KING OF THE SCREWUPS by K.L. Going

Realistic Fiction; Gender Identity; Fathers and Sons
REVIEW
Booklist (April 15, 2009 (Vol. 105, No. 16))
Grades 7-12. "Like her previous novels, including the Printz Honor Book Fat Kid Rules the World (2003), Going’s latest is a surprising, memorable story shaped from unlikely character bonds. High-school senior Liam is a talented, straight athlete who is as gorgeous as his mother, a former supermodel, and has inherited her interest in clothes: “I love fashion. And girls.” A mediocre student, he constantly disappoints his dad, an angry, sometimes verbally abusive executive who kicks Liam out of the house after one too many perceived transgressions. Against his homophobic dad’s wishes, Liam moves in with his gay, cross-dressing, trailer-dwelling uncle, Aunt Pete. Determined to meet his father’s expectations, Liam joins the AV club at his new school and actively tries to fight his natural status as “Mr. Popularity”; but once again, everything goes awry. Liam’s parents occasionally feel more like caricatures than fully developed characters, but Liam and Aunt Pete are true originals, and Going balances her strong messages of self-discovery and acceptance with compassionate, bittersweet scenes that highlight the soul-sapping futility of trying to please unappeasable adults."

Loved this one! Actually I love every book that I've read by Going. She is a fantastic teen writer - humorous, but with a punch of reality.

MAUS: A SURVIVOR'S TALE by Art Spiegelman

Holocaust, Graphic Novel, Young Adult.

Review:
School Library Journal (May 1987)
"YA Told with chilling realism in an unusual comic-book format, this is more than a tale of surviving the Holocaust. Spiegelman relates the effect of those events on the survivors' later years and upon the lives of the following generation. Each scene opens at the elder Spiegelman's home in Rego Park, N.Y. Art, who was born after the war, is visiting his father, Vladek, to record his experiences in Nazi-occupied Poland. The Nazis, portrayed as cats, gradually introduce increasingly repressive measures, until the Jews, drawn as mice, are systematically hunted and herded toward the Final Solution. Vladek saves himself and his wife by a combination of luck and wits, all the time enduring the torment of hunted outcast. The other theme of this book is Art's troubled adjustment to life as he, too, bears the burden of his parents' experiences. This is a complex book. It relates events which young adults, as the future architects of society, must confront, and their interest is sure to be caught by the skillful graphics and suspenseful unfolding of the story. Rita G. Keeler, St. John's School , Houston"

Powerful. This book is a winner with our eighth graders who study the Holocaust.

THE MOSTLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF HOMER P. FIGG by Rodman Philbrick

Civil War; Adventure; Newbery Honor.
Kirkus Review (December 1, 2008)
"Shortly after this lively comic yarn opens, Homer, a half-starved orphan boy who lives in rural Maine with his mean-spirited uncle and 17-year-old brother Harold, helplessly watches as Harold is sworn into the Union Army. After finding out that their avaricious uncle sold his underage nephew to substitute for a richer neighbor in the Civil War, 12-year-old Homer takes off on a rescue mission. On the way, Homer is kidnapped by some nefarious slave-catchers, joins a traveling medicine show and holds up the Union colors during the Battle of Gettysburg. Bursting with vividly voiced characters and descriptions so crisp they practically crunch, the story is trenchantly narrated in the first person by Homer, a resourceful, sharp-witted child who is never without a lie in his pocket. Despite the overall comic tone, Philbrick makes serious points about the evil of slavery, the horrors of war, inexplicable bravery, ethical decision-making and the need to move forward in one's life. (Historical fiction. 9-12)"

I had questions at first about whom I would recommend this to since the voice of the main character is very much in a 'tall tale,' mode; I wondered if middle school students could relate (IMHO after working daily with this age group). I changed my mind, however, a chapter or two into the story. Encourage students to stick with it a bit. Kirkus review above is a very accurate description.
Rodman Philbrick website http://www.rodmanphilbrick.com/

THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY by Suzanne Collins

Survival; Science Fiction "Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen becomes a contender in a grave competition hosted by the Capitol where young boys and girls are pitted against one another in a televised fight to the death, "Catching Fire" in which Katniss and Peeta win the competition and become the faces of an impending rebellion, and "Mockingjay" in which Katniss and her family and friends are in danger because the Capitol holds her responsible for the unrest." http://titlewave.com
Excellent, excellent riveting page turner! Suzanne Collins homepage http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

FALLEN ANGELS by Walter Dean Myers

"Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry, just out of his Harlem high school, enlists in the Army in the summer of 1967 and spends a devastating year on active duty in Vietnam."

