Kidsreads.com Founder Carol Fitzgerald frequently has been told by mothers how difficult it is to get their sons to read. Some are busy participating in sports and other extracurricular activities, watching television, playing video games and surfing the Internet, while others simply don't like to read, no matter how much free time they may have.
This inspired Carol and her 11-year-old son Cory, an avid reader, to compile a list of books that Cory thinks are great reads for boys. Included are series titles and stand-alone fiction that cover a variety of genres: fantasies, mysteries, thrillers, action/adventure novels and historical fiction. While many of these selections also will appeal to girls, they especially will capture the attention of boys, who often are much more reluctant readers.
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 AIRBORN
Kenneth Oppel
Eos
ISBN-10: 0060531827
ISBN-13: 9780060531829
Ages 12-up
544 pages
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Matt Cruse works as a cabin boy on a luxury airship that carries wealthy passengers from city to city, hundreds of feet above land and ocean. One day, he meets a dying balloonist who rants about mysterious and beautiful creatures soaring through the air, above an uncharted island. It is not until Matt meets the man's granddaughter a year later that he discovers that the man's seemingly crazy ravings may be true, and that the sky is, in fact, populated by transcontinental voyagers, pirates and other unimaginable beings.
 SKYBREAKER
Kenneth Oppel
Eos
ISBN-10: 0060532270
ISBN-13: 9780060532277
Ages 12-up
384 pages
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In this thrilling sequel to AIRBORN, Matt Cruse --- now a student at the Paris Airship Academy --- spots a ghost ship that has been missing for the last 40 years. Along with the help of some friends he meets along the way, he attempts to reach it before it falls into the hands of pirates who will stop at nothing to get at its mythical loot.
 The Alex Rider Series
Anthony Horowitz
Philomel Books/Penguin Young Readers Group
Ages 8-12
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Following the untimely death of his beloved uncle, 14-year old Alex Rider is recruited by Britain's top-secret intelligence agency to investigate some of the most high-profile and dangerous men in the world. Alex is quite reluctant to take on such a huge responsibility, but he ultimately chooses to accept his mission and help rid the world of evil.
The Alex Rider series consists of six books so far: STORMBREAKER, POINT BLANK, SKELETON KEY, EAGLE STRIKE, SCORPIA and ARK ANGEL.
 The Artemis Fowl Series
Eoin Colfer
Miramax/Hyperion Books for Children
Ages 9-12
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Set in two sharply contrasting realms --- the aboveground world that humans inhabit and the imaginative underground netherworld where "the People" (otherwise known as fairies, gnomes, goblins and trolls) reside --- the Artemis Fowl series is an interspecies fantasy thrill ride that will keep readers alternately holding their breath in suspense and laughing out loud during many comic moments.
The series consists of five books so far: ARTEMIS FOWL, THE ARCTIC INCIDENT, THE ETERNITY CODE, THE OPAL DECEPTION and THE LOST COLONY.
 ATHERTON: THE HOUSE OF POWER
Patrick Carman
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0316166707
ISBN-13: 9780316166706
Ages 8-12
352 pages
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Edgar, a gifted climber, is a lonely boy scaling the perilous cliffs that separate the three realms of Atherton: a humble fig grove, a mysterious highland world of untold beauty and sinister secrets, and a vast wasteland where he must confront an unspeakable danger that could destroy the people of Atherton. When Edgar discovers a book that contains the history of Atherton's origins and ultimate apocalypse, his world --- quite literally --- begins to turn inside out.
 THE BOOK OF LIES
James Moloney
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060578424
ISBN-13: 9780060578428
Ages 8-12
368 pages
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The newest boy at Mrs. Timmins's Home for Orphans and Foundlings isn't sure who he is. But a strange girl who hides among the shadows of the orphanage tells him that a mysterious wizard's creation, the Book of Lies, holds the answers, and then gives him one clue: "Your name is Marcel." With that knowledge, and the help of three new friends, Marcel begins a quest to find the truth about his real identity --- a truth hidden in the Book of Lies. As Marcel learns more about his past, he begins to wonder if the old book's so-called magical truth might be the greatest lie of all.
 THE BOOK THIEF
Markus Zusak
Knopf
ISBN-10: 0375831002
ISBN-13: 9780375831003
Ages 12-up
512 pages
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Set during World War II in Germany, young Liesel Meminger, who lives outside of Munich, scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist --- books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
 CHASING VERMEER
Blue Balliet
Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN-10: 0439372976
ISBN-13: 9780439372978
Ages 8-12
272 pages
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When a book of unexplainable occurrences brings sixth graders Petra and Calder together, strange things start to happen: Seemingly unrelated events connect, an eccentric old woman seeks their company and an invaluable Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the center of an international art scandal, where no one is spared from suspicion. Can they solve a crime that has stumped even the FBI?
