APPLEBLOSSOM THE POSSUM by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Animal Fantasy, Opossums; Adventure

"Fans of E.B. White and Dick King-Smith will adore this heartwarming and funny animal adventure by the award-winning author of Counting by 7s

Mama has trained up her baby possums in the ways of their breed, and now it's time for all of them—even little Appleblossom—to make their way in the world. Appleblossom knows the rules: she must never be seen during the day, and she must avoid cars, humans, and the dreaded hairies (sometimes known as dogs). Even so, Appleblossom decides to spy on a human family—and accidentally falls down their chimney! The curious Appleblossom, her faithful brothers—who launch a hilarious rescue mission—and even the little girl in the house have no idea how fascinating the big world can be. But they're about to find out!

With dynamic illustrations, a tight-knit family, and a glimpse at the world from a charming little marsupial's point of view, this cozy animal story is a perfect read-aloud and a classic in the making." (From the publisher)

My Comments
Adorable! Sloan shows the world from a possum's point of view with humor and hair-raising adventures. Kids can probably relate to some of the possum personalities and learn a little animal science a long the way. Very well done. This may be more on the elementary level, but I would recommend it to some sixth graders too.

FLORA AND ULYSSES: THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES by Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by K.G. Campbell

Animal Fantasy; Superheroes; Squirrels; Humor; Divorce
Newbery Winner 2014

"It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry -- and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart. From #1 New York Times best-selling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format -- a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black-and-white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell." (From the publisher)

My Comments
A fun and incredibly creative book. I kept thinking, "How did DiCamillo ever come up with this story?" But it works! The reader sees the world from the perspective of the squirrel and Flora in a way that makes total sense.

That said, it's not for every reader. I would give it to kids who want to laugh and be surprised. There is a dark, almost Roald Dahl shadow to this story, however, in the relationship of Flora with her mother who has distanced herself from Flora. But there is resolution, love, and understanding at the end.

THE CAPTURE by Katherine Lasky

Guardians of Ga'hoole series. Book One.

Animal Fantasy; Owls; Good and Evil; Survival

"Soren, a barn owl that is captured and taken to a special school for orphaned owls, is befriended by elf owl Gylfie and together the two set out to discover what is really going on at St. Aegolius Academy." (Publisher's description)

My Comments

This has been a standing favorite for years with my students. It is easy enough for many readers, but the theme of good versus evil may be interpreted on different levels, thus extending the recommended reading level of this story and providing excellent discussion questions for classroom reading. For example, the consequences of standing up to evil are often fatal, and a malevolent leader may not want the owls - the people - to think for themselves.

This is a pretty solid winner for most middle school students.

MRS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH by Robert C. Brien

Old Favorite. Love, love, love this one!
animal fantasy; courage

"With nowhere else to turn, a field mouse asks the clever escaped lab rats living under the rosebush to help save her son, who lies in the path of the farmer's tractor, too ill to be moved." (Follett Description)

My Comments
'This story pulls you in with the gentle, but oh so brave and loyal little mouse, Mrs. Frisby. Old fashioned courage and family love. It's a tearjerker at the end. Beautiful descriptive writing.

Bank Street College's Picks for 2015

https://bankstreetcollegeccl.wordpress.com/

Super Hero Books for Grades 4-7 Bookopolis

See these recommendations from Bookopolis.
https://www.pinterest.com/bookopolis/super-hero-books-for-older-readers-4th-7th/






Image: wired.com Geek Dad

100 Best YA Books of all Time

THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERHERO GIRL by Faith Erin Hicks

Graphic Novel.

Collects the adventures of Superhero Girl, a young woman trying to make a living as a superhero, but things like poor finances, an overshadowing superhero brother, a desire to be her own person, and the lack of an archnemesis keep getting in her way. 

Entertaining and fast-paced. Perfect for grade 6-8.

SOUL SURFER by Bethany Hamilton

A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board

Narrative Nonfiction; Survival; Courage

"Bethany Hamilton shares the story of her lifelong love of surfing, and tells how she was able to recover and return to competition with the help of her family, friends, and faith after losing her arm in a shark attack at the age of thirteen." (titlewave.com)

This was published in 2004, but is still a popular book with my middle school students. I finally read it. Now I know why it's a keeper. Bethany's wisdom, faith, and love are remarkable. Her persistence and perspective on life are an example for all ages. Highly inspiring.

