2009 Children's Choices-Advanced Readers (Grade 5-6)

Then sit yourself down in a comfortable seat, with maybe some cocoa and something to eat, and I?ll spin you the tale of Katrina Katrell, a girl full of courage (and daring, as well!), who down in the subway, under the ground, saw something fantastical roaming around . . .

What was it she saw? I?d rather not say. (Who?s ever heard of a Zorgle, anyway?)

But if you are curious, clever and brave, if intrepid adventure is something you crave, then open this book and I?ll leave it to you to uncover the secret of ZORGAMAZOO!

Join Morty the Zorgle and Katrina on a fantastically illustrated, you?ll-wanna-read-every-word-aloud, sophisticated rhyming adventure for kids of all ages!

Enter Sir Fartsalot?the bravest, boldest, er, most potent knight in all the land! He?s on a quest to solve the riddle of the Foul West Wind?a ghastly odor that turns up whenever danger is lurking. Prince Harry decides to play the biggest, boogeriest prank of all time! He convinces Sir Fartsalot that The Booger, a frightful and repulsive villain, is on the prowl. But when a real Booger turns up, Harry, Sir Fartsalot and the knight?s old buddy Sir Knotaclew must set out on a hilarious quest to rid the world of the Snotty Scoundrel, once and for all!

In the early morning hours of July 11, 1804, two men stood facing each other on a New Jersey cliff side. One was the U.S. vice president, Aaron Burr, and the other was Alexander Hamilton, the secretary of the treasury. They were ready to fight to the death for honor.

These Founding Fathers, once friends and colleagues, had become the bitterest of enemies. After years of escalating tension, Burr had finally challenged Hamilton to a duel. In the end, only one man survived, but their infamous rivalry lives on.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln . . . at one point, they all ran for president. And so is Vanessa Rothrock's mother!
 
As if being 12 3/4 isn't bad enough, Vanessa Rothrock's mother is running for president and it's ruining her life. Isn't it enough that her enormous feet trip her up all the time, even on stage during the school spelling bee? Isn't it enough that Reginald Trumball, love of Vanessa's pathetic life, read her personal and private list of deficiencies to some boy she doesn't even know? And that the Boob Fairy hasn't visited her even once?! Doesn't Mom realize that Vanessa needs her more than the rest of the country? More importantly, doesn't she realize that she may be in grave danger? Vanessa's receiving threatening notes at school–notes that imply some psycho has it out for her mother at the Democratic National Convention. Vanessa might be the only person who can save her. But does she have the courage to do what that requires?
 
This hilarious debut novel about a girl who gets thrust into the campaign trail will have you laughing out loud and thanking your lucky stars that your mom never decided to enter a national election.
 

“Gephart maintains the humor even as the stakes rise. . . . An intelligent look at primaries, caucuses and nominating conventions.” –Publishers Weekly
 
“Readers learn about the political process and motivations of people who work in this milieu.” –SLJ