Booktalk - Columbus Metropolitan Library

Booktalk
2014
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Best New Picture Books
Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library
President Taft is Stuck in the Bath
by Mac Barnett, 2014. Picture Book Barnett
President William Howard Taft, a man of great stature - well, he got stuck in a bathtub. Now how did he
get unstuck? Mac Barnett and illustrator Chris Van Dusen imagine a parade of clueless cabinet members
advising the exasperated president, leading up to a hugely satisfying, hilarious finale.
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole
by Mac Barnett, 2014. Picture Book Barnett
Sam and Dave are on a mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging...
Quest
by Aaron Becker, 2014. Picture Book Becker
The creator of the Caldecott Honor Book “Journey” presents the next chapter in his
stunning wordless fantasy
Miss Brooks’ Story Nook: Where Tales Are Told and Ogres Are Welcome
by Barbara Bottner, 2014. Picture Book Bottner
A hilarious tribute to the power of storytelling, inventiveness and ingenuity.
Flashlight
by Lizi Boyd, 2014. Picture Book Boyd
Both lyrical and humorous, this visual poem – like the flashlight beam itself –
reveals that there is magic in the darkness. We just have to look for it.
Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella
by Jan Brett, 2013. Picture Book Brett
Cinders, the most picked upon hen in the flock, becomes the most loved by Prince Cockerel when she arrives
at his ball looking so beautiful that even her bossy sisters do not recognize her.
My Teacher is a Monster
by Peter Brown, 2014. Picture Book Brown
A young boy who runs into his “monstrous” teacher outside of school and
realizes she might be nicer than he thought.
Sunday Shopping
by Sally Derby, 2014. Picture Book Derby
Every Sunday night a young girl and her grandmother go on an imaginary shopping trip using play money
and the advertisements in the newspaper as a guide for their purchases.
If Kids Ran The World
by Leo Dillon, 2014. Picture Book Dillon
Two-time Caldecott Medal-winning husband-and-wife team capture the wondrous joy of all people,
and the unique beauty within each that shines forth.
Some Bugs
by Angela DiTerlizzi, 2014. Picture Book DiTerlizzi
From butterflies and moths to crickets and cicadas, a rhyming exploration
of backyard-bug behavior.
Abuelo
by Arthur Dorros, 2014. Picture Book Dorros
A boy’s family moves to the city from the country, away from Abuelo, and it is the boy’s memories that help
him adjust to his new life.
Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?
by Rita Gray, 2014. Picture Book Gray
In this nonfiction picture book for young readers, we learn just why the mother
nesting bird stays quiet and still while sitting on her eggs.
The Hueys in None the Number
by Oliver Jeffers, 2014. Picture Book Jeffers
One of the lovable Hueys tries to explain the concept of “none” to another by finding different numbers
of items, one through 10, then taking them all away.
Weeds Find a Way
by Cynthia Jenson-Elliott, 2014. Picture Book Jenson-Elliott
Weeds live and grow in the most hostile environments, such as a tangle of tree
roots or a crack in the cellar of an old house, where other plants cannot thrive.
Winter is Coming
by Tony Johnston, 2014. Picture Book Johnston
Witness the changing of a season through a watchful child’s eyes in this story of nature and discovery.
You Are (Not) Small
by Anna Kang, 2014. Picture Book Kang
Size? It all depends on who’s standing next to you. Simple text, bold illustrations,
and a surprise ending make this a fun read.
Here I Am
by Patti Kim, 2014. Picture Book Kim
Newly arrived from their faraway homeland, a boy and his family enter into the lights, noise, and traffic
of a busy American city.
I Pledge Allegiance
by Pat Mora, 2014. Picture Book Mora
Libby and her great-aunt, Lobo, both learn the Pledge of Allegiance--Libby for school,
and Lobo for her U.S. citizenship ceremony.
Please, Louise
by Toni Morrison, 2014. Picture Book Morrison
On a gray, rainy day, everything seems frightening to Louise until she enters a library and finds books that
help her to know and imagine the beauty and wonder that have been there all along.
The Tortoise & the Hare
by Jerry Pinkney, 2014. Picture Book Pinkney
This companion to the Caldecott Medal-winning “The Lion & the Mouse”
is Pinkney’s most stunning masterpiece yet.
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade
by Justin Roberts, 2014. Picture Book Roberts
Sally McCabe is a very little girl, and nobody notices her, although she notices everything that goes on around
her. But when she speaks out about the unkindness she sees, people start to pay attention.
Lost for Words
by Natalie Russell, 2014. Picture Book Russell
Tapir has a new notebook and pencils but, unlike his friends, can think of nothing to write and is ready to give
up when he finds a better way to communicate--through drawing.
I Got the Rhythm
by Connie Schofield-Morrison, 2014. Picture Book Schofield-Morrison
On a trip to the park with her mother, a young girl hears a rhythm coming from the world around her.
The Most Magnificent Thing
by Ashley Spires, 2014. Picture Book Spires
A little girl and her canine assistant set out to make the most magnificent thing. But after much hard work,
the end result is not what the girl had in mind.
My Pet Book
by Bob Staake, 2014. Picture Book Staake
A boy’s search for the perfect pet leads him to the bookstore, where he finds
a bright red book that becomes his best friend.
Help! We Need a Title!
by Herve Tullet, 2014. Picture Book Tullet
In this clever new picture book from the creator of Press Here, readers are encouraged to interact with
a book that is still in the process of being invented.
Stella’s Starliner
by Rosemary Wells, 2014. Picture Book Wells
Stella’s unnerved by a bullying group of weasels who say mean things about her humble home.
Best New Nonfiction Books for K-2
Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library
Little Roja Riding Hood
by Susan Middleton Elya, 2014. j398 G86Lr E52L
This sassy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood features accessible Spanish rhymes and fresh illustrations,
with hip cultural details throughout.
Gravity
by Jason Chin, 2014. j531.14 C539g
What keeps objects from floating out of your hand? What if your feet drifted away
from the ground? What stops everything from floating into space? Gravity. Jason Chin
has taken a complex subject and made it brilliantly accessible to young readers in this
unusual, innovative, and very beautiful book.
Plant a Pocket of Prairie
by Phyllis Root, 2014. j577.44 R783p
The creators of “Big Belching Bog” take young readers on a trip to another of Minnesota’s important ecosystems:
the prairie. Here they explain how changes in one part of the system affect every other part: when prairie plants
are destroyed, the animals that eat those plants and live on or around them are harmed as well.
Plants Feed Me
by Lizzy Rockwell, 2013. j581.63 R684p
A highly regarded author-illustrator of nonfiction for young children has created
a science book about the parts of plants that humans find yummy.
Is This Panama?: A Migration Story
by Jan Thornhill, 2013. j591.568 T512i
When Sammy, a young Wilson’s warbler, wakes up one frosty August morning near the Arctic Circle, he
instinctively knows that it’s time to make his first migratory journey south to Panama. But there’s one problem-where’s Panama? All the other warblers having left without him, Sammy sets off on his journey by himself,
stopping to ask the same question of each of the different animals that he meets along the way: “Is this Panama?”
Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey
by Loree Griffin Burns, 2014. j595.789 B967h
Some farms grow vegetables or grains, and some raise cows, sheep, chickens, or pigs. But have you ever
heard of a butterfly farm? How do you raise a butterfly?
Galapagos George
by Jean Craighead George, 2014. j597.9246 G348g
This is the story of the famous Lonesome George, a giant tortoise who was the last
of his species, lived to be one hundred years old, and became known as the rarest
creature in the world. His story gives us a glimpse of the amazing creatures inhabiting
the ever-fascinating Galapagos Islands.
Cold, Crunchy, Colorful: Using Our Senses
by Jane Brockett, 2014. j612.8 B864c
Seeing brightly colored flowers, hearing nuts go “crunch,” and feeling cold ice cream on your tongue –
we use our senses to explore the world. How many ways to use your senses can you find in this book?
A Trip Into Space: An Adventure to the International Space Station
by Lori Haskins Houran, 2014. j629.442 H841t
A lively, rhythmical story and detailed illustrations take readers on a trip to the
International Space Station, where astronauts work, sleep and walk in space.
The Scraps Book: Notes from a Colorful Life
by Lois Ehlert, 2014. j741.64 E33s
The Caldecott Honoree and illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom provides an inside look at her colorful
picture book career.
On The Wing
by David Elliott, 2014. j811 E46o
Readers can explore a glorious array of all things avian, from the tiny, restless hummingbird
to the inscrutable horned owl to the majestic bald eagle. Elliott’s witty verse takes flight
with gorgeous illustrations in an enchanting look at 15 avian species.
Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons
by Jon J. Muth, 2014. j811 M992h
With a featherlight touch and disarming charm, Jon J Muth – and his delightful little panda bear, Koo –
challenge readers to stretch their minds and imaginations with twenty-six haikus about the four seasons.
Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems
by Paul B. Janeczko, 2014. j811.8 F523
A selection of short American poems dealing with the four seasons and the different
weather events and animal patterns that can occur within each.
Hot Dog! Eleanor Roosevelt Throws a Picnic
by Leslie Kimmelman, 2014. j973.917 K49h
In June of 1939, British monarchs King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit America, the first visit ever by
reigning British royalty. As part of the festivities, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt hosts an all-American picnic
that includes hot dogs, a menu item that shocks some people.
Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud
by Tracey E Fern & Emily Arnold McCully, 2014. jB C913 F362d
Ellen Prentiss’s papa said she was born with saltwater in her veins, so he gave her sailing lessons and taught
her how to navigate. In a time when few women even accompanied their husbands onboard, Ellen Prentiss
navigated their ship to set the world record for speed along that route.
Mr. Ferris and His Wheel
by Kathryn Gibbs Davis, 2014. jB F394 D262m
Science, history, and engineering combine in this uplifting nonfiction picture book
about the invention of the world’s most iconic amusement park ride, the Ferris Wheel,
which George Ferris introduced at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.
Grandfather Gandhi
by Arun Gandhi, 2014. jB G19 G195g
Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson tells the story of how his grandfather taught him to turn darkness into light
in this uniquely personal and vibrantly illustrated tale that carries a message of peace.
Henri’s Scissors
by Jeanette Winter, 2013. jB M433 W785h
In a small weaving town in France, a young boy named Henri-Emile Matisse drew pictures
everywhere, and when he grew up, he moved to Paris and became a famous artist. This moving
picture book biography includes a note from the author, dynamic quotes from Matisse himself,
and an illuminating look at a little-known part of a great artist’s creative process.
Florence Nightingale
by Demi, 2014. jB N68 D378f
Florence Nightingale revolutionized the world of medicine by emphasizing cleanliness, food that was hot and
nutritious, and organization in hospitals. What began as an attempt to make army hospitals safer and more
effective became a lifelong mission, and remains relevant today. This picture book biography of Florence
Nightingale, from celebrated author and artist Demi, beautifully portrays the story of Florence’s life and
explores the long-lasting effects of her career.
I Am Rosa Parks
by Brad Meltzer, 2014. jB P252 M528i
In 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks dared to stand up for herself and other
African-Americans by refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man.
As a result she helped launch the country’s Civil Rights Movement.
Best New Fiction Grades 3-5
Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library
Blast Off!
by Nate Ball, 2014. Fiction Ball
A spaceship lands in Zack’s bedroom and the alien inside wants to take him prisoner, the first step in the
domination of Earth. Fortunately, the alien is tiny…and cute. Now Zack will help him in his attempts to return
to space and stop the invasion. Includes science facts and experiments.
Kate the Great, Except When She’s Not
by Suzy Becker, 2014. Fiction Becker
Fifth-grader Kate has to deal with embarrassing adults, an art teacher that stifles creativity,
an oh-so-perfect big sister, and other troubles at home and school. But her biggest problem
is Nora, an unfriendly classmate that Kate’s mother insists she become close to.
Lantern Sam and the Blue Streak Bandits
by Michael D. Beil, 2014. Fiction Beil
It’s 1938 and Henry is traveling from New York to Chicago on the Lake Erie Shoreliner train. During the trip
he’ll make a new friend, a young heiress named Ellie. When Ellie is kidnapped by someone aboard, it’s up
to Henry and the great railroad detective cat Lantern Sam to solve the crime.
The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill
by Megan Frazer Blakemore, 2014. Fiction Blakemore
It’s 1953, the McCarthy era is in full swing, and Hazel believes that her town has been
infiltrated by Russian spies. She watches and investigates her neighbors with the help
of her new friend Samuel. It turns out everyone, including Samuel, is keeping secrets,
but not the ones Hazel thinks.
The Year of the Fortune Cookie
by Andrea Cheng, 2014. Fiction Cheng
Anna is invited on a trip to China to help her former teacher adopt a baby. The trip is an opportunity for
Anna to experience China, learn about her cultural heritage, make a new friend, and visit the orphanage
that her own baby sister was adopted from.
The Map Trap
by Andrew Clements, 2014. Fiction Clements
Alton has always loved maps. The ones he makes are a bit unusual, such as: which boys and girls like each
other, what cafeteria foods make kids race to the restroom, and the regions of his teacher’s brain. When
his map folder is stolen, Alton is suddenly in a world of trouble!
The Vanishing Coin
by Kate Egan with Magician Mike Lane, 2014. Fiction Egan
Mike’s not a bad kid, but he’s always getting in trouble because he can’t sit still or concentrate.
When a mysterious new magic shop opens in town, Mike finally discovers his talent. Performing
magic tricks increases his confidence, and even defeats a school bully. Magic tricks included.
Dog Days
by Karen English, 2013. Fiction English
Third-grader Gavin knows better than to sneak into his big sister’s room and steal her candy, but he and his
new friend Richard do anyway. When their horseplay results in a smashed snow globe, Gavin ends up with
a terrible punishment – taking care of his grumpy Great Aunt’s pesky little dog.
Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
by Karen Foxlee, 2014. Fiction Foxlee
After her mother dies, Ophelia’s father takes a job at a strange museum in a city where it always
snows. Wandering the corridors, Ophelia discovers a mysterious boy who has been locked in a
hidden room for many years. To rescue him, Ophelia will have to defeat the evil Snow Queen.
