The Matilda Effect

by Ellie Irving

Matilda is a budding scientist who finds out her grandma was once a famous scientist herself until she suddenly left her job. After finding the reason was because of a new planet her grandmother had discovered only to be stolen by her boss, Matilda convinces her grandmother they must stop him from receiving the Nobel Prize in Sweden. Now, they live in a small town in England and without valid passports or means of transportation how will they get to Sweden within the next 2 days? Join Matilda and her grandmother as they go on an adventure of a lifetime to rightfully claim her grandmother's discovery. Along the way they will meet a couple on their way to France, a famous actor with a false alias, a traveling circus and a dangerous Russian businesswoman who will aid Matilda and her grandmother on their journey.
Includes mini biographies of famous female scientists and science experiments.





Perfect Score

by Rob Buyea

Featuring a mixed up group of sixth graders, this novel explores the struggles faced by each student and how they evolve to become better human beings by their teachers. When they first enter class, the students discover their assigned teacher is replaced by retiree Mrs. Woods, a no-nonsense straightforward educator. Along with her, they will learn math and science from Mrs. Magenta, a more relaxed and care-free individual. For most of them including Trevor, Mrs. Woods is an unwelcome sight. She taught some of their parents so they know her practical and non-lenient nature could make the school year a hard one. Others, such as aspiring future lawyer Natalie can't grasp Mrs. Magenta's teaching approach. The novel's chapters alternate between the main characters: Gavin, who has trouble reading certain words; Randi, who is forced by her mother to become a gymnast;

Scott, an overall good kid with good intentions that don't always

seem to go right; Natalie, the daughter of lawyers who lives with a strong sense of right and wrong; and Trevor, considered a bully by his peers although no one is aware of what he must endure at home. As mandatory tests arrive, the six devise a plan to ace the tests so they can continue to learn in their current setting and have a better chance of placing in the upper Grade 7 level class for the following year.

Like Magic

by Elaine Vickers

A wise librarian nurtures friendship between three ten-year-old girls experiencing significant changes in their young lives. Grace's best friend has moved away and now she cannot find the ability to speak. Jada has just moved to Salt Lake City with her father because of his new teaching job. Malia's mother is in the hospital expecting a baby, and Malia worries about her place in the family and her mom's health. When Grace visits the library to find paper stars she folded with her best friend Katie, Hazel the librarian leads her to the lost and found drawer. Hazel presents Grace with a locked book titled "AMICITIA", Latin for friendship. Grace promises to keep the book safe and return it to Hazel after she discovers a way to open it. This locked book turns out to be a treasure box with a short verse explaining to share a personal treasure that someone else who borrows the box will find. Grace decides to share a poem which is "found" by Jada. The poem gives Jada an idea for a painting since she is an artist and she leaves a postcard painting behind for the next girl, Malia. Malia leaves behind a CD with the song "Ave Maria" as she was reminded of her family by Jada's postcard. Each girl's special contribution to the treasure box is just the beginning to them finding one another through chance or "magical" meetings as they navigate changes that are taking place in their individual lives.     

The Harlem Charade

By Natasha Tarpley

A mystery with history, The Harlem Charade unites three very different kids who must solve a brutal attack on a senior while tracking down some precious paintings that could help save their Harlem neighbourhood.

Jin is being raised by her grandparents and spends a lot of time in their bodega (corner grocery store) while recording everything that goes on around her in a notebook. Elvin has come to Harlem to stay with his grandpa while his mom undergoes cancer treatment back in California. Jin's classmate Alex wants to make a real difference in her community and although she comes from privilege, she hides her true identity through good deeds.

Jin pairs up with Alex to work on a class project showcasing their neighbourhood's history and culture. She also becomes aware of Alex's selfless acts towards the community and with a little persistence she convinces Alex to bring her along on her next mission to deliver donated food to the local women's shelter. As fate may have it, they meet Elvin through an altercation and decide to help him because he is on his own ever since his grandpa was mysteriously attacked and left in the hospital. Elvin's grandpa has a strong connection to Harlem, particularly the Harlem Renaissance movement in the 1960's so he may have information about some missing and highly valuable paintings. There are many characters, some devious, that want to get their hands on those paintings to advance their agendas, especially when it comes to neighbourhood re-development. Jin, Alex and Elvin will have to be careful with their search for the paintings and bring Elvin's grandpa's attacker to justice.