This is so good, astounding actually, a modern day All Quiet on the Western Front. Myers is a master of dialogue and plot. The characters are real and complex. The action is breathtaking. The questions of morality are not presented in black and white, except for the atrocities of war and the value of friendship. Often I have students who ask for war books. This should be top on the list.Walter Dean Myers

MAXIMUM RIDE: THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT by James Patterson

Science Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Adventure. " After the mutant Erasers abduct the youngest member of their group, the "birdkids," who are the result of genetic experimentation, take off in pursuit and find themselves struggling to understand their own origins and purpose."

Horn Book (Spring 2006)
"Max Ride and five other human-avian genetic hybrids fly (literally) from the lab where they were created as experiments and forge a new life in hiding. When six-year-old Angel is captured, Max leads her makeshift family in a rescue attempt, raising questions about their origins and destiny. Smart-mouthed, sympathetic characters and copious butt-kicking make this fast read pure escapist pleasure."

This is the first of five books in the Maximum Ride series (The fifth is due March 2009). Absolute must for middle school collections. Patterson combines his talent for creating great plots, quick-witted dialogue, and entertaining character portrayals that tug at your heart. Thank you, James Patterson.

LIFE (IN THE CARDS) by Mariah Fredericks

"School Library Journal (August 1, 2008)
Gr 5-8-In this third offering in the series, Syd tells her story. She is often in the shadow of her friends Anna and Eve, each of whom starred in a previous book. Their stories revolved around tarot-card readings that seem to have come true. Syd, always reluctant to do a reading, finally does, but her cards foretell death and disaster, which frighteningly parallel her temperamental father's worsening alcoholism and career problems... Messages are positive while realistic, and the target audience will be glad to see how Syd plays the hand she is dealt. The books are best read in order.-Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information."

Well... I did not read the series in the proper order; this was my first Fredericks novel, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't understand Meg Cabot's cover blurb: "...will have readers rolling on the floor laughing...." Life does have its funny moments, but the overall story is one of a girl dealing with some heavy family issues. This is well done realistic fiction with a positive message that will appeal to mainstream readers. Excellent middle school choice.

Interesting note: This book and the one before, Twisted, both portray fathers dealing with alcoholism and anger.

TWISTED BY Laurie Halse Anderson

2007. Family problems, high school, friendship, bullying "After finally getting noticed by someone other than school bullies and his ever-angry father, seventeen-year-old Tyler enjoys his tough new reputation and the attentions of a popular girl, but when life starts to go bad again, he must choose between transforming himself or giving in to his destructive thoughts."

Twisted was recommended to me by a student who read it in one night. I did the same. Another well written, thoughtful, on the edge of your seat work by Anderson. In my book, she's batting a perfect score - every single one of her books is a winner.

CHAINS by Laurie Halse Anderson

2008. Historical Fiction, Slavery, New York, American Revolution. "After being sold to a cruel couple in New York City, a slave named Isabel spies for the rebels during the Revolutionary War."

This talented author revisits historical fiction (Fever 1793) in a vivid portrayal of a young girl's tormented life in slavery. The politics, military tactics and daily life in New York during this time period are portrayed through high action and intrigue. Fair warning: notwithstanding the triumph of human spirit, this story illustrates starkly the pain and evil of slavery.