"What about sharks?" That question is asked countless times to surfers, especially by those whose sports rarely take them near the ocean....I'd usually just shrug and try not to think about it.....Life is full of what-ifs. You can't let it hold you back. If you do, you're not really living at all...just kind of going through the motions with no meaning." (page 122-123)

THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner

Dystopian; Science Fiction; Horror

Kirkus Reviews (September 15, 2009)

Boys come to the Glade via an empty freight elevator with no memory of how they got there or of their prior lives. This disorientation is made more frightening when they realize that to survive they must lock themselves in every night to avoid the horrors of the Grievers, beings that are part machine, part animal--and altogether deadly. The boys in the Glade send out Runners each day to find a way out through the Maze that surrounds their one patch of safety, with no success. Life goes on until one day the elevator delivers a girl. She brings a message: She is the last child to be sent, and there will be no more deliveries of food or supplies. Now the Glade is cut off, and as the Grievers gather for an all-out attack it's clear that it's now or never--the Maze must be solved. Dashner knows how to spin a tale and make the unbelievable realistic. Hard to put down, this is clearly just a first installment, and it will leave readers dying to find out what comes next. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

Great recommendation for those who like the Hunger Games and Divergent. Not for the timid - a scenario similar to Lord of the Flies with lots of gore and creepy 'grievers'! A page turner.

Okay, just finished  book 2 and 3: The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure. Now I see that there is a prequel - The Kill Order! Full disclosure: I am a chicken with horror; cannot read Stephen King or watch horror films. I would definitely classify this as horror, but I couldn't stop reading and made it to the end. This has been such a big hit with my middle school students for years and I knew I had to read it. I am exhausted (kept wanting a quick happy ending!) but it was well worth it. Great series! Just make sure your reader likes a little horror! Thanks James Dashner. Twitter: jamesdashner and #dashnerarmy

Check out the movie! "Based upon the best-selling novel by James Dashner. The Maze Runner, coming to theaters September 19, 2014. #MazeRunner"

HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY by Douglas Adams

Science Fiction; Humor; Satire

"One Thursday lunchtime, the Earth is unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this seems already to be more than he can cope with. Sadly, however, the weekend has only just begun, and the galaxy is a very strange and startling place."

http://www.douglasadams.com/creations/hhgg.html

ALA Notable Books 1995; multiple starred reviews; a classic - Yes!

How could I have waited so long to read this book? My kids, my husband, and other family members loved it and quoted it for years. This goes down as a favorite. I listened to part of it and read the rest. The audio version is fantastic and brings out the Monty Python-isc humor slant; the text version is as good. I am hooked on Douglas Adams and will recommend this book with great enthusiasm to both middle and high school readers.

Douglas Adams Quotes

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/douglas_adams.html

"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be."

"To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity."

For more information on Douglas Adams and his books, go to http://www.douglasadams.com/creations/hhgg.html

THE 5 WAVE by Rick Yancey

Science Fiction; Survival Stories; YA Horror. Book 2: The Infinite Sea
Best Books 2013; Notable Children's Book 2013; YALSA Top 10, etc., etc!
Horn Book starred (Fall 2013)
Cassie, sixteen, prepares herself for the fifth wave of aliens, the final takeover, fearing that she may be all that's left of humanity. She's alone until she meets "very good-looking" Evan Walker, and together they must figure out how to fight back. Yancey vividly portrays Cassie's existential crisis in a broken world: how to live, why to live, and what to care about.

Heads up - Scary, Scary!..... but loved this book! Great for both middle and high school students who love horror.

THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass



Romance. Identity. Decision-Making. Book one in a trilogy: The Selection; The One; The Elite

Notes: "Sixteen-year-old America Singer is living in the caste-divided nation of Illea, which formed after the war that destroyed the United States. America is chosen to compete in the Selection--a contest to see which girl can win the heart of Illea's prince--but all she really wants is a chance for a future with her secret love, Aspen, who is a caste below her"--Provided by publisher.

