"When I look into the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul." ~A.D. Williams
by Michael Morpurgo
In the unique landscape of the Camargue in the South of France during WW2, a young autistic boy lives on his parents' farm among the salt flats and the flamingos that live there. There are lots of things he doesn't understand, but he does know how to heal animals. He loves routine and music too; every week he goes to market with his mother, to ride his special horse on the town carousel. But then the Germans come, with their guns, and take the town. A soldier shoots a flamingo from the sky and it falls to earth terribly injured. And even worse is to come: the carousel is damaged, the horses broken. For this vulnerable boy, everything is falling apart. Only there's a kind sergeant among the Germans -- a man with a young boy of his own at home, a man who trained as a carpenter. Between them, perhaps boy and man can mend what has been broken -- and maybe even the whole town.
by Stuart Gibbs
For once, operations at the enormous zoo/theme park appear to be running smoothly (except for the occasional herring-related mishap in the penguin exhibit) and Teddy Fitzroy is finally able to give detective work a rest. But then a local lion is accused of killing a famous dog--and the dog's owner, an inflammatory radio host, goes on a crusade to have the cat declared a nuisance so it can be hunted. However, there's evidence that the lion might have been framed for murder and now a renegade animal activist wants Teddy and his girlfriend Summer to help prove it -- and catch the real killer. And if that wasn't enough, someone has poisoned FunJungle's beloved giraffes and the parks' owner wants Teddy on the case. Now, Teddy finds himself wrapped up in the middle of his most bizarre, hilarious, and dangerous case yet.
Teen High (Grades 9-12)
by Nahoko Uehashi
Elin's family has an important responsibility caring for the fearsome water serpents that form the core of their kingdom's army. So when some of the creatures mysteriously die, Elin's mother is sentenced to death as punishment. With her last breath, she manages to send her daughter to safey. Alone and far from home, Elin soon discovers that she can communicate with both the terrifying water serpents and the majestic flying beasts that guard her queen. This skill gives her great power, but it also involves her in deadly plots that could cost her life. Can she save herself and prevent her beloved beasts from from being used as tools of war? Or is there no escaping the terrible battles to come?
by Crystal Chan
In Makersville, Indiana, people know all about Ronney. He's from that mixed-race family with the dad who tried to kill himself, the pill-popping mom, and the genius kid sister. Then the local eccentric at the edge of town decides to open up all the cages of his exotic zoo-- lions, cheetahs, tigers-- before shooting himself dead. Now news crews, gun control supporters, and gun rights advocates are descending on Makersville, bringing around-the-clock news coverage, rallies, and anti-rallies with them. Ronney needs to tend to his sister's fears of roaming lions; stopping his best friend from going on a suburban safari; and shake loose a lonely boy who follows Ronney wherever he goes.
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Stephani Lindsey
Youth Specialist
#WeKnowBooks