Operation Bunny
by Sally Gardner, 2014. Fiction Gardner
When her nasty adoptive parents have triplets of their own, Emily Vole’s life become unbearable. Then she meets
the magical old lady and giant talking cat that live next door. Soon Emily is helping run a fairy detective agency
and battling a witch who turns people into pink rabbits.
Winter Sky
by Patricia Reilly Giff, 2014. Fiction Giff
When Siria hears sirens in the night, she sneaks out of her apartment to secretly follow the fire trucks. It’s her
way of trying to keep her father, a firefighter, safe. Then Siria discovers that someone is intentionally setting
small fires around her neighborhood. Can she find the culprit?
Absolutely Almost
by Lisa Graff, 2014. Fiction Graff
Albie is never the best, the most talented, or an A-student, no matter how hard he tries or how
much pressure his parents put on him. Then a new nanny helps him see his strengths and discover
his self-worth. Kids struggling with reading – or anything else – will embrace Albie’s story.
Alien Encounter
by Charise Mericle Harper, 2014. Fiction Harper
An incident involving underpants leads to Morgan and Lewis meeting each other, becoming friends…and seeing
an alien. When they report what they saw things just get weirder, as the boys encounter a mysterious neighbor
with a lot to hide, paranormal investigators, and a Sasquatch.
The Fourteenth Goldfish
by Jennifer L. Holm, 2014. Fiction Holm
One day Ellie’s mother comes home with a grumpy thirteen-year-old boy who acts like an old man. It turns out
he is an old man – Ellie’s grandfather, a brilliant scientist, has used a rare jellyfish to reverse the aging process.
Is there anything wrong with refusing to grow old?
Ruby Goldberg’s Bright Idea
by Anna Humphrey, 2014. Fiction Humphrey
Science-loving Ruby desperately wants to win the school science fair and beat her class
rival. She comes up with an idea for an invention she’s sure will win, and help cheer up her
grandfather, whose beloved dog has died. But as she builds her machine, she loses sight
of what’s really important.
Dash
by Kirby Larson, 2014. Fiction Larson
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese-American Mitsi faces discrimination and cruel treatment from
some classmates and neighbors. Then her family is forced into an internment camp. Life in the camp is
difficult, but the worst part for Mitsi is having to leave Dash, her beloved dog, behind.
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher
by Dana Alison Levy, 2014. Fiction Levy
The family Fletcher has two dads and four adopted boys with different backgrounds, but the problems
they deal with during one eventful and entertaining school year – from changing friendships to grumpy
neighbors – are the same as any family might face.
A Snicker of Magic
by Natalie Lloyd, 2014. Fiction Lloyd
Felicity sees words wherever she looks, but freezes up when she tries to talk. Her family
has never stayed in one place for long, but now they’ve moved to her mother’s hometown.
Midnight Gulch used to be full of real magic. Can Felicity discover a way to help her family
and return the magic?
Alvin Ho: Allergic to the Great Wall, the Forbidden Palace, and Other Tourist Attractions
by Lenore Look, 2014. Fiction Look
Alvin has a hard enough time dealing with his anxieties at home. Now he’s traveling all the way to China,
where everything is unfamiliar and strange. Alvin ends up causing lots of difficulties for his unfortunate
family, but in the end does something to demonstrate his heart is in the right place.
Half a Chance
by Cynthia Lord, 2014. Fiction Lord
Lucy starts taking photos in order to enter a contest and prove herself to her father, a famous wildlife
photographer. But her photography also leads to a love for her new home and a lasting friendship in
this beautiful story that celebrates friends, family, nature and art.
The Only Thing Worse Than Witches
by Lauren Magaziner, 2014. Fiction Magaziner
In an effort to escape an evil teacher and learn more about the witches that inhabit his town, Rupert
answers an ad to become a witch’s apprentice. The witch is not what he expects, but a girl his own
age who can’t get a spell to go right. Hilarity and danger ensue as Rupert helps her study.
Manhunt
by Kate Messner, 2014. Fiction Messner
Henry, Anna, and José are in Paris on the trail of stolen artwork when the Mona Lisa goes missing as well.
Then the kids discover there is a double agent in their midst, and their parents are kidnapped. It’s up to
Henry to find and defeat the villains and recover the painting.
Annika Riz, Math Whiz
by Claudia Mills, 2014. Fiction Mills
Annika loves math and is looking forward to winning a community Sudoku contest.
Meanwhile, her two best friends hate math and Annika “helps” them answer their
teacher’s questions. At the school carnival, Annika finally proves to her friends how
important math can be.
Nuts to You
by Lynne Rae Perkins, 2014. Fiction Perkins
When Jed the squirrel is snatched by a hawk, he thinks it’s all over. Instead, it’s just the beginning of an
adventure that includes daring escapes, brave friends new and old, many dangers, and the chance to save
Jed’s squirrel friends and neighbors when humans come to destroy their home.
Quinny & Hopper
by Adriana Brad Schanen, 2014. Fiction Schanen
Even though they are complete opposites of each other, new neighbors Quinny and Hopper become best
friends over the summer. But when school starts there are suddenly new rules about boys and girls being
friends. Will Quinny and Hopper turn against each other or stay loyal?
The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky
by Holly Schindler, 2014. Fiction Schindler
Auggie has never felt anything but pride for her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, and their home in the
poor part of town. Then the House Beautification Committee forms and decides the homes of A
uggie and her neighbors are “in violation.” Can Auggie prove that even trash can be beautiful?
Little Green Men at the Mercury Inn
by Greg Leitich Smith, 2014. Fiction Smith
Aidan lives and works at his parents’ motel on the Space Coast in Florida. Two years ago he was a in a terrible
car accident with his best friend Louis, and since then Louis has been obsessed with UFO’s. When a spaceship
suddenly appears above the hotel, many secrets will be revealed.
Another Day as Emily
by Eileen Spinelli, 2014. Fiction Spinelli
Suzy is feeling left out. Her heroic little brother is receiving lots of attention and her best friend has new interests.
Suzy decides to emulate the subject of her class project, Emily Dickinson, and become a recluse who stays in her
room and dresses in white. Will anything change her mind?
Ava and Pip
by Carol Weston, 2014. Fiction Weston
Ava and her sister Pip are very different. Pip suffers from extreme shyness, and Ava feels
left out of their parents’ attentions. When Ava tries to defend Pip with a mean story about
a classmate, the gesture backfires. But it leads to a new friend for the sisters, someone
who will help Pip blossom.
Beth’s Story, 1914
by Adele Whitby, 2014. Fiction Whitby
Young Lady Beth is excited about her upcoming birthday celebration where she will receive a family heirloom
necklace. When another necklace disappears, Beth’s maid and friend Shannon is blamed. Beth investigates,
discovering secrets about her family’s mansion and forgotten history.
The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond
by Brenda Woods, 2014. Fiction Woods
Violet is biracial. She would like to know more about her African-American heritage, but that’s difficult because
her black father died before she was born and his side of the family is not in touch. When Violet reaches out
to her grandmother, she learns a lot about her family and herself.
