The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues Book 1) by Rick Riordan

Grace Cahill dies and leaves her relatives a choice—take a million dollars or a get a clue to the family secret. It turns out that the Cahill family is the most powerful family in world history but they have lost the source of their power and there are 39 clues that need to be found. The main characters are orphans named Dan and Amy, and they are competing against several other nasty groups of distant Cahill relatives who choose the clue. The first clue is pretty vague but leads them to researching Ben Franklin. First they go to Philadelphia then they end up in Paris. The competitors are cutthroat and there are fires and explosions that threaten to kill Dan and Amy. This book reminded me of The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure because of the complex historical clues that send the characters to some pretty amazing places. I thought I would love this book but I really didn't. Some of the supporting characters were stereotypical and completely unbelievable and I thought that no real kid in the world could ever have figured out the complex clues that Dan and Amy solve. If you can get past my complaints it is a story with lots of action and history. I'm sure lots of kids will love it and enjoy playing the online game that goes along with it. It has received great reviews and Rick Riordan is a good author, so read the book and convince me I'm wrong!

Swindle by Gordon Korman

Have you ever seen a heist movie where criminals pull off a brilliant robbery? Swindle is the first real heist book for kids that I can remember reading. The kids in this book, with the leadership of sixth-grader Griffin Bing, plan and pull off a very elaborate theft of a baseball card worth one million dollars. The card is in the hands of a shop owner who lied to Griffin about the card's value. Griffin and his best friend Ben just want back what they think is rightfully theirs. However, they have to get past a vicious guard dog, a high tech security system, a strong safe, and a nosy next door neighbor. The cover of the book makes you think it's a dog book or a baseball book, but it's neither of those. It's really the story of a group of kids getting back at an unscrupulous adult who underestimates their intelligence. This will appeal to readers who like action and crime and kids who come out on top. (And don't worry, adults, the kids do realize in the end that they did something seriously illegal)

Antsy Does Time by Neal Shusterman

This book was a wonderful surprise. I enjoyed The Schwa Was Here several years ago and I had forgotten what a great character Antsy Bonano is. This is the sequel to that book, but I believe with its new plot and characters it could stand alone. It's hard to describe the plot because there's a lot going on. In a nutshell, Antsy befriends a boy named Gunnar who has only six months to live. Antsy comes up with a symbolic gesture of donating a month of his life to Gunnar and suddenly everyone wants to donate their time also. Antsy is awkward, funny, earnest, and fully aware that he is not the coolest guy in the school, but somehow he becomes famous for his "time donation" scheme and ends up dating Gunnar's beautiful older sister. There's tons of humor in this story, but the real charm of the book is Antsy and his realizations about family relationships, his girlfriend, and how precious time is. This is Neal Shusterman's writing at its very best and I think this book ought to be recognized as one of the best middle school books of the year. It would make a fantastic read-aloud. I highly recommend it to readers in grade six on up.

The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman

Although it has some humor in it, this isn't the usual funny Gordon Korman book. It's the story of three juvenile criminals, all imprisoned for different reasons, who are brought together to a halfway house by a well-meaning guy named Douglas Healy. They must behave perfectly or they will be sent back to prison. Of course, they don't all behave perfectly and when Healy takes a sort-of accidental fall the boys have a choice to make—own up to their part in the accident and get sent back to prison or cover up the accident and try to pretend that everything is normal. Healy goes to the hospital and wakes up with amnesia. Gecko, one of the boys, volunteers in the hospital to keep track of Healy's condition. There he meets a nice girl and they start a relationship. However, she doesn't know Gecko's true story. The ways that the boys cover up their secrets aren't always realistic, and the ending is definitely happier than real-life, but it's an engaging story with interesting characters who have complex motivations. This should appeal to kids who like to read about crime and gangs, as well as kids who like a good story with lots of action.

In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry by Carla Killough McClafferty

This book is one more example of "all I ever needed to know I learned from children's nonfiction." I had never even heard of Varian Fry before I picked up this book. He was a pretty ordinary American man who volunteered for a two-week rescue mission during World War II. The plan was to go to Marseilles, France and find war refugees wanted by the Nazis and get them to safety. His specific mission was to save a specific list of important artists, writers, and thinkers who were in grave danger of being sent to concentration camps. The mission took all of his creativity, stamina, and skills and in it Fry found the most meaningful days of his life. The two weeks spread out into more than a year as Fry desperately tried every way he could think of to get refugees out of France, into Spain, then Portugal, then on to other countries. Together witha selfless staff of other unsung heroes, Fry ultimately saved about 2,000 people from death at the hands of the Nazis. Sadly, his work destroyed his marriage and he never found another endeavor that so fully used his skills and his compassion. McClafferty's research is excellent and her organization makes this book easy to read and understand. She deftly shows how difficult and draining the work was and how many obstacles the rescuers faced. Middle schoolers with an interest in World War II could definitely appreciate this book, but I believe it is equally appropriate for high school students as well as adults. It's an inspiring look at an unsung hero. 

