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Title: The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse

Author: Nicholas Gannon

Narrator: Bronson Pinchot

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-07-17

Publisher: Harper Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

The stand-alone sequel to The Doldrums, which the New York Times called "a dreamy charmer of a book", is a second tour de force by author-illustrator Nicholas Gannon. It brims with the spirit of exploration and celebrates the bond of friendship. The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse is a timeless tale and a beautiful gift for a young listener.

Archer Helmsley's grandparents - famous explorers who went missing on an iceberg two years ago - are finally coming home. Archer is overjoyed, but he may be the only one. Rumors are flying that Archer's grandparents were never really abandoned on the iceberg, that they're making it all up. Archer knows that the rumors are false. With his best friends, Oliver and Adélaïde, and their new neighbor, Kana, Archer sets out during a snowstorm to rescue his grandparents' reputation.

In the tradition of Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and Brian Selznick, Nicholas Gannon's wildly imaginative world of The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse is packed with sly humor, an undeniably charming cast of characters, and the thrill of discovering secrets and adventures right in your own backyard.

With deft, literary writing, Nicholas Gannon once again creates a fully realized world and a story to sink into and explore.

Members Reviews:

A Disappointing Sequel to an AMAZING original

I wish I could give this 3.5 stars. First I want to say that I LOVED the original book & even bought it for my collection. This one, however, is not as good a follow-up as I would have hoped for. The characters are not as well-drawn as they were in the original & the author doesn't put in the effort to make you really feel like you know them again. Exceptions to this are Archer (the hero) & his new friend Benjamin. I would have liked to see more of Benjamin actually as he seemed really interesting. Kana is not given enough depth & I don't feel like you really get to know her. The book moved slowly and was a bit blah for the first 1/3 but then it picked up some. It has an entertaining mystery, but solves it very early on & you just spend the whole book watching them try to prove it and periodically being threatened by the same guy, which isn't as fun as having it unfold more slowly & with more complexity. There are also some unexplained loose ends that could have proven one of the bad guys guilty but those are never addressed & left hanging. One other point is that this book has SO MANY editing issues in it that it's distracting. There are so many grammatical errors & dropped words, the editors really should have caught it. It gets in the way of enjoying the books. Still, I will read a third book if it is published. This author has a lot of talent--it just wasn't as on display here as it was in the original. This book felt rushed.

This is the PERFECT holiday gift for every child on your list!!!!

There are so many wonderful aspects to this book, I am not sure where to begin, it is a holiday gift for all the senses!!!

First - Presentation. Mr. Gannon's second work exudes warmth and charm - its rich color palette and lush paper stock give the book such presence & substance it make it almost impossible to put down!!!!

Second - Numerous incredibly detailed & gorgeous color illustrations and spot drawings throughout the book make it a literal feast for the eyes.

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Title: The Perfect Score

Author: Rob Buyea

Narrator: Ozzie Rodriguez, Abigail Revasch, Caitlin Davies, full cast

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-03-17

Publisher: Listening Library

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

From the beloved author of Because of Mr. Terupt and its sequels comes The Perfect Score, a new middle-grade school story with a very special cast of unforgettable characters who discover that getting the perfect score - both on the test and in life - is perhaps not so perfect after all.

No one likes or wants to take the statewide assessment tests. Not the students in Mrs. Woods's sixth-grade class. Not even Mrs. Woods. It's not as if the kids don't already have things to worry about....

Under pressure to be the top gymnast her mother expects her to be, Randi starts to wonder what her destiny truly holds. Football-crazy Gavin has always struggled with reading and feels as dumb as his high school dropout father. Trevor acts tough and mean, but as much as he hates school, he hates being home even more. Scott's got a big brain and an even bigger heart, especially when it comes to his grandfather, but his good intentions always backfire in spectacular ways. Natalie, know-it-all and aspiring lawyer, loves to follow the rules - only this year, she's about to break them all.

