Ella Enchanted

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine J LEV—If you haven’t listened to any audio books yet this one is a great one to start with.  The story is based on the story Cinderella.  Ella was cursed as a baby and must obey any order given to her.

Fablehaven

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull JP MUL—Kendra and Seth are staying with their grandparents while their parents go on a cruise.  Almost from the first day, the brother and sister know that something is different about where they are.  They soon find out that their Grandfather is the caretaker of Fablehaven, a sanctuary for magical creatures.  But while this is fascinating, it is also dangerous, and all too soon, Seth angers the faeries and bears the consequences.

The Great Wide Sea

The Great Wide Sea by M.H. Herlong  J HER—A great story for the older reader (gr. 6 and up). Soon after their mother’s death, 15-year-old  Ben and his two younger brothers are stunned when their father sells their home, buys a sailboat,  and announces that they will live onboard and cruise the Bahamas for the next year.   When their father suddenly disappears overboard, the boys find their way to an island where they are stranded with little food, little water and little hope of rescue.  Lots of adventure here!

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass JP MAS—One month before his 13^th birthday, Jeremy Fink receives a mysterious, securely locked box in the mail.  It is engraved with "The Meaning of Life: For Jeremy Fink to open on his 13th birthday," on top. Unfortunately the keys to the box are missing and cannot be replaced. Jeremy and his adventurous best friend Lizzie find themselves meeting intriguing people who introduce them to a whole different side of life during their one -month journey to find keys and the meaning of life.  This refreshingly-original novel teaches you that the world is full of small, every day wonders if you look for them.

Bee-Wigged

 

Bee-Wigged by Cece Bell E BEL—No matter how hard he tries, Jerry can’t seem to make friends. He’s helpful, smart and super-friendly – but he’s also the biggest bee anyone’s ever seen! The day he finds a wig on the sidewalk, his life starts to change forever.

The Day the World Exploded

The Day the World Exploded: the Earthshaking Catastrophe at Krakatoa by Simon Winchester J 363.3495 WIN—A fantastic picture of the destruction and human suffering caused by the explosion of the volcano Krakatoa in 1883 as well as a look at the science and culture of the time.

Journal of Brian Doyle

Journal of Brian Doyle: a Greenhorn on an Alaskan Whaling Ship by Jim Murphy  J MUR—In this 1874 survival adventure set in the brutal cold of the far north, young Brian Doyle runs away from home and joins a crew on a whaling ship.  This is based on true stories left in journals by young whalers during the time in history when the United States was one of the world’s greatest killers of whales