TROUBLE by Gary Schmidt

Horn Book (May/June, 2008)
" 'If you build your house far enough from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you.' Such is the credo of the fortunate Smith family of Blythbury-by-the-Sea, a (fictional) WASP-y outpost of Boston. But when Trouble arrives, it just keeps on coming. First, oldest son Franklin lies in a coma after being hit by a car; a young Cambodian immigrant is identified as the driver. Daughter Louisa, hugely distraught, retreats to her bedroom, and fourteen-year-old Henry is left on his own. With the newly adopted Black Dog, whom he's rescued from the sea, Henry sets off to climb Maine's Mt. Katahdin (as he and Franklin had planned to do together) and is joined by unexpected companions. Schmidt embarks on a road trip that limns the growing friendship of three unforgettable boys -- Henry; his honest, aggravating best friend Sanborn; and the accused Cambodian boy, Chay Chuan. A host of coincidences strains credulity at times but also allows for an extraordinary breadth, widening themes and resolving plot lines. Like Chaucer's pilgrims, Henry, Chay, and Louisa all have to find their way to grace. The accident that brings trouble to Henry and his family also brings self-realization and the uncomfortable knowledge that both Henry's idolized brother and the vaunted history of the Smith family are not what they seem. Along with the pivotal role played by the enthusiastic Black Dog, rich secondary characters enhance a 1970s-set story that adds much to the discussion of how tragedy and racism affect individuals, families, and whole communities.' (titlewave.com)

Many issues that would be excellent classroom discussion topics are raised in this book. Racism, immigration, honor, honesty, kindness, and courage are some of the themes running through this thoughtful book, which is lightened with humorous exchanges between friends. A slow beginning, but satisfying once the stage is set.

SECRET, SILENT SCREAMS by Joan Lowery Nixon

Mystery. "A high school senior is convinced her friend Barry did not commit suicide but was a murder victim, and she endangers her own life to prove it." titlewave.com

Jean Lowery Nixon is a great bet for middle school mysteries. She moves the plot along at a fast clip and keeps the story a manageable length. The culprit was easily guessed, but I was pulled in enough to want to 'scream' at Marti that she was the next target. A fun scary read.

LISTENING FOR LIONS by Gloria Whelan

Grades 5-8 "When her parents die of the influenza ravaging British East Africa, Rachel fears that she will have to enter an orphanage. Here the plot departs from the expected, and Rachel's life becomes very complicated. Through her sympathetic narrator, Whelan gives readers a glimpse of life in post-WWI colonial Africa. Melodramatic plot twists and a complex main character add up to a satisfying, old-fashioned tale." (Hornbook Starred 2006)

Great plot and lots of Girl Power. Rachel is a positive, inspiring role model. Gloria Whelan's Website

KINGDOM KEEPERS by Ridley Pearson

"Five young teens hired as models for theme park guides find themselves pitted against Disney villains and witches that threaten both the future of Walt Disney World and the stability of the world as a whole." titlewave.com

A little magic, mystery and science fiction all rolled into one. Just scary enough. Perfect for those readers who love Disney, reluctant readers, or anyone looking for a fast-paced adventure. A lot of fun. I was a little bothered by some gender stereo-typing, but can forgive it in the overall picture of a great story. Enjoy this one!

WICKED LOVELY by Melissa Marr

" Seventeen-year-old Aislinn, who has the rare ability to see fairies, is drawn against her will into a centuries-old battle by Keenan, the terrifying but alluring Summer King, who determines that she must become his queen and save summer from perishing." (http://www.titlewave.com")

What a great book! I could not put this one down. I would recommend this to those who like Stephenie Myer's Twilight. It's a little edgy, very romantic. Aislinn and her mortal boyfriend are great role models in creative decision-making. I did not expect the ending. Really fantastic! I have to thank my local librarian and get this one for my school library immediately.

Time to Start Blogging Again

I've been reading, but not blogging. I have a new middle school website at Suffern Middle School, so it's the perfect time to start again. There is nothing quite like finding a GREAT book, the kind that you keep thinking about and can hardly wait to get back to. I'm in two book clubs and sometimes we read books that are good for all ages, but I do miss my middle school books.

