Silhouetted by the Blue

by Traci L. Jones
The "Blue" has taken over her daddy.  Her mother died eighteen months ago, and now Serena has to grow up fast.  She is all she's got.  Seventh grade is a struggle and Serena has to add to that the care of her little brother, her father, laundry, food - everything.  Why can't her father pull himself out of his bed and at least get them some groceries?  Why won't her uncle, her grandmother, anyone come and save them?  How will she keep going with this cloud of blue hanging all around her?  This is one of the best books I have read in a while.  It shows how depression takes over someone's life and the lives of everyone close to them.  Serena is an amazing girl.  Once you open the cover, you can't help but care and hope for her.

Recommended for grades 6 and up
Reviewed by Koren Power 

Miles from Ordinary

by Carol Lynch Williams
Lacey has been trying to hold things together for a year by herself. The night when everything changed was the night that Lacey's mom told her Aunt Linda to leave. Lacey was sure that Aunt Linda would not leave her alone with her mom, but that is what happened .When Linda came back one day to check up on Lacey, her mom called the police. That was a year ago. Now Lacey is looking forward to a volunteer job at the library where her Aunt used to work, Lacey's mom has a job at the Winn Dixie and they will ride the bus to work together. Lacey is hoping her mom can hold things together, but she knows her mom is having a hard time. She has been hearing the voice of her deceased father, and he is filling her with fear. Lacey wants so much to enjoy this summer and have some time for herself. The first day on the bus Lacey sees Aaron who she recognizes from the neighborhood and school. Lacey who has no friends, is suspicious of his intentions.  But when the day spins out of control, it is Aaron who helps Lacey try to understand what has happened, and gets help for both Lacey and her mother. This is a powerful story that encompasses one terrifying day for Lacey.

Recommended for grades 6-9
Reviewed by Alice Woertendyke 

Saint Louis Armstrong Beach

by Brenda Woods
Saint Louis Armstrong Beach, yes, that's his name, is in 7th grade, and has the world at his feet.  He is practically a virtuoso on his clarinet, and knows how to earn the most tip money from touristy spots in his vibrant native city of New Orleans.

Saint has some exciting other "beings" in his life, such as the dog Shadow.  Shadow, Saint's best friend, is the neighborhood dog who's usually on the run, but who always returns to Saint.  Saint would really like to win back his neighbor MonaLisa and be friends with her again.  Also, there is that pesky girl Jupi, who read his palm and told him he has a short life line.

Overriding the story is the oncoming Hurricane Katrina.  Saint is forced to be brave in the face of this mighty tropical storm.  All the other people (and dog) in Saint's life are forced to withstand Katrina, as well.

Recommended for grades 5-9
Reviewed by Joe Drinka 

 

Second Fiddle

by Rosanne Parry
"If we had known it would eventually involve the KGB, the French National Police, and the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, we would have left that body in the river and called the Polizei like any normal German citizen; but we were Americans and addicted to solving other people's problems, so naturally, we got involved."   That's how this page-turner by Rosanne Parry starts.  The year is 1990. The place is West Berlin, Germany.  The Berlin Wall has just come down, and the communist East is newly opened to the West. Violinist Jody and her friends Giselle and Vivian are preparing for their performance in a classical music contest in Paris.  The girls all live on the American military base in West Berlin, but will soon be parting ways; Jody and Giselle's families are moving back to the States.  The contest in Paris is to be their last adventure together as a trio.  One day on the way home from their private lesson, the girls decide to cross over Checkpoint Charlie to get some gelato from a shop on the East side of the Brandenburg Gate.  On their way back home, they see two Communist Russian soldiers beating another soldier and then dumping him into the river, leaving him for dead.  The girls run to his rescue, treat his wounds, and over the next couple of days cross back and forth from West to East Berlin to care for the wounded soldier.  Arvo turns out to be not Russian, but Estonian (which is why the Russians tried to kill him).   He fears for his life, and begs the girls to help him escape to the West.  What follows is a nail-biting adventure as the girls smuggle a wounded man across international borders to help him defect to the West.  Along the way they meet an odd assortment of characters including gypsies, artists, and a motley group of free spirits who live in the famous American bookshop in Paris, Shakespeare and Company.   They must evade spies, the KGB, and the police before the story is over. This book is a great adventure story that gives a very realistic look at both Germany and Paris of 1990.  I highly recommend reading this book. 

Recommended for grades 4-8
Reviewed by Alexa Newman 

Hound Dog True

by Linda Urban
Once again, Mattie will be starting a new school.  About to be in fifth grade, she is living with her family where her mom grew up.

Also living in the same immediate area as Mattie is her outspoken Uncle Potluck, who happens to be the janitor at the school Mattie will be attending.  It comes to be her plan to become an apprentice janitor with Uncle Potluck.  At least that way Mattie can write stories in her notebook and not be friendless during lunch and recess.

But what will happen if her plans for being a janitor's apprentice fall through?  Or why does that Quincy Sweet keep popping up out of nowhere?  Between her diary and her new friend, which one will turn out to be "hound dog true?"

Recommended for grades 3-6
Reviewed by Joe Drinka 

 

Waiting for the Magic

by Patricia MacLachlan
From the author of the Newbery Award winning Sarah, Plain, and Tall comes a heartwarming family story laced with a touch of fantasy. Ten-year-old William and his four-year-old sister, Elinor, are sad. Their father has left their home to pursue a writing career, and no one knows if and when he will return. As a way to fill the void of their father's absence, Will's mother decides to go to the local animal shelter to adopt a dog. There are four dogs at the shelter, each with their own personality, and the family decides to take all four of them home. They have even adopted Lula the cat. Happily, Bry, Bitty, Neo, Grace, and Lula not only get along well with each other; but they also take good care of their new human family. In addition to trailing them all over the house and being their sleeping companions, the animals seem to have the uncanny ability to know what Mama, William, and Elinor are thinking and feeling, and they quickly respond to their needs. Then one day Elinor casually states that Grace the greyhound told her she wants Granny to knit a blue doggie coat for her. The rest of the family chalks this up to the four-year-old's imagination. But soon Will hears the thoughts of Neo, and he realizes that all of the pets know how to speak; he just had to be brave enough to listen to them. And their advice is quite good for happier family relationships. Soon Mama has more big news to share. Will this bit of good news finally bring Papa home for good? For those who love animals and happy endings, this short novel is perfect for newly independent readers, as well as a good family read-aloud at bedtime. 

Recommended for grades 3 and up
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter 

One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street

by Joanne Rocklin
The orange tree in the middle of the block on Orange Street seemed to be the maker of the family of families there.  Like a block parent, it brought people of various ages and backgrounds together.

