Intermediate (ages 9-14)

Material appropriate for intermediate age groups

The Librarian Who Measured The Earth

Describes the life and work of Eratosthenes, the Greek geographer and astronomer who accurately measured the circumference of the Earth.

I, Galileo

I, Galileo Galilei, am old and can no longer see, but there was a time I saw all the way to the stars–the moon, the planets, the sun.  Their movements showed me a truth so profound, it changed our view of the entire universe.  A truth so unpopular, it would get me into a world of trouble.

Galileo’s inventions and insights were so great that Einstein called him the “father of modern science.”  But in his own time, Galileo’s idea of a sun-centered solar system was considered radical and even dangerous–he was branded a heretic, imprisoned in his ome, and banned from discussing science with anyone.  In this inspired biopgraphy, Bonnie Christensen lets Galileo himself tell the tale–and his genial narration makes this giant of science feel more real and accessible than ever before.  Lavishly illustrated in rich jewel tones, this is a perfect introduction to a most remarkable man.

The Frank Show

What do you do if it’s show-and-tell day at school and you’re supposed to bring someone from your family, but the only someone avaliable is your grandpa, who complains… a lot, prefers things the way they used to be, thinks his arm can predict the rain, is guaranteed to embarrass you.  And to make matters worse, what if Khristian brings his stand-up comedian dad and Paolo brings his mom, who’s Italian and speaks Italian?  You are going to wish your grandpa had some tricks up his sleeve…but what if he does?

This hilarious offbeat story from the creator of Marshall Armstrong Is New to Our School reveals that there is more to the older generation than meets the eye.  After all, the longer you’ve been around, the more time you’ve had for wild adventures!

Pegasus: The Flame of Olympus

Reborn as the Flame, thirteen-year-old Emily has saved Olympus from destruction but when the gruesome Nirads begin a new invasion, Emily and her friends become entangled in the conflict as old grudges are unearthed and new enemies are discovered.

A Boy And A Bear In A Boat

A boy and a bear go to sea.  They’re not going far–it really shouldn’t take long…

But then they encounter “unforeseeable anomalies”:  Turbulant stormy seas!  A terrifying sea monster!  And the rank remains of The Very Last Sandwich.  The odds are against the boy and the bear and their boat.  Will the Harriet, their trusted vessel, withstand the violent lashings of the salty waves?  And will anyone ever answer their message ina  bottle?  Charming, entertaining and utterly original, this beautiful book mapys the growth of a truly memorable friendship and tells the story of how, when all is lost, the most unexpected joys can be found.

The Adventures Of Sir Balin The Ill-Fated

Many years ago, the storytellers say, the great King Arthur brought justice to England with the help of his gallant knights of the roundtable.  While most of King Arthur’s knights freely chose a life of duty, for Sir Balin the Ill-Fated, destiny was foretold in a prophecy. And seriously, “ill-fated” is right there in his title, so Balin’s not surprised when things go sour. Still, no matter how dire the task, a loyal and gallant knight never refuses adventure!  Will Sir Balin finally discover his true destiny? And which ill-fated path will he have to choose? Join Balin on this, the noblest quest of all. With black-and-white drawings from acclaimed artist Aaron Renier throughout.

I Don’t Believe It, Archie!

Odd things happen to Archie every day.  Some very odd things…

On Monday, when Archie is on his way to mail a letter, a piano rolls down the hill and traps his new friend, Cyd, in her mum’s car.  And then a truck tips a load of gravel on top of it.  Cyd finds it exciting.  Though she doesn’t believe that this sort of thing happens to Archie every day.  Until Tuesday, when Archie finds a small dog in his pocket–a dig that doesn’t seem to be very alive.  It certainly isn’t Archie’s fault, but will anyone else believe him?

Join Archie and Cyd for a while week’s worth of utterly surprising and outragously funny escapades!

Pandemonium

Acclaimed author Chris Wooding’s first graphic novel — fun fantasy-adventure with a macabre twist! Seifer’s life is about to become a royal pain. . . . As captain of the local skullball team, Seifer Tombchewer is the envy of his peers. He’s fast, he’s strong, and he flies circles around the competition. But Seifer’s always dreamed of more–of leaving his tiny, remote village for a new life beyond the mountains. He just never dreamed it would happen like this. Knocked unconscious and abducted, Seifer awakens in the royal palace to learn that Prince Talon Pandemonium has gone missing. And since Seifer is a ringer for Talon, it’s his duty to replace the missing royal in his roles of diplomat, warrior, and Lord Defender of the Realm. He might fool Talon’s sisters. He might fool Talon’s army. But Seifer has little hope of fooling Talon’s enemies. . . .Chris Wooding and debut artist Cassandra Diaz team for a classic tale of mistaken identity set against the breathtakingly original backdrop of the Darkling Realm.

Caddy’s World

People vanish for days, come to live in your bedroom, hide under tables for hours and hours, count pennies in jam jars until they have enough to buy bread, and then the next day gild halos for the school play with real gold leaf.  Caddy’s home is a turmoil of piled possessions, lost belongings, and unexpected adventures. Her one constant is her three best friends, a charmed circle that she never wants to leave. But the summer that Caddy is twelve, everything turns upside down. Her mother spends most of her time in the hospital with the fragile new baby. Her father comes home from London to “organize” his family, causing plenty of chaotic confusion. Her boyfriend, not content with dating three girls, is looking to conquer a fourth. But worst of all for Caddy, her best friends are growing up and growing apart. Luckily, Caddy is the bravest of the brave and luckily for Caddy, endings are not always the end, and a world that is entirely unpredictaale is also a world full of surprises.