 THE WRIGHT 3
Blue Balliet
Scholastic Press
ISBN-10: 0439693675
ISBN-13: 9780439693677
Ages 9-12
318 pages
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Spring semester at the Lab School in Hyde Park finds Petra and Calder drawn into another mystery when unexplainable accidents and ghostly happenings throw a spotlight on Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and it's up to the two young sleuths to piece together the clues. They become tangled in a dangerous web thanks to the return of Calder's friend Tommy, H.G. Wells's THE INVISIBLE MAN, 3D pentominoes, and the hunt for a coded message left behind by Wright.
Children of the Lamp Series
 THE AKHENATEN ADVENTURE: Children of the Lamp Trilogy, Book 1
P. B. Kerr
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0439670209
ISBN-13: 9780439670203
Ages 9-12
384 pages
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One day, 12-year-old twins John and Philippa Gaunt discover that they're descended from a long line of djinn. All of a sudden, they have the power to grant wishes, travel to extraordinary places, and make people and objects disappear. They are about to embark on a search to locate a monstrous looking (but supposedly dead) pharoah named Akhenaten and his tomb, which may be holding 70 lost djinn. Will the twins be strong and clever enough to outwit the most evil djinn in the universe and live to see another day?
 THE BLUE DJINN OF BABYLON: Children of the Lamp Trilogy, Book 2
P. B. Kerr
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0439670217
ISBN-13: 9780439670210
Ages 9-12
384 pages
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John and Philippa Gaunt, who have recently discovered themselves to be descended from a long line of djinn and in possession of magical powers, continue on their extraordinary adventures in this sequel to THE AKHENATEN ADVENTURE. When a powerful book of djinn magic goes missing, John and Philippa are called upon to retrieve it. But the book isn't really missing. The trap was set and Philippa is abducted by the Blue Djinn. Now, John and his uncle Nimrod must find Philippa before it's too late.
 THE COBRA KING OF KATHMANDU: Children of the Lamp Trilogy, Book 3
P. B. Kerr
Orchard Books/Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0439670233
ISBN-13: 9780439670234
Ages 9-12
384 pages
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Djinn twins John and Philippa Gaunt are on the trail of another magical mystery. As they travel from New York to London to Nepal and India on a whirlwind adventure, the twins try to help their friend and fellow djinn, Buck, find out who murdered his friend using the venomous snakebite of the king cobra. All too soon, John and Philippa find themselves caught up in the lethal world of the Cult of the Nine Cobras, only to discover that they themselves are a target of the creepy cobra cult.
 The Children of the Red King Series
Jenny Nimmo
Orchard Books/Scholastic
Ages 9-12
• Charlie Bone Website
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In this magical fantasy series, 10-year-old Charlie Bone discovers that he wields the unusual ability to hear people in photographs talking. When he learns that he is a descendant of the Red King, a mysterious ruler who had passed his extraordinary powers to his 10 children --- half of whom used their gifts to help their kingdom, and the other half to harm it --- Charlie finds himself caught in the middle of a generations-old battle of good and evil.
The Children of the Red King series consists of six books so far: MIDNIGHT FOR CHARLIE BONE, CHARLIE BONE AND THE TIME TWISTER, CHARLIE BONE AND THE INVISIBLE BOY, CHARLIE BONE AND THE CASTLE OF MIRRORS, CHARLIE BONE AND THE HIDDEN KING and CHARLIE BONE AND THE BEAST.
Chronicles of Ancient Darkness
 WOLF BROTHER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #1
Michelle Paver
HarperTrophy
ISBN-10: 0060728272
ISBN-13: 9780060728274
Ages 10-up
320 pages
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Six thousand years ago, evil stalks the land. Only 12-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined. Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle to save their world, in this first installment of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.
 SPIRIT WALKER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #2
Michelle Paver
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060728280
ISBN-13: 9780060728281
Ages 10-up
368 pages
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WOLF BROTHER introduced readers to Torak, a boy who can talk to wolves and whose mission it is to vanquish the Soul-Eaters. As the Moon of No Dark intensifies in this second installment, the clans fall prey to a horrifying sickness. Fear stalks the Forest, and the very breath of spring seems poisoned. No one knows the cause --- and only Torak can find the cure. His quest takes him across the sea to the mysterious islands of the Seal Clan. Here, Torak battles an unseen menace and uncovers a betrayal that will change his life forever.