Under it was the coolest spot on the street, and that's where the Girls With Long Hair Club conducted its meetings.  Young members of the block even consulted with Ms. Snoops, the oldest living resident of the block, to find facts about the property the orange tree was on.

This tree bearing delicious citrus fruit was where Ruff the dog liked to dig, and where Mitzi the cat stalked.

Who was this mysterious bald man with a beard, watching the tree from his green car?

Read this slice-of-life novel to release the secrets the orange tree has all of its own!

Recommended for grades 4-8
Recommended by Joe Drinka 

 

Troublemaker

by Andrew Clements
Sixth-grader Clay Hensley is a school troublemaker - and he loves it! Although his teachers realize he is only full of mischief and does not mean to hurt anyone, his pranks have become so numerous at Truman Elementary School that his school record is as thick as a phonebook. Many of his infractions, such as running in the halls, disappearing from class, or tossing french fries in the cafeteria are fairly harmless stuff. But one day he decides to do something riskier, by getting "creative" in art class when his teacher instructs the class to draw whatever they want. Clay, being a skillful artist, creates a remarkable likeness to his principal, Mr. Kellings - only he draws him as a DONKEY. Clay loves basking in the laughter of his classmates, and will willingly take whatever punishment Mr. Kellings gives him. He cannot wait to share his latest escapade with his older brother Mitchell, who just arrived home after spending a month in jail. To his surprise, Mitchell does not laugh when he recounts the prank. In fact, Clay is shocked to find Mitchell angry and hostile toward him, while threatening to hurt him physically if he does not change his troublemaking behavior immediately. Clay has always looked up to Mitchell and loves to imitate his rabble rousing ways, but now his older brother makes it clear that jail is no picnic, and that he never wants to spend another day there again. He is afraid that Clay has it in him to follow in his footsteps... all the way to being locked up himself one day. Mitchell is determined to give his brother a personality makeover before it's too late. Clay resentfully begins to change his appearance and behavior. But his classmates and his best friend, Hank, are not sure they like the "new" Clay any longer. They now treat him like an outsider. Then comes Halloween night and the real trouble begins. Mr. Kellling's home is seriously vandalized, and the police show up at Clay's house. He is the prime suspect. But he's innocent. Or his he? Clements is a master at portraying school drama through the eyes of the student. The reader will be pulling for Clay as he tries to extricate himself out of this sticky situation, while hopefully developing a personality that can make him smile again. 

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter 

Grounded

by Kate Klise
Twelve-year-old Daralynn gives the story her point-of-view, in the small town of Digginsville, by the Ozarks. Right at the beginning, her brother, sister, and father die in a plane crash. Only because she was "grounded" for not letting someone know in advance that she was going fishing, Daralynn didn't go up in the airplane, and doesn't get in the crash. The survivors of the immediate family include Daralynn's mother and Daralynn. To pick up the pieces, her mom gets a job fixing the hair of the recently deceased in the local funeral home. Read about amazing characters in this small town slice-of-life year, such as the mysterious Mr. Clem, as well as eccentric Aunt Josie and Vietnam war vet Uncle Waldo.

Recommended for grades 3-7
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

Wild Wings

by Gill Lewis
Callum and his friends catch Iona, granddaughter of the town drunk and daughter of a reviled thief, fishing on Callum's farm. After they chase her off, Callum figures that's that, but Iona has a secret. A secret that's about Callum's farm and that she promises she'll share with Callum, if he'll only stop chasing her off. Callum can't resist the temptation and makes the bargain and he's awestruck when Iona shows him the nest. A pair of ospreys, one of the rarest and most endangered birds in Scotland, has chosen Callum's farm as their summer nesting grounds. Soon Callum's spending less and less time with his friends and more and more time with Iona watching the birds and keeping them safe. They even work with a local gamekeeper to learn how to track the birds when they'll have to migrate to Africa for the winter. Callum's old friends may give him a hard time, but otherwise everything is going well for Callum, Iona and the birds until tragedy strikes. Now Callum will learn what his friends and family are really made of. Filled with fascinating details about ospreys, Wild Wings will have you soaring with hope and dipping with fear and grief right along with Callum.

Recommended for grades 4-7
Reviewed by Jennifer Baker

Sugar and Ice

by Kate Messner
All most people can think of in Mojimuk Falls is how to escape, but Claire loves her small, rural, New York town. She loves her family's maple sugar farm, she loves her best friend Natalie, she loves doing math league at school, but most of all she loves ice skating. Whether it's skating club with Natalie, junior coaching, or just skating on the cow pond, Claire feels at home and free when she's on the ice. What Claire doesn't love is competitions. Even though she's the best skater in Mojimuk Falls, the one time Claire tried to compete, she was too scared to even get on the ice. Luckily the town's big Maple Show isn't a competition, it's just an ice skating exhibition, so Claire's thrilled to be doing the Maple Princess Solo.

After a perfect solo, Claire is surprised to be approached by Andrei Groshev, a former Olympic skater, with the offer of a Silver Blades Scholarship - the chance to train at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid for free. It's a huge opportunity - this is training on a national level with a world-class coach - but Claire is sure her parents won't have to time for the long commute while managing the busy farm. To Claire's surprise her parents make some sacrifices and before she knows it, she's training with Coach Groshev in Lake Placid.

Only, it's not like skating at home. Claire's talented, but the other girls in the program are super competitive and some are downright mean. There are always extra practices which mean no time to see Natalie, no time for math league, no time for junior coaching. Competitive ice skating becomes Claire's entire life. With her parents determined to do whatever it takes to make Claire's skating dreams come true, a best friend who's not talking to her, and a coach who's constantly pushing her harder, Claire feels pulled in all directions. As the pressure mounts it becomes clear though that only Claire can decide: What life will she choose? Skating star or normal girl?

Recommended for grades 4-7
Reviewed by Jennifer Baker

A Dog's Way Home

by Bobbie Pyron
You will shed tears while reading this book.  Tam - a favorite pet, a best friend, a prize winning show dog - is thrown from the back of a truck when his owners swerve off a winding road in the Blue Ridge Mountains to avoid a deer in the rain.  Tam falls in his crate over a mountain cliff and into the flowing river.  This begins his four hundred mile journey through the worst winter anyone can remember to get back home to his girl.  The unconditional love and dedication of a dog reaches out of every page to touch readers' hearts.  You will be reminded of the great dog stories like The Incredible Journey, Old Yeller, Lassie Come Home, and Shiloh.  This book is told in alternating points-of-view, from Tam, the dog of incredible will, and Abby, the girl who loves him and will not believe he has died.  This is a suspenseful read of hope and survival and is a good choice for anyone who has ever loved a pet.

