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The summer of 1899 is hot in Calpurnia’s sleepy Texas town, and there aren’t a lot of good ways to stay cool. Her mother has a new wind machine from town, but Callie might just have to resort to stealthily cutting off her hair, one sneaky inch at a time. She also spends a lot of time at the river with her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist. It turns out that every drop of river water is teeming with life — all you have to do is look through a microscope!
As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and learns just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.
Debut author Jacqueline Kelly deftly brings Callie and her family to life, capturing an unusual year with unique sensitivity and

wit.

Now that one of the Three Who Rule has escaped, the Diadem is in serious danger. Nantor, Pixel's ancient, evil self, has taken over the young magic user's body and is threatening to, once again, rule the worlds. Poor Pixel is alive in a small cell of his mind, but Nantor's strong spirit will soon engulf him. It's up to Score and Helaine to stop the powerful Nantor, but how? Score has been banished to a dangerous land of killer plants. And Helaine is trapped on Calomir by the Overmind who has implanted a microchip in her head. Even Jenna has been separated from the other young magicians. Are Pixel, Helaine, and Score doomed to become the heartless, evil rulers of an enslaved Diadem?

It's summer vacation, the weather's great, and all the kids are having fun outside. So where's Greg Heffley? Inside his house, playing video games with the shades drawn.

Greg, a self-confessed "indoor person," is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg's mom has a different vision for an ideal summer…one packed with outdoor activities and "family togetherness."

Whose vision will win out? Or will a new addition to the Heffley family change everything?

When the powerful Lord Takeda’s soldiers sweep across the countryside, killing and plundering, they spare the boy Taro’s life and take him along with them. Taro becomes a servant in the household of the noble Lord Akiyama, where he meets Togan, a cook, who teaches Taro and makes his new life bearable. But when Togan is murdered, Taro’s life takes a new direction: He will become a samurai, and redeem the family legacy that has been stolen from him.