Best New Nonfiction Grades 3-5
Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library
The History of Money: From Bartering to Banking
by Martin Jenkins, 2014. j332.49 J52h
A fascinating tour of the history of money told with clarity and humor. Encourages the reader to think critically
about money and the importance of it.
Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
by Patricia Newman, 2014. j363.738 N554p
A team of scientists explore the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where millions
of pieces of plastic have drifted from all over the world.
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation
by Duncan Tonatiuh, 2014. j379.263 T663s
A little-known story of the fight to end school discrimination against Mexican-American children is told
with lively text and expressive art.
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus
by Jennifer Bryant, 2014. j423.1 R732 B915r
For shy young Peter Mark Roget, books were the best companions and it wasn’t long before Roget began writing
his own book. But he didn’t write stories - he wrote lists.
Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature
by Sarah Campbell, 2014. j516.15 C191m
An introduction to amazing and naturally repeating patterns. Fractals explain much about
how things grow and readers will be fascinated to learn how many things in the natural
world are fractals.
Secrets of the Seasons: Orbiting the Sun in Our Backyard
by Kathleen Zoehfeld, 2014. j525.5 Z85s
Over the course of a year, a family learns about the role of the sun in the changing seasons. Told as a narrative tale
and interspersed with science facts, diagrams, and charts.
Eye to Eye
by Steve Jenkins, 2014. j573.88 J52e
For most animals, eyes are the most important source of information about the world.
Includes fascinating animal facts, a bibliography, and glossary, with stunning illustrations
from Caldecott Honor-winner Steven Jenkins.
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes
by Nicola Davies, 2014. j579 D256t
Explains how the tiniest organisms in the world carry out some of the biggest jobs. Concise and simply written, a
great introduction to microbes.
Feathers: Not Just for Flying
by Melissa Stewart, 2014. j598.147 S851f
Young naturalists meet sixteen birds in this elegant introduction to the many uses of feathers.
Parrots over Puerto Rico
by Susan Roth, 2013. j598.71 R845p
Readers witness the amazing recovery efforts that have enabled Puerto Rican parrots
to come back from near extinction.
Information Graphics: Human Body
by Simon Rogers, 2014. j612 R729h
Complex facts about the human body are reinterpreted as stylish infographics that astonish, amuse, and inform.
Underworld: Exploring the Secret World Beneath Your Feet
by Jane Price, 2014. j624.19 P945u
This humorous guide examines the geology and biodiversity that lies beneath the Earth’s surface. A treasure
trove of information in an easy to browse format.
Stone Giant: Michelangelo’s David and How He Came to Be
by Jane Sutcliffe, 2014. j730.945 B94d S965s
Explores the years that Michelangelo took to carve his famous sculpture, creating great
art from a block of marble that had long sat unused in Florence. Includes beautiful illustrations
that have a Renaissance feel, along with an image of Michelangelo’s sketch of the statue and
a poem he wrote about it.
Jubilee!: One Man’s Big, Bold, and Very, Very Loud Celebration of Peace
by Alicia Potter, 2014. j780.974461 P866j
After experiencing the horrors of the Civil War firsthand, one man was determined to celebrate the beauty
of life through music.
If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems
by Brian Cleary, 2014. j811 C623i
Explains and demonstrates how to write two forms of Japanese poetry: haiku and lanterns.
Includes fun cartoon illustrations and instructions on how to write haiku and lanterns.
Everything is a Poem
by J. Patrick Lewis, 2014. j811 L674e
The work of local author and former U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate Is celebrated in this collection of his
best poems – some silly, some serious.
Harlem Hellfighters
by J. Patrick Lewis, 2014. j940.41273 L674h
A remarkable nonfiction rendering of WWI history using free-verse poetry and captivating art to tell the story
of hellish combat, racist times, rare courage, and inspired music.
In New York
by Marc Brown, 2014. j974.71 B879i
Author/illustrator Marc Brown shares his love for his hometown and all that the city has to offer. Part memoir,
part travel guide, with some history sprinkled in, complete with gorgeous illustrations throughout.
Edward Hopper Paints His World
by Robert Burleigh, 2014. jB H7985 B961e
A striking picture book biography of a truly special American painter. An inspiring narrative
accompanies Wendell Minor’s beautiful full-page paintings and pencil sketches.
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art
by Barb Rosenstock, 2014. jB K163 R815n
The story of one of the first abstract painters, who experienced colors as sounds, and sounds as colors. The text
and illustrations work well together, creating the sense of what Kandinsky experienced through art.
The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra: The Sound of Joy Is Enlightening
by Chris Raschka, 2014. jB S9582 R223c
Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka shares his love of jazz great Sun Ra, just in time for
the centennial of the musician’s birth.
Best New Fiction Grades 6-8
Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library
I Kill the Mockingbird
by Paul Acampora, 2014. jFiction Acampora
Lucy is pleased to see her favorite book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” on her summer reading list. Concerned that
the rest of the class isn’t as excited about the book, she and her two best friends concoct a scheme to create
an artificial shortage of the classic.
The Crossover
by Kwame Alexander, 2014. jFiction Alexander
This novel in verse tells the story of Josh, nicknamed “Filthy McNasty” for his moves on the basketball court.
Josh is a prodigy, but so is his twin brother Jordan, and so was his father, a pro in his day. Josh faces the
challenge of balancing basketball, family, and school.
Minion
by John David Anderson, 2014. jFiction Anderson
Michael is a boy with a unique talent that allows him to fund his father’s mad-scientist
tinkerings via the occasional bank robbery. One fateful day, their comfortable life in
New Liberty is turned upside down by the appearance of a master criminal and, for the
first time in years, a Super.
The Qwikpick Papers: Poop Fountain
by Tom Angleberger, 2014. jFiction Angleberger
Written in the form of a found manuscript, this is the chronicle of Lyle and his two friends and fellow trailer
park denizens, Dave and Marilla, in their quest to visit a soon-to-be-renovated waste treatment facility with
an irresistible feature: a “sludge fountain” that is marked for removal. Things get stinky.
The Night Gardener
by Jonathan Auxier, 2014. jFiction Auxier
Irish siblings Molly and Kip arrive as new servants to the Windsor family in their manor
located in a remote part of the English countryside, a part feared by locals and known as
“the sour forest.” The two soon realize that there is a curse surrounding the family, the
house, and the sinister tree that grows next to it and is tended each night by a
mysterious gardener.
Caminar
by Skila Brown, 2014. jFiction Brown
One fateful day in 1981, as Carlos hides in the jungle, the rest of his Guatemalan village is wiped out by soldiers
for allegedly supporting the rebels. Terrified, he sets out for his grandmother’s village up the mountain, and
soon falls in with and befriends a band of guerilla fighters.
Seeing Red
by Kathryn Erskine, 2013. jFiction Erskine
In the wake of his father’s death, Red Porter is desperate to stay in Stony Gap, Virginia, despite his mother’s
plans to sell the house and auto shop and move the family to Ohio. His determination to stay leads him to
explore the town’s, and his own family’s, dark past.
Under the Egg
by Laura Marx Fitzgerald, 2014. jFiction Fitzgerald
With his dying words, Theodora’s beloved grandfather exhorts her to find
a treasure “under the egg.” This cryptic clue sends her on a quest ultimately
involving looted Nazi art.
Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
by Karen Foxlee, 2014. jFiction Foxlee
Eleven-year-old Ophelia, recently bereaved of her mother, discovers a boy locked in a secret room in a mysterious,
labyrinthine museum. The boy is an ageless 303 years old, and is prisoner of the cruel Snow Queen, who is biding
her time until she is able to end the boy’s life and bring the world under a permanent winter.
By the Grace of Todd
by Louise Galveston, 2014. jFiction Galveston
Finally compelled to give his room a long-overdue cleaning, Todd is astonished to discover that his fermenting
sweat socks have engendered a new race of beings, the Toddlians, and that they worship him as their creator.
When the school bully finds out, he is determined to exploit the tiny beings in a bid to avoid flunking science
and being sent to military school.
Ice Whale
by Jean Craighead George, 2014. jFiction George
When young Toozak commits a betrayal that endangers the local arctic bowhead whale
population, the village shaman declares that he, his children, and his children’s children
are responsible for the well-being of the whale Siku, until such time as the Toozaks have
made recompense.
Death by Toilet Paper
by Donna Gephart, 2014. jFiction Gephart
Benjamin, his mother, and his grandfather have fallen on hard times: as his mother frantically studies for her CPA
exams, they face eviction from their apartment. Benjamin, a seasoned participant in sweepstakes and other
contests, pins the family’s hopes on winning the grand prize for crafting the perfect slogan for Royal-T toilet paper.
Poached
by Stuart Gibbs, 2014. jFiction Gibbs
When FunJungle’s main attraction, a koala on loan from the Australian government, is kidnapped, Teddy Fitzroy,
whose parents both work at the zoo/theme park, becomes the prime suspect. With the help of the park owner’s
daughter, Teddy must avoid park security, in the person of Large Marge, and find the real culprit.
Winter Sky
by Patricia Reilly Giff, 2014. jFiction Giff
Siria, the proud and anxious daughter of a firefighter, is in the habit of going out at night
to shadow the fire trucks when they go out on a call. Her greatest fear is that her Pop
will be hurt or killed battling the work of that most fearsome of all monsters, the arsonist.
New Kid
by Tim Green, 2014. jFiction Green
Brock Nickerson’s name is not really Brock Nickerson. That’s just the latest identity he’s had to assume for the sake
of his father, whose dark and mysterious work leads them from town to town. Settled, for now, in Liverpool, New
York, Brock longs to live a normal life with normal friends and activities, and to work with Coach to hone his natural
gifts as a baseball pitcher.
The Children of the King
by Sonya Hartnett, 2014. jFiction Hartnett
To escape the bombing of London by the Nazis, Cecily, her older brother Jeremy, and her
friend May have been sent to the country estate of their Uncle Peregrine. While exploring
the surrounding forest, they discover mysterious castle ruins, seemingly inhabited by two
equally mysterious boys.
The Secret Hum of a Daisy
by Tracy Holczer, 2014. jFiction Holczer
Grace and her mother never stayed in one place very long. When her mother drowns, Grace is torn from
the closest thing to friends and home she has ever known and sent to live with her estranged grandmother.
The Fourteenth Goldfish
by Jennifer L. Holm, 2014. jFiction Holm
The teenage boy on Ellie’s lawn is strangely cranky, remarking on crabgrass, the value of
a good education, and the virtues of pantsuits. The boy is revealed to be none other than
Ellie’s grandfather, a brilliant scientist who has found the mechanism for “reversing senescence
”—in other words, he’s discovered the fountain of youth.
The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez
by Peter Johnson, 2014. jFiction Johnson
With his beloved grandfather recovering from a stroke, his attention-starved brother Crash is acting up, and his
mother constantly remarking on his “negativity,” Benny Alvarez has plenty on his mind besides school and friends.
Benny loves words, so he naturally jumps at the chance to represent the boys of the school against Claudine, his
neighbor and nemesis, in a poetry contest.
Frenzy
by Robert Lettrick, 2014. jFiction Lettrick
A perfect summer at Camp Harmony is shattered when all non-human mammals become crazed with a mutant
form of rabies. Heath Lambert and a ragtag band of survivors, including the brilliant and cryptic chess-master
Will, must avoid attack as they follow the river to civilization and safety.
Jungle of Bones
by Ben Mikaelsen, 2014. jFiction Mikaelsen
Angry, maladjusted Dylan is sent by his desperate mother to live with tough and super-strict
Uncle Todd in Oregon. Together, they travel to the jungles of Papua New Guinea to search for
the bomber in which Dylan’s grandfather was shot down during WWII.
The Boundless
by Kenneth Oppel, 2014. jFiction Oppel
Will Everett is expecting the trip along the trans-Canadian railway on the massive steam train Boundless to be
an adventure, but he didn’t count on encountering a ruthless gang after a fortune in gold. He’ll need the help
of a traveling circus, with their mysterious ringmaster and a beguiling girl escape-artist, to safeguard the
treasure and save his father’s life.
Zane and the Hurricane
by Rodman Philbrick, 2014. jFiction Philbrick
One summer, Zane Dupree is sent from his home in New Hampshire to New Orleans to spend a week with his
grandmother, the mother of Zane’s father who died in an accident before Zane was born. Zane and Grammy
are getting on famously, when nature intervenes in the form of Hurricane Katrina.
The Eighth Day
by Dianne K. Salieri, 2014. jFiction Salieri
On a Thursday morning, shortly after his 13th birthday, Jax wakes up to a deserted world. The following day,
everything is back to normal, and Jax soon finds out that he is a “transitioner” who has experienced his first
“Grunsday,” an extra day that exists outside of time.
Game Over, Pete Watson
by Joe Schreiber, 2014. jFiction Schreiber
Desperate for cash to buy Brawl-a-Thon 3000 XL on the day of its release, Pete resorts
to selling his dad’s long-forgotten ‘80s game console at an impromptu garage sale, only
to find that his father is a secret agent, and the CommandRoid 85 contains information
vital to national security.
The One Safe Place
by Tania Unsworth, 2014. jFiction Unsworth
In the not-so-distant future, the death of his grandfather forces Devin to leave their farm and travel to a chaotic
and dangerous city. There he befriends Kit, and the two are soon spirited to a place where orphan children are
fed, clothed, and given whatever they want. It seems too good to be true, and, of course, it is.
The Real Boy
by Anne Ursu, 2013. jFiction Ursu
Oscar, lowly hand to Caleb, the Barrow’s most powerful magician, knows he is not like other boys. Constantly
ridiculed by the apprentice Wolf, he takes comfort in sorting and grinding herbs in the cellar amid the cats.
When Wolf is murdered and city children start to fall ill, Oscar and his only friend, the healer’s apprentice,
must solve the riddle of the Barrow’s disappearing magic.
Loot
by Jude Watson, 2014. jFiction Watson
Twins March and Jules McQuin, separated since birth, team up to find the Moonstones of Merlin, seven incredibly
valuable (and reputedly cursed) gems that led to the deaths of their parents, both international jewel thieves.
