After witnessing a mysterious explosion, three young Londoners–Becky, Jim and Adelaide–journey to a tiny country high in the mountains of Central Europe in 1882. They’re an unlikely trio to lead a country, but when Adelaide’s husband, the new king, is assassinated, she finds herself fighting for the crown–and for her very life.
Intermediate (ages 9-14)
Material appropriate for intermediate age groups
Spellbinder
Belladonna Johnson can see ghosts. It’s a trait she’s inherited from her mother’s side of the family, like blue eyes or straight hair. And it’s a trait she could do without, because what twelve-year-old wants to be caught talking to someone invisible? It is convenient, though, after Belladonna’s parents are killed in a car accident. They can live with her the same as always, watching the same old TV shows in their same old house. Nothing has changed . . . until everything changes. One night, with no warning, they vanish into thin air—along with every other ghost in the world. It’s what some people think ghosts are supposed to do, but Belladonna knows it’s all wrong. They may not be living, but they’re not supposed to be gone. With the help of her classmate Steve, a master of sneaking and spying, Belladonna is left to uncover what’s become of the spirits and to navigate a whole world her parents have kept well-hidden. If she can’t find her way, she’ll lose them again—this time for good.
Framed
A few things to know about Dylan. He is the only boy in his entire town. His best friends are two pet chickens. Criminal instincts run in his family. And one more small thing about nine-year-old Dylan—the crime of the century has just fallen into his lap.
The Amber Spyglass, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 3)
The Amber Spyglass brings the intrigue of The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife to a heart-stopping end, marking the final volume of His Dark Materials as the most powerful of the trilogy. Along with the return of Lyra, Will, Mrs. Coulter, Lord Asriel, Dr. Mary Malone, and Iorek Byrnison the armored bear, come a host of new characters: the Mulefa, mysterious wheeled creatures with the power to see Dust; Gallivespian Lord Roke, a hand-high spymaster to Lord Asriel; and Metatron, a fierce and mighty angel. So, too, come startling revelations: the painful price Lyra must pay to walk through the land of the dead, the haunting power of Dr. Malone’s amber spyglass, and the names of who will live–and who will die–for love. And all the while, war rages with the Kingdom of Heaven, a brutal battle that–in its shocking outcome–will uncover the secret of Dust. Philip Pullman deftly brings the cliff-hangers and mysteries of His Dark Materials to an earthshattering conclusion–and confirms his fantasy trilogy as an undoubted and enduring classic.
The Mammoth Academy in Trouble!
Oscar, Arabella, and their friends can’t wait to begin their second termat theMammoth Academy. But when they arrive at school on the first day after winter break, there’s a threatening graffiti message waiting for them. It seems the Cave Skool has moved nearby, and its pupils—those wild and dangerous animals called humans—are wreaking havoc. When a huge snowstorm hits and everyone is trapped inside the academy, the humans attack! With a little teamwork and a lot of explosive materials, the mammoths and their friends just might be able to save the day.
The Shadow In The North: A Sally Lockhart Mystery (Sally Lockhart)
WHEN ONE OF Sally’s clients loses a large sum of money in the unexpected collapse of a British shipping firm, Sally sets out to investigate. But as she delves deeper into the identity of a wealthy and elusive industrialist, she uncovers a plot so diabolical, it could subvert the entire civilized world.
The Subtle Knife, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 2)
PUBLISHED IN 40 COUNTRIES, with over 5 million copies in print in North America alone, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy –The
Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass – has graced the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Book Sense, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. For these deluxe editions, Philip Pullman has created new material: papers of Colonel John Parry for the 10-year anniversary of The Subtle Knife (15 new pages), and letters of Mary Malone from secret Magisterium files for The Amber Spyglass (10 new pages). In each book, the new material has been illustrated and handlettered by renowned artist Ian Beck and will be included in the backmatter.
Each deluxe edition also features a ribbon bookmark, rough-edged pages, and Pullman’s own chapter-opening spot art. These two volumes join the 2006 deluxe edition of The Golden Compass to form a gorgeous collectible set of the trilogy – a perfect gift for loyal Pullman readers and new fans alike. The Golden Compass debuts as a New Line major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman in December 2007.
The Dragonfly Pool
A beloved New York Times bestselling author returns to paper! At first Tally doesn’t want to go to the boarding school called Delderton. But soon she discovers that it’s a wonderful place, where freedom and selfexpression are valued. Enamored of Bergania, a erene and peaceful country led by a noble king, Tally organizes a dance troupe to attend the international folk dancing festival there. There she meets Karil, the crown prince, who wants nothing more than ordinary friends. But when Karil’s father is assassinated, it’s up to Tally and her friends to help Karil escape the Nazis and the bleak future he’s inherited.
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen: A Tale of Alderley
Neither Susan nor her brother, Colin, ever thought that war would be waged over a simple gemstone in her bracelet. But that’s what happens when the children visit Alderley Edge, a spooky place in a remote part of England. There, they meet the wizard Cadellin, who needs the stone to rouse his allies in the never-ending battle between good and evil. But when the stone vanishes, Susan and Colin must find it before the forces of evil use it to destroy all the goodness that ever existed in the world.
Includes an afterword by the author.
A Cat Royal Adventure: Cat O’nine Tails
Cat is finally living a life of luxury–and so bored she’s going out of her mind. But then she and her friends are kidnapped and forced to work on a ship bound for the New World. With a mystery to solve and survival at stake, Cat must use her wits to save herself and her friends.