Recommeded for grades 4 and up
Reviewed by Koren Power

Peak

by Roland Smith
I never thought I'd want to climb a mountain, but after reading this book, I have the urge to scale Everest (okay, maybe something a little smaller). Peak Marcello is 14 years old and he loves to climb mountains. Unfortunately, there are no mountains in Manhattan. When he is arrested for climbing the Woolworth Building, Peak faces years in juvenile detention. To avoid jail time, his divorced parents and the judge agree he should go to live with his mountain-climbing celebrity father. This is where the real adventure begins. Peak is swept off to Tibet, where he discovers he will be joining his dad's company as the youngest person to attempt to summit Mount Everest. His dad hands him off to the care of a Sherpa and his grandson Sung-ho for training and altitude acclimation. The boys alternate between friendship and competition. As Peak and his companions move from Base Camp, up and down the mountain, I felt as if I was climbing the mountain with them. The characters are all well formed, and the details have been well researched. This is a gritty, exciting, and realistic look at the world of extreme mountain climbing. It is also a story about family, and friendship. Will Peak and Sung-ho make it to the summit? Will either boy achieve his secret goal? While this can be characterized as a "boys" book about an extreme sport, I felt a connection to the characters, and felt like I was up on the mountain with them. This is one of the best sports/adventure books I've read in a long time.

Recommended for grades 4-8
Reviewed by Alexa Newman

After Ever After

by Jordan Sonnenblick
What happens to the children of a cause once the fight is over?  Jeff, the cute little boy with cancer in Girls, Drums and Dangerous Pie, has survived and is now a relatively healthy middle school guy.  But even though the cancer has left his body, what is life like following the treatments that saved his life and ruined his body?  What is it like to be brain damaged?  The whole town had rallied behind the sweet and very sick little boy and his family as Jeff was fighting for his life.  Now that he is "cured," Jeff does not always find that same compassion or understanding from his schoolmates or his community.  Sonnenblick created a well-rounded look at what happens to the kids who have fought and survived illness and are trying to find their way as newly disabled people.  This is a book with much to share and discuss.

Recommended for grades 6-9
Reviewed by Koren Power

The Last Newspaper Boy in America

by Sue Corbett
Twelve-year-old Wil is excited to finally take over the newspaper route that has been in his family for generations. He's been practicing his throw for years and can beat all the guys in his family. In fact, he and his friends are sure he can win the jackpot in a game called Cover the Spot at the county fair. The Cooper County Caller is the only newspaper in the small town of Steele. When the publishers announce they will no longer deliver the Cooper County Caller, the only newspaper in the small town of Steele, Wil jumps into action. He launches a campaign to save the paper and his job. As he researches the history of the newspaper and his small town, he also finds intriguing tidbits about game fraud going on at neighboring county fairs.

This novel offers a look at a quickly disappearing segment of society, small town America. The characters of Wil, his family, and friends shine. You will feel you know them, and that you understand the town of Steele.

Recommended for grades 4-7
Reviewed by Alexa Newman

The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912

by Lauren Tarshis
The year is 1912. George Calder is a ten-year-old boy with a reputation for getting into his share of mischief. His latest escapade is running into a woman while sliding down the Grand Staircase of one of the most luxurious ocean liners in the world, the R.M.S Titanic. George is traveling first-class with his eight-year-old sister, Phoebe, and his widowed Aunt Daisy. They are on their way to New York City, and he feels very lucky to be on board this "floating palace", rubbing elbows among the rich and famous. He promises his aunt that he will no longer cause trouble on the last two days of the journey. But curiosity gets the better of him when he hears a rumor that there is a mummy in the storage area of the great ship. Of course, he wants to find the mummy and peek inside the crypt! After his sister and aunt fall asleep, George creeps deep down to the bottom of the ship, locates the storage crate, and is just about to take a peek, when he hears a tremendous rumbling noise that rocks the entire ship and causes him to race back up the stairs. Here he learns, along with the 2,200 other passengers on board the Titanic, the source of the clamor. The Titanic has struck an iceberg, and she is gravely wounded. The ship is sinking, and there are not enough lifeboats for all the passengers. But where is Phoebe? To his horror, George and Aunt Daisy realize that Phoebe must have followed George when he snuck out - and now she is missing among the masses of hysterical people crowding the ship. Will George be able to find his sister in time - or will she go down with the Titanic? Tarshis blends fact and fiction as she weaves a fast-paced adventure with fictional characters, intermixed with real-life people and events of the Titanic sinking. For Titanic buffs, as well as those interested in adventure and survival stories. Includes several pages of intriguing facts about the Titanic. The latest installment of the "I Survived" Series.

Recommended for grades 3-6
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter

Hothead

by Cal Ripkin Jr.
Twelve-year-old Connor Sullivan loves baseball. He is an all-star shortstop for his little league team, the Baltimore Orioles. His athletic ability has caught the attention of all of the coaches, as well as his teammates. He is also very popular with his middle-school classmates. Although seeming to have it all, Connor is keeping a secret that he won't even share with his best friend. There is trouble at home. His father has been out of work for months, and his mother is struggling to keep the family afloat, working extra hours at the hospital. This is happening at the same time he is invited to a prestigious baseball camp that Connor had counted on attending. However, due to chronic money problems, his hopes of being able to go are dashed. Then there is the conversation he overhears between his parents. Despite his father's best efforts, he has still been unable to land a job. His family is now in danger of losing their home. As the pressure begins to mount on the inside of Connor, his temper begins to boil over on the outside. Minor incidents on the baseball field are throwing Connor in fits of rage. He becomes furious with himself when he makes a simple error or strikes out, and to his teammates' astonishment, he begins to lash out angrily at them when they are less than perfect, as well. He has become a real hothead and no one understands why. He soon earns the nickname "Psycho Sully" among the league, and his sincere attempts at controlling his temper are frustrated when he learns a classmate of his, who works on the school newspaper, has videotaped his latest tirade and is planning to publish a story on his antics; she mistakenly believes that Connor's actions are the cause of being overly competitive. Will Connor decide to reveal what is really bothering him, and get some support before his on-field behavior gets him suspended for the championship game? Ripken writes a fast-paced novel for those who love baseball, as well as those who feel the burden of problems at home. Fans of the sports stories of Dan Gutman and Matt Christopher will have trouble putting this book down.

