Robbinsdale Middle School READS!: March 2016

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Robbinsdale Middle School Hot Reads for March 11, 2016

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "Zombie Baseball Beatdown" by Paolo Bacigalupi

Zombie Baseball Beatdown

by Paolo Bacigalupi

The apocalypse begins on the day Rabi, Miguel and Joe are practicing baseball near their town's local meatpacking plant and nearly get knocked out by a really big stink. Little do they know the plant's toxic cattle feed is turning cows into flesh-craving monsters...ZOMBIES!!!

The boys decide to launch a stealth investigation into the plant's dangerous practices, unknowingly discovering a greedy corporation's plot to look the other way as tainted meat is sold to thousands all over the country. With no grownups left they can trust, Rabi and his friends will have to grab their bats to protect themselves (and a few of their enemies) if they want to stay alive...and maybe even save the world.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "When Life Gives You OJ" Erica S. Perl

When Life Gives you OJ

by Erica S. Perl

For years, 10-year-old Zelly Fried has tried to convince her parents to let her have a dog. After all, practically everyone in Vermont owns a dog, and it sure could go a long way helping Zelly fit in since moving there from Brooklyn. But when her eccentric grandfather Ace hatches a ridiculous plan involving a "practice dog" named OJ, Zelly's not so sure how far she's willing to go to win a dog of her own. Is Ace's plan so crazy it just might work . . . or is it just plain crazy?

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "Summer of the Wolves" by Polly Carlson-Voiles

Summer of the Wolves

by Polly Carlson-Voiles

Julie of the Wolves meets Hatchet in this middle grade novel that follows orphaned twelve-year-old Nika and her seven-year-old brother Randall as they leave a California foster home to visit a long-lost uncle in the wilderness lake country of Northern Minnesota. A phone call from their uncle sets them on a journey in a small float plane over the thick green forest canopy, to spend the summer on a wilderness island. Nika, of all people, knows not to get her heart set on anything, but as she follows her uncle in his job studying wolves, Nika stumbles upon a relationship with an orphaned wolf pup that makes her feel — for the first time since her mother died — whole again. Here in these woods, with this wolf, none of the hard things in her past can reach her.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin" by Liesl Shurliff

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin

by Liesl Shurliff

In a magic kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she’s right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse.

To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage and friendship—and a cheeky sense of humor—he just might triumph in the end.

Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "One for the Murphys" by Kristin Levine

Perfect Game

by Fred Bowen

Isaac is a serious pitcher. He's got an awesome fastball and sneaky change up.

He's determined to pitch a perfect game: no hits, no runs, no walks, and no errors.

He gets close a couple of times, but when the batter gets on base,

Isaac totally loses his cool on the mound and can't get his head back in the game.

Then Isaac learns about a Special Olympics Unified Sports team and

meets an interesting athlete who shows him a whole new way to think about perfect.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "One for the Murphys" by Kristin Levine

One for the Murphys

by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Twelve-year-old Carley Connors can take a lot. Growing up in Las Vegas with her fun-loving mother, she's learned to be tough. But she never expected a betrayal that would land her in a foster care. When she's placed with the Murphys, a lively family with three boys, she's blindsided. Do happy families really exist? Carley knows she could never belong in their world, so she keeps her distance.

It's easy to stay suspicious of Daniel, the brother who is almost her age and is resentful she's there. But Mrs. Murphy makes her feel heard and seen for the first time, and the two younger boys seem determined to work their way into her heart. Before she knows it, Carley is protected the boys from a neighborhood bully and even teaching Daniel how to play basketball. Then just when she's feeling like she could truly be one of the Murphys, news from her mother shakes her world.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "One Came Home" by Amy Timberlake

One Came Home

by Amy Timberlake

“An adventure, a mystery, and a love song to the natural world. . . . Run out and read it. Right now.”—Newbery Medalist Karen Cushman

In the town of Placid, Wisconsin, in 1871, Georgie Burkhardt is known for two things: her uncanny aim with a rifle and her habit of speaking her mind plainly.

But when Georgie blurts out something she shouldn't, her older sister Agatha flees, running off with a pack of "pigeoners" trailing the passenger pigeon migration. And when the sheriff returns to town with an unidentifiable body—wearing Agatha's blue-green ball gown—everyone assumes the worst. Except Georgie. Refusing to believe the facts that are laid down (and coffined) before her, Georgie sets out on a journey to find her sister. She will track every last clue and shred of evidence to bring Agatha home. Yet even with resolute determination and her trusty Springfield single-shot, Georgie is not prepared for what she faces on the western frontier.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine

The Lions of Little Rock

by Kristin Levine

Two girls separated by race form an unbreakable bond during the

tumultuous integration of Little Rock schools in 1958

Twelve-year-old Marlee doesn't have many friends until she meets Liz,

the new girl at school.

Liz is bold and brave, and always knows the right thing to say,

especially to Sally, the resident mean girl.

Liz even helps Marlee overcome her greatest fear - speaking,

which Marlee never does outside her family.

But then Liz is gone,

replaced by the rumor that she was a Negro girl passing as white.

But Marlee decides that doesn't matter.

Liz is her best friend. And to stay friends,

Marlee and Liz are willing to take on integration

and the dangers their friendship could bring to both their families.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "The Fourth Stall" by Chris Rylander

The Fourth Stall

by Chris Rylander

Do you need something? Mac can get it for you.

It's what he does—he and his best friend and business manager, Vince.

