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January Girls Read/ Guys Read

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Did you know that we have two parent/child book clubs every month at the Provo City Library? They are for children ages 9-12 and a caregiver. This month, they will meet January 28 (girls) and January 23 (guys). Preregister under the Kids Corner/Program Registration tab on the library website. We have two great books to discuss this month:

Girls

By Kelly Barnhill
Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Young Readers, 2016. Fiction.

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They don't seem to know that the witch in the forest, named Xan, is a kind and generous witch who is confused why the people don't want their babies. Each year, she saves the babies - feeding them starlight and finding them happy homes across the forest. One year, she accidentally feeds the rescued baby moonlight instead of starlight and gives the baby magical abilities. This baby, Luna, lives with Xan, Fyrian (a Perfectly Tiny Dragon), and a swamp monster named Glerk. To protect her from herself, Xan buries Luna's magic deep inside until her 13th birthday when it begins to pour out. This is a fantastical and epic coming of age story set in a lush, marvelously described world. The winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal and a book on the 2019-2020 Battle of the Books List, this magical story is an instant classic.


Guys

By Laura Ruby
New York, NY: Walden Pond Press, 2017. Fiction.

Three brilliant children (Tess, Theo, and Jamie) are distraught to learn that the historic Morningstarr building in which they live is set for demolition. Tess, Theo, and Jamie live in an alternate New York City built by the Morningstarrs - genius architects and engineers famous for their innovative buildings, technological advancements, and *maybe* a mysterious puzzle known as "The Cipher." Rumor has it that the Morningstarrs left clues to solve the Cipher all around New York and whoever solves the puzzle will discover an amazing treasure. The three kids are determined to solve the puzzle and use the money to save their beloved apartment building. A mystery that feels both historical and totally new, this series opener creates an inviting steampunk-inspired world for its protagonists to inhabit.
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