PMS Library

Beastly

beastly

by Alex Flinn. p. 304 Young Adult

Attention Twilight fans! This compelling romance puts a contemporary spin on the Beauty and the Beast tale. Popular fourteen-year-old Kyle Kingsbury is incredibly good looking, charming, rich, and really mean. After playing an especially cruel trick on a homely girl,at a dance, a witch casts a spell on Kyle turning him into a beast–making him as ugly on the outside as he has been on the inside. He only has two years to break the spell or live as a beast forever. In order to do so, he must fall in true love with someone who will love him back and give him, of course, a kiss!

Connections: Here are some other excellent versions of the Beauty and the Beast story: Beast by Donna Jo Napoli; Rose Daughter and Beauty by Robin McKinley.

The City of Ember

ember1 by Jeanne DuPrau p.270 Grades 5-8

What if the only light in your world came from an electric bulb? And what if your society was running out of those light bulbs? This is the situation that faces twelve-year-olds Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow. Lina discovers a set of instructions that she believes will help her people get out of Ember into a world of light. Unfortunately, her baby sister has chewed on the paper and only certain words are readable. Will they provide enough clues for Lina and Doon to find the escape route through the underground pipeworks. And why are the city officials trying to arrest them?

Connections: The Books of Ember series also includes People of Sparks, Prophet of Yonwood and The Diamond of Darkhold.

The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone

petronella1 by Dene Low. p. 196 Grades 5-8

What a funny, frothy farce! Set in Victorian England, this improbable mystery concerns sixteen-year-old Petronella who is about to have her London debut when her guardian Uncle Augustus swallows a giant beetle and develops an insatiable hunger for all insects. The story begins at Petronella’s sixteenth birthday party on her large country estate where her uncle swallows the bug, two of her celebrity guests disappear, and we meet the romantic Lord James Sinclair. Filled with Petronella’s witty observations and banter, lots of slapstick, luscious language,and some romantic possibilities, this books is a delight to read.

Connections: If you enjoy this book, try the short stories and novels by P.G. Wodehouse such as How Right You Are, Jeeves, Carry on, Jeeves, and Leave It to Psmith.

H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education

hive by Mark Walden. p. 309 Grades 5-8

A school for bad kids?! That’s what H.I.V.E., the Higher Institute for Villainous Education, purports to be. Kids who appear to have special talents that could be used for evil are kidnapped and brought to this school located on a remote island where adults interested in world domination train the students in various nefarious skills. The island appears to have no escape, but as soon as thirteen-year-old Otto arrives, he and three of his new classmates begin plotting their get away. A counterpoint to Hogwarts, at H.I.V.E., technology and brains replace magic and wizardry.

Connections: Other fast-paced adventures set in special schools include: David Lubar’s Hidden Talents and its sequel True Talents; James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series; Trenton Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society; and Ally Carter’s I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You. PMS Library also owns the sequel–H.I.V.E. : the Overlord Protocol .

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CYRM Winners for 2009

Have you read the California Young Reader Medal winners for 2009?

alabama-moon3

Middle School – Alabama Moon by Watt Key

Young Adult – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Read More »

The London Eye Mystery

london-eye by Siobhan Dowd, p. 323 Grades 5-8

Ted loves the weather, listening to forecasts and tracking changes, but he wasn’t sure that he was going to like having his aunt (called Hurricane Glo by his father) and his cousin come for a visit. When Ted’s cousin, Salim, disappeared from the ferris wheel-like London Eye, Ted initially came up with 8 theories about what could have happened to him, including the more mundane, we missed him getting out, to the outrageous possibilities of a time-warp or Salim spontaneously combusting (Ted’s favorite). Salim’s mother and Ted’s parents are frantic with worry, and don’t listen to Ted’s ideas about where he could have gone. His older sister, Kat, does listen, and together they try to use the available clues (pictures in Salim’s camera and a souvenir photo) to solve the mystery.

Connections: Other books that have characters with Asperger’s syndrome or Autism include: Rules by Cynthia Lord, The Very ordered existence of Merilee Marvelous by Suzanne Crowley, and Al Capone does my shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.

