Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale writes fantasy books with elements of fairy tales, but her books are not sweet little princess stories. Princess Academy transports readers high in the mountains to a small community that quarries precious linder stone far away from civilization. It is a shock when the people of Mount Eskel find out that the king plans to marry one of their daughters. All the teenage girls are sent to the Princess Academy to learn the ways of the "civilized" people of their kingdom and to compete for the Prince's attention. Princess Academy isn't glamorous and fun--it's full-time school with a strict and cruel tutor while snowed in all winter in a cold stone building far from friends and relatives. As Miri learns to read and finds out more about the economics of her kingdom, ideas begin to form in her head. She is torn between wanting to be chosen as princess and wanting to return to Mount Eskel and help her people. There is some suspense when bandits threaten the lives of the princesses, and Miri uses a strange kind of quarry speech to save the day. Read this book if you want to bury yourself deep into another world. And read The Goose Girl, also by Shannon Hale, which I thought was even better than Princess Academy.

Rash by Pete Hautman

Rash is set about 70 years in the future, when current students will be grandparents. Things have changed in the U.S., which is now the U.S.S.A., the United Safer States of America. Everything is now safe--no one can play sports or litter or get angry. One fourth of the population is in prison for breaking the safety laws. These prison work camps are run by corporations like McDonalds and General Motors. Bo is a teenager who gets in trouble with the law (he causes a psychologically induced rash among his classmates) and it sentenced to a prison on the Canadian Tundra where inmates make pizzas for 16 hours a day and where polar bears lurk outside the gates. Strangely enough, this turns into a sports book when Bo is recruited for the highly illegal prison football team. Bo is a fun character to read about, and it's an intriguing look at the future. I didn't love how it ended, but I did love the idea of the book and the future world that Pete Hautman created.

Perfect by Natasha Friend

Isabelle has an eating disorder. She eats huge amounts of food and forces herself to throw up. Her mom sends her to a support group, where she encounters the most popular girl in school—Ashley. Isabelle can't believe that perfect Ashley has any problems, but she does. When they become friends it is a dream come true for Isabelle. Unfortunately, the two friends continue their binging and vomiting together. As you read the book you realize that Isabelle does what she does because she is dealing with death and with a family that isn't moving on with life. And you see how Isabelle tries to help herself while Ashley isn't quite at that same point yet. I think girls will really like this book, especially those who like to read books about people with problems. It is definitely not as good as Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson or Cut by Patricia McCormick or Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates, all books with a lot more depth and plot twists, but readers will probably enjoy it.

The Alphabet of Dreams by Susan Fletcher

This book has an unusuall setting for a book written for young people. Mitra and her brother Babak live in Persia more than two thousand years ago. They have been separated from their noble family and have been living as beggars and thieves for two years. When Babak begins having prophetic dreams, Mitra (who lives her life disguised as a boy), decides to sell his dreams to make money. When Babak himself is sold to a Magus named Melchior, they begin a journey that will change their lives. Melchior teams up with two other wise Magi and following Babak's dreams, they head off to find a new king. As you can probably guess, these three men are the Wise Men and they are looking for the baby Jesus. But this isn't really a story about those wise men—it's about Mitra growing up and realizing that she needs to give up her dreams of finding her family and take good care of her brother (whose health is poor). This is a book that really gets you inside the heart and mind of another character, and you want to finish the book because Mitra and her brother are like your own good friends.

Silverfin: Young James Bond Book 1 by Charlie Higson

Fans of Alex Rider don't have all that many good spy books to turn to, so they will definitely want to try this one. Guys at OMS have found it and are asking for it all the time. I thought it started out a little slowly, but picked up speed and ended up having an excellent villain with a suitable evil plan to take over the world. Young James Bond is kind of quiet and insecure, and is bullied at school by George Hellebore and his nasty friends. During the holidays in Scotland James finds himself near the Hellebore estate, where a local boy recently disappeared. James and a friend decide to search for him. What they find is a bizarre lake teeming with huge killer eels, and a dungeon with genetically modified pigs and people, and the evil lord Hellebore who wants to do some experiments on James before he kills him. Several times we think young James will be dead any minute, but he always overcomes the danger. There is already one sequel out called Blood Fever, and more to come. Great for kids who like action and spy books.

Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz

I don't usually read every book in a series, but I am hooked on the Alex Rider books. Actually I listen to them in my car and I love the British actor who does the reading. And last year I got to take some OMS students to see Anthony Horowitz in person, and he was funny and charming and someone I would love to be friends with. So I read all his books. Ark Angel was much like the other Alex Rider books, but I have to admit I don't think it was as good as Eagle Strike or Scorpia. This time Alex gets involved with eco-terrorists who try to kidnap the son of a billionaire who is building the world's first space hotel. Of course, Alex is almost killed several times before Nikolei Drevin is disposed of. Fans of Alex Rider will have to read this book. I'm not going to tell you what happens at the end, but I'm wondering if anyone else thinks Alex's final mission is a little too far-fetched, even for Alex Rider.

Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan

This book is about an orphaned girl who grew up in Africa and longs to return to bring back the hospital her missionary parents used to run. Rachel loves Africa—the people, the animals, and the beautiful land. When her parents die of influenza (it is the early 1900s), the scheming Prichard family pretends Rachel is their daughter and sends her to England to butter up their dying grandfather. Rachel, who is sweet and good, wins over the grandfather and manages to get rid of the Prichards. But Rachel still dreams of returning to her beloved hospital in Africa. As you read this book you know that Rachel will succeed, but nevertheless it is fun to read about her journey to adulthood.

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry has written a few amazing books (Number the Stars and The Giver are my favorites), so I had to read her newest book, Gossamer. This one is different—it's almost like a fable or a fairy tale or maybe a TV Christmas special. It's about dreamgivers, who inhabit human houses and bestow good dreams on people. And it's about the dreamgivers who go bad and bring nightmares. And it's about an abused and troubled boy who acts tough and mean, but is hurting inside and needs protection from the nightmares that come every night. This is a nice book that will make you feel good when you're done. I think kids from fourth grade on up would enjoy this book, especially kids with a little imagination.

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

Tom is a seventh son of a seventh son, and his parents make him the apprentice of the Spook. In this fantasy world, there are ghosts, ghasts, witches, and boggarts, and Tom must learn how to deal with them all. He's not at all sure he wants to spend his life as the new Spook, but he does show some talent for the work. However, he makes a couple of mistakes and a powerful witch is released from captivity and coming after him for revenge. It's a fun story that is surprisingly believable, and I hear there is already a sequel published. Good for kids who like fantasy and kind of creepy books.

Best Foot Forward by Joan Bauer

Maybe you've read the first book about Jenna, called Rules of the Road. This one is just as good, maybe even better. Jenna sells shoes, and she is great at it. She's only 16, but she's an expert sales person and she's the assistant to Mrs. Gladstone, who is in charge of shoe quality. In this book, Jenna has to train a new shoe salesman--who has a criminal record and is out on parole, and she uncovers lies and deceptions within her shoe company. And she also finds a little bit of romance. Jenna is also going to Al Anon meetings as she deals with her father's alcoholism. Jenna puts her Al Anon wisdom to use to help her cope with her troubles in the show industry. She's a smart and interesting teenager. Highly recommended!

The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John H. Ritter

Sports fans will be happy to see that there is finally a Maud Hart Lovelace nominee for them. You don't have to love baseball to like this book, but I'm sure it helps. It is the saga of a small town steeped in baseball history that is about to lose its field, and it's heart and soul, when developers start building huge suburban homes where the field has stood for years and years. The kids of the town are given one last chance to save their field and their town, but they have to win a difficult baseball game, and they know they are not up to the challenge. But a boy from the country shows up in town, and he knows how to convince a reclusive baseball legend to be their coach, and he also has a theory about how to master the art of hitting. The story has some twists and turns, but primarily it is the story of a group of kids working hard to take on the world. As I said, baseball lovers will be happy.

Isaac Newton by Kathleen Krull

This chatty, gossipy biography of Sir Isaac Newton gives an interesting introduction to one of the greatest scientists of all time. Biographies by Kathleen Krull are never dull, which can't be said for most middle school biographies! I didn't really know anything about Newton, and now I know what a strange, disagreeable man he was. I don't remember as much about the science as I do about his ridiculous feuds with other scientists and his strange behaviors. I would say that if you're interested in the history of science, you should definitely read this book (and Krull's others in this series about Leonardo da Vinci and Sigmund Freud). And if you need to read a biography for a school project, this is a great choice because is moves quickly and is actually fun to read.