From the Publisher: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. (Follett's Titlewave)

Grade 7 book club choice. Loved it! Reminded me a bit of The Hunger Games.  Good middle school recommendation.

THE RANGER'S APPRENTICE: THE RUINS OF GORLAN by John Flanagan

Fantasy. "The international bestselling series with over 5 million copies sold in the U.S. alone!
They have always scared him in the past—the Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied. . . .

Perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, T.H. White's The Sword in the Stone, and Christopher Paolini's Eragon series

 

 

Matt D's recommendation from grade 8 book club....and he is a reader beyond compare! I agree that it has a great plot and portrays admirable qualities of a true Ranger. Highly recommend for elementary and middle school readers. Good choice also for reluctant readers.

A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA by Ursula Le Guin

  Fantasy. "Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called       Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered  with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale  of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance." (from the publisher).

I enjoyed rediscovering this classic fantasy. My grade 8 students did not share my enthusiasm and felt that it is geared towards a younger audience. I thought this opinon interesting because I believe that there are some very advanced concepts. I read them the following quote from the ending:

 

"...Ged had neither lost nor won but, naming the shadow of his death with his own name, had made himself whole; a man: who, knowing his whole true self, cannot be used or possessed by any power tother than himself, and whose life therefore is lived for life's sake and never in the service of ruin, or pain, or hatred, or the dark. In the Creation of Ea, which is the oldest song, it is said, "Only in silence, only in dark the light, only in dying life: bright the hawk's flight on the empty sky."

 

So, I loved this book and Le Guin's beautiful writing, but will take into account my grade 8 book club's opinion when recommending this to others.

WONDER by R.J. Palacio

315 pages.Bullying; Self Perception; Overcoming Adversity; Kindness; Friendship; Middle School. 

NY Times Bestseller

Description from Titlewave.com:"Notes: Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunts and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student.

From the Publisher: I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse."

Horn Book (Fall 2012)
"Born with a severe facial deformity, formerly homeschooled Auggie is starting fifth grade. We learn how desperately he wants friends but little of what he might offer in return, as he seems to be defined by his disability. Still, this novel is a heartbreaker, and one that for many readers may provide a new definition of bravery in the face of adversity."

This a perfect choice for summer reading lists and classrooms. It will provide much material for discussion. Fair Warning: Readers will most likely cry! The message of friendship, love, and kindness is much needed today. Thank you R.J. Palacio.

PAPERBOY by Vince Vawter

222 pages. Coming of Age, Disabilities, Stuttering, Racism, Historical Fiction

"An 11-year-old boy living in Memphis in 1959 throws the meanest fastball in town, but talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word without stuttering, not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend's paper route for the month of July, he knows he'll be forced to communicate with the different customers, including a housewife who drinks too much and a retired merchant marine who seems to know just about everything." (titlewave.com)

Great choice for classroom discussions. Older elementary, middle school and up. The issues raised will encourage thinking from a new perspective. Wonderful read.

BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver

Grades 9-12 mature content.  Fiction: Death, Interpersonal relations, Popularity, Conduct, High School, BullyingLoved this book! Lauren Oliver explores the topics of bullying, insecurity, friendship, and courage in a realistic portrayal of the high school experience. I began reading it with trepidation because I thought it was going to be a teenage angst, groundhog day story, but I was completely wrong. This is one to recommend to high school students.

"Grades 9-12. If you could relive your last day, what would you do differently? This is what Samantha asks herself when, after a fatal accident driving from a party on Friday, she wakes in her bed to find she must repeat the entire day again. And again. As Samantha lives through multiple Fridays, desperate to prevent her death, she is struck by how even the most insignificant acts, like running late for school instead of being on time, can change everything. Suddenly she is noticing uncomfortable things—about her friends, about herself—she has never noticed before. It’s the ultimate learning experience, and it takes Samantha seven times—not to save her own life but to leave with one she can be proud of. Oliver, in a pitch-perfect teen voice, explores the power we have to affect the people around us in this intensely believable first novel. Samantha grows from an entitled, popular, yet insecure girl to one with the compassion and guts to make the right decisions. This is a compelling book with a powerful message that will strike a chord with many teens." Booklist (October 15, 2009 (Vol. 106, No.4))


 

YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS - HOLIDAY SEASON UPDATE

Please click on the comment link below to suggest good books for middle school students.