Savvy

savvy by Ingrid Law, p. 342 Grades: 5-7

Change can be scary, but as Mississippi Beaumont (aka Mib) approaches her thirteenth birthday, she can’t wait to see what special savvy (magic power) she will possess. Her oldest brother Rocket’s electric savvy keeps the car going and the lights on, but blows light bulbs and causes blackouts when he can’t scumble (control it). Her other brother Fish’s savvy caused a hurricane on his 13^th birthday that forced the whole family to move to the Kansas/Nebraska border from their coastal home in Mississippi to avoid large bodies of water. The other changes that come with turning 13 (changing feelings, friends, fashion, etc.) prove to be more challenging for Mib. When her father ends up in the hospital after a car accident, Mib is determined to get to him and prove that her savvy will save the day.

Connections: Other books with seemingly normal kids having magical talents or in magical situations include: The Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, The Anybodies by N.E. Bode, Five Children and It by E. Nesbit, and Half Magic by Edward Eager

The Entertainer and the Dybbuk

the-entertainer by Sid Fleischman, p. 180 Grades 6-9

The Great Freddie is a washed-up ventriloquist (he can’t speak without moving his lips) living in Europe following WWII until one night in Vienna, Austria he opens the closet in his hotel room and finds a dybbuk or Jewish spirit of a boy (Avrom Amos Poliakov) killed by Nazi soldiers during the war. To repay a debt he owes the boy for an incident that happened during the war, Freddie allows Avrom to possess his body and speak through him for the purpose of tracking down the boy’s killer and becoming a bar mitzvah. In the process, Avrom turns The Great Freddie’s ventriloquism act into a smash success and finds a platform for speaking out about the atrocities against Jews by the Nazis during the war, but Freddie finds himself in some awkward situations with his girlfriend.

Connections: Some other great fiction titles that illustrate the treatment of Jews during World War II try reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, or Hitler’s Canary by Sandy Toksvig. Check out this video interview with the author.

Kaleidoscope Eyes

kalei-eyes by Jen Bryant. p. 257 Grades 5-8

It’s summer vacation and what could be better than sneaking out at night to look for buried treasure with your two best friends?! After thirteen-year-old Lyza’s grandfather dies, she finds an envelope in his attic marked ”For Lyza ONLY.” It containis three maps, a key, and a letter with rather crypic directions which lead Lyza, Malcolm and Carolann on an adventure to find pirate William Kidd’s buried treasure. Set in 1968, this novel is told in verse against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the cultural revolution of the sixties.

Connections: The Voyage of the Arctic Tern by Hugh Montgomery is another pirate adventure in verse. For more books on pirates, try Sea Queens : Women Pirates Around the World by Jane Yolen, Piracy & Plunder : a Murderous Business by Milton Meltzer, Piratica by Tanith Lee, Bloody Jack by Carolyn Meyer, Voyage of Plunder by Michele Torrey, and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

One-Handed Catch

one-handed-catch by M. J. Auch p. 246 Grades: 5-8

The summer before sixth grade, Norm loses his left hand when it gets caught in a meat grinder. Poor kid! His mom’s not cutting him any slack, and his dreams of making the baseball team seem hopeless–until he hears about a one-handed major league baseball player and a customer gives him a right-handed baseball mitt. Now it’s up to Norm.

Connections: Here’s some other great baseball fiction: Hang Tough Paul Mather by Alfred Slote; Some Kind of Pride by Maria Testa; Choosing Up Sides by John Ritter; High Heat by Carl Deuker; and Hard Ball byWill Weaver. Browse 796.357 for baseball nonfiction and search baseball biography in the catalog for famous players.

Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Fingers

lang-lang by Lang Lang with Michael French. p. 215 Grades 5-8

Would you think that watching Tom and Jerry cartoons could inspire you to become one of the world’s greatest pianists? Well, that’s what happened to famous pianist Lang Lang. When he was three years old, he loved watching cartoons, especially Tom and Jerry. In one cartoon episode, Tom, the cat, is dressed up in a tuxedo and playing a concert piano. He awakens little Jerry, the mouse, who has been sleeping on the strings, and then the mischief begins with Jerry jumping out of the piano and onto the keys. The cartoon made young Lang Lang realize how much fun playing the piano could be, and in his imagination, he was Tom one minute and Jerry the next. By the time he was five years old, he was winning major competitions. His memoir not only tells of his passion for music, but also of the very long hours of practice and work. He was born in Shenyang, China to poor parents. His father was determined that Lang Lang would be a famous pianist and put tremendous pressure on his son to excel. At times heartbreaking, this memoir is a must read for any aspiring musician.

