Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

"And then I saw her. At lunch. She wore an off-white dress so long it covered her shoes. It had ruffles around the neck and cuffs and looked like it could have been her great-grandmother's wedding gown. Her hair was the color of sand. It fell to her shoulders. Something was strapped across her back, but it wasn't a book bag. At first I thought it was a miniature guitar. I found out later it was a ukulele." (4)

Leo doesn't know what to make of the new student at high school. Stargirl Caraway comes to school in weird outfits. She sings happy birthday to everyone while accompanying herself with her ukulele. She makes up songs about isocles triangles. She asks questions about trolls in U.S. History. She cheers for both teams at basketball games, and she pledges allegiance to the United Turtles of America and the fruit bats of Borneo. As the school year continues, Leo has difficulty with the repercussions of his friendship with Stargirl as her popularity fades and her weirdness becomes too overwhelming for their classmates to ignore. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is a pitch perfect portrayal at the extremes we go to to become popular, and what it means when someone questions that conformity.

AMY

The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis

"The two strangers were wrapped in full-length black trench coats with collars obscuring their faces. One of them wore expensive black dress shoes; the other, jewel-encrusted sneakers. ...

An airline official shouted at them, too, sprinting to head them off. The two politely stopped and handed over their boarding passes. He examined the passes quickly, nodded, and pulled back the barrier. 'Enjoy your flight, Amy and Dan,' he said. ...

'Sayonara, suckers!' sang Ian and Natalie Kabra." (8)

The third book in the 39 Clues series, written by Peter Lerangis, begins with a scheduled flight to Japan for Dan and Amy Cahill, their au paire Nellie, and their Egyptian mau cat. However, a run-in with their cousins, the Kabras, makes the Cahill siblings miss their flight, with Nellie sitting next to the Kabras! Dan and Amy are picked up by their uncle Allistair and taken to Japan, where all three teams are forced to make an alliance to get to the next clue. An explosion underground results in one of them dying -- or does it? Join Dan and Amy as they race to be the first to find the next clue while fighting off family and Samuri ninjas in The Sword Thief.

Firegirl by Tony Abbot

"As horrible as I thought the girl would look, when I imagined what burned people looked like, it was nothing compared to what stepped into the room.

Jessica Feeney's face, the first thing everyone looked at, was like a mask. I looked at her, then away, and then back at her. I couldn't believe I was looking at the face of someone alive. ...

Her lips were swollen. They nearly filled the space between her nose and chin. Her eyes peeked out from behind skin that looked melted. Her hair was mostly short. Her arms were covered, except that the forearms were bare and blotchy. Her fingers were bent as if she were trying to grab something." (33)

Tom Bender's seventh grade class has a new student named Jessica Fenney. While anyone would be curious about a new student, Jessica's burned appearance is anything but ordinary, and speculation flies as to why she's here and what happened. Tom, who is experiencing difficulties with his only friend Jeff, finds himself interacting with Jessica more than anyone else. Does that make them friends, or will the rumors ruin any chance at friendship? From the author of Secrets of Droon series, Tony Abbott brings us Firegirl, a completely different book about overcoming obstacles.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

I don't want to
because boys
don't write poetry.