Their methods might sometimes run afoul of the law, or at least the school code of conduct,

but if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can pay him, Mac is on your side.

His office is located in the East Wing boys' bathroom, fourth stall from the high window.

And business is booming.

Or at least it was, until one particular Monday.

It starts with a third grader in need of protection. And before this ordeal is over,

it's going to involve a legendary high school crime boss named Staples,

an intramural gambling ring, a graffiti ninja, the nine most dangerous bullies in school,

and the first Chicago Cubs World Series game in almost seventy years.

And that's just the beginning.

Mac and Vince soon realize that the trouble with solving everyone else's problems

is that there's no one left to solve yours.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "Fourmile" by Watt Key

Fourmile

by Watt Key

Twelve-year-old Foster knows in his gut that Dax Ganey,

the man dating his widowed mother, is a bad seed.

hen a mysterious stranger arrives at their Alabama farm, a former Army Ranger

in Iraq rambling across the country, and Foster believes he has found an ally against Dax.

The stranger proves a fascinating mentor, full of wisdom and secrets.

And Dax soon has reason to resent not just him and Foster but also Foster's mother.

A spurned Dax will be a dangerous enemy, but Foster is increasingly aware that the stranger

is just as dangerous, if not more so.

From the author of one of the most highly acclaimed

children's survival adventures of the last decade comes

this tautly wound new novel reminiscent of classic westerns,

about a boy caught in the middle of a clash that may turn out to be his own battle to fight.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Counting by 7's

by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius,

obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions,

who finds it comforting to count by 7s.

It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents,

but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life... until now.

Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world.

The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy.

This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing,

girl manages to push through her grief.

Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable

surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book: "Camo Girl" by Kekla Magoon

Camo Girl

by Kekla Magoon

Set in a suburb of Las Vegas, Ella and Zachary,

called Z, have been friends forever, but Z has always been “the weird kid” in their class.

He collects stubby pencils, plays chess, and maintains an elaborate –and public– fantasy life, starring himself as a brave knight.

Z’s games were okay back in 3rd or 4th grade, but by now their other

friends have ditched them both. Z doesn’t care,

but Ella longs to be part of a group of friends, even though

most of the class makes fun of her.

lla’s mother is black and her father (now deceased) was white,

and she’s the only black girl in their sixth grade class.

When a new boy, Bailey, moves to town, he befriends Ella,

because they are now the only two black kids in class.

But Bailey is popular – popular enough to make Ella cool

and give her a wider circle of friends –

but only if she stops hanging out with Z.

Ella’s faced with a difficult decision – remain loyal to the boy

who has been her best and only friend for years,

or pass up the opportunity to be one of the popular

kids that she has always longed to be.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book: "Calli be Gold" by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Calli Be Gold

by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Eleven-year-old Calli Gold is the quiet third child in a family of loud overachievers.

In fact, the family motto is Be Gold.

Calli's sister is on an ice-skating team, and her brother's a basketball star.

er parents are sure she has a hidden gift for something.

They just have to figure out what it is! But Calli has flopped at everything she's tried.

She sure doesn't feel like a Gold.

Until a new person enters her life. Second grader Noah Zullo

might seem strange to some people, but Calli can't help liking him,

and they become partners in their school's Peer Helper Program.

When they create a booth for the Friendship Fair,

they fill it with secrets and surprises. And as Calli and Noah work and learn together,

they even surprise themselves.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book: "Buddy" by M. H. Herlong

Buddy

by M. H. Herlong

A classic boy-and-dog tale in the tradition of Old Yeller

Tyrone "Li'l T" Roberts meets Buddy when his family's car accidentally hits
the stray dog on their way to church. Buddy turns out to be the dog Li'l T's
always wished for--until Hurricane Katrina comes to New Orleans and he
must leave Buddy behind.
After the storm, Li'l T and his father return home to find a
community struggling to rebuild their lives--and Buddy gone.
But Li'l T refuses to give up his quest to find his best friend.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book: "Blast Off: Alien in my Pocket" by Nate Ball

Blast Off: Alien in My Pocket

by Nate Ball

The adventure begins in this exciting new chapter book series!

When a four-inch-tall alien crash-lands through Zack McGee's bedroom window,

Zack is sure he's about to become the first victim in a new War of the Worlds.

But when the alien turns out to have weapons that are more ticklish than terrifying,

Zack realizes that rather than protect the world from the alien, it's up to him to protect

the alien in his pocket from the world.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book: "Double Dog Dare" by Lisa Graff

Double Dog Dare

by Lisa Graff

What would you do to win a dare war?

In a humorous and insightful novel about dares, divorce and friendship, Lisa Graff tells the story of fourth-graders Kansas Bloom and Francine Halata, who start out as archenemies, until--in a battle of wits and willpower--they discover that they have a lot more in common than either would have guessed.

This dual-perspective novel will appeal to girls and boys alike--and to anyone who has ever wanted anything so badly that they'd lick a lizard to get it.

Book Trailer for Maud Hart Lovelace award nominated book: 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos by Vivian Vande Velde

8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos

by Vivian Vande Velde

Twitch, the school yard squirrel, has really gotten
himself into a bind this time. While trying to escape from a hungry owl,
he roused the principal's dog and got chased into the school.
Now he's locked in for a dangerous and disastrous night.
Can Green Eggs and Hamster,
Sweetie the library rat, and the other school pets
save Twitch from the crazed dog, Cuddles?
In this uproarious chapter book, a group of small animals
manages to turn an elementary school into a real zoo.