Connections: You might also enjoy these music biographies: John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth; The Voice that Changed a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights; Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (And What the Neighbors Thought); and Johann Sebastian Bach: And the Art of Baroque Music. To see a video of Lang Lang performing, check out this link. We apologize for the brief commercial.

Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World

sea-queens by Jane Yolen, p. 92 Grades 4-7

Ahoy matey! Pirates bring to mind Blackbeard, peg legs, eye patches, the Jolly Roger, stolen treasure, and not women. Women were generally considered bad luck on a ship. Yet, Yolen shares the history and legend of several infamous female pirates. The beautiful Alfhild from Denmark was protected from unwanted suitors by a pet viper. The fierce Grania O’Malley from Ireland gave birth to her son aboard ship and climbed out of bed the next day to shoot at the leaders of a Turkish ship that had attacked. Madam Ching of China “commanded a total of two thousand boats and seventy thousand men, the most any pirate in the world ever led.” So hop on board and enjoy the tales.

Connection: For another title telling tales of women in a role typically held by men, check out I’ll Pass for Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War by Anita Silvey. Check out this video interview with Jane Yolen.

Child of Dandelions

child-of-dandelions by Shenaaz Nanji, p. 210 Grades: 7-10

What do you do when your whole world seems to be falling down around you? Do you deny that it is happening? In 1972, when President Idi Amin of Uganda gave all foreign Indians 90 days to leave the country, fifteen year-old Sabine didn’t think that included her family, as they were all Ugandan citizens. When her uncle disappears mysteriously, she convinces herself that he will turn up soon. When her best friend, Zena turns against her, Sabine hopes she will come around eventually. But, when the soldiers come looking for her father . . .

Connections: Some other stories that deal with conflict between different groups within one country include Girl of Kosovo by Alice Mead, Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata, or Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.

Zen and the Art of Faking It

zen4 by Jordan Sonnenblick. p. 264 Grades 6-8

It’s tough being the new kid especially in January of the eighth grade. San Lee has moved around and changed schools a lot, and this time it’s because his dad has gone to prison for fraud. His mom’s short on money because of his dad’s legal fees, and even though it’s the middle of the winter in Pennsylvania, San heads off for his new middle school in sandals and the light windbreaker that were fine in Texas. Adopted from China as a baby, San is the only Asian American at his new school. When he discovers that his social studies class is studying Buddhism, which he studied last year, he pretends to be a Zen master. This deception wins him the attention of a beautiful girl but spins out of control in both serious and comical ways as more and more kids believe he’s the real thing.

Connections: Books where a new kid makes a big impact on the other students in a school are Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, The Gypsies Never Came by Stephen Roos, Schooled by Gordon Korman and, for mature readers, Jake Reinvented by Gordon Korman as well as Inventing Elliot by Graham Gardner. If you’d like to know more about Zen Buddhism, try browsing the 294.3 section of the library.

The Underneath

by Kathi Appelt p. 313 Grades 6-8 underneath-2

This amazing book has it all–chills, thrills, tears, fears; strangers and dangers; monsters and heroes; prehistoric and modern times; dogs and cats, love and hate; cruelty and compassion; animals and humans; magic and realism, shape-shifters and kittens; revenge and redemption; loneliness and friendship. This strange and magical story begins in a Texas bayou when a calico cat about to have kittens hears the lonely howls of a chained up dog. She and her kittens take up residence with him underneath the shack where the hound’s cruel master, Gar Face, has chained him. They are safe until one of the kittens ventures out from the underneath and is caught by Gar-Face.

Connections: If you like sad animal stories, try these titles: Old Yeller by Fred Gipson, Sounder by William Armstrong, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien, and Watership Down by Richard Adams are other wonderful fantasies where animals form communities to help each other.

Ranger’s Apprentice series

rangers-apprentice north1
burning-bridge by John Flanagan p. 250 (about) Grades 5-8

If you like fast-paced, exciting adventure series, here’s an excellent one. In The Ruins of Gorlan, book one of the series, fifteen-year old Will becomes apprenticed to Halt, a senior member of the Rangers, a group of dark-cloaked, mysterious spies whose espionage protects the kingdom. His training–rigorous, often grueling–prepares Will to face the challenges to the kingdom by Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, including gigantic, ferocious wild boars and the Kalkara, ape-like creatures that use their piercing stares to paralyze their opponents.

Connections: Here are other fast-paced adventure series: Maximum Ride by James Patterson, Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, and Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz.

