WORLD'S GREATEST DETECTIVE by Caroline Carlson

Mystery & Detective Story, Upper Elementary

Publisher's Description

A 2017 Agatha Award Nominee! * A Best Children's Book of the Year Pick for Kids 9 to 12 from Bank Street College!

Caroline Carlson, author of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series, returns with The World's Greatest Detective, a story of crime, tricks, and hilarity for those who know that sometimes it takes a pair of junior sleuths to solve a slippery case.

Detectives' Row is full of talented investigators, but Toby Montrose isn't one of them. He's only an assistant at his uncle's detective agency, and he's not sure he's even very good at that.

Toby's friend Ivy is the best sleuth around--or at least she thinks so. They both see their chance to prove themselves when the famed Hugh Abernathy announces a contest to choose the World's Greatest Detective.

But when what was supposed to be a game turns into a real-life murder mystery, can Toby and Ivy crack the case?

My Comments

Upper elementary or elementary read aloud. Protagonist is 11 years old. Old fashioned. Cute. Plot moves along.

A DOG'S PURPOSE by Bruce Cameron

Reincarnation, Dogs, Friendship, Loyalty, Love

My Comments

Full disclosure: I love dogs and animals. This is a must read, a favorite among my students. Books are better than the movies! Five stars from me.

From Follett

"A Tom Doherty Associates book." Bailey, the canine narrator, offers an inside look at how a dog thinks, feels, and behaves, exploring the unique bond she has with her humans and the many benefits of owning a dog.

From the Publisher

A Dog's Purpose--the #1 New York Times bestseller and major motion picture--is a perfect gift to introduce dog lovers to this wonderful series.

Based on the beloved bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, A Dog's Purpose, from director Lasse Hallstrom (The Cider House Rules, Dear John, The 100-Foot Journey), shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.

The family film told from the dog's perspective also stars Britt Robertson, KJ Apa, John Ortiz, Peggy Lipton, Juliet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Pooch Hall and Dennis Quaid. A Dog's Purpose is produced by Gavin Polone (Zombieland, TV's Gilmore Girls). The film from Amblin Entertainment and Walden Media will be distributed by Universal Pictures. Screenplay by W. Bruce Cameron & Cathryn Michon and Audrey Wells and Maya Forbes & Wally Wolodarsky.

Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny, A Dog's Purpose is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's-eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This moving and beautifully crafted story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose.

Bailey's story continues in A Dog's Journey, the charming New York Times and USA Today bestselling direct sequel to A Dog's Purpose.

A Dog's Purpose Series
#1 A Dog's Purpose
#2 A Dog's Journey
#3 A Dog's Promise

Books for Young Readers
Ellie's Story: A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale
Bailey's Story: A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale
Molly's Story: A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale
Max's Story: A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale
Toby's Story: A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tale
Shelby's Story: A Dog's Way Home Novel

The Rudy McCann Series
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man
Repo Madness

Other Novels
A Dog's Way Home
The Dog Master
The Dogs of Christmas

Emory's Gift

SAVING WINSLOW by Sharon Creech

Realistic Fiction, Animals, Friendship
165 pages

Publisher's Description

"Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures-not even lightning bugs, worms, orgoldfish. So when his father brings home a sickly, newborn mini donkey, he's determined to save him. He names him Winslow. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to his brother, Gus, who is far, far away in the army. Everyone worries that Winslow won't survive, especially Louie's quirky new friend, Nora. But as Louie's bond with Winslow grows, surprising events prove that this fragile donkey-and Louie-are stronger than anyone could have imagined"--Publisher.

