Graphic Novel: Claudia and Mean Janine

Claudia and her sister, Janine, may as well be from two different planets. Claudia, who pays more attention to her art and the BSC than her grades, feels like she can’t compete with her perfect sister. Janine studies nonstop, makes straight As, and even takes college-level courses. But when something terrible happens in the family, the two sisters discover they’re more alike than they originally thought.

This classic Babysitter's Club tale is told in graphic format. A sure hit with middle school and tween girls!

Graphic Novel

Grades 3-7

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Graphic Novel/Fiction: The First Escape

The First Escape is the first book in the Dopple Ganger Chronicles, a six-book series following three children--Sadie and Saskia Dopple and Erik Morrissey Ganger. Sadie and Saskia are mischievous identical twins living at an orphanage, where Erik is their only friend. They are separated when Saskia is adopted by Muzz Elliott, a wealthy woman searching for her long-lost family treasure. While Saskia stumbles into the center of a crime only she can stop, Sadie and Erik embark on a quest to find her. This book is in an exciting new format called an illustra-novella, in which the story is told alternately in graphic novel format and plain text with occasional illustrations. A great choice for reluctant readers, and a good story to boot.

Graphic novel/Fiction

Grades 5-9

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Fiction: Antsy Does Time

Fueled by friendship and sympathy, Antsy Bonano signs a month of his life over to his "dying" classmate Gunnar Umlaut. Soon everyone at school follows suit, giving new meaning to the idea of "living on borrowed time." But does Gunnar really have six months to live, or is news of his imminent death greatly exaggerated? When a family member suffers a heart attack after donating two years to Gunnar, Antsy wonders if he has tempted fate by playing God. Fans of "the Schwa" will welcome favorite and new characters in this wholly fresh tale, which is as touchingly poignant as it is darkly comical.

Fiction

Grades 5-9

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Fiction: Cosmic

Bestselling author Frank Cottrell Boyce has written another smash hit. In Cosmic, Liam is too big for his boots. And his football strip. And his school blazer. But being super-sized height-wise has its advantages: he's the only eleven-year-old to ever ride the G-force defying Cosmic rollercoaster - or be offered the chance to drive a Porsche. Hey, if people are always mistaking you for an adult, why not take advantage?

But when Liam finds out that he could have a shot at winning a spot on a rocketship, his masquerade turns serious. Travelling into space is his dream; so what if he has to go to China while his parents think he's on a school trip? So what if he has to pretend to be his friend Florida's dad? He might be going into SPACE!

Of course, this rocket ship is somewhat...experimental. And things go...not quite right. This is possibly the funniest book I've read all year. I was bent over laughing for most of it, and I highly recommend it for anyone who has ever, even in their dreams, wanted to be an astronaut. (isn't that all of us?)

Fiction

Grades 5-8

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Fantasy: The Dragon in the Sock Drawer

Kate Klimo has written a great new book for young fantasy fans. Ten year old cousins Jesse and Daisy have always wanted something magical to happen, so it's a dream come true when they find an egg that hatches into a tiny, helpless baby dragon! After some frantic research into baby dragon care, the two kids discover that they are now Dragon Keepers, and that they are responsible not only for keeping Emmy (short for Emerald) fed, but that they must also keep her safe from the villainous St. George! This nefarious character has kept himself alive for centuries by drinking dragon's blood. Jesse and Daisy are determined that Emmy will not be his next meal!

Fantasy
Grades 3-5

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Fantasy: Tunnels

This book created a storm of publicity when it was published in England. It tells the story of Will Burrows, whose hobby (or perhaps obsession) is doing amateur digs with his archaeologist father. In their spare time, Will and his dad dig underground looking for strange historical objects in caves and secret tunnels.

But when Will's dad suddenly disappears, Will and his best friend Chester must follow him underground. It seems that Mr. Burrows was working on a secret project; a project that has led him deeper than ever before. Down, down into the earth go his tunnels, and at the bottom (or what they think is the bottom) a whole other world is waiting. Will finds his father, but the foundations of his world are rocked when he also discovers that everything he holds dear is a lie.

A great fantasy read, highly recommended for those who liked The Lightning Thief and Harry Potter. Watch for the sequel, Deeper, coming soon.

Fantasy
Grades 4-8
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Easy Reader" Sharks!

National Geographic publishes some excellent children's books, and their reader series is no exception. Sharks! is the first of their new easy reader series, aimed at children in late kindergarten and grade one. The easy text contains exciting information about the topic, and there are tons of the vivid, gripping photographs that National Geographic is known for.
Boys in particular will appreciate this series, as the nonfiction format is often more appealing to them than the stories or personal dramas. Try this book (or the other in the series, Volcanoes!) with reluctant readers; for extra reading impact, check out some other nonfiction books and read them together to build interest in the topic.

Easy Reader
Grades K-2
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