PEELING BACK THE LAYERS = INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

Hildy Biddle and the other reporters on her high school newspaper are young but not stupid. Knowing something rotten is going on with the town newspaper and the Ludlow property, the teen reporters are determined to get to the core of the "mysterious haunting" at the old abandoned house and reveal the truth before fear overtakes the whole town. A uplifting story of growth, determination and and justice in the face of daunting odds.

Peeled by Joan Bauer is an engaging story for 6th - high schoolers looking for something different yet inspiring to read.

HISTORICAL FICTION FANS!

For those of you not yet familiar, it is time to read The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Starting with LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS, the story of this pioneer family begins to unravel as they leave their family and home and head out West. The main character is Laura, who tells all about Ma and Pa, and her sisters Mary and Carrie. Meeting “Indians” while they trek across the prairie in their covered wagon, wading with slimy creatures in a pond, there are some happenings that will make you cry, but many more that will have you laughing yourself out of your chair! Other titles include FARMER BOY, a book about her husband when he was young and lived on a farm, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK, BY THE SHORES OF SILVER LAKE, THE LONG WINTER, LITTLE TOWN ON THE PRARIE, and THESE HAPPY GOLDEN YEARS. Each volume depicts a certain point in the life of Laura and her family and the exciting things that happen to them over the years. For grades 4 and up.

DUCK FOR PRESIDENT?

This is a really laugh out loud funny book about a duck who gets tired of doing his ducky duties on the farm and decides to take over his farmer's job. He organizes an election and overthrows the farmer. After he is a farmer for a while he gets tired and realizes that it is not as easy as he thought it would be and decides to run for Governor, while being a Governor he decides again that he deserves to have a better job and decides to run for president.

I am not going to tell you what happens next, however I will tell you that the story is really funny and everyone can read and enjoy it, adults as well as children. DUCK FOR PRESIDENT by DOREEN CRONIN and the illustrations by BETSY LEWIN gets my vote as one of the funniest books that I have read in a long time.

For ages 9 to 100.