Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper

"Just Grace" is one of four Graces in her class, there is Grace W, Grace F, Gracie and finally "just Grace." Just Grace didn't want to be called that, but when the teacher asked what she would like to be called she said "just Grace" and it stuck. Just Grace tries to make the most of it though, just like the people on her favorite TV show, Unlikely Heroes, a show about normal people who do extraordinary things to help others. So when she hears that her neighbor, Mrs. Luther, is in trouble she has to help! Mrs. Luther broke her leg and now her cat, Crinkles, (who is also her best friend in the whole world) is too scared of her bright orange cast to sit on her lap anymore. So Grace and her friend Mimi make postcards for Mrs. Luther by taking photos of Crinkles and then adding messages like "I miss being cozy with you" and "one of my favorite things is you." But when Crinkles goes missing will just Grace be lauded for cheering up Mrs. Luther or fingered as a cat-napper? Give this one to kids who like cats and books that make you laugh grades 2 thru 4.

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by Patrick

The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

Dennis' mother has left, and his dad spends a lot of time driving his truck for work. When Dennis discovers a magazine at the market with a woman on the cover who reminds him of his mum he buys it, even though it feels a bit odd to buy a ladies magazine. Looking through the pages he realizes that he likes all the fashion, and when he ends up in detention with Lisa, the most beautiful girl in school, they strike up a friendship around this. He has a crush on Lisa and though reluctant, eventually goes for her plan of trying to pass as a girl foreign exchange student for a day. He's ultimately found out, and his soccer team has to band together in an unexpected way if he's going to be allowed to play in the most important game of the season.

The well developed relationships could be a bit overbearing were it not for Williams' wit in writing. The characters all feel quite genuine, and the a-typical protagonist makes for a fresh story. This book demonstrates the need to stay open minded about others, and yourself. Quentin Blake's illustrations (of Roald Dahl renown) feel right at home in this off beat novel.

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by Scott

For Octavia Boone seventh grade starts out well enough but when Octavia’s mother, a life-long seeker of faith, joins the Fellowship of the Redeemer church, her world rapidly changes. For her artist father, Henry David Thoreau seems to have had all the answers but her mother finds very different answers and wants Octavia to accept them as well. Then, when her parent’s disparate world views collide and Octavia is forced to live with her mother and a couple of fellow “Redeemers” Octavia’s anger overflows. Octavia must confront her own prejudices, explore her feelings about God, and discover a way to move forward without her ideal life in tact. Reader, Ellen Grafton, does an excellent job giving voice to Octavia’s emotional turmoil. Her pacing will keep readers engaged as will her variety in tone and pitch. Listeners will quickly connect with this engaging young character and will come away hoping for an encore.

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by Deanna

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little

Moxy Maxwell and Stuart Little had practically been best friends all summer, the two of them had been inseparable. When Moxy Maxwell was in the car on her way to swim practice, Stuart was there, when she was on the porch drinking lemonade, Stuart was there and last Monday at swim practice Stuart Little fell in the pool with her, that's how close the two of them are. No, the reason that Moxy hasn't read Stuart Little all summer long has nothing to do with a lack of time spent together, the problem simply was that Moxy's in-betweens kept getting interupted. You see the perfect time to read a book is when one thing ends and the next thing hasn't begun yet, an in-between. However Moxy's in-between keep getting interrupted by more pressing matters, for example lemonade spills. Unfortunately tomorrow is the first day of fourth grade and if Moxy doesn't read Stuart Little this afternoon, her mom won't let her participate in the water ballet she's been practicing all summer.

This book was a HILARIOUS examination of summer procrastination. A must read for any child who has ever put off doing anything. For grades 2-5.

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by Patrick

Peak by Roland Smith

"My right ear and cheek were frozen to the terra cotta wall.
"To reach the top you must have resolve, muscles, skill, and...
"A FACE!"

Peak is the oddly named son of the world's most famous climber ("It could have been worse. My parents could have named me Glacier, or Abyss, or Crampon,") and a great climber in his own right. So great, in fact, that he starts climbing New York City skyscrapers and tagging them. When he gets busted tagging his sixth building, the judge threatens to throw the book at him (3 years jail time) to prevent copycats from endangering themselves. However, his lawyer and father come up w/ a plea bargain, Peak has to leave the country immediately to live w/ his father, Josh, (who he hasn't seen in 7 years) until all the media attention surrounding "spider-boy" (Peak) blows over.
Peak ends up in Tibet with his father on the slopes of Everest, but it turns out Peak's father has an ulterior motive, he wants to get Peak up the mountain making him the youngest climber up Everest and (hopefully) making his fathers climbing company rich.

