Middle Grade

It's 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. Here, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin Burrows - a fascinating boy who's not afraid to stand up to authority and dreams of becoming a spy. When Benjamin's father is kidnapped, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary's sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia, in order to find him, all while keeping it out of the hands of their enemies - Russian spies in possession of nuclear weapons. Discovering and testing potions they never believed could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous race to save the apothecary and prevent impending disaster.

Together with Ian Schoenherr's breathtaking illustrations, this is a truly stunning package from cover to cover. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

A Cindy Pick

Funny, adventurous and utterly charming! Helena and her mouse siblings have always lived secret lives among humans. And the mice are far more intelligent! This fun story about small creatures who stow away on a ship bound for England will appeal to fans of Tale of Despereaux or The Borrowers.

SIGNED copies in our store now!!

A Cindy and Joanne Pick!

A thoroughly original fantasy, mystery, and horror novel rolled into one impressive book.

Maya and her perfect little brother James move to Paris with their father, a chemist, and their mother, a cancer survivor. There, Maya meets a mysterious old uncle Henri and discovers the Cabinet of Earths. It seems to hold the secret of immortality and it wants Maya to be its next Keeper.

A Joanne pick.

Winner of the 2012 Newbery Medal! Plenty of copies in our store now.

An Ann Marie Pick

This lovely novel-in-verse, set in the 1880s, will appeal to LITTLE HOUSE fans and anyone who enjoys a good wintry read.

Mavis Betterly has trouble reading (today we call it dyslexia) and decides to quit school. She can cook and clean so her parents hire her out to a newlywed couple fifteen miles away.  But when a tragedy leaves May completely alone with a blizzard on the way, she has to call on all her strength and courage to survive.

May is a wonderful character, and the writing is spare and unemotional. 

Not a fan of verse novels? Try it and see. After the first three pages, I'll bet you've forgotten you're reading verse.

A Joanne pick

Watch the author's own book trailer!

At last! Christopher Paul Curtis, the Newbery-winning author of BUD, NOT BUDDY and THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM, has written a novel about a girl!

The irrepressible Deza Malone lives in Gary, Indiana in 1936. Times are hard. But the Malone family sticks together. Then Father goes missing...

Deza's story will linger long after you finish reading it.  The included author note explains the origins of this novel, a companion but not a sequel to BUD, NOT BUDDY.

A Joanne pick

A magical breadbox that delivers whatever you wish for—as long as it fits inside? It's too good to be true! Twelve-year-old Rebecca is struggling with her parents' separation, as well as a sudden move to her Gran's house in another state. For a while, the magic bread box, discovered in the attic, makes life away from home a little easier. Then suddenly it starts to make things much, much more difficult, and Rebecca is forced to decide not just where, but who she really wants to be. Laurel Snyder's most thought-provoking book yet.

Funny and touching. I loved the  idea of the bread box that delivers jewelry, an iphone and even food from Rebecca's favorite restaurant back in Baltimore. And I loved the moment she realizes the true meaning of these magical gifts! A great example of character growth as Rebecca learns what sort of person she's become and struggles to make things right.

A Joanne pick 

Wendy Mass scores with another hit.

In a reckless moment, shy Tara gets caught trying to steal the school's mascot. Suspended from school for the last two weeks, she's sent to stay with an aunt, uncle, and cousin in Willow Falls, where anything can happen!  There, the mysterious Angelina gives Tara a task: to collect 13 unusual objects.  When Tara realizes she won't be able to find them all by herself, she enlists the help of Rory, Amanda, Leo, and David. Going on the scavenger hunt brings Tara out of her shell.  This is charming and should appeal to girls who like a touch of magical realism with their contemporary stories.

A Joanne pick

An Ann Marie and Joanne pick.

The funny and fast-paced sequel to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.

It is a dark time at Ralph McQuarrie Middle School. After suffering several Origami Yoda–related humiliations, Harvey manages to get Dwight suspended from school for being a “troublemaker.” Origami Yoda pleads with Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by making a new case file—one that will show how Dwight’s presence benefits McQuarrie. With the help of their friends, Tommy and Kellen record cases such as “Origami Yoda and the Pre-eaten Wiener,” “Origami Yoda and the Exploding Pizza Bagels,” and “Origami Yoda and Wonderland: The Musical.”

But Harvey and his Darth Paper puppet have a secret plan that could make Dwight’s suspension permanent . . .

A Joanne pick