Recommended for grades 3-6
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter

A Long Walk to Water

by Linda Sue Park
Based on a true story, this book relays the moving experiences of Salva Dut; one of thousands of boys orphaned by the fighting in the country of Sudan in Africa during the 1980s and 90s. Known as the 'Lost Boys,' these young men walked through some of the worst conditions on Earth in order to find safe haven in the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Kenya. On the day the fighting comes to the village where he goes to school, Salva is told by his teacher to run and not look back. Not knowing if he'll ever see his family again, Salva does as he's told and runs, eventually joining a group of other displaced Sudanese fleeing the war. With no food, almost no water, and only the flimsy clothes on his back Salva begins the grueling task of crossing the Nile in a man-made boat, then walking for three days across the desert until finally finding sanctuary in a filthy, overcrowded refugee camp where he will stay for years. But this book is more than the story of Salva's survival. It is also the story of Nya, a young African girl living in modern-day Sudan, who must walk for miles and miles each and every day to gather water for her family. For eight hours everyday she walks to and from the nearest pond just so her family can have water to drink and cook with, even if the water is brown with mud and even if it is known to cause illness. As horrible as the lives of Nya and Salva may sound to us, though, the story of how their fates eventually collide is so full of inspiration and redemption that you will not finish it feeling sad but full of hope. A highly recommended read!

Recommended for grades 6-9
Reviewed by Tara Olson

Crunch

by Leslie Connor
When Dewey's parents take their annual anniversary drive up the coast of New England, all seems well. Lily, 18, and Dewey, 14, are sure they will be able to manage things nicely. Their parents call and tell them they are stranded near the Canadian border, because there is no gasoline. They still are not that worried. They continue to keep things running smoothly, household duties, farm chores, getting the 5-year old twins to summer camp daily and keeping Dad's bike shop running. What Dewey is not prepared for is the demand that builds at the bike shop for repairs on bikes, so people can get around when there is no gasoline to be had. Dewey is soon overwhelmed with the amount of repairs coming in. His brother Vince helps him with whatever he can, but Dewey can't keep up with work at the Mariss Bike Barn. When bike parts begin to disappear from the shop, Dewey and his siblings try to deal with the problems and not worry their parents. Dewey thinks he knows who the thief is, but is he sure? Eventually they must look to others for help and find out who is stealing from their shop. This book deals with an issue that is relevant in a positive way. The children and adults adapt to the crisis as well as possible.

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Alice Woertendyke

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

by Tom Angleberger
This is a story with a lot of boy appeal.

At McQuarrie Middle School, many sixth graders, such as Tommy, have been fascinated by Origami Yoda. Like, does he really know things? Can he see the future? Does he use the Force? First of all, Dwight, who keeps Origami Yoda on his finger, is really weird. How can it be that such an odd guy can be the holder of such a wise figure? Written in what appears to be an old journal with wrinkly pages, the story is told by many viewpoints, like a case study. Many of the anecdotes take place during lunch-time in the school cafeteria.

All the little doodles and writings in the margins were very clever, as were the directions in the back on how to make your very own Origami Yoda. A fun read, and may the force be with you!

Recommended for grades 4-7
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

Extra Credit

by Andrew Clements
Sixth-grader Abby Carson is failing school. It's not that she can't do her school work she just finds so many other interesting things to do, like exploring outside and climbing the rock wall at school. But she DOES NOT want to repeat the sixth grade, so she does the only thing she can; she begs her teacher for a chance to do extra credit work so that she can move on to seventh grade. Her assignment? Choose a country and become pen pals with a student who lives there. Sadeed is an eleven-year-old living in the mountains of rural Afghanistan. As the brightest student in his village he doesn't need to worry about his grades, doesn't need to do any extra work. So he is not happy when he is given the task of helping his younger sister, Amira, write to her new American pen-pal. But as Sadeed reads the letters from the girl named Abby he is intrigued and wants to know more about her and her life. He even begins writing his own letters and enclosing them with his sister's. This is a story of two very different students from two very different cultures finding common ground as pen pals. This is highly recommended for anyone who has ever had a pen pal or just wondered about kids in another country or culture.

Recommended for grades 4-7
Reviewed by Tara Olson

Water Steps

by A. LaFaye
"Best? Try worst. I'd be lucky if I'd even survive my eleventh summer of life. I'd certainly never forget it." A. LaFaye is a writer that knows that kids often have to struggle with some very grown-up feelings. In her newest book, she finds a safe way to explore our darkest fears; death and loss. Kyna's earliest memories are of drowning and losing her entire family in a terrible storm at sea. She was saved by an Irish immigrant couple who later adopt her. For years after, she suffers with a crippling fear of water - so bad that she cannot shower or even drink water. Her new family tries to help her overcome her fears with baby steps, or in this case, water steps. The steps pick up the pace when they decide to spend a summer by the lake. How can Kyna stop her panic when she cannot even stand to hear the waves at night? LaFaye has also written in an element of fantasy/folktale to remove us a bit more from the harsh realities of life. This is a good read and an author to remember.

Recommended for grades 3-7
Reviewed by Koren Power

Greetings from Nowhere

by Barbara O'Connor
This would be best described as a contemporary story, or a slice of life novel.

Widowed by the death of her beloved Harold, Aggie feels overwhelmed keeping up the Sleepy Time Motel in the Great Smoky Mountains.  Divorced Clyde Dover quickly answers the For Sale ad that Aggie places for the motel, bringing his fourth grade daughter Willow in tow.  Teenage Kirby and his mom are desperate for a room at the Sleepy Time Motel after their car breaks down nearby.  Finally, fifth grade Loretta and her adoptive parents also stay at the motel to honor the memory of Loretta's birth mother.

Here is a place that all these quirky characters meet and share with one another. With the Sleepy Time Motel as an active backdrop, these souls bring and take just what they need from each other.

Recommended for grades 4-8
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies

by Mick Cochrane
A few short months. That's how long it's been since Molly's father died in the car accident. Molly and her mom don't talk about it. In fact, Molly knows all that her mom wants to hear is that everything is fine - 8th grade is fine, Molly's friends are fine, Molly is fine. Molly's mom doesn't want to know that Molly is tired of being known as Miss Difficulty Overcome - identified only by surviving her father's death. Molly's mom certainly doesn't want to know that Molly's not going to be on the softball team this year. It's not softball, it's baseball that Molly and her dad connected over - practicing the butterfly pitch, a perfect knuckleball, over and over again in their backyard, spending hours watching games and discussing stats. So, almost without realizing it, it's baseball that Molly decides to try out for, not softball. Of course, there's no girl's baseball team and before Molly knows it, it's sure not her father's death that's being talked about. After all, whoever heard of a girl pitching for a boys' baseball team?

