The Secret of Zoom

Just a few days ago, the President of the United States stopped into a bookstore to buy some books for his two daughters.  You can read more about his visit here.  One of the books that he bought is part adventure, part mystery, and part amazing imagination.

Jonell, Lynne (2009). The Secret of Zoom (Gr. 4-7)

Christina Adnoid's mother died when she was just a baby, and her father has kept her safely protected inside their house ever since then.  He's a scientist for Loompski Labs, and Christina has never been very interested in what he does. She isn't interested in very much at all until an orphan boy secretly meets Christina and tells her about the sinister plot to steal children for a secret project run by Mr. Loompski himself.  Christina and this orphan embark on a daring adventure through hidden tunnels and dangerous mines to unveil the truth--and they discover even more secrets as they dig deeper and deeper into the mystery. 

The Secret of Zoom is a world very much like our own world, but it has the potential to be run by music and imagination in this exciting adventure that will keep middle-grade readers turning pages to discover the ending.

McKendry, Joe (2005)  Beneath the Streets of Boston. (Gr. 4-7)

With winter creeping up on the greater Boston area, it's time to start thinking about fun activities that keep you warm and dry.  Why not take a tour of the country's oldest subway system?

Joe McKendry's informative and elaborately illustrated book about the T is a fascinating history of Boston, trains, and city transportation from the late 1800's through to more recent years.  You'll learn about what makes the Red, Blue, Green, and Orange lines distinct from each other: discover the meanings behind their names and the differences in their construction methods.  You'll also see snippets of the heated controversy surrounding the very first subway plans for the city, the discovery of more than 900 unmarked graves, and clear drawings showing the structures and machines that made the trains possible.

After reading, find your CharlieCard, grab your coat, and head into the city to explore the T firsthand!  Want to know why it's called the CharlieCard?  Listen to this famous song about a man named Charlie, who took a fateful ride on our very own T. 




If you stop at Copley Square, you can go to the Boston Public Library and see their interactive Literacise exhibit just for kids.

Falling Bibles from the Sky?...

Horvath, Polly (2008). My One Hundred Adventures. Grades 4-7.

Twelve-year-old Jane Fielding lives year-round in a small, coastal town in Massachusetts with her poet mother and three siblings. She wishes for one hundred adventures this summer, but instead gets fourteen. These include going up in a hijacked hot-air balloon, delivering bibles with the local pastor, visiting a fortune teller, babysitting for the five Gourd children, and meeting several of her mother's past boyfriends, one of which may even be her father. Although Jane does not reach one hundred adventures, the adventures she does experience range from funny to poignant and they allow her to better understand herself. Jane is a very observant and intelligent character. Horvath's other characters add humor, are memorable, and will appeal to many readers.

A spooky book with an environmental twist.

Bracegirdle, P.J. (2008). Fiendish Deeds.* (The Joy of Spooking, bk.1) Grades 4-7.

Eleven-year-old Joy Wells loves to read horror stories. When she comes across a book of scary tales by E.A. Peugeot, Joy believes the similarities between the swamp in her town of Spooking and that in the story "The Bawl of the Bog Fiend" are more than just a coincidence. She also learns that the same bog is going to be destroyed in order to make room for a water park!

As Joy sets out to find the truth behind the story and ventures into the bog with her less than enthusiastic brother, Byron, she hopes to find evidence of mysterious animals or plants so that she can prevent the waterpark from being built. Will she find the bog fiend or some other horrible creature lurking in the swamp? You'll have to read this book to find out.

*Request through interlibrary loan.

Do you have what it takes to win the Golly-whopper Games?

Feldman, Jody (2008). The Golly-Whopper Games. 308 pages. Grades 4-7.

Twelve-year-old Gil Goodson's life hasn't been the same since "the Incident," when his father was falsely accused of stealing money from his employer, the Golly Toy and Game Company (GTGC). The kids at school treat him horribly and can't seem to get over "the Incident." Gil believes that his only chance at a fresh start for him and his family is to compete and win the Golly-whopper Games sponsored by the GTGC. Gil and thousands of other children must solve word games, puzzles, and other stunts in order to win prizes, including a college scholarship. During the games, Gil must work with the other finalists as a team, as well as independently in order to get to the final four. Some of the puzzles and codes are tricky, but the contestants solve them in their own unique way. Readers can solve the word puzzles and codes along with Gil and the other contestants. A fun and humorous book about a boy who justs wants to live a normal life.