The whole school is in a frenzy with test time approaching - kids, teachers, the administration. Everyone is anxious. When one of the kids has a big idea for acing the tests, they're all in. But things get ugly before they get better, and, in the end, the real meaning of the perfect score surprises them all.

Members Reviews:

Don't follow your heart, your heart lies. Have a heart and use your brain!

I donât do this for a lot of books, but I felt called to do it for this one. I really like the story. I like how the kids wrestled with what to do. I like how they stood up for one another. I like how they realized they needed to take responsibility for their actions. What I donât like is the conclusion they arrived at. Cheating was never their best option. Standing up for what they believed, protesting, banding together to accomplish a common goal would have been noble efforts. The last two chapters concluded with the concepts of following your heart and destiny. Following your heart is a recipe for disaster. Our hearts lie all the time, and we need to teach kids to have hearts, but to think with their brains. I also want to let my children know that it is not their destiny to cheat. This is a great story! I really enjoyed it. Buyeaâs conclusion changed a wonderful realistic fiction story into a fairy tale for me. I will have this book on my shelf, but it will come with an addendum of my own rebutting the ideas of following your heart to your destiny. I hope my students and my own children have a much more solid footing than that.

but got better towards the middle

My 10-year-old daughter absolutely loves this author. She said is started a little slow for her, but got better towards the middle.

Great characters

Great read!

Five Stars

great story.

Three Stars

kinda boring, would not recommend

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Title: Greetings from Witness Protection!

Author: Jake Burt

Narrator: Tara Sands, Danny Campbell, Arthur Morey, Olivia Mackenzie-Smith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-03-17

Publisher: Listening Library

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

Nicki Demere is an orphan and a pickpocket. She also happens to be the US Marshals' best bet to keep a family alive....

The marshals are looking for the perfect girl to join a mother, father, and son on the run from the nation's most notorious criminals. After all, the bad guys are searching for a family with one kid, not two, and adding a streetwise girl who knows a little something about hiding things may be just what the marshals need.

Nicki swears she can keep the Trevor family safe, but to do so she'll have to dodge hit men, cyberbullies, and the specter of standardized testing, all while maintaining her marshal-mandated B-minus average. As she barely balances the responsibilities of her new identity, Nicki learns that the biggest threats to her family's security might not lurk on the road from New York to North Carolina but rather in her own past.

Jake Burt's debut middle-grade novel Greetings from Witness Protection! is as funny as it is poignant.

Members Reviews:

Unique plot line and characters youll enjoy knowing

This was a very clever story that was suspenseful, yet endearing; thought-provoking, yet funny. I completely enjoyed the storyline, characters, and audio performance. I can highly recommend this book for middle grade readers! Cant wait for Burts next book!

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Title: The Portal and the Veil

Subtitle: The Keepers, Book 3

Author: Ted Sanders

Narrator: Andrew Eiden

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-17

Publisher: Harper Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

In the third book of Ted Sanders' Keepers series, Horace and his friends discover their talismans of power may be dying out. Now the race is on to save their way of life - and the world as we know it.

Horace F. Andrews and his friends are fighting the battle of their lives, a battle that will decide the fate of everyone and everything they love. As Wardens and Keepers of Tan'ji, the fabled talismans of power, it is their duty to keep the world safe from those who would destroy it. But all is not as it seems. Sometimes there are too many secrets and too many places to stumble in the dark. When one powerful Keeper and his Tan'ji are kidnapped, the Wardens have to ask who could have betrayed them. Who could have let the enemy into their stronghold?

This third book in Ted Sanders' gripping series leads the listener onto new paths, new revelations, and new mysteries in the Keepers saga, where answers only bring more questions and the secrets behind the true nature of good and evil are revealed.

