MANGO IS DELIGHTFUL

Mango is such a unique name and this middle-schooler wears it with pride! Mango comes from a loving family and their bond is felt through and through. She’ll need to reach deep down within herself though when she is accused of some wrongdoing at school. It isn’t her BFF that sees her through. Instead, it is a new acquaintance that makes the difference, helping Mango see things in a different way.  

Fracaswell Hyman's story highlights a middle schooler’s dilemma of doing what’s right. Sure there are life’s challenges and school drama, but the love and support from her family in this story are memorable, and Mango’s courage to step up is admirable. Readers just might find Mango a friend they can turn to.  

For ages 9-12

FAMILY TIES

Eleven-year-old Jaden lives with his loving adoptive parents and has everything he needs, but he is still not very happy. He feels betrayed by his biological parents who gave him up, and constantly feels like his adoptive parents are disappointed in him. The only thing he really cares about is electricity, which he did not have in the Romanian orphanage where he was raised. Now, his adoptive parents are taking him to Kazakhstan to adopt a baby brother for him, and Jaden is as usual not very happy. When they get to Kazakhstan, Jaden and his parents encounter many challenges, but there are also surprising silver linings. And what Jaden does not expect to find is a friend, and a kid he won't mind calling his brother.

Half a World Away is a book that deals with international adoption, which is a tough but fascinating topic. It is a realistic fiction novel that's smart and easy to read, and provides great insight about what it is to be a family.


For grades 5 and up.

MAKE YOUR OWN MUSIC

A review by Theresa: 

With school soon to start, Lewis Blake, the main character in Eric Gansworth’s If I Ever Get Out of Here, decides to do something drastic and take another shot at making friends. As the only kid from the Tuscarora Indian Reservation in the brainiacs track at school, Lewis had spent the past six years not fitting in with the other kids. His solution is to chop off his braid and to hide the fact that he is on the free lunch program. Of course, it’s not that simple, the school bully starts torturing him, his classmates still ignore him and if anything he is on a downward spiral until he meets the new kid. They were an unlikely pair, George a middle class kid from an Air Force family and Lewis the poor kid from the reservation who bonded over a shared love of the Beatle’s music. 

The author paints a very realistic and likable story of two kids who stretched both cultural and economic boundaries to become friends. 

For grades 6-8.

THE BOY ON THE PORCH

John and Marta find a young boy asleep on their porch one morning.  They are not sure where this boy came from.  Since Jacob does not speak, it is difficult for them to ask him questions about himself and his family.  The only thing they find is a note in his pocket asking them to “Plees taik kair of Jacob…wil be bak wen we can.”  They decide to honor the request and take care of Jacob until they return for him.  Since John and Marta do not have children of their own and Jacob, the first child they care for, does not speak, the three of them are still able to build a very strong connection.  For quite some time, they live together like a family but their future together remains uncertain.  Would Jacob stay with John and Marta or would his family come back?

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech is a beautifully written story about a loving boy who transforms the lives of a young couple who discover their new found passion for parenting. This heartfelt story is recommended for children grades 4 and up.  It would also make for a great read aloud. 

CRAZY IS AS CRAZY DOES

Twelve-year-old Sarah Nelson's biggest fear is that she's crazy.  Her father doesn't like her to use that word, but Sarah knows what crazy means.  She knows what lots of words mean since she collects like them normal kids collect baseball cards.  She also knows that crazy runs in her family, and if it wasn't for crazy, her life might be a little more normal.  She might hang out with friends and read Harry Potter instead of writing letters to the fictional character Atticus Finch.  She might have a dad who wasn't an alcoholic.  And she might have a mother to take care of her.  Luckily for Sarah, despite all the crazy around her, her summer has some potential for a lot of normal, a lot of growing, and a lot less crazy.

Learn all about crazy in Karen Harrington's book, Sure Signs of Crazy for kids in 7th & 8th grades.

BULLIES & APACHE HELICOPTERS

The ninety-one letters Derek keeps in his dad's Knight Rider lunchbox are the only way he can communicate with his dad. Since Derek was five, his dad has spent most of his time flying Apache Helicopters for the Army.  Last year, Derek and his mom thought his dad was home for good, but the Army called him back and now he is in Afghanistan.  His dad's letters help him through all the problems life throws at him.   Like being bullied by the kid he thought was his best friend. Or showing up at the school bus stop in the pouring rain on a Saturday.  Or forgetting his mom's birthday.  Or just plain missing his dad.  

Join Derek in this funny and touching account of how military service affects children and families in David Fleming's novel, The Saturday Boy.  This book is appropriate for children in Grades 5 and above.

DEAR JOURNAL... UGH!

13 year old Henry never wanted to start writing in a journal. But then again, he never wanted any of the things that have happened to him in the past year. In fact, everything would have been fine if his brother Jesse had never…

But, Henry doesn't want to talk about that. He wants to start over at a new school, in a new town where no one has ever heard of his family. He wants to have a normal life- watching his favorite wrestlers on “Saturday Night Smash Up” and not getting noticed by the bullies who roam the halls of his new school. And he definitely doesn't want to join “Reach For The Top” – the nerdy trivia team at his new school. But, life for Henry is far from normal. Especially after “IT” happened.

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Nielsen is a powerfully moving story of  a young teen trying to make sense of tragedy and rebuild the walls that are crumbling around him. This is an important story. It touches on the devastating consequences of bullying and how much it can mean to stand up for someone else.

Grades 6 and up

DREAMING A NEW DREAM

Jessica loves running.  There is nothing that makes her feel more empowered or more alive.  Her life revolves around running.  Running on the track, in her neighborhood, with her dog.  All of her friends run track with her at her High School.  Then one day, on the way home from a track meet, the bus gets into a terrible accident and Jessica loses her leg below her knee.  She doesn’t know what to do.  She feels like she’s lost everything her life was about.  Everything her life was heading towards.  And then, she gets her first prosthetic leg.  It’s ugly and hard to use, but with support from her family, friends, and team, Jessica finds it within herself to become the runner she was and will be again.  Experience the journey of searching inside yourself for strength you never knew you had and fulfilling dreams you never thought possible.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen is a great book for sports lovers and realistic fiction lovers in Grades 7 and up.

SAY GOOD NIGHT GRACIE

You might not know this, but it really hurts when one of your parents dies. Especially when it happens unexpectedly. Especially when it's your Dad, the only one in your family that understands you. So it doesn't seem like a very good thing when your sister decides to adopt a dog. Especially when that dog talks to you and only you. Grace wonders if she's losing her mind, but at least takes the time to listen. You won't believe what this dog has to say! WHAT THE DOG SAID by Randi Reisfeld is a story that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions, but in the end you will be filled with love. 

For grades 4 and up.

OCTOBER 2012

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.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Griffin comes from a big family. But suddenly, things around his family really change. He is forced to go to public school, rather than be home schooled by his mother. In fact, his mother hasn't even been home - not since she went to the hospital to have another baby. Griffin can't wait to name the new baby, even though he knows it will make his family sad. Read THE NAMING OF TISHKIN SILK by Glenda Millard to find out why, especially if you are a 3rd, 4th or 5th grader. Also good for older readers that need a quick read.

EVERYTHING IS NOT FINE

Much like Ann Dee Ellis's last book, EVERYTHING IS FINE leaves a lot to the imagination at first. Mazzy's mother has been in bed for over a month. Her father is nowhere to be found. To top it off, Mazzy, who tells the story, seems to have some serious mental issues herself. The story unravels through little windows into Mazzy's life, with a cast of characters helping the plot along. Mazzy has discovered art to help her deal with the madness of her life. She ties her different emotions to different art mediums, such as when a boy she likes is being a jerk, she calls it "chalk on paper" or if it's something she feels good about, it's "oil on canvas." Not everyone will like this book, but there is a shocking secret that explains everything. For grades 6 and up.

THE TRUE MEANING OF STRUGGLE

Isabel is a slave. Her mother is dead, she is sold to dreadful owners, her sister is sent away, and she suffers physical and mental punishment on a daily basis. But CHAINS by Laurie Halse Anderson (who also wrote the award winning novel SPEAK) is a fascinating book. Not only do you get a grueling perspective on the life of a slave, the story provides a unique window for seeing what it was like during the Revolutionary War. As Isabel struggles to decide her fate, she spies on the King's supporters and delivers food to the prisoners the British have captured. It isn't long before everything spirals out of control and Isabel must make some major decisions. This is the first in a new series. For grades 4 and up

GIRLS AND BASEBALL

It's 1980 and no girls in her small Michigan town play baseball in the Little League, that is until twelve-year-old Madison joins the team. She just wants to play baseball but when the press starts writing about her and the crowds start showing up to the team's games, all that changes. In No Cream Puffs by Karen Day, the author tells the story of one girl's very eventful summer that started off with her punching a boy on the last day of school and went on to losing her best friend to the popular girls, becoming friends with the rock star who was staying with her neighbor, developing a crush and ending with a very exciting championship ball game. Best for readers in grades 5-8

ANASTASIA, NOT THE PRINCESS

Anastasia Krupnik is a very grown-up ten-year-old. She fancies herself to be a great poet, until her teacher gives her an "F" on one of her poems. Her best friend is her grandmother, and she is very big on keeping things organized, so she has a lot of lists. But a lot of things happen to Anastasia that make her question what she really knows about being ten and the world around her. Every day has a new lesson to learn about love, life and family. This chapter book is great for 4th grade and up.

LOOKING FOR HAPPINESS

Is it possible to find happiness in death? If you were the one dying, what could you do to make your passing away less painful for others? These are just a few thoughts I had after reading THE HAPPINESS OF KATI by Jane Vejjajiva. Kati lives with her grandparents because her mother has Lou Gehrig's disease and feels she isn't able to take care of Kati. But Kati really knows nothing about her mother until after her death, through the paper trail her mother left her to follow. Recommended for grades 5 and up.

CAUGHT BETWEEN GIRL AND GROWN-UP

Alice has turned thirteen and is in-between. In between childhood and woman-hood, that is. She and her two best friends still act silly sometimes, but more talk of boys, boobs, and bothersome brothers shows that they're not little girls any more. Alice lives with her father and brother, as her mother died of leukemia when she was five years old. Now Alice is the "woman of the house," her friends are changing all around her, and she seems stuck between being a kid and growing up. ALICE-IN-BETWEEN by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is the fifth in the "Alice" series. There are over twenty books in the series, but you can start anywhere and still understand what's going on in Alice's world. For fourth grade and up.

A SUMMER READ FOR GIRLS

Three weeks into her summer job and on her way to her dream career of owning and operating a hair salon based on the hairstyles of great heroines of literature, Irene is fired. Irene gets a new job babysitting (the only job she can get) two kids for the summer. While babysitting the kids she meets Starla and is intrigued by her hair, her beauty, her obsession with her ex-boyfriend, and her “fabulous” blog. She quickly discovers that beauty has a dark side.

Middle schoolers needing a little drama in their reading will want to read My Almost Epic Summer by Adele Griffin this summer.