KENNETH OPPEL

Kenneth Oppel Official Site


AIRBORN
"Matt, a young cabin boy aboard an airship, and Kate, a wealthy young girl traveling with her chaperone, team up to search for the existence of mysterious winged creatures reportedly living hundreds of feet above the Earth's surface."

This was not what I expected. I had been recommending this book to boys as a Science Fiction adventure; just goes to show you how a cover and reviews can mislead. It's a wonderful story, but I think the audience extends to girls who have enjoyed books such as A Great and Terrible Beauty by Bray. Matt's relationship with Kate holds a prominent place in the plot. Kate's independence serves as a great example to girls. I don't like categorizing books as boy or girl interests, but this is not an adventure in the likes of Stormbreaker.


SKYBREAKER
Horn Book starred (Spring 2006)

This sequel to Airborn manages to delve into its characters even as it delivers yet another breakneck flight through the skies of its beguiling alternative world. The romantic tensions among the four adventurers, killing altitudes, conflicting agendas, and ruthless goons provide more than enough material for heart-stopping action scenes that will please even the most jaded of readers.


SILVERWING
"When a newborn bat named Shade but sometimes called "Runt" becomes separated from his colony during migration, he grows in ways that prepare him for even greater journeys."

Also, make sure to check out Oppel's Silverwing and sequels for an easy level, page-turning adventure.

EMAKO BLUE by Brenda Woods

"Monterey, Savannah, Jamal, and Eddie have never had much to do with each other until Emako Blue shows up at chorus practice, but just as the lives of the five Los Angeles high school students become intertwined, tragedy tears them apart." African Americans/High School fiction Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

Horn Book starred (Spring 2005)
"Opening with the title character's funeral, this novel about an innocent teen victim of gang violence then flashes back through the months leading up to her murder. This modern-day morality tale has about as much subtlety as a made-for-TV movie, but the suddenness with which the tragedy occurs is sobering, and readers will feel acutely the injustice of Emako's untimely death."

My Comment:
Woods zeroes in on the teenage heart with Emako Blue. She evokes time, place and feelings in a sophisticated yet concise style. I can hardly wait to get this into my students' hands.

FORGED BY FIRE by Sharon Draper

"Companion volume to: Tears of a tiger. Gerald, a teenager who has spent years protecting his fragile half-sister from their abusive father, must face the prospect of one final confrontation before the problem can be solved."Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

A compelling, dramatic story, this story conveys the importance of listening to your inner voice and following through with the right action. Gerald is a courageous hero and a strong role model for all teens. It's not easy standing up to evil when the evidence is not obvious or convenient to others. The writing is simplistic, but the storyline will carry teens to the gripping end.

A BIG THANK YOU TO MS. WEISS' SIXTH GRADE HUMANITIES CLASS!

Thank you so much for recommending some great books. Please share any more must reads and I will order them for the library. Ms. Sheehy, Mrs. Harrington and I are always happy to have you visit!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. Schuster

P.S. This is my dog, Tiki. He just likes to EAT books!

FRUITS BASKET by Natsuki Takaya (Stefanie M.)

"Translated from the Japanese.;"This book is printed 'manga-style' in the authenic Japanese right-to-left format"--Colophon. Orphan Tohru Honda is taken in by the mysterious Sohma, who introduce her to a world of magical curses and family secrets." (Stefanie M.)

Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

JUNIE B. JONES by Barbara Park (Hodalys A.)

"When her kindergarten class has Job Day, Junie B. goes through much confusion and excitement before deciding on the "bestest" job of all." (Hodalys A.)

Barbara Park

Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

FUDGE-A-MANIA by Judy Blume (Makayla H.)

"Pete describes the family vacation in Maine with the Tubmans, highlighted by the antics of his younger brother Fudge." (Makayla H.)
Judy Blume

Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

THE RIVER by Gary Paulsen (Johnny R.)

"Because of his success surviving alone in the wilderness for fifty-four days, fifteen-year-old Brian, profoundly changed by his time in the wild, is asked to undergo a similar experience to help scientists learn more about the psychology of survival." (Johnny R.)
Gary Paulsen
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE by Kate diCamillo (Ambreen H.)

