Intermediate (ages 9-14)

Material appropriate for intermediate age groups

Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron

One day in 1798, woodsmen in southern France returned from the forest having captured a naked boy. He had been running wild, digging for food, and was covered with scars. In the village square, people gathered around, gaping and jabbering in words the boy didn’t understand. And so began the curious public life of the boy known as the Savage of Aveyron, whose journey took him all the way to Paris. Though the wild boy’s world was forever changed, some things stayed the same: sometimes, when the mountain winds blew, “he looked up at the sky, made sounds deep in his throat, and gave great bursts of laughter.” In a moving work of narrative nonfiction, Mary Losure invests a compelling story from history with vivid and arresting new life.

All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens

As Rosalind continues to straddle the proper English world of her family and the culture of 1920s India where they live, her support of Gandhi and his followers in opposing British rule grows and she considers trying to carry the rebels’ message to Edward, Prince of Wales, during his visit.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car

“Crackpot” is what everybody calls the Pott family. So when they go to buy a new car and come back with a wreck, nobody is surprised. Except for the Potts themselves. First, the car has a name. And she tells them what it is. Then they find out that she can fly. And swim. . . . Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a car on a mission to stop a criminal gang in its tracks — and she is taking the Potts with her! Jump into the world’s most loved magical car for her first adventure.

No Use Crying

Secrets, secrets, secrets, she thought. It’s just another word for lying. The discovery of a grandfather Niki thought had died years ago means a sudden move to London and the start of a whole new life. Niki has to learn quickly to fit in and survive in the school halls and on the tough streets. And at the same time she must get to know her grandad and come to terms with the fact that her mum has been hiding the truth.But when Niki suddenly discovers her mum’s biggest lie of all, could it change their relationship? and Niki’s own sense of identity? for good? This warm and powerful coming-of-age story is a sparkling debut from a brilliant fresh talent, filled with colourful characters that will stay with you long after the book is finished.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time

When the Tootings return to Zobrowski Terrace at the end of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, they find that “home” is looking a lot like Jurassic Park. But this is no theme park — a very real and very hungry T. rex is charging them! Thanks to Dad’s inadvertent yanking of Chitty’s “Chronojuster” lever, the spirited car has ushered them back to prehistoric times, where the family (and especially Baby Harry) make a narrow escape. But Chitty has a mind of her own, and the Tootings will get an unexpected tour of exciting times and places from Prohibition-era New York (where Chitty wants to compete in the famous Prix d’Esmerelda’s Birthday Cake race) to the lost city of El Dorado and back again, with misadventures and surprise stowaways along the way. Get ready for a hilarious high-flying adventure, with celebrated author Frank Cottrell Boyce behind the wheel.

Armel’s Revenge

Christophe’s been given the job of looking after the new boy in his class. But Armel’s surly attitude makes him difficult to be friends with. And when he realises that there is more to Armel’s hostility than meets the eye, Christophe is suddenly forced to make painful discoveries about the history of the country he once called home – Rwanda. Can Christophe and Armel leave the past alone? Or will the horrible events in their history spill over into the present?

The Leopard Boy

Khalid, who herds goats for his powerful uncle, meets an old man while searching for a lost goat who tells him about leopards and the fact that they are endangered. When Khalid reports the lost goat to his uncle, his uncle is sure a leopard is responsible and organizes a hunt, causing Khalid and the old man join to forces to protect the leopard. This story, set in Oman, highlights theplight of the Arabian leopard and the dilemmas facing traditional peoples in seeking to improve their lives.