LETTERS OUT OF HISTORY

I always love a good dog story. Kizzy Ann Stamps by Jeri Watts is a GREAT dog story, even if it takes a bit of time to get to the good parts. But it's also a story about a young black girl living in a time when people were mean to her just because of the color of her skin. Can you believe that? Why would anybody do such a thing? Well, that's how it went many years ago, and Kizzy Ann wrote a lot of letters to her teacher at the "white" school talking all about her life. She especially loved writing about her Border Collie named Shag, her protector and her best friend. If you like reading books written in the format of letters to a friend, this is the book for you. And if you want to know a little more about herding dogs and a lot about history, you'll really like this book too. 

For 4th - 8th grades.

FEBRUARY 2013

BUG OUT EVERYBODY!

Middle school can be fun and full of excitement or it can be dull and boring. Annebelle, who is one of the main characters in this book, is still trying to figure this out for herself. She, like any other middle schooler is preoccupied with her life’s activities and is distracted with things that most middle school activities. However, when the school’s dance approaches, she is sure to know who to ask and is certain that she will not be turned down.  For her, this is very comforting to know.  There is a catch though...One of her friends has already snatched her crush away from her…and in doing so, has also crashed Annebelle's heart.  In addition to all this, a potential science project might be a great indicator if her crush and her have a chance in the future?  How is this possible you ask? Everybody Bugs Out by Leslie Margolis will not bug you for sure!  A fun read.

For grades 4th and up.    

WHAT KIND OF A NAME IS STELLA BATS?!

This is a cute story about a girl in third grade who is getting teased about her name - a boy keeps calling her Smella! Seeing as her name is actually Stella, she starts thinking of a new name right away! It's bad enough her last name is Bats! The story is written like an autobiography, and Stella tells all about her parents' candy store, her annoying little sister and all of the good things and bad things about being in the third grade. STELLA BATS NEEDS A NEW NAME by Courtney Sheinmel will appeal to those just starting to read chapter books. For grades 2-4.

AUGUST 2012

CATS CAN'T MAKE PIE!

Who doesn't love pie? Not all pies are sweet, not all pies are baked, but I bet there is a special pie in your life that you absolutely love. Alice's Aunt has a pie making company, with a world-famous crust recipe that she keeps a secret from the rest of the world. That is until she dies. Then she leaves her crust recipe to Lardo, which is the name of her cat. And she leaves the cat to Alice! Everything goes crazy in town after that, as people race to be the next best pie maker in all the land, and a mystery unfolds as strange things start to happen, including the disappearance of Lardo! The best part about this book is every chapter has a new pie recipe! PIE by Sarah Weeks is for grades 4 and up.

A DEAD HIPPO MYSTERY

The meanest and most hated hippo is floating feet up in his habitat. Shocked by Henry the Hippo's death, Teddy is determined to find out how this could have happened in the best animal research facility in the country. When he discovers that the hippo might have been murdered, the only person willing to help find the hippo killer is Summer, the owner's daughter. Something stinks at Fun Jungle, and it isn't just the dead hippo.

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs is a fast pace mystery set in a Texas where the kids seem to know more than the adults. For readers in 6th - 8th grade.

ALVIN HO IS HERE!

What do you do when a girl invites you to a birthday party, a tea party to boot? Well, if you're Alvin Ho, you freak out and worry a lot. What Alvin has been hoping for was to be invited to the boy birthday party and run run around and play. But with no invitation in sight, he decides he'd better prepare himself for Flea's tea party while he's waiting. Like what does RSVP mean? According to Cousin Bucky it means Resume Standing Very Promptly, and she should know since she's had etiquette lessons and she's a girl.

Once again Lenore Look has written a laugh out loud book about the predicaments of Alvin. Alvin Ho Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects, and Other Man-Made Catastrophes by Lenore Look is for readers in 3rd-4th grades.

BOYS, NOT A PROBLEM.

Everything in Annabelle's life is new this year.

New house.
New puppy.
New family (mom's boyfriend).
New school.
New classmates.

And what's new about that is having to deal with boys. You see, Annabelle was use to going to an all girl school, where there were no boys at all. But this year she got more boy trouble than she knows what to do with. She's done nothing but they always seem to be bothering her; kicking her chair, calling her names, and so on. She was miserable until she came up with a surefire method to make them behave better. Boys=Puppies. Training puppies=Happy home life therefore Training boys=Happy school life.