 SOUL EATER: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #3
Michelle Paver
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060728310
ISBN-13: 9780060728311
Ages 10-up
336 pages
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Torak has survived the summer and his heart-stopping adventure in the Seal Islands. He and Wolf are together again, but their reunion is short-lived. As midwinter approaches, Torak learns that the Soul-Eaters have snatched Wolf so that they can sacrifice him. Desperate to rescue Wolf, Torak hatches a perilous plan. He will find the Soul-Eaters, infiltrate the cult, and come face-to-face with the most feared and powerful mages alive. As Torak battles to save himself and Wolf, he learns an utterly chilling secret of his own.
 DRAGON RIDER
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0439456959
ISBN-13: 9780439456951
Ages 8-up
528 pages
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When the silver dragons' peaceful home in a Scottish valley is threatened by human settlers, young Firedrake is assigned to travel halfway around the world to find the mythical Rim of Heaven, a place where dragons can live safely. Accompanied by the sharp-tongued brownie Sorrel and the orphan boy Ben, Firedrake must avoid being captured by the wicked golden dragon Nettlebrand as he flies to complete his quest.
 The Ender Series
Orson Scott Card
Tor
Ages 12-up
• The Ender Series Website
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With the human race in danger of being attacked by an alien society, the government has been breeding child geniuses and training them as soldiers. One of these prodigies is Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, who has been drafted for rigorous military training at the orbiting Battle School. Will he and his fellow child soldiers have the brains and skill to save the planet?
The Ender series consists of the Ender Quartet (ENDER'S GAME, SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD, XENOCIDE and CHILDREN OF THE MIND) and the Bean Quartet (ENDER'S SHADOW, SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON, SHADOW PUPPETS and SHADOW OF THE GIANT).
 ESCAPE FROM THE CARNIVALE: A Never Land Book
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
illustrated by Greg Call
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books
ISBN-10: 0786837896
ISBN-13: 9780786837892
Ages 7-10
144 pages
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Life on Mollusk Island has settled into a regular rhythm after all the excitement surrounding the arrival of Peter, Molly and the pirates. But one day when Little Scallop and a few of her mermaid friends venture beyond the boundaries set by their parents, big trouble awaits them. Then the young mermaid Surf is grabbed by Crookshank's men and taken aboard his ship, the Carnivale. To her shock, Surf finds that Crookshank plans to make her part of his circus at sea --- just another sideshow attraction. Little Scallop, Teacher, James and Surf's twin Aqua devise a plan in an attempt to rescue Surf.
 THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ALFRED KROPP
Rick Yancey
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN-10: 1582346933
ISBN-13: 9781582346939
Ages 12-up
288 pages
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Just what can an overgrown, underachieving teenager do to save the world from imminent destruction? A lot more than you would think, especially if his name happens to be Alfred Kropp. With his huge head, tree trunk-like body and uncanny ability to screw up at nearly everything he undertakes, Alfred is both the world's first accidental superhero and the last person you'd rely on in a time of need.
 FLY BY NIGHT
Frances Hardinge
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060876271
ISBN-13: 9780060876272
Ages 10-up
496 pages
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Twelve-year-old Mosca can do something very few people in the almost-Medieval time period in which she lives can do --- she can read. However, her love of words leads her into trouble when she befriends Eponymous Clent, a trickster who adores the written word just as much as she does. The pair travels to the city of Mandelion, where they find themselves drawn into the middle of a war between two rival guilds vying for power.
The Gatekeepers Series
 RAVEN'S GATE: Book One of The Gatekeepers
Anthony Horowitz
Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN-10: 0439680093
ISBN-13: 9780439680097
Ages 9-12
272 pages
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Matt Freeman is being punished for a crime he saw, but didn't commit. Instead of being locked up, he is sent to the middle of nowhere to live with a new foster mom, as part of a government scheme called The Leaf Project. But Matthew's new home provides anything but peace and quiet. His new guardian is involved in very sinister things --- and the whole town seems to be on her side. Everybody who tries to help Matt winds up either disappearing --- or dead. The truth is much bigger than Matt or the town --- and Matt is the only person who can stop the ultimate evil from being unleashed.
 EVIL STAR: Book Two of The Gatekeepers
Anthony Horowitz
Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0439679966
ISBN-13: 9780439679961
Ages 9-12
320 pages
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Matt thought his troubles were over when he closed Raven's Gate...but, in fact, they were just beginning. Evil forces will stop at nothing to track him down and destroy him. There's no choice but to fight back. Matt's fate --- and the fate of the world --- is tied to four other kids across the globe. The second is a street kid in Peru. He and Matt have never met; they don't even speak the same language. But destiny is going to throw them together as the threat of the Old Ones grows, a strange and insidious villain beckons, and another Gate suddenly comes into play....