Girls do. (1)
~~~
What do you mean --
Why does so much depend
upon
a blue car?

You didn't say before
that I had to tell why.

The wheelbarrow guy
didn't tell why. (5)

Jack, a student in Miss Stretchberry's class, does not like poetry. He does not understand poetry, and does not want to write poetry. But in this book written entirely as a collection of poems, we begin to see Jack find an appreciation of poetry. We learn about his dog, his life, and the poet Mr. Walter Dean Meyers. On the last pages of Love That Dog, Sharon Creech even publishes some of the poems that Miss Stretchberry uses in her class. It's a great way to kick off National Poetry Month this April!

Meet the Gecko by Wendelin Van Draanen

"He's got nine hundred twent-seven messages!" she whispered into the phone. "Steven, this is totally out of control!" Her eyes were enormous. ...

That night they talked about Shredderman on CNN, ABC, CBS, and Fox News. And in the morning we ate breakfast and listened while a group of morning-show anchors talked about it over coffee. (154-157)

Nolan Byrd has a chance to meet Chase Morton, the actor who plays his favorite television show superhero. But Nolan's own superhero alter ego ends up being pulled into an investigation of a tabloid reporter known as the Mole. The Mole makes up news stories about celeberties and pulls tricks to get fake stories. Well, Shredderman is going to put a stop to this, once and for all! But when the news goes national, is Nolan's cover blown? And Nolan gets his own suprise when Bubba shows up on the television set in Meet the Gecko by Wendelin Van Draanen.

AMY

Attack of the Tagger by Wendelin Van Draanen

"I don't think Mr. Green believed I could help him. He wouldn't even talk about it. He just wanted to scour the school. He wanted to call the police. He wanted to do things his way. His way? Sheez. Some sidekick." (26)

In Attack of the Tagger by Wendelin Van Draanen, Nolan Byrd (aka Shredderman) is back, protecting the world with truth and justice. His sidekick/teacher Mr. Green has fallen victim to a grafitti artist on the loose in Cedar Valley. Now the playground and downtown areas are also getting spray-painted bright red. This sounds like a job for Shredderman! But when his tips to the police backfire and throw suspicion on Shredderman, Nolan needs more than just a sidekick for help. And when Nolan's reporter dad starts getting to close to the truth of who is Shredderman, will Nolan's superhero days be over for good?

AMY

The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer

"Don't make us join the library," Marty begged. "It's too dangerous."
"Dangerous? How could a library be dangerous?" Dad asked.
"It's no the library," Marty whispered. "It's the librarian."
"Mrs. Murphy?" said Mom. "She's a lovely old lady."...
"She has a spud gun under her desk," added Marty. "A gas-powered one that takes an entire potato in the barrel. She shoots kids with it if they make a noise in the library. That's why we call her Spud Murphy." (8-12)

Eoin Colfer presents us with the story of Will and Marty Woodman, the oldest of five brothers. When their parents get tired of the yelling and the war paint, they send Marty and Will to the library for a more educational use of their time. While there, they get banished to the children's carpet, where one step off sends Mrs. Murphy to their side. Eventually they start to enjoy the books that they find, but what happens when they've read all the books in the small children's section? How will they pass the six hours every week, without facing The Legend of Spud Murphy?

AMY

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford

"Moxy was going places all right. She was going to her room. And she was going to stay there until she read every word of Stuart Little. Mr. Flamingo, who was going to be Moxy's fourth-grade teacher this fall, had assigned the book for summer reading. They were going to have a quiz on it too--on the very first day of school. And tomorrow was the very first day of school."

Moxy Maxwell is a precocious nine year old who likes to read, just not what she's told to read. As she tells her mother, she's just been waiting for the perfect time to read the book. Her summer's been busy, with trying to train her dog to come when called, and practicing for her part in the water-ballet. But Moxy's mother isn't buying that excuse, and tells Moxy that she will have to miss the water ballet if Stuart Little isn't finished by six o'clock. Will Moxy be able to finish the book in time to participate in the water ballet, or will a flooded dahlia garden water down her chances? Obviously you don't have to read Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford, but you just might find the perfect time where you're looking for something to read. Just like Moxy.

AMY

Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen

"So that's Bubba. He calls you names. He steals your stuff. He breathes putrid fumes in your face.
And even though I've always wanted to do something about it, I could never figure out what. I'm half Bubba's size and don't exactly want to die in elementary school.
So I just eat lunch far away from him, make room when he's cutting in line, and let him call me Nerd.
It's not fair, but at least I'm still alive." (6)

Fifth grader Nolan Byrd is sick and tired of being picked on by school bully Bubba Bixby. In fact, Bubba Bixby picks on everyone at school. Since the teachers and adults can't seem to help him, Nolan turns into his own superhero. With the help of a digital camera, a computer, and his own website, Nolan becomes "Shredderman", fighting injustice in his own special way. But how can he keep his identity a secret, especially from his teacher and parents? If you read Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen, you get some great illustrations by Brian Biggs, but the audiobook version of the series is just as funny, with 11 year old Daniel Young narrating in a different voice for each character.

AMY

Flip by David Lubar

"There aren't any interstellar spaceships," she said, resuming her lecture. "There aren't any aliens. And there aren't any artifacts."

"Really?"...""Then what's this?" Ryan asked, pointing at a bed of weeds near his feet?" (16)

Twin eighth-graders Ryan and Taylor McKenzie are nothing alike. Taylor is the straight A+ star athlete who organizes her pencils and likes to get to school early. Ryan could care less about school, sports, or finishing anything he starts, according to his father. However, Ryan is intent on finding pieces of what he believes is an alien spacecraft that blew up during the night. When he finds them, he discovers they have the power to "flip" him into a legendary figure from Earth's history. Becoming Babe Ruth during gym class might be fun, but becoming Elvis in the lunch room and performing kareoke definitely draws the wrong kind of attention from teachers, students, and parents alike, especially if the school bully is looking for you. Can Taylor convince Ryan to keep a low profile, long enough to stay alive? Find out by reading David Lubar's Flip.