Horn Book Magazine (November/December, 2018)

Creech interweaves the stories of three fragile babies. Two strands are backstories, and one is front, center, present, and loud. Louie had been a premature baby. Now he’s eleven, but the family story of his infancy as “a pitiful, scrawny, struggling thing” has informed his outlook on life. He’s determined and optimistic. Newcomer-to-town Nora lost a baby brother (who, like Louie, had been born prematurely). This experience has left her angry, anxious, and prickly. The two children bond over Winslow, an orphaned baby donkey, a frail animal not expected to survive, whom Louie adopts. The main strand of the story involves the ups-and-downs of Winslow’s health and then the challenges of keeping a braying donkey in a residential neighborhood. In fine animal-hero style, the plot comes to a peak with Winslow saving the life of yet another baby—the baby next door. Woven into this narrative is a convincing portrayal of human growth and blossoming as Louie gains confidence and Nora finally allows herself to trust her present happiness. (Nora is a particularly original character about whom Creech tells us little and shows us much.) Set in an unspecified small-town past, largely free of adults and rich with unscheduled play time, the story is told simply but subtly, celebrating the unexpected strength of the vulnerable. Sarah Ellis

My Notes

Creech is a master author. She portrays insecurity, kindness, and love through a moving story line. Brilliant. Good for elementary and younger middle school students.

SORCERY OF THORNS by Margaret Rogerson

Fantasy, Apprentices, Libraries, Magic, Romance

From the Publisher

A New York Times bestseller!

"A bewitching gem...I absolutely loved every moment of this story." --Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series
"If you loved the Hogwarts Library...you'll be right at home at Summershall." --Katherine Arden, New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale

From the New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens comes an "enthralling adventure" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about an apprentice at a magical library who must battle a powerful sorcerer to save her kingdom.

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer's Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery--magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library's most dangerous grimoire, and Elisabeth is implicated in the crime. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she's been taught--about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

My Comments

Fabulous! Loved this one. It's also great for both middle and high school students. Five stars!

SHOUTING AT THE RAIN by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Cape Cod, Poverty, Friendship, Weather, Families

276 pages
HL 560

Publisher's Description

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Fish in a Tree comes a compelling story about perspective and learning to love the family you have.

Delsie loves tracking the weather--lately, though, it seems the squalls are in her own life. She's always lived with her kindhearted Grammy, but now she's looking at their life with new eyes and wishing she could have a "regular family." Delsie observes other changes in the air, too--the most painful being a friend who's outgrown her. Luckily, she has neighbors with strong shoulders to support her, and Ronan, a new friend who is caring and courageous but also troubled by the losses he's endured. As Ronan and Delsie traipse around Cape Cod on their adventures, they both learn what it means to be angry versus sad, broken versus whole, and abandoned versus loved. And that, together, they can weather any storm.

My Notes

This is a realistic picture of what it feels like to be left out and bullied, but also how to surround yourself and appreciate people who care about you. Delsie is unique and loveable; she stays true to herself throughout the story, never falling to the level of the girl who is mean to her. I think the story was a little long towards the end, but still a wonderful read.

YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, JELLY PI by Alex Gino

Realistic Fiction, Middle School, Deaf Culture, Multiculturalism

Description
Realizing she has a lot to learn when her baby sister is born with a hearing impairment, Jilly tries to connect with fellow reader Derek, a hearing-impaired African-American ASL communicator who helps her understand how to see life in different ways. By the award-winning author of George.

DISAPPEARING ACT by Sid Fleischman

Fiction, Adventure, Brothers and Sisters, Beach, Stalking, Mystery, Orphans

Publisher's Description

After their archaeologist mother fails to return from Mexico, a boy and his older sister discover that an unseen man they call the Toad is stalking them. They flee town in a beat-up old car, driving west until they reach the Pacific Ocean. They change their names and attempt to hide in plain sight as street performers in Venice, California. But have they really eluded the Toad? 

My Comments
Entertaining, light reading with lots of suspense.

THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE by Janet Fox

Adventure, Historical Fiction, World War II, Thriller, Mystery

388 pages

Kirkus Reviews - Starred (December 15, 2015)

During the Blitz, 12-year-old Londoner Kat, along with two younger siblings and an American boy, is sent to a distant relative's Scottish castle, where they confront evils both old and contemporary. Though Lady Eleanor claims to be starting an academy in her castle and has hired faculty to attend to the curriculum, it's soon clear that none are what they claim to be. The old castle keep is burned out, and the newer part seems to have weird twists and turns, secret doors and strange goings-on, including several ghostly children. Clues multiply early on that Eleanor is the same woman for whom the creepy, unnamed village magister has replaced living parts one by one over decades, each given in payment for a charm for a child's soul. Kat's father--now away working for MI6--is a watchmaker, and Kat has his gift for numbers, gears, and puzzles. Witchy magic, Nazi menace, and clockwork all come into play, along with an Enigma machine and spies for both the Allies and the Nazis seeking occult sources of power or protection. After the breathtaking climax, various threads of the story are tied up in a drawing-room denouement in which the characters decide to dispose of toxic magical artifacts rather carelessly--though in a way that invites anticipation (and fortuitously leaves room for sequels). An original, clever, page-turning adventure. (Historical fantasy. 10-14) 

My Comments

Excellent! Echoes of The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Just scary enough, but with a happy ending. Good choice for a wide range of readers.

SONG FOR A WHALE by Lynne Kelly

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

Realistic Fiction, Deafness, Disabilities Whales, Electronics, Radios, Families, Determination - 303 pages

Publisher's Description

In the spirit of modern-day classics like Fish in a Tree and Counting by 7s comes the story of a deaf girl's connection to a whale whose song can't be heard by his species, and the journey she takes to help him.

From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. If you've ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be.
When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to "sing" to him! But he's three thousand miles away. How will she play her song for him?
Full of heart and poignancy, this affecting story by sign language interpreter Lynne Kelly shows how a little determination can make big waves.
"Fascinating, brave, and tender...a triumph." --Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan


My Comments
 My favorite book of the summer. My attention was riveted by Iris' ingenuity, the description of sound and whales, the aspect of fixing old radios, and Iris' ingenuity. Five stars!

THE LAST APPRENTICE by Joseph Delaney

Fantasy, Thriller, Witches, Supernatural

344 pages

Series: Revenge of the Witch
Book One

Publisher's Description
Enter a land where creatures of the dark creep out of the shadows. The Last Apprentice series follows the terrifying adventures of the Spook's apprentice, Thomas Ward, as he learns to battle the monsters of the dark and keep the county safe. As the seventh son of a seventh son, Tom always knew he was destined for great things. Armed with both the destiny blade and a bequeathed dagger, Tom battles ghouls, boggarts, witches and all manner of wicked beasties and falls in love. The author's mastery of suspense will grip even reluctant readers with his dramatic, beautifully paced prose and bone-chilling, action-packed adventure.

My Comments
Great choice for a Halloween display. This book is a consistent winner with my students.

DEEP BLUE by Jennifer Donnelly

Fantasy, Adventure, Friendship, Mermaids, Romance

324 pages

Waterfire Saga: Book One

Reviews

"A richly imagined novel. Themes of conquering fear and believing in oneself are woven throughout, along with an acknowledgment of humans' environmental impact on the sea and its inhabitants. Despite the high stakes and a few frightening moments, the story is never overserious; it's just right for readers who have grown up with, but aged out of, The Little Mermaid and the Disney Fairies franchise."

―Publishers Weekly

"A fantastic addition to the genre of mermaids, this book will also appeal to readers of action and those who appreciate usurped leaders taking back their kingdom. It starts with a common enough concept: a royal girl who is worried about her betrothal and about love. Donnelly then adds layers of complexity to the tale and weaves her story into that of Atlantis. Friendship, trust, and responsibility are major themes as Sera struggles to grasp that she is really her kingdom's only hope. Quick-witted, loveable characters and a well-planned fantasy world make this an all-encompassing book. Readers will eagerly await future volumes and the answers they will provide."―VOYA

My Comments
Fabulous middle school appropriate girl power mermaid adventure. Yes!

WHAT ELEPHANTS KNOW by Eric Dinerstein

Fiction, Adventure, Elephants, India, Nepal, Orphans

273 pages

Publisher's Description
Abandoned in the jungle of the Nepalese Borderlands, two-year-old Nandu is found living under the protective watch of a pack of wild dogs. From his mysterious beginnings, fate delivers him to the King's elephant stable, where he is raised by unlikely parents-the wise head of the stable, Subba-sahib, and Devi Kali, a fierce and affectionate female elephant.

