Lorraine Booktalks the Schools - Favorite Highlights

Lorraine is making her way around the three elementary schools beginning this week to talk about all of our summer programming (schedule to be published later this week) as well booktalk new favorites and highlights from the Massachusetts Children's Book Award. Below are a few of our favorites. The book covers are linked the catalog for easy requesting. This is just the beginning of what she has brought to the schools so if there's something you're child vaguely recalls, stop by the children's desk and we'll help you find it.

The Emerald Atlas - by John Stephens

This was one of this year's MCBA Honor Books. The Emerald Atlas is the story of Kate, Michael and Emma, siblings who have moved from one orphanage to the next until landing in Cambridge Falls. Here in a home with no other orphans, the children discover their life is not as it seems, that magic exists, and the real reason for their parent's disappearance. This book is excellent as an audio narrated by Jim Dale (available in playaway, or book on CD) . Don't miss the sequel The Fire Chronicle!





The One and Only Ivan - by Katherine Applegate

This year's Newbery Award Winner tells the story of a gorilla named Ivan who has lived at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade for as long as he can remember. When a baby elephant is brought to the mall and tells the story of her capture, she brings change to the Big Top Mall and within Ivan himself.


Liar & Spy - by Rebecca Stead

From the author of When You Reach Me comes a new novel. When Georges and his family have to move from their house to an apartment, he meets Safer a spy. Georges joins him in his quest to watch Mr. X a mysterious neighbor, but how far is too far to go for a friend?

The Lions of Little Rock - by Kristine Levine

In 1958, Little Rock, Arkansas closed it's high schools to avoid integration. Set here, The Lions of Little Rock focuses on Marlee and her family. Marlee has never spoken much and is terrified of started middle school, but the new girl Liz begins to bring her out of her shell. When Liz mysteriously disappears, its rumored she was really only passing for white. Marlee decides she doesn't care what color her friend's skin is, but can they maintain a friendship with so much fear and anger in Little Rock?



Palace of Stone - by Shannon Hale

This sequel to The Princess Academy takes place just before Britta's wedding as all the girls from Mount Eskel's Academy travel to Asland for the wedding. Miri attends school, makes new friends, and is forced to confront political ideals in Shannon Hale's sequel that is just as good as the first.