The Neptune Project, Polly Holyoke. Set hundreds of years into the future when humans ruined the Earth, Nere is forced by her mother to live in the sea. Without her knowledge, she, along with other kids, have been genetically changed to live like a fish. She learns that her father, whom she presumed dead, is actually alive, but to get to him, she must travel through dangerous waters, the Western Collective and The Marine Guard who are willing to pay for their capture. The Neptune Project, created to provide a safer life below the waters, is an adjustment she is not sure she likes. Surviving with a group of kids, she is soon deemed the leader. Surrounding them are a pod of dolphins with whom she can communicate telepathically and count on for support and safety. Dai, the one boy that seems misplaced with her group, gives them all pause for concern, and yet, he continues to surprise them with his skills and awkward friendship.

Holyoke takes the reader on a twisting, turning adventure into the underworld of sea life. Surprises await, as do sadness, disappointment and acceptance. A surefire entertainment for science fiction fans.

Stella by Starlight, Sharon Draper. Set in the south with the Ku Klux Klan a constant reminder of how segregation divided us by color, Stella lives with her family. She witnesses things no little girls should witness: physical abuse, prejudice, hatred unfairness. Stella and her family try their best to avoid confrontation; however, when her father, and other neighbors, walk to town to register to vote, they are looked upon with disgust by the white court official. They must take a written test, even though white men don't have to take it. They pass despite scrutiny and plan to join so many others in voting Roosevelt into office.

When Stella's little brother gets too sick for their mother to cure him and the black doctor out of town, Stella is asked to find the white doctor who refuses to tend to him and is comfortable with the possibility of letting him die. Stella has suspicions that he is the head of the KKK and responsible for the burning of the Spencer house with their many children. When Hazel, the youngest is missing and feared in the house, Stella remembers a special spot she just might be hiding and finds her safe and sound.

Not all white people in the south were full of hatred. In fact, one day two white ladies came visiting with clothes and goods for the Spencer family. With so much generosity, Mrs. Spencer came with extra clothes and shoes for Stella and her brother, their first pair ever. She also brings a typewriter, for which she has no use. Stella, a struggling student, wants nothing more than to write, so she sneaks outside late at night to practice her writing, until her dad tells her it is much too dangerous.

Draper is a master writer. With this story, she shares the horrors of segregation and the racism running so rampant in our not so distant history. A book well worth reading and sharing to help children learn history in a way that connects us so strongly with Stella.

Ungifted, Gordon Korman. Donovan Curtis, with an IQ of 112, finds himself at the Academy of Scholastic Distinction when he is accidentally placed there due to a slip of paper mishap. Using it as a hideout suits him just fine because Dr. Schultz, the superintendent, has it out for him when he dislodged the bronze globe being held up by Atlas and it rolled down the hill and into the gym in the midst of a Harcastle Middle School basketball game. Donovan and his friends, the Daniels, are pranksters and this is the biggest one yet. Within minutes of arriving to his new school in the Robotics class, Donovan and all the students realize he is misplaced and doesn't belong there. They are busy creating their robot for the upcoming contest and the only thing Donovan contributes is to name it Tin Man and the talent of controlling the joy stick. Despite not fitting in, the kids grow to admire his "normalness." When the Hardcastle school dance must be held in their school, all the misfit geniuses are forced to attend by Mr. Osborne, their teacher. Donovan mistakenly shows his buddies the Tin Man and they take him to the dance floor. Noah, with an IQ of 206 is dressed as a superhero and jumps to Tin Man's rescue only to make matters worse. Dr. Schulz makes an appearance and spots Donovan, which begins his downward spiral back to Hardcastle.

This is a fun story that will have the reader laughing. Each chapter is told from a different character with their IQ revealed. Regardless of our IQ, we each have gifts that matter. When all those gifts are put together, amazing things can happen.