 NIGHTRISE: Book Three of The Gatekeepers
Anthony Horowitz
Scholastic Press
ISBN-10: 0439680018
ISBN-13: 9780439680011
Ages 9-12
368 pages
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The world is in great danger --- and only five kids can save it. But to do that, they must face off against some of the most powerful people in the world.
Two of the five, Scott and Jamie, have always known they were different. Twins whose birth is shrouded in mystery, they’ve always been able to communicate with each other telepathically. Their supernatural talent has landed them no farther than a gig in a Z-grade sideshow in Reno, Nevada...until they garner the attention of a very scary clientele. Soon their lives are in jeopardy, with one of them trapped and one of them on the run.
In NIGHTRISE, Anthony Horowitz ups the stakes in his most thrilling, intense novel yet.
His Dark Materials Series
 THE GOLDEN COMPASS
Phillip Pullman
Laurel Leaf
ISBN-10: 0440238137
ISBN-13: 9780440238133
Ages 12-up
368 pages
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Young Lyra Belacqua journeys to the far North to save her best friend and other kidnapped children from terrible experiments by evil scientists.
 THE SUBTLE KNIFE
Phillip Pullman
Laurel Leaf
ISBN-10: 0440238145
ISBN-13: 9780440238140
Ages 12-up
304 pages
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Kyra journeys to the shimmering, haunted otherworld called Cittágazze, where she meets Will Parry. Together they travel from world to world and discover an object of extraordinary power, and uncover the truth of their own destiny.
 THE AMBER SPYGLASS
Phillip Pullman
Laurel Leaf
ISBN-10: 0440238153
ISBN-13: 9780440238157
Ages 12-up
480 pages
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Lyra and Will are in unspeakable danger. With help from Iorek Byrnison the armored bear and two tiny Gallivespian spies, they must journey to a dank and gray-lit world where no living soul has ever gone. THE AMBER SPYGLASS brings Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials to an astonishing conclusion.
 THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION
Nancy Farmer
Simon Pulse
ISBN-10: 0689852231
ISBN-13: 9780689852237
Ages 10-13
400 pages
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This futuristic novel is told from the point of view of Matteo Alacrán, a young boy harvested to be a clone for El Patron, a powerful ruler and drug lord. When Matt realizes what's in store for him, he escapes, only to discover that many sinister characters are now after him, including El Patron's power-hungry family.
The Inheritance Trilogy
 ERAGON
Christopher Paolini
Knopf
ISBN-10: 0375826688
ISBN-13: 9780375826689
Ages 12-up
528 pages
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Fifteen-year-old Eragon realizes that fate has much more in store for him than the life of a poor farm boy when he discovers that he, along with his newly found pet, are part of a legacy of secret heroes, the Dragon Riders. Armed with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon and the advice of a wise man, he sets off to fight in a long-standing war to free the Empire from a cruel and oppressive king.
 ELDEST
Christopher Paolini
Knopf
ISBN-10: 037582670X
ISBN-13: 9780375826702
Ages 12-up
704 pages
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Opening three days after the bloody battle that saved their rebel state from the cruel king of the Empire, this second book in the Inheritance Trilogy continues the epic adventures of Eragon and his dragon, Saphira. The duo experiences all new adventures as they travel to Ellesmera, home of the Elves, to complete Eragon's training as a Dragon Rider. Meanwhile, his cousin Roran is forced into a different kind of battle --- one that may result in even greater danger for Eragon and his village.
The Ink Trilogy
 INKHEART
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0439709105
ISBN-13: 9780439709101
Ages 9-12
544 pages
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Meggie lives alone with her father, a book restorer. But her father has a deep secret --- he possesses an extraordinary magical power. One day, a mysterious stranger arrives who seems linked to her father's past. Who is this sinister character, and what does he want? Suddenly, Meggie is involved in a breathless game of escape and intrigue as her father's life is put in danger. Will she be able to save him in time?
 INKSPELL
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN-10: 0439554004
ISBN-13: 9780439554008
Ages 9-12
656 pages
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Things have just started to calm down now that Meggie is finally reunited with both of her parents in this sequel to INKHEART. But the quiet doesn't last for long when she finds herself trapped inside Inkworld, the magical land of her favorite book. She believes she has found a simple way to return home, but the story evolves in ways no one can control, and it doesn't seem to be heading for a happy ending...
 The Keys to the Kingdom Series
Garth Nix
Scholastic Press
Ages 9-12
• Author Profile
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Seven days. Seven keys. Seven virtues. Seven sins. One mysterious house is the doorway to a very mysterious world --- where one boy is about to venture and unlock a number of fantastical secrets. Arthur Penhaligon is not supposed to be a hero. He is supposed to die an early death. But then his life is saved by a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock.