Boys Are Dogs by Leslie Margolis is a fun look at how one middle schooler deals with life's obstacles and discovers her voice. For readers in 5th grade and up.

A COMEDY IN THREE PARTS

Meet a boy named Russel, now imagine that he lives in the year 1904 in the state of Indiana. All day long he dreams about everything except going to school. Actually, he dreams the most about not going to school completely and becoming part of any wheat threshing crew. However, all his dreams must come to an abrupt end since his teacher dies. His fantasies of taking over the school and destroying all school related things also don’t look as promising because his own sister has taken over the classroom and is in charge now. This is a fun book to read to compare the mischievous acts of kids then and now. Russel knows that when it comes to his sister, there is not much that he can get away with. THE TEACHER’S FUNERAL: A COMEDY IN THREE PARTS is by the well know author RICHARD PECK.

For grades 5th and up.

NERDS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

It's amazing these kids get along! In THE VIEW FROM SATURDAY by E.L. Konigsburg, Noah, Ethan, Nadia, and Julian have nothing in common, except that they are all loners for one reason or another. They are as different as North, South, East, and West. Things change one Saturday when Julian, a small boy originally from India, invites them all to tea. It's not long before the four form firm friendships, which only become stronger when their teacher Ms. Olsinki, who's in a wheelchair, chooses them to compete in the Academic Bowl. This story isn't like other stories, because it jumps from one person's point of view to another, and each one sees the things happening in their lives differently. Great for 5th - 8th graders.

MAGIC TEACHER

THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM by Bonny Becker is about an elementary school teacher that seems to be magic. Every year, students know there is something special about Ms. Plum, but no one from the year before will tell them what it is. Every student in Ms. Plum's class has something they need to overcome, and she is just the teacher to help! Perfect beginning chapter book for 2nd-4th grades.

THIS IS MARGARET!

Margaret is in sixth grade, trying to figure life out as she also tries to understand about religion, sex, girlhood and boys. She has grown up in a family of different religions and the quest to just have one in her life makes her uncomfortable and inquisitive about her life. She tries to establish better relations with her grandparents as well, however like any other family; she does end up liking some more than the others with minor confrontations. I think that this book is a serious book and it reinforces that no matter how times have changed, the human struggle, in this case for Margaret is timeless. The inner conflicts don't necessary change with time, the story is relatable and it will connect with girls now as well. ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME MARGARET is by JUDY BLUME.

For grades 5th and up.

WHAT DOES SEVENTH GRADE LOOK LIKE?

Emma-Jean Lazarus is NOT your typical seventh grader. At least in this book, her perception of her friends, family and the world around her is not the same as most seventh graders you'll meet. She is EXTREMELY logical and scientific. She does not bubble and squeal over the upcoming Spring Fling. She doesn't understand why boys are suddenly getting her attention. It's like her life is one big science experiment. EMMA-JEAN LAZARUS FELL IN LOVE by Lauren Tarshis is the sequel to EMMA-JEAN LAZARUS FELL OUT OF A TREE, but you don't need to read the first to enjoy the second. Even though Emma-Jean isn't your usual seventh grade girl, the way she sees life is fascinating and makes the book worth reading. For grades 4-8.

THE POSSIBILITY OF FLYING

I won't lie, Francesca Lia Block is a wonderful author, but she is an author that will only appeal to certain people. I can't even tell you who those people are, but the way she writes is different than other authors because nothing about the stories are obvious. You have to find your way, much like the characters in one of her recent books THE WATERS AND THE WILD. This is a story about a 13-year-old girl, who's not really a girl. She makes friends with a 18th century slave girl, who's not really a slave girl, and an alien boy who's not really an alien. Or maybe they are these things. Whatever the case, this girl, who finds herself wanting to eat dirt all the time, keeps seeing another version of herself - in her room, walking down the street, out in the back yard. The "doppleganger" version is here to replace her, and it's only a matter of time before the reality sets in. Obscure enough for you? Recommended for 6th-8th grades.

THE MONEY BUSH

What's a girl to do when she finds a huge wad of cash in the bushes? After an internal ethical struggle, she spends it of course. A little for Grandma, a little on herself, something for a few friends. Before Sammy gets to spend it all, suspicious things start to happen.

Another great mystery where Sammy learns a lesson- money doesn't grown in bushes. Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash by Wendelin Van Draanen is perfect for readers in 6th & up.