AMY

Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key

"Tony thrust his hands deep into his jeans and worriedly scuffed the gravel with the toe of one shoe. 'I don't get it, Tia. What's he doing here?'

Tia looked frightened. 'I don't know. I -- I'm afraid he's found out we're here, and has come to get us.'

'After all these years? That doesn't make sense. But what if he has come for us? I'd rather go with him any time then stay here -- I mean, if we had to stay here.'
'No!' She said fiercely. 'No! Never! It would be better to run away and go hungry. Much better. I -- I'd rather be dead than go with him.'" (32)

Tia and Tony are orphaned brother and sister who don't know where they come from. They were living with old "Granny" Malone, until she passed away and they were shipped to the Hackett House orphanage. While on a trip with the orphanage to a mountain-side camp, Tony and Tia have a chance meeting with a nun who might know their original family. While this gives them hope that they'll find their family and the source of their mysterious powers, a man claiming to be their uncle sends them fleeing for an unconfirmed safe haven in Witch Mountain, rumored to have witches living in its peaks. Alexander Key's Escape to Witch Mountain will have readers eager to find out what happens to Tony and Tia, and if they are witches.... or aliens.

AMY

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

"You know how you're supposed to come up with a list of 'resolutions' at the beginning of the year to try to make yourself a better person? Well, the problem is, it's not easy for me to think of ways to improve myself, because I'm already pretty much one of the best people I know." (1)

While Greg Heffley might think he is one of the best people he knows, his father sees room for improvement. Greg's father encourages him (basically forces him) to join the soccer team at school, the boy scouts, and then threatens *gulp* millitary school after a neighborhood menace comes back reformed. There are other problems though that demand Greg's attention however, including talking to the prettiest girl in the class and surviving without clean laundry. Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw picks up almost immediately after the second one ended, continuing the hillarity that so many love.

AMY

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney

“I guess Mom was pretty proud of herself for making me write in that journal last year, because now she went and bought me another one. But remember how I said that if some jerk caught me carrying a book with “diary” on the cover they were gonnat get the wrong idea? Well, that’s exactly what happened today.” (1)

Greg Heffley is back again! In the second book in the series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Greg has a secret that he’s trying to keep from everyone. Unfortunately, his brother Rodrick knows the secret, and Greg is doing everything he can to keep Rodrick from spilling the beans. It’s worse than spending the summer wrapped up in toliet paper, worse than the secret party Rodrick throws while their parents are out of town. It’s even worse than writing a pen pal in a foreign country. What could be worse then all this? You’ll just have to find out.

AMY

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Newbery Award Winner for 2009

"There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife. The knife had a handle of polished black bone, and a blade finer and sharper than any razor. If it sliced you, you might not even know you had been cut, not immediately. The knife had done almost everything it was brough to that house to do, and both the blade and the handle were wet." (1-3)

That first sentence is accompanied with a two page spread of darkness surrounding an outstretched hand and knife, which eerily and beautifully sets the tone of discovery and danger for the rest of the book. Neil Gaiman, in his Newbery Award winning book The Graveyard Book, opens with the parents and older sister of a small toddler being murdered by the mysterious Jack. The toddler, who comes to be called Nobody Owens, escapes into the nearby graveyard, where the ghosts agree to care for him. He's given the Freedom of the Graveyard, which allows him some of the powers that the ghosts have, including fading and generating fear. The silent Silas, belonging neither to the world of the dead or the living, agrees to become his guardian. But not even Silas can guarantee Bod's safety when he grows older and begins to leave the graveyard with increasing frequency. Because no one knows when Jack will be coming back to finish the murders he started.

AMY

Masterpiece by Elise Broach

"Home, for Marvin's family, was a damp corner of the cupboard beneath the kitchen sink. Here, a leaking pipe had softened the plaster andcaused it to crumble away. Just behind the wall, Marvin's family had hollowed out three spacious rooms, and, as his parents often remarked, it was a perfect location." (1)

It doesn't take long for readers to find out that Marvin is one of many beetles that live in the Pompaday's New York City apartment. The Pompaday family consists of eleven year old James, James' mom and stepdad Mr. and Mrs. Pompaday, and baby William. For James' eleventh birthday, Marvin wants to get him something special, after a disasterous birthday party and pen and ink gift set from his father. So he draws a tiny picture of the view from James' window, and leaves it for James to find. James' parents however, think James drew it, and he's invited to participate in a police opperation to find an artist thief. But things aren't always how they appear in Masterpiece by Elise Broach, and both James and Marvin realize there's more then what meets the eye.

AMY

Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

"The fifth thing you should know about me is that once upon a time, before I went to school, I was a superhero. ... Being a superhero is hard work. You have to save the world. But going to school is even harder. You have to save yourself. Most days I can hardly even make it to the school bus. And when I arrive at school, I can't think. I can't read. I can't smile. I can't sing. I can't scream.I can't even talk.The sixth thing you should know about me is that I have never spoken a word in school." (4-5)