The Keys to the Kingdom series consists of five books so far: MISTER MONDAY, GRIM TUESDAY, DROWNED WEDNESDAY, SIR THURSDAY and LADY FRIDAY.
 THE KINGDOM KEEPERS: Disney After Dark
Ridley Pearson
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 0786854448
ISBN-13: 9780786854448
Ages 10-up
324 pages
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Finn Whitman --- a newly hired guide at Walt Disney World, called a DHI --- makes an unexpected visit to the theme park one night after closing time, and is shocked to find characters from famous Disney films walking through the Magic Kingdom. He soon learns that the park is in danger of being destroyed by the Overtakers, a renegade group of Disney characters led by the evil dark fairy Maleficent. It's up to Finn and his fellow DHIs to save the future of Walt Disney World.
 THE KING IN THE WINDOW
Adam Gopnik
Disney Children's Books
ISBN-10: 0786838949
ISBN-13: 9780786838943
Ages 10-up
512 pages
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Transplanted American Oliver Parker is living in Paris with his parents when he sees that his reflection in the kitchen window is not quite the mirror image he expects it to be. The boy staring back at him, who calls Oliver "Your Majesty" and wears an old-fashioned doublet, leads him to the mysterious world through the looking glass. There, he becomes entangled in the battle between the Window Wraiths and the malevolent Mirror Master over control of the universe.
 LARKLIGHT: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space
Philip Reeve
illustrated by David Wyatt
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN-10: 1599900203
ISBN-13: 9781599900209
Ages 10-14
384 pages
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Art and his sister Myrtle live with their father in Larklight, a rambling house that orbits the Earth. When their father is captured by an invasion of giant spiders, the two escape in a lifeboat and are launched into an interplanetary adventure across the solar system to save both themselves and the universe.
The Lionboy Trilogy
 LIONBOY
Zizou Corder
Puffin
ISBN-10: 0142402265
ISBN-13: 9780142402269
Ages 8-12
304 pages
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When his parents are kidnapped, 10-year-old Charlie Ashanti knows he must rescue them. He doesn't know who has taken them, or why. But he does know that one special talent will aid him on his journey --- his amazing ability to speak Cat. Charlie calls on his clever feline friends --- from stray city cats to magnificent caged lions --- for help. With them by his side, Charlie uses wit and courage to try to find his parents before it's too late.
 LIONBOY: THE CHASE
Zizou Corder
Puffin
ISBN-10: 0142404543
ISBN-13: 9780142404546
Ages 8-12
288 pages
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Charlie Ashanti has helped a pride of lions escape the circus ship and travel all the way from Paris to safety in Venice. He has also eluded the sinister Rafi and Maccomo for now. But the Venetian palace Charlie has taken to for safety feels suspiciously like a prison. His lions have been separated from him, and Rafi and Maccomo are closing in. If Charlie doesn't find his parents soon, he may lose them forever!
 LIONBOY: THE TRUTH
Zizou Corder
Puffin
ISBN-10: 0803729855
ISBN-13: 9780803729858
Ages 8-12
240 pages
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After months of searching, not to mention leading a pride of escaped circus lions through Europe and all the way back to Africa, Catspeaker Charlie Ashanti has finally been reunited with his parents --- and a long-lost relative with a huge secret to reveal. But their family reunion doesn't last long. Kidnapped and thrown in a boat, Charlie finds himself alone and bound for who knows where. Charlie's parents and his faithful lion friends are in hot pursuit, but can Charlie outwit his captor and topple the Corporacy's wicked enterprise?
Maximum Ride Series
 MAXIMUM RIDE: THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT
James Patterson
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN-10: 0446617792
ISBN-13: 9780446617796
Ages 12-up
416 pages
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In the first installment of this futuristic series by James Patterson, six children are on the run from a group of scientists who had kidnapped them as infants and used them as subjects of illegal experimentation. Bred as 98% human and 2% bird, the "Flock" --- as they're called --- must rescue one of their own who had been kidnapped by a pack of human/wolf hybrids and brought back to the lab.
 MAXIMUM RIDE: SCHOOL'S OUT --- FOREVER
James Patterson
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN-10: 0316155594
ISBN-13: 9780316155595
Ages 12-up
416 pages
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In this sequel to THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT, the Flock begins to fly south in search of their parents and to uncover the truth behind their existence. However, they're discovered by an FBI agent who forces them to do something unlike anything they'd experienced before --- go to school!
