Canton Public Library

Last chance by Norah McClintock is the first book in the Robyn Hunter Mystery series. While working in an animal shelter for the summer, Robyn if forced to confront her fear of dogs as well as Nick, a boy from her past she had hoped never to see again. Nick is one of the juvenile offenders volunteering at the shelter.  He is accused of hitting a pedestrian while joyriding and pleads guilty.  Robyn senses something strange about his plea, begins snooping around, and once convinced of his innocence, sets out to prove it. Dog lovers and mystery fans will enjoy this book.  Danger, clever detective work, and current teen/tween issues will keep even reluctant readers coming back for other titles in this series.

The wondrous journals of Dr. Wendell Wiggins: describing the most curious, fascinating, sometimes-gruesome, and seemingly impossible creatures that roamed the world before us by Lesley M.M. Blume ; illustrated by David Foote. If you don't know what a paleozoologist is, then read this extremely informative and entertaining work by Dr. Wiggin. It reveals the secrets of the very ancient earth and long-extinct plant, animal, and humanoid species. Wiggins provides detailed sketches and descriptions of such bizarre creatures as: Thunder Vulcusts, "Land" Whales, Bunny Fluffs, Cloud-Dwelling Hummingbird People, and Hapless Vampire Glow Bats. He future speculates on probable causes of each species tragic demise.  Two-Headed Mammoth Buffalo undoubtedly ate themselves to death, just as we are "always biting off our own heads" now. Wiggin's journal is sure to amuse and amaze, as well as give fodder for reflextion. Species often bring doom upon themselves through foolish actions. Can we learn from them and avoid a similar fate?

The dragon turn by Shane Peacock will captivate readers, even if they have not read the first four cases in the award winnning The Boy Sherlock Holmes series. Actually, Sherlock is an astute teen, not boy, in these books and in addition to solving crimes Scotland Yard cannot, he is dealing with male teen coming-of-age issues. Malicious magicians, affairs d'amour gone awry, a missing body, terrifying creatures, and hidden identities keep Sherlock and readers searching for clues that will illuminate what is really going on behind the scenes of The Egyptian Hall. Adding to Sherlock's agony, is his conviction that a female's guiles has spurred him to win the freedom of a wizard who really is the murderer. Set in London in the mid 1800's, this series paints a very realistic picture of that era and a portrait of the legendary Sherlock during his formative years.

The great cake mystery: Precious Ramotswe's very first case by Alexander McCall Smith ; illustrations by Iain McIntosh is a delightful read and a quick way to claim the Sleuth It badge in the CYS program. It is written by the bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (an adult series) and introduces readers to Precious Ramotswe as a child. When treats start disappearing from the kids' school lunches, a chubby boy named Poloko becomes the likely suspect. Precious believes he is innocent and sets out to find the real culprit. Set in a vividly realistic setting of Botswana with magnificent black and red illustrations and featuring compelling characters, this mystery will have readers of all ages clammering for a sequel.