MIDDLE SCHOOL FRENEMIES AND CRUSHES

There are many roles in middle school that each person assumes. There are athletes, popular kids, nerds, teacher's pets, and over-achievers. Gracie doesn’t buy into any of it. She just goes with her own flow, even with family challenges at home. She is not considered a fashionista or 'big girl on campus;' she’s just a regular middle school girl who is witty, charming, and a good friend. She also happens to have a crush on a boy. The only problem is that her BFF has a crush on the same boy. When her very shy friend asks her for some help, what will Gracie do?

In, Well, That Was Awkward, Rachel Vail skillfully weaves the trials and tribulations of a middle-schooler in a relatable story. Despite her many challenges Gracie is somehow able to bring her strength and courage to the forefront. Rachel Vail's inclusion of middle-schoolers from different ethnic backgrounds is a plus.

For ages 12 and up.

CANDY HEARTS & SECRET CRUSHES

It is close to Valentine's Day, and the students in class 4-O are in for a surprise. Someone has left candy hearts in each of their desks.  But what makes these hearts particularly sweet are the special messages on each of them.  Why, though, do the messages seem directly related to the student?  This is the mystery that Jessie Treski, the school's editor for the 4-O Forum, is trying to uncover.

Jessie's discovery of candy hearts,  poems of love, and the idea of crushes have piqued her interest, so she must find out if other students currently have a crush, had a crush, or never had a crush on someone before.   A class survey is soon published, but what kind of results will Jessie get?  Is Jessie, herself, able to truly understand what the survey results mean?

Jacqueline Davies skillfully captures the voice of young and energetic Jessie, a fun-loving girl  who finds herself in the middle of a classroom where boys and girls are starting to think about each other in different ways.  Ms. Davies' addition of poetry is the perfect touch to this sweet coming-of-age story.  It has the power to make readers of all ages reflect upon their first crush. 

Read Candy Smash and other books from the Lemonade Wars series, available in three formats- print, eBook, and audio CD.  Reserve one or all today!  

For 4th grade and up.

READING IS DELICIOUS... WHEN IT'S CINNAMON SLICES AND PIZZA DREAMS

A review from Mr. B.  at the Grandview Branch: 

Seventh grader Louise changes her name to Thumbelina (small and mighty like herself). She then resigns as star of the school’s gymnastics team, partly in response to a series of threatening notes from less qualified team members.  Recently re-named, now free from team sports, Thumbelina has received her first “mash note.”  Her best female friend Reni and her best male friend Henderson (Reni’s older brother) spend the bulk of the charming and delightful top plot trying to discover the source of the mash notes.  The most likely suspect seems to be the even older pizza delivery guy, Benny, The Boy on Cinnamon Street. 

Cleverly woven beneath, around, and through these funny, warm, well written episodes, we find the deeper real plot.  Thumbelina lives with her grandparents.  She has few memories of Dad, and fewer still of her seemingly distant Mom.  While pizza delivery guy Benny isn’t the source of the mash notes after all (sorry for the Spoiler), he IS the key that unlocks Louise’s trauma-rattled brain, revealing the blocked memory of her mother’s suicide.  Once the harrowing memories have been confronted, Louise/Thumbelina returns to the sport she loves, supported by the author of the mash notes (and his sister), her grandparents, and a new inner peace.  Phoebe Stone has constructed a readable tale about likable youngsters who face a real-world personal tragedy in a realistic manner. She knows her subject well – when she was eleven, her father committed suicide.

  

AGE: 11-14

THE MUSTACHE THAT TOOK OVER THE COUNTRY

I don't know why, but mustache stories are hilarious to me, especially when kids or animals wear them.  Fake Mustache or, How Jodie O'Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and some nerdy guy) Save the U.S. Presidential Election From a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind by Tom Angleberger is so over the top you can't help but chuckle while reading this. 

One day at the beginning of summer, Lenny  and his best friend were going to hang out; go into town and maybe get a hot dog, but Casper had other plans.  Evil plans it turns out.  He bought a fake mustache, not just any fake mustache, but a special one that cost over $100.00!  The next day there was news of a short man with a handlebar mustache in a fancy- man-about-town suit robbing a bank.  No one knew who this thief was except Lenny.  It seemed as if Casper had everyone under his spell and they would just hand things over to him and believe that everything he did was wonderful.  Within a few days, Casper had gone from 7th grader to Governor with the intention of becoming president of the United States!  Lenny had to find a way to snap everyone out of their trance and stop Casper and his fiendish plot to take over everything.

The mustache leads to all kinds of hijinks, robberies, mistaken identities, cross dressing, some romance and so much more.  Another outrageous fun read from the author of "Origami Yoda" books.  

For readers in grades 4th - 8th.

A SPECIAL VALENTINE

A review from Vivian, Children's Librarian at the Casa Verdugo Branch. 

A Giant Crush by Gennifer Choldenko

It's Valentine’s Day and everyone in class is gearing up to receive their Valentine’s Day cards.  The majority of the students in class receive standard size Valentine cards except for Cami the rabbit, who receives a flower, an extra big and extra special card.  Why would Cami receive such special treatment? 

First crushes can sometimes be fun and exciting.  A lighthearted story for those who may not always see themselves as likeable.  

For ages 3-8 years old.

A FIRST CRUSH

From Vivian, Children's Librarian at the Casa Verdugo Branch Library:

The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone

Louise (a.k.a. Thumbelina) is not your average sized seventh grader. Although small in size, she’s strong in character- thanks to her grandparents and best friends.  When she’s not around her loved ones, Louise has feelings that she can’t seem to understand.  Then, an intriguing letter from an admirer helps to distract her and discover her first crush.

Phoebe Stone’s main characters are simply charming.  The story is filled with laugh-out-loud situations, and Louise’s feelings for her first crush are humorous and memorable.  Although written in poetic prose, Ms. Stone handles Louise’s major issues, such as hopelessness, grief and memory loss delicately.  The Boy on Cinnamon Street is a moving story about the acceptance of loss.