Harry Potter is a wizard in his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry. The atmosphere at Hogwarts is tense. The sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school and Harry, Ron and Hermione soon discover why wizards live in fear of Azkaban.
Intermediate (ages 9-14)
Material appropriate for intermediate age groups
Monarchy
This book discusses monarchies as a political system, and details the history of monarchies throughout the world.
Escape to the Forest: Based on a True Story of the Holocaust
When the Nazis invade Poland, nothing is safe anymore. Ten-year-old Sarah and her family must leave their home and live in a Jewish ghetto surrounded by barbed wire. There, life is a nightmare of cold and hunger where Nazi soldiers kill Jews at will. But Sarah still hears stories that give her hope–stories about a man who lives in the nearby forest, fighting the Nazis and sheltering the Jews. Sarah’s brother thinks they should try to escape to the forest. Her parents think they will be safer where they are. Sarah doesn’t know who is right. But as life in the ghetto grows worse and worse, the forest may be their only hope. Based on a true story of life during the Holocaust, this is a heartrending novel of one family’s struggle to survive.
Sierra Leone
This book provides a comprehensive look at the country of Sierra Leone, which gained independence in 1961. Located in western Africa, bordered by Guinea and Liberia, Sierra Leone is recovering from a lengthy civil war that left the country with many challenges. The text offers chapters on the geography, the history, the formation of its new government and its structure, the economy, the environment, the people of Siera Leone, their religion and culture. The book is illustrated with color photography.
Umm Al Madayan: An Islamic City through the Ages
Traces, in detailed drawings and text, the development through the ages of a fictional Islamic city in North Africa.
Ethiopia
Introduces the geography, history, government, economy, culture, daily life, and people of the country known as “the roof of Africa.”
Alfredito Flies Home
Alfredito and his family are getting ready to return to El Salvador for Christmas. It will be their first visit back since they left as refugees and made their way to California on foot. But this time they’re flying! Excitement mounts as Alfredito and his family soar over the Earth and finally arrive at their beloved home to reunite with family and friends. This extraordinary book celebrates an experience familiar to the many who have left their original country to find a new life. Jorge Argueta’s tender, clever prose is perfectly complemented by Luis Garay’s rich, authentic illustrations.
The Daring Adventures of Penhaligon Brush
When Penhaligon Brush the fox is summoned by his step-brother to the seaside town of Porthleven, he finds immediately upon arrival that his brother is incarcerated in the dungeon at Ferball Manor.
The Swan Kingdom
Shadows fall across the beautiful, lush kingdom after the queen is attacked by an unnatural beast, and the healing skills of her daughter, Alexandra, cannot save her. Too soon the widowed king is spellbound by a frightening stranger, a woman whose eyes reflect no light. In a terrifying moment, all Alexandra knows disappears, including her beloved brothers, leaving her banished to a barren land. But Alexandra has more gifts than she realizes as she confronts magic, murder, and the strongest of evil forces, and is unflinchingly brave as she struggles to reclaim what is rightfully hers.
Before We Were Free
Anita de la Torre never questioned her freedom living in the Dominican Republic. But by her 12th birthday in 1960, most of her relatives have emigrated to the United States, her Tío Toni has disappeared without a trace, and the government’s secret police terrorize her remaining family because of their suspected opposition of el Trujillo’s dictatorship. Using the strength and courage of her family, Anita must overcome her fears and fly to freedom, leaving all that she once knew behind.