This book was fast paced and exciting cover to cover. Life and death climbs, multiple visits from the Chinese military and yaks. Lots and lots of yaks. What more do you need? Give this one to adrenaline junkies Grades 6+

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by Patrick

Hoot by Carl Hiassen

The policeman nodded grimly. "Alligators," he declared.
"You're kiddin' me."
"I wish I was," said Officer Delinko. "They put alligators in your potties sir. Real live alligators."
"More than one?"
"Yes, sir."
Curly was flabbergasted. "Are they... big gators?"
Officer Delinko shrugged, "I imagine all of 'em look big," he said, "when they're swimming under your butt."

Hoot is the story of Roy Eberhardt and his quest to: avoid the dim-witted school bully, track down an odd shoeless school-skipping kid (nicknamed, of all things, Mullet Fingers) and protect some burrowing owls whose homes are about to be bulldozed (to make way for a pancake house). Not bad for a 7th grader, eh? Along the way he crosses paths with: a Police Officer desperate for a promotion, a bag full of poisonous snakes painted silver and a marketing vice president named Chuck Muckle.

Once I started reading Hoot I couldn't put it down. The story moves along at a good pace and the characters, especially Roy, are intriguing and likeable. This book made me laugh again and again, especially the pranks pulled at the construction site (the alligators in the port-a-potties is just one of many).

Not only is Hoot hilarious, it has a great message too. It stresses how thru community involvement kids can make a difference and help the environment. Give this one to kids who love: owls, the environment, and to laugh grades 5 thru 8.

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by Patrick

Baseball Crazy edited by Nancy Mercado

Baseball Crazy is a collection of short stories from the same editor as Every Man for Himself, but this time the theme is the national pastime, baseball. The stories follow a variety of characters from baseball stars, to bench-warmers, from statisticians, to fans and does so in a variety of formats too, mostly short stories, but also a play and poetry. Once again their are some big names like Jerry Spinelli (Maniac Magee) and Joseph Bruchac (Code Talker) backing up this collection and they deliver some great stories

I enjoyed this collection just as much as Every Man for Himself. Give this one to baseball lovers grades 4-8.

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by Patrick

The Rising Star of Rusty Nail byLesley Blume

Rusty Nail, Minnesota is a town "famous" for being the former American Coot (a bird that looks sort of like a duck) capital of the world. Unfortunately one day they decided to just up and leave and "Rusty Nail was left with only the fond memory of the Era of the Coot." All and all Rusty Nail is a small town with few opportunities. That's why 10-year-old Franny is determined to make the most of her big chance. Franny isn't the best at math or reading or science and she and her friend Sandy have a real penchant for mischief, but if there's one thing Franny excels at it's piano. Her father even calls her his little Mozart. So when the school principal asks Franny to play piano at an assembly for a special visitor to the town Franny practices like she's never practiced before.

The book is set in the 1950s and follows many of the predictable themes of the decade: small town America, the birth of television and most of all McCarthyism. Much of the story focuses on Franny's relationship with Madame Malenko, an aloof Russian concert pianist who moves to town as well as the town's reaction to her arrival.

I've noticed that 50's themes have been popular ever since 9/11 because of the easy comparisons that can be made between McCarthyism and the war on terror. That element is definitely present in this book, but it makes it's point in more of a "don't judge a book by it's cover" fashion. This was a solid book through and through. Give this one to fans of historical fiction, music or Russian composers with unpronounceable names grades 5 thru 8.

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by Patrick

Lay Ups and Long Shots

Lay Ups and Long Shots is a collection of eight sports short stories by a variety of children's and young adult authors. The stories are generally enjoyable and usually funny.

My one gripe with this book was that it seemed like these sports stories were written for people who don't necessarily like sports. This probably isn't the best bet for the star athlete reluctant reader, but it would be great for an avid reader who loves humorous realistic fiction grades 4 to 7.

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by Patrick

Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park

Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, the entire New York Yankees team... the 50's were a great time to be a baseball fan in New York, whether you were a Dodgers, Giants or Yankees fan. Of course, Maggie Fortini doesn't see it that way, because her team, the Dodgers, always fall just short of winning the world series. Maggie, already the Dodgers' biggest fan, becomes an even more ardent supporter when she learns to keep score from one of the guys down at her dad's fire station- Jim (a Giants fan yuck!). Maggie and Jim quickly become close friends because of their shared interest in baseball. So much so, that even after Jim is drafted and sent to Korea, Maggie writes him letter after letter. But when the letters abruptly stop coming Maggie wonders were they ever really friends at all?

A great book, Maggie's character is instantly lovable and I really got into the whole baseball thing when I was reading the book (I still kinda want to learn how to keep score). Recommend this one to sports fans (especially female sports fans) grades 5 to 9.

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by Patrick