Three Times Lucky, Sheila Turnage. Mr. Jesse turns up dead shortly after Mo and her best friend Dale Earnhardt Johnson III "borrow" his boat for a fishing expedition. Although it is returned, Dale's footprints are at the scene of the crime. Together, they form the Desperado Detective Agency to help Joe Starr and Deputy Marla solve the murder. Moses "Mo" LoBeau belongs to Miss Lana and the Colonel when she found herself in Tupelo Landing at the height of a major hurricane. She continues to write letters to Upstream Mother, or send messages in a bottle, hoping to find her biological mother. One day a Mr. Slate shows up in town, asking questions that arise suspicion and busy body Mo keeps herself invested in the mystery. The Colonel disappears frequently and if gone for more than three days, he knows to make a quick call to put her and Miss Lana's mind at ease. His last disappearance comes at an improbable time because Miss Lana goes missing. Clues are coming closer and closer and time is running out to save her.

Turnage earned a Newbery Honor award for this delightful story. Getting lost and being found, friendship, and family make this a book worth reading. Find a comfy spot and dig in.

Return to Sender, Julia Alvarez. An award winning book about the relationship between Tyler, a young boy living in Vermont on a family farm, and Mari, a Mexican born girl "hiding" out on Tyler's farm. Tyler's father can't work the farm like he once did, due to an accident and Mari's dad and uncles help out as migrant workers. Mari's mother is gone with no contact from her in months. Through the eyes of Tyler and Mari, the story is told of the struggles of being an immigrant and not fitting in. Her younger sisters were both born in the United States; however, the threat of being separated is ever present. Both families come to care for one another and learn from one another. With the help of Tyler's saved money, he, Mari and his aunt and uncle travel to North Carolina, where they last saw their mother, to pay the "coyotes," or smugglers for her release. She endured horrible abuse while separated from her family. Tyler shows Mari the stars and Mari introduces Tyler to her culture.

A book worth reading to learn of the hardships of living in this country as an illegal immigrant, yet wanting a better life in the land of opportunity.

Promises to the Dead, Mary Downing Hahn. At the prelude to the Civil War, Jesse is out turtle hunting for his uncle's soup when he comes across a runaway slave with her boy, Perry. She is about to give birth and asks Jesse to get help. During the delivery, but knowing she is about to die, she forces Jesse to promise to take her son to his aunt in Maryland. Keeping his word, he takes little Perry with him but runs into the colonel that is looking for his runaway slave girl. Realizing Jesse knows more than he will tell, he stalks him and follows him to Maryland. Jesse finds Perry's rightful aunt and grandmother, fulfilling his promise. He soon confronts the colonel again and learns surprising information that leaves him conflicted.

The Whole Story of Half a Girl, Veera Hiranandani. Sonia is half Jewish and half Indian and she doesn't feel she quite fits either heritage. Her Indian father lost his job and sinks into a deep depression, leaving a shell of the father she grew up with. Her Jewish mother, who doesn't practice the faith, works extra to compensate. Sonia attended the Community school with her best friend, Sam. But with money tight, she is forced to attend the local public school, which is quite different: structure, rules, grades, mean kids. She slowly makes a friend in Alisha, but also makes a friend in Kate, the star cheerleader. She is pulled toward Kate, who invites her to her house with her "cool" parents that are completely different than her own. However, Jess, Kate's best friend, whispers about her, because Sonia's clothes don't quite fit in and bringing her lunch is not cool. Sonia ignores Alisha's advances toward friendship, while also feeling her friendship with Sam slipping away.

Sonia's dad gets a new job and is sent to Hong Kong on business; yet, he never makes it there. He disappears and no one can find him, until her mom, finds him in a mental hospital. He sunk into a deeper depression and needs help. Sonia feels lost, alone and helpless. Her family is unraveling, her friendship with Kate is questionable and her bi-culture heritage is confusing. She struggles with trying to learn who she really is.

