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Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret by Trudi Truett
With Explorer Academy, National Geographic launches an action sci-fi series taking readers to the world’s natural wonders. The Nebula Secret (Explorer Academy #1) by Trudi Truett. National Geographic Partners, 2018, 205 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Cruz Coronado has been accepted into the elite Explorers Academy, a high-tech, cutting-edge facility in Washington D. C. He’s hoping it’s not because his Aunt Marisol is an instructor there, but soon he has other worries. In short, it appears someone is trying to stop him: to disable, delay, perhaps even kill him. His mother was involved in a top-secret project before she died in a work related…
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Zap by Martha Freeman
A days-long power outage is the premise for Zap, a STEM-based, character-driven novel for middle graders. Zap by Martha Freeman. Simon & Schuster, 2018, 288 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14, especially boys Luis is interested in science and likes to find out stuff. His best friend Maura—make that his ex-bf, even though they’re still friends—is interested in science and likes to explain stuff. That’s one reason why she’s an ex: it gets a little irritating sometimes. When the power goes down in their New Jersey town, both are looking for answers. At first it’s just an inconvenience. But as the days pass and order…
