At the Top of the World: The greatest mountains on Earth (and how to climb them)
by Robin Jacobs
This book tells all about the tallest and most dangerous mountains in the world, including Mount Everest, The Mattherhorn, Chimborazo, Mount Fuji, Kilimanjaro, Denali, Puncak Jaya, and Vinson Massif. From Nepal to Tanzania to Antarctica, we learn all about these famous mountains and the people who climb them.
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The Lost Kingdom
by Matthew J. Kirby
4.5 out of 5 stars
Growing up in the American Colonies, Billy wants to be a botanist just like his father. When Benjamin Franklin sends them on an expedition to the Ohio frontier, Billy is excited to be included with his father in the team of scientists and philosophers. Their mission is to find a lost Welsh colony that may have traveled to the Americas centuries before. With war with the French on the horizon, they will need allies on the frontier.
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A Yank in the R.A.F.
by Harlan Thomas
Tim is a hotshot American pilot who takes a job ferrying war planes over the Atlantic Ocean to the British Isles during WWII. But when he realizes that his ex-girlfriend Carol is working as a dancer in a London nightclub, he decides to join the RAF to be close to her. Tim is selfish, proud, and flirts with anything in a skirt. He resents being assigned as co-pilot on a bomber team; he thinks he should have his own fighter plane. But when he sees the courage and sacrifice of his fellow pilots, he begins to realize that he needs to get his values straight and become a better man to be worthy of Carol.
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The Island of Sheep (Richard Hannay #5)
by John Buchan
Richard Hannay is caught up in another adventure! This time an old friend from South Africa, Haraldsen, is being hunted by evil men with a vendetta against his father. Richard’s son, Peter John, is now in his teens and is eager to help his father protect Haraldsen’s family, especially since he has a lovely teenage daughter, Anna. After dodging the bad guys all around the city, they escape into the country and make their last stand on the Island of Sheep.
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Harley James and the Peril of the Pirate’s Curse
by Leah Cupps (Goodreads Author)
Harley travels around the world with her archeologist dad, visiting historic sites and learning about ancient legends. While in Jamaica, Harley hears the legend of the Perla Azul (The Blue Pearl). If the pearl ever touches dry land, a hurricane and earthquake could wipe out the entire island. It already happened once before in 1692 when a young pirate boy witnessed the destruction of half the town of Port Royal. Most of the town sank below the waves and still lies buried in the sand. Harley and her friends discover that the pirate boy wrote a diary where he left behind clues to the pearl’s location in the sunken city. Harley has to find the pearl before her archeologist father and his diving team stumble across it and bring it back to land!
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Explorer Academy: The Dragon’s Blood (Book 6)
by Trudi Trueit (Goodreads Author)
In this book, Cruz and his friends travel to China where they search for clues in an emperor’s tomb. With Nebula spies all around, Cruz wonders who is telling him the truth, but the truth is more complicated than he realizes.
There are a lot of plots twists and major revelations in this book! Around every corner something insane happens and it throws the whole plot into turmoil. The adventure is fantastic, and it’s really interesting to learn about all the historic sites that the characters visit.
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The Twenty-One Balloons
by William Pène du Bois
5 out of 5 stars
Professor Sherman is sick of teaching mathematics to unruly children in San Francisco, so he decides to take a year-long balloon ride around the world and never touch land in all that time. However, within days his balloon crashes near the mysterious island of Krakatoa, and he discovers the secrets of the island where a most unusual society is flourishing and fabulous diamonds are available to anyone.
This is such a fun and entertaining story! The plot has all these hilarious details all about the reception for Professor Sherman when he returns to San Francisco, his arrangements for his balloon house and how he planned his balloon trip, and the strange society that lives on Krakatoa and how they organize their days. Most of the narrative is explaining things, so there isn’t a ton of action, but the descriptions are so wild and interesting that you never feel bored.
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High Rhulain (Redwall, #18)
by Brian Jacques
5 out of 5 stars
The good beasts at Redwall rescue an injured bird, and it sets them on a quest to discover all they can about the legend of the ancient Queen Rhulain. Meanwhile, on an island far away, otter clans are enslaved to a ferocious wildcat society, and only the clever outlaw, Shellhound, can outwit their evil wildcat leader. Caught in the middle of these adventures is the young Redwall ottermaid, Tiria. She dreams of Martin the Warrior, who guides her to find her true destiny.
What an absolute delight! This book has everything that I love about Redwall books. Ravenous hares, wise old scribes, adorable moles, silly shrews, and of course brave warriors ready to defend all good beasts.
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Icefall
by Matthew J. Kirby
4 out of 5 stars
Solveig and her siblings have been sent to a frozen fjord in the mountains where they will be safe during a Viking war between clans. The winter cold freezes the sea, preventing any ships from getting to them. However, there appears to be a traitor in their midst among the soldiers and servants, and they are trapped until the spring thaw can bring help.
I loved the thoughtful writing style in this book! The writing brings important details to the forefront, giving the characters depth and enhancing the setting without slowing down the pacing.
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I loved this plot! There is plenty of action and suspense. I never knew what was going to happen next! I really loved that Lani is finally part of the team! She is such an interesting character.
The exotic locations are amazing, and I loved learning about different conservation efforts in Uganda and Namibia and all the national parks.
Luminous Libro 