 MAXIMUM RIDE #3: SAVING THE WORLD AND OTHER EXTREME SPORTS
James Patterson
Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0316155608
ISBN-13: 9780316155601
Ages 12-up
416 pages
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The time has arrived for Max and her winged "Flock" to face their ultimate enemy and discover their original purpose: to defeat the takeover of "Re-evolution," a sinister experiment to re-engineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race...and to terminate the rest. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel have always worked together to defeat the forces working against them --- but can they save the world when they are torn apart, living in hiding and captivity, halfway across the globe from one another?
 THE MISADVENTURES OF BENJAMIN BARTHOLOMEW PIFF: You Wish
Jason Lethcoe
Grosset & Dunlap
ISBN-10: 0448444968
ISBN-13: 9780448444963
Ages 9-12
224 pages
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On his 11th birthday, an orphan named Benjamin Bartholomew Piff wishes for the ultimate wish --- and unknowingly sets into motion a chain of events that threatens to disrupt the balance between the magical realm of wishes and curses. Before long, Benjamin has been recruited by the Wishworks Factory director himself to fight the evil henchmen of the Curseworks Factory. In the process, Benjamin will reclaim his original wish --- giving new credence to the old adage "Be careful what you wish for…"
 THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY
Trenton Lee Stewart
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN-10: 0316057770
ISBN-13: 9780316057776
Ages 8-12
496 pages
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ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES? Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests. Only four children succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden labyrinth of the school's underground tunnels is more than your average school supplies.
 THE NAVIGATOR
Eoin McNamee
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
ISBN-10: 0375839100
ISBN-13: 9780375839108
Ages 9-12
352 pages
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One day the world around Owen shifts oddly: Time flows backwards, and the world and family he knew disappear. Time can only be set right when the Resisters vanquish their ancient enemies, the Harsh. Unless they are stopped, everything Owen knows will vanish as if it has never been. And Owen discovers that he has a terrifying role to play in this battle: he is the Navigator.
 THE NEDDIAD: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization
Daniel Pinkwater
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
ISBN-10: 0618594442
ISBN-13: 9780618594443
Ages 10-14
320 pages
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It all begins when Neddie Wentworthstein reads about the Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles and tells his father he wants to eat there. So the family packs up and sets off from Chicago by train. During the course of their journey on the Super Chief, which includes pit stops in Topeka, Santa Fe and the Grand Canyon, Neddie meets many of the friends and foes who ultimately will be involved in a showdown to determine the fate of the world.
 The Ology Series
Dugald A. Steer
Candlewick Press
Ages 4-8
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In each installment of the Ology series (EGYPTOLOGY, DRAGONOLOGY, WIZARDOLOGY and PIRATEOLOGY), Dugald A. Steer presents an "authentic" and interactive journal --- complete with pictures, letters, booklets and flaps to open and close --- filled with all the information, trivia and secrets of a master in his or her field. Through these fictional first-hand accounts, readers are called back in time and through their imaginations to explore ancient tombs, study mythical beasts, hunt pirates, and learn the art of Wizardry.
 ON THE WINGS OF HEROES
Richard Peck
Dial Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0803730810
ISBN-13: 9780803730816
Ages 8-12
160 pages
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Davy Bowman adores his father (who looks forward to Halloween more than a kid) and his brother Bill (who flies B-17s) and tries his best to follow their lead, especially now. World War II has invaded Davy's homefront boyhood. There's an air raid drill in the classroom, and being a kid is an endless scrap drive. Bill has joined the Army Air Corps, breaking their dad's heart. It's an intense, confusing time, and one that will invite Davy to grow up in a hurry.
 The Pendragon Series
D. J. MacHale
Simon & Schuster
Ages 9-12
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Bobby Pendragon was living the life of a normal 14-year-old boy until his Uncle Press came by one night to say: "I need your help." From that moment on, nothing was the same. He and his uncle were swept off on a series of adventures that would take them through both time and space. Their mission? To protect the territories of Halla from a demon named Saint Dane, a cold-blooded villain who wants nothing less than the destruction of all humanity. The only force standing in Saint Dane's way is a mysterious group of people called...Travelers.
The Pendragon series consists of eight books so far: THE MERCHANT OF DEATH, THE LOST CITY OF FAAR, THE NEVER WAR, THE REALITY BUG, BLACK WATER, THE RIVERS OF ZADAA, THE QUILLAN GAMES and THE PILGRIMS OF RAYNE.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
 THE LIGHTNING THIEF: Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book One
Rick Riordan
Miramax/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 0786838655
ISBN-13: 9780786838653
Ages 10-up
377 pages
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Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper at his boarding school. He could have sworn that his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows that it's time he finally knew the truth about where he came from. She sends him to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea.
Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends, Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.