A TREE WORTH READING

THE DRAGON TREE by Jane Langton is not about dragons. This is the story about a family of free-thinkers, an evil tree inspector, and a girl kept captive in an attic. You would think that these things would have absolutely nothing to do with each other. But they are all brought together by a magical tree that grows foot by foot in a matter of minutes, with leaves that tell stories and fruit that feeds body and mind. It's a quick read for a chapter book, with a lot of excitement and some political activism thrown in for your reading pleasure. Plus, you get to learn a little bit about Henry David Thoreau. A great read for 4th grade and up.

THIS IS WHAT I READ

Logan has a reputation that preceeds him at his new school because of something terrible that happened with his old best friend Zyler. He tries to act like everything is normal, but the bullying he experiences and the way his parents act around him just makes his life miserable. As his school year progresses, Logan learns ways to escape his tormentors and process his feelings. I find that I really like books that don't tell you too much information at the beginning of the story. Books that have a personality you have to get to know before you finish the story are always more entertaining for me than those that tell you everything you need to know about a main character before the end of the first chapter. THIS IS WHAT I DID by Ann Dee Ellis is one of those books. The theme is similar to the book SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson as far as it's controversial subject matter, but is reflected through the eyes of an eigth grade boy. Definitely worth reading, but this book is really only appropriate for 7th and 8th grades.

A TURNING POINT IN HISTORY

There was a time when kids went outside to play, made up imaginary games evoking historical characters and aliens from the future, families went on road trips in search of gold, radiation was still a new treatment for cancer, and cancer was still mysterious. In THE LUCKY PLACE by Zu Vincent, families are becoming visibly dysfunctional through the eyes of Cassie, spanning ten years from age three to thirteen. There's Old Daddy, the drunk, and New Daddy, the one Cassie likes better. Jaime, her older brother, is not happy about New Daddy, but escapes his anger and frustration by taking as many dance classes as possible. There are complex relationships rich with emotion, told from a soft, gentle, very human perspective. This book will capture the attention of 5th grades and up.

IT'S AUGUST AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T READ ANYTHING YET...

Here's another list of summer themed books for the older readers.

If you start now, you'll have plenty of time to read before you go back to school.

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen - A boy gets an old lawnmower for a present and makes a ton of money mowing lawns. If you like making money, you'll enjoy this book. A very funny and short read for mature 6th - 8th graders.

The One Where the Kid Nearly Jumps to His Death and Lands in California by Mary Hershey - A one legged kid has to spend the summer in California with his dad and new wife who's super rich. He also learns how to swim to impress a girl he has a crush on. Note: this boy has a lot of anger issues. Fast read for mature 6th -8th graders.

My Almost Epic Summer by Adele Griffin - This girl fantasizes about having a hair salon based on her literary heroines during a boring summer of babysitting. But, the boring summer turns into a one of intrigue when she finds herself featured in the online journal of a pretty but self absorbed lifeguard. Also for mature mature 6th -8th .

Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison - A girl figures out a way to get a free trip to San Francisco by using her psychic ability to solve her distant cousin's ghostly mystery. Not so scary but good for mystery lovers. 6th - 8th.

Deep Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn- During a summer stay at the family cabin, the sisters discover an old family secret at the bottom of the lake. If you like being scared, then this is a great book with one angry and spooky ghost. 6th-8th .

AN AUSTRALIAN LOVE STORY

Seth is in love. But not with just any girl. She's beautiful, muscular, and the daughter of the awful housing inspector who has been hounding his family ever since his dad "accidentally" splattered mud on him. It's causing so much stress on his family that his parents' relationship is in jeopardy. His brother, gorgeous and useless, flip flops from one girl to the next and one interest to another. It's up to Seth to come up with a plan to get the girl of his dreams ... and fix everything else.

I'm Being Stalked by a Moonshadow by Doug Macleod is a fun book about a "hippyish/alternative" family in Australia and a boy who will overcome anything for the girl of his dreams. For mature readers in 6th - 8th grade.

WHATEVER! THE COMPLICATED LIFE OF CLAUDIA CRISTINA CORTEZ

Middle school can sometimes be a challenge, especially when you’re interested in being popular. But is it really worth it? Claudia and her good friends, Monica and Becca, don’t think so. Check out their ideas for being true to themselves, and find out how they maintain a real friendship. This slim novel is wonderful for the middle school girl who is learning to be comfortable with herself and her peers.

Best for 6th grade and up.