The author includes information about Harlem's African-American history and the significance of the Harlem Renaissance to highlighting black artists and the civil rights movement.

 

Mouseheart

by Lisa Fiedler

Hopper lives in a Brooklyn pet shop with his sister Pinkie and little brother Pup. All he's ever known is the inside of the pet shop until the day the boy with the snake comes. The boy's snake is hungry and when the pet shop keeper comes for them, Hopper realizes they are feeder mice, ready to be fed to the boy's snake! He quickly hatches a plan with his sister to escape their cage and in all the commotion they lose sight of Pup, who was tossed to the ground during their daring escape. Soon, even Hopper and Pinkie are separated and Hopper finds himself in an underground tunnel. He feels hopeless and alone until he meets Dodger, a rat prince from the city of Atlantia. Hopper's awe at this magnificent place overwhelms him; he settles in and believes he's made it home. Unfortunately, Atlantia harbours a dirty secret with its' refugee camps and it is Hopper's destiny to liberate the inhabitants after the truth is revealed.

While there was some violence, I've read Brian Jacque's Redwall and find Mouseheart to be less gruesome. Swords and other armory do make an appearance to enhance the plot scenes.

Wolf Hollow

by Lauren Wolk

 

Annabelle lives a steady life with her parents, grandparents, two younger brothers plus aunt in a small Pennsylvania farming town. The arrival of the new girl Betty shakes things up and not in a good way. Annabelle quickly learns the new girl is a relentless bully who threatens not only Annabelle but her family and friends as well. Annabelle must find the courage to face Betty on her way to school with her brothers and in class. Her school is a one classroom building with one teacher to instruct all the grades. Usually Betty's antics in school go unnoticed but once they cross paths outside Betty demands things from Annabelle. If Annabelle refuses, Betty will hurt one of her younger brothers. When Betty's actions become dangerous, Annabelle knows it's time to confide in an adult. The surprise comes when Betty disappears and suspicion falls on Toby, a recluse that lives and wanders around town.  Toby has never posed a threat to Annabelle or the townsfolk which leads Annabelle to believe he's not involved. The frantic search for Betty and Toby reveal the town's prejudice against an innocent man and the lengths a young girl will go to do what is right.



The War that Saved My Life

by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Britain is on the edge of joining World War II and after threats by the Germans the government decides that children living in London must be evacuated to the countryside. Ada lives in London in a one room apartment with her mom and younger brother. Born with a club foot that was never fixed, Ada is hidden away from the rest of the world and ostracized by her mother. When hearing of the evacuation notice, her mother decides Ada will stay while her brother Jamie is sent away. Against her mother's wishes, Ada joins Jamie on the day of evacuation and both arrive in the town of Kent. They are placed in the care of Miss Smith who is reluctant to take on the children. Gradually, Ada and Jamie settle into their new temporary home and Ada forms a strong bond with Miss Smith's pony Butter, teaching herself to ride the pony the best she can. Miss Smith shows confidence in Ada and Jamie; her home a completely different environment where both children are allowed to flourish. Their new formed family doesn't last long as Ada's mother arrives in Kent and forces her children to return home to London with her. Bombs are still dropping on the streets of London and the situation is precarious. Suddenly thrust back into the same conditions she endured before, Ada is determined to rescue her brother and herself for good this time.

The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Spelling Trouble

By Frank Cammuso

Little Salem Hyde is a witch. She hasn’t mastered her magic yet so sometimes her spells go terribly wrong. That’s where Whammy the cat comes in. He’s a familiar or better known as a magical animal companion who will help Salem refine her magic skills so she doesn’t continue to get in trouble at school. One of Whammy’s first tasks will be to help Salem prepare for her school's upcoming spelling bee. Not only will Salem have to spell the words correctly but use them in their original meaning to avoid causing any unintentional mayhem.