Word Nerd

by Susin Nielsen. p. 248 Grades: 7-8 word-nerd

What do a 7th grade misfit with a severe peanut allergy and a twenty-five-year-old ex-convict, former drug addict have in common? SCRABBLE!!! After Ambrose nearly dies when three bullies slip a peanut into his sandwich, his overly protective mother removes Ambrose from school and has him do a correspondence course from home. While she is at work, Ambrose secretly forges a friendship with his landlords’ son, Cosmos, who has just gotten out of prison. He cons Cosmos into taking him to the West Side Scrabble Club. While Ambrose becomes hooked on Scrabble competition, Cosmos becomes hooked on beautiful Amanda, who runs the club. This moving book is filled with lots of humor, word play, interesting characters and even danger.

Connection: Other good reads with clever, outsider characters are Schooled by Gordon Korman, the Shredderman series by Wendelin Van Draanen, Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick, and Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of the Tree by Lauren Tarshis.

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree and Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love

emma-jean-11 by Lauren Tarshis. p. 169 Grades 5-8 emma-jean-21

Emma-Jean Lazarus is different from the other seventh graders at William Gladstone Middle School. She’s super smart and super logical and finds the social interactions among her peers interesting but totally irrational. Yet she is drawn to use her super problem solving skills to help sweet, hypersensitive Colleen when Emma-Jean discovers her crying in the girls’ bathroom. Emma-Jean’s meddling not only leads to some hilarious situations but also to her beginning to make friends. In the sequel, Emma Jean Lazarus Fell in Love, Emma Jean develops a crush herself while trying to help Colleen discover the secret admirer who left a note in Colleen’s locker. If you enjoy quick, humourous reads about quirky characters, you’ll love Emma Jean Lazaus!

Connection: Other good novels with quirky characters include The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd, Word Nerd by Susin Nielsen, Susan Patron’s Higher Power of Lucky, Way Down Deep by Ruth White and the adult novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.

Way Down Deep

way-down by Ruth White, p. 197 – Grades 4-7

In Way Down Deep, WV during the summer of 1944, a cute, red-headed toddler was found on the courthouse steps. Raised by Miss Arbus, the owner of the local boarding house, Ruby Jane spends the next ten years living a comfortable life in the quiet little town filled with lots of quirky, loveable characters. When a bank robber and his family are taken in under the collective wings of the townspeople, Ruby Jane starts to piece together the puzzle of her mysterious past.

Connection: For other books with quirky characters set in a small town, try reading Richard Peck’s A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder or Susan Patron’s Higher Power of Lucky.

Anything but Typical

anything-but By Nora Raleigh Baskin, p. 195 – Grades 4-7

Twelve year-old Jason, a creative writing whiz, is easily able to point out the differences between his “neurotypical” peers and autistic self but struggles with filtering out the noises, sensations and smells that distract him and make it hard to behave the way people expect him to. He is most comfortable when logged into his favorite story sharing website, Storyboard. Through the site, Jason starts a friendship with a girl, Rebecca, who admired one of his stories. He even goes so far as to describe her as his girlfriend. Jason gets the opportunity of a lifetime when his father offers to take him to the Storyboard conference but panics when he realizes that he might meet Rebecca in person.

Connection: For other stories with a protagonists on the autism spectrum, try reading Siobhan Dowd’s The London Eye Mystery or Suzanne Crowley’s The Very Ordered Existence Merilee Marvelous.

Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing

partly-cloudy by Gary Soto, p. 100 – Grades 6-9

Told from the point of view of both teen boys and girls, these poems capture the sweetness, heartache and confusion of young love. This meaty yet easy to read collection is divided into two sections: “A Girl’s Tears, Her Songs” and “A Boy’s Body, His Words.”

Consequence

When a stone bridge fails,

you can rebuild it with your hands.

With love, when it falls,

The rocks shoot sparks. Gossips

Gather at the river’s edge,

Skipping stones across the water,

Asking intently, “Who brought it down?”

Connection: For another book of poetry dealing with teenagers try Paul B. Janeczko’s Proposterous; Poems of Youth.

Knucklehead

by Jon Scieszka. p. 106 – Grades 4-7 knucklehead1

Have you ever wondered where the author of the Stinky Cheese Man gets his wildly hilarious ideas? Well, this very funny autobiography of Jon Scieszka will answer that question. Scieszka grew up in a family of six boys, and the stories he tells about his childhood include listing all the swear words he knows for his parochial school nun, charging the neighbor kids money to watch his little brother eat cigarette butts, and playing a game called Slaughterball. Caution: includes some bathroom humor.

