Synopsis: Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be pretty . . . Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can "throw" her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualities prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parents' inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to…

Synopsis: “Let’s face facts: We may be the most boring twelve-year-olds on the planet.”   Henry Mosley decides that he and his pals Riley and Reed have got to liven things up. They need to go on some earth-shaking adventures and make a name for themselves. Henry is the mastermind; Riley’s the cautious researcher who’s prepared for anything. And somehow fearful Reed always ends up with the scariest, craziest assignments.             Roped into wacky…

Synopsis: "You can live on the same farm, in the same house with your uncle for eleven summers, eleven winters, and still not know him. You and your older brother, Wayne, can work in the fields alongside him and Father and Nels - the other old, old man on the farm - and still Uncle David can one day amaze you. Every night in the winter room, used only in winter because then no work can be done outside, Mother and Father, Nels and Wayne and you - Eldon -…

Synopsis: In his first novel for young adults, Gary Soto paints a moving portrait of two sweet, ambitious Mexican American brothers who hope junior college will help them escape their heritage of tedious physical labor. Their struggles are humorous, true to life, and deeply affecting, and young adults will sympathize with them as they work through their problems and eventually come to terms with what is possible in an imperfect world. “Readers looking for…

Synopsis: Hurt Go Happy is a captivating novel for young readers by beloved author Ginny Rorby. The Schneider Family Book Award-winning novel is inspired by the true story of a chimpanzee raised as a human.Thirteen-year-old Joey Willis is used to being left out of conversations. Though she's been deaf since the age of six, Joey's mother has never allowed her to learn sign language. She strains to read the lips of those around her and often fails.…

Synopsis: A baby whale is the latest mammal stranded on the beaches of Acadia National Park. When the Landons run to get help, they don’t notice Bindy Callister slip away. When they track her down, she’s acting strange—she knows the strandings are no accident. She even knows those responsible. But she’s too scared to tell. Time is running out; and now the kids too are in real danger—unless Bindy talks!

Synopsis: This boxed set includes the first and third book in the Macdonald Hall series; This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall! and Beware the Fish!.This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!In Gordon Korman's beloved first book, Bruno and Boots team up...and school is never the same!Bruno and Boots are always in trouble. So the Headmaster, aka "The Fish" decides it would be best to separate them. Bruno must now room with ghoulish Elmer Dimsdale, plus…

Synopsis: A story of telling truth from lies -- and finding out what being a hero really means.There are two things Trevor loves more than anything else: playing war-based video games, and his great-grandfather Jacob, who is a true-blue, bona fide war hero. At the height of the war, Jacob helped liberate a small French village, and was given a hero's welcome upon his return to America.Now it's decades later, and Jacob wants to retrace the steps he took…

Synopsis: With an Introduction and Notes by David Herd, Lecturer in English and American Literature at the University of Kent at Canterbury and co-editor of 'Poetry Review'. Moby Dick is the story of Captain Ahab's quest to avenge the whale that 'reaped' his leg. The quest is an obsession and the novel is a diabolical study of how a man becomes a fanatic. But it is also a hymn to democracy. Bent as the crew is on Ahab's appalling crusade, it is equally…

Synopsis: From New York Times bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a riveting new series that defies what you think you know about the world of magic.Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial. Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail. All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him. So he…

Synopsis: The great epic of Western literature, translated by the acclaimed classicist Robert FaglesSoon to be a major motion picture directed by Christopher NolanA Penguin ClassicRobert Fagles, winner of the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, presents us with Homer's best-loved and most accessible poem in a stunning modern-verse translation. "Sing to me of the man,…

Synopsis: A boy learns what it means to give and receive love in this beautifully refreshed edition of Lottery Rose from Newbery Award–winning author Irene Hunt.Georgie Burgess doesn’t talk about the abuse that he receives from his mother and her boyfriend. Even though he’s constantly getting into trouble at school, he continues to hide his hurt, refusing to tell anyone what life is like at home. Instead, he finds escape between the pages of books…

Synopsis: There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive.The domesticated life of a powerful St. Bernard-Shepherd mix named Buck is quickly turned on end when he is stolen away from his master and put to work as a sled dog in Alaska. His once life of luxury turns into a life of…

Synopsis: A new, beautifully laid-out edition of Jack London's 1906 classic adventure story.

Synopsis: In this highly-illustrated series from James Patterson, an extraordinary robot signs up for an ordinary fifth grade class . . . and elementary school will never be the same!It was never easy for Sammy Hayes-Rodriguez to fit in, so he's dreading the day when his genius mom insists he bring her newest invention to school: a walking, talking robot he calls E-for "Error". Sammy's no stranger to robots; his house is full of a colorful cast of them.…

Synopsis: Hawk, the daughter of Maximum Ride, teams up with her mother to help save their beloved but dangerous city in this action-packed thriller. For Hawk, being a hero weighs heavily on her wings. In the City of the Dead, life happens in the shadows. That's why a war is brewing against an enemy no one can see. Hawk and Maximum Ride never back down from a conflict, or from each other, and they argue more than they agree. But as the dead…

Synopsis: When a lifelong friendship just isn't long enough, two friends connect from beyond the grave in this heartwarming ghost story from a New York Times bestselling author. One minute, Finn was biking home from school, and the next, he was run off the road by a maniac in a big van. Now, he's a ghost. He can do lots of fun things, like try every ice cream flavor in the store, sneak up on people, and play as many video games as he wants. Finn even…

Synopsis: I wanted a drama-free senior year. Instead, my name was just turned into an album's worth of horrible songs. So far the year is off to a fantastic start.Dumped by my boyfriend. Check.Humiliated during a pep assembly. Check.My sister dressing like she's trying to be the bride of Satan. Unfortunately, also check.Now my sister's musician boyfriend has released an entire set of songs criticizing me. I'm over it. So over it. Then I find out Rick (yes…

Synopsis: "You're invited -- RSVP for fun! Expect gobs of fun and over-the-top antics as Greg throws an epic birthday party for none other than himself. So come celebrate and laugh alongside Greg, his family, and the entire world of Wimpy Kid fans." --