Search and Destroy by Dean Hughes

Guys who want to know what it was like to fight in Vietnam will want to read this book. It is about a teenager who enlists in the army in order to escape his dead-end future and to "experience life." What he finds out is that war is horrible, and this one is particularly awful because he can't find any reason for the U.S. to be at war with the Vietnamese. He discovers many of his fellow soldiers to be heavy-drinking and cruel, and the only one who befriends him seems to be a strange religious nut. Guys will particularly like the descriptions of how the soldiers moved through the jungle and worked together under terrifying circumstances. As an adult, I just found it incredibly sad that we sent so many young men off to kill and be killed. I wouldn't say it was the most fluid plot and dialogue I've ever read, but it's a good fit for middle school guys.

I am the Wallpaper by Mark Peter Hughes

Have you ever felt like wallpaper, like you are there in the background but nobody notices you? Floey is ordinary, and she's tired of being overlooked. She confides to her diary all of her attempts to be the new and improved Floey Packer. However, her worst nightmare comes true when she finds her personal and private diary on the Internet for all the neighborhood boys to see. There's lots more to this book, including horrible cousins, a small training bra, a crush on a best friend, a disastrous poetry reading, and some elderly people skinny dipping. This book is fun to read, but also contains some serious thoughts about being true to yourself, sticking up for yourself, and getting along with your friends. Recommended especially for 7th and 8th grade girls.

City of Light, City of Dark: A Comic Book Novel by Avi, drawings by Brian Floca

I did it. I finally read a graphic novel. It's not a super hero comic or a manga book, but more of a strange, dark fantasy involving beings called Kurbs who live under New York City. They let humans live on their land, but every year someone must find the source of their power and return it to them. Most humans know nothing of this arrangement, but one man does, and he wants that power for himself, even if it means destroying the city. He comes up against the woman who seeks the power, her daughter and some ordinary kids who get caught up in the life-or-death quest. I thought it was a pretty strange story, but I think readers who like fantasy will really like this book. It's just one example of many kinds of graphic novels in the OMS library—most of them can be found in the nonfiction section with the call number 741.5.

Disappearing Act by Sid Fleischman

Imagine that you are a middle school kid living with your older sister because your mother has disappeared. Then imagine that someone starts stalking you, and so you and your sister drive away to start a new life. Kevin and Holly are on the run, and they end up in Venice Beach, California, where people make their money on the boardwalk doing magic shows, painting henna tattoos, and dressing as the Statue of Liberty. They change their names and earn money by singing opera and telling fortunes. But all the while "The Toad" is after them for some unknown reason. It sounds pretty serious, but actually it is a short, sort of funny book by a really good writer. If you're looking for a quick, entertaining book to read or listen to (the audiotape is great), try Disappearing Act.

Blizzard's Wake by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

This Maud Hart Lovelace nominee combines the danger of a real-life killer blizzard with the psychological drama of a teenage girl who can't forgive the man who killed her mother. Kate and her father and brother live in North Dakota, and the year is 1941. They are all trying to go on with their lives after their mother died four years ago. Zeke is the drunk driver who killed her, and he is just out of prison after serving three and a half years. When a deadly blizzard roars across the prairie, Kate is stranded in the house, her family is stranded in a car, and Zeke is wandering down the road. Finally they all end up in the house together, but Kate isn't about to let Zeke forget how much she hates him. The real action of this story is inside Kate's heart and mind, and if you like learning about people and how they think and feel, you will like this story.

The Misfits by James Howe

Have you ever been called names by other kids? If so, you might relate to Bobby and his friends Joe, Addie and Skeezie. They are smart, funny, interesting kids, but for one reason or another, they are misfits. Bobby is overweight. Addie is tall and very smart. Skeezie looks like Elvis. And Joe is sure he is gay. You can join in on the story of their 7th grade year and find out how they start a new political party and run for student council at their middle school. At first I thought these kids seemed too smart to be real, but in the end, I loved all four characters and was cheering for them to win the election and all go to the dance with the people of their dreams. Any 6th or 7th grader who has ever felt like a misfit will enjoy this funny book by James Howe.

