England

Name of the Star

Posted on October 1, 2013 by webmaster

“Creating a community of avid readers, one video at a time^©“

The Name of the Star (Shades of London)
by Maureen Johnson

The day that Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school is also the day a series of brutal murders breaks out over the city, killings mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper spree of more than a century ago. Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses.

Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him–the only one who can see him. And now Rory has become his next target.

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
710L	Middle School	384	Thriller/Suspense	2011	0399256601

Flip

Posted on October 1, 2013 by webmaster

“Creating a community of avid readers, one video at a time^©“

Flip
by Martyn Bedford

Alex Gray, a clarinet and chess-playing sensitive kid from a London suburb, wakes up one day in a much more muscular and athletic body known as Philip “Flip” Garamond.

Alex struggles with the disadvantages and begins to enjoy a few advantages of being someone he is not. Should he try to find his way back? Can he? Where is his own body? And is it even alive?

About the only one who recognizes Alex to NOT be Flip is the Garamond family retriever, Beagle, who gives him a growl each time he sees him. Soon, though, Alex finds friends on the web — folks who have experienced something called PE (no, not physical education — psychic evacuation) like him.

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It’s when a soul jumps the rails and lands in another body due to extreme physical duress or death of its own. Is it any wonder why Alex hesitates to type his own name in the Google search box? How would you like to read your own obit? Flip begins to perplex family and friends alike with some “new” habits (really his old ones).

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
720L	High School	272	Thriller/Suspense	2021	0375865527

Billionaire’s Curse

Posted on September 23, 2013 by webmaster

“Creating a community of avid readers, one video at a time^©“

The Billionaire’s Curse
by Richard Newsome

Gerald Wilkins is an Australian youth who’s the recent heir to a fortune bequeathed to him by an English aunt he barely knew. While Gerald’s giddy, irresponsible parents use his good fortune to take a Caribbean vacation, the 12-year-old stays behind in London, facing threats connected to the recent theft of a world-renowned diamond.

His attempts to piece together how his aunt’s death and the diamond are connected involves sleuthing about museums and stuffy clubs, and leads to a dastardly attempt on his life by a creepy man of overwhelming strength who smells of bleach. Luckily, twins Ruby and Sam intervene, saving the new billionaire, and the threesome become fast friends.

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
690	High School	352	Adventure	2010	0061944904

Animal Farm

Posted on September 20, 2013 by webmaster

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Animal Farm
by George Orwell

The animals on Mr. Jones’ farm have had enough of what they deem to be slavery. They’re tired of being ordered around by humans while they see no benefits in their daily work. This is all sparked by a dream that the boar, Major, had about a unique place where animals called the shots and never had to be ordered around by humans ever again. He tells them a revolution is very much needed. When Major dies, the animals act quickly and are able to overthrow the alcoholic farmer and his thugs from his very own farm.

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The pigs are in charge now, as they claim that they are much smarter than the others and know how to lead. What seems to be paradise quickly transforms into another form of slavery altogether enforced by propaganda and threats from the pigs. And yet, the animals do not know any better, as they are deceived by the new system that gives them the illusion that they are better off than they were with Mr. Jones calling the shots.

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
1170	Middle School	252	Fantasy	2009	1412811902

London Calling

Posted on September 18, 2013 by webmaster

London Calling
by Edward Bloor

John Martin Conway feels out of place at his exclusive prep school, where he is constantly reminded that he is a scholarship kid. After a confrontation with Hank Lowery, the great-grandson of the schools founder, he requests to work at home on an independent study project. The World War II-era radio that his grandmother left him brings him into contact with Jimmy, a boy who lived during the war and who needs his help. He takes Martin back to the time of the London Blitz.

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In his own time, he focuses his research on the things Jimmy shows him and the people he encounters. Along the way he uncovers some new information about his grandfathers and General Hank Lowerys dealings during the war and discovers how he can help put Jimmys soul to rest. He also comes to terms with his alcoholic father and with his own depression.

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
890	Middle School	304	Fantasy	2008	0375843639

Dracula

Posted on September 15, 2013 by webmaster

Dracula
by Bram Stoker

This novel tells the story of Dracula’s attempt to move from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing.
It takes place largely in England and Transylvania during 1893. Jonathan Harker, a newly qualified English solicitor, visits Count Dracula in the Carpathian Mountains on the border of Transylvania, Bukovina, and Moldavia, to provide legal support for a real estate transaction overseen by Harker’s employer.

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Harker is at first enticed by Dracula’s gracious manners but soon realizes that he is Dracula’s prisoner. Wandering the Count’s castle against Dracula’s admonition, Harker encounters three female vampires, called “the sisters”, from whom he is rescued by Dracula. Harker barely escapes from the castle with his life. Not long afterward, a Russian ship, the Demeter, having weighed anchor at Varna, runs aground on the shores of Whitby.

Lexile Level	Content Rating	Number of Pages	Genre	Date Published	ISBN Number
990L	High School	666	Fantasy	2014	1500371432