Favorite New Books

Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman $7.99

Ashleigh and Julie are best friends, although being supportive of Ashleigh's short-lived enthusiasms can be trying for Julie. Currently Ashleigh is on a Pride and Prejudice kick, which wouldn't be so bad if only the Darcy she picked out wasn't the same guy that Julie is falling for. This modern take on the popular classic has enough plot twists and mistaken identities to keep the reader laughing and perhaps be willing to give the original Austen novel a try as well. For ages 10-14.

The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous

by Suzanne Crowley $16.99

Life in tiny Jumbo, Texas is messy with complicated feuds and friendships that spill through every backyard and screen door. This keeps Merilee on edge as she tries to protect the carefully ordered routines that help get her through each day. Although mean Grandma Birdy is hurtful, it is the arrival in town of needy, little Biswick, and the big-hearted Veraleen that disrupt Merilee’s VOE forever. Filled with rich language and endearing characters, I haven’t loved a book this much since Ida B. and Each Little Bird That Sings.

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff #1 You Wish
by Jason Lethcoe $9.99

Ben lives in a frightful orphanage, where he is forced to climb into immense iron cooking pots and clean off the moldy, crusty scum with an old toothbrush. Luckily, when he gets a chance to make a birthday wish, he wishes for unlimited wishes and they begin to come true. This causes a panic at the Wishworks Factory, because there are only a limited number of wishes available and each time Ben makes a new wish another child’s wish disappears. Candlewick, the new, young director at Wishworks, appeals to Ben for help, but Thornblood, the director of Curseworks, has already stolen Ben’s powerful wish. Soon, Ben and his friends are racing through the air in Battle Chairs, dodging flaming curses, and trying to protect Wishworks from Thornblood and his evil Spider Monkeys. This is an exciting first installment in an imaginative, new series.

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff #2
Wishful Thinking
by Jason Lethcoe $9.99

In this new adventure a disgruntled leprechaun and Ben’s spiteful cousin, Penelope, have used her birthday wish to take over the Wishworks Factory. Candlewick is missing, and Thornblood has become Penelope’s Vice-President as he schemes to steal a new power-source for the Curseworks Factory. Ben and his friends have to save Wishworks, find Candlewick, and stop the Jinn uprising that greedy Penelope has caused. This is another fun episode full of Ben’s misadventures.

The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John $16.99

Popular at Dragonwings, this story is both familiar and exotic. Orphaned Martine leaves England to live with her estranged grandmother on a game preserve in South Africa. During sleepless nights Martine befriends a mysterious white giraffe, who has inspired legends and attracted ruthless poachers. Martine’s grandmother needs to trust her grand daughter with the truth about her family, so that Martine can gain the confidence she needs to save the magical white giraffe.