2016 Young Author's Award — ShortlistedCCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens (Fall 2015) - CommendedInstead of writing in a diary, twelve-year-old Jo Waller secretly edits Wikipedia entries to cope with the worst year of her life.Jo Waller has three brainy friends, two mostly harmless parents, and one deep, dark secret: she edits Wikipedia for fun. But when her twenty-four-year-old brother moves back home with his pregnant girlfriend, Jo is for...

2016 Junior Library Guild Selection2016 VOYA Top Shelf Fiction SelectionCCBC’s Best Books for Kids & Teens (Fall 2016) — CommendedShe’s with the band, whether she likes it or not.Victoria Mahler is the sixteen-year-old only daughter of rocker Micky Wayne, whose band, Dusty Moon, took the world by storm when Micky was just a teenager. The band broke up under mysterious circumstances, but, after years spent off the road being a mom, Mic...

Lou Chandra-Pine is tired of being teased by his older brothers and getting lectured for what his parents call "bad choices."When his birthday comes and all he gets is a dusty old book and a card with his name spelled wrong, Lou makes a secret wish as he blows out his birthday candles: to be a huge beast. That way, his family would treat him with more respect.Soon afterwards, though, his body starts doing weird things—like growing hair on his feet, sproutin...

Just how intense are the Massey Obstacle Olympics?When Max tells Jordan that their school's end-of-year carnival will include the Massey Obstacle Olympics, Jordan is super excited. He's been jogging with his grandmother and dreaming of the chance to be in a real race. Even though chatter at school does make the obstacle course sound intimidating, and the new kid, Ivan, is trying to scare him off, Jordan knows that, with Max as his coach, he's ready for anything.

The Hague (also known as 's-Gravenhage or Den Haag) is the third largest city in the Netherlands and is known as the 'international city of peace and justice.' With beautiful architecture and interesting museums such as the Escher in Het Paleis and the Mauritshuis, The Hague has lots to offer. Every year it plays host to several large scale music festivals. The city also houses many major international institutions, including the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal C...

Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world travel to Maastricht, a small Dutch town on the Belgian border. The city hosts a wide variety of sights and activities—from art galleries and museums to active nightlife and a diverse selection of restaurants. Maastricht is the smallest city in the Netherlands to have preserved its medieval center, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Maastricht is also known for its university, one of the most prestigious in the Bene...

If you are looking for a trip to a warm and welcoming city with plenty of culture and fine architecture, Rotterdam is the perfect destination for you. This multicultural city takes pride in its innovative architecture, diverse neighborhoods, and colorful buildings. Known as the Venice of the North, this World Heritage Site entices with modern structures such as The Cube Houses, De Rotterdam and the Euromast Tower.Including Market Hall, Erasmus Bridge, St. Lawrence's Church, Rotterd...

The Rise of the Military Entrepreneur explores how a new kind of international military figure emerged from, and exploited, the seventeenth century's momentous political, military, commercial, and scientific changes. In the era of the Thirty Years' War, these figures traveled rapidly and frequently across Europe using private wealth, credit, and connections to raise and command the armies that rulers desperately needed. Their careers reveal the ro...

Jordan had a tough time with the other kids at his old school.So, on his first day at Massey Elementary, he has a plan: to be absolutely invisible. His new classmates don't need to know that his grandmother is his best friend or that they put on shows together dressing up in elaborate costumes each night in their apartment. When he's forced to pair up with Max, a loud-mouthed loner with a love for Hawaiian shirts, Jordan's cover of invisibility threatens to be blow...

It’s everyone’s favorite day of winter semester: the class field trip to the museum!Jordan is excited to see the mummies and Max can’t wait for his first trip to the big city without his big sisters watching over him. But when Jordan gets distracted by an extraordinary costume display and Max flies off to the depths of the Bat Cave, the group carries on to lunch without them. Before the two friends know it, their class has left the museum and they’re all alone down...

With its cobblestone streets lined with picturesque medieval houses, Bruges, or Brugge in Flemish, is one of Belgium's most charming destinations. From its famous lace-making tradition to its bustling port along the English Channel, this city has plenty to offer visitors. If you're looking for a romantic getaway or family holiday in the heart of Europe, make sure to set your sights on this popular destination.Including Market Square, Church of Our Lady, Burg Square, Quai of the Ros...

Utrecht in the Netherlands is a lively & engaging city that's one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in Europe. Its medieval centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with iconic structures such as its 14th-century bell towered Dom Church and churches boasting breathtaking stained-glass windows. Medieval squares & alleys abound from here to the grand marketplace, Voorstraat.Utrecht has a chic, modern side as well as being full of history. It has emerged as one of Europe's creative hu...