If you liked "Chasing Vermeer," you'll love...

Broach, Elise (2005). Shakespeare's Secret. 250 pages. (Grades 4-7).

Sixth-grader Hero and her family have moved into the "Murphy diamond" house, which is what the locals call it, ever since a 17 carat diamond went missing. With the help of her neighbor, Mrs. Roth, and Danny an eighth-grade boy, Hero attempts to find the diamond and along the way, uncovers important historical information.

A Ghost Story

Hahn, Mary Downing (2008). All the Lovely Bad Ones: A Ghost Story. 182 pages. Grades 4-7.


Travis and his sister, Corey, like to make trouble. This summer they are staying at their grandmother's Vermont inn, because they were kicked out of camp. When they arrive at their grandmother's home, they learn about the spooky history of the inn. Their grandmother doesn't believe in the supernatural, but Travis and Corey think that it would be fun to find ghosts. They make the guests believe that the ghosts are back by doing a little haunting of their own and the inn is suddenly swamped by "ghost hunters." Soon Travis and Corey realize that their mischief has awakened the inn's real ghosts. Many spirits fill the inn, including one dark and menacing ghost of a former tenant. Travis and Corey learn about the horrors that took place within the inn and on its grounds. Now they must help the ghosts find peace or else they will never leave the inn.

A ballerina's journey

Siegel, Siena Cherson (2006). To Dance: A Memoir. Grades 4-7.

Siena's love of ballet took her from Puerto Rico to Boston to New York where she performed with the New York City Ballet. In this autobiographical graphic novel, Siena recalls her experiences as a ballerina, as well as her troubles at home.

A little bit of magic, mixed with realism.

Going, K.L. (2007) The Garden of Eve. 234 pages. Grades 4-6.


Eve loved to listen to her mother's stories and believed that magical things really could happen. After her mother's death, she no longer believe in stories until mysterious things begin happening at an old orchard her father purchased in upstate New York. Within the their first few days in Beaumont, Eve meets a boy who claims to be a ghost and receives a mysterious seed as a gift for her eleventh birthday. When she plants the seed, it takes her and the boy on a strange journey.

Great ghost story for summer nights.

Hahn, Mary Downing (2007). Deep and Dark and Dangerous. 187 pages. Grades 4-7.


While searching through the attic, thirteen year-old Ali finds an old photograph of her mother and aunt at their lake house in Maine. She notices that the photo is torn away where a third figure would have been next to her mother and aunt. The only clue to the person's name is the letter 'T' on the back. Who could it be and why did someone tear them out of the picture?

Ali's aunt, Dulcie, invites her to go back to the Maine lake house for the summer and babysit her daughter Emma while she works on her paintings. Ali agrees hoping that she will learn more about the person who was once in the old photograph. When they arrive, Emma and Ali meet a girl named Sissy, who is not very nice to girls, but won't leave them alone. She tells them about a girl named Teresa who drowned during the summer while their mothers were at the lake house. Could Teresa be the mysterious girl from the photograph?

Recently Added Fiction

Barber, Tiki. Kickoff! 153 pages. Grades 4-6.

Tiki and Ronde's summer is winding down and it will soon be time to start junior high. This year they will tryout for the Hidden Valley Eagles team, but there is much more competition than in elementary school. Will Tiki and Ronde make the team or spend the season on the bench?

Berkeley, Jon. The Tiger's Egg. 400 pages. Grades 4-7.
In the second book from The Wednesday Tales, orphan Miles Wednesday joins the Circus Bolsillo with his angel-friend Little. Hoping to find out more about his parents, Miles joins Doctor Tau-Tau on a journey, which he believes will lead to his father, but he soon finds out that Doctor Tau-Tau is on a quest to find the Tiger's Egg instead.

Doder, Joshua. A Dog Called Grk. 241 pages. Grades 5-7.

When Tim Malt finds a dog called Grk near his home in London, he tries to find Grk's owner. After doing some detective work, Tim learns that Grk belongs to Natascha Raffifi who has been kidnapped along with her parents and taken back to their homeland in Eastern Europe. Tim is determined to return Grk to Natascha and manages to get to Stanislavia where she is being held prisoner. Will he rescue Natascha and reunite her with Grk?