Second grader Alvin Ho is allergic to elevators, tunnels, thunder, substitute teachers, scary movies, heights, and school, among other things. He's afraid of the ghosts that live in the houses of famous people down his street in Concord, Massachusetts (which is hard to spell). He's so afraid of school that he can't talk, which encourages a girl with an eye patch and a "peg leg" named Flea to adopt Alvin in school and speak for him. Alvin is trying really hard to make friends who aren't girls, especially by using the rules his older brother Calvin gave him. These rules include saying hello and trading baseball cards, two things that are difficult for him to do. When a stolen show and tell item leads to problems for Alvin, he really finds his voice in an unexpected way. Read Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look just for Alvin's version of swearing.

AMY

The Secret School by Avi

“Mr. Jordan,” Ida said, “if Tom and I don’t pass our exams this term, we can’t go on to the high school in Steamboat Springs come fall.” …

“Now, Ida Bidson,” Mr. Jordan answered, “as an adult, it’s my bounden duty to inform you–as I’m certain your parents do every day–that life teaches us many a hard lesson beyond school. No doubt this… exam business will be inconvenient.”

“But I suggest you think a little less of yourself and a little more on Miss Fletcher and her ailing mother. Besides, I’m not so sure a girl needs a high school education. Any more?” Mr. Jordan asked, looking around the room. (10-11)

In The Secret School by Avi, fourteen year old Ida Bidson is devastated when her teacher, Miss Fletcher, is forced to leave school before the end of the term due to her mother’s illness. Sure this means that school is getting out a month and a half early, but that also means that Ida and her classmate Tom can’t take the entrance exams to get into high school next year. They’ll have to repeat the entire year all over again when the one-room, remote Colorado schoolhouse gets a new teacher next fall. Ida and Tom feel hopeless, until Tom suggests that Ida secretly assumes the role of teacher so the exams can be administered. But when the school board finds out about it, does it spell the end of all the work Ida has done?

AMY

One False Note by Gordon Korman

Amy was close to tears. ‘I hate them! Now we’ve lost our only lead!’

‘It wasn’t much of a lead, Amy,” Dan said softly. ‘Just music. Even if it was by Mozart –big whoop.’

‘It is a big whoop,’ his sister lamented. ‘Just because we couldn’t find what was hidden in the piece doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. At least I wanted to play the notes on a piano. Maybe it would have told us something.’

Her brother looked surprised. ‘You want the notes? That’s easy enough.’” (15)

Fourteen year old Amy and eleven year old Dan Cahill, along with their au pair Nellie Gomez and their Egyptian Mau cat are on the trail again, this time tracking specifics about Mozart and his lesser known sister. From Austria to Venice, the sibling sleuths have to again outsmart the other teams who are just as determined to beat them to the next clue. Be prepared for jumping out of windows, boat chases, an ongoing hunger strike, and very angry monks when you read the next installment in the 39 Clues series. Gordon Korman picks up the story in this action packed sequel, One False Note.

AMY

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

"Can I go outside?"

"What does your mother say?"

"She says you're not going out in weather like that, Coraline Jones."

"Then, no."

"But I want to carry on exploring."

"Then explore the flat," suggested her father. "Look--here's a piece of paper and a pen. Count all the doors and windows. List everything blue. Mount an expedition to discover the hot water tank. And leave me alone to work." (7)

Coraline Jones, mistakenly called Caroline by all of her new neighbors, has just moved into a new house that they share with two former actreses and a crazy old man who claims to talk to his mouse circus. While exploring, Coraline discovers that the door in the drawing room --which originally went nowhere -- now connects her to an alternate universe. She finds a world like hers, with an "other mother" and "other father" who want her to stay. They want her to stay with them so badly, they kidnap Coraline's real parents. Coraline must now find her real parents in the fantastical world if she is ever to return to her real home. Read Coraline by Neil Gaiman either before or after you see the movie. Which one do you like more?

AMY

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

"Don’t pretend you didn’t hear the Rat talk, because I know you did.”

“I’m not pretending,” said Emmy hurriedly. “He does. He talks. I don’t know why, either, but nobody else ever seems to hear him–”

“I did,” said Joe.

“Yeah, well, you heard him today, but I’ve been hearing him all year.”…

“All year? You haven’t been in our class all year.”

Emmy stared at him. “I’ve been sitting across from you since September,” she said slowly. (51)

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell tells the story of Emmaline Addison, a good girl who does her homework without being told and excels at everything she does. But no matter what she does, she seems to remain invisable to her teacher and classmates at her new school, Grayson Lake Elementary. It’s no different at home, where her newly wealthy parents are continuously leaving her in the hands of Miss Barmy, a mysterious nanny who forces her to take “vitamins”. However, when classmate Joe admits to Emmy that he is also hearing the class’s pet Rat talk, life for Emmy and Joe gets even stranger. First Joe and then Emmy end up shrinking to about four inches tall. Then, with the help of a nutty, narcaleptic professor and a family of chimpmunks, they must stop an evil plot to steal all of Emmy’s family’s money and lock up Emmy in a loony bin.

AMY

Willow Run by Patricia Reilly Giff

“Every single apartment was the same. Gray. Not a curtain on a window….A kindergarten kid could have drawn it: a long low box that stretched from one end of the paper to the other, no paint, no color. And if you divided the box into tiny sections, each family would have one to live in. Worst of all, there was no grass, nothing growing, only tree stumps near the curb, their tops pale and raw. I remembered what Grandpa had said once, shaking his head in anger. ‘To kill a tree!’I could see that Mom was as disappointed as I was. I handed the cats to her, one by one, then backed out of the car.” (33)

This is Margaret “Meggie” Dillion’s first impression of her home in Willow Run, Michigan, where her family has moved to from Rockaway, New York. Her dad just got a new job at the airplane factory there, helping the war effort building planes to fight in World War II. Her mom soon gets a job in the factory too. Their new home is so small, they had to leave behind Meggie’s German Grandfather, who Meggie worries about as she spends her lazy summer afternoons meeting the other kids who live at the plant. She also worries about her brother Eddie, fighting overseas. When a telegram arrives telling the family that Eddie is missing in action, eleven year old Meggie needs to find the strength and courage that she never believed was there. Travel back in time to World War II, and read Willow Run, by Patricia Reilly Giff.

AMY

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Newly awarded a Newbery Honor!

"My savvy is going to be a good one," I told my brother Rocket. "I just know it."

"Girls don't get the powerful jujubes," said Rocket, running one hand through his dark shock of unkempt hair with a crackle of static. "Girls only get quiet, polite savvies-sugar and spice and everything humdrum savvies. It's boys who get the earthshaking kinds of savvy."

Mississippi "Mibs" Beaumont is about to turn 13, which is when people in her family develop their own special, magical gift, or savvy. Just before that special day however, her father is involved in a car accident. Her mother and older brother rush to tend to their father in a coma, and leaves Mibs, her grandfather, 14 year old Fish, seven year old Sampson, and three year old baby sister Gypsy in the house. On her birthday, Mibs has the unmistakable urge to go see her father, convinced that her secret savvy will help her father recover. She steals away with her two brothers and the preacher's children on a pink Bible delivery bus, and the adventures begin. With Mibs and her brother Fisch trying to stifle their savvys and get them under control before they are discovered, they both realize that they aren't the only ones who have secrets. Savvy by Ingrid Law is a beautifully written book and the story goes until the very end, pulling readers in with its simplicity. If you don't want to read it, then listen to Lily Blau's narration on the audiobook, which punctuates the entire book with different voices that match the characters perfectly.

AMY

Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer

"My name is Moon. Fletcher Moon. And I'm a private detective. In my twelve years on this spinning ball we call Earth, I've seen a lot of things normal people never see. I've seen lunch boxes stripped of everything except fruit. I've seen counterfeit homework networks that operated in five counties, and I've seen truckloads of candy taken from babies.

I though I'd seen it all. ... Or so I believed. I was wrong. Very wrong." (1)

Twelve-year-old Fletcher Moon, called "Half Moon" by just about everyone because he's so short, is trying to make it in the detective business. But when most of your clients pay in candy, it's hard to be taken seriously, especially when you're the youngest Internet certified detective in the world. That is, until April Devereux hires him to find a lock of celebrity hair that was stolen from her playhouse. While working on the case, Half Moon (I mean, Fletcher) gets attacked, and then accused of being an arsonist. One thing leads to another, and he finds himself teaming up with Red Sharkey, one of the Sharkeys, a family whose police record is over three hundred pages long. They have twenty-four hours to clear both their names, and the culprit is the last person you expect. The author of the Artemis Fowl series, Eoin Colfer's Half Moon Investigations combines Dick Tracey films with a kid sized sense of humor and mystery in this laughable tale of one kid's attempt to make a name for himself, before the law does.

AMY

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Newly awarded a Newbery Honor!

From the practical "No toys in the fish tank" to the intuitional "Late doesn't mean not coming" to the specific "Keep your pants on! Unless Mom, Dad, or the doctor tells you to take them off," twelve year old Catherine's life is full of rules. It has to be, in order to have some order to her life with her eight year old autistic brother David. David finds the only way to express himself is by quoting portions of the book Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel. When a new girl Kristi moves into the house next store, Catherine sees this as an opportunity to have what she's always wished for. Her growing friendship with a wheelchair bound Jason however has her questioning how she feels about disabilities and what constitutes a normal life.


Readers who love Rules by Cynthia Lord as much as I do should also try Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick, about a 14-year old boy whose younger brother is fighting lukemia.

AMY

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

"So, there I was, tied to an alter made from outdated encyclopedias, about to get sacrificed to the dark powers by a cult of evil Librarians." (1)

The first sentence (quoted above) is now my favorite first sentence. This is how thirteen year old Alcatraz Smedry begins his true account of how his grandfather and he infiltrated the public library to steal back a bag of sand. That's right, Alcatraz's only gift from his supposedly dead parents arrives on his 13th birthday, and it's a bag of sand, which is promptly stolen by the evil Librarians. His madcap adventure ultimately deals with dinosaurs, paper monsters reminiscent of the creatures from Harry Potter, and Talents that appear worthless, such as arriving late and falling down. In the end however, everyone (including the English dinosaurs) proves their worth. With cliff hanger endings for (almost) every chapter, realistic troubles spelling Pterodactyl, and a reference to Monty Python and the Holy Grail on page 257, the book Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson is a must read for some hillarious encounters that could only be described in the words of Alcatraz as "propondidty". The sequel is even out already, titled Alcatraz Versus The Scrivener's Bones.

AMY

No Talking by Andrew Clements

