Holiday House: 290 books

What kind of a nanny wears a motorcycle jacket, mirrored sunglasses, and a straw hat with flowers on top? When ten-year-old Ali and eight-year-old Jake find out that an odd woman who calls herself Nanny X is going to care for them, they're worried. They see her speak into a diaper. Even weirder, the...

Bitty is a canary whose courage more than makes up for his diminutive size. Of course, as a miner bird who detects deadly gas leaks in a West Virginia coal mine during the Depression, he is used to facing danger. Tired of perilous working conditions, he escapes and hops a coal train to the state capital...

11-year-old Sesame Seade, Cambridge’s number-one supersleuth, knows that mysteries turn up in unexpected places. But in her third adventure, even unflappable Sesame is surprised to discover a locked treasure chest nestled along the bank of the River Cam. She’s certain it belongs to pirates, but...

Something chilling lurks underground, and two step-siblings must unite to uncover the truth in this “engrossing mystery” (Booklist). Katie knows that something eerie is happening in the old, deserted town where she, her stepbrother, and her newly widowed mother are spending the summer taking...

A vengeful ghost haunts a small town—until two cousins confront her—in this “fast-paced, entertaining” story (School Library Journal). While thirteen-year-old Rachel dreams of becoming Pike River’s Sunbonnet Queen, her cousin Charlie Hocking dreams of leaving. But both dreams are...

What do you do when you’re being bullied—by a ghost? Find out in this story that “nicely blends the comic and the sinister” (Booklist). Three months ago, when Ernie P. Barber came to Treverton from Los Angeles, he’d been like a missile aimed at trouble. And Ernie had chosen Jeff to...

This fifth-grader is not too fond of her new step-grandmother—“an affecting funny story” (Publishers Weekly). When summer comes, Emily is looking forward to spending more time with Grandfather. Ever since Grandma Ellen’s death, Emily has felt especially close to him. He’s never too...

The new kid in school accepts a dare—and finds himself facing some spooky and surprising consequences: “[A] page-turner” (Booklist). Matthew Barber thinks that being the new kid in school will be the scariest thing about fourth grade. But is he ever wrong! When the class bully challenges...

Erin’s new adopted brother has ruined everything—but there are scarier things than having to share the spotlight in this “compelling summertime adventure.” (School Library Journal). Erin enjoyed being Erin Lindsay, the much-loved only child of schoolteacher parents. Everything in her...

A girl learns that glamour isn’t always what it seems: “Well written with humor, strong characterization, and a convincing plot” (School Library Journal). Twelve-year-old Caroline feels torn. She grieves over her sister who has a severe heart problem that keeps her in and out of the hospital....

The first book in the beloved series by the Newbery Medal–winning author “races without pause between hilarious, suspenseful and touching crises” (Publishers Weekly). Newbery Award–winning author Betsy Byars’s heartwarming and timeless books about the irrepressible Blossom family...

It's been four years since seventeen-year-old Mitchell Johnson was hit by a bus and inexplicably ended up in the Underworld. Hell is miserable, but Mitchell knows things could be worse. After all, he has the coveted job of The Devil's intern--plus three close friends who keep him from dwelling too...

Hogwarts meets The Bourne Identity in this action-packed thriller that will drive readers mad with suspense. Sixteen-year-old Nadia Riley is delighted to earn a spot at an elite, government-funded boarding school. Nothing sounds better than leaving behind her fraught relationship with her ex-boyfriend...

Strudel, a homeless dachshund, loves listening to Jake read from Chief, Dog of the Old West at the animal shelter. When Jake decides to adopt him, Strudel vows to be as brave and loyal as Chief. Only trying to fend off danger in his new home leads to trouble when Strudel makes some errors in judgment....