 THE SEA OF MONSTERS: Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book Two
Rick Riordan
Miramax/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 1423103343
ISBN-13: 9781423103349
Ages 10-up
279 pages
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After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year surprisingly quiet. But soon enough, Percy discovers trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia.
 THE TITAN'S CURSE: Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book Three
Rick Riordan
Miramax/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 1423101456
ISBN-13: 9781423101451
Ages 10-up
320 pages
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Percy's best friend, Grover, has made an important discovery: two new half-bloods, Bianca and Nico, whose parentage is unknown. But before Percy and his companions can escort Bianca and Nico safely back to Camp Half-Blood, they are intercepted by the manticore, and an impulsive move by Percy causes Annabeth to go missing. And she's not the only one: the goddess Artemis is believed to have been kidnapped. But who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? It's up to Percy and his friends to find out. But first, Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared --- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.
 PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS
Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 078684907X
ISBN-13: 9780786849079
Ages 9-12
480 pages
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In Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry's prequel to PETER PAN, Peter is one of five orphans sent out on a ramshackle ship called the Never Land, on their way to be servants in evil King Zarboff's court. Soon Peter discovers that their ship also carries a secret cargo, the most precious and powerful treasure in the history of the world. Word soon gets out, though, and the nefarious pirate Black Stache is hot on the trail of the Never Land and its hidden treasure.
 PETER AND THE SHADOW THIEVES
Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry
Disney Editions/Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 078683787X
ISBN-13: 9780786837878
Ages 9-12
576 pages
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In this riveting and adventure-packed follow-up to PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS, we discover Peter leaving the relative safety of Mollusk Island --- along with his trusted companion Tinker Bell --- for the cold, damp streets of London. On a difficult journey across the sea, he and Tink discover the dark and deadly, slithering part-man/part-creature Lord Ombra. It seems that the dreaded Ombra has a variety of mysterious powers including the ability to make shadows disappear.
 THE PHANTOM ISLES
Stephen Alter
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ISBN-10: 1582347387
ISBN-13: 9781582347387
Ages 10-14
244 pages
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When Ming, Orion and Courtney read an incantation from the pages of a book titled THE COMPLEAT NECROMANCER, they have no way of knowing that they're about to conjure up the ghosts of an entire nation. Because the ghosts that the three friends summon aren't just any ghosts. They were captured from an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean --- the Ilhas dos Fantasmas --- a place where the living and the dead once co-existed peacefully. Now confined to the pages of a few dozen library books in a New England town thousands of miles from their home, the ghosts must rely on the children and a determined librarian to free them before they are lost forever.
 THE SECRET HISTORY OF TOM TRUEHEART
Ian Beck
Greenwillow Books
ISBN-10: 0061152102
ISBN-13: 9780061152108
Ages 8-12
352 pages
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On Tom Trueheart's 12th birthday, a letter comes from the Story Bureau, addressed to him. His six brothers --- big, brave and bold --- are all away on quests and adventures in the Land of Stories, but they should all have been back by now. The letter says that someone has sabotaged their adventures and prevented them from getting to the end of their stories! Tom must gather his courage and go to the land where stories are made. There he needs to unmask a wicked villain and enable the tales his brothers have started to be completed.
 A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket
HarperCollins
Ages 10-up
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The 13 books in A Series of Unfortunate Events chronicle the misadventures of the three Baudelaire children, seemingly destined for perpetual bad luck. When their parents are unexpectedly killed in a fire that also destroys their home, Violet, Klaus and Sunny must depend on each other when Count Olaf --- their distant relative and appointed guardian --- tries to steal the family fortune time and time again.
The series consists of THE BAD BEGINNING, THE REPTILE ROOM, THE WIDE WINDOW, THE MISERABLE MILL, THE AUSTERE ACADEMY, THE ERSATZ ELEVATOR, THE VILE VILLAGE, THE HOSTILE HOSPITAL, THE CARNIVOROUS CARNIVAL, THE SLIPPERY SLOPE, THE GRIM GROTTO, THE PENULTIMATE PERIL and THE END.
 SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT
Derek Landy
HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0061231150
ISBN-13: 9780061231155
Ages 10-up
400 pages
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Meet Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton. Sure, he may lose his head every once in a while (in fact, he won his current skull in a poker match), but he's much more than he appears to be. Skulduggery avoided the grave so he could save the world from an ancient evil. In order to defeat it, he will need the help of a new partner: a not-so-innocent 12-year-old girl named Stephanie.
 The Spiderwick Chronicles
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Simon & Schuster
Ages 7-up
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Jared Grace, his twin brother Simon, and their older sister Mallory have a legitimate reason to worry --- their lives are being turned upside down by faeries. These small, mischievous creatures cause quite a ruckus in the Graces' new house, even going so far as to physically harm Mallory, Simon and his pets. Unbeknownst to their mom, the Grace children are determined to do whatever they can to rid themselves of these annoying and potentially dangerous creatures.
The Spiderwick Chronicles consists of five books: THE FIELD GUIDE, THE SEEING STONE, LUCINDA'S SECRET, THE IRONWOOD TREE and THE WRATH OF MULGARATH.
 SUMMER BALL
Mike Lupica
Philomel Books
ISBN-10: 0399244875
ISBN-13: 9780399244872
Ages 10-up
256 pages
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Leading your travel team to the national championship may seem like a dream come true, but for Danny Walker, being at the top just means the competition tries that much harder to knock him off. Now Danny is leaving Middletown for the summer and heading to Right Way basketball camp, where he's out of his element and maybe out of his league. The country's best players are in attendance, and Danny will need to raise his game if he wants to match up. But it won't be easy. Old rivals and new battles leave Danny wondering if he really has what it takes to stand tall.
 TRAVEL TEAM
Mike Lupica
Philomel Books
Puffin
ISBN-10: 0142404624
ISBN-13: 9780142404621
Ages 10-up
288 pages
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Twelve-year-old Danny Walker may be the smallest kid on the basketball court, but he plays with lots of heart and a great deal of court sense. But none of this matters when he's cut from his local travel team, the same team that his father led to national prominence as a boy. Danny's father knows that his son isn't the only kid who was cut for the wrong reason, and he and a bunch of never-say-die kids prove that heart simply cannot be measured.
 THE THIEF LORD
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House/Scholastic
ISBN-10: 043942089X
ISBN-13: 9780439420891
Ages 9-12
376 pages
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On the run from their cruel aunt and uncle, Prosper and Bo decide to hide out in Venice. With a detective sent by their family close on their heels, they are happily taken in by the mysterious "Thief Lord" and his gang of street children. The boys discover that nothing is quite as it seems when they take part in a special mission with magical consequences.
 ULYSSES MOORE #2: THE LONG-LOST MAP
Scholastic
ISBN-10: 043977439X
ISBN-13: 9780439774390
Ages 9-12
272 pages
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When Jason, Julia and Rick discover the mysterious Door to Time in Argo Manor, they are transported to Ancient Egypt, a mystifying place full of riddles and secrets. But when they are accidentally separated, Julia finds herself back at the Manor, without the boys. The stakes are high, and now Rick and Jason must find an important hidden map by themselves --- with the evil Oblivia Newton on their trail.
 VAMPIRATES: DEMONS OF THE OCEAN
Justin Somper
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN-10: 0316013730
ISBN-13: 9780316013734
Ages 9-12
336 pages
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Twins Connor and Grace never dreamed that there was any truth to the Vampirate shanty their late father sang to them, but that was before the two were shipwrecked and separated from each other. Connor, who is taken aboard a pirate ship, has the opportunity to learn how to swordfight, but for Grace, aboard a mysterious ship of vampire pirates, the danger is great. Will the twins be able to find each other before it's too late?
 VAMPIRATES: TIDE OF TERROR
Justin Somper
Little, Brown and Company
ISBN-10: 0316013749
ISBN-13: 9780316013741
Ages 8-12
464 pages
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In this sequel to VAMPIRATES: DEMONS OF THE OCEAN, there's a traitor aboard the Diablo and enemies at every turn. As the danger intensifies, Grace discovers a place where her twin brother Connor could learn more about the pirate way without risking his life: the elite Pirate Academy. Will Connor choose an education by sea or by school, and will Grace be forced to follow him wherever he goes?
The Zeke Armstrong Mysteries
 RED CARD
Daniel J. Hale and Matthew LeBrot
Top Publications, LTD.
ISBN-10: 1929976151
ISBN-13: 9781929976157
Ages 9-12
180 pages
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When 13-year-old Zeke Armstrong and his soccer team go to Houston for the playoffs, he finds himself in the middle of an adventure when someone tries to kill his coach. Will Zeke solve the mystery and help his team win, or will he be the next victim?
 GREEN STREAK
Daniel J. Hale and Matthew LaBrot
Top Publications, LTD.
ISBN-10: 1929976283
ISBN-13: 9781929976287
Ages 9-12
231 pages
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Zeke Armstrong goes to New York for the Big Apple Inline Skate-Off. After another racer robs an aging heiress in Central Park, the police call it a mugging. But Zeke suspects that it's part of a more sinister plot. Will he figure it out in time to save the wealthy woman and skate the final race, or will the bad guys stop Zeke in his tracks?
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