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Most of us don't get the chance to go to an elite East Coast prep school with future power brokers and secret societies, but that's Frankie's life. She's a formerly geeky sophomore in high school who blossomed over the summer and suddenly caught the eye of the most desirable senior boy in the school, Matthew. He's generally a good guy and Frankie loves many things about him. What she doesn't love is that he doesn't really take her intellect very seriously. When he snubs Frankie to go to secret meetings of the Order of the Bassett Hounds, Frankie's latent criminal mind kicks into high gear and she comes up with a scheme to manipulate all the boys in the secret society and play some good pranks at the boarding school. She thinks she will earn the respect of the boys she is manipulating, but that is not what happens. This intelligent book has a strong vocabulary and some clever uses of the English language. Frankie is a complicated character—likable but definitely struggling to find her own personality and voice. A curious, smart, independent-minded reader will find a kindred spirit in Frankie Landau-Banks. 

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

Addie's life is just not right. She lives with her mom in a tiny trailer by the railroad tracks while her beloved stepfather and half sisters are living several hours away. Her mom isn't physically abusive, but she frequently leaves Addie alone in the trailer for longer and longer periods of time. Addie makes friends with Elliott and Sula who work at a nearby gas station and they become important to her and they are there when her mother is not. Addie just wants a "normal" life but doesn't see a way to change the way things are. This is a gentle book with a character with whom you can empathize. It has some sadness, but ultimately is hopeful and heartwarming. A good choice for 4th-6th graders.

The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary by Candace Fleming

Do you like reading about what people's lives were really like? Do you want to know what Abraham and Mary Lincoln were like as human beings? Do you wonder how they treated their kids, how they treated each other, and what other people thought of them? The detail about the Lincolns in their public and personal lives is what makes this book fascinating. Every page is stuffed with photos and captions and text about every imaginable aspect of the Lincoln's lives and relationships. It's much more than a scrapbook, however. Fleming did a huge amount of research and arranged information into short, readable segments that could be browsed or read straight through. Abraham and Mary were both complex people. Mary's behavior, especially, is puzzling, but she was certainly not the lunatic that some believed she was. And it's hard to imagine a person sacrificing more of himself for what he believed in than did Abraham Lincoln. It's a nice complement to Lincoln through the Lens, which has less of the nosy details of life but has photographs and insights of its own. If you like this style, read Our Eleanor, also by Candace Fleming. It's fabulous.

Lincoln through the Lens by Martin W. Sandler

I thought I knew some things about Abraham Lincoln, but I have learned a lot more after reading a couple of new and outstanding nonfiction books. This one focuses on the role photography played in Lincoln's life and it includes many large, well-captioned photos to go along with the clear, concise text. The focus on photography is the author's slant, but Lincoln's whole life is covered in this gorgeous book. Each two-page spread deals with a portion of Lincoln's life in words, photographs, and includes a relevant quotation from Lincoln, so it's a book that's easily browsed. However, if you want to really understand Lincoln through his photos, read the whole book. I would not be surprised to see this win the Sibert Award. Highly recommended for readers from 6th grade on up through adulthood.

Best Books I've Read Recently

Here's a little video I made using animoto.com.

Curtains! A High School Musical Mystery by Michael Dahl

Author Michael Dahl loves mysteries and has written the fantastic Finnegan Zwake series of middle school mysteries. Curtains! is easier to read, but still includes many clever clues and tricky red herrings, and keeps you guessing up to the end. The mystery takes place at a high school during practices for the musical. First a heavy stage light falls to the ground, almost hitting and killing the director. Next a wall falls on one of the student actors, and then another actor's costumes are destroyed. Clearly someone wants to ruin the show.  The culprit could be one of many people, and Kyle and Mindy systematically go through the suspect list and look for motives and opportunities. Published by Stone Arch Books, the target market for this title is reluctant readers. However, it would be a shame for this book not to be in the hands of a wider audience of mystery readers. It would be a good choice for elementary or middle school students who like traditional mysteries and it would be a great vehicle for a teacher wanting to teach kids the elements of a mystery. It's also a fun introduction to "The Queen of Crime," Agatha Christie. Keep writing mysteries for middle schoolers, Michael!

Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat edited by Nikki Giovanni

The editor of this book defines Hip Hop as "poetry with a beat" and this collection has a wide range of poems mainly written by African American poets and writers. Artists range from Queen Latifah, Kanye West, and current rappers to Harlem Renaissance great Langston Hughes. I found it to be a really interesting collection of poems and I enjoyed listening to the accompanying CD which includes a selection of the poems read by the authors and other performers. I think the primary audience of this book will be elementary school teachers who want to pick and choose poems to use in their classrooms. A child who picked up this book thinking it would be all hip hop will be disappointed—it's all rhythmic poetry but much of it is more traditional poetry, some without a strong rhythm or any obvious connection to modern hip hop and rap. Quite a few of the poems are more mature and could be appreciated by older kids and teens, but the cover illustration and many of the illustrations in the book make it appear more juvenile than I think the book really is. Elementary teachers will love "The Rosa Parks" and "from Principal's Office." My personal favorite is "Dat Dere" and I can't get that song from the CD out of my head. School and Public Libraries will want to purchase this, but get it in the hands of teachers so that it gets used and appreciated.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