Write your suggestion for a good book to read.
1. Write the title, author (if you know)
2. Genre? (mystery, adventure, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, realistic fiction, nonfiction - you get the point!)
3. Who would you recommend this book to? Who is the perfect audience?
4. Sign your first name only please
5. Select the anonymous option
6. You may have to fill in the random letter form to prove you are an actual person and not some robot!
7. Click publish


Thank you and happy reading!
Mrs. Schuster

Check out some of these titles!

NIKO RECOMMENDS

Niko is one of my middle school students who is an avid reader, especially of Science Fiction and books featuring superheroes. Here are some of his suggestions. He promised to give me more!

See descriptions below
The Vindico by Wesley King
The Feros by Wesley King
Dragonworld Trilogy by Margaret Weis
Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz
God of Manhattan by Scott Mebus
The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale


THE VINDICO by Wesley King
"Notes: When supervillains of the Vindico realize they are getting too old to fight the League of Heroes, they kidnap and begin training five teens, but James, Lana, Hayden, Emily, and Sam will not become the next generation of evil without a fight.

From the Publisher:

X-Men meets The Breakfast Club in this darkly humorous adventure

The Vindico are a group of supervillains who have been fighting the League of Heroes for as long as anyone can remember. Realizing they're not as young as they used to be, they devise a plan to kidnap a group of teenagers to take over for them when they retire--after all, how hard can it be to teach a bunch of angsty teens to be evil?

Held captive in a remote mansion, five teens train with their mentors and receive superpowers beyond their wildest dreams. Struggling to uncover the motives of the Vindico, the teens have to trust each other to plot their escape. But they quickly learn that the differences between good and evil are not as black and white as they seem, and they are left wondering whose side they should be fighting on after all . . .

With fast-paced action, punchy dialogue, and sarcastic humor, this high-stakes adventure from a talented new YA voice pulls you in from the first page." (titlewave.com)

 

THE FEROS by Wesley King

"Notes: Sequel to: The Vindico. "James, Hayden, Lana, Sam and Emily use their new superpowers to try to save abducted members of the League of Heroes, and when Emily disappears, they must find their friend before it's too late"--Provided by publisher.
From the Publisher:

Wesley King follows up his darkly funny debut, The Vindico, with this high-octane sequel, delivering even more humor and explosive superpowered action.

After using your newfound super powers to defeat the most evil villains on the planet, what could you possibly do for an encore?

James, Hayden, Sam, Emily and Lana are finally ready to join the League of Heroes. Their new powers have made them stronger than ever (Hayden has perfected some particularly useful tricks for doing housework from the sofa), and the friends even gave themselves a name: the Feros. But as their induction into the League approaches, they are ambushed and arrested by a group of rogue Heroes. The only one who can clear their name is the League's leader, Thunderbolt—but he's gone missing. The Feros manage to escape capture, but with Thunderbolt gone and several League members defecting, there is no one left to trust.

Confident they can overcome anything together, the group's security is shaken when Emily is mysteriously abducted right out from under them. Have the Vindico somehow managed to escape the impenetrable Perch? Or are they fighting a new enemy that they can't see? One thing they know for sure is that even Sam's telepathic detection has proven useless against this unknown foe. Without their computer genius or their telepathic shield, how will the Feros ever find Emily and keep themselves—and their families—safe?" (titlewave.com)

THE DRAGONWORLD TRILOGY by Margaret Weis
"Notes: "A Tom Doherty Associates book." Chaos and destruction looms when a new and inexperienced Mistress of Dragons is charged with maintaining the uneasy balance of power between humans and dragons." (titlewave.com)

ALEX RIDER SERIES by Anthony Horowitz
STORMBREAKER
"Notes: Sequel: Point Blank. After the death of the uncle who had been his guardian, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider is coerced to continue his uncle's dangerous work for Britain's intelligence agency, MI6." (titlewave.com)

GODS OF MANHATTAN by Scott Mebus
"Notes: Thirteen-year-old Rory discovers a spirit world that thrives alongside his contemporary New York City, filled with fantastical creatures and people from the city's colorful past who have become gods and goddesses and who have chosen Rory to perform a dangerous mission."

