pages

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Zeke Armstrong goes to New York for the Big Apple Inline Skate-Off. After another racer robs an aging heiress in Central Park, the police call it a mugging. But Zeke suspects that it's part of a more sinister plot. Will he figure it out in time to save the wealthy woman and skate the final race, or will the bad guys stop Zeke in his tracks?

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