When the king's government threatens to close the stable, Nandu, now twelve, searches for a way to save his family and community. A risky plan could be the answer. But to succeed, they'll need a great tusker. The future is in Nandu's hands as he sets out to find a bull elephant and bring him back to the Borderlands.

In simple poetic prose, author Eric Dinerstein brings to life Nepal's breathtaking jungle wildlife and rural culture, as seen through the eyes of a young outcast, struggling to find his place in the world.

My Comments
Magical. This gentle book conveys the power of connections and love. Give to Jane Goodall fans and kids who love animals. Uplifting!

THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR

Romance, Immigration, Emigration, Poetry, Middle-High School



My Comments
A favorite! 5 Stars! This is more than romance and heartbreak; it portrays people who fight for their dreams in the face of obstacles completely out of their control, the importance of enduring self belief and love. This is high school, but appropriate for mature middle schoolers. The message is positive, the characters human and inspiring.

"Natasha is a girl who believes in science and facts. Daniel has always been a good son and good student. But when he sees Natasha he forgets all that and believes there is something extraordinary in store for both of them"--OCLC.

From the Publisher

Natasha: I'm a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I'm definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won't be my story.

Daniel:I've always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents' high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store--for both of us.

The Universe:Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

***

A 2016 National Book AwardFinalist
A New York Times Notable Book
A BuzzFeed Best YA Book of the Year
A POPSUGAR Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
An Amazon Best Book of the Year

"Beautifully crafted."--People Magazine

"A book that is very much about the many factors that affect falling in love, as much as it is about the very act itself . . . fans of Yoon's first novel, Everything Everything, will find much to love--if not, more--in what is easily an even stronger follow up." --Entertainment Weekly
"Transcends the limits of YA as a human story about falling in love and seeking out our futures."--POPSUGAR.com

★"An exhilarating, hopeful novel exploring identity, family, the love of science and the science of love, dark matter and interconnectedness--is about seeing and being seen and the possibility of love... and it shines."--Shelf Awareness, starred review 

★"Moving and suspenseful." --Publishers Weekly, starred review 

★ "Fans of Eleanor & Park and The Fault in Our Stars are destined to fall for Daniel and Natasha." --The Horn Book, starred review

★ "Lyrical and sweeping, full of hope, heartbreak, fate. . . and the universal beating of the human heart." --Booklist, starred review

★"Profound . . . both deeply moving and satisfying."--Kirkus, starred review

MY LIFE AS A BOOK by Janet Tashjian

Humor, Realistic Fiction,

From the PublisherSummer's finally here, and Derek Fallon is looking forward to pelting the UPS truck with water balloons, climbing onto the garage roof, and conducting silly investigations. But when his parents decide to send him to Learning Camp, Derek's dreams of fun come to an end. Ever since he's been labeled a "reluctant reader," his mom has pushed him to read "real" books-something other than his beloved Calvin & Hobbes.As Derek forges unexpected friendships and uncovers a family secret involving himself (in diapers! no less), he realizes that adventures and surprises are around the corner, complete with curve balls.My Life as a Book is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

My Comments

This would be a great recommendation for kids who love The Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It also delivers a clear message to parents and teachers to stop imposing expectations and interests on kids without truly listening and understanding the individual child. This book will resonate with many middle school readers.

FISH IN A TREE by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Bullying, Learning Disabilities, Education, Friendship, Courage, Creativity

From the PublisherThe author of the beloved One for the Murphysgives 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 dumb? 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.

Comments

A great book for class and reading circle discussions, this story portrays the complexities of middle school social life, self image, misunderstandings, and friendship. An engaging thoughtful book. Highly recommend for class discussion and summer reading lists.

LONG WAY DOWN by Jason Reynolds

Realistic Fiction, Novels in Verse, Gun Violence, African American, Coming of Age, Family, Brothers, High-Low

Multiple Awards. 