Connections: Other humorous memoirs include How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen, Chicago Days and Hoboken Nights by Daniel Pinkwater, Living Up the Street by Gary Soto, Oddballs by William Sleator, The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan, and the country vet books by James Herriot. Check out this video of Jon Scieszka.

The True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

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by Rodman Philbrick. p. 244 – Grades 5-8

Like adventure? Enjoy humor? Interested in American history, especially the Civil War? Then this is the book for you because it has lots of all three. Orphan Homer P. Figg runs away from the cruel uncle who is raising him after this guardian illegally sells Homer’s older brother Harold into the Union Army. In his quest to rescue his brother, Homer has many dangerous, but also hilarious, adventures along the way. Homer is a chronic liar and his ability to stretch the truth gets him both into and out of some very tight spots. This is a fast-moving tale filled with interesting characters, many surprises, and lots of twists and turns.

Connection: For other humorous adventures with historical American settings, try Sid Fleischman’s Bandit Moon and Jim Ugly, Walter Dean Myers’ The Righteous Revenge of Artemis Bonner, and Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Antsy Does Time

index By Neal Shusterman, p. 247 – Grades 6-9.

If you enjoyed meeting Antsy (Anthony Bonano) in the Schwa Was Here, you’ll love encountering him again in this humorous teen novel in which he gives Gunnar Umlaut a month of his life. When classmate Gunnar tells Antsy that he only has six months to live, Antsy draws up a contract giving Gunnar a month of his life, which earns him the attention and a kiss from Gunnar’s gorgeous older sister. Soon other kids and even the principal want to donate months of their lives to Gunnar. Time passes, and Gunnar isn’t showing symptoms. What’s up?

Connection: Other humorous novels where schemes get out of hand are The Schwa Was Here by Neal Schusterman, The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashjian, and Peeled by Joan Bauer.

Hippie Chick

hippie-chick By Joseph Monninger, p. 156 – Grades 7-10.

Independent, free-spirited Lolly runs into serious trouble when she takes her little sailboat out one evening in the Florida Keys. Her boat capsizes, and as the sun sets, she realizes that no one knows where she is and that her chances of survival are slim. Terrified of sharks, she nearly freaks out when something smooth and large bumps up against her legs. It turns out to be a manatee. Clinging to its back, Lolly travels with the manatee and its companions to a mangrove swamp.

Connection: Other novels about special human-animal relationships include The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse, Incident at Hawk’s Hill by Allen Eckert, and Eva by Peter Dickison.

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had

best-bad-luck by Kristin Levine, p. 264 – Grades 6-9

While many of the townspeople in early 20th century Moundville, Alabama were shocked at the arrival of the new African-American postmaster, twelve-year old Dit was disappointed when he realized the postmaster’s child, Emma, was a girl rather than the playmate he had been hoping for. Adventuresome Dit is sure that he will never enjoy spending time with bookish, refined Emma, but he grudgingly shows her around and eventually the two end up finding common ground in the digging of a fort in Dit’s favorite hill mound. With the start of school in the fall, Dit comes to more fully understand the realities of the Jim Crow laws as Emma is forced to go to a different school and his buddies tease him about their friendship. Racial tensions in the town really erupt when the the town’s African American barber is charged with a crime against the overtly racist sheriff, and as witnesses to the crime, Dit and Emma can’t help but get involved.

Connection: For another story about a friendship challenged by racism, read Tony Johnston’s Bone by Bone by Bone.

Alligator Bayou

alligator-bayou by Donna Jo Napoli, p. 280 – Grades 7-10

Fourteen year-old Calogero lives with his four uncles and one cousin in the small town of Tallulah, Louisiana at the end of the 19th century. He has left his four year-old brother behind in Sicily after the disappearance of his father and the death of his mother. At a time of strong anti-immigrant sentiment and Jim Crow laws, the Sicilians are being forced to keep separate from not only the white but also the black members of the community. Calo’s secret crush on an African American girl, Patricia, and the success of the family’s produce market provide the fuel to feed the flames of racism in this small town.

Connection: The King of Mulberry Street is another novel, by Donna Jo Napoli, that describes the experience of Italian American immigrants (in New York City).

Thirteenth Child

thirteenth-child by Patricia C. Wrede, p. 344 – Grades 6 & Up

Eff and her twin brother Lan live in a magical, alternative version of the the western frontier. Eff is born the thirteenth child, a position that is thought to bring bad luck to the family, while her brother is lucky 14 and the 7th son of the 7th son, a position that brings extraordinary magical power. The family moves from the civilized and secure east to the western frontier where a magical border keeps dangerous creatures like the dreaded steam dragons away from the settlements. Despite her difficulties learning and controlling magic, Eff’s teacher Miss Ochiba teaches her not only Avrupan magic but also the Hijero-Cathayan and Aphrikan styles. An expedition to the settlements outside the Great Barrier Magic tests her magical skills.

Connection: For another story that brings a magical alternative to a historical setting, try reading The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer.

Wintergirls

wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, p. 278 – Grades 8 & Up

This novel, for mature readers, tells the story of Lia who has just found out about the death of her once best friend, Cassie. While they were friends, both girls suffered from eating disorders: Lia- anorexia and Cassie- bulimia. On the night of Cassie’s death, Lia received 33 phone calls and messages from Cassie… all of which Lia had left unanswered. Lia’s family (too busy mother, distant father and clueless stepmother) are concerned that the news will send Lia over the edge again and back to New Seasons the rehabilitation center she has already visited twice.

Connection: For another story that shows a teen dealing with the death of another teen read Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why.

New Audiobook Format

Please respond to the poll by following the question link.

Would you listen to audiobooks on your MP3 player?(answers)

In the fall, we will be adding a new audiobook format to our collection called MP3 CDs. MP3 CDs are easily downloaded to MP3 players or iPods. To sample some of the titles, click on the cover image links below:

The London Eye Mystery

Adam Canfield of The Slash

Princess Ben

Read More »

Freefall

freefall by Anna Levine, p. 250 – Grades 8 & Up

As Israel and Lebanon engage in battle, eighteen year-old Aggie is simultaneously preparing for high school graduation and her two year, compulsory service in the Israeli army. Thoughts of kisses and crushes compete with concerns over inadequacies. She thinks she wants to be a member of the elite, women’s combat unit rather than be stuck in a desk job, but members of her family are making her question her capabilities. Her best friend’s older brother, Noah (a combat soldier) is showing particular interest in her trials at the physically and mentally challenging boot camp. Aggie gets a taste of the front line when she goes north to help one of her buddies from boot camp.

Connection: Another love story with war as the backdrop (in this case the Civil War) is Red Moon at Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells.

The Hunger Games

hunger-games by Suzanne Collins, p. 374 – Grades 7 & Up

In this book, for mature readers, what was once the United States is destroyed by climate change and war and is replaced by Panem with its wealthy rulers in the Capitol controlling twelve neighboring districts. Each year the districts must pay tribute to the Capitol by sending two of their teens (12-18) to fight to the death in the Hunger Games, which is televised and must be watched by everyone (think Survivor with weapons and a manipulated environment). Sixteen year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to replace her younger sister as the tribute from District 12 (the poorest district) when her sister’s name is pulled in the lottery for the 74th Hunger Games. Since her father’s death in a mining accident, Katniss has had to work hard so she and her family could survive, but in the Hunger Games she will be facing tributes who have spent their lives training for this event.

Connection: Other examples of survival fiction that will keep the reader on edge are Deathwatch by Robb White and The Dead & the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer. –CRW

Highlight: Watch this video interview with Suzanne Collins.

Rules

rules by Cynthia Lord, p. 200 – Grades 4-7

Twelve-year-old Catherine’s brother (David) has autism and regularly does things that embarrass her, so she creates more and more rules for him to live by. She also fiercely defends David from bullies like Ryan who lives on their street. During the summer Catherine goes to her brother’s speech therapy appointments and meets Jason, a boy with cerebral palsy who uses a book of words and pictures to communicate. Catherine’s friendship with Jason grows as she adds new (hip) words and pictures to his book. A new girl, Kristi, moves in next-door, opening up the possibility of a new special friendship, but Catherine is not sure whether or not to trust her new friend when Kristi shows an interest in the bully, Ryan.

Connection: The main character in Gennifer Choldenko’s novel Al Capone Does My Shirts also has a sibling with autism. — CRW

Graceling

graceling by Kristin Cashore, p. 471 – Grades 8 & Up

This award winning first novel by Kristin Cashore will have mature readers begging for a sequel. The king of Middluns first identified Lady Katsa’s “grace” when she killed a man at age 8, and he has been using her special talent to keep the people of his kingdom and the surrounding six kingdoms in line ever since. Lady Katsa rebels against the bullying king by secretly forming a council to protect those who have been treated unfairly throughout the seven kingdoms. The rescue of a neighboring king’s kidnapped father leads Katsa on a quest to find his captor, with the help of his grandson, who has an interesting “grace” of his own.

Connection: This book might appeal to those who enjoyed the combination of fantasy and romance in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight books or the strong female protagonist in Garth Nix’s Sabriel series. — CRW

Snow Falling in Spring

snow-falling by Moying Li, p. 176 – Grades 6-9

At the start of her autobiography, Moying Li is living happily in Beijing with her well-educated, extended family in a large house surrounding an open courtyard. During the transformation of the Great Leap Forward the courtyard contains a huge brick furnace and family and friends work endlessly to melt down scrap metal to produce steel. The Cultural Revolution bring changes that the author first tries to embrace then needs to protect herself from. The Red Guards attack her teachers, send her mother to the countryside to teach, take her father off to a labor camp and destroy his library. Throughout the book, Moying Li’s dedication to her family, friends and education is never compromised.

Connection: For further reading on this time period in China’s history, read the memoir, The Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang or the fiction title, Revolution is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine. –CRW

Ghostgirl

ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley, p.328 – Grades 7 & Up

It is the first day of her junior year and Charlotte is geared up to shift from ignored wallflower to part of the in-crowd. When she gets dream-guy Damen as her physics lab partner, she thinks that the stars have finally aligned. As they leave the classroom with Damen asking her to be his tutor, Charlotte chokes on a gummy bear and dies. Caught in the world between life and eternity, Charlotte and her new Dead Ed. classmates find out that they have some unfinished business before they can really move on.

Connection: For another book about high school and struggles with popularity try reading, She’s So Money by Cherry Cheva –CRW

Cheater

cheater by Michael Laser, p. 231 – Grades 7 & Up

Karl always gets straight A+s and is tired of being labeled a geek. He is offered the chance to join the “in” crowd when super-popular, Blaine asks him if he would like to join their high-tech organization of cheaters. He flatly refuses until the super-strict vice principal sets up harsh new anti-cheating consequences and makes an example of one of Karl’s childhood friend. Karl then sees joining the cheaters is his chance to be the hero.

Connection: For another book that deals with the issue of peer pressure, try reading Jake, Reinvented by Gordon Koman –CRW

Laurie Halse Anderson

Check out this new historical fiction title from a favorite author:

Chains, p. 316 – Grades 6-10

chains

Highlight: Watch this great interview (from Reading Rockets) with Laurie Halse Anderson talking about her life and her books.

Gossamer

gossamer by Lois Lowry, p. 140 – Grades 4-7

This is the story of “Littlest One,” a young Giver learning how to bestow dreams. She is trying to save an 8 year-old boy (a victim of abuse who is currently in foster care) from the nightmares brought on by the Sinisteeds. The stories of the boy, his foster care mother, and his rehabilitating mother are all told through the gathering of fragments (short memories) collected by touching the objects of a person’s life. This is a beautiful quiet story that looks at the fallout from child abuse and the challenges of foster care.

Connection: Another great book by this author is The Willoughbys- a darkly humorous story about two children left with a nanny by their neglectful parents.

Highlight: Check out this interview with Lois Lowry from Reading Rockets. –CRW

Hitler’s Canary

hitlerscanary by Sandy Toksvig, p. 191 – Grades 5-8

Bamse, just 10 when the Germans invaded Denmark, is coming of age during the occupation. He must decide whether to follow his brother in working with the Danish Resistance or listen to his father and stay out of trouble. His mother’s acting career and her theatrics provide the structure for the story as well as drama and comic relief. Bamse comes to realize that not all German’s are bad nor all Danish good, and why his friend Anton’s participation in the resistance is particularly dangerous/courageous. The author’s note explains what parts of this work of fiction come from her own family’s experiences.