This true story about the horrors of war was not written for teenagers, but it's a story that mature teens could understand and learn from. Ishmael, a 12-year-old boy from Sierra Leone was caught up in a horrible civil war in the 1990s. With his village destroyed and his family missing he tried to escape on foot with some other boys. Average citizens feared groups of boys because they thought they were part of the rebel army. Members of the actual rebel army looked for young boys to force them into serving as soldiers. With no where to go and everyone after him, Ishmael makes it to a village and finds out that his family is alive and nearby. Unfortunately, they are brutally murdered by rebels just before Ishmael arrives in their village. From that point, Ishmael joins the Army and becomes a brutal killer himself. He spends a few years this way before a United Nations group "rescues" him and gets him back on a better track. It's a gripping and heartbreaking story that people should know about so that maybe it will never happen again.

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Seems like I've been reading a lot of disturbing futuristic teen novels lately. This one is particularly disturbing because it seems so real. A meteor hits the moon and life on earth will never be the same. Yes, it's the same event from Life as We Knew It, only this time the focus is on Alex Morales and his two sisters who live in New York City. Their parents are presumed dead and the three teens are on their own trying to survive in a deserted wasteland of a city. Everyone with resources has abandoned New York and those left behind have to do horrific things to survive (like stealing clothes and jewelry off of newly dead bodies). Volcanic eruptions have blocked the sun, leaving cold temperatures and no hope of growing food. Alex is only 17 and is trying desperately just to keep his two sisters alive. A major theme of this book is the family's Catholic faith and how it ultimately leads them toward hope. I found this to be a realistic touch—I'm sure in dire circumstances such as these people would rely heavily on their religious beliefs. This is not a happy book by any means, but I sure wanted to keep reading it. Recommended for 7th grade and up. 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Wow. I couldn't put this book down. Just imagine a horrible future in which a totalitarian government makes teenagers fight to the death in a reality show style game. It's entertainment for people who live in The Capitol but it's a brutal way to hold power over the poor people living in the other twelve districts. Our main characters are Katniss and Peeta, a girl and a boy from District 12. They are the unlucky losers in the annual lottery to see who is selected for The Hunger Games. Katniss can hunt and trap and shoot a bow and arrow so she seems to have a chance at survival. Peeta is strong and good hearted but doesn't seem to have a lot of survival skills.  Peeta obviously likes Katniss, but she doesn't want to make a new friend and then be forced to kill him. This book has lots of heart-stopping action but what I liked the most were the relationships. It's disturbing, but I think teens (grade 7 and up) will love it. I can't wait for the rest of the trilogy. (If you like books about how the government can turn evil, also read Unwind by Neal Shusterman.)

Chess Rumble by G. Neri

Marcus is a middle school kid with big problems in his life. His dad is gone, his sister died, and he's one fight shy of getting kicked out of school. His first reaction to any bad situation is to come out fighting—he even raises his fist to his own mother. Fortunately for Marcus he meets a chess master who teaches him how to win at chess by always thinking three moves ahead. Marcus uses this idea in his life and finds ways to make better decisions when dealing with bullies, his brothers, his principal, and his parents. The characters in this book talk like real kids on the streets and it's full of illustrations, so it's an easy book to read quickly. Although I thought Marcus's problems were resolved too easily, it's a book that will appeal to kids who might not normally enjoy reading. There's also a lot to talk about here for a book discussion.

The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman

This book was a pleasant escape from edgy YA fiction. It's the story of four fifth graders (all with very different personalities—the popular kid, the brainiac, the unmotivated student, and the type-A student) who use the smart kid's computer to complete all of their homework. The scheme draws them together while parents, teachers, and other students can't figure out why in the world these four kids hang out together every day after school. The story is told in small snippets from the points of view of numerous characters. There are touching moments as well as reflections on the ethics of the homework machine, but overall the tone is light and the book is a breeze to read. I appreciated that the kids were multicultural and there was also one suspenseful surprise at the end that I didn't see coming. I think this would be most popular with 4th and 5th graders, but it's definitely worth a look for 6th graders also.

Sunrise over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

This is the only novel I have read about the Iraq war, and as is typical, when I read young adult historical fiction, I learn so much from the details of the story. Robin is an 18-year-old African American soldier from Harlem. He's part of a Civil Affairs Battalion that includes male and female soldiers. Their job in Iraq is not to enter into combat, but to "win the hearts and minds" of the people. However, nothing is that clear-cut in Iraq in the weeks and months following the fall of Baghdad. Robin sees firsthand the horrors of war and participates fully in them. Myers gives readers a variety of personalities in Robin's comrades. Their variety of motives, opinions, and political views make this book a really balanced look at a controversial war. The female characters were especially interesting to me. Of course, this book contains violence and the atrocities of war. Iraqi children as well as American soldiers are killed. But that is what war is like and Americans should not hide from the truth. I know this book will be deservedly popular with middle schools boys.