A Night Divided, Jennifer Nielsen. It is 1961 and the Berlin Wall goes up, dividing families, separating friends, enclosing people within its borders for years to come. Gerta, her brother Fritz, and their mother are left within the patrolled walls, while her father and brother, Dominic, left the city earlier that day for work. Life takes a drastic change: food is hard to come by, work is scarce, trust is absent and armed guards watch every move. One day, while walking with her friend, Anna, she notices her father and brother on the other side of the wall dancing and making odd motions. She believes he is signalling for her to dig under the wall and escape. She immediately tells Fritz and they form a plan. Their mother left to stay with their grandmother who is sick and away for many days. Gerta and Fritz find the place where they are supposed to dig and their daring attempt at escape begins. Getting dirty and trudging tools to their secret spot is risky and they worry about their neighbor who questions their every move with suspicion. Gerta's friend, Anna, lost her brother while attempting to escape and Anna is being told to stay away from Gerta.

Danger lurks around every corner, movements are monitored closely and no one is to be trusted. Hunger sets in, exhaustion causes mistakes and their mother has to buy into their plan. Digging a tunnel is no easy task and their time is running out.

For readers pulled toward gripping historical stories with a backdrop of truth, this book is for you. To know this is a real time period is chilling. Nielsen is the author of The False Prince, and an earlier book review is available.

Crenshaw, Katherine Applegate. Jackson and his family are struggling financially. He and his younger sister, Robin, play Cerealball to pass the time, which is accurately tossing Cheerios into a cap, or bowl before allowing themselves to eat it. Their father has multiple sclerosis and is unable to keep his construction and handy man jobs. Money is tight, things get sold and they have to move out of their home and into their minivan. His parents always see the brighter side of things, but Jackson wants to be treated like an adult and be told the honest truth. Crenshaw, his imaginary cat, comes around when Jackson seems to need him most; although, he likes things that can be explained and doesn't believe in imaginary friends.

This is a sweet and tender story about hope and family and looking forward. It's about growing up and staying young, wanting the facts, believing in the truth, and having a reliable friend with whom to share your feelings.  

Crossover, Kwame Alexander. I cannot say enough about how much I love this book. Beautiful words from start to end. When I finished, I was ready to start all over again. Josh Bell, or Filthy McNasty, as his dad calls him, is the narrator. Through his poetic words, we follow him onto the basketball court, where he takes after his famous dad, "I'm da man, Chuck Bell." His brother, Jordan, and him are close, until Miss Sweet Tea (Alexis), a beautiful girl steals the eye of Jordan, causing a riff that proves tough to repair. When he deliberately lands the ball in his brother's face during a game, he is benched by his mother, who happens to be the assistant principal.

That's as far as I'm going to go. Find the book. Read it. Love it. Treat yourself to a gem.

How to Speak Dolphin, Ginny Rorby. Four-year old Adam is autistic and proves to be a handful for Lily, his older half-sister who has a hard time making friends because others don't understand him. She cleans up after he makes messes and calms him down in the middle of his unpredictable tirades. Her mom died a couple of years ago and her step-dad, Don, gives her too much responsibility for taking care of him. The story takes place in south west Florida where dolphins are prevalent. And dolphins are exactly what Adam seems to respond to. Nori, a dolphin recovering from cancer, was taken from its own mother and lives in a tank. Don, an oncologist, is called in to help the dolphin and in exchange, Adam gets therapy sessions with Nori. Skipping school one day, for fear of being late once again, Lily meanders to the park, where she meets Zoe, a blind girl her own age. They become friends and set out on a quest to free Nori to her natural habitat. Lily knows it is the right thing to do; yet, she also knows that Adam relates to Nori and  experiences calm. The reader is eager to find out which way her heart will tug her?

This is a touching story of honoring those we have lost and the fear of letting go while finding love and friendship in unexpected places.

Nightingale's Nest, Nikki Loftin. Little John's life is falling apart. His younger sister, Raelynn, died when falling from a tree. Money is tight and what little money dad earns with his tree removal business, is often drunk, away, and leaving no money for the rent. Little John's mom has not been the same since Raelynn's death and he gets no comfort from her. Gayle, the orphan living with the dysfunctional Cutlin family, has a voice that sings in harmony with the birds and heals hurts. Bruises, bumps and  busted limbs are healed with her singing and she is the only one that brings Little John comfort. Mr. King, the richest man in the county, offers to pay Little John $500 to bring Gayle to him so he can record her voice. He does and her voice leaves her. Little John refuses to take the money because of his betrayal, but his dad nabs the money, putting it away for the rent. Little John feels it wrong to keep the money so he takes it and gives it to Gayle, who uses it to fluff the nest she builds high up in a tree. Jeb Cutlin, their cunning neighbor, witnessed the transaction and steals the money from the nest. The eviction notice on the door brings more shame to Little John, as he was trusted to pay the rent. To earn the rent money, Little John must cut down the tree with the nest, that he promised Gayle he would never do in order to keep his family in their home.