Wild Things

by Clay Carmichael
There are two main characters in this Rebecca Caudill nominee; a cat and an eleven-year-old girl named Zoe. Both characters are self-reliant. Both are wary of strangers and both desire the love they haven't seen in a long time. When Zoe goes to live with her uncle, after her mentally unstable mother dies, she isn't very hopeful that things will work out. She has never had a father figure and she doesn't think her uncle Henry, a famous heart-surgeon turned sculptor, will want to keep her around for long. So Zoe focuses her attention on the stray cat she sees lurking around her uncle's property. Zoe wants the cat the trust her but knows that she has to move slowly or risk scaring the cat away for good. With patience, and the help of her new friends and neighbors, Zoe makes progress with the cat. But then a new "wild thing" comes into her life; an abandoned cabin in the woods next to her uncle's house. Zoe wants to make the cabin her own but before long she discovers that maybe she and the cat aren't the only wild things in need of love. This is a satisfying story of loss and finding family where you least expect it.

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Tara Olson

The Allegra Biscotti Collection

by Olivia Bennett
Emma is always sketching and dreaming about fashion. She aims to be a fashion designer, but doesn't want to be in the spotlight. A famous fashion editor, Paige Young, stumbles upon some of her dress creations. She loves them and wants to know who designed them. Afraid of being laughed at, Emma quickly creates an alter ego, Allegra Biscotti. Allegra soon becomes the hottest new fashion designer around. Emma gets in over her head as she struggles to make a deadline for new items, do her schoolwork and keep everything secret from her parents. Emma is also dealing with changing friendships and a crush on a boy. This is a light fun read that any middle school girl will enjoy. Stay tuned for more books about Emma, as this is the first in a series.

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Alicia Parmele

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit

by Paula Danziger
Marcy is a 13 year old girl in 9th grade that struggles with her weight, feels her dad is a tyrant, who feels alone in the world.

Then along comes Ms. Barbara Finney, her new English teacher. She is young and idealistic and even starts Smedley, a school club. Now Marcy starts to feel better about herself, much due to Ms. Finney's fantastic and unconventional teaching methods.

When Ms. Finney is suspended for not saying the Pledge of Allegiance, her students rally on her behalf.

The local community is split concerning whether the teacher should be fired or not, but the story truly is about Marcy and changes in her family, school and social lives. She stands up for herself in ways that make her feel uncomfortable and also takes consequences for her actions.

Recommended for grades 6-9
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

The Kneebone Boy

by Ellen Potter
The Hardscrabble children of the small English town Little Tunks are... well, it may not be the most polite thing to say, but they're odd. Max is a bit of a know-it-all who likes to sit on the roof of their house. Lucia longs for adventure, or at least for something interesting to happen. Otto is the oddest by far though. Otto likes to collect oddities (things like one-eyed frogs and lobsters with extra claws), he never takes his scarf off, and most of all he never talks. The Hardscrabbles' father, Caspar, is odd too - who ever heard of a job painting portraits of down-on-their luck royalty? What makes the people of Little Tunks really talk though is the mysterious disappearance of the Hardscrabbles' mother. The whispers of the townsfolk echo in the children's heads: "Has she run away? Been taken? Could she be dead? Did Otto have something to do with it? Is that why he's so odd? Did the scarf that he never takes off play a part?" The Hardscrabbles are tired of being outcasts and the subject of gossip but it looks like things will never change - until their father gets a new job and has to leave town again (painting royalty requires a lot of traveling). A stay with nasty neighbor Mrs. Carnival looks inevitable, but Caspar announces that instead they will be traveling to London by train to stay with their cousin Angela. A train ride on their own! A stay in London! At last, it's the adventure Lucia has craved and the change of scenery they've all wished for! Except, no one meets them at the train station when they arrive. The Hardscrabbles make their way to cousin Angela's only to discover the truth: there's been a miscommunication and Angela isn't there! Angela has gone on vacation leaving Max, Lucia and Otto alone in London with nowhere to stay and no one they know. And that's when the adventure really begins.

Recommended for grades 4-8
Reviewed by Jennifer Baker

All Shook Up

by Shelley Pearsall
Have you ever been embarrassed by one of your parents? Of course you have. Thirteen-year-old Josh has been too, but his embarrassment is about reach a level he never thought possible. Forced to go live with his father in Chicago while his mother rushes off to take care of her injured mother in Florida, Josh is feeling pretty down about life. He doesn't know his father very well and he doesn't want to go to a new school in a new city. But when Josh finds out that his dad has lost his sales job and is now working as an Elvis impersonator he doesn't think things can get any worse. Ah, but life can always get worse. Not only is his dad trying to become Elvis, he is also dating a new woman (who just happens to have an oddly-dressed hippie daughter the same age as Josh) AND he has been invited to perform, as Elvis, at Josh's new school! Josh knows that he has to do something to stop his father from embarrassing himself, and Josh, any further. Coming up with a plan is easier than Josh thinks it will be but making things right again after his plan takes a wrong turn will be the real challenge. Can Josh make things right again? Read this funny novel to find out!

2011 Rebecca Caudill Nominee

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Tara Olson

Criss Cross

by Lynne Rae Perkins
An orchestrated tale from various different perspectives, this mature story is an amazing slice-of-life intersection of many artistic journeys.  It even includes fantastic drawings, photographs, and poetry that weave into the novel.

The changing of the times in the sixties is finally reaching this sleepy small town.  Come and explore the personality of drainage ditch/ravines, open mics, and the mound of dirt with pipes sticking out of it, through the experiences of mostly newbie teenagers.  Feel the romance as the string of lights at the town's used car lot drown out the summer dusk.

"Criss Cross" is the name of a profoundly parodying radio show that the young people listen to on Saturdays, hanging around the truck in the driveway to do so.  Some of the inspired characters even solve direly problematic situations.  They have a lot of spunk this balmy summer, with romance being just a by-product.

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

Marvin Redpost: Is He a Girl?

by Louis Sachar
This is from the ever-popular Marvin Redpost series.  It has a hilarious middle-grade child point of view.

After a girl classmate of his tells Marvin, "If you kiss yourself on the elbow, you'll turn into a girl."  The main character is not sure what he believes, but during a fitful night of sleep, Marvin "accidentally" kisses himself on the elbow.

Much comedy ensues as Marvin questions what it is like to be a girl.  Maybe it is more fun to wear pigtails like his sister Linzy.  What is really wrong with playing hopscotch at recess, or dotting his i's with little hearts in class?

Check out Marvin as he will think and act like a girl forever, even after figuring out the secret difference between girls and boys.

Recommended for grades 1-3
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

Being Teddy Roosevelt

by Claudia Mills
Nine-year-old Riley has his share of troubles. He and his mother live in a small apartment and they are always short of money. He cannot seem to get in gear as a student either. He has trouble turning in his homework because he keeps misplacing it. His mother keeps telling him that he would lose his head if it were not screwed on to his body. He wishes he could be a perfect student, like his friend, Sophie. He also wishes he had a lot of money like his friend, Grant, who never wants for anything. When the school band teacher invites all of the students to play an instrument, Riley has his heart set on playing the saxophone. Unfortunately, Riley's mother does not have the money to buy or rent the instrument. Riley grows sad and ashamed of his circumstances because all the other kids can participate in band. Then Riley's teacher assigns a biography project. All of the fourth graders are to portray a famous historical figure, complete with dressing up like the person in school. When he is assigned Teddy Roosevelt as his biography project, Riley is not crazy about the idea. Yet, he is surprisingly inspired by Roosevelt's tenacity and perseverance and resolves to find a way to get what he most wants - a saxophone and music lessons. Students who feel less than perfect will identify and cheer on Riley's determination to overcome his circumstances - with a little help from his friends.

Recommended for grades 3-5
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter

As Easy As Falling Off the Face of the Earth

by Lynne Rae Perkins
It is summer and 16-year-old Ry is heading off to camp as his parents head south to spend time meandering the Caribbean on a boat.  Ry's grandpa is staying home with the dogs.  When he climbs on the train to head out west to camp, Ry isn't thinking anything spectacular will happen this summer.  Until the train breaks down in Montana.  And Ry gets off the train to make a phone call.  And the now-fixed train pulls away leaving Ry in the middle of nowhere. 

After losing one shoe and his phone charger, Ry walks towards the nearest town where he stumbles upon Del, a middle-aged guy who can fix just about anything.  Del decides the best way to help Ry is to drive him all the way back home to Wisconsin, stopping of course for any little adventure that needs finding along the way.  Once home, Ry finds his grandfather missing (the cause of which we learn about in chapters from the grandfather's perspective), so Del figures they'll find the people Ry needs most - his parents in the Caribbean.

Traveling by train, car, plane, boat, foot, and sheer will-power, Ry is determined to find his family and get everything all straightened out.

Recommended for grades 7-12
Reviewed by Sara Murray

Closed for the Season

by Mary Downing Hahn
Thirteen-year-old Logan Forbes is not having a good summer. His father has landed a job as an art teacher in the small town of Bealesville, and his family has just moved nearby. The old home they bought is in terrible shape after being uninhabited for a number of years. In addition, Logan is worried about making friends and fitting in with his new middle school. His next door neighbor, Arthur Jenkins, a quirky, opinionated twelve-year-old offers his friendship to Logan. Arthur and his spunky grandmother seem to know everything about the people and events of Bealesville. Almost immediately, Arthur drops a frightening bit of information on Logan and his family. Apparently, the home they just moved into is known as the "murder home" of Bealesville. It seems that the former owner of the house, a sweet old woman named Myrtle Donaldson, was killed during an apparent robbery gone bad. However,it remains a mystery as to who murdered her. Even more of a puzzle is what became of the money she supposedly embezzeled from a popular local amusement park named Magic Forest. Myrtle was the head cashier at the now closed park, and until the day she died she proclaimed her innocence. Arthur and Logan's curiosity about solving this crime take them on a quest to find the missing money, which they are convinced is hiding among the ruins of the broken down, long-closed amusement park. To their shock, a wealthy, popular family in the community has just purchased Magic Forest, and wishes to tear it down immediately. They have been warned by numerous adults to stop playing detective and stay away from the condemned property. Will Logan and Arthur discover the hidden treasure and clear the name of Mrs. Donaldson before the killer stops them? Mary Downing Hahn has once again written a thrilling mystery that will appeal to those who enjoy solving a crime, while also rooting for the kids to outwit the grown-ups.

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter

The Life of Glass

by Jillian Cantor
Fourteen-year-old Melissa is grieving the unexpected death of her seemingly healthy father, while coping with the stress of beginning high school. She is also feeling at odds with her beautiful, popular older sister Ashley, and her stunningly attractive mother who has tentatively begun a new relationship with a handsome suitor. While her mother and sister behave more like best friends than mother and daughter, Melissa does not share their conventional interests, and seeks companionship with her best friend, Ryan, who appreciates Melissa's uniqueness. Just as Freshman year begins, an attractive girl named Courtney moves into town and catches Ryan's eye. Now that Courtney and Ryan begin dating, Melissa begins to feel even more isolated, as they often leave her out of their plans. She seeks solace in reading her father's journal, which contains all sorts of interesting facts and insights that he meant to turn into a book one day. At first this helps her to feel closer to him, while also serving as a source of wisdom to help with all of the changes going on around her. However, in those pages Melissa discovers a seemingly unflattering secret about her father. Fearing learning something that may forever change how she feels about him, Melissa becomes torn between obsessing about uncovering information regarding the parent she feels closest to, or heeding the advice of her relatives who beg her to leave well enough alone. What Melissa ultimately decides to do, as well as her slowly discovering the advantages of not going along with the crowd, make this an excellent novel for those interested in reading about adjusting to a new phase in life, and being true to yourself.

Recommended for grades 6-10
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter

Heart of a Shepherd

by Roseanne Parry
This book is an emotional, yet refreshing, coming of age story. It paints a vivid picture of contemporary ranch life and what life is like for children of deployed military personnel. Eleven-year-old Ignatius, nicknamed Brother, is the youngest of five boys who lives with his father and grandparents on the family ranch in eastern Oregon. His family have been ranchers since they came West on the Oregon Trail in the 1800s. They also have all served in the military - a tradition followed by most residents of their sparsely populated community. When his brothers all go off to high school (for ranch kids this means boarding school hours away from home) or the Army and his father is deployed to Iraq, Bother is left with his aging grandparents to care for the ranch. He is determined to care for the ranch as well as his father and brothers did, despite his age and small size. Brother learns to care for livestock and battles the elements. Worried about the ranch, his grandparents, and his father, Brother leans on the family's quiet yet strong faith; and over the course of the next year finds his path.

Recommended for grades 5 and up
Reviewed by Alexa Newman

Frindle

by Andrew Clements
Nick is not a good kid or a bad kid or a really smart kid; Nick is an idea kid. He's also the best class interrupter in the whole school - until he gets to Mrs. Granger's 5th-grade language arts class. A simple question about the dictionaries that Mrs. Granger loves - meant to distract her from giving the night's homework - leads to an oral report by Nick on the history of the dictionary and how words are created. What at first seems like Nick's defeat soon leads to his best idea ever: He will create a word. Which is how Nick and his friends start calling their pens "frindles." Mrs. Granger refuses to accept the new word for pen, which has been quickly adopted by the entire 5th-grade class, fighting against the 5th graders every step of the way. Once the whole school gets involved though, Nick begins to realize that while he started the "frindle" movement, it's now far beyond his control. Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply thought provoking, you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve read the last, very surprising, page.

Recommended for grades 3-6
Reviewed by Jennifer Baker

Peace, Locomotion

by Jacqueline Woodson
In this companion book to Locomotion, Lonnie and his sister are still in two different foster homes, Lonnie with Miss Edna, her son Rodney, (another son Jenkins is in Iraq and has not met Lonnie). Lili lives with her foster mother and is happy and is able to have visits with Lonnie, but Lonnie wants her to remember the before time, when they were still living with Mama and Daddy, and the now time when they are apart. Lonnie decides to write letters to Lili so they will be able to share memories of growing up, and he will give them to her in a big box when they can be together again. The letters Lonnie writes are bittersweet filled with his sadness, his worry about Jenkins, his good friends, his love of poetry and and beginning to accept Miss Edna as his new mom.

Recommended for grades 6-9
Reviewed by Alice Woertendyke

Niagara Falls, or Does It?

by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Henry Zipzer, also known as "Hank," gets a troubled start to fourth grade when he is late on his first day of school. He is therefore called down to the principal's office. Hank sure has a special way of seeing the world. When his much-feared teacher Ms. Adolf assigns a five-paragraph essay, "What I did over summer vacation," Hank's friends Frankie, Ashley, and Robert help him out. Instead of putting pencil to paper, they construct and present a model of Niagara Falls. Things, of course, do not go quite as planned, and it should have been called, "Disaster Falls." After serving detention with the extremely understanding music teacher Mr. Rock, he helps his friends in the Magik 3 magic show. If you like this title, grab more in the series.

Book 1 of the Hank Zipzer: the Mostly True Confessions of the World's Best Underachiever series

Recommended for grades 2-5
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

How Oliver Olson Changed the World

by Claudia Mills
An early chapter book for newly independent readers that includes subtle illustrations.

Meek Oliver Olson is a third grader with extremely protective parents. He discovers that in order to change the world, he must first take a risk to change himself.

Oliver is just starting his class's planetary unit. He decides to try something new by working with Crystal, the most talkative student in the grade, on the solar system diorama-making project. The process of putting it together forces them to think about the scientific status of the planet (?) Pluto.

When the Senator of the state of Colorado visits their school, it turns out to be the issue that Oliver brings up that has the biggest impact on the politician. Topping off the unit is the classroom sleepover where they get to see stars and planets through a telescope, and even get to watch Star Wars in their sleeping bags.

Read about how Oliver changes his own world. Funny and poignant, get charmed by the mild-mannered Oliver Olson.

Recommended for grades 1-3
Reviewed by Joe Drinka

Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)

by Dan Santant
"Boys rule, and girls drool," or at least that's what the fourth grade boys in Bobby Ellis-Chan's class think. Bobby's problem is that his best friend is a girl, Holly. Or at least she was his best friend, until he accidentally spilled paint on her. Now it's boys versus girls and the only one Bobby can confide in is his pet goldfish Rover. You'll laugh, as Bobby gets himself into some embarrassing situations like getting stuck to a stinky tree and having princess underwear static cling to his shirt during a speech. A quick read, about a typical fourth grade boy who "accidentally" gets himself into a boys vs. girls war.

Recommended for grades 2-4
Reviewed by Alicia Parmele

Here's How I See It, Here's How It Is

by Heather Henson
Here's How Junebug Sees It: Rave reviews come flying in for her opening performance at the Blue Moon Playhouse.  Everywhere she walks cameras are flashing and people are asking her about her next project.  Life is perfect in every way!

Here's How It Is: Junebug is working another summer at her parents' Blue Moon Playhouse and the only questions she is asked are where to find the bathroom or if she can get a glass of water or a prop.  Life is far from perfect.  Especially this summer.

June Olivia Cantrell (nicknamed Junebug as a baby) has been walking the boards of her parents' summer theater ever since she was old enough to walk.  She loves Shakespeare and all of the Real Theatre her father likes to perform, and loves that her family works together each summer.  Her father and sister are actors, her mother is a costume designer, and she is the gopher and creater of Thunder.  But this summer is different.  Junebug's mother decided to move away from the theater for the summer and no one is telling Junebug why.  And worse, her father has brought in a new intern to learn to do all of Junebug's jobs!  Slowly, Junebug seems to be turning invisible, and that is a role as far from famous actress as Junebug could hope to be.

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Sara Murray

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Two seventh-grade girls from very different towns in Kentucky are the first to participate in an exchange program between their two schools.  Each will spend two weeks living with and going to school with the other girl and recording her own thoughts and experiences in a journal.  The idea is to see how other people live and whether or not the stereotypes and stories they've heard are at all true.

Ivy June Mosley lives in a small house in the hills of Thunder Creek with her grandparents and great-grandmother (because her parents' house got too crowded), and the biggest wish is for a new refrigerator and indoor plumbing.  In Lexington, Catherine Combs has her own cell phone and own room (with two beds!) but has to share one of four bathrooms with her sister.  The two girls couldn't come from more different worlds.

Despite their many differences, both girls find ways to connect - over worries about boys and friends, pestering younger siblings, and secrets they don't want anyone else to know.  After Ivy June spends two weeks in Lexington, Catherine comes to visit Thunder Creek.  During her visit, both girls experience the frightening feeling of not knowing what is going on with a loved one and realize that they are truly more alike than different.

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Sara Murray

Comfort

by Joyce Moyer Hostetter
For those students looking for good World War II historical fiction, only from the interesting perspective of a small town in North Carolina, look no further. This sequel to the novel Blue finds fourteen-year-old Ann Fay Honeycutt recovering from polio, while adjusting to life without her four-year-old brother, who sadly loses his battle with this frightening illness. In addition, Ann Fay is welcoming home her beloved "Daddy" who is just returning from fighting in the war. Unfortunately, as a result of being shell shocked and flooded with terrible memories of what he saw while fighting on the front lines, her father is greatly changed. While trying to adjust to her new life on crutches, including dealing with the pain of returning to school a year behind her classmates because of her hospitalization, she believes she must continue to be the "man" of the family. This is because her father no longer seems capable of filling this role. Happily, Ann Fay receives a golden opportunity to rehabilitate at the FDR Warm Springs Foundation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt is not only the President of the United States, but her inspiration, and she is excited about the possibility of running into him. But how can she leave her family in North Carolina to take care of herself in Georgia? With an unstable, out of work father, a grieving mother, twin sisters and a new baby on the way, Ann Fay must find the courage to heal herself first. Upon arriving at Warm Springs, she soon learns how quickly a person can heal when surrounded by warmth, understanding, and support. Surrounded by people who share her struggles, Ann Fay is thriving in her new home. However, something happens to her parents which causes her to leave the friends she has come to love in order to rescue her family once again. Will she be able to succeed this time? Or will she learn that it's alright to ask for help when it is needed, even if the aid comes from an unlikely person? Through Ann Fay's moving, at times humorous narration, readers will feel close to her and family, and will be rooting her on as she strives to regain her strength and mobility, as well as rally back from the overwhelming pain and loss around her.

Recommended for grades 6-12
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter

Red Glass

by Laura Resau
Sixteen-year-old Sophie has always been afraid of all of the bad things that could happen to her - germs, accidents, cancer, who knows what.  One night her parents get a call from a hospital - a five-year-old boy has been found with Sophie's step-father's business card in his pocket, but no one recognizes the boy.  Trying to cross the border from Mexico with a guide, his whole family died and he is the only survivor.  Pedro comes to live with Sophie, her parents, and her Aunt Dika, a refugee from the Bosnian war, and together they create a happy, if unconventional, family.  A year later, Sophie's parents are able to contact Pedro's extended family in Mexico, and they want to see him.  Aunt Dika and Sophie decide they must make the trip with Pedro to Mexico so he can decide where he wants to live, and take along Mr. Lorenzo and his son Angel who intend to travel on to Guatemala.  When a terrible event forces Sophie to find all of her strength to save Angel, she realizes that she must face her fears in order to bring her family - related or not - back together.

Listen to the audio book to really get a sense of the characters, Spanish language, and Dika's accent, which all add to the enjoyment of the story.

Recommended for grades 5-12
Reviewed by Sara Murray

Standing for Socks

by Elissa Brent Weissman
Individuality and originality do not always add up to freedom of expression. Fara was as green as green could be. Reducing, reusing, recycling - she has always sought to get her various causes noticed. One day she, herself, gets noticed. She heads to 5th grade in mismatched socks, and everyone has a comment to make about them. The school and the whole town talk about the socks. They take bets on what combination Fara will wear next. The label of "Sock Girl" follows her all summer and into 6th grade. Fara is not recognized for anything anymore but her socks. No one looks at her above her knees, and she cannot stop it. She is no longer original, but is just doing what everyone expects her to do. Who would have guessed that such a small thing as what socks you wear could take over your whole life? For another look at how a piece of clothing can change you life, try The Fashion Disaster that Changed My Life by Lauren Myracle.

Recommended for grades 4-7
Reviewed by Koren Power

Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet

by Graham Salisbury
Don't have a ticket to Hawaii this summer? Let Graham Salisbury take you there in his new series, Calvin Coconut. In this book Calvin and his friends are at the end of summer break and are starting fourth-grade "boot camp." There are two newcomers to the small island community - a new student from southern California and a teenage girl from Texas that has come to live with Calvin's family to help out (but definitely NOT a babysitter). This author actually grew up on the island and went to the same elementary school that he uses for this story. You get transported to the Kailua beach on the very first page, and you will be sad to leave the sand and salt water at the end of this book. Don't worry the next book will be out in September.

Recommended for grades 2-5
Reviewed by Koren Power

My Life in Pink and Green

by Lisa Greenwald
Lucy has always enjoyed working in the family pharmacy that her mother and grandmother run.  Lately, however, business has been slow and money is getting so tight that Lucy's mother isn't always caught up on the bills.  When a popular high school homecoming queen comes into the store upset about her hair, Lucy makes a few suggestions that work wonders, and overnight becomes the go-to girl for hair and makeup tips and makeovers - even though she's only in the 7th grade!  Aside from working at the pharmacy, Lucy and her best friend, Sunny, are also members of the Earth Club because Sunny's mom insisted they get involved in something after school.  There, Sunny develops a crush on cute boy Evan and Lucy learns about a grant from the mayor that will be awarded to a local business that is looking to expand in a green, environmentally-friendly way.  With the help of her sister who is away at college, and the increased attention the pharmacy has been getting because of her hair and makeup tips, Lucy thinks this grant could be just the thing the pharmacy needs to survive!

Each chapter starts with a fun and easy tip about hair and makeup or good customer service and is full of juicy details about friends and crushes.  Every girl will wish she had a friend like Lucy!

Recommended for grades 4-8
Reviewed by Sara Murray

Rules

by Cynthia Lord
Everything is complicated for 12-year-old Catherine. She loves her younger brother David, but he's autistic which means he just doesn't understand some things and he's always embarrassing Catherine somehow. The new girl should be the perfect next-door friend Catherine's always wanted (next door means David doesn't have to come too), but Catherine seems to have so much more in common with Jason, a wheelchair-bound boy she met at her brother's therapy clinic, who can only communicate by pointing at speech cards. While Catherine understands that her parents struggle to keep up with David's needs, she needs them too, but how can she ask them to spend time with her, when she knows David needs them so much more? To help both herself and David figure out some of these confusing things, Catherine keeps track of rules. Some are the rules that David lives by like, "If you don't have the words you need, borrow someone else's. If you need to borrow words, Arnold Lobel wrote some good ones.” Some are Catherine's rules for things David can't figure out on his own like, "Keep you pants on! Unless Mom, Dad or the doctor tells you to take them off." But some are just Catherine's rules for herself like, "Pantless brothers are not my problem." The story of Catherine's summer is funny, heartbreaking, thought-provoking and one you'll never forget.

Recommended for grades 4-8
Reviewed by Jennifer Baker

Anything But Typical

by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Twelve-year-old Jason has a beautiful mind. He also has an autism spectrum disorder. Despite the highly imaginative stories he submits on a website called Storyboard, he struggles to fit in with his "neurotypical" peers in middle school, as well as members of his own family. Try as he might to interact with people in a regular manner, his sensory perceptions of events around him do not allow him to understand what he is supposed to do all of the time. Meanwhile, the students and teachers in his class label him as weird and difficult to handle. Because he is anything but typical, he is also anything but popular. It would surprise those who know Jason that any of these things bother him, but they do hurt him deeply. The good news is that he has finally found a friend on the Storyboard chat room that not only admires his writing, but also confides in him just like any other friend would do. Jason is thrilled to interact with a girl named "PhoenixBird", who encourages him to keep writing more stories because she enjoys them so much. This is perfect situation for Jason because it takes the pressure off of him to act normal. He is sure that they will never meet in person. But the annual Storyboard Convention is coming up; as a surprise, Jason's parents have booked him a flight to attend it. Jason promises to tell PhoenixBird all about it, but he doesn't need to, because she is going as well. She tells him that she can't wait to finally meet him! This turn of events puts Jason in a tailspin because he knows that this girl will reject him when she finds out who he really is. Told through the eyes of Jason, the reader is able to view the world through his thoughts, feelings, and the many ways he gets confused throughout the day. This book is highly recommended for anyone who has been touched by someone who suffers from autism. It is sure to help you understand that person much better because it enables you to walk around in their shoes for awhile.

Recommended for grades 5-9
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter