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Books at Guided Reading Level Y

  • The Shadow Throne

    Jennifer A. Nielsen

    Paperback (Scholastic Paperbacks, Jan. 27, 2015)
    Jennifer A. Nielsen takes readers on an extraordinary journey with the False Prince in this third installment of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Ascendance Series.War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does.His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighboring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya's throne?And don't miss the highly anticipated fourth book in the series, The Captive Kingdom, coming October 2020!
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  • The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia

    DK, Smithsonian Institution

    Hardcover (DK Children, Feb. 7, 2017)
    Explore the lives of America's 45 presidents, as well as notable first ladies, famous speeches, and major constitutional events, with this visual reference guide to the leaders of the United States.From George Washington to Donald Trump, The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia presents a unique insight into life in the White House. More than 150 easy-to-read entries cover the presidents, first ladies, the Louisiana Purchase, the Gettysburg Address, and more, and over 200 fascinating photographs add to kids' knowledge of these leaders and the key moments that defined their time in office.Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia is the perfect one-stop reference guide, teaching kids all they need to know about the history of the United States and the remarkable impact our country has had on the rest of the world.
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  • The Prairie Thief

    Melissa Wiley, Erwin Madrid

    Paperback (Margaret K. McElderry Books, Aug. 20, 2013)
    In this “delightful mash-up of Little House on the Prairie and The Spiderwick Chronicles” (SLJ), experience life on the prairie—with one fantastical twist!Louisa Brody’s life on the Colorado prairie is not at all what she expected. Her dear Pa, accused of thievery, is locked thirty miles away in jail. She’s living with the awful Smirches, her closest neighbors and the very family that accused her Pa of the horrendous crime. And now she’s discovered one very cantankerous—and magical—secret beneath the hazel grove. With her life flipped upside-down, it’s up to Louisa, her sassy friend Jessamine, and that cranky secret to save Pa from a guilty verdict. Ten bold illustrations from Erwin Madrid accompany seasoned storyteller Melissa Wiley’s vibrant and enchanting tale of life on the prairie—with one magical twist.
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  • A Peculiar Peril

    Jeff VanderMeer

    Hardcover (Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), July 7, 2020)
    A Peculiar Peril is a head-spinning epic about three friends on a quest to protect the world from a threat as unknowable as it is terrifying, from the Nebula Award–winning and New York Times bestselling author of Annihilation, Jeff VanderMeer. Jonathan Lambshead stands to inherit his deceased grandfather’s overstuffed mansion―a veritable cabinet of curiosities―once he and two schoolmates catalog its contents. But the three soon discover that the house is filled with far more than just oddities: It holds clues linking to an alt-Earth called Aurora, where the notorious English occultist Aleister Crowley has stormed back to life on a magic-fueled rampage across a surreal, through-the-looking-glass version of Europe replete with talking animals (and vegetables). Swept into encounters with allies more unpredictable than enemies, Jonathan pieces together his destiny as a member of a secret society devoted to keeping our world separate from Aurora. But as the ground shifts and allegiances change with every step, he and his friends sink ever deeper into a deadly pursuit of the profound evil that is also chasing after them.
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  • Neil Gaiman/Chris Riddell 3-Book Box Set: Coraline; The Graveyard Book; Fortunately, the Milk

    Neil Gaiman, Chris Riddell

    Paperback (HarperCollins, Sept. 8, 2015)
    This box set contains the British paperback editions of three bestselling Neil Gaiman classics, all illustrated by acclaimed artist Chris Riddell, to complete your collection! The editions of the Newbery Medal and Carnegie Medal winner The Graveyard Book; Coraline; and Fortunately, the Milk in this box set contain the illustrations from the British editions, which are both hilarious and moving. Chris Riddell has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice, among other awards and honors.These paperbacks have never before been published in the United States and are available here only in this special box set.
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  • Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail

    Danica McKellar

    Paperback (Plume, July 1, 2008)
    From actress and math genius Danica McKellar comes a groundbreaking middle school math workbook for middle school girls, their parents, and educators.As the math education crisis in this country continues to make headlines, research continues to prove that it is in middle school when math scores begin to drop—especially for girls—in large part due to the relentless social conditioning that tells girls they “can’t do” math, and that math is “uncool.” Young girls today need strong female role models to embrace the idea that it’s okay to be smart!It’s Danica McKellar’s mission to be this role model, and demonstrate on a large scale that math doesn’t suck. In this fun and accessible guide, McKellar—dubbed a “math superstar” by The New York Times—gives girls and their parents the tools they need to master the math concepts that confuse middle-schoolers most, including fractions, percentages, pre-algebra, and more. The book features hip, real-world examples, step-by-step instruction, and engaging stories of Danica’s own childhood struggles in math (and stardom). It even includes a Math Horoscope section, Math Personality Quizzes, and Real-Life Testimonials—ultimately revealing why math is easier and cooler than readers think.
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  • National Geographic Kids Ultimate Dinopedia