THE KANE CHRONICLES by Rick Riordan
"Notes: Title from container.;The red pyramid -- The throne of fire -- The serpent's shadow. A boxed set of all three novels in Rick Riordan's "Kane Chronicles" series, in which the Kane siblings, Sadie and Carter, must fight against evil as the Egyptian gods are waking and threaten to plunge the world into eternal darkness." (titlewave.com)

PERCY JACKSON by Rick Riordan
"Notes: The lightning thief -- The sea of monsters -- The Titan's curse -- The battle of the labyrinth -- The last Olympian. After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, young Percy is sent to Camp Half-Blood for demigods like himself, where he gets into adventures, battles evil, and proceeds toward the prophecy that awaits him on his sixteenth birthday." (titlewave.com)

PENDRAGON SERIES by D.J. MacHale
"Notes: The scary adventures of Bobby Pendragon who, having learned that he is a traveler--someone who can ride "flumes" through time and space--is off to alternative dimensions." (titlewave.com) 

Brilliant by Rachel Vail

Realistic Fiction, Family Problems, School

"Notes: Sixteen-year-old Quinn struggles to maintain her image as a brilliant, good girl when her mother's major error at work leads to financial and legal troubles that turn Quinn's and her younger sisters' world upside-down.

From the Publisher:

Everybody knows who Quinn Avery is. She's the smart, calm, responsible Avery sister, the one who's kept it together in spite of all that's happened since their mom lost her job. But when the family house goes up for sale and Quinn faces the prospect of losing the home she loves, something snaps inside her, and a new, wild, reckless Quinn emerges.

Soon Quinn's lying, sneaking out, and partying with a brand-new crowd. When Quinn adds ditching her best friends and kissing the wrong boys—including her sister's boyfriend and her own piano teacher—to her list of crimes, she may finally have gone too far. Can Quinn find her way back to the family that needs her and the only boy she's ever loved?"

Kirkus Review

"This final book in the Avery sisters trilogy (preceded by Lucky, 2008, and Gorgeous, 2009) centers on introverted Quinn, the oldest and most responsible of the three. On the surface, Quinn is dealing well with her family's losing their home and many of their possessions, but her first-person narration shows a fair amount of inner turmoil. Not entirely sure of how to deal with the feelings no one expects her to have, Quinn engages in reckless boy-kissing and party-going. The only boy she's really interested in kissing, however, is her piano teacher, college student Oliver. Her insecurities about herself and her future lead her to make poor but understandable choices about her friendships and romances. Quinn's intelligence, which she expresses while still sounding authentic and often funny, allows for full exploration of her mixed feelings. Her calm nature also plays well against the personalities of her high-strung sisters. Vail ends this trilogy on a high note, one that should especially resonate with teens whose lives have changed with the economy. (Fiction. 12 & up) "
     - Kirkus 

Loved this! I appreciate the sensitivity and depth of Vail's writing which conveys realistic emotions and struggles that appeal to a wide audience. I will definitely recommend this series to my middle and high school students.

Go to Rachel Vail's website for more information http://www.rachelvail.com/pages/brilliant.htm

ALLEGIANT by Veronica Roth

Science Fiction, Family Life, Identity, Courage

From titlewave.com

"Notes: Sequel to: Insurgent. "The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered--fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready."--Dust jacket.

From the Publisher:

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent."

Read Follett interview with Veronica Roth

EASTCHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL'S FAVORITE BOOKS

Please click on the comment link below to suggest good books for middle school students.

Write your suggestion for a good book to read.
1. Write the title, author (if you know)
2. Genre? (mystery, adventure, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, realistic fiction, nonfiction - you get the point!)
3. Who would you recommend this book to? Who is the perfect audience?
4. Sign your first name only please
5. Select the anonymous option
6. You may have to fill in the random letter form to prove you are an actual person and not some robot!
7. Click publish


Thank you and happy reading!
Mrs. Schuster

THREE TIMES LUCKY by Sheila Turnage

Mystery and Detective Stories

From the Publisher:

Newbery honor winner, New York Times bestseller, Edgar Award Finalist, and E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor book.

"A hilarious Southern debut with the kind of characters you meet once in a lifetime

Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago, and she's been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her "upstream mother," she's found a home with the Colonel--a café owner with a forgotten past of his own--and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known.