"With her adventurous sister, Meryl, suffering from the Grey death, meek and timid Princess Addie sets out to find a cure." (Ambreen H.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

THE TWO PRINCESSES OF BAMARRE by Gail Carson Levine (Tiffany George)

"With her adventurous sister, Meryl, suffering from the Grey death, meek and timid Princess Addie sets out to find a cure." (Tiffany G.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

A HORSE FOR MANDY by Lurlene McDaniel (Beth D.)

"Mandy is thrilled when she gets her own horse for her thirteenth birthday, but her best friend, Laura, reacts strangely to the news, and their friendship is tested when tragedy strikes." (Beth D.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

STAR GIRL by Jerry Spinelli

"Stargirl, a teen who animates quiet Mica High with her colorful personality, suddenly finds herself shunned for her refusal to conform." (Alex H.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT'S ME MARGARET by Judy Blume

"Faced with the difficulties of growing up and choosing a religion, a twelve-year-old girl talks over her problems with her own private God." (Nicole C.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS by J.K. Rowling

Booklist starred (August 2007 (Vol. 103, No. 22))

"The cloak of inevitability hangs on the final installment of the Harry Potter series. One must die, one will live. Friends will be distinguished from foes. All will be revealed. To Rowling’s great credit, she manages this finale with the flair and respect for her audience that have permeated the previous six novels, though the mood here is quite different..."

Harry, Harry, Harry...I am so bereft that it's over. I think I need to start at the beginning again. Thank you, J.K. Rowling for giving so many of us an unsurpassed reading experience.

If you haven't tried the Harry Potter books, well, what are you waiting for???

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS by Jules Verne

"Jules Verne's classic novel featuring Phileas Fogg, a wealthy gentleman who makes a bet that he can travel around the world in just eighty days." Audio version narrated by Jim Dale.

The Excellent, the bad and the ugly. Dale's audio interpretation is truly fabulous. I also thoroughly enjoyed the character of Phileas Fogg, a man whose calm demeanor and impeccable character remain constant in the face of disaster. The story is an excellent window into many aspects of technology and travel in the 1870's. I could not help but compare our wired world today with Verne's world. What stories could he have imagined today? That's the excellent.

The Bad and the Ugly. Jim Dale brought the book alive, but I would only give the printed version - although a great adventure - to a patient reader. Teachers could use parts of this book very effectively in terms exploring and comparing technology's impact on society then and today, or, now here's the ugly - the shallow stereotyping of world cultures from a white European 19th century perspective: Native Americans as "enraged monkeys" or the emphasis on the white skin of a beautiful Indian woman, thereby making her an acceptable companion for Fogg.

The publisher addresses these issues in an afterward. The bottom line for me is that this is a great adventure reflecting a historical perspective. How far we have come. I would highly recommend it as a teacher directed class read or as a family listening experience.

ENDYMION SPRING by Matthew Skelton

"Having reluctantly accompanied his academic mother and pesky younger sister to Oxford, twelve-year-old Blake Winters is at loose ends until he stumbles across an ancient and magical book, secretely brought to England in 1453 by Gutenberg's mute apprentice to save it from evil forces, and which now draws Blake into a dangerous and life-threatening quest."

Follett Library Resources

Mystery and magic combine to create a wide audience for this page turner. It reminds me a bit of Inkheart by Cornelia Funke in the the author's clear passion for books, but will appeal as well to the large number of students who read fantasy. I love the exposure to literature and history interwoven through Faust and Gutenberg. The editor, however, could have advised on a bit of medical logistics at the end, but I don't want to be a spoiler. A good recommendation for most students grades 5-7, possibly grade 8 as well.

THE BOOK THIEF by Marcus Zusak

"Originally published: Australia : Pan Macmillan Australia, 2005. Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors."

Follett Library Resources

An astounding book. Zusak towers over other writers in his absolute command of language. That said, I confess I had to start it twice. I just couldn't warm up to Death as the narrator at first. After a second attempt, however, I was completely hooked. Zusak is a brilliant and passionate writer who describes the experiences of a young German girl, her family and friends whose lives are shattered by World War II. This should be on every high school reading list. A select few middle school readers could also tackle it, but it's really one of those fabulous adult novels that is content appropriate for teens. It is worth experiencing in both audio and print format.

