Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise
By Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick Press
$16.95, ages 4 and up
Minnesota’s award-winning author Kate DiCamillo does it again! In this newest addition to the Mercy Watson series, Mercy’s fans will enjoy her hilarious Halloween antics as she searches for her favorite treat – marvelously buttered toast. Delightful illustrations will make this an instant favorite.
Be a Super Test Taker!
By Laurie Rozakis
Scholastic Reference
$6.99, ages 7-10
With school days just around the corner, elementary students will benefit from this kid-friendly book offering an array of guides to exams and standardized tests. From helpful hints on how to answer every type of question to strategies for test day, this book will provide students with the confidence they need to perform their very best.
Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff
By Jennifer Holm
Simon & Schuster
$12.99, ages 8-12
Middle schoolers will revel in this intimate look at a seventh-grade girl’s year in middle school. Told in scrapbook form, the story is a hilarious and honest look at middle school life and Ginny’s experiences on the brink of teenager-hood.
Slam Dunk!
By Sharon Robinson
Scholastic Inc.
$16.99, ages 9-12
Sharon Robinson, daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, shares the motivational tale of a young middle schooler who struggles to hit the books while hitting the court at his new school in Harlem. Balancing sports and academics can be a struggle for many kids, and this novel helps readers understand how one kid faced a slew of obstacles while striving for his dream.
Grace Above All
By Jane St. Anthony
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
$16.00, ages 10 and up
Many middle school and teen readers have come to love the writings of Minnesota-based author Jane St. Anthony. In her previous novel, The Summer Sherman Loved Me, readers were treated to a wonderful tale of friendship and love between Grace and her good friend Sherman. In this companion novel, readers will experience the trials and tribulations that 13-year-old Grace goes through during her summer vacation, all while trying to understand the role she plays in her unique family.
