Tag: dyslexia in children's literature

New Releases – October 12, 2021

Aimee here with your latest batch of new releases coming this week to The Haunted Book Shop!

Local Author Release!

Chompsey Chomps Books is the latest children’s book from The Haunted Book Shop’s own Candice Marley Connor! Chompsey is great at many things, like chomping and weaving flower crowns. But reading is hard for him – why do the words and letters not stay on the page? A discouraged Chompsey chomps at words as they fly away. How will he ever get the words to stay still and make sense? This book is Dyslexic inclusive; it is printed in a font that everyone can read, including people with dyslexia. For more info about the font, please visit www.Dyslexiefont.com. And join Chompsey on his reading adventure!

Fiction

Alice Hoffman concludes her Practical Magic series with The Book of Magic! The Owens family has been cursed when it comes to love for nearly 300 years, but it seems like that may be about to change. An attempt to save a man’s life brings together three generations of Owens women, and one long-lost brother, as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside to come together and break the curse. Revisit your favorite characters and enjoy this breathtaking conclusion to an amazing story!

Described as a “serio-comic semi-autobigraphical thriller,” former Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Brent Spiner took his on-set experiences and turned them into Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir Inspired by True Events, a “zany…love letter to fandom.” Fans of Star Trek are sure to enjoy cameos from LeVar Burton, Patrick Stewart, and other well-known characters, while non-fans may just enjoy laughing along with Spiner’s adventures.

Suspense/Thriller

In Kat Rosenfield’s No One Will Miss Her, town pariah Lizzie Oullette is dead – and her husband, Dwayne, is nowhere to be found. As Detective Ian Bird investigates, Lizzie narrates from beyond the grave as an unexpected lead takes the detective to the big city to meet Adrienne Richards – social media influencer, wife of a disgraced billionaire, and renter of Lizzie’s lake house. Described as “a Gone Girl for the gig economy,” readers will enjoy seeing the twists, turns, and connections between Lizzie and Adrienne.

Silverview is the last completed spy novel by the late John le Carré. Julian Lawndsley has left the big city for a simple life running a small bookshop in the English countryside. But when Edward, a Polish émigré living in Silverview, appears on Julian’s doorstep, he seems to know a little too much about Julian’s life – and is a little too curious about his new venture. Things intensify when a mysterious letter outlining a dangerous leak brings a spy chief from London into the sleepy town.

State of Terror is an international thriller co-authored by the unique team of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and bestselling novelist Louise Penny. Secretary of State Ellen Adams was a surprising choice for the job, seeing as she was one of the harshest critics of the new president. When a baffling text message sets off a chain reaction of threats and terrorist attacks, the untested Ellen must convene an unusual team of state department experts, journalists, and a young FSO to take down this intricate and carefully constructed conspiracy.

True Crime

A Brotherhood Betrayed: The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc. by Michael Cannell traces the history of the organization by recounting the story of Abe Reles. Reles had been a trusted executioner for Murder, Inc. and he was ready to talk, ratting out his murderous associates in exchange for police protection. But before he could stand trial, his shattered body was discovered on the rooftop outside his heavily-guarded hotel room. Did he try to escape…or was it punishment?

Fantasy

Wicked is back on the Broadway stage and Gregory Maguire goes back to Oz with The Brides of Maracoor, the first volume in Maguire’s Another Day series! When Elephaba’s granddaughter, Rain, washes ashore unconscious in a foreign land, with no memory of her past, she is cared for by the seven Brides of Maracoor, a group of women tasked with keeping time moving forward. As the brides debate what to do with Rain, they receive their yearly visit from the island’s civil servant overseer, who is perplexed both by Rain’s physical appearance and her presence on the island. The trilogy will follow Rain as she discovers who she is and how she will find her way back to Oz. Join in the adventure now!

Sci-Fi

The Haunted Book Shop’s own Alex is so excited for Star Wars Visions: Ronin by Emma Mieko Candon! Following a failed rebellion, a former Sith wanders on the edge of the Outer Rim accompanied by a faithful droid and a lightsaber. Not much is known about him, as he keeps quiet about his past. But as the galaxy’s cycle of violence imposes on his self-imposed exile, it becomes evident that he won’t be able to escape his enigmatic past.

Romance

Hidden Sins is the latest re-release from Selena Montgomery, the alter ego of bestselling author and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Stacey Abrams. Mara Reed has been running scams and on the run since she was 18. Hiding out in her small Texas hometown following her latest skirmish, she is facing sure death when she is rescued by a mysterious stranger. Forensic anthropologist Ethan Stuart is investigating a gruesome discovery with links to the church headed by Mara’s father. With him needing help and Mara needing protection, the two team up to search for the truth…if they manage to survive.

Young Adult

Fantasy

The Keeper of the Night is the first book in a planned duology from Kylie Lee Baker. Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough yearns for acceptance that she never received from the Reapers who raised her. When she is forced to flee for her life, Ren and her younger brother travel to Japan and the dark underworld of Yomi, where Ren finally hopes to feel a sense of belonging. Instead, the Goddess of Death sends Ren on an impossible mission – succeed, and maybe she can earn a place in Death’s services. Come along as Ren learns whether belonging is worth the price.

Kids

The Christmas Pig is a holiday adventure from J.K. Rowling. Jack loves his childhood toy Dur Pig, or DP for short. When DP goes missing at Christmas, Jack teams up with his newest toy (and DP’s replacement) the Christmas Pig and embarks on an incredible journey to find what was lost and save the greatest friend Jack has ever known.

