spring/summer 2011 recent releases — young & middle grade

SPRING/SUMMER 2011 RECENT RELEASES — YOUNG & MIDDLE GRADE
OKAY FOR NOW
by Gary D. Schmidt; read by Lincoln Hoppe
When fourteen-year-old Doug Swieteck moves
to a new town he finds an unlikely ally in smart
girl, Lil. In Lil, Doug finds the strength to endure
an abusive father. Together, they find inspiration
in learning about the plates of John James
Audubon’s birds at the library.
★“This is Schmidt’s best novel yet.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★“Delivered in a wholly believable voice,.”—Booklist, starred review
8 CDs • 978-0-3079-1594-8 • $40.00
Grade: RL: 4.9 • IL: 5-10 • LL: NA • 9 hrs. 18 mins.
See pages 54 and 70 for more Gary D. Schmidt titles.
ONE DAY AND ONE AMAZING
MORNING ON ORANGE STREET
by Joanne Rocklin; read by Lisa Baney
In alternating chapters, the children of Orange
Street reveal, and deal with, their personal challenges—impressing
friends, worrying about a
traveling parent—while uncovering the mystery
of the stranger who’s shown up on their block.
CD
★“Fully realized characters and setting definitely
make this one morning on Orange Street
amazing.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
4 CDs • 978-0-3078-7974-5 • $38.00
Grade: RL: NA • IL: 3-6 • LL: NA • 4 hrs. 10 mins.
THE OTHER HALF OF MY HEART
by Sundee T. Frazier; read by Bahni Turpin
The close relationship of biracial twins is tested
when their grandmother enters them in a pageant
for African American girls. White-skinned Minni
has always believed that, no matter how different
she and darker skinned Keira look, they share a
bond of the heart. Now she’ll find out the truth.
★“The richest portrait of multiracial identity and
family...An outstanding achievement.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★“[Sundee T. Frazier’s] ability to round out each character, looking past easy
explanations for attitude, is impressive.”—Booklist, starred review
7 CDs • 978-0-3078-7963-9 • $45.00
Grade: RL: 4.9 • IL: 3-6 • LL: 750 • 7 hrs. 50 mins.
See page 45 for more Sundae T. Frazier titles
THE PENDERWICKS
AT POINT MOUETTE
by Jeanne Birdsall; read by Susan Denaker
When summer comes, it’s off to the beach for
Rosalind…and off to Maine with Aunt Claire for
the rest of the Penderwick girls, and their friend,
Jeffrey. Can Skye figure out Rosalind’s directions?
Will Jane’s Love Survey come to a tragic conclusion?
Find out what happens as the Penderwicks
continue their unforgettable adventures.
“From start to finish, this is a summer holiday to savor.”—Publishers Weekly
6 CDs • 978-0-3079-1533-7 • $34.00
Grades RL: NA • IL: 3-6 • LL: NA • 7 hrs. 32 mins
See page 57 for more Jeanne Birdsall titles
THE RED BLAZER GIRLS:
THE MISTAKEN MASTERPIECE
by Michael D. Beil; read by Tai Alexandra Ricci
Best pals Sophie, Margaret, Rebecca, and Leigh
Ann are the Red Blazer Girls. When Father Julian
hires the Blazers to help him authenticate a painting.
Mayhem and mystery follow as the girls
attempt to uncover the truth.
Praise for The Red Blazer Girls:
★“Ricci does a superb job of bringing the characters
to life.”—School Library Journal, starred review
6 CDs • 978-0-3079-1581-8 • $34.00
Grades RL: NA • IL: 4-9 • LL: NA • 7 hrs. 28 mins
See page 59 for more RED BLAZER GIRLS
SECOND FIDDLE
by Rosanne Parry; read by Bri Knickerbocker
When 13-year-old Jody and her friends save a
badly beaten Russian soldier, they put into
motion a chain of events that will take them from
Berlin to Paris and straight into danger. Jody must
trust herself, because directly after the fall of the
Berlin Wall the line between friend and enemy is
not clear.
“First-class historical fiction; Parry vividly conjures
the political tensions of the period, the challenges of life as an army brat,
and the redemptive power of music.”—Publishers Weekly
“Fast paced and appealing, with a tidy conclusion.”—School Library Journal
5 CDs • 978-0-3077-4762-4 • $39.00
Grades RL: 4.9 • IL: 3-8 • LL: 770 • 5 hrs. 53 mins
See page 51 for HEART OF A SHEPHERD
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7 CDs • 978-0-3079-1712-6 • $55.00
Grades RL: 5.4 • IL: 3-6 • LL: 840 • approx 8 hrs.
SEEKERS #1: THE QUEST BEGINS
by Erin Hunter; read by Julia Fletcher
Three young bears from different species—
black, polar, and grizzly—are separated from
their families when they are just young cubs.
They find themselves brought together on a perilous
journey. Fate is about to change their lives
CD
forever, setting their paws on a path toward a
future they cannot yet imagine.
SEEKERS #2: GREAT BEAR LAKE
by Erin Hunter; read by Julia Fletcher
Three young bear cubs are finally united at the
sacred Great Bear Lake. But danger lurks ahead,
and the bears must test their determination to
reach the promised wilderness. Only if they put
aside their differences will they have any chance
of surviving the harsh realities of the wild.
CD
“Told with an interesting balance of cute anthro-
pomorphic characterization and realistic attention
to bear behaviors and the brutalities of life in the wild.”—Booklist
7 CDs • 978-0-3079-1714-0 • $55.00
Grades RL: 5.2 • IL: 3-6 • LL: 750 • approx 8 hrs.
5 CDs • 978-0-3079-1687-7 • $30.00
Grades RL: NA • IL: 3-6 • LL: NA • 5 hrs. 31 mins.
See page 3 for SHARK WARS 2
SHARK WARS
by E. J. Altbacker; read by Joshua Swanson
Gray, a high-spirited young shark, has led a
happy, easy life, living with his mother and their
community of sharks in a hidden tropical reef.
But when Gray swims too far from home,
endangering the entire reef, he is banished. Gray
fears he will never see his family and friends
again.
THE SIXTY-EIGHT ROOMS
by Marianne Malone;
read by Cassandra Campbell
The Thorne Rooms in the Chicago Art
Institute are 68 exquisitely crafted miniature
rooms. Two young visitors, Ruthie and Jack,
have found a key that allows them to shrink so
they can sneak inside and explore the rooms’
secrets. And they’ve discovered that others
have done so before them and someone left
something important behind.
“A smoothly written fantasy with an appealing premise.”—New York Times
“A fantastical story with plenty of real-world elements.”—Booklist
6 CDs • 978-0-3079-1635-8 • $35.00
Grades RL: 5.2 • IL: 3-6 • LL: 730 • 7 hrs. 13 mins.
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