    Don Lessem, Franco Tempesta

    Hardcover (National Geographic Children's Books, Oct. 10, 2017)
    Dinosaurs continue to fascinate kids, and although these amazing creatures roamed the Earth ages ago, new dinosaur discoveries are still being made today! The new edition of the popular Nat Geo Kids Dinopedia includes all the latest species and is the most complete, up-to-date dinosaur reference available. Find favorites, like the fierce T-rex and the gentle Brontosaurus, plus audacious new finds, like the Anzu, Kosmoceratops, and Yi. Every dino profile is colorfully illustrated and features descriptions of when they roamed the Earth, how they lived, what they ate, and more. There are more than 600 dinos featured in all, including 10 profiles of recently discovered dinosaurs and new entries in the Dino Dictionary. Reports from paleontologists present the latest news and insights from the field.
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  • My Name Is Tani . . . and I Believe in Miracles Young Readers Edition

    Tanitoluwa Adewumi, Craig Borlase

    Paperback (Thomas Nelson, April 14, 2020)
    An amazing, miraculous refugee story of coming to America, the young readers edition of Tani Adewumi's story will inspire kids looking for true stories of doing hard things.At eight years old, Tani Adewumi, a refugee, won the 2019 New York State Chess Championship after playing the game for only a year--and while homeless. Tani and his family fled Boko Haram's reign of terror in Nigeria to come to the United States, where they lived in a New York City homeless shelter while waiting to be granted religious asylum. Tani began attending a public elementary school and decided he wanted to join the chess program, but it required a fee. Tani's mother reached out to the coach, who offered Tani a scholarship--and a year later the young immigrant became a chess champion.Ideal for readers 8 to 12 years old, this adaptation presents compelling insight into:What it means to leave a comfortable home and move to a new country with nothingWhat it's like to live in America as a homeless familyHow it feels to be an outsider, a Nigerian, in a new schoolAnd what it means to learn a game, compete, and experience the thrill of winningTani's story will inspire you to believe in the power of the human spirit to triumph over the greatest adversities. And his family's faith will inspire you to believe in miracles.
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  • How to Be Good at Science, Technology, and Engineering

    DK

    Paperback (DK Children, July 3, 2018)
    Science is sorted, technology is untangled, and engineering is explained with this incredible visual guide for children.In our modern world dominated by science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), now is the time to make tricky topics and challenging concepts completely crystal clear. From tiny atoms and minute microchips to monster tractors and jumbo jets, this brilliant book comes packed with eye-catching illustrations to showcase science and technology in action today. You’ll see whizzing waves, zooming rockets, and mighty magnets on this epic journey of discovery. Jump in the basket to see how a hot-air balloon rises, scale a mountaintop to see the impact of erosion, and venture inside Earth to reveal its multi-layered structure. Dramatic visuals, concise explanations, and step-by-step graphics keep young readers engaged and entertained from start to finish. Hands-on projects are included to put learning into practice. Imagine making old coins shine bright with vinegar or triggering a volcanic eruption with baking soda. Impress your friends and family with these experiments and much, much more at home or at school. This essential homework helper covers the core curriculum of school science and supports STEM education initiatives.Young scientists and engineers, the future starts here!
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  • Red Kayak

    Priscilla Cummings

    Paperback (Puffin Books, April 6, 2006)
    Brady loves life on the Chesapeake Bay with his friends J.T. and Digger. But developers and rich families are moving into the area, and while Brady befriends some of them, like the DiAngelos, his parents and friends are bitter about the changes. Tragedy strikes when the DiAngelos’ kayak overturns in the bay, and Brady wonders if it was more than an accident. Soon, Brady discovers the terrible truth behind the kayak’s sinking, and it will change the lives of those he loves forever. Priscilla Cummings deftly weaves a suspenseful tale of three teenagers caught in a wicked web of deception.
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  • The Seventh Most Important Thing

    Shelley Pearsall

    Paperback (Yearling, Oct. 4, 2016)
    This “luminescent” (Kirkus Reviews) story of anger and art, loss and redemption will appeal to fans of Lisa Graff’s Lost in the Sun and Vince Vawter’s Paperboy.NOMINATED FOR 16 STATE AWARDS!AN ALA NOTABLE BOOKAN ILA TEACHERS CHOICEA KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled it at the trash picker. Arthur had his reasons, and the brick hit the Junk Man in the arm, not the head. But none of that matters to the judge—he is ready to send Arthur to juvie forever. Amazingly, it’s the Junk Man himself who offers an alternative: 120 hours of community service . . . working for him. Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can’t believe it—is he really supposed to rummage through people’s trash? But it isn’t long before Arthur realizes there’s more to the Junk Man than meets the eye, and the “trash” he’s collecting is being transformed into something more precious than anyone could imagine. . . . Inspired by the work of folk artist James Hampton, Shelley Pearsall has crafted an affecting and redemptive novel about discovering what shines within us all, even when life seems full of darkness. “A moving exploration of how there is often so much more than meets the eye.” —Booklist, starred review “There are so many things to love about this book. Remarkable.” —The Christian Science Monitor
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  • Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust

    Allan Zullo

    Paperback (Scholastic Paperbacks, March 1, 2005)
    Gripping and inspiring, these true stories of bravery, terror, and hope chronicle nine different children's experiences during the Holocaust.These are the true-life accounts of nine Jewish boys and girls whose lives spiraled into danger and fear as the Holocaust overtook Europe. In a time of great horror, these children each found a way to make it through the nightmare of war. Some made daring escapes into the unknown, others disguised their true identities, and many witnessed unimaginable horrors. But what they all shared was the unshakable belief in-- and hope for-- survival. Their legacy of courage in the face of hatred will move you, captivate you, and, ultimately, inspire you.
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