JANUArY
New Year, New Books
Northwind
FIC Pau NDL
In medieval Norway, a deadly plague is spreading through the country. It kills the crew of a ship. leaving 12-year-old Leif as the only survivor. An orphan who has been enslaved since birth, he heads north in a cedar canoe, trying to escape disease. Unsure of his destination, Leif constantly battles hunger and the elements. Can he survive?
I Must Betray You
FIC Sep HL550LL
It's 1989 and Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu dreams of becoming a writer, but Romanians aren’t free to dream; they are bound by rules and force. Amidst the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu, Cristian is blackmailed to become an informer. Will he betray everyone he loves?
Two Degrees
FIC Gra 770L
In California, Akira and her horse struggle to escape a massive wildfire. In Manitoba, Owen and George flee starving polar bears that have been stranded on land by melting sea ice. In Florida, Natalie fights to keep her head above water–and save her neighbor’s dog–as her city drowns in a hurricane. Four different kids. Three different threats. Is there a common cause?
Leonard
(My Life as a Cat)
FIC Sor NDL
An alien, who was supposed to research humans by working in disguise at Yellowstone National Park, ends up as a cat by mistake. He's rescued by Olive, who names him Leonard. Leonard immediately becomes fond of Olive, but he is anxious about how he’ll make the journey to the pickup point where fellow aliens are meeting him in just one month. Will he miss the pickup and be stuck as a cat?
Here to Stay
FIC Far HL 690L
Bijan Majid has flown under the radar for most of high school. That changes when he gets pulled off the bench to make the winning basket in a varsity playoff game. Life is suddenly high fives in the hallways and invitations to exclusive parties—along with an anonymous photo sent by a school cyberbully that makes Bijan look like a terrorist. How do you tell your enemies from your friends?
Out of My Heart
FIC Dra 700L
Melody, the heroine of Out of My Mind, is a year older, and a year braver. Now, with her Medi-talker, she feels ready to attend a summer camp for differently-abled kids. By the light of flickering campfires, through the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush, Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is. How will the summer end?