Rising Water by P.J. Peterson

Rising Water is a short book with lots of action. It's about high-school-age siblings named Tracy and Luke, who work at an animal rescue center. Tracy can't stand it when a boy named Kevin is sent to do community service hours at the animal shelter. In her mind Kevin is irresponsible, doesn't care about animals, and on top of that is a criminal. Kevin is actually a pretty decent guy who made a mistake, and he isn't sure why Tracy is so nasty to him. Well, their town is flooding, and Tracy's brother Luke takes off in his boat to save a woman's dog. Tracy and Kevin go along, and as the teenagers navigate the flooded neighborhoods, they find a house that is being burglarized. Luke tries to stop it, and the kids get messed up with thieves with guns. As you might have guessed, the question is, can Tracy and Kevin work together and overcome their dislike for each other?
Readers looking for a quick book full of drama will like Rising Water.

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

If you like science fiction series, you should definitely read this book. It's the first of "The Hungry City Chronicles," and it is set far in the future in a world ravaged by war and environmental destruction. Cities now are built upright and on tracks, and they roam around devouring other cities and using them for spare parts. London is one of the biggest and strongest cities, and its leaders have an evil plan for dominating the world. Tom lives on London, but in one dramatic night is thrown off the city along with a horribly disfigured girl named Hester Shaw. She is seeking revenge for the murder of her parents, and Tom just wants to return to London where a beautiful girl named Kate lives. As you might expect, the two teenagers have many adventures as they try to return to London, and as they journey they find out more about the horrible technology that London is about to unleash on the world. This book is full of death and destruction, so don't expect your favorite characters to survive the chaos of life in the future. It reminded me a little bit of Airborn by Kenneth Oppel because it has airships and a couple of young teenagers who must save the day. Sci Fi and fantasy fans will love this book. So far there are 3 more books in the series for you to read when you're done.

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

This is the newest book by the author of Full Tilt and many other popular books for teens. I would say this is unlike any of his other books. Neal and Allie are killed in a car accident and wake up 9 months later in Everlost, a world in between the living and the dead. They are in our world, but they can't interact with living humans and they are in constant danger of sinking down to the center of the earth. They take off toward New York City, where they find a colony of children living in the Everlost version of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. All is not peaceful in Everlost, though, and there are villains and evil deeds and circumstances that send Allie searching for a way out. This book has tons of action and lots of original ideas about the afterlife. If you like Neal Shusterman's other books, give this one a try.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

None of this would have happened if D.J.'s dad hadn't injured himself moving the manure spreader. Welcome to the life of a farm kid--a high school girl who has to run a dairy farm all summer long. It's hard work, and she's not thrilled about getting help from Brian, the jerk who is the quarterback of the neighboring town's football team. But it is a summer of big changes for D.J. She finds out a startling truth about her best friend Amber, realizes that her family has a BIG communication problem, starts to enjoy talking and working out with Brian, and decides she doesn't want to be a "cow" anymore. (You've got to read it to understand!)

This is one of the best books I read all summer. To describe the plot doesn't do it justice. It's a fantastic book and I don't know how anyone could read it and not relate to D.J., the Dairy Queen (and football player). Highly recommended for 7th and 8th graders!!!

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

If you're a guy who likes funny books about real-life situations, this may be the book for you. Scott is a high school freshman and absolutely everything is going wrong in his life. He drifts apart from his best (and only) friends, he is picked on at school and on the bus, Julia, his major crush, doesn't know he exists, and to top things off, Scott's mom is pregnant. Scott decides to write notes to his future baby brother or sister, and he tells that baby everything about his miserable life, including lots of top ten lists and pieces of advice for his new sibling. Scott spends his school year trying to get Julia's attention, but all his attempts backfire. He writes for the school paper, works on the school play, and runs for student council, all to be near her, but each attempt fails to get her attention. Scott ends up with a couple of surprising friends, and he really is a good writer, so all is not lost. Scott's thoughts and lists are really hilarious, and middle school guys will enjoy a glimpse into what high school might be like for them. David Lubar also wrote Dunk, which a 7th grade boy once told me was the best book he had ever read. And he's the author of some short stories about Lawn Weenies. If you like funny books, look for the call number FIC LUB on the shelves and take a look at some of David Lubar's books.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

This is a great book for readers who like a long, drawn-out fantasy in a world of princes and princesses. You will become immersed in the world of Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, the girl who can speak to birds but who never quite fits into her royal family. When her chance to become a queen is viciously taken from her, she has to struggle to survive, then to prove who she is, then to stop a war. Along the way she learns a lot about life as a peasant, and meets a charming and handsome man who thinks she is only a Goose Girl. Shannon Hale is a great writer and I highly recommend this book to good readers. (I listened to it on CD, and it was fabulous.) We have both the book and CD at OMS, so take your choice.

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Have you ever wondered what creatures might live under the earth? Could there be another world full of huge cockroaches, friendly bats, evil rats, and human beings who have adapted to the Underworld? If you want to be transported to another world, read Gregor the Overlander, one of this year's Maud Hart Lovelace nominees. Gregor is a normal kid who follows his 2-year-old sister down a vent in his New York City laundry room. They fall and fall until they end up in the Underworld and are escorted to the royal city by crawlers (giant cockroaches). It turns out that Gregor has a mighty prophecy to fulfill, and he will have to lead a team of Underlanders to rescue his father. Full of action and all the enchantment of an imaginative fantasy world, fantasy readers will LOVE this book and want to read all the sequels. Even if you don't usually like fantasy, give this one a try. It's not always my favorite thing, but this is one of those that will grab you and pull you into its world. It's a little bit like City of Ember, only much much stranger!

Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time by Lisa Yee

Stanford Wong is awesome at basketball (he just made the 7th grade A team), but he also got an F in English class. His parents care more about grades than sports, and he is forced into summer school instead of basketball camp. Worst of all, they give him a tutor, a genius girl his own age named Millicent Min. And on top of everything else going wrong, his parents are fighting and his grandma is forced to move to a nursing home. Luckily for Stanford, he has his tight group of basketball-playing friends, and Millicent has a very cute friend named Emily who seems to like him. All he needs to do is keep his friends from finding out he's in summer school and keep Emily from finding out that he's not a genius (oh, and he has to pass English class or he will have to repeat 6th grade and be kicked off the A team!).

This book is filled with humor and will keep you laughing at everything poor Stanford goes through to survive this crazy summer. Especially recommended for 6th grade guys who like sports and funny books (but girls will like it too).

Immersed in Verse by Allan Wolf

The full title of this book is Immersed in Verse: An Informative, Slightly Irreverent & Totally Tremendous Guide to Living the Poet's Life. This book could change the life of a middle schooler who wants to be a poet. If that person is you, I would recommend buying this book for yourself because you will want to refer to it over and over again. Allan Wolf talks about what poetry is and how to find it it all the things around you. However, this book is not stuffy and dull. It is colorful and funny and easy to read, and is packed with examples of all kinds of poetry. He describes the Nine Habits of Highly Successful Poets, tells about structure and tense and point of view, and gives all kinds of ideas for kinds of poems to write. He even finishes up the book by talking about poetry readings and poetry slams and how to share your work with others. This book won't be for everyone, but I can't underestimate how wonderful this book is for someone who writes poetry. Highly highly highly recommended for all your writers out there!

Takedown by Rich Wallace

This is book #8 in the Winning Season series. They all are on order at the OMS media center and should arrive in time for September. Donald is a 7th grader who, jealous of his friends who do well in sports, decides to go our for wrestling. He's never wrestled before, but he wants to be good at it right from the start. Of course, he has to take some time to learn the sport and he needs to work hard before he can win a match. This book is all action (no real character development and not much plot). If you like sports and you want a book that's not too hard to read, this series might be for you. Each book is about a different sport. Recommended for 6th and 7th grade guys especially.

The Mysterious Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

I love this book. Being that it is the story of a china rabbit who learns how to love, one might think that a) it's for litle kids and b) that it's really sappy. It is neither! In the hands of the amazing Kate DiCamillo it is a lovely book that people of all ages should read and savor. Edward comes full circle and as he is passed from person to person (from his first mistress to a fisherman's wife to a hobo to a dying girl to a shelf in a doll store) he is tattered and torn and broken, but he emerges with a heart that not only can love, but that is eager to be loved in return. The doll in the store says it best when she tells him he must be awash with hope--he must wonder who will come along to love him next. DiCamillo's vocabulary is impressive and her writing style somehow imitates classic children's books without ever being stilted or overdone. Read this one with your whole family! (OMS owns it on CD, so take it on a road trip and make everyone listen!)

Between Mom and Jo by Julie Anne Peters

Two OMS students told me if I only read one book this summer it should be this one. So I read it, and I agree with them--this is an important book. Nick is a boy who loves his dog, his cat, his fish, and his two moms. This is much more than a book about a kid with gay parents. It's about a kid facing the kinds of problems kids face in all kinds of families. Nick's moms both love him very much, but when they separate things get ugly and Nick is not given any say over his fate. Readers will laugh with Nick and his playful mom, Jo, and also relate to his deep depression when he is separated from her. Peters doesn't shy away from issues that affect children from gay families--in fact, she weaves in the harassment and embarassment and insecurity into the story in a realistic way that leaves the reader with a deeper understanding and empathy for Nick and other kids like him who face both ordinary and extraordinary pressures. There is a lot of humor here, and Jo especially comes alive with her colorful language, her flaws (alcoholism, impulsiveness, and obstinancy to name a few). Recommended for 7th and 8th graders, both boys and girls.

Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

Copper Sun is the story of Amari, an African girl kidnapped and sold into slavery in the colonies that later became the United States of America. It's a painful book to read, full of the true horrors of an unfathomly cruel system of human bondage. Draper does not shy away from the reality of life for Amari and other slaves--including rapes, beatings, humiliations, murders and more. Fortunately, Draper tempers the horrific details with a strong-spirited character who overcomes her situation and dreams of freedom. The positive ending is probably unrealistic, but it gives the reader hope in the midst of a bleak world. Highly recommended for mature readers (8th grade and up) who want to know more about slavery and read a compelling story about a strong female character. If you choose to read this book, you will learn a lot and be moved by Amari's story.

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

I know I am late in reading this book, but it was a great book to read over the summer. If you like fantasy and you like books, this story will drag you in and hold your attention until the last page. A young girl named Meggie finds out that her father can read characters out of books and into the modern world. Unfortunately, he can also read people into books, and her mother disappeared many years ago. In her place are some evil characters from a book called Inkspell. Meggie, her father, her elderly aunt, a man named Dustfinger, and the author of Inkspell must go up against the nefarious Capricorn to save their lives and try to end his evil plans. Along the way Meggie realizes that she also has the gift of reading characters in and out of books. Funke has great fun with fairies and other fantasy creatures coming out of the books, and with all the intricacies of characters coming and going from books. I've heard the sequel Inkheart is even better!

Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick

Laugh-out-loud humor will draw readers into this second novel by eighth grade English teacher Jordan Sonnenblick. The story is simple--16-year-old Alex, angry at his divorced parents, gets drunk and crashes into a neighbor's yard, decapitating a lawn gnome. The judge sentences him to 100 hours of community service, which he serves as a companion to an elderly man in a nursing home. As Alex develops a relationship with Sol, the threads of the plot come together and it is clear why the teen and the older man were placed together. The brilliance of this book is in the characters. Alex, a self-centered but likeable teenager who needs to take responsibility for his actions, and Sol, the cantankerous and sly old man with the wisdom of Solomon and a life story that needs to be told. Throw these characters together with jazz music, a strong friendship, a budding high school romance, and divorced parents who are dating each other, and you have an engaging story with a poignant resolution. Highly recommended for middle school readers.

E.E. Cummings: a poet's life by Catherine Reef

This biography of poet E. E. Cummings thoroughly covers his life at a level that middle school students can easily understand. Interspersed are many examples of his poems and some explanation of what they mean. His life as an artist, his family dynamics, his friendships with other artists, and his loves and marriages are all described and brought to life through numerous quotations. The author's research appears to have been done mainly in other biographies of Cummings, not through primary sources. Cummings life story is adequately told, but lacks the sparkle of some other biographies of twentieth century figures such as Our Eleanor by Candace Fleming or The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler by James Cross Giblin. Also, the first chapter begins with Cumming's childhood without ever giving the reader context for why Cummings is important in literary and artistic history, something that middle school students likely do not know. All in all, this is a solid biography of a brilliant poet, and it will likely be appreciated by a reader with an existing interest in E. E. Cummings.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

This is another MHL book for this year and it's a thick one! It's a fantasy set in a world where huge airships are the way people travel (much like they used to travel on luxury ships like the Titanic). The story involves Matt Cruse, a poor but ambitious boy who works on the ship and dreams of becoming a sailmaker. He becomes involved in a wealthy traveler's quest to discover the truth of her grandfather's strange journals. When the airship is boarded by pirates and crash lands on a remote island, Matt and Kate find out that there really are flying carniverous beasts in the air, but their biggest problem is that the pirates have a station on the island. This book starts our a little bit slow then gets really exciting. The vocabulary is rich and the author never talks down to his readers. This one will be perfect for good readers of all grade levels.