The Forbidden Library
by Django Wexler, 2014. jFiction Wexler
Alice is sent to live with her sinister Uncle Geryon after her father is lost at sea. She quickly
discovers that she possesses latent magical abilities, and that she must acquire more by
entering books in her uncle’s secret library if she is to defeat a supernatural enemy.
Boys of Blur
by N. D. Wilson, 2014. jFiction Wilson
When his step-father replaces the deceased coach of the high school football team,
Charlie Reynolds and his family move back to Taper, Florida. Something eerie and
unnatural resides in the swamps and cane fields outside of town, and Charlie and his
cousin Cotton suddenly find themselves in a life-or-death struggle to save themselves
and the people of Taper.
Best New Nonfiction Grades 6-8
Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library
Every Body’s Talking: What We Say Without Words
by Donna M. Jackson, 2014. j153.69 J12e
Learn what you’re actually saying without ever opening your mouth as you break down body language
and nonverbal cues.
Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek
by Maya Van Wagenen, 2014. j155.537 W131p
While every teen wants the secret to popularity, Maya Van Wagenen thought she found it in a 1950’s
guide to being popular. Follow this actual teen’s journey through girdles and pearls as she spends
her last year of middle school trying out this funny and sometimes painful social experiment.
The Freedom Summer Murders
by Don Mitchell, 2014. j323.1196073 M681f
2014 is the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer where volunteers canvassed through Mississippi to
help register African-Americans to vote. The area came under intense scrutiny when three civil rights
activists helping with the movement were murdered by the KKK.
The Girl from the Tar Paper School: Barbara Rose Johns and the Advent of the Civil Rights Movement
by Teri Kanefield, 2014. j323.092 K16g
One of the first protests in the civil rights movement, Barbara Rose Johns stood up for herself and fellow students
when she declared that separate was not equal and staged a walkout from her school, where the walls were literally
covered in tar paper. The legal case that ensued eventually became the landmark Brown v. Board of Education.
Stubby the War Dog: The True Story of World War I’s Bravest Dog
by Ann Bausum, 2014. j355.424 B351s
A quintessential dog story, Stubby was a loyal, brave canine who followed troops into
World War I and lived on to become a celebrity.
Lives of the Scientists: Experiments, Explosions (and What the Neighbors Thought)
by Kathleen Krull, 2014. j509.22 K94l
An irreverent look at some of the world’s most famous scientists. Learn the details, both normal and eccentric,
of the big names in science.
Tracking Tyrannosaurs: Meet T. Rex’s Fascinating Family, from Tiny Terrors to Feathered Giants
by Christopher Sloan, 2013. j567.9129 S634t
With a family tree not quite like your own, meet the Tyrannosaur clan, an evolutionary brood of fierce predators.
Details include research facilities and dinosaur profiles from older discoveries to one in 2012- covered in feathers!
Bugged!: How Insects Changed History
by Sarah Albee, 2014. j595.7 A328b
When you think of historical figures, your brain probably wouldn’t list any insects, but bugs
have made many significant impacts on human history. Study the fascinating and often gross
way bugs have changed our world.
Sea Turtle Scientist
by Stephen Swinburne, 2014. j597.9289 S978s
Part of the extraordinary Scientists in the Field series; get an up close look at “the Turtle Lady of St. Kitts”
and her fascinating subjects: gorgeous sea turtles.
Pandemic Survival: It’s Why You’re Alive
by Ann Love, 2013. j614.49 L897p
Death, destruction, and panic are some of the side effects of pandemics and plagues, but one
of the better side effects is the health benefits transmitted to future generations. Learn the nasty
facts about these diseases and the science of how it benefits your life now.
Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat
by Gail Jarrow, 2014. j616.393 J37r
For two centuries, scientists and doctors were baffled by the mystery of pellagra, a disease that started off
uncomfortable and degenerated into madness and death. As millions were affected in the American South,
the Public Health Service sent doctors in to go to any lengths to solve this devastating problem.
This Star Won’t Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl
by Esther Grace Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl, 2014. j616.99444 E12t
An inspiring tear-jerker compiling the life and work of Esther Earl, a talented teen who
died of thyroid cancer at 16 and was the subject of John Green’s dedication for his novel
The Fault in Our Stars.
Fourth Down and Inches: Concussions and Football’s Make-or-Break Moment
by Carla McClafferty, 2013. j617.1027 M126f
Enter the rough and tumble world of football, from the early history where 10-20 deaths a year were due to injuries
on the field to the modern day when science is learning how much devastating brain damage could be due to the
sport’s injuries. Can football rally as it did before to remain one of the top American pastimes?
Fighting Fire!: Ten of the Deadliest Fires in American History and How We Fought Them
by Michael Cooper, 2014. j628.925 C777f
Fire! Delve into dangerous and deadly fires throughout American history, and see how firefighters have been able
to adapt their techniques and become more successful at putting out the blaze.
The World Series: Baseball’s Biggest Stage
by Matt Doeden, 2014. j796.357646 D649w
Celebrating a century of World Series showdowns, learn the history and analyze the modern match-ups.
How They Choked: Failure, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous
by Georgia Bragg, 2014. j920 B813h
Adding depth to some historical figures, this volume focuses on some epic fails of famous folks.
Following in the footsteps of How They Croaked, this volume maintains the snarky attitude,
illustrating that everyone makes mistakes while making history fun.
Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival
by Marcel Prins, 2014. j940.53180922 P957h
Featuring true stories of World War II, this book gives first-hand accounts of children hiding from the Nazis during
World War II.
Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific
by Mary Cronk Farrell, 2014. j940.547573 F245p
Peacetime army nurses serving in the Phillippines in the early 1940s were suddenly thrust into the action
after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Surviving explosions, tending soldiers, and becoming prisoners of
war, these 101 nurses got through the war on pure grit.
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights
by Steve Sheinkin, 2014. j940.5453 S543p
A dramatic and insightful look at the discrimination and injustice faced by black troops during World War II
with a tension-filled examination of dangerous conditions and a court-martial for mutiny.
Ick! Yuck! Eew!: Our Gross American History
by Lois Miner Huey, 2014. j973 H888i
Think American history is dull and boring? Take a disgusting trip into the ickiest
facets of the American past.
The Great American Dust Bowl
by Don Brown, 2013. j978.032 B877g
A gorgeous, dramatic graphic novel depicting the Dust Bowl from the devastation to the causes to
the effects on the land and people.
Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain
by Russell Freedman, 2013. j979.46 F853a
A guide and history of the “Ellis Island of the West,” Freedman shows the diverse immigration patterns
of the United States and the often harsh conditions immigrants faced.
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker
by Patricia Powell, 2014. jB B1677 P885j
A biography told through poetry, meet Josephine Baker, a sassy performer and civil rights advocate.
Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure
by Samantha Seiple, 2013. jB B995 S461b
Follow the legendary explorer, Richard Byrd and his fellow explorer, Igloo, the only dog to
investigate the North and South poles as they make history and great scientific research.
March. Book One
by John Lewis, 2013. jB L6745m V01
First in a graphic novel trilogy, Book One depicts a first-hand account of John Lewis’ youth and work during
the civil rights movement set against the backdrop of his role as a Congressman preparing for Obama’s
first inauguration.
