Leo recommends

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I Lived Inside a Whale By Xin Li Cover Image
By Xin Li
$18.99
ISBN: 9780316492270
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - February 20th, 2024

Emma's world is too loud, and too much of everything, so she escapes and lives inside a whale to find some peace. Soon a wave rushes in with an intruder and she finds a way to compromise in this beautiful and original book of finding your own voice in an often-chaotic world.


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The Bad Ones: A Novel By Melissa Albert Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9781250894892
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Flatiron Books - February 20th, 2024

Four people vanish completely from a small town one winter night, including Becca, the best friend of Nora, who both grew up playing "the goddess game" in the woods together as small children. Has the goddess finally arrived in this small town full of secrets? Once again Melissa Albert has created an eerie, atmospheric and terrifying novel that is impossible put down. My favorite of hers yet!


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Alebrijes: Cuentista By Donna Barba Higuera Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781646142637
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Levine Querido - October 3rd, 2023

The best novel I have read since Higuera's last book, The Last Cuentista! 13-year-old Leandro and his younger sister Gabi are trying to survive in a future, devastated earth. Science fiction, Mexican folklore and the importance of storytelling combine beautifully in this highly original and thought-provoking novel of family and resilience.


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Pony By R. J. Palacio Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780553508116
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers - September 28th, 2021

"Shane" meets "The Sixth Sense," with a touch of "Citizen Kane." I loved this original, ghostly western!


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Good Night, Mr. Tom By Michelle Magorian Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780062899958
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: HarperCollins - April 28th, 2020

One of the finest and most devastating novels set during WWII ever written for children. So glad to see it reissued!


The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge By M. T. Anderson, Eugene Yelchin, Eugene Yelchin (Illustrator) Cover Image
$14.99
ISBN: 9781536213096
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Candlewick - April 14th, 2020

Like a modern-day George MacDonald novel with a twist, this inventive collaboration between Anderson and Yelchin is full of action, humor, and of course, elves and goblins. Lots to think about here, as two historians with different points of view try to sort out their warring kingdoms' past, present and future.


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The Orphan Band of Springdale By Anne Nesbet Cover Image
$9.99
Unavailable at this time
ISBN: 9781536213195
Published: Candlewick - April 14th, 2020

A lovely and satisfying historical novel set just prior to World War II, where 11-year-old Augusta Neubronner finds her place amidst her grandmother's orphanage in Maine. This story conveys a strong sense of family, community, and hope.


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The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle By Christina Uss Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780823445738
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Margaret Ferguson Books - April 7th, 2020

An absolutely delightful cross-country roadtrip adventure with one of the most endearing and lovable characters to come along in a while!


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The Wild Robot By Peter Brown Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780316382007
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - April 7th, 2020

Shipwrecked on a remote island, Roz the Robot quickly learns to survive by becoming a unique member of the wildlife community, finding balance between technology and the wildness of nature. She soon finds herself caring for an orphaned gosling and learns the value of friends, family, and community. An excellent adventure story told in short chapters, chock-full of Brown's illustrations.


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The List of Things That Will Not Change By Rebecca Stead Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9781101938126
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Yearling - April 5th, 2022

One last item to put on 'The List of Things That Will Not Change' is: Rebecca Stead books are always amazing. Including this one!


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The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein By Kiersten White Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9780525577966
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Ember - October 8th, 2019

A brilliant re-imagining of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," told through the eyes of Elizabeth Lavenza, a young girl adopted by the Frankensteins to be a companion to Victor growing up. Right from the start Elizabeth has her own agenda in this fast-paced, TENSE novel that once finished, had me returning to the original for a reread. 


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Captain Rosalie By Timothee de Fombelle, Isabelle Arsenault (Illustrator) Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9781536205206
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Candlewick - June 11th, 2019

Brave and determined Rosalie, five years old, learns the heart-wrenching consequences of war in this story set during World War I.  Beautifully written and with expressive and atmospheric full-color illustrations, Captain Rosalie is a powerful and emotional book about family, loss, and determination that lingers long after the last page is turned.


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The Smoke Thieves By Sally Green Cover Image
$10.99
Unavailable at this time
ISBN: 9780425290224
Published: Penguin Books - May 28th, 2019

The Smoke Thieves concerns itself with demon smoke, which is the last breath out of a demon's mouth as it dies. Collected by demon hunters Tash and Gravell in glass jars, the red, orange and purple 'smoke' is traded illegally -- but does the demon smoke have qualities as yet unknown to the hunters and the denizens of Brigant? Green's vivid writing full of action and intrigue make for a great start to a new trilogy.


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The Lifters By Dave Eggers Cover Image
$8.99
Unavailable at this time
ISBN: 9781524764197
Published: Yearling - April 30th, 2019

Loved this book! In a way that I can’t explain it reminded me of “Holes” by Louis Sachar, which is not to take away from Eggers’ originality!


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Big Foot and Little Foot (Book #1) By Ellen Potter, Felicita Sala (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Ellen Potter, Felicita Sala (Illustrator)
$7.99
ISBN: 9781419731211
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Amulet Paperbacks - September 11th, 2018

Book one in a new early-chapter-book series with lots of heart. Hugo the Sasquatch accidentally reveals himself to human Boone, and the two soon embark on a buddy adventure and learn about each other's very different worlds. Accompanied by charming illustrations by Felicita Sala. Can't wait for book two!


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One for Sorrow: A Ghost Story By Mary Downing Hahn Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9781328497987
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Clarion Books - July 31st, 2018

A frightening and satisfying ghost story set in 1918/1919 as WWI comes to a close and the Spanish Influenza epedemic causes thousands of deaths in the U.S. Annie Browne, a new student at the Pearce Academy for Girls, meets obnoxious, petulant Elsie Schneider on her first day of school. Elsie herself soon becomes a victim of the flu, and continues to plague sweet Annie from the grave, vowing to be her best friend forever. With help from a hospital caregiver, Annie finds a way to help Elsie rest in peace.


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Wolf Hollow By Lauren Wolk Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9781101994849
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Puffin Books - April 3rd, 2018

Eleven-year-old Annabelle watches the power of a lie unfold before her with unintended consequences in this beautifully written novel set in rural Pennsylvania in 1943. Themes of injustice, bullying, and resilience will resonate strongly with readers ten and up.


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Full of Beans By Jennifer L. Holm Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780553510386
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Yearling - April 10th, 2018

A kid's-eye-view of the depression set in Key West, Florida where likeable Beans Curry collects cans, plays marbles, and soon gets involved in a scheme with a rum runner in this prequel to Turtle in Paradise. Great characters, humor, and plenty of heart!


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How to Hang a Witch By Adriana Mather Cover Image
$9.99
Unavailable at this time
ISBN: 9780553539509
Published: Ember - September 12th, 2017

This novel has been referred to as "Mean Girls" meets "The Crucible" and is set in modern-day Salem.  Will history repeat itself in this tense and exciting ghost story?  Written by an actual descendent of Cotton Mather!


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Lizzie and the Lost Baby By Cheryl Blackford Cover Image
$6.99
ISBN: 9780544935259
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Clarion Books - May 9th, 2017

Ten-year-old Lizzie and her younger brother are evacuated from London to the Yorkshire countryside during World War II. Lizzie discovers a baby apparently abandoned in a field and is immediately conflicted when the family she is staying with chooses to keep the baby. A thought-provoking story based on true events, which also explores themes of intolerance and compassion.


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The Gold Leaf By Kirsten Hall, Matthew Forsythe (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kirsten Hall, Matthew Forsythe (Illustrator)
$18.95
Unavailable at this time
ISBN: 9781592702145
Published: Enchanted Lion - May 2nd, 2017

The animals in the forest want the gold leaf "more than anything in the world" and soon the leaf has been torn apart. Lush artwork and an understated text make this picture book a favorite of 2017!


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The Nest By Kenneth Oppel, Jon Klassen (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kenneth Oppel, Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
$8.99
Unavailable at this time
ISBN: 9781481432337
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - October 4th, 2016

A wasp queen soothes worrywart Steve in his dreams, offering to "fix" his baby brother's congenital condition by replacing him with a changeling growing in its nest under the eaves in this intense and original horror story by the author of Airborn and Silverwing and eerily illustrated by Caldecott winner Jon Klassen.