The fifth graders at Laketon Elementary are loud, obnoxious, and talkative. They are so loud, that they get their own lunch time, which is monitored by the principal and her red plastic bullhorn. That's not their only problem though. The boys and the girls in the fifth grade class can't stand one another. So when Dave Parker challenges Lyndsey Burgess to stay quiet for two whole days, it quickly becomes a war of boys versus girls. The teachers don't know about the war however, and they are very suspicious that the class that never stopped talking, now refuses to talk. Humming through choir practice and having three word debates in class might be amusing to some, but it's downright irritating to most. What happens when the principal orders the students to begin talking again, or else? Read No Talking by Andrew Clements to find out if students really do have "the right to remain silent."

AMY

Ellie McDoodle Have Pen Will Travel by Ruth McNally Barshaw

"So now I'm trapped in a steel projectile, hurtling down the highway into the Great Unknown with a bunch of control freaks and snotty-nosed brats. Eric started a fight with Deanna and Tiffie so Aunt Mug is making me sit next to him. I'd rather ride on the roof rack." (3)

Eleanor McDougal, otherwise known as Ellie McDoodle, is forced to spend a week with her twin 11 year old cousins, her seven year old cousin, her three year old brother, and her aunt and uncle camping in a cabin while her parents go out of town. Just look at how Ellie depicts her cousin Er-ICK! (as a multi-armed dinosaur), and you can see this is going to be a fun trip. From catching frogs to going on a bear hunt, it's filled with outdoor adventures as Ellie tries to keep her sanity during this trip. Along the way, all the frogs they caught are released during the night, Eric goes missing, and the whole family finds and reads Ellie's journal. Ruth McNally Barshaw, who lives in Lansing and sets the story in Michigan, also reveals numerous fun games that any kid can play after reading Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen Will Travel. Everyone who has read it has compared it to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but no one has told me which one they like better. Read it yourself and make your own comparisions.

AMY

The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff

"Georgie decided that if his parents were going to go do something stupid like have another kid, a kid who would probably end up as huge as Godzilla, he definitely was not going to spend his hard-earned dog-walking money to buy them a Christmas present. They were going to have to settle for a nice poem under the tree this year." (45)

Georgie Bishop is the shortest fourth grader in the entire school. He needs a stool to reach the chalk board, a pillow to support his back on his oversized desk, and is forced to walk the smaller dogs (Poodles!) in his dog walking business with his friend because he can't handle the bigger ones. But that's not the only thing about Georgie. He's annoyed constantly by Jeanie the Meanie, who not only sits behind him in class, but also has to work with her on their class project. His friend Andy might be moving, and oh yeah, Georgie's mom is having another baby, who will probably be taller than Georgie. What's a kid to do? Read The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff.

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

"If you so choose, each one of you may walk out of this room with one million dollars and never have to think of Grace Cahill or her last wishes again. Or . . . you may choose a clue -- a single clue that will be your only inheritance. No money. No property. Just a clue that might lead you to the most important treasure in the world and make you powerful beyond belief . . . "

William's gray eyes seemed to settle on Dan particularly. ". . . or it might kill you. One million dollars or the clue. You have five minutes to decide." (20)

Dan and Amy Cahill's grandmother, Grace Cahill, has just passed away. But at the reading of her will, both children find out that they were left more then they were bargained. Instead of a piece of jewelry or maybe the cat, everyone is given the choice: take one million dollars and run, or forfeit the money for a clue and a promise of power if they succeed in solving all 39 clues. Beginning in Boston, the seven teams quickly end up in a round the world trip, with Amy and Dan dragging along their college-aged "au pair" Nellie. But for some reason (maybe because everyone knew Dan and Amy were Grace's favorite relatives), the rest of the teams believe Dan and Amy have an advantage. They're going to do everything in their power to stop them from solving the clues first. Clues are hiden everywhere in The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan, and readers have to pay special attention to everything, including what page they're on...

AMY

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

"But before you turn the page, I want you to picture yourself sitting in the darkness, like the beginning of a movie. On screen, the sun will soon rise, and you will find yourself zooming toward a train station in the middle of the city. You will rush through the doors into a crowded lobby. You will evnetually spot a boy amid the crowd, and he will start to move through the train station. Follow him, because this is Hugo Cabret. His head is full of secrets, and he's waiting for his story to begin." (1)

After these words, readers have over 40 pages of beautifully drawn black and white illustrations which show not only the scene just described, but continue the story. Interspersed with increasing amounts of text, 284 pages of these drawings advance the story and make it seem like a movie's story board than a novel. The first work of fiction to win a Caldecott Award (besides the usual picture books) tells the story of Hugo Cabret, a twelve year old orphan who cares for the clocks in the Paris train station after his uncle abandoned the job. Set in 1931, it interweaves true references to real life occurances with the story of how Hugo's own secrets set in motion the exposure of an even bigger secret, one that affects the bitter old toy shop owner and his god-daughter and a man with an eye-patch. Things aren't what they appear, and thieves and secrets lurk in ever corner of this highly acclaimed book by Brian Selznick. You need to read The Invention of Hugo Cabret at least twice, once for the plot and once for the pictures, but I think most readers will return to this book again and again. Plus, what other time will you get away with reading a book that is half pictures?

AMY

Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks

Over the years, Oggie's teachers had found all kinds of interesting ways to describe him -- unique, quirky, one-of-a-kind. Last year, in third grade, Oggie's teacher, Mrs. Stifler, had said that Oggie marched to the beat of a different drummer. Oggie had found that comment surprising, considering the only instrument he knew how to play was the kazoo..." (19)