My Comments

Outstanding! Intense, so choose your middle school reader carefully.

From the Publisher
An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds's fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds--the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he's going to murder the guy who killed his brother.A cannon. 

A strap.
A piece.
A biscuit.
A burner. 
A heater.
A chopper. 
A gat.
A hammer
A tool for 
RULE
Or, you can call it a gun. 

That's what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That's where Will's now heading, with that gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother's gun. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. He knows who he's after. Or does he? 

As the elevator stops on the sixth floor, on comes Buck. Buck, Will finds out, is who gave Shawn the gun before Will took the gun. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is even loaded. And that's when Will sees that one bullet is missing. And the only one who could have fired Shawn's gun was Shawn. Huh. Will didn't know that Shawn had ever actually USED his gun. Bigger huh. BUCK IS DEAD. But Buck's in the elevator? 

Just as Will's trying to think this through, the door to the next floor opens. A teenage girl gets on, waves away the smoke from Dead Buck's cigarette. Will doesn't know her, but she knew him. Knew. When they were eight. And stray bullets had cut through the playground, and Will had tried to cover her, but she was hit anyway, and so what she wants to know, on that fifth floor elevator stop, is, what if Will, Will with the gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, MISSES.

And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END...if WILL gets off that elevator.Told in short, fierce staccato narrative verse, Long Way Down is a fast and furious, dazzlingly brilliant look at teenage gun violence, as could only be told by Jason Reynolds.

MS. BIXBY'S LAST DAY by John David Anderson

Realistic Fiction, School, Friends, Teachers, Cancer, Adventure

From the PublisherA funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking contemporary story about three boys, one teacher, and a day none of them will ever forget.Everyone knows there are different kinds of teachers. The boring ones, the mean ones, the ones who try too hard, the ones who stopped trying long ago. The ones you'll never remember, and the ones you want to forget. Ms. Bixby is none of these. She's the sort of teacher who makes you feel like school is somehow worthwhile. Who recognizes something in you that sometimes you don't even see in yourself. Who you never want to disappoint. What Ms. Bixby is, is one of a kind.Topher, Brand, and Steve know this better than anyone. And so when Ms. Bixby unexpectedly announces that she won't be able to finish the school year, they come up with a risky plan--more of a quest, really--to give Ms. Bixby the last day she deserves. Through the three very different stories they tell, we begin to understand what Ms. Bixby means to each of them--and what the three of them mean to each other.

My CommentsI warmed up to this story as the plot unfolded. Wasn't thrilled with some of his teacher portrayals, but perhaps kids will find these entertaining. It has some entertaining scenes of their antics during the journey to reach Ms. Bixby in the hospital and their kind intent brings heart to the story.

BAD BOY: A MEMOIR by Walter Dean Myers

African American, Coming of Age, Racism, Family, Courage, Harlem Renaissance, Memoir

From the Publisher

In a memoir that is gripping, funny, and ultimately unforgettable, New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers travels back to his roots in the magical world of Harlem during the 1940s and 1950s. Here is the story of one of the most distinguished writers of young people's literature today.

As a boy, Myers was quick-tempered and physically strong, always ready for a fight. He also read voraciously--he would check out books from the library and carry them home, hidden in brown paper bags in order to avoid other boys' teasing. He aspired to be a writer.

But while growing up in a poor family in Harlem, his hope for a successful future diminished as he came to realize fully the class and racial struggles that surrounded him. He began to doubt himself and the values that he had always relied on, attending high school less and less, turning to the streets and to his books for comfort.

My Comments

I disagree with the publisher's description as 'funny,' but it is definitely a powerful story set during the Harlem Renaissance period in New York City. Myers relates tales of terrible prejudice and despair as he begins to understand that despite being bright and going to an excellent school, his prospects are limited because of his race. This would be especially relevant to classes studying U.S. History, the Harlem Renaissance, prejudice, and civil rights. An incredibly powerful story that lends itself to discussion.