middle grade novels

NOWHERESVILLE

The fifth title in the multi-author American Horse Tales series from Penguin Workshop, this contemporary horse story tells the story of spunky ten-year-old “city girl” Nat and the very special horse that helps her adjust to country life.

School Library Journal: “This gentle story will appeal to young fans of realistic fiction and animal stories.”

SANTA’S PUPPY

Homeward Bound meets Elf in this heartwarming tale for the whole family. Can Chris, Holly, and Ivy help Santa’s dog, Peppermint Bark, jingle all the way home to the North Pole before Christmas Day ends?

Kirkus: “Merry mayhem for children who love Christmas sweets.”

Publishers Weekly: “A cheery, sugar-coated holiday romp.”

(as Sandy Beech)

This lighthearted trilogy follows the adventures of sixth-grader Dani McFeeney and her classmates from Tweedale Middle School when they’re stranded on a deserted island during a class trip.

One Amazon reviewer compares book one to “a modern day Gilligan’s Island,” while another describes book two as “the best book in the world!” (Really! Go look for yourself!)

HORSE DIARIES

#1 ELSKA

#6 YATIMAH

#11 JINGLE BELLS

#12 LUNA

This popular multi-author series from Random House BFYR offers a fascinating peek at the history of humans and horses - right from the horse’s mouth! Catherine’s titles feature four unique breeds: the Icelandic horse, the Arabian, the Clydesdale, and the Friesian.

Check out these four - and all the other books in the series, by a range of talented authors.

Booklist (on Elska): “A must for horse lovers, the cozy and exciting adventure will draw a wide audience.”

STAR POWER

In this upbeat series, fourteen-year-old Star Calloway is living the life she’s always dreamed of as an international pop superstar.

But there’s one sour note in her otherwise charmed life. Her parents and baby brother disappeared two years ago, and nobody knows what became of them.

Luckily Star has a loyal found family consisting of her manager, her bodyguard, her tutor, her stylist, and of course her lovable pug, Dudley Do-Wrong.

But even as she travels the world performing to sold-out crowds, meeting her adoring fans, and doing interviews, Star dreams of the day she’s able to find her family and share it all with them. Someday, some way…

School Library Journal: “This… series about a 14-year-old pop star is candy-coated popcorn that some preteens will gobble up.”

DOLPHIN TRILOGY

In these three stand-alone novels, ordinary girls have touching and meaningful encounters with wild dolphins.

In HEART OF A DOLPHIN, Annie saves a dolphin trapped in fishing line in the cove near her house, forging a special bond with the beautiful wild creature. Meanwhile, out of the water, nothing is going right. Annie's best friend has changed, her busy parents barely seem to have time for her, and she's stuck with her hyper younger brother always tagging along. Then Annie finds herself alone and in danger. Can her dolphin friend help her when she needs it most?

In DOLPHIN DREAMS, two very different girls meet and bond when they discover a dolphin in a private cove. While visiting their new finned friend, Maria helps Avery battle her fear of the ocean, and Avery encourages Maria to share her art with the world. But before long family expectations tear their new friendship apart. Then the girls discover that their special dolphin is in big trouble. Can they overcome their differences to help the dolphin before it's too late?

Brooklyn, NY isn’t the first place people think about when they think about dolphins. But that’s where Lily discovers a dolphin hanging out in a polluted canal in DOLPHIN SUMMER. She knows she shouldn't be spending all her time watching over the sweet, playful creature. But if the dolphin can't find the way back to its pod in the bay, it could be in serious trouble. Lily can't help feeling that saving the dolphin just might be her destiny....