Fourth-grader Oggie Cooder is slightly odd, whether it be in his choice of patterned clothing from his parent's resale shop, or his sentences dealing with a failed bagel naming contest cropping up in a spelling test. Since life can be stressful, Oggie deals with it in a unique way, "charving." Charving is carving cheese into shapes, and Oggie particularly enjoys making the shapes of the United States. When a television talent show rolls into town for auditions, he gains fame, a manager, and the popularity he had been missing. But does Oggie really want what comes with his new found fame? Does Oggie win the contest with his charving talent, or will the kid who can make his rabbit faint with onion breath win the top cash prize? Find out when you read Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks.

AMY

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

"First of all, let me get something straight: This is a JOURNAL, not a diary. I know what it says on the cover, but when Mom went out to buy this thing I SPECIFICALLY told her to get one that didn't say "diary" on it.... So just don't expect me to be all "Dear Diary" this and "Dear Diary" that." (1)

This is how Jeff Kinney in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal introduces Greg Heffley, a middle schooler who is just trying to figure out a way to get through school. In a way, Greg knows the rules, like the fastest runner is no longer the most popular kid like he was in fifth grade. On the other hand, he can't figure out why his friend Rowly Jefferson is mad at him after Rowly got in trouble for something Greg did. Whether it's an unsuccessful haunted house, or trying to get out of being a tree in the school play, readers witness the hillarious everyday ups and downs of middle school. Illustrated throughout with drawings that are little more than stick figures just add to the appearance of an actual journal. His alternating confusion and comprehension and his wry humor is a perfect combination for any reader. A must read!

AMY

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

"There was once a kindly old wizard who used his magic generously and wisely for the benefit of his neighbors." (1)

So starts the first of five wizard fairy tales published in J.K. Rowling's newest book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. The text and morals are very reminiscent of fairy tales that we Muggles grew up reading, some of them almost directly comparable to versions we've heard. Younger children will be highly entertained by the stories. Older readers will get just as much enjoyment from the stories, and have an added bonus of reading Dumbledore's commentary after each one, which definitely adds depth to the story. The commentary, although rudimentary, could be used by teachers to show how literary analysis is crafted. The stories are all short, with the longest one being 15 pages, so I won't spill the plots. Generous margins make it an easy read and perfect for bedtime stories. Simple balck and white pictures are available for each story, and the cover art is just gorgeous. This would also serve as a good introduction to the magical world of Harry Potter for those younger siblings who have been watching their brothers and sisters grow up with the wizard. Not as much action as the previous seven books, but definitely a must read for any die-hard fan.

AMY

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood

"When I was seven years of age, my prospects changed, as some say they do every seven years of a person's life." (4)

At seven, the young orphan Widge leaves the orphanage and goes to live with Dr. Timothy Bright. While there, Widge learns the Dr.'s form of shorthand writing in order to take notes of his experiments. At fourteen, Widge is sold to a mysterious cloaked stranger named Falconer and brought to a new master. His new master expects Widge to copy down William Shakespeare's newest play Hamlet, and bring it to him so his theatre company can make money off the hit play. Unfortunately, complications arise, and Widge is forced to join Shakespeare's theatre group in order to avoid suspicion. Will he ever be able to finish the task and can he avoid the threat of Falconer's growing impatience? What will his friends in the company think when they learn of his original plans? If you want a story with some London sword play and back alley chases, read The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood.

AMY

Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson

Anne Shirley of Anne and Green Gables fame turns 100 this year, but her popularity doesn't seem to be waning at all. In her honor, Budge Wilson wrote a brand new prequel titled appropriately Before Green Gables relating the trials and tribulations of growing up a red-headed and freckled orphan. The story opens with Anne's parents, Bertha and Walter Shirley, and readers recognize almost immediately Anne's spunk in her mother. But tragedy strikes as they die of a fever shortly after Anne's death. Although her life is riddled with disappointment, it's relatively stable as she lives out most of her childhood between two very child-crowded homes. She gets over-worked and over looked at both of them, and finds comfort in her times at school, where she can escape from the babies and multitude of house work. The three months at the orphange get glossed over as a horrible event before the inevitable salvation and travel to her beloved Prince Edward Island. The writing and reading is beautifully done, and captures the spirit of the original novels. Although Anne's percocious nature seems forced in some areas as she talks in complete sentences throughout the entire novel, regardless of her age, it makes the reading easier than dealing with an evolving child's vocabulary. Fans of the original stories will recognize some of the details, such as her friendly echo and Anne's unique way of praying. Our copy of the audiobook, read by Renee Raudman, provides a soothing and unhurried look at Anne's beginnings. Located in the adult area, it's a wonderful book that I would recommend to children as young as twelve.

AMY

The Robe of Skulls by Vivian French

A gorgeous velvet robe with blood-red petticoats and embroidered skulls is just what Lady Lamorna needs to look simply magnificent. But her treasure box is empty and she has no way to pay the powerful crones who have agreed to weave her robe. Lady Lamorna hatches a diabolical plot to turn all the princes and princesses of the five kingdoms into frogs and then charge a pile of gold to change each one back again. With the help of her troll Gubble and a mysterious and untrustworthy beauty named Foyce, Lady Lamorna sets out for the five kingdoms. It will take the help of good-hearted Gracie Gillypot, the adventurous Prince Marcus, talking bats, and the old crones themselves to save the royal families. Children in grades 4-6 who love stories full of macabre motifs but without all the horror will love Vivian French’s amusing adventure, The Robe of Skulls.