Best New Books Grades 9-12
Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library
The Impossible Knife of Memory
by Laurie Halse Anderson, 2014. Fiction Anderson
Hayley Kincaid and her father, after having served in the Iraq War, move back to their hometown to try a ‘normal’
life, but his PTSD and her feelings of abandonment make it a challenge.
Team Seven
by Marcus Burke, 2014. Fiction Burke
A teen’s promising basketball career is threatened by the violence and drugs in his community.
Will his talent win out over the bad influences in his neighborhood and even his own house?
When Mr. Dog Bites
by Brian Conaghan, 2014. Fiction Conaghan
All 17-year-old Dylan wants is to keep his Tourette’s in check and live as a normal teen, but during a routine
hospital visit he overhears that he is going to die, and in an attempt to claim the life he has always wanted
he makes a bucket list and sets out to have some fun.
Love Letters to the Dead
by Ava Dellaira, 2014. Fiction Dellaira
For a school assignment, Laurel has to write a letter to a dead person. As she begins to write more and more letters
to dead celebrities, she starts to learn more about herself and her family, including her sister’s mysterious death.
Dangerous
by Shannon Hale, 2014. Fiction Hale
Maisie Danger Brown, a homeschooled science geek who was born without a right hand, wins
a contest to go to astronaut camp. When she and the other space camp students get the
opportunity to do something amazing in space, will she be the hero or just a “regular girl from
Salt Lake City?”
Rumble
by Ellen Hopkins, 2014. Fiction Hopkins
Eighteen-year-old Matt doesn’t have faith in anything, least of all God. His atheism is tested when, after a horrific
accident that plunges him into a dark, quiet place, he hears a voice that calls everything he has ever disbelieved
into question.
Minders
by Michele Jaffe, 2014. Fiction Jaffe
Sadie, a wealthy, success-oriented sixteen-year-old joins the prestigious Mind Corps Fellowship
program as an observer in the head of Ford, a troubled, possibly murderous boy, with whom
Sadie falls in love.
These Broken Stars
by Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner, 2013. Fiction Kaufman
When catastrophe strikes on board the luxury spaceliner, the Icarus, two star-crossed lovers must fight for survival.
As the only survivors on an uninhabited planet, will they ever be found? Do they even want to be found?
Complicit
by Stephanie Kuehn, 2014. Fiction Kuehn
Jamie’s mother was murdered when he was six, about seven years later his sister Cate was incarcerated for burning
down a neighbor’s barn, and now Jamie, fifteen, learns that Cate has been released and is coming back for him,
blaming him for all the bad things that led to her arrest.
Like No Other
by Una LaMarche, 2014. Fiction LaMarche
When a hurricane strikes, Devorah and Jax, two neighbors from very different backgrounds, finally cross paths
and begin a relationship. Though their relationship is strictly forbidden, they arrange secret meetings and risk
everything to be together.
We Were Liars
by E. Lockhart, 2014. Fiction Lockhart
Cadence and her family spend every summer on an island of Massachusetts. Her fifteenth summer,
she suffers a mysterious accident and spends the next two years trying to piece together what
happened and struggles to remember.
Proxy
by Alex London, 2014. Fiction London
Syd is a proxy who must pay for the crimes of his patron, Knox. When Knox accidentally kills someone, Syd
escapes, only to be helped by Knox. The two of them must work together to try to overthrow the system.
Tease
by Amanda Maciel, 2014. Fiction Maciel
Sara Wharton is charged with bullying and harassment after a classmate commits suicide.
Suddenly Sara finds herself the victim of bullying when everyone blames her for the death
of their classmate, and Sara is forced to examine her role in the girl’s suicide.
Thirty Girls
by Susan Minot, 2014. Fiction Minot
Forced to witness and commit unspeakable atrocities after being abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, Ugandan teen Esther struggles to survive and escape before crossing paths with Jane, an American journalist who has
traveled to Africa to advocate on behalf of children like Esther.
Side Effects May Vary
by Julie Murphy, 2014. Fiction Murphy
When 17 year-old Alice gets diagnosed with leukemia, she decides to right some wrongs in her
life, and ends up seeking revenge on those who have wronged her. When her cancer goes into
remission, she realizes the effects of the things she has said and done.
I’ll Give You the Sun
by Jandy Nelson, 2014. Fiction Nelson
Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in
love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the
talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to
wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways.
Knockout Games
by G. Neri, 2014. Fiction Neri
As a gang of urban teenagers known as the TKO Club makes random attacks on bystanders,
Erica, who is dating the gang leader, wrestles with her dark side and “good kid” identity.
Amity
by Micol Ostow, 2014. Fiction Ostow
Connor begins having horrible nightmares when his family moves into a secluded house in New England called
Amity. Ten years later, Gwen’s family moves into Amity and she begins having lurid visions and begins to question
her sanity. What is going on in this house of horrors?
Dorothy Must Die
by Danielle Paige, 2014. Fiction Paige
Amy Gumm, the other girl from Kansas, has been recruited by the Revolutionary Order
of the Wicked to stop Dorothy who has found a way to come back to Oz, seizing a power
that has gone to her head--so now no one is safe!
Heart Beat
by Elizabeth Scott, 2014. Fiction Scott
Emma’s mother is being kept alive on life support because of the living baby growing inside of her. Estranged from
her stepfather, the only person she can turn to is her best friend. Then bad-boy Caleb Harrison comes along and
reminds her that there just might be life and love after death and grief.
Far From You
by Tess Sharpe, 2014. Fiction Sharpe
Sophie Winters nearly died. Twice. The first time, she’s fourteen, and escapes a near-fatal
car accident with scars, a bum leg, and an addiction to Oxy that’ll take years to kick.
The second time, she’s seventeen, and it’s no accident.
Grasshopper Jungle
by Andrew Smith, 2014. Fiction Smith
Austin Szerba and his best friend Robby accidentally unleash an army of giant, unstoppable bugs and uncover
the secrets of a decades-old experiment gone terribly wrong.
The Scar Boys
by Len Vlahos, 2014. Fiction Vlahos
Eighteen-year-old Harry Jones writes a college admission essay that chronicles his life, from the incident at eight
years old that left him permanently disfigured, to later meeting a friend and starting a band. Through playing music, Harry develops self-confidence and his life is changed.
Noggin
by John Corey Whaley, 2014. Fiction Whaley
After dying at age sixteen, Travis Coates’ head was removed and frozen for five years before
being attached to another body. Now he’s still 16 but everything around him has changed.
Will the old Travis and the new Travis ever learn to coexist?
Silver
by Chris Wooding, 2014. Fiction Wooding
A mismatched group of students at Mortingham Boarding Academy find themselves fighting for their
lives when an infestation of beetles spreads a mysterious virus through campus.
Best New Nonfiction Grades 9-12
Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out
by Susan Kuklin, 2014. 306.768 K96b
Six transgender and gender neutral teens open up about their emotional and physical journeys.
Because They Marched: The People’s Campaign for Voting Rights That Changed America
by Russell Freedman, 2014. j323.1196073 F853b
Newbery award-winner Russell Freedman gives an account of the 1965 march for voting rights from Selma
to Montgomery, Alabama that helped change the course of American history.
Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave
by Shyima Hall, 2014. j362.77 H179h
The heartbreaking and triumphant story of a young woman’s journey into slavery
at eight years old to freedom over five years later.
Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison
by Nell Bernstein, 2014. 365.420973 B531b
An award-winning investigative journalist exposes life inside juvenile detention facilities and tells the stories
of youths who have ended up there.
ACT 36 in Just 7 Steps
by Maria Filsinger and Shaan Patel, 2013. 378.1664 A111 F489a
A student who earned a perfect score on the ACT tells how to do the same in just 7 steps.
Undecided: Navigating Life and Learning after High School
by Genevieve Morgan, 2014. j378.198 M848u
A comprehensive self-help guide for those who are about to graduate high school and aren’t
sure what to do next.
A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)
by Barbara Oakley, 2014. 510.19 O11m
An engineering professor shows us there is more than one way to solve a program, and that we all have what
it takes to excel in math and science
Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us
by Michael Moss, 2013. 613.2 M913s
A book that will open your eyes to the ways food companies manipulate consumers,
making the U.S. the fattest country in the world.
Positive: Surviving My Bullies, Finding Hope, and Living to Change the World: A Memoir
by Paige Rawl, 2014. 616.9792 R258p
A true story of a woman born HIV-positive and how she survived an adolescence full of bullying to become
a force for change.
The Green Teen Cookbook
by Laurane Marchive , 2014. 641.5 G798
An easy to follow guide for “going green” in the kitchen that includes over 70 recipes created by teens, for teens.
Photos Framed: A Fresh Look at the World’s Most Memorable Photographs
by Ruth Thomson and Various, 2014. j779 T484p
A study of the world’s most iconic photos and what makes them extraordinary.
Any Given Number: Who Wore It Best, from 00 to 99
by Editors of Sports Illustrated, 2014. 796.02 S983a
The editors of Sports Illustrated reveal little-known facts about a number’s history and try to answer the
question: Who’s the greatest athlete across all sports who wore a number best, from 00 to 99?
The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and Inside the Heads of Basketball’s Best Players
by Idan Ravin, 2014. 796.323 R256h
An attorney turned basketball trainer gives an inside look at his work with the biggest stars in the industry.
Thrice Told Tales: Three Mice Full of Writing Advice
by Catherine Lewis, 2013. j803 L673t
An entertaining and easy to understand overview of literary elements with humorous illustrations.
Hone your writing skills, get writing advice, and learn the difference between bildungsroman,
epigram, and epistolary.
A World of Her Own: 24 Amazing Women Explorers and Adventurers
by Michael Elsohn Ross, 2014. j910.92 R825w
Inspirational stories of twenty four pioneers in science and exploration.
The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi
by Neal Bascomb, 2013. j943.086092 B298n
Fifteen years after the end of WWII a team of Jewish men and women work together to capture and bring
to justice a notorious Nazi war criminal.
The President Has Been Shot!: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy
by James L. Swanson, 2013. j973.922092 S972p
New York Times best-selling author of Chasing Lincoln’s Killer recreates one of the
most shocking crimes in U.S. history and its effect on the American people.
Andre the Giant: Life and Legend
by Box Brown, 2014. B A555 B877a
A biography of the professional wrestler and actor whose huge physique both made him famous and
caused his early death.
Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood’s Most Famous
by Jennifer Buhl, 2014. B B9312s
A real life paparazza gives an insider’s look at those who make a living off photographing
the rich and famous. A light-hearted and fun read with an equal mix of personal
anecdotes and celebrity gossip.
Clemente: The True Legacy of an Undying Hero
by the Clemente Family, 2013. B C6262 C6264
A family opens up about the amazing athlete, humanitarian, and legend who broke racial barriers.
In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court
by Brittney Griner and Sue Hovey, 2014. B G866i
The number one pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft talks about her personal
journey on and off the court.
The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir
by Gaby Rodriguez, 2012. B R6962p
Gaby was a high school honor student, yet her family, friends and community still assumed
she would end up a teen mother, like her sister and her own mother before her. For a class
project, she decides to fake a pregnancy, challenging stereotypes and learning big life
lessons in the process.
I Am Malala
by Malala Yousafzai , 2013. B Y82i
The story of the girl who stood up for her right to an education and became
an international symbol of peaceful protest.
Best New Books for Educators
Books at Columbus Metropolitan Library
Building a Better Teacher: How Teaching Works (and How to Teach it to Everyone)
by Elizabeth Green, 2014. 370.711 G795b
Through educators’ stories, Green explores the dynamics of truly effective teaching.
Crash Course: The Life Lessons My Students Taught Me
by Kim Bearden, 2014. 371.102 B368c
Throughout the ups and downs of her professional and personal life, Kim found that her students were the light
that illuminated her path; they were her sanctuary in the storm. Kim shares how children can teach each of us
the importance of building relationships, abandoning fear, embracing one’s unique gifts, and living with passion.
The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession
by Dana Goldstein, 2014. 371.102 G624t
From a brilliant young scholar comes a comprehensive history of 175 years of teaching
in America which shows teachers have always borne the brunt of shifting, often
impossible expectations.
Lessons of Hope: How to Fix Our Schools
by Joel Klein, 2014. 371.207
As chancellor of the NYC Dept. of Education from 2002 to 2011, Klein upset apple carts as he tried to steer a new
course. His advice for improving U.S. public schools is imparted through an account of his experiences at the time.
Available Nov, 2014.
Thinking Differently: An Inspiring Guide for Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities
by David Flink, 2014. 371.9 F622t
An innovative guide to help parents understand and accept learning disabilities in their children, offering tips
and strategies for successfully advocating on their behalf and helping them become their own best voice.
Getting Schooled: The Reeducation of an American Teacher
by Garret Keizer, 2014. 373.1102 K28g
Keizer returns to the rural Vermont high school where he had taught 14 years
ago to reassess … finally arguing that public education need not fail and that
treating educational reform as a panacea for America’s social ills is a big mistake.
Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life
by William Deresiewicz, 2014. 378.73 D431e
Deresiewicz taught English at Yale until 2008 and served on the admissions committee. So trust him when he
says that what’s wrong with higher education today is that students have spent their lives pushing for top
grades and consequently don’t know how to think creatively or ask good questions.
Middle School Makeover: Improving the Way You and Your Child Experience the Middle School Years
by Michelle Icard, 2014. 649.125 I15m
Icard offers readers concrete and practical advice for guiding children through this chaotic developmental
stage while also building their confidence.
Born Reading: Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age –
From Picture Books to eBooks and Everything in Between
by Jason Boog, 2014. 649.58 B724b
After interviewing childhood development experts, librarians, and children’s book authors
and publishers, Boog offers an interactive approach focusing on children from birth to age five.
Blackboard: A Personal History
by Lewis Buzzbee, 2014. B B992b
Buzbee deftly weaves his own biography into this overview, approaching his subject as a student,
a father, and a teacher. In so doing, he offers a moving personal testament to how he, “an average
student” in danger of flunking out of high school, became the first in his family to graduate
from college.