Weekend Reads

School for Sidekicks by Kelly McCullough

Evan Quick wants to be a superhero. Not in the typical young-boy-dreaming sort of way either; he wants to be a real, bonafide hero (known as a Mask). When his class is attacked by supervillians during a field trip, Evan saves the day and ultimately rescues one of his favorite superheros, Captain Commanding. When he wakes up after the battle, he finds himself at the Academy for Metahuman Operatives - with a history that has been rewritten to put Captain Commanding in the hero's position instead of Evan. Life at the Academy is hard - but Evan works hard to realize his dream of becoming a Mask. This book is funny and fast-paced. McCullough's characters are witty and the plot moves smoothly. This is a fun read and a great choice to pick up for this weekend!

Find it in Fiction under F MCC

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill

In The Mostly True Story of Jack, Kelly Barnhill does a masterful job of enticing readers to learn more - more about Hazelwood, more about Aunt Mabel and Uncle Clive and more about Jack. She does this by giving readers just enough information to reveal a mystery, but never enough to spoil the surprises she has waiting later in the novel. Jack seems like a normal boy, although he is often looked past or forgotten, and until he arrives in Hazelwood to spend some time with his aunt and uncle, his life is unremarkable except for its lonliness. What Jack discovers about himself and his family is beyond his comprehension; he isn't one to believe in fairy tales - until, that is, he can no longer deny what is right in front of him. I love the structure of Barnhill's writing; it's suspenseful and well-developed. She reveals things slowly, and by making her main character (Jack) unaware of the magic that surrounds him, she controls the pace of the story beautifully

Find it in Fiction under F BAR

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Since it's October, many students are looking for a spooky and mysterious book. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is both. Jacob Portman has grown up listening to the stories of his grandfather - stories of children with odd features and uncommon abilities. His father dismisses them as fairy tales, but Jacob believes - at least, he does for a long time. His grandfather's stories were accompanied by warnings of terrible monsters who hunted the children, and who hunted him. When Grandpa Portman dies under mysterious circumstances, Jacob does not handle it well. Grandpa's last instructions lead Jacob to a remote island off the coast of Wales; what he finds there changes his life (and his understanding of his grandfather) forever.

Find it in Fiction under F RIG