Members Reviews:

Never a dull moment

Love the series....and even more as each book comes out....thanks for helping my mind stay open and free

Loved by mom & daughter alike

My 11 year old and I have listened to the whole series, and cant wait for the next one. I love how many strong female characters there are, how characters of both genders can be gentle or fierce. Theyre complex people, and so beautifully crafted. I like that the kids have real life problems and are flawed. How adults who had hard childhoods are shown with different abilities to cope. Highly recommend for people who love books like the Harry Potter series. Theres more to these books than meets the eye. Theyve sparked many important insightful conversations about life and friendship and bravery. I cant say enough!

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Title: Skeleton Tree

Author: Kim Ventrella

Narrator: Christopher Gebauer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-17

Publisher: Scholastic Audio

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

A staggering debut that will forever change the way you think about life, hope, death...and the power of friendship to transcend them all.

Twelve-year-old Stanly knows the bone is a little weird, but that's okay, because now he'll have the perfect photo to submit to the Young Discoverer's Competition. With such a unique find, he's sure to win the grand prize.

But, oddly, the bone doesn't appear in any photos. Even stranger, it seems to be growing into a full skeleton...one that only children can see.

There's just one person who doesn't find any of this weird - Stanly's little sister. Mischievous Miren adopts the skeleton as a friend, and soon, the two become inseparable playmates.

When Miren starts to grow sick, Stanly suspects that the skeleton is responsible and does everything in his power to drive the creature away. However, Miren is desperate not to lose her friend, forcing Stanly to question everything he's ever believed about life, love, and the mysterious forces that connect us.

Members Reviews:

An imaginary skeleton friend for kids

Skeleton Tree is about a family dealing with loss. Stanley's father has left, his sister is terminally ill, and their mother is trying to hold it all together. Stanley sees a bone in his yard grow into a skeleton that only children can see and it becomes his sister's best friend. Stanley suspects that is why she is sick though, and tries to get rid of their skeleton friend.

I thought this was a unique tale. It deals with some sad topics, but it's done in a way that's not so dark or depressing for a young reader. It has a bit of humor added to it to lighten the mood. The chapters are short and quick to read. The book is recommended for ages 8 to 12 and I think that's a good range for readers comfortable with chapter books. The book is probably geared toward the younger in that set, but is appropriate for all those ages. My daughter liked the book, but it did get her thinking and asking about death and terminal illnesses. I think the book was a good way to introduce those serious topics.

Many come and go but few stand out like "Skeleton Tree"

As a children's librarian, I read a lot of children's books--a LOT. Many come and go but few stand out like "Skeleton Tree". Ventrella writes with an ease sure to capture even reluctant middle-grade readers but for those who choose to see them, there are hints of more...hints of depth and sparks of hilarious brightness that keep you from falling into deeper sadness. With a swirl of magic, the dark time for Stanly is made lighthter, more bearable. We all go, or will go, through dark periods in our lives and it starts younger for some than others. Books like "Skeleton Tree" give readers an emotional vocabulary necessary for dealing with dark times and remembering that it too, shall pass. For students who have been through divorce or the death of a loved one, they will identify with Stanly and for those who have not yet experienced these things, they will be able to sympathize with others when, inevitably, those sad things happen in their world. Not that there is only sadness in this book, there is definitely laugh out-loud humor and the calming, pleasing presence of the Krgystanian helper.

Yet there is another helper: I loved the reclamation of the grim reaper as more of a helper--a guide through to the other side.

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Title: The Mage

Subtitle: Foxcraft, Book 3

Author: Inbali Iserles

Narrator: Stephanie Drake

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-17

Publisher: Scholastic Audio

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

The final book in a thrilling fantasy trilogy starring one of the animal kingdom's most hunted heroes. Foxcraft is full of excitement and heart and a touch of magic. Isla's journey to rescue her brother comes to an end in this rich and gripping conclusion to the Foxcraft trilogy. The young fox travels to the frigid Snowlands to seek help among the wolves, and discovers the most well-kept secrets of her kind.

Members Reviews:

I love foxes!

This is a good end to the series. I love the world and animals of the book.

