The Amelia Six

 

 

Author: Kristin L. Gray

Publisher: New York: Simon & Schuster, 2020
Not a series


Set in Kansas this fast-paced story with short chapters follows a gang of intelligent girls on a mysterious adventure. Readers learn about Amelia Earhart, as well as Deaf pilot Nellie Zabel Willhite and black and Native pilot Bessie Coleman. The story is character-driven and full of action.

 
During a sleepover at the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, Amelia "Millie" Ashford and five other bright girls enter into an adventure they could never have imagined. They find Amelia Earhart's real goggles she used to use when she flew. When they go missing the girls band together creating strong friendships as they investigate the mystery. Characters are complex and Millie's story reveals that she has an absent mother who was also a pilot. 

Gray's writing style is attention-grabbing and detailed. These young female characters are robust and investigative, revealing interesting facts about female pilots along the way.


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Treasure Hunters

     

 

Author: James Patterson
Narrator: Bryan Kennedy
Publishing details: Hachette Audio 2013.; 1 sound file; digital.

Series: Treasure Hunters (7 books in total)

Book number: 1/7

Available as: Print book, eAudiobook, CDs ( 6 audio discs) and on pre-loaded audioplayer 

Running time: 5hrs., 56 min.

Treasure Hunters (7 books)

Author James Patterson presents this funny fast-paced series as an energetic saga sure to have you ready for the next book. Quirky characters hook readers in and are embellished with Patterson's attention grabbing writing style. Give the audio a listen on its own or follow along with the books. 

Brother and sister Brick and Beck are experienced treasure hunters. They have helped their parents do this their whole life. Now they are the experts and must help to investigate the disappearance of their parents.
They fight pirates, compete with other treasure hunters and follow creepy clues to find their disappeared parents! 

 

Patterson is a best selling author in many genres - such as children's fiction, romance and stand-alone thrillers. With a passion for encouraging children's reading habits, Patterson writes compelling series' for this age group. Some of these series include Treasure Hunters, Dog Diaries, I Funny and Max Einstein series.

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Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer

Author and Illustrator: Gillian Goerz
Publisher:
Dial Books for Young Readers, New York, 2020

 

Come along on the suspenseful summer adventures of Jamila and Shirley as this author's attention grabbing writing style pulls you in. This atmospheric comic mystery is chock full of action and various story lines. Bold, cartoony and colorful illustrations take the reader along on the most exciting summer adventure with this culturally diverse character duo.

When Jamila Waheed meets Shirley Bones in her new neighborhood, they form a bond and immediately learn the other is also being sent to camp this summer. They don't agree with their parents' ideas to send them to camp and both work to convince their parents to allow them to stay home and spend their summer together. They are successful in escaping camp and begin to meet at a local basketball court. Shirley and Jamila soon begin doing detective work together. The new friendship they create is tested bringing them closer together as their cases become challenging time and time again. One case in particular about a missing gecko comes into their case load. Will they be able to solve this case and keep their friendship?

Gillian Goerz' writing and illustrations in this mystery comic are ideal for the 9-12 reading group. Younger advanced readers can also enjoy this colorful comic/graphic novel. Well-developed characters keep the reader attentive as they guess the next turn the plot will take.

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