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THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS



Top 21 Middle-Grade Books for September (page 3)

Cover art for LEGENDS OF ZITA THE SPACEGIRL
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 4, 2012
Kirkus Star LEGENDS OF ZITA THE SPACEGIRL
by Ben Hatke, illustrated by Ben Hatke
"Imaginative and utterly bewitching. (Graphic science fiction. 9-12)"
Lovable Zita returns in a charmingly dashing interplanetary adventure to save yet another doomed planet from impending peril. Read full book review >
Cover art for LULU AND THE DUCK IN THE PARK
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
Kirkus Star LULU AND THE DUCK IN THE PARK
by Hilary McKay, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont
"Utterly winning. (Fiction. 7-9)"
A warmhearted beginning to a new chapter-book series delights from the first few sentences. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE SEVEN TALES OF TRINKET
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 4, 2012
Kirkus Star THE SEVEN TALES OF TRINKET
by Shelley Moore Thomas
"Though it's filled with incident, emotion, magic and adventure, what stands out most is Trinket's clear voice and loving heart, both of which will endear her to readers. (Fantasy. 8-12)"
Like her main character, Trinket, Thomas clearly loves storytelling, and she has a real talent for it, too. Read full book review >
Cover art for SHADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
Kirkus Star SHADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN
by Margi Preus
"A morally satisfying page turner. (author's note, archival photographs, maps, timeline, selected bibliography) (Historical fiction. 10-14)"
A teenage boy becomes a spy in Nazi-occupied Norway. Read full book review >
Cover art for A SOLDIER'S SECRET
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
Kirkus Star A SOLDIER'S SECRET: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF SARAH EDMONDS, A CIVIL WAR HERO
by Marissa Moss
"An intimate look at a soldier's life from a compelling, historical perspective. (author's note, thumbnail biographies, timeline, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 12 & up)"
A female Civil War soldier is brought alive for readers. Read full book review >
Cover art for NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOK OF ANIMAL POETRY
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 11, 2012
Kirkus Star NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOK OF ANIMAL POETRY: 200 POEMS WITH PHOTOGRAPHS THAT SQUEAK, SOAR, AND ROAR!
edited by J. Patrick Lewis
"A spectacular collection--"And," the editor notes with remarkable understatement, "the pictures are pretty nice too!" (Poetry. 7-12)"
Gathered by the United States children's poet laureate, 200 (mostly) lighthearted poems from the likes of Basho and Ben Franklin, Leadbelly, Jack Prelutsky and Joyce Sidman share space with eye-popping animal photographs. Read full book review >