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

This is a strange little book. It's a spoof of old-fashioned stories in which plucky orphans triumph over nasty adults with the help of equally plucky nannies. The four Willoughby children aren't yet orphans, but they wish they were since their parents are so horrible. When a baby is abandoned on their doorstep (another old-fashioned story element) they take it to a decrepit mansion and abandon the baby all over again. This sets off a chain of events leading them to a predictably happy ever after ending. It's not a book with deep ideas or character development. Rather, it seems that the author is just enjoying herself and reveling in telling a quirky tale. Lowry is writing for adults as well as kids--she frequently mentions other old-fashioned stories such as The Bobbsey Twins, The Secret Garden, Little Women, and many more. In this satire, some of the adults are truly evil or truly stupid (ala Roald Dahl and Lemony Snickett), and kids will enjoy the dark side of this tale. The Willoughbys could be read by kids from 4th-7th grades. Younger kids will enjoy the story while older kids will see more of the humor.

Hurricane by Terry Trueman

Terry Trueman is known for short, hard-hitting novels that are edgy and a little bit controversial. This is a switch for him. Hurricane is about a Honduran family whose village is nearly destroyed by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. The story is told through the eyes of José, a young teenager, who must take on adult responsibilities because his father and older siblings are missing (and possibly dead). The village of La Rupa is devastated by a mudslide, leaving more than half of the people dead. In the hours and days following the disaster José works to save lives, find dead bodies, uncover buried food, and get help for his sick brother. I have a particular interest in this story because I traveled to a village in Nicaragua that was destroyed by a mudslide in Hurricane Mitch. Two years later the people still lived in squalor in a Red Cross tent city. The despair and hopelessness was something I will never forget. Fortunately for young readers, Trueman's story ends on a hopeful note (perhaps unrealistically). I think American kids might have trouble picturing rural Honduras, but once they get into the story of José's survival they will be hooked.

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

I will start off by saying that I don't think this Chris Crutcher book is written for middle schoolers. Mature 8th graders, maybe, but it's not for everyone. It had been a few years since I had read a Chris Crutcher book, and once again I was just blown away by his writing. This is a book I would recommend to teenagers as well as adults. It's almost a cliché to have a teen novel with characters who are mentally ill, dying, abused, etc. etc. Yet somehow Chris Crutcher can take a whole bunch of big real-life problems and weave them into a book that is believable and touching and also hilarious at times. Here's the story in a nutshell: Ben Wolf finds out before his senior year that he is dying of an aggressive blood disease. He's 18 years old and he refuses treatment and refuses to let his doctor tell his parents because he wants to live his last year to the fullest. His big plans are a) to go out for the football team (he's a tiny guy), b) to go after a smart, attractive classmate he's had his eye on, and c) to stick it to his conservative social studies teacher by campaigning to name a street in town after Malcolm X. The setting is great—Trout, Idaho has 943 residents, and they love their football heroes. This book is all about football and love and telling the truth and racism and living life to the fullest. Parts of the book are mature, and it's also pretty deep at times. I think the philosophy and the humor would be most appreciated by high school students.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

I think I am officially the last person to read this book. I heard years ago from a 7th grade boy that this book was great, and he was right. The author manages to take Greek mythology and tie it into a modern day action book that is also hilarious. Percy Jackson is our hero, but he's just a 6th grader with ADD who keeps failing out of school. (He finds out later that most of the children of Greek Gods have ADD--it's what helps them in their quests and fights with supernatural beings.) After a minotaur chases him to Camp Halfblood and vaporizes his mother, Percy starts to learn the truth about himself and the identity of his father. Eventually he makes Zeus pretty mad and is given 10 days to find Zeus's stolen lightning bolt and return it to Mount Olympus. He takes along his Satyr friend Grover and one of Athena's daughters, Annabeth. Together they have an action-packed quest involving an incredible amount of Greek Mythology. As I said before, the best part of this book is all the humor. This is the perfect series for middle schoolers, especially guys.

Heat by Mike Lupica

In my opinion, a really good sports book isn't really about sports, it's about life. There's a lot of life in this book (but also a whole lot of baseball). Michael is an amazing pitcher and his dream is to pitch in the Little League World Series. It was his father's dream also, but his father is not around and he and his brother are trying to keep that a secret. Michael is so good at baseball that other Little League teams are trying to make him prove he is 12 years old. Unfortunately he has a lot of trouble getting a birth certificate from Cuba. I liked Michael's best friend Manny, his brother Carlos, and the kind neighbor woman who takes care of them. I thought at times that the conversations between these 12 year old boys were much too clever and urbane to ever come out of the mouths of real kids. The happy ending was not a big surprise, but heck, I wanted things to work out for Michael. While there are non-sports issues in this book, there is so much baseball play-by-play that I do think the intended audience is kids who love the game. It might be hard for other kids to get through, but baseball fans will love it (and probably learn some great baseball strategies at the same time).