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Title: No Way Out

Subtitle: Shadow House, Book 3

Author: Dan Poblocki

Narrator: Dan Bittner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-29-17

Publisher: Scholastic Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

The third installment in the exciting Shadow House series that invites you to step inside the ghost story!

Shadow House always wins....

Poppy, Dash, Azumi, and Dylan may have made it out of Shadow House - but the grounds are a whole new nightmare. Someone they thought was a friend is hunting them, and there's no place that's safe now that they've woken the shadow creature.

If they want to survive, they'll have to figure out once and for all what the house wants from them, and what - or who - they'll need to leave behind in order to escape...or risk being trapped within Shadow House forever.

Members Reviews:

Best of Shadow House series

This is the best of the Shadow House series. I will admit it did not genuinely scare me, but it is still my favorite. I want more Shadow House!! Maybe Dan Poblocki should write a prequel about the orphan's experiences. I love the inside cover picture, totally creepy. I would recommend it for a fan of supernatural horror stories.

Five Stars

Students love this series!!

Requested by grandson

Bought as a gift

Granddaughter loves this series

This is the only thing she wanted for her birthday. That says a lot coming from a tween!

Great book! Dan Poblocki did an amazing job on ...

Great book! Dan Poblocki did an amazing job on this series. This is definitely one of my favorites.

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Title: Orphan Island

Author: Laurel Snyder

Narrator: Kim Mai Guest

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-30-17

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 50 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

"A wondrous book, wise and wild and deeply true." (Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon)

For listeners who loved Sara Pennypacker's Pax and Lois Lowry's The Giver comes a deep, compelling, heartbreaking, and completely one-of-a-kind novel about nine children who live on a mysterious island.

On the island, everything is perfect. The sun rises in a sky filled with dancing shapes; the wind, water, and trees shelter and protect those who live there; when the nine children go to sleep in their cabins, it is with full stomachs and joy in their hearts. And only one thing ever changes, on that day each year when a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join them - and taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again.

Today's Changing is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinny's best friend, Deen, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility now - to teach Ess everything she needs to know about the island, to keep things as they've always been. But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will come back - and take her away forever from the only home she's known?

Members Reviews:

Sequel in the works?

I am pretty sure this is one of the silliest, directionless books I have read. Nothing tied together and I can only guess that a sequel will tie it all together?? However, there was so little in this story to make me wonder, that it doesnt matter.

Intriguing but slow

Very thought provoking, interesting book. Beautifully written, well read by narrator. But we found it slow at the end. The protagonist became very tiresome.

Too many unanswered questions

Overall my 10 yr old daughter thought the story was pretty good. The main character sometimes made her mad, and she found the ending frustrating because there were so many unanswered questions. But the story itself was very interesting and engaging. If the ending had been wrapped up better, she said she would have given it 5 stars

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Title: York: The Shadow Cipher

Author: Laura Ruby

Narrator: Adam Verner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-16-17

Publisher: Harper Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 66 votes

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

From National Book Award finalist and Printz Award winner Laura Ruby comes the first book in an epic alternate history series about three kids who try to solve the greatest mystery of the modern world: a puzzle and treasure hunt laid into the very streets and buildings of New York City.

It was 1798 when the Morningstarr twins arrived in New York with a vision for a magnificent city: towering skyscrapers, dazzling machines, and winding train lines, all running on technology no one had ever seen before. Fifty-seven years later, the enigmatic architects disappeared, leaving behind for the people of New York the Old York Cipher - a puzzle laid into the shining city they constructed, at the end of which was promised a treasure beyond all imagining. By the present day, however, the puzzle has never been solved, and the greatest mystery of the modern world is little more than a tourist attraction.

Tess and Theo Biedermann and their friend Jaime Cruz live in a Morningstarr apartment - until a real estate developer announces that the city has agreed to sell him the five remaining Morningstarr buildings. Their likely destruction means the end of a dream long held by the people of New York. And if Tess, Theo, and Jaime want to save their home, they have to prove that the Old York Cipher is real. Which means they have to solve it.