This is lovely story about a young boy with the weight of the world on his shoulders and the girl with a voice that heals.

One Came Home, Amy Timberlake. A unidentifiable body is buried in a pine box and all but Georgie, or Georgiana, assume it is Agatha, Georgie's older sister. The year is 1871 and she goes to Billy McCabe, the man who kissed her sister, to rent a horse. Instead, she gets a donkey named Long Ears and Billy's company, who insists on traveling with her. They set out to search for Agatha. They make it to Dog Hollow and meet the Garrow family, who provide little information but enough suspicions to keep Georgie and Billy curious. As they continue on, she comes across a cave full of counterfeit money and printing presses. They know they will be hunted so they make a run for it, only to be found, trapped and threatened. Billy is shot and in need of medical attention. Georgie must get him help. Mr. Olmstead, the other man in Agatha's life, finds them, helps out, but also must tell Georgie that her Grandpa Bolte has died. When she arrives home, she is no closer to finding her sister and must accept that her sister is dead. Until . . . a letter arrives.

This is a Newbery Honor book worth its award. From the first page, the reader is among the mourners at Agatha's funeral. A decomposed body, a familiar looking dress, a pine box, disbelief. Readers will be pleased.

The False Prince, Jennifer Nielsen. Sage, along with three other boys are found by Mr. Connor, who is looking for an orphaned boy to replace the dead Prince Jeron, He, his parents and older brother, the rightful heir to the thrown, perished in a sinking boat. Because the boys resemble the late prince, they are chosen, but must become proficient in various tasks to be deemed the winning choice: sword fighting, reading, learning manners, magic, cleanliness. Each have strengths and weaknesses. The first night, when the boys are offered the opportunity to leave with no repercussions, Latamer chooses to do that. He is shot in the back by Cregan, leaving Rodin, Tobias and Sage to compete for the thrown. The two left behind fear the same fate as Latamer. Imogene, a small mute servant girl aids Sage when he endures beatings, solitary confinement and starvation. Sage is most like Jeron; however, his mischievous behavior causes friction between him and Connor.

For the readers of fantasy, this is a sure fire win. The deeper one gets into the story, the more one cannot be pulled out easily. It is fast paced, with a mix of curiosity, thrilling scenes, good vs. evil and a touch of romance. The Runaway King, the follow-up will surely be sought out.

Chomp. Carl Hiaasen. The Florida everglades. Alice, the alligator. Reality TV.  Pythons, gators and bats. A boy named Wahoo, a girl named Tuna and a hamster named Floyd all make for a thrilling story sure to keep readers engaged. Wahoo and his dad, in need of money to pay the mortgage, take on the job of assisting Derek Badger, the celebrity TV survivalist star. However, they soon learn how unrealistic the star is and how out of place he is in the raw wild. While wielding snakes and alligators, Wahoo and his dad, Mickey, chance upon a school friend of Wahoo's, named Tuna, who is running away from her abusive, drunken father. They take her with them on the boat ride into the everglades where Tuna, an Expedition Survivor! fan witnesses the stunt double used by Badger when he parachutes from a helicopter beginning his newest adventure. When Tuna makes a phone call to her father, wanting to tell him to feed Floyd, he realizes where she is and comes looking for her with a fully loaded pistol. With heart pounding, pages fly as the reader worries for Mickey, caught in the grasp of Tuna's dad, Link, the boater with a bullet in his shoulder, Derek, lost somewhere in the wild and Tuna, caught in the middle. A sure fire enjoyable read.