The House of Djinn by Suzanne Fisher Staples

First I should say that I am a huge fan of the book Shabanu, which tells the story of a Pakistani girl who is forced to marry a much older man with multiple wives. That book opened my eyes to a part of the world I had never even thought about. This is the third book about Shabanu, but this book focuses more on her daughter Mumtaz. Shabanu faked her own death ten years ago to save Mumtaz's life, and now Mumtaz is a teenager and finds out she is expected to marry her cousin, Jameel. Jameel is a skateboarder from San Francisco and it is a surprise to him that he is expected to return to Pakistan, marry Mumtaz, and become the tribal leader for his clan. The best things about this book are the setting (life with the upper class in Lahore) and the insight into Pakistani culture (including the clash between modern thinking and the old-fashioned male-dominated culture). I did not like the supernatural "Djinn" which is a spirit that exists to teach people lessons. I also thought that the complex family and all their names and the use of Pakistani words will probably turn off many middle school readers. Even I was confused some of the time. I enjoyed finding out the fate of Shabanu and her daughter, but I think this book will probably only be appreciated by readers who have also read Shabanu and Haveli.

Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman

This is a fun romance with lots of references to one of my favorite books, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Julie tells the story about how her overly enthusiastic best friend Ashleigh becomes obsessed with Jane Austen's books and decides that the girls will wear vintage dresses and crash a dance at a local all male prep school. Remarkably, when they crash the dance they meet a couple of nice guys and both girls develop crushes on their own perceived "Mr. Darcy." Unfortunately, their crushes are on the same boy, but since Ashleigh speaks up first, Julie never lets on that she too likes handsome, smart Parr. The story moves along with lots of misunderstandings and mis-signals, and ends up predictably happily. This book was well-written and fun and kept me entertained the whole way. It's appropriate for middle schoolers, and while you don't need a lot of background on Pride and Prejudice, it probably would be most enjoyed by someone familiar with the book (or the fabulous BBC movie version).

Sold by Patricia McCormick

This book, told in simple free verse, has stayed on my mind since reading it last week. It's the well-written and accessible story of a 13-year-old girl from Nepal who is sold into prostitution in India. It's a tough subject that we in America hate to even think about, but since it is a reality for many girls we need to know more about it. McCormick handles the topic as delicately as possible without understating the horror and desperation of Lakshmi and the other girls in the brothel. The relationships between these girls are what makes the story so interesting and heartbreaking. Their search for joy and hope in the smallest details of life is what keeps them alive. I'm not doing it justice here, but if it sounds intriguing, try it out. I would highly recommend this to mature teenagers (8th grade or older) who are ready to learn more about the harsh reality of the world.

Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendelin Van Draanen

Girls are going to be drawn to this book because it looks like quite a romance. In the end, it's really not about romance at all, but it is about a 16-year-old girl in search of the perfect "crimson kiss" she has read about in a trashy romance novel. Of course, when this straight-A student starts grabbing boys and kissing them in the hallways people start to talk (and write on the bathroom walls). As she fails to find any satisfaction in her many kisses, she comes to realize that her quest is really more about her anger at her father (who cheated on her mother and now wants to be forgiven). I thought all the kissing was a bit unbelievable, and therefore I couldn't really be too sympathetic with Evangeline. But by the end of the book when things got more serious and introspective I really wanted to finish this book. There's a lot of substance here about friendship, forgiveness, and finding your own talents (and a lot of classic rock and roll music as well). Probably most appropriate for 7th graders on up.

Jackie's Wild Seattle by Will Hobbs

If you like wild animals you will probably like this book a lot. Jackie's Wild Seattle is the name of an animal rescue shelter near Seattle, Washington, and in this book Shannon and Cody spend the summer there with their Uncle Neal, who loves to rescue endangered animals. There are lots of animal rescues (like a coyote in an elevator and a seal at the bottom of a cliff) as well as other things going on in their lives that complicate things for Shannon. She's worried about her parents who are working at a refugee camp in Afghanistan, she's worried about Uncle Neal who secretly is very ill, and she is curious about the angry, withdrawn boy who is doing community service at the animal shelter. I thought some of the animal rescues were a little bit unbelievable, but this book is a good choice for younger middle school kids who like action and animals. It might make you want to go volunteer at the Animal Humane Society!

Undercover by Beth Kephart

The plot of this book sounds kind of predictable. Elisa writes love notes for other people. In the course of writing poetry from Theo to the beautiful and popular Lila, Elisa finds herself falling for Theo. Elisa is a free spirit, a poet, and an observer of the world around her. She learns to blossom in spite of her parents' marital troubles, her uncertainty about Theo's feelings for her, and the spiteful acts of jealous Lila. Along the way she gets valuable guidance (and lots of literary food for her soul) from her wise English teacher. I would recommend this to 8th grade girls (on up through high school) who appreciate poetry and literature and a sensitive, deep character trying her best to come out from "undercover."

Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt

Henry's privileged, uncomplicated life comes to an abrupt halt the night his brother is hit by a car. Franklin is barely clinging to life and a Cambodian teenager is the driver accused of hitting him. From this point on, Trouble just won't stay away. The basic plotline is that Henry runs away to climb the highest peak in Maine, and unwittingly is accompanied by his brother's supposed "killer." Nothing is black and white in this story. Franklin was occasionally cruel, especially to Chay, the new kid at his exclusive prep school. The sister, Louisa, is hiding a big secret. Chay has suffered from deep trauma and has parents who don't want him around. Gary Schmidt is a master at writing multilayered, complex stories that delve into issues that really matter. By the second half of this book I was thoroughly hooked and found myself surprised by the direction the book went in. Good middle school readers and people who care about young adult literature should read this novel. It will probably win awards in 2008!