-JD

The Richest Season By Maryann McFadden

In The Richest Season A corporate wife has had enough and runs away to Pawley island, she ends up as a caretaker for a dying woman. So she and her husband realize there is more to life than material success.

SRC

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

The Patron Saint of Liars: Rose’s story kept me turning the pages, even though I despise most of her choices. The relationships between the characters were very well developed by the author. This is great book for discussion.

SRC

I’m a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson

I'm a Stranger Here Myself: I’m a big fan of Bill Bryson’s writing and while I like his more contiguous books, such as “Notes from a Small Island," this was an enjoyable read that gives the reader some insight into Bill Bryson the person.

SBC

Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen

Rise and Shine: Two sisters and their two different worlds! Set in New York City, you’ll be turning the pages all night reading about the one transforming event that proves that nothing can shatter the bond between these siblings.

SRC

Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

Belong to Me: A woman moves from the city to suburbia and slowly learns to fit in. Her biggest obstacle: The lady next door whose best friend is dying and whose husband wants a divorce. Her best friend is a woman who isn’t who she says she is.

SRC

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

We Are All Welcome Here: Although the author did not write a non-fiction book, it is based on an actual set of facts…a beautiful free-spirited mother with polio in an iron lung and her daughter who desires to please her yet wants to be independent. This is a mixture of tragedy and humor.

SRC

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen is a lovely fictional history filled with personal experiences that inspired the writing of “Sense and Sensibility,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Mansfield Park,” Emma,” “Persuasion” and “Northanger Abbey.” Perfect for Jane Austen fans like me!

SRC

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Moning

Beyond the Mist: Adrienne De Simone is a beautiful young woman who got caught up with a beautiful but dangerous guy. She ends up on the run. One night she’s stroking her kitty, Moonshadow and seconds later she’s sitting in the lap of an ugly rogue with a handful of teeth and groping hands on her breast. Long story short, she’s forced to marry a man to keep peace between clans in the sixteenth century. There is much beefcake, fairies and peril. And let’s throw in a bit of “Taming of the Shrew” for good measure. I don’t read chick lit, paranormal or romance and this book is all that. I still won’t be picking up this kind of book in the future, but I now know why they are popular.It is a page turner (I read it in a day), has easy dialogue and this particular author is funny. The dialect is fairly modern even though it’s set in the sixteenth century. There are some detail that would have been nice, like how she continued living in a nice home with a housekeeper. At times it was a little campy but the steamy scenes were nice distractions.

SRC

Who Moved My Cheese?

Who Moved My Cheese? : An Amazing way to deal with change in your work and in your life / Spencer Johnson.
While the message is pretty simple and criticized by some for not presenting anything new, I think what the critics are overlooking is one of the basic tenets of the book: stop overanalyzing and employ the basics. I enjoyed the parable and the clear, uncomplicated characters of the story. I think most readers can find a character or combination of them they can easily identify with, and the signpost that Haw posts along the way do strike a chord with me. I appreciate the reminders, particularly the one about fear: Acknowledge it and then move in spite of it. I’m glad I read Who Moved the Cheese? It reminds me of what I have overcome and what I can do to continue growing and changing.

SRC

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

I love a historical fiction where I learn about a country I have not visited. The author’s characters in, The Bastard of Istanbul, are “alive” with vivid descriptions. The two families’ tangled pasts give me a better understanding of Istanbul.

SRC

Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres

Excellent choice for Book Review Clubs. There are many issue to discuss in Jesus Land, a memoir. Julia, Caucasian and her adopted brother David, black, both 16 years old move to rural Indiana in the mid 1980’s – a distant mother, a violent father, racism, church missionaries; heartbreaking!

SRC

A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good by Mark Gonyea

Calling all designers, artists and lovers of aesthetic orderliness! You can now cleverly indoctrinate your children into the principals of chic with this straightforward introduction to graphic design. But this little gem isn’t just for mini Warhols. Through unintimidating sentences and bold geometric illustrations, Gonyea teaches the language of color, size ratios, lines, and balance. It will soon become clear that good design makes all the difference in the world. In Gonyea’s opening example, a pair of equally-sized red and green circles appears completely balanced. Make the green one bigger, and the green circle becomes more important. Then make the red circle into an “o”… and suddenly the red circle is all you will notice. The ways of manipulating the viewers’ perception are myriad (though the author reminds us not to go overboard!) Check out A Book About Design and find ample inspiration for your next coloring project.

JD

The Genizah at the House of Shepher by Tamar Yellin

If you loved "The Ghost of Hannah Mendes" and "The History of Love," this multi-generational family saga is for you! In The Genizah... a family feud over possession of the so-called
Shepher Codex, discovered in the grandparents Genizeh (attic) creates an adventurous mystery. Interesting novel!

Petropolis by Anya Ulinich

Petropolis is an incredible story about a naive Russian emigre who embarks on a challenge-filled journey across America, in search of her father - cross-cultural confusion and bitter sweet, but a worthwhile read.

SRC