The Clique by Lisi Harrison

This book is wildly popular with middle school girls, including several girls in Pageturners Book Club, who recommended that I read it. I will start off by saying that I can see why this book is in demand. It is fast-moving, has characters that you love to hate, and is full of contemporary references to fashion and popular culture.
However, I also have to say that this is one of the worst books I have read in a long time! The characters are completely shallow--even the "good" girl (Claire) that we are supposed to identify with. I just did not believe that a) Claire would want to be friends with the awful clique of girls after the things they did to her and that b) she could sneak into the mansion and text message from Massie's computer. And the final scene in which Claire and Massie are in a bush listening to their drunk fathers sing 99 Bottles of Beer is about as contrived an ending as I could think of.

The mean things that the clique does to the new girl are truly awful, and I'm sure there is some therapy in reading about kids who are meaner than the people who are mean to you. There is nothing wrong with reading these books--kids love series books and of course everything a person reads doesn't have to be well-written, but I just had to give my true opinion of this one. If you're looking for a better book about the horrors of middle school, try The Girls by Amy Goldman Koss or Define Normal by Julie Ann Peters.

Soldier X by Don Wulffson

Wow. This is one of those books that taught me a lot. Erik is a German teenager and he is forced into the Nazi army at the end of World War II when there was really no hope for Germany. Although he is half German, his grandparents are Russian, and his language ability comes in handy when he is wounded in a battle on the Russian front. He takes the clothes and identity of a dead Russian boy soldier, and he recovers from his wounds in a Russian army hospital. There he meets an orphaned teen named Tamara, and they flee together from both armies. Full of the horrors or war and details that evoke the smells, sights, and sounds of battle, this book has strong characters, a strong plot, and will be of great interest, especially to boys.

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

This is a MHL nominee for next school year. It's about a high school English class in the inner city and the Friday poetry readings that reveal the lives of the students and bring the class together. It's loosely narrated by Tyronne, who at first thinks school is a joke and that he has no future. The format is to read a little of the inner thoughts of a character, then to read the poem that that character reads to the class. Janelle is overweight and wants people to see her as she is on the inside. Devon is a smart jock who secretly goes to the library to read and study. Chankara was smacked by her boyfriend and is through letting people beat up on her. Raul is an artist who wants to paint the beauty of his people. Gloria has a baby and is determined to go on to college. Lupe wishes she could have a baby to love her. I did think it was a bit unrealistic that all these kids could (and would) write wonderful poems revealing their inner selves, but it was fun to read their stories and poems, and it is most definitely a well-written book. I'm not sure how middle school students will like this one--it will be interesting to find out.

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac

Wow. I learned so much from this book. I knew vaguely that Navajo Indians had made codes that were used in World War II, but I didn't know any details. Joseph Bruchac, who is himself a Native American, obviously did a ton of research to write this book. The character in the book is a young Navajo who enlists in the Marines and becomes a Code Talker. I found the story to be gripping, and I knew as I was reading it that it was entirely grounded in fact. The most fascinating part to me was the descriptions of what it was like for the Marines who fought the Japanese on the islands of the Pacific. Conditions were horrible, and so much needless killing occurred. Any reader interested in war will devour this book, and will enjoy a fast-paced war story with the added advantage of the perspective of the Navajo Indians who were told their language and culture was worthless, and later told to use that language to help their country.

Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja

Buddha Boy is one of the Maud Hart Lovelace books for next school year. I listened to it on CD this week. It's about a new kid at a high school who at first seems pretty weird. His head is shaved and he begs in the lunch room. It turns out that a lot of what the new kid does is based on Buddhism, and when Justin unwillingly becomes his friend he finds out what an incredible artist he is. Unfortunately, the powerful jocks of the school pick Jinsen to harass, and Justin has to decide where he stands. This book has lots to think about--religion, art, friendship--and is short and easy to read. It's only mature because of some of the language in the book, which isn't anything everyone hasn't already heard, but it is not language you can say at school. I think this one will be enjoyed by 7th and 8th grade boys and girls alike.