Members Reviews:

PLEASE get a new narrator!

I loved the story and dialogue and characters... but I couldn't stand listening to the narration... it was totally ruining a fantastic book... I seriously had to stop because the narrator was bothering me so much... his inflections were just weird... and his different voices for the different characters were nearly indistinguishable... either make them different or just read them all the same. It's not just me either... my wife totally agrees with me and my 12 year old son didn't like the narrator also... although he could stand it enough to finish it. Maybe I just got spoiled from just listening to Nathaniel Parker narrate the Artemis Fowl series... he was seriously incredible.

Great stat

I know this book is rated for young adults but it kept me engaged and unable to stop listening

Now my only disappointment is waiting for the next book to come out

Exciting

York was such a pleasant surprise. It was so well written with a rich story line, dynamic characters that are all so lovable and it is set in a wonderfully unique New York City. I absolutely love it and am going to recommend it to everyone I know with young children. Even adults would love it. I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book.

Wonderful

Want sure what to expect and wast very pleasantly surprised. Interesting plot, great characters, excellent read! Very much looking forward to book two.

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Title: Knock About with the Fitzgerald-Trouts

Author: Esta Spalding

Narrator: Caitlin Kelly

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-09-17

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Genres: Kids, Ages 8-10

Publisher's Summary:

Welcome to the further adventures of the plucky Fitzgerald-Trout siblings, who live on a tropical island where the grown-ups are useless, but the kids can drive.

In this second installment, the delightfully self-reliant siblings continue their search for a home. This time their pursuit will bring them face-to-face with a flood, illegal carnivorous plants, and the chance to win an extraordinary prize at a carnival. Will they finally find a place to call home?

Critic Reviews:

"Witty, full of heart and genuinely fun to read...a wacky, lighthearted romp." (The New York Times Book Review)

"With quick chapters, a compelling mystery, clever kid characters, and humorous antics galore, this lighthearted, cheer-worthy adventure should find an easy audience among middle-grade readers." (Booklist)

"Spunk, spirit, and ingenuity only begin to describe these fascinating children." (School Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Well done, just like this rump roast!

I am in the middle of reading this book. My 9-year-old son, who has already read it twice, says it's even better than the first Fitzgerald-Trouts book, which is remarkable, because he is an avid reader and that is one of his very favorites. He doesn't want to give out any spoilers, so: "It's about kids and a goldfish who drive around an island trying to find a house as they deal with grown-ups and meet strange plants and animals."

As for me, I look forward to each book in this series as it builds a rich and imaginative world. It's also a nice book to read aloud together.

"Everything you ever wanted in a children's book!"

Epic and hilarious moments - embarrassing burping fits in the library, volcanoes, carnivorous plants, hilariously terrible parents, and a charming foursome of kids who take on a mission to help save their island. Resiliency, team work, environmentalism, and family loyalty are all themes that are subtly woven into madcap antics that thrill the kid in all of us. A great read-aloud as well!

My 13 year old son says - "everything you ever wanted in a children's book"

My 10 year-old daughter says "there's excitement and humor in every paragraph."

The Fitzgerald trout book is a wonderful gentle loving story

The Fitzgerald trout book is a wonderful gentle loving story. Fraught with danger excitement. Full of compassion love and tears, Their tenderness with each other and the broken hearted Mr. knuckles

And I'm not even through it yet. I'm just to the point where they are in the jungle searching for thir boat (House

I've now finished the book wonderful exciting read. What brave children

I love the Fitzgerald-Trouts

I love the Fitzgerald-Trouts! These siblings are bold, bright, brave, hilarious -- and the way they navigate beyond their dysfunctional families and into great adventures is inspiring, heart-breaking, and thoroughly entertaining. Best new kids' series in a decade. Couldn't recommend more. Can't wait for the movie!

My granddaughter loved it. I actually ordered the other two in ...

My granddaughter loved it. I actually ordered the other two in the series after she devoured this one.