The Mirror's Tale by P.W. Catanese

Have you ever wondered about whatever happened to fairy tale characters after the "happily ever after" ending? This book explores the aftermath of the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Many years later the same mirror that the evil stepmother used takes control of a teenage boy and drives him to almost destroy his twin brother and his own kingdom. This is a fairy tale story, but unlike most of this genre, this one is aimed at male readers. The main characters are twin brothers who switch places to deceive their parents. One turns evil and the other has to learn to use his brains and step up to the challenge of one day inheriting his father's title. I thought it went on a little bit too long, and while I enjoyed some of the fairy tale elements, it just didn't enthrall me like some other fairy tale books I've read. Still, there's a lot of action and magic and I think some fantasy readers will enjoy it.

The Postcard by Tony Abbot

Jason is helping his father cope with his grandmother's recent death when he receives a mysterious phone call that leads him to an equally mysterious postcard. Strange people and events lead him to believe that there was more to his grandmother's life than his father ever knew. A string of clues leads him to a series of old crime magazines that include chapters in a bizarre tale that he believes is actually the story of his grandmother's life. This is a story within a story, and mystery readers will enjoy following along as Jason and his new friend Dia unravel a very strange chain of clues. I think this is a book that will be enjoyed by good readers who can follow a sort of complicated story line. I will definitely recommend it to 6th and 7th graders this fall.

Shackleton's Stowaway by Victoria McKernan

I was mesmerized by this book, mostly because it's based so closely on history. It's a great way to learn about an amazing true survival story. In 1914, 28 men boarded a ship called The Endurance. Their goal was to get to Antarctica so a group of the men could be the first to cross the continent. It was supposed to be a big adventure and it was an honor to be part of the crew led by the famous explorer Ernest Shackleton. What happened was a complete disaster. The ship was frozen into the sea and finally broke apart, leaving the men stranded on the frozen sea. They were hungry and wet and freezing for over a year and a half before Shackleton found a way to save the lives of all 28 men. So much happens in this book that I can't even begin to summarize it. The author does a great job of taking real people (like Perce Blackborrow, the 18-year-old stowaway who ends up having his toes cut off) and bringing the story to life. Readers who like adventure and history will enjoy this book.

Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins

Monsoon Summer is a romance novel and a whole lot more. Jazz, a tall, strong, smart business person, is also a 15-year-old girl with a crush on her best guy friend, Steve. She's sure he could never be romantically interested in a girl like herself. Strangely enough, during a summer in which they never see each other, their romantic issues are resolved. The reason they are apart is that Jazz and her family spend the summer at an orphanage in India where they all learn about the gifts they can bring to helping other people. I breezed through this book, enjoying it all the way. It's not a difficult book and it's not all that complex, but it pulled me in and made me interested in India and the culture that Jazz encounters there. If you like this kind of romance and coming of age story, I also recommend Dairy Queen (a little more complex and a bit more mature). Recommended for readers who like romance, world travel, and stories about becoming happy with who you are.

Mates, Dates and Cosmic Kisses by Cathy Hopkins

Izzie has met the boy of her dreams, but why doesn't he call her? She spends her time waiting, wondering, and checking her horoscope. Luckily she has Nesta and Lucy, her two best friends, to get her through her boy troubles. The three girls are Londoners, and this is just one of many books about them. It's breezy and fun to read, and full of girl power (in the end). While not nearly as hilarious as Louise Rennison's Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging series, it's a good read for girls who want to read about what it's like to start dating and worrying about boys. It doesn't seem to matter what order you read these books in—the stories stand alone.

The Kayla Chronicles by Sherri Winston

Kayla is a strong, intelligent African American girl interested in journalism and feminism. She’s also a gymnast and dancer, but she lives in the shadow of her best friend, Rosalie. Rosalie comes up with an idea to expose the sexist nature of the Lady Lions, the prestigious high school dance team at the girls’ new private school. Kayla will try out for the team and presumably won’t be selected because of her small chest. Then Kayla can expose this scandal by writing about it for her school journalism class. The problem for Kayla is that she discovers that she really wants to be a Lady Lion, and then she does make the team. Now Rosalie feels betrayed and Kayla is trying to juggle her feminist side with her new Lady Lion persona. Kayla is the narrator and the book is full of her own trendy slang (such as stankalicious and crunktacular). Kayla also deals with family problems, some physical encounters with a new boyfriend, and big problems with Rosalie. The concept is good and her character is fresh, but the use of slang and feminist quotes was sometimes overwhelming to the point of pulling me out of the story. I think the author’s desire to portray strong, feminist African American girls overshadows the plot of the story at times. Nevertheless, it’s a worthwhile book that will appeal to girls trying to find a place in the world.