Next year's Maud Hart Lovelace Nominees

For all you over-achievers out there, here are next year's MHL nominees. (This info is online at http://www.maudhartlovelace.org/) The OMS media center already owns at least one of all of them except Buddha Boy, which we now have as an audiobook. The books have been ordered and 20 copies of each will be here any day.

Division II: (grades 6 - 8)

Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
* Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja
Blizzard's Wake by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Rising Water by P. J. Petersen
The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John Ritter
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
* Soldier X by Don Wulffson

* Titles for mature readers.

Statewide Maud Hart Lovelace Winners

The results are in, and among 5,270 Division II voters across the state, the winning book this year was Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. The movie of this book is coming out soon, so it will only get more popular. Pageturners Book Club members were disappointed—it wasn't their favorite. They liked House of the Scorpion, but that was probably too advanced for many readers.

Here are the numbers of votes for the top 6 books. Interestingly, Hoot only had 13.8% of the vote, and City of Ember had 13.6% of the vote.

Hoot 728
City of Ember 719
Full Tilt 643
House of the Scorpion 632
Once Upon a Marigold 476
Skeleton Man 464

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

This book is already popular at OMS, maybe due to its very cool cover (which violates the school dress code, by the way). Ginny, a 17-year-old girl learns about herself while on a sort of scavenger hunt across Europe. Her beloved aunt has died and left her 13 envelopes in various places in Europe. She travels around alone with almost no money and no advance plans–maybe a little bit unrealistic for a girl so young, but it's fun to imagine. This book contains a nice combination of adventure, romance, growing up, and also coming to terms with disappointment and sadness.

I love to travel and my travel bug began at a young age when I read Betsy and the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace. 13 Little Blue Envelopes might have the same effect on kids today when they read about Ginny's adventures in England, Paris, Italy, and Greece.

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

I was so surprised by how much I loved this book. It's about two Irish brothers who fight in World War I. On one dramatic night one of the brothers, in an attempt to stay awake all night, relives his childhood. You are immersed in the world of a poor Irish family, and an incredible relationship between the brothers and the girl they both love. In the end, the events of the war cause a heartbreaking choice with no good ending. I was shocked to find out that this story is based on a shameful piece of history. As one 8th grader said to me when she returned this book, "I didn't know this was going to make me cry!" Highly recommended for 7th and 8th grade readers and for adults, too.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

I kept hearing about this book from good readers and I decided I had better get it for our library and that I had better read it myself. Actually, I listened to it on CD in my car. I would say it's all about romance, but it's the vampire fans who have been reading it. At the risk of telling too much, I will just say that Bella falls in love with Edward, so much so that she is willing to live with the fact that Edward can hardly keep from killing her. As is always the case, love that is up against impossible obstacles is the strongest. If you can hold out through many chapters of longing and love, you will get to some good action in the end. Some reviews said this was for high school readers, but in my opinion there was nothing inappropriate for younger teens. Highly recommended for fans of romance and/or vampires.

Maud Hart Lovelace Winners

The OMS results are in for the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Contest.

Out of 169 votes, Full Tilt was the school-wide winner with 39 votes. Second place went to House of the Scorpion and 3rd place went to The City of Ember. Speak came in 4th overall, but if we subtracted all the 6th grade votes, Speak would have been the overall winner, so it was popular with the older crowd.

Now we are waiting to hear the state-wide winner, which will be announced on April 25.

All 12 books got at least one vote here at OMS, which shows that it was a pretty good list of books. Thanks everyone who read them and voted!

Totally Joe by James Howe

This book is funny and fresh, and a great example of first-person writing from the point of view of a 7th grade guy. His teacher assigned a big writing assignment--an alphabiography--in which Joe has to write his own autobiography by going through all the letters of the alphabet. Joe writes about his family, his current crush, his supportive group of friends, and about being harassed at school. Joe is dealing with normal 7th grade issues, but many of them are magnified by the fact that Joe is gay. Lucky for him he has a teacher he can confide in, and aunt who supports him unconditionally, a good group of friends, and a family that accepts him for who he is. If this book were about a straight middle school student everyone would love it. As it is, I know some people will not care for it. If you are ready for this kind of book, read it and enjoy. If you are not up for it now, read something else now and maybe try this one later. If you are able to get into the mind and heart of Joe, you will find a good hearted, smart, funny kid with a great story to tell.