A NEW SPY ADVENTURE

Q, short for Quest, and his newly minted stepsister are quickly thrown into a world of spies and lies when their parents' honeymoon/music tour turn into an adventure in dodging agents from the Mossad, the Israeli spy agency. Angela has been led to believe that her mother, a secret Service agent, died protecting the United States. All that is being questioned now as foreign spies follow them in order to track down her mother, believed to be still alive and one of the world's most deadly terrorist.

I.Q.: Book One: Independence Hall by Roland Smith is a fast pace thrilling spy adventure for readers in 7th-9th grade. A new spy series.

GEORGE CLOONEY FOR A FATHER?!

Her parents divorced and are now living separate lives. Her father has moved on and is living the good life in L.A. with a whole new family while she is left with her lonely mother, who has a knack for always picking the wrong guy.

Dudley Wiener is just the absolute last straw. How can her mother possibly date a man with that name, plus his jokes are horrible. It is time for Violet to take action and get the perfect man for them... George Clooney.

Dear George Clooney Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen is a funny and heartfelt story about the messiness of love and family for readers in 6th-8th.

LIKE, I AM TOTALLY NOT AFRAID OF GHOSTS

Sherry is SO not afraid of ghosts. Well, most ghosts that is, because her mom is a ghost. But someone, or something, is out to get Sherry's step mom Paula, and Sherry has to help before something really bad happens. So, on top of celebrating her 2 month anniversary with her boyfriend, and trying to keep a good friendship with her BFF Junie, NOW she has to solve the mystery of who or what is ruining her step mom's life. I SO DON'T DO SPOOKY by Barrie Summy is a fun yet suspenseful story for grades 5 and up.

NEVER ENOUGH FAIRY TALES...

RAPUNZEL AND OTHER MAGIC FAIRY TALES selected and illustrated by Henriette Sauvant, and translated by Anthea Bell was a short but sweet conglomeration of some all-time favorite fairy tales and some I'd never heard. I was initially attracted to this collection of fairy tales because of it's size and beautiful cover page. I especially liked this collection because you could easily read these fairy tales out loud to a group of kids without losing their attention. The illustrations are gorgeous and tell a tale by themselves. A great book to read for grades 2 and up!

NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL CINDERELLA

In this delightful retelling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella, ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine, there are some funny and creative twists. Ella has been cursed at birth to always do as she is told. This becomes increasingly bothersome upon her mother's death, as her father marries an awful woman with two snobby daughters of her own. Once they discover Ella's curse, she is doomed. Ella does everything in her power to rid herself of this horrible obligation. She experiences many adventures in her quest. The prince in this story is friend's with Ella and time will tell if it ever is to become romance. For 4th - 8th grades.

STEPMOTHERS HAVE FEELINGS TOO YOU KNOW

Three girls are sent off to a boarding school in New England after their fathers marry for the second time. They find their lives and relationships with their fathers changed drastically from the pre-stepmother period. Slowly the girls realize the situation they have in common and form a club to empower themselves and seek revenge on their stepmothers. The plan was simple, destroy what is most important to the stepmothers. But the plan doesn't quite work out as the girls had hoped and they begin to see their stepmothers in a different light.

Poison Apples by Lily Archer is for middle school readers and older.