Zusak also wrote I Am the Messenger, which won a 2006 Printz Honor Award for Young Adult literature and is next on my reading list. He is truly a magnificent writer.

A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE by Ann M. Martin

"The summer that Hattie turns twelve, she meets the childlike uncle she never knew and becomes friends with a girl who works at the carnival that comes to Hattie's small town."

Follett Library Resources

A 2003 Newbery Honor Medal, this is one of those books that's been in my to-read pile for a long time, mainly because my students keep recommending it. They are right. It is a gem that would be great as assigned reading or a teacher read aloud. The discussion possibilities are terrific: friendship, teasing, acceptance, actions and consequences, comparing social views of disabilities in the 1960s versus today. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards, although an adult read, comes to mind as another portrayal of misunderstandings and actions in response to a disability that have profound life altering effects. Not a difficult read, but extremely thought provoking. Excellent choice for fifth, sixth and possibly seventh grades.

THE RIVER BETWEEN US

by Richard Peck
Historical Fiction; Civil War; Racism. "During the early days of the Civil War, the Pruitt family takes in two mysterious young ladies who have fled New Orleans to come north to Illinois."

Follett Library Resources

Richard Peck frames this novel as story within a story. The narrator, a boy, travels with his father in 1916 to see his grandparents. This beginning is a little slow and I wasn't sure where Peck was going. The story really takes off, however, once the grandmother takes over as narrator.The boy picks up the narration at the end, which concludes as a conversation with his grandmother and a revelation.

Truly skillful. Peck is a master! Highly recommended for both a Civil War reading list addition or just a good read.

JACOB HAVE I LOVED

by Katherine Paterson " Newbery Medal, 1981 Filled with resentment over the attention showered upon her twin sister, and awaiting the day she can leave her town behind, young Louise meets a wise old sea captain and begins learning how to let go of her anger."

Follett Library Resources

"Jacob I have loved, but Esau have I hated," Romans 9:13

This is a classic coming of age story with universal appeal. The depth of emotions may be appreciated by both middle and high school students, as well as adult readers. The book begins quietly and gently brings to life a young girl's struggle for identity in a small town in the Chesapeake Bay during World War II. Sara Louise comes alive as a complex girl with frustrations and dreams that are unique in circumstance but understood by all.

COUNTING ON GRACE by Elizabeth Winthrop

"Twelve-year-old Grace Forcier and her friend Arthur, taken out of school and put to work in a Vermont textile mill in 1910, are championed by their teacher who urges them to write the National Child Labor Committee, an action only Grace seems to realize will have serious repercussions."

Follett Library Resources

Winthrop conveys vividly the desperation, danger and hardship that families faced as mill workers. Their world is bleak and hopeless, bearable only through family bonds and caring people such as Grace's teacher and Lewis Hine, the photographer who recorded children laborers. This is a well researched, well written novel, one of my absolute favorites this year. An excellent read aloud or assigned reading choice.

Other good books on this subject are Russell Freedman's "Kids at Work" and of course "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson.

MAGYK by Angie Sage

"V"

Author, Angie Sage, is coming to visit today. This is an exciting mystery fantasy. Many students have already read and recommended this series. " Jenna learns that she is a princess found as a baby by the man she believed was her father and now she and Septimus, who was taken at birth by the midwife, are being threatened by the evil wizard, DomDaniel who intends to finish off the entire royal line."

Follett Library Resources

Angie Sage spoke to grades 5-8, courtesy of our favorite bookstore, Books, Byes and Beyond, which is located in Glen Rock, New Jersey. She showed pictures of her home in Cornwall, England and talked about the writing process. Most interesting to me was seeing the room in which she writes and the view from her window. Cornwall itself seems very magic-like with its hilly countryside and old homes. I highly recommend her as a speaker; she was relaxed, but knew how to keep the program moving. Sage pulled us into her world completely for 45 riveting minutes.

