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(3)
4-6
Dark Gravity Sequence series.
After her mother's betrayal in Island of the Sun, Eleanor travels to the Himalayas to sever the connection to the rogue planet threatening Earth. But an alien spaceship poses a new danger, which has Eleanor seeking unlikely help from the Global Energy Trust. Kirby ramps up the action and tension while emotions run high in the third and final volume of this thrilling series.
(3)
4-6
Dark Gravity Sequence series.
Having just shut down the Arctic Concentrator--an alien technology causing a new ice age--twelve-year-old Eleanor (The Arctic Code), her family, and friends crisscross the globe to find and stop the rest of the Concentrators while evading the Global Energy Trust. This action-packed second installment, lined with moral dilemmas and complex character relationships, is more than just your average adventure story.
346 pp.
| Scholastic
| September, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-81784-4$18.99
(3)
YA
A kinship over physical deformities evolves into friendship between Joseph Merrick ("the Elephant Man") and his new maid, Evelyn, who has "phossy jaw." As Evelyn seeks refuge from London's streets, a series of murders brings ghosts to their door. Kirby's gritty novel includes historical references within a unique story of self-acceptance, murder, and friendship.
(4)
4-6
Dark Gravity Sequence series.
A new ice age has struck, forcing scientists to find alternative energy sources, fast. When her mother, geologist Dr. Perry, disappears on an expedition, Eleanor suspects foul play and travels undercover to the Arctic to save her. Occasionally the text's tone slips from sci-fi to science class, but overall Kirby's story is smart, exhilarating, and timely.
(3)
4-6
Quantum League series.
Twelve-year-old Ben attends a science camp where he learns the art of Actuation, the ability to bring about an event through thought. He's soon drafted by the Quantum League, "a global agency that monitors quantum activity around the world," to help its effort in a Quantum gang war. This action-packed, plot-twisting story is not just for physics fans.
187 pp.
| Scholastic
| September, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-38700-2$12.99
(4)
4-6
Infinity Ring series.
Time travelers Dak, Riq, and Sera get closer to restoring history to its rightful chronology with each mission. After saving an important book in medieval Baghdad (Cave), they fight the Nazis--and the evil SQ organization--in World War II Europe (Enemy Lines). Although fans of this brisk-paced adventure series will enjoy both books, neither clearly separates fact and fiction. Review covers these Infinity Ring titles: Cave of Wonders and Behind Enemy Lines.
348 pp.
| Scholastic
| September, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-27426-5$17.99
(3)
4-6
Billy Bartram joins his naturalist dad on an airship expedition through the eighteenth-century American wilderness to find a lost Welsh kingdom. Billy must prove his worth as the group is tracked by French soldiers and threatened by a savage bear-wolf. Weaving together real historical figures and legendary tales, the steampunk fantasy provides an interesting take on the period; an author's note explains the liberties taken.
325 pp.
| Scholastic
| October, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-27424-1$17.99
(4)
4-6
Princess Solveig and her siblings spend winter trapped in a remote settlement. They wait to see if the king's enemies will find them--or if traitors in their midst will do them in. Solveig grows from a timid girl into a young woman who finally finds her voice. It's a slow process, but the courtly intrigue and a vividly realized setting keep things going.
392 pp.
| Scholastic
| October, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-20337-1$17.99
(3)
4-6
A magical violin helps young street musician Giuseppe dream of escaping exploitation; a bronze talking head from antiquity helps apprentice clockmaker Frederick complete his automaton masterwork; and a hidden treasure map allows hotel maid Hannah to imagine relief for her troubled family. Their stories intersect in this against-the-odds tale of complex moral choices, with fantastical elements surfacing throughout.