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Nancy's picks for the best junior novels
of Spring/Summer 2005. Compiled by Nancy Polette © 2005.
Last updated: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 |
- Aiken, Joan. THE WITCH OF CLATTERING SHAWS. HarperCollins, 2005. Grades 4-6
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Another winner from Joan Aiken as with
the help of her companions, Dido tackles a royal problem with the
help of a witch.
- Aldridge, James. THE MARVELLOUS MONGOLIAN.
Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2005. Grades 4-8
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A young boy tries to protect a rare wild
horse when news of its existence leaks out.
- Bernstein, Nina. MAGIC BY THE BOOK. Farrar,
2005
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Can a book cast a spell so strong that it
actually transports its readers to another place and time?
- Broach, Elise. SHAKESPEARE'S SECRET. Holt,
Grades 5-8
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Suppose you had a Shakespearean name and
suppose there was a million dollar diamond hidden in your new
house. Here is a literary mystery full of historical insights and
discoveries.
- Conly, Jane. IN THE NIGHT ON LANVALE STREET. Holt, 2005. Grades 5-7
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A young girl and her brother, a murdered
neighbor and a strange man make for a suspenseful mystery.
- Cooper, Susan. THE MAGICIAN'S BOY. McElderry
Books, 2005. Grades 3-6.
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A young boy's search for a missing puppet
of St. George is filled with adventures with familiar people.
- Cushman, Naren. RODZINA. Randon House, 2005.
Grades 5-7
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In 1881 12- year- old Rodzina from Poland
travels on the orphan train to the west with great reservations.
- Feinstein, John. LAST SHOT. Knopf, 2005.
Grades 5-8
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Steven and Susan have 48 hours to uncover
a blackmail plot before the championship game. A Final Four
mystery.
- Fleischman, Sid. THE GIANT RAT OF SUMATRA OR PIRATES GALORE. Greenwillow, 2005. Grades 4-6.
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A cabin boy on a pirate ship, highjinks,
bandits, daring and a lost treasure make a great story.
- Gutman, Dan. THE MILLION DOLLAR STRIKE.
Hyperion, 2004. Grades 4-6
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How do you keep a favorite bowling alley
from closing. Two boys conince the owmer to try by offering a
million dollar strike. Someone wants the bowling alley closed and
will do almost amything to bring that about. A fast,
hard-to-put-down read.
- Greene, Stephanie. OWEN FOOTE, MIGHTY SCIENTIST.
Illustrated by Cat Bowman-Smith. Clarion Books, 2004. Grades 2-4
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Science fair projects can go very wrong
if partners disagree, but friendship can get them back on track.
- Johnston, Tony. THE SPOON IN THE BATHROOM WALL. Harcourt, 2005. Grades 4-6
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Visit Bloggins School with misbehaving
dragons, horrible principals dancing eggs and a giant glowing
tongue...a very funny story!
- Hussey, Charmian. THE VALLEY OF SECRETS. Simon
& Schuster, 2005. Grades 5-7.
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An orphan becomes heir to a great estate
filled with creepy goings-on. A great read aloud!
- King-Smith, Dick. THE GOLDEN GOOSE. Knopf,
2005. Grades 2-4
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If your family owned a golden goose, how
long could they keep it a secret?
- Lindgren, Astrid. THE RED BIRD. Illustrated by
Marit Tornqvist. Holiday House, 2005. Grades 2-4
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Two children work hard on a farm when a
red bird leads them to a land of plenty but to stay there they
must make an impossible choice.
- Mackel, Kathy. MAD CAT. HarperCollins, 2005.
Grades 4-6
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A girls' fastpitch softball team
discovers that friendship might be more impotant than winning.
- Maloney, James. BLACK TAXI. HarperCollins,
2005. Grades 7-9
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A fast paced mystery novel about stolen
jewels, juggling boys and a burnished black Mercedes.
- Morris, Jennifer. COME LLAMAS. Delacorte, 2005.
Grades 5-7
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JT finds rough going on an Alaskan llama
ranch when a bear takes half the herd.
- Rinaldi, Ann. NINE DAYS A QUEEN.
HaprerCollins, 2005. Grades 6-8
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A historical novel based on the short
life and reign of Lady Jane Grey with strong writing and
fascinating historical detail.
- Seabrooke, Brenda. STONEWOLF. Holiday House,
2005. Grades 5-8
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The orphanage to Nicholas meant fear and
hunger. When he was mysteriously taken away by a stranger he finds
his life in a castle is that of a prisoner until the secrets of
his mind can be unlocked.
- Taylor, Thedore. ICE DRIFT Harcourt, 2004.
Grades 5-7
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In 1868 two young boys are seal hunting
when the ice floe they are on breaks away from the land beginning
a six month long journey with bitter cold, starvation and vicious
polar bears. A great adventure story fom a master story teller.
- Winnick, Karen B. CASSIE'S SWEET BERRY PIE.
Boyds Mill, Grades 2-4.
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Civil War raiders are heading to
Casssie's home. She is alone with her siblings. How can she save
the family's food supply? A charming story of a resourceful young
girl.
- Yen Nah, Adelinee. CHINESE CINDERELLA AND THE SECRET DRAGON SOCIETY. HarperCollins, 2004. Grades 5-8
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A sheltered Chinese girl suffers at the hands of her stepmother and seeks refuge at a martial arts school, resulting in a daring mission to rescue U.S. airmen. An exciting tale!
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