ELSEWHERE by Gabrielle Zevin

After fifteen-year-old Liz Hall is hit by a taxi and killed, she finds herself in a place that is both like and unlike Earth, where she must adjust to her new status and figure out how to "live."

Deborah Kris, our English teacher, recommended this book as a good middle school selection. Written in the present tense, it is a quiet but intriguing read with a satisfying ending. Elsewhere addresses mortality, romance and how we decide to live our lives, all in a manageable and entertaining style.

THE ACCIDENT by Diane Hoh

"A wispy, shadowy figure appears in Megan's mirror one day begging to trade places with her for just one week. The young girl begs her to let her live again. Gradually Megan comes to realize that she must grant this request."

My fifth grade student, Lior, recommended this scary page-turner. A word of caution: make sure your reader is really looking for a VERY scary book. Betty Ren Wright's ghost mysteries are a good alternative for those not ready for this.

THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY by Susan Patron

"Fearing that her legal guardian plans to abandon her to return to France, ten-year-old aspiring scientist Lucky Trimble determines to run away while also continuing to seek the Higher Power that will bring stability to her life."

This little Newbery has created quite a stir with its "word." Oh, the power of words! This is a beautifully crafted "small gem" (Kirkus Reviews). Patron manages to tell a complex story in a simple setting. Her language is poetic, yet so accessible. I do wonder if Lucky should have been cast as twelve instead of ten. I look forward to discussing it with my fifth through eighth grade students. I trust them to make the final judgement. My opinion? Thumbs up!

A DOOR NEAR HERE by Heather Quarles

"Four siblings struggle to maintain a seminormal home life when their single mother's alcoholism becomes debilitating."

Follett Library Resources

Publishers Weekly (January 24, 2000)

PW's starred review said, "A candid narrative voice joins with skillful pacing" for this story of 15-year-old Katherine, who tries to conceal her alcoholic mother's incapacity from authorities to prevent the family from being split up. Ages 12-up. (Jan.)

Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

My Young Critic, Molly recommended this book to me. I stayed up too late last night finishing it. I kept hoping the children could pull off their secret, which indicates how convincing their perspective is conveyed. As a reader, however, I saw the inevitable disaster unfolding yet hidden from others. Very powerful. Thank you, Molly, for telling me about this compelling novel.

TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer

Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural, Vampires, High School

498 pages.

Description

"When seventeen-year-old Bella leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human." (Follett)

My Comments
A great vampire romance for Valentine's Day! This is a romantic page turner with a cliff hanger ending. A current favorite in Morrow House. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, New Moon.

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd

Realistic Fiction, African American, Families, Coming of Age, High School

301 pages

Description

"Teenagers; Women; Racism; Beekeeping. "Fourteen-year-old Lily and her companion, Rosaleen, an African-American woman who has cared from Lily since her mother's death ten years earlier, flee their home after Rosaleen is victimized by racist police officers, and find a safe haven in Tiburon, South Carolina, at the home of three beekeeping sisters, May, June, and August." 

My Comments
A poetic journey with passages that make you pause and read again. It is a manageable and riveting read for older students, grade 8 and up. This is a great discussion book for a reading group or class.

LIFE OF PI by Yann Martel

Psychological Fiction, Survival, Adventure

High School

319 pages

Description

"Pi Patel, having spent an idyllic childhood in Pondicherry, India, as the son of a zookeeper, sets off with his family at the age of sixteen to start anew in Canada, but his life takes a marvelous turn when their ship sinks in the Pacific, leaving him adrift on a raft with a 450-pound Bengal tiger for company." (Follett)

My Comments
This currently ranks as one of my favorite books of all time. It is breathtaking, brutal, tragic and humorous. This is a challenging read, but deserves to be included as a suggestion for advanced readers. Not for the fainthearted. Consider listening to the audio version as I did. The narrator is superb.

THE WISH GIVER by Bill Brittain

Fantasy, Magic, Scary, Wishes

175 pages

"When a strange little man comes to the Coven Tree Church Social promising he can give people exactly what they ask for, three young believers-in-magic each make a wish that comes true in the most unexpected way."

