Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library is a race from the first page to the last. You will enjoy the cast of characters that figure out what it is to love reading and play games. They also learn the importance of friendship and working with others. Through many puzzles, you are lead through a library via the Dewey Decimal System. It will make you want to explore your local library...with friends.
The Unteachables
Gordon Korman
Realistic Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- KORMAN
Grabbing a Gordon Korman book is never a bad decision. The Unteachables is a tale of a teacher just going through the motions meeting with students who the system has labelled unteachable. What will be the outcome? Korman gives the reader well-developed characters that you will want to meet...maybe you already have met them using different names. Maybe you are one of them. To find out, come to Lois Wagner Library and head for the "Juvenile" section. Look for KORMAN.
Wishtree
Katherine Applegate
Fantasy
Juvenile Fiction- APPLEGA
Who would think you could write a story from the perspective of a tree? Not just a tree, but an old oak tree named Red. Katherine Applegate thought she could...and she did. Wishtree is a story of a tree that has seen a lot in its centuries of life. It has watched over a neighborhood for many of those years, seeing families come and go. Additionally, it provides for the animal residents as well. It, also, holds on to people's wishes. But progress and safety endanger its existence. Will Red be around for more wishes? Will Red be there to help the animals? Can Red help start a friendship? Visit the Lois Wagner Memorial Library and find out. You will not be sorry you visited with Red (Juvenile APPLEGA).
Black Brother, Black Brother
Jewell Parker Rhodes
Realistic Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- KELLY
Isn't being a kid hard enough? There are so many decisions, so many problems, so many people to please...or not! Now, try having all the normal issues a twelve year old has to deal with and add being a brother duo where one brother is black and the other is white. Still sounds doable? Add going to school at a primarily white private school, and having to be compared to your white brother. In Black Brother, Black Brother, prejudice plays a large part in the lives of our brothers, their family, and fencing. How does fencing fit into the narrative, read the book. The characters are well-developed and relatable. Come to the Lois Wagner Memorial Library and grab this book. It provides a good and thoughtful read.
Song For a Whale
Lynne Kelly
Realistic Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- KELLY
Song for a Whale is a tale of a girl with a special gift and a special need helping another. Readers will love Iris who shows persistence, empathy, and love. With words of wisdom from her grandma, Iris readies to try and help someone in need, Blue 55. Can she help Blue 55? Will she be able to make a difference? Come to the Lois Wagner Memorial Library, grab this book, and find out. Look in the juvenile section (KELLY). The book shows nobody should be underestimated.
The Bridge Home
Padma Venkatraman
Realistic Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- VENKATR
The Bridge Home is a story of homeless children in India and their fight for survival. It paints a portrait of the difference between those with wealth and those with nothing. It, also, shows the resiliency born of hope and friendship...and it has a super-cool dog. If you want a novel that will help develop an understanding of another place and culture, this is a good start. This book is available in the juvenile section under VENKATR.
Bloom (The Overthrow-Book 1)
Kenneth Oppel
Science Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- (Sci-Fic) OPPEL
Bloom may scare you. It is a story about plants with an agenda...taking over our planet. Strangely, some people are not affected by one of their main weapons, a pollen most are very allergic to. What can stop the onslaught? Who can make the difference between the Earth being our home and Earth being their home? If you want a story that will have you wondering if our own plants may have the ability to adapt quicker to the changes we bring...and be better apt to protect themselves, this is a good book to read. This book is available in the juvenile section under OPPEL.
The List of Thing That Will Not Change
Rebecca Stead
Realistic Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- STEAD
The List of Things That Will Not Change is a tale of amicable divorce where one of the adults is getting remarried. The List is for the daughter, a list of things she can still count on. The book carries you through characters who develop an understanding that life can be different, and that's okay. Though some characters need the lesson more than others, and can they grow out of their own bias and tainted perspective? A good book for a child that may be dealing with lots of changes they have little or no control over. This book is available in the juvenile section under STEAD.
Mighty Moe
Rachel Swaby, Kit Fox
Biography
Juvenile Non-Fiction- BIO WILTON
Mighty Moe is a biography about the life of Maureen Wilton, who at the age of thirteen ran the fastest women's marathon to that point. It chronicles her rise in the running field and speaks of all those who ran with her, coached her, and pushed her to meet the challenge. The book, also, goes into the challenges of having women able to race in marathons. The head of one race actually tried to remove a woman as she was running in a marathon, by force. You will enjoy learning how women gained the right to run. This book is available in the juvenile section under BIOGRAPHY WILTON.
A Drop of Hope
Keith Calabrese
Realistic Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- CALABRE
A Drop of Hope is a tale of friendship and doing what is right, even if it means getting beat up by a bully. Each of our protagonists have a problem or two, but choosing the right thing to do may create more problems. Is it worth the risk? Is friendship worth the chance of failure? Calabrase does a fine job fleshing out realistic characters that grow and change as they traverse their world. The side characters add greatly to the story and help push it along. Grab this book if you need a reminder of what is good in our world. This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE CALABRE.
Wink
Rob Harrell
Realistic Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- HARRELL
Wink takes you into the realistic world of a boy with eye cancer or cancer behind the eye. Ross is a seventh grade boy dealing with all the usual issues twelve year old boys have to deal with; puberty, being cool, infatuation, bullies, making friends, loving music...but Ross, also, has to deal with cancer and the possibility of going blind. With the help of others, Ross navigates through each potential disaster with friends, both school and older friends and family. This is a good read. This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE HARRELL.
Wednesday Wars (Book 1)
Gary Schmidt
Historical Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- SCHMIDT
Wednesday Wars takes place in the late sixties and encapsulates some of the different positions people took regarding the Vietnam War, and though the war impacts the story, it isn't about the war. The protagonist, Holling Hoodhood is convinced his new teacher hates him. It is undeniable...or is it. Read this and find out what hides out on top of the ceiling tiles and what lessons Mrs. Baker has in store for Holling. One section with Mickey Mantle was especially memorable for me. This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE SCHMIDT.
A Long Way from Chicago (Book 1)
Richard Peck
Historical Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- PECK
A Long Way from Chicagotakes place in a small Illinois town in the early 1930s. The Great Depression is ramping up and Mary Alice and Joey head to Grandma's house from Chicago. Grandma is a wonderfully created character that will have you cringing and laughing, sometimes at the same time. Read this and its companion, A Year Down Yonder, you'll be all the better for it. This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE PECK.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Book 1)
Tom Angleberger
Realistic Fiction
Juvenile Fiction-ANGLEBE
The Strange Case of Origami Yodadeals with kids working through some of the most difficult times of their life, middle school. Can Origami Yoda help the kids with their problems, or will he make them worse? Read it and find out...and don't let the title fool you. It is not really about Star Wars. It is about friendship. This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE ANGLEBE.
The Iron Trial (Book 1)
Holly Black; Cassandra Clare
Fantasy
Juvenile Fiction- (Fantasy) BLACK
The Iron Trialis a fantasy that has magic wielding kids going to a school for training, similar to another juvenile fantasy you may know. This fantasy, also, has its main character that has faults and a history that puts into question whether he is good or bad. Even with the similarities, the stories are different. One of my favorite characters is a wolf, but you will have to read it to find out why. This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE BLACK.
When You Trap a Tiger
Tae Keller
Fiction/ Fantasy
Juvenile Fiction- (Fantasy)KELLER
When You Trap a Tigeris the 2021 Newbery winner and for good reason. It is a story that weaves Korean folklore with the modern time. It is about a family that needs to solve a problem that began long ago, a problem that began with a theft. What was taken and how can they stop the inevitable? Read it and find out. This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE FICTION KELLER.
Soul Lanterns
Shaw Kuzki
Historical Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- KUZKI
Soul Lanternsis a thought-provoking historical fiction about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. When you read about the day of the "flash", the horror of the effects will have you asking, "Couldn't there have been another way to win the War?" The author has knowledge of the event since she is a second generation survivor. This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE FICTION KUZKI.
Dead Wednesday
Jerry Spinelli
Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- SPINELL
Dead Wednesdayis the story of a town who has created a tradition for their eighth grade students to learn from the unnecessary deaths of young people. On Dead Wednesday, students dress in black to represent a teenager that had died that year, and think about their own mortality. What will they learn? Check it out, read it, and find out. This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE FICTION SPINELL.
Whispering Alaska
Brendan Jones
Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- JONES
Whispering Alaskais a story of a family dealing with loss due to Covid-19. Losing someone can affect people and families differently. Join the Halls as they travels from their home to Alaska, their new home. Joining family there, they find themselves in a town dealing with the difficulty of losing revenue due to the loss of tourist's dollars due to covid. Now, the town must make a difficult decision to make up for the loos of money and jobs...but is it worth the cost? This book is available in the juvenile section under JUVENILE FICTION JONES.
Home Away From Home
Cynthia Lord
Fiction
Juvenile Fiction- LORD
Home Away From Home includes birding, grandmas, and change. It speaks of relationships and the challenges of loving others. For a good book and real issues...and birds, find this book in the juvenile fiction section, J LORD.