Connection: This book might appeal to those who enjoyed Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. –CRW

Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest

samualblinkforbidforest1 by Matt Haig, p. 316 – Grades 4-8

Twelve-year-old Samuel and his sister Martha (who has recently become selectively mute) find themselves living on the edge of a mysterious forest in Norway after the sudden, tragic death of their parents. Samuel is having trouble adapting to this new strange environment and his quirky aunt’s long list of rules, including the most important – “NEVER – UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES – GO INTO THE FOREST.” The forest contains dark and dangerous creatures as well as a mystery surrounding the disappearance of Aunt Eda’s husband, Uncle Henrik. Samuel is forced into unlocking the mysteries of the forest when he has to save his sister, who also inexplicably disappears into it one day.

Connection: This story might appeal to those readers who enjoy spunky orphan stories like Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events. –CRW

The Porcupine Year

porcupineyear by Louise Erdrich, p. 193 – Grades 5-8

This third book in the series that started with the Birchbark House can stand alone. Omakayas is twelve as her family is forced, by increasing numbers of white settlers, to move westward through northern Minnesota from their original home on Madeline Island. The story picks up quickly with Omakayas and her younger brother being swept far down river through raging rapids. The family faces many dangers (human, nature and animal) while Omakayas moves through the uncharted territory of womanhood (changing relationships, responsibilities and romance).

Connection: Another story of personal growth along with voyages and travel is Sharon Creech’s Ruby Holler. –CRW

Peace, Locomotion

peace-locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson, p. 136 – Grades 4-7

In this companion to Locomotion, Lonnie Collins Motion (aka Locomotion) helps his sister Lili remember life before their separate foster care placements by sending her letters filled with memories of the past triggered by his day to day experiences. Both Locomotion and Lili are happy with their foster care families, but miss their parents and being together. The letters start to focus on the importance of peace and the realities of war as Locomotion becomes more aware of his foster brother who is in the army.

Connection: This quick read might appeal to those who like Shooting the Moon by O’Rourke. –CRW

Highlight: Watch this great interview (from Reading Rockets) with Jacqueline Woodson talking about her life and her books.

Masterpiece

masterpiece by Elise Broach, p.292 – Grades 4-8

Marvin (a beetle and the narrator of the story) lives under the sink in the house in NYC where James lives with his mother, step-father and baby brother. Marvin remains hidden with his family until one day he uses ink from James’ new pen and ink set to make the boy a birthday drawing. Their growing friendship and Marvin’s drawing talent lead the two to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and into a mystery around some missing Albrecht Durer drawings.

Connection: The talented bug is remniscent of The Cricket in Times Square, and the mystery surrounding the art brings a couple of books to mind: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Chasing Vermeer. –CRW

Seaborn

seaborn by Craig Moodie, p.201 – Grades 6-9

Sixteen-year-old Luke would rather stay home and fish than go on the annual trip with his family on their small, cramped sailboat. Luke decides he has no choice but to go when his mother walks out out on them. The two decide to explore the Gulf Stream rather than sticking to the islands off the coast of Massachussetts and run into trouble when an unexpected storm blows in.

Connection: This quick read is a good choice for fans of Gordon Korman’s Dive, Everest & Island series. –CRW

Out of Reach

out-of-reach by V.M. Jones, p. 264 – Grades 6-9

Thirteen-year-old Pip McLeod is tired of his father’s pacing, yelling and disappointment at his soccer games. He is tired of being compared to his super-athletic, older brother. He wishes that his best buddy, Katie, would start looking at him as something more than just a friend. The construction of a new sports facility in the neighborhood provides the walls for Pip to climb to reach his true potential and find himself. This import from New Zealand give a glimpse daily life in that distant land and is a good choice for readers looking for a different kind of sports book. –CRW

Suck It Up

suckitup1 by Brian Meehl, p. 318 – Grades 7 & Up

After graduating from the IVLeague (International Vampire League), Morning McCobb gets the opportunity to be the hero he had always hoped to be… rather than just the skinny, awkward teen he will eternally be. The president of the IVLeague offered Morning the chance to be the first vampire to reveal himself to “lifers” (humans) in the hopes that humans and vampires can live together in harmony. Morning is thought to be the perfect canidate since he only drinks a soy-based blood substitute rather than the farmed animal blood that most Leaguer vampires drink. A potential love interest and an angry “loner” (non-league vampires that still drink human blood) make the challenge of convincing humans that vampires are friends even more difficult.

Connection: This book is a good choice for those interested a lighter version of Twilight, told from the vampires point of view. –CRW

Book Return & Summer Reading

Please return all library books by June 7th. Beginning June 10th, sixth and seventh grade students may check out library books for the summer. For lists of high interest books organized by genre, check out our Recreational Reading Suggestions.

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