CATCH ME IF YOU CAN ... SURVIVE ALL THIS

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen takes you on a trip through the Everglades of Florida where alligators, snakes and all sorts of wildlife are not just a great attraction but a matter of life and death.  Wahoo and his dad have been hired to provide animals (tame ones) as props for a reality show, Expedition Survival, but what they really have to do is make sure the show's star, Derek Badger, makes it through each scene without any mishap, mostly brought on by his own stupidity.  

Wahoo's classmate, Tuna, thinks Derek Badger is the most amazing adventurer, eating all kinds of stuff in order to survive as shown on his TV shows, but she comes to realize that's he's nothing but a fake.  If this wasn't all, she, Wahoo and his dad are trying to keep her away from her abusive, crazy and drunken father who is determined to bring her back home.  

This is one wild ride of a book with lots of adventure, and humor to boot.  For readers in grades 6th and older.   

A FOODIE MYSTERY

Who Stole Grandma's Million Dollar Pumpkin Pie? by Martha Freeman. A fourth Chickadee Court Mystery set during Thanksgiving, when all thoughts turn to pumpkin pie and other comforting family dishes. Yasmeen and Alex have to find out who stole his family's fantastic pumpkin pie recipe that's going to be featured on a television food show. But the two detectives are reluctant to investigate when they realize that all the suspects are either family members or friends who came to dinner at Alex's home. Everyone wanted their dish to be on T.V. , so everyone has a motive.

Be sure to read the others in the holiday series, like Who Stole Uncle Sam? especially with the July 4th holiday coming up. For readers in 4th grade and up.