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Jonah and his neighbor Chip are 13 years old when they start getting mysterious letters in the mail. The first letter says, “You are one of the missing.” It turns out that both boys were adopted as infants and they begin to wonder if that is why they are getting the letters. With a little investigation they find the name of an FBI agent who may know something, and in a hostile meeting with him they acquire a list of names of “witnesses” and “survivors.” They have no idea what they are dealing with, but they begin making phone calls. Things quickly get serious and mysterious and they suspect they are involved in something sinister that may involve time travel. I don’t want to go into anymore detail here and ruin any surprises, but I will say that this book is obviously a set up for a series that will take a group of 36 kids on an array of adventures throughout history. Haddix has an interesting idea here, but I’m afraid it may be too far-fetched to work. It certainly leaves the reader hanging at the end and waiting for a sequel, which some readers will like and some will not.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

This is a good mystery told by an interesting narrator. Two siblings living in London are visited by a cousin they hardly know, Salim. They take him to The London Eye, the huge observation wheel that tourists ride in to see the view of the city. Someone gives Salim a free ticket, he hops into the capsule with a group of other people, and 30 minutes later, when the ride is over, he is not among those who emerge from the ride. Days pass and there is no sign of him. How can a person simply disappear into thin air? Salim’s mother is frantic and the police are baffled. Ted and Kat make a list of theories and do some investigating on their own. They seem to be completely stuck until Ted, who has Asperger’s Syndrome and thinks differently than other people, puts some clues together and realizes what happened to Salim. Then the race is on to save his life. The clues are all there, but I sure didn’t solve the mystery on my own. Recommended for anyone who likes a good mystery.

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

The premise of this book is fascinating. A billionaire obsessed with nuclear weapons builds a huge underground compound to protect his family in the event of an attack. At an unexpected time disaster strikes and the family rushes to The Compound to spend the next 15 years before it’s safe to come out. In the confusion two family members, Grandma and Eddy, are left in the outside world, presumably to die. Mom, Dad, two sisters, and Eddy’s twin brother, Eli, have now been living underground for six years. It’s depressing and stressful, and things aren’t all going as planned, but at least they are alive. The big twist is when you find out that the billionaire father may be not only brilliant, but completely insane. The details of The Compound and how they planned to survive for 15 years are pretty interesting. I also liked the development of Eli, the self-absorbed twin who doesn’t care about his sisters, who steps it up and becomes a stronger, more caring person. Some details were not well developed (like what they planned to do with “The Supplements”) but I think middle schoolers will enjoy this book for it’s strong characters and terrifying, suspenseful situation.

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis

Emma-Jean Lazarus is a bit of an oddball. She's a very logical seventh grade girl who just doesn't understand all the other seventh graders around her. They seem messy and illogical and she's pretty content to live in her own world. But when the opportunity arises to help out a classmate, Emma-Jean forges a letter that helps out one classmate and humiliates another. This act brings her little by little into the lives of her classmates and she begins to interact and understand them a little more. She's a pretty charming character, and there are definitely kids like her in middle schools everywhere. Recommended for girls who like stories about school and friendships and offbeat characters.

Safe by Susan Shaw

This is a book about a teenager recovering from a horrific experience. Tracy is attacked and raped, and while the book never describes in detail her experience, the reader knows that she will never be the same. She tries to go on with her life, but finds herself unable to even leave the house without her father. Tracy's mom died when she was young, but she has always felt her presence with her. Now, when she needs her mom the most, she is unable to find comfort in their connection. Tracy has a good father and a loyal best friend, but Tracy needs more than they can give her. At it's heart this is a story of recovery and reaching out. Readers who like books about abuse, recovery, and serious topics will want to read to the end to find out how Tracy emerges from a terrible experience.

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko

It's hard to describe this book. At first it seems like a school story about two kids with separate problems. Kirsten's parents are fighting, she's eating compulsively, and her best friend is hanging out with a nasty new friend. Walker is the new kid in school and it's tough to be one of the only African American kids at a fancy private school. The point of view alternates between the two characters and while they are friends at school they seem to lead unrelated lives. Then a major plot twist happens that changes everything. Kirsten and Walk have to re-think what they know about their families and themselves. It's definitely worth reading to find out what the secret is--this book is not what it seems at the beginning!

When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright

Lanhi has a lot going on in her life. Her parents are heading toward a divorce, a boy at school is behaving inappropriately with her, and she has been nominated to sing a solo in a school singing competition. It's tough to be the only African American girl at her fancy private school, and it's sometimes tough to be adopted by white parents. When Lanhi's mom takes her to a multiracial church with a gospel choir, Lanhi begins to strive to become the person she wants to be. I loved how Lanhi took charge of her life and began to nurture her singing talent. The story line with the weird guy at school seemed out of place to me, but other than that I thought it was a good story about a girl growing up and figuring out who she is. I think it would be enjoyed by a wide variety of girls, especially those who like to sing.

Airhead by Meg Cabot

While the plot is a bit unbelievable (the brain of a frumpy, video-game playing, feminist teen is implanted into the body of a supermodel), the result is a fun read in typical Meg Cabot style. Emerson Watts wakes up in the hospital in the body of Nikki Howard and is told she must assume the supermodel's identity and, of course, not tell anyone what medical technology was used on her. The biggest problem is that Em's best friend (and secret crush), Christopher, thinks she is dead. Along the way she must deal with assuming Nikki Howard's life in her NY City loft, Nikki's boyfriends kissing her, a difficult modeling job, and adjusting to the fact that her old identity is legally dead. My biggest complaint about this book is that it does not stand alone. It's really a prequel to book two in the series and I wish that Meg Cabot had come to some resolution rather than ending on a big clifhanger. Strangely enough, biomedical issues are a hot topic in teen fiction right now. If you want to think more deeply about the ethical issues this poses, read The Adoration of Jenna Fox. If you want a fun Meg Cabot book about the life of a supermodel, this is for you.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Jenna Fox wakes up from a coma and things just don't seem right. She doesn't remember her own family or friends and she can't remember the incident that put her into the coma in the first place. Her parents encourage her to gain her memories back by watching movies from her childhood (which they filmed in great detail). In spite of her personal memory loss, Jenna knows historical facts and can quote Thoreau word-for-word. On top of all this strangeness, her family appears to be hiding out in California and Jenna's grandmother no longer accepts her in the family. Little by little Jenna pieces things together and finds out a startling truth about who she used to be and who she is now. The secret is revealed part way through this novel, but suspense builds to the end and the ethical questions resonate. This book will lead to many discussions about the value of life, the essence of what makes someone human, and the role of technology in human survival.

Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz

I finally read Snakehead--it's one of the few YA series that I actually read every title that comes out. It's my guilty pleasure to listen to the British audiobook narrator on my iPod. I just love his voice. This was much like all the other Alex Rider books with yet another wildly improbable plot and somehow Alex gets out of every danger put in his way. This time Alex is sent by Australian intelligence to Thailand to pose as an Afghan refugee being illegally transported to Australia by an organization called Snakehead. Horowitz weaves in a new character, Ash, who is Alex's previously unknown godfather. Along the way there's a powerful bomb called Royal Blue, unwilling organ donation (think Unwind by Neal Shusterman), and exploding coins (courtesy of Smithers). It's a classic Alex Rider book recommended for anyone who likes books with action.

Fire from the Rock by Sharon Draper

It's 1957 in Little Rock Arkansas and Central High School admits only white students. Students at the black high schools in town are hearing that this is the year to integrate the schools. They only want to take exemplary students who are smart, motivated, good leaders, and committed to nonviolence. Sylvia's teachers see that she is something special and recommend her for "the list." But Sylvia isn't sure she can give up her friends, boyfriend, and safety to change the world. There are a lot of surprises and complex issues in this book—I was definitely shocked by two of the plot twists toward the end. The most vivid part to me was the depiction of the outright racism and cruelty of many of the white citizens of the town. It bothered me that frequently the dialog between Sylvia and her friends seems stilted and formal, which took me out of the story. It just didn't sound like teenagers talking to each other. I recommend this book to people interested in understanding what life was like during the Civil Rights Movement.

Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm

This is a unique book. It's told entirely in things--things like post it notes, report cards, school assignments, prescriptions, instant messages, bottle caps, and bank statements. Amazingly, you get a pretty good picture of Ginny's 7th grade year as she struggles with her mom's new marriage, a troubled brother, a former best friend. Luckily she also has a good friend and a grandpa who always come through for her. The design of the book is great--very colorful and full of fun things like animal crackers and refrigerator magnets. This is a fun book that's easy to read. I think it would be most appreciated by pre-middle school girls or 6th graders.

Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

Can you imagine what it would be like to live with an abusive mother? Matthew and his sisters don't have to imagine—it's happening to them. Their mom, Nicki, can be lighthearted and kind one minute, then turn on them the next. She cuts Matthew with a knife, drives into oncoming traffic, and dangles the sister over a steep cliff. However, she never does anything quite bad enough to get herself in trouble with the law. This is Matthew's story, told years later, as he recalls the years of physical and emotional abuse and how he and his sister Callie try to protect their younger sister Emmy from the mother who is out of control. Luckily for these kids, they find three adults who eventually realize that these kids need help. It's a gripping book—a little on the mature side because of the abuse and the kind of person their mother is—that will grab middle school readers who like suspense, family problems, and books about abuse.

Traitor's Gate by Avi

If you like fast-paced historical fiction, you'll like this book. It's 1849 and 13-year-old John Huffam has a mystery to solve. His father is thrown into debtor's prison and people are after some secrets that only his father knows. Someone is a traitor and John doesn't know who to trust. You, the reader, don't know who to trust either. It's a fun book with some similarities to the style of Charles Dickens, a famous English writer who also lived during that time period. This book would be best for kids who are good readers and are able to read books with some unfamiliar vocabulary words.

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Kek immigrates to Minnesota from Africa where his family has been torn apart by war. He has seen his father and brother killed and doesn't know the fate of his mother. He moves in with an aunt and cousin who are already living in the U.S. and have adjusted to things like living in an apartment and surviving in the winter. Kek remains hopeful in spite of his horrific past and the difficulties he faces in America. He makes one friend and finds a job caring for a cow, which reminds him of all he lost in Africa. The story is told in free verse and Kek uses a lot of imagery in his comparisons between his old and new lives. This is a sort of quiet book for the kind of reader who likes to empathize with characters in tough situations.