To welcome another person is to make new connections, new friendships, and new ways of viewing the world. A Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Mary Lee Donovan teaches readers how to “welcome!” in twelve different languages. With illustrations from Lian Cho, come along as we learn new ways to share this message of hope and acceptance! The book includes a pronunciation guide, a note from the artist, a note from the author, and information about the languages featured in the book.

Roxy and her friends are back for another adventure in Roxy the Unisaurus Rex Presents: Oh No! The Talent Show, written by Eva Chen with illustrations by Matthew Rivera! Everyone at Roxy and Dexter’s school is excited for the talent show – except Dexter, who feels like he doesn’t have any talent. But with a little help from Roxy, he learns he might just have the best talent of all – being a friend!

Fun & Games

Schitt’s Creek fans, we love this journey for you! Schitt Happens: An Unofficial Coloring Book for Fans of Schitt’s Creek features illustrations by Valentin Ramon of all your favorite scenes. From Moira Rose’s Wall of Wigs, to Cafe Tropical and Rose Apothecary, color along as you venture on your latest series rewatch!

Mind & Body

Also known as Book Four, or Liber ABA, Aleister Crowley’s Four Books of Magick bring together many rituals, received texts, theorems, unequalled insights into the practice of magick, culminating in The Book of the Law, the central, sacred text dictated to Crowley by a preternatural entity. This edition features an introduction from Stephen Skinner, one of the world’s leading experts on Western esoteric traditions and magic, sharing his insights into Crowley’s take on yoga, ceremonial magick and Thelema.

Visit our website for information on these titles and more! And don’t forget – if we don’t have a book in stock we are more than happy to order it for you, or you can visit our Bookshop page!

We hope to see you soon!

Dyslexic Characters in Children’s Literature

October is Dyslexic Awareness Month and we can’t think of a better way to raise awareness than to spotlight six of our favorite children’s books that feature dyslexic characters.

Three million people in the United States are diagnosed with dyslexia each year. One in five children have this neurological condition that creates difficulty in reading, memorizing, and interpreting words, letters, symbols, and their subsequent sounds. It does not affect general intelligence, and dyslexic readers often think more creatively and have stronger critical thinking skills.

It’s not a disease so there is no cure. Early diagnosis is key so that learning is approached from different angles. Understanding the restrictions avoids frustration and brain-fatigue, and finding ways to work around them using multisensory structured learning incorporates touch, movement, sight, and hearing.

Seeing characters in books work around their dyslexia shows young readers that they’re intelligent, that their efforts matter, and that needing more time to process is okay. This can open doors of self-worth—and book covers—that might be previously closed.

Chapter Book (Ages 7-10)

Niagara Falls, Or Does It? Hank Zipzer #1 by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

Inspired by the true life experiences of Henry Winkler, whose undiagnosed dyslexia made him a classic childhood underachiever, the Hank Zipzer series is about the high-spirited and funny adventures of a boy with learning differences.

It’s science project time in Ms. Adolf’s class. This is good news and bad news for Hank-he loves science, but he hates the report part. So Hank turns to TV to take his mind off things. But when the program directory scrolls by too quickly for Hank to know what’s on, he decides to take apart the cable box to try to slow down the crawl. Great! Now Hank has found the perfect science project! But what he wasn’t counting on was his sister’s pet iguana laying eighteen eggs in the disassembled cable box. How is Hank going to get out of this one?

Middle Grade (Ages 8-12)

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who’s ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn’t fit in.

“Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”

Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure unintelligence? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.

This story has all the heart-squishes in it. Yes, I cried.

The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. And that’s the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he’s angered a few of them. Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Taking what the character considers his weakness and making it his strength? Absolutely brilliant. In my opinion, that’s what makes this series about a dyslexic demigod resonate with so many readers.

Two-Minute Drill by Mike Lupica

Chris Conlan is the coolest kid in sixth grade–the golden-armed quarterback of the football team and the boy all the others look up to. Scott Parry is the new kid, the boy with the huge brain, but with feet that trip over themselves. These two boys may seem like an odd couple, but each has a secret that draws them together, and proves that the will to succeed is even more important than raw talent.

Double Dutch by Sharon Draper

Delia loves Double Dutch. And she’s good at it. Really good. So good that her team has a chance to win the World Double Dutch Championships this year — Delia is sure of it. What she is less sure of is her chance of passing the school’s state exam, because Delia has been using her success at Double Dutch to mask a secret that could jeopardize her place on the team, and also her future.
Delia’s not the only one with a secret. Her potential boyfriend, Randy, has one too — his dad has been missing for weeks, and Randy hasn’t told anyone for fear he’ll be put in a foster home. But he is running out of money and getting scared.

The one thing that isn’t a secret is that their classmates, the Tolliver twins, are out to cause trouble. With their skull caps, angry demeanors, and hints of violence emanating from even the way they stalk down the school halls, they seem to enjoy intimidating the other kids. But will they cross the line from intimidation to violence?

With consummate skill and an uncanny ability to capture how real kids think, act, and feel, Tears of a Tiger author Sharon M. Draper weaves these three stories tighter and tighter, creating a novel that tingles with suspense and emotion.

YA (Ages 13 +)

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

What are some of your favorite books that feature dyslexic characters?

Want to get your hands on some of these amazing books that show reading is accessible to all? Stop in during our open hours (terms and conditions apply). We’re still doing curbside pick-up, appointments, and shipping as well.

Happy reading!