New Children's Fiction
Code talker by Joseph Bruchac.
Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years.
But now Joseph Bruchac brings their stories to life for young adults through the riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His grueling journey is eye-opening and inspiring. This deeply affecting novel honors all of those young men, like Ned, who dared to serve, and it honors the culture and language of the Navajo Indians.
Mad Cat by Kathy Mackel.
MadCat Campione is the best twelve-year-old catcher in New Hampshire..
And this year her fastpitch softball team, the Norwich Sting, is going National. They'll be shooting to make the National Fastpitch Softball World Series, playing against the best teams from around the country. MadCat is thrilled.
But going National isn't quite what MadCat expected. Almost half the girls from the Sting—girls who have played together for years—have been cut to make room for hotshots from nearby towns. Their coach tells them the most important thing is to play to win. MadCat's best friend, Jess, isn't fun anymore: all she can think about is beating the competition, both inside and outside the team. Things are getting tenser and tenser.
The Sting's winning all their games; they're sure to make it to the big time. They know nothing can stop them, not when their motto is Eating Dirt Is Better Than Losing. But is winning really more important than anything? Or will all their victories just add up to nothing?
Tiger by Jeff Stone.
Twelve-year-old Fu and his temple brothers Malao, Seh, Hok, and Long don't know who their parents were. Raised from infancy by their grandmaster, they think of their temple as their home and their fellow warrior monks as their family. Then one terrible night, the temple is destroyed by an army led by a former monk named Ying, whose heart is bent on revenge. Fu and his brothers are the only survivors. Charged by their grandmaster to uncover the secrets of their past, the five flee into the countryside and go their separate ways. Somehow, Grandmaster has promised, their pasts are connected to Ying's. Understanding that the past is the key to shaping the future, the first book in the series follows Fu as he struggles to find out more and prove himself in the process. Fu's name literally means "tiger," for he is the youngest-ever master of the fierce fighting style modeled after that animal.
Whales on stilts by M. T. Anderson.
What sort of madman would unleash an army of stilt-walking, laser-beaming, thoroughly angry whales upon the world? Who cares! All that matters is that his dastardly plan be foiled. Lucky for Lily Gefelty, her two best friends are the stars of their own middle-grade series of novels: Jasper Dash (better known as the Boy Technonaut) and Katie Mulligan (beloved by millions as the heroine of the Horror Hollow series). It's going to take all their smarts to stop this insane, inane plot from succeeding.
This first installment of a riotous and wonderfully weird new series marks the Harcourt debut of award-winning author M. T. Anderson. With Whales on Stilts, he's entering new territory, creating a smart, sassy, and self-aware comedy that fans of Lemony Snicket will snicker and snort over.