A Mango-Shaped Space, Wendy Mass. The ability to see numbers in colors can be a good thing or a bad thing for Mia. It is certainly bad when it interrupts with  her understanding math. Yet, her world is full of precise colors helping her stay connected to her grandfather who passed away. While burying him, a cat meandered his way into her life and Mango came home with her to live. When she finally tells her parents about her unique gift, she is taken to Dr. Jerry who labels her with synesthesia, or when ones senses and colors intertwine. She is invited to attend a workshop hosted by her new doctor and meet others dealing with variations of the same thing, including Adam, a boy she thinks she likes.

She is avoiding Roger and the other group members on finishing their group project and her best friend, Jenna, is preoccupied with her upcoming birthday party and doesn't know what Mia is going through. Beth, her sister, and Zach, her brother, have no sympathy for her . It seems as though Mango is the one friend that continues to be there for her, until one day he is not. Mia's life spirals out of control and her world turns colorless.

Wendy Mass proves herself with each book to be a writer worth reading.  She brings her characters to life, with emotions and feelings that find us rooting for them. I find myself eagerly awaiting her next story.

Masterminds, Gordon Korman. What a ride of a story. Serenity is home to 185 people and voted the country's best spot to live. And, with the town boasting honesty, harmony and contentment, who would want to leave. Everyone knows everyone and the adults either work for the Serenity Plastics Works, the world's largest producer of orange construction cones, or the Surety, dubbed the Purple People Eaters, by the kids. When Randy talks Eli into riding their bikes out past the sign, Now Leaving Serenity -- America's Ideal Community, Eli gets violently ill and must be helicoptered back home. Soon after, Randy, his best friend, is leaving to go live with his grandparents. Confused that Randy is forced to leave so unexpectedly, Eli searches for clues and finds a letter left by his friend saying that something "screwy" is going on in Serenity. He shares the letter with a few classmates, thus setting off a heart racing, page turning climb into the heart of this cozy little town, the Plastics Works factory. It is a race against evil, a race against the unknown, a race against the Purple People Eaters. Their only hope is Randy and how to get to him.

This is surely going to leave the reader ready for the next installment and yearning for answers left untold.  What a delicious read aloud this would make for any upper elementary classroom.

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies, Mick Cochrane. Molly Williams lost her father in a mysterious car accident and her mom is unable to come out of her grieving rut to give her much attention. She lost interest in playing softball with the girls and decides to try out for the boys baseball team. Her father taught her everything about the American pastime, inluding how to throw the unpredictable and inconsistent, yet mighty effective knuckleball. During tryouts, she grabs the attention of Coach Morales and makes the team, much to the chagrin of her teasing teammates. Lonnie, the one teammate who will throw pitches with her, becomes her personal catcher and friend. Echoes of Molly's father and their close relationship whisper throughout the story, and readers find themselves missing him just as much. This is a sweet story about loss and friendship and remembering and moving on. We, along with her teammates, find ourselves rooting for her and wishing her father were in the stands yelling her name.

Kizzy Ann Stamps, Jeri Watts. The year is 1963 and Kizzy, a young black girl, is about to attend the white school because of desegregation. Her teacher encourages all her students to write their new teacher, Miss Anderson, to introduce themselves. Miss Anderson writes back and she and Kizzy continue to write one another throughout the year. Through Kizzy's journal entries, we learn about the trials of being a little black girl at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. She also has a drastic scar along the length of her face, given to her by Frank Charles, the neighbor boy wielding a scythe, that causes curiosity and mean remarks. Her one comfort is Shag, a border collie, born to run sheep. Because of Mr. McKenna, an immigrant knowing about border collies, he shows Kizzy how to train him and he is a shoe in for local herding competition, as well as the spelling bee, but being black prevents her from entering either one. She gets some support; however, from an unlikely person and proves that some were able to see beyond skin color.

