New and Notable Junior Fiction

Here are just a few of our new and notable junior fiction books that I think you'll enjoy.

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose. May is used to hardship. After all, living with her family in a leaky sod home on the prairie during winter teaches one how to cope. When her parents contract with their neighbor to hire her as a housekeeper for his new bride, May must rise above her insecurities. The new Mrs. Oblinger hates everything about her new life on the prairie and returns home. Mr. Oblinger rides after her and never returns. May B. is left alone for months without companionship, adequate food, firewood, or protection from the wolves or winter weather. What a wonderful story about one brave, resilient girl! If you loved the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, you'll be fascinated with May B.




Last of the Gullivers by Carter Crocker. You remember Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, right? NO!? Wow, read that, please! But in the meantime, here is an updated take-off on Swift's tale. Michael Pine is in trouble. He's laying flat on his back, tied to the ground with spiderwebs, and seeing strange little lights. Maybe he's hallucinating. He was just hit by a car, after all. Then a stooped old man unties him and says ,"They thought you were a bear." What!? The minute Michael is untied he runs...right into the arms of a policeman. You see, Michael was hit by a car after stealing from a local store. It's off to court and Michael is given community service of stocking shelves for an irritable Mr. Fenn. Who comes into the store but Mr. Gulliver, the old man who untied him. Mr. Fenn thinks he's loony but Michael knows that Mr. Gulliver may hold the key to what happened to him in that field. Read this book and find out how Michael and the Lilliputians (the little folk in the field) work together to save themselves from certain death.




Dumpling Days by Grace Lin. A continuation of Pacy's story in The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Rat. This time Pacy has flown to Taiwan for a month for Grandma's birthday. Most people would be excited but not Pacy. Even though her family is Chinese, she has never spoken the language, she has no one to hang with but her sisters, and her art talent has suddenly disappeared. By the end of the month, our sassy Pacy has eaten things she thought she never would, learned things she thought she'd never learn, and come to appreciate her culture and family.




Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. Twelve-year old Ben Ripley is so interested in being a spy that he has accessed the C.I.A.'s website 728 times. As the tuxedo-ed gentleman who suddenly appeared sitting on his sofa says," When you show interest in the C.I.A., the C.I.A. shows interest in you." Ben has been accepted in the C.I.A. School of Espionage for junior operatives. His mission is to find the double agent who has infiltrated the school. Can nerdy Ben accomplish his mission? Explosions, espionage, and all kinds of spy fun! You'll love it!