Full of wisdom, humor, and grit, this timeless yarn will melt the heart of even the sternest Yankee." Dial Books for Young Readers & Titlewave

It took me a few pages to settle into this story, but I was soon swept into the murder mystery and the colorful characters inhabiting this small town and local cafe. Good sixth grade mystery or Newbery choice.

DEAD GIRLS DON'T WRITE LETTERS by Gail Giles

Mystery and Detective Stories, Sisters, Death, Alcoholism

"Fourteen-year-old Sunny is stunned when a total stranger shows up at her house posing as her older sister Jazz, who supposedly died in a fire months earlier." (image and summary from titlewave.com)

Great short page-turner. I had to read the surprise ending twice!

THEODORE BOONE: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Fiction; Mystery and Detective stories; Trials; Murders

Thirteen-year-old Theodore Boone, who knows every judge, police officer, and court clerk in the small town of Strattenburg, finds himself involved in a murder trial because of knowledge he might have about a cold-blooded killer. "(image and description from titlewave.com)

This is an engaging page-turner choice for middle school students. It portrays a motivated kid with loving but distracted parents who allow Theo to pursue his passion for law. The story conveys values of compassion, communication, trust, and justice.

BOMB: THE RACE TO BUILD AND STEAL THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON by Steve Sheinkin

Nonfiction; atomic bomb; world war II
2013 Newbery Honor book

This is an absolutely riveting book. An excellent choice for middle and high schoolers. It would pair well with Master of Deceit: J. Edgar Hoover and America in the Age of Lies by Marc Aronson.

From the Publisher: "In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific race that spanned 3 continents. In Great Britain and the United States, Soviet spies worked their way into the scientific community; in Norway, a commando force slipped behind enemy lines to attack German heavy-water manufacturing; and deep in the desert, one brilliant group of scientists was hidden away at a remote site at Los Alamos. This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb."

Bomb is a 2012 National Book Awards finalist for Young People's Literature.
Bomb is a 2012 Washington Post Best Kids Books of the Year title.
Bomb is a 2013 Newbery Honor book.

MOON OVER MANIFEST by Clare Vanderpool

Historical Fiction; 1929 Depression; Mystery; 2011 Newbery Gold Medal

Quiet book. I enjoyed it and was pulled in as the story unfolded and the intrigue increased. It would be a good read aloud and class discussion book.

Horn Book (Spring 2011)

"It's 1936 and Abilene's father, himself looking for work, sends her to his hometown of Manifest, Kansas, to live with Pastor Shady, a bootlegger-turned-preacher. There Abilene uncovers secrets about her family and the entire community. The setting jumps between the Depression era and WWI; mysterious letters and enlightening newspaper articles help set the scene for this captivating tale." Horn Book from http://titlewave.com

WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead

Fiction, space and time. 2010 Newbery Gold Medal.

I have to read Wrinkle in Time again! This book would be fantastic for discussion. Loved it.

Booklist starred (June 1, 2009 (Vol. 105, No. 19))

"Grades 4-7. If this book makes your head hurt, you’re not alone. Sixth-grader Miranda admits that the events she relates make her head hurt, too. Time travel will do that to you. The story takes place in 1979, though time frames, as readers learn, are relative. Miranda and Sal have been best friends since way before that. They both live in a tired Manhattan apartment building and walk home together from school. One day everything changes. Sal is kicked and punched by a schoolmate and afterward barely acknowledges Miranda. Which leaves her to make new friends, even as she continues to reread her ratty copy of A Wrinkle in Time and tutor her mother for a chance to compete on The $20,000 Pyramid. She also ponders a puzzling, even alarming series of events that begins with a note: “I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own . . . you must write me a letter.” Miranda’s first-person narrative is the letter she is sending to the future. Or is it the past? It’s hard to know if the key events ultimately make sense (head hurting!), and it seems the whys, if not the hows, of a pivotal character’s actions are not truly explained. Yet everything else is quite wonderful. The ’70s New York setting is an honest reverberation of the era; the mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children and adults, are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest. Just as Miranda rereads L’Engle, children will return to this." Booklist Review from Follett's Titlewave: http://titlewave.com

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.