Follett Library Resources

A good choice for that fifth grader who wants a "scary" book. The reader knows Thaddeus Blinn's offer must be a devil's bargain, but it is too tempting for the characters to resist. The results are predictable, but still compelling. Good discussion book and choice for students looking for a manageable page-turner.

WOLF RIDER by Avi

Mysteries and Detective Stories, Horror, Suspense

202 pages

Book Description

"After receiving an apparent crank call from a man claiming to have committed murder, fifteen-year-old Andy finds his close relationship with his father crumbling as he struggles to make everyone believe him." Reading Level: Young Adult" (Follett)

My Comments
This is a terrifying story of a boy's increasing involvement with a killer as he tries to protect a girl from murder. You feel his frustration, isolation and desperation build when no one will listen. He becomes obsessed with stopping what he believes is inevitable and is himself accused of stalking. A great recommendation for students who are looking for a really scary book. Just make sure they can handle it!

THE LAST DRAGON by Silvana Di Mari

Grades 5-8; 361 pages; fantasy. 

 "Translated from the Italian. After his village is ruined by a flood, Yorsh, the world's last elf, reads writing on ancient ruins and realizes that in order to stop the torrential rains, he must find the only remaining dragon." :

My Comments
I am in the middle of this charming, funny and poignant book. The elf is the show stopper. He is exasperatingly passionate and firm in his convictions, but entirely lovable. Entertaining, poignant and humorous. I want to find out what will happen - a good sign.

THE GREEN GLASS SEA by Ellen Klages

Historical Fiction, Los Alamos, World War II, Manhattan Project

321 pages.

"While her father works on the Manhattan Project, eleven-year-old gadget lover and outcast Dewey Kerrigan lives in Los Alamos Camp, and becomes friends with Suze, another young girl who is shunned by her peers." :

Follett Library Resources

The intriguing title and cover alone drew me to this book initially. The perspective of a child in the Los Alamos community during the Manhattan Project years is matter of fact, concerned more with the immediate concerns of absent parents and bullies. The Project's influence looms on the periphery, but the story centers on one child's life and that is the startling effectiveness of this story.

THE MOORCHILD by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Fantasy

241 pages.

Book Description
"Feeling that she is neither fully human nor "Folk," a changeling learns her true identity and attempts to find the human child whose place she had been given." Newbery Medal/Honor 1997 :

My Comments

I read this book a few years ago and list it as one of my favorites. I am reminded of it as I continue to listen to Summerland by Michael Chabon during my morning and afternoon commutes. Both stories tell a fascinating story of fairies and changelings, a story of worlds in peril, and a longing for identity. The Moorchild is timeless and complex, a good choice for advanced elementary through adult.

LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Dystopian, Science Fiction, Diaries

High School

321 Pages

LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Beth Pfeffer "Through journal entries sixteen-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions."

Follett Library Resources

I found this book at our annual book fair and was hooked immediately. It's the kind of book you keep thinking about. Pfeffer manages to keep the suspense and hope alive even though the family's world keeps shrinking. This book could generate some great discussions on what's important in our lives.

SUMMERLAND by Michael Chabon

Middle-High School, Baseball, Fantasy

500 pages.

Book Description

"The ferishers, little creatures who ensure perfect weather for Summerland, recruit Ethan Feld, one of history's worst baseball players, to help them in their struggle to save Summerland, and ultimately the world, from giants, goblins, and other legendary, terrible creatures."

My Comments

This is a book of amazing one-liners. Michael Chabon is a genius at crystallizing a universal truth, or at least a zinger, a "YES" in a single sentence. I have resolved to start a web page, a list of fabulous sentences that capture the essence of my favorite books. Here's a good one:

"You better be ready kid," said a voice just behind him. "Pretty soon now you going to get the call." Chiron Brown (Ringfinger) page 21.

What a fabulous book. It just got better and better. A GREAT CHOICE for one of those long car rides or a read-aloud or a read alone! Now, I HAVE to read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay!