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Check out these books at the public libraries!

The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast
Author: Samantha M. Clark
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018
Call No.: J CLA
Summary: A boy washes up on a mysterious, seemingly uninhabited beach. Who is he? How did he get there? The boy can’t remember. When he sees a light shining over the foreboding wall of trees that surrounds the shore, he decides to follow it, in the hopes that it will lead him to answers. The boy’s journey is a struggle for survival and a search for the truth—a terrifying truth that once uncovered, will force him to face his greatest fear of all if he is to go home.

Malala's Magic Pencil
Author: Malala Yousafzai
Publisher: Puffin Books, 2017
Call No.: J 361.2083 YOU
(This book is also available on eReads at www.nlb.gov.sg.)
Summary: When she was young, Malala wished she had a magic pencil so she could use it to make the world a better place, erasing war, poverty and hunger. Even though the magic pencil was never found, Malala realises that the world does not get better by magic or chance, it gets better by change, so she strives to make her dreams a reality.

27 Magic Words
Author: Sharelle Byars Moranville
Publisher: Holiday House, 2018
Call No.: J MOR
(This book is also available on eReads at www.nlb.gov.sg.)
Summary: Although eleven-year-old Kobi’s parents sailed into a storm at sea five years ago, she knows they are alive. If she says “Avanti!” she can see them. Now that her wealthy Parisian Grandmama is sending Kobi and her sister away to live with Uncle Wim in Iowa, she will need the magic words her mother left her more than ever. To fit in at her new American school, Kobi tells lies that soon catch up with her, and leans heavily on her magic. In a heart-wrenching climax, she must confront not only the untruths she has told others but the stories she has made herself believe. Only then will she be able to grieve for her parents and move on with her life.

Sticks & Stones
Author: Abby Cooper
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2016
Call No.: J COO
Summary: Ever since she was a baby, the words people use to describe Elyse have instantly appeared on her arms and legs. At first it was just "cute" and "adorable," but as she's gotten older and kids have gotten meaner, words like "loser" and "pathetic" appear, and those words bubble up and itch. And then there are words like "interesting," which she's not really sure how to feel about. Now, at age twelve, she's starting middle school, and just when her friends who used to accept and protect her are drifting away, she receives an anonymous note saying "I know who you are, and I know what you're dealing with. I want to help." As Elyse works to solve the mystery of who is sending her these notes, she also finds new ways to accept who she is and to become her best self.

Dragonhearted: The Fine Spell of Words Alone
Author: Xie Shi Min
Publisher: Scholastic Singapore, 2016
Call No.: J SING XIE
Summary: Xin Long is like any ordinary ten-year-old girl. She prefers Wushu to studying, likes hanging out with her friends, and loves listening to her Ah Ma’s stories. But when these stories tell of an ancient mythical beast that threatens to destroy the world, Xin Long realises that she is the only one who can stop it. Can she destroy this evil?

Have No Fear! (Fix-it Friends)
Author: Nicole C. Kear
Publisher: Imprint, 2017
Call No.: JS KEA
Summary: Because being scared stinks! Seven-year-old Veronica Conti knows a thing or two. She knows that recess is the best part of the day. And if someone, like Maya, doesn’t play at recess because she’s too afraid of bugs, well, that’s a HUGE problem! And it has to be fixed, pronto! But when Veronica’s big ideas to help Maya backfire, she learns that sometimes, to help others, you need a little help yourself.

Maker Projects for Kids Who Love Photography (Be a Maker!)
Author: Kelly Spence
Publisher: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2017
Call No.: J 770 SPE
Summary: From high-powered cameras to smartphones, photography is a popular and accessible interest of many individuals today. This title helps young photographers explore the history of this important art, and the pioneers who innovated and created some of the world's most notable cameras and photos. Readers will learn about lenses, filters, composition, and lighting. They will also be encouraged to create their own photography projects using different styles and mediums, and changing their photos into forms that suit their ideas and concepts.

Archer’s Quest
Author: Linda Sue Park
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018
Call No.: J PAR
Summary: Twelve-year-old Kevin Kim is shocked when a young man, complete with bow and arrows, crash-lands on his bedroom floor—especially when that man, Skilful Archer, claims to be a legendary ruler from ancient Korea. As much as Kevin enjoys teaching Archie about contemporary life and learning about Korean history from Archie’s stories, Kevin needs to help Archie get back home—or history will be changed forever.

Do You Speak Chocolate?
Author: Cas Lester
Publisher: Picadilly Press, 2017
Call No.: J LES
Summary: Jaz is outgoing, rebellious, gumptious and a little bit bloshy- but it doesn’t stop her from finding it hard that she doesn’t have a best friend at school any more. Not since Lily went off with Kara… She’s not one to get down about things, though- and things start to look up when Nadima comes into their classroom.

The Secret Subway
Author: Shana Corey
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2016
Call No.: J 388.4 COR
(This book is also available on eReads at www.nlb.gov.sg.)
Summary: New York City in the 1860s was a mess: crowded, disgusting, filled with garbage. You see, way back in 1860, there were no subways, just cobblestone streets. That is, until Alfred Ely Beach had the idea for a fan-powered train that would travel underground. On February 26, 1870, after fifty-eight days of drilling and painting and plastering, Beach unveiled his masterpiece—and throngs of visitors took turns swooshing down the track.