Hope is a Ferris Wheel, Robin Herrera. Star Mackie lives with her older sister, Winter, and her mother in the Treasure Trailers trailer park, for which she is teased. To make new friends, she asks her teacher, Mr. Savage, if she can start an after school club about trailer parks. Despite hanging flyers, the only two to show up are brother and sister, Genny and Lenny Libra, and for some unknown reason, Lenny does not like her. Because Star chooses not to turn in her vocabulary sentences each week, (despite writing them), she serves detention with Mrs. Ferguson and must forgo her trailer park club. But because of poems that Mr. Savage puts on the board each day, a new club is formed: The Emily Dickinson Club. Two new members join: Eddie and Langston and they meet in Mrs. Ferguson's room. Hope is the theme and Star asks each member to share their idea of hope. To Star, hope is a ferris wheel, because when she was at the top of one the previous summer, she saw her mom and sister down below talking to her dad, whom she had never met, but knew it was him. Yet, when she came off the ride, he was gone. Winter decides to take Star with her to see her dad for an unexpected visit, where Winter tells him that she is pregnant. Star learns some startling information that leaves her wondering if she has any reason to be hopeful.

This is a first book written by this author and she delivers with heart and an eagerness to look forward to her next. Star and her family are poor and yet we don't feel sorry for her because she is spunk and spitfire. Throughout the book, we see Star's sentences, that are never turned in, and get to know her on a deeper level and love her all the more.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've hear it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

--Emily Dickinson
December 10, 1830-May 15, 1886

"The President Has Been Shot: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy," James L. Swanson. For history buffs, this is a chilling read full of compelling black and white photos, quotes, diagrams and resources. The author briefly takes us up to the inauguration of John Fitzgerald Kennedy on January 20, 1961, with the bulk of the book focusing on Thursday, November 21, 1963 . . . the day of his assassination. The author alternates between Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald, the man assumed to be his assassin, and their final destinies, which would change America forever, shrouding that day in mystery and theories. Real photos of his flag draped casket and funeral procession, to his final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery with a permanent flame raise goosebumps, despite it seeming ancient history to young readers. For readers with an interest in informational text, this is a book well worth your time. Although, I recommend this for any reader to build an understanding of this intense period in history and the man that dared to be president.

Liar & Spy, Rebecca Stead. A fun romp of a read with Georges (with a silent S) as he decides to check out the Spy Club posted in the basement of the apartment building he and his parents just moved to. Safer, the head of the Spy Club and nearby resident hooks Georges into spying on Mr. X and his suspicious comings and goings. Georges gets more uncomfortable as Safer gets more daring with his requests. Georges's (named after artist Georges Seurat who painted using tiny little dots) dad is without a job and his mom works double shifts at the hospital, but leaves him messages each day using Scrabble pieces. His friend, or former friend, Jason, abandoned him for Dallas and Carter, the school bullies, who christen him Gorgeous.

Georges uncovers what a liar Safer is, but also learns some hidden secrets, most importantly, why his name is Safer. Georges eats many meals with his dad at Yum Li's in quiet, until he finally unleashes his pent up emotions. After his mom catches an infection from her workplace, she lands there herself for a couple of weeks to recover. He begins to make his own set of rules, not allowing Dallas and his crew to dominate.

This is a charming read written by the Newbery author of When You Reach Me.

Echo, Pam Muñoz Ryan. Another favorite book, plunked right during the rise of Adolf Hitler. The front and end pages tell the tale of Otto playing hide and seek, only to stumble and fall into the fairy tale of three forgotten girls with the gift of music. Only with the passing on of a harmonica, can they be released from the spell of their captive witch. From there, the story tells in turn, the tales of three young lives: Friedrich, Mike, Ivy.

Jews are disappearing in Germany and Friedrich and his father are scrutinized because they are not members of the Nazi party. Friedrich's sister, Elisabeth, joined the party and fights against their resistance. They must choose between their beliefs and the love for their sister/daughter. Hiding proves difficult because of Friedrich's port stain birth defect covering half his face and his uncontrollable hand movements as though he is conducting an orchestra.

Across the Atlantic Ocean in Pennsylvania, Mike and his younger brother, Frankie, are orphans, living in an unfit orphanage. Mr. Howard, the lawyer for Mrs. Sturbridge, is charged with finding a young girl to adopt, but leaves with the two boys, not baring to separate their longing arms around one another. When he brings them home to Mrs. Sturbridge, they are unwanted and rebuffed along with the lonely piano that Mike longs to play. Yet, in order to retain her wealth, she must bring joy back to the household. Mike strikes a deal with the sad woman to keep Frankie only.

Ivy and her family are moving yet again, away from her only friend in the world, to tend the farm of the Yamamotos, a Japanese family forced to move to an internment camp in California. Their neighbors, the Wards, suspect the Yamamotos of espionage and search for proof. Their son died in the war and they blame Kenny Yamamoto for living.

All three stories are connected through the "silken thread of destiny," or a harmonica with the letter M  on the side. The stories are separate, yet come together at a beautiful concert in Carnegie Hall. With a sense of fulfillment, Ryan brings closure and satisfaction to a not-to-be-forgotten story yearning to be enjoyed over again. Consider rereading the front and end pages before closing the book. Without a doubt, awards are sure to await Ryan.

"Your fate is not yet sealed.
Even in the darkest night, a star will shine,
a bell will chime, a path will be revealed."

Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson. A truly beautiful story/memoir written poetically of her growing up years, alternating between the south with grandparents and the north with her mom. She speaks of riding in the back of the bus with her grandmother, even though the Civil Rights movement allowed differently, just because it was easier. She remembers being teased because her skin was brown, or because her brother, Hope, had a girl's name. She grew up in the church of Jehovah's Witness with the only night, Friday, being hers to explore and play and be a kid. She recounts stories of Maria, her forever friend, and still is to this day. She was surrounded by story tellers and despite not reading as fast as expected, she loved words from a young age. Her sister, Dell, was the brain and her younger brother, Roman, had the lighter skin.

This book was gorgeous and I found myself drawn to Woodson's poignant and important words, one that will stay with me with fondness and gratitude.

 A Tangle of Knots, Lisa Graff. Such a lovely story. The Owner, standing two inches off the floor, owns jars and jars of talents with the ability to switch, swap, take, and give people their "talent." He is also on a quest to collect all 36 blue suitcases with the St. Anthony's stamp, looking for something lost long ago. Will Asher can disappear, appearing to be lost, Marigold Asher is unable to find her talent and Zane Asher, is close to going to boarding school because of his misbehavior in school. Cady, the longest resident at Miss Malory's Home for Lost Girls in Poughkeepsie, bakes the perfect cake for anyone she comes across and kind, gentle Miss Malory has the talent for matching up each of her orphans with their perfect family but she has a soft spot for Cady. "V", or Victoria Vance, a mute mystery writer may just hold a clue for Cady and her past.

These characters start off as unconnected, yet, as the story winds down, a tiny slip of paper with the recipe for perfect peanut butter, a blue suitcase, a ferret named Sally and a dinosaur bone used as a hairpin converge upon the convention center for Cady's cake-off in a wet mess of dough and batter. A teaspoon of knots, a tablespoon of talents and a cup of magic make this a darling story.

Baked throughout the book, are cake recipes that Cady associates with their perfect mate.

Dreamsleeves, Coleen Murtagh Paratore. Eighth grader, Aislinn, or "A" as she is called, has dreams. It is summer time and she takes care of her younger siblings: Beck, Callie, Dooley and Eddie while her mom works. Her mom is pregnant, so soon an "F" will be added to the family alphabet. Her loving Nana is away and not their to buffer the amount of drinking her father does. Maizey, her best friend is being pulled away from her by Sue-Ellen, the rich girl that can offer more than A can. The dream of living in a big house in the country seems to be less and less of a reality due to her dad spending so much of their money on booze. As his drinking increases, his voice gets more venomous. He does not allow her to spend time with friends, and especially not boys; yet, she is hoping to go to Sue-Ellen's pool party to see Mike and get her first kiss, but that dream is constantly being threatened by her dad's moods.

She decides to put a dream on her sleeve when they go to church, hoping her priest will see it and get her dad to stop drinking, He does notice, comes to the house for a visit, but things only get worse. She thinks that by wearing her dreams on her sleeves, she puts it out to the world for help in having her dreams met.

This is a lovely story for older readers, especially girls. The author even provides a page at the back for readers to to reflect on their own dreams, and perhaps put them on their own sleeves.

Spy School, Stuart Gibbs. Ben is a math whiz, but not a spy. Yet, he was recruited by Alexander Hale, to attend spy school as a ruse. His first night there, he gets attacked by ninjas, yet, able to defend himself with a tennis racket . . . not exactly spy equipment. He is not sure whom to trust: Chip Schacter, the bully that ridicules his lack of talents, Erica, the beautiful daughter of Alexander Hale, that attacks him while serving time in The Box, yet leads him to freedom, Alexander Hale, himself, who isn't much of a spy, or Murray Hill, the boy that rescued him from Chip. Being a first year student, he doesn't hold much credibility with the other students or professors. Learning he was a plant, he is determined to prove himself a capable and worthy spy for the CIA. His best friend, Mike, who thinks Ben is away at science school gets wrapped into the frenzy of finding the double agent that planted a bomb. When Ben finally discovers and confronts the guilty one. a bomb has been set with five minutes left before the bomb goes boom. How will Ben, along with an unconscious Erica, stop the explosion and find the dirty culprit?

Excitement, intrigue and curiosity await the reader. Readers who enjoyed Belly Up, Gibbs' first book, will be delighted with this next story.

Fish in a Tree, Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Ally is dyslexic and in sixth grade. Her seventh teacher in seven years, Mrs. Hall, is expecting a baby and for her shower, Ally proudly presented her with a bright yellow sympathy card, thinking it was a baby shower card. Mrs. Hall was mortified, the principal confused and the kids in stitches laughing at yet, another Ally goof. Only when Mr. Daniel, the new teacher comes to the class, is she finally found unable to read. He admires her creativity and intelligence and with patience, understanding and after school tutoring, he gives her hope and focus. He reminds her that, "If you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking that it's stupid."

With Keisha, the girl that speaks her mind, and Albert, the science geek, they form a friendship and stand together against the class bully, Shay and her sidekick, Jessica. This unusual trio slowly find their way to fit in and maybe, even come to be accepted.

The author of One For the Murphy's, Hunt crafts another treasure, one worth reading aloud to a class at any time of the year.

The Honest Truth, Dan Gemeinhart. The cancer has returned for a second time and 12-year old Mark is dying. With $100 in his pocket and Beau, his dog, in his backpack, he sets out to climb Mt. Rainier, the tallest mountain in North America. No notes, no hints are left for his parents to have a clue where he might have gone. Only Jessie, his best friend and confidant, knows where he went and swore she wouldn't reveal his plan. Despite her personal turmoil, she is keeping her promise. Along his journey, he comes across bullies that knock him down, stealing from him, and sweet Hispanic angels that hold him up and remind him of Jessie's family. Mark is sick and weak and tired and alone. He is making this climb for his grandfather. But with his face plastered on TV screens, he avoids people at all costs, until a gentle man in a pick-up truck finds him near frozen, picks him up, and recognizes him; yet, gives him a small window of time to complete his task before he will make a phone call. With Beau at every step, he begins his ascent of the mighty mountain.

This book will grip you from the very first page, the very first sentence, and hold you until the last sentence wraps itself around to the beginning. Each chapter shares how many miles Mark has left to get to the mountain and each half chapter is told from his one dear friend, Jessie. The climb will have you biting your nails with horror and fear. I found myself thinking about Mark and worried for his family, desperately looking for him. Was Mark selfish or selfless? A question I found myself asking over and over again. Perhaps, you will, too.

Rain, Reign, Ann Martin. Rose Weldon is a fifth grade autistic girl that has her own school para pro and is a collector of homonyms. In her notebook of alphabetized homonyms, she leaves blank spaces for new additions; however, if there is not enough space to add a new pair or trio, she starts the entire list over again. Rose lives with her dad, who gets impatient with her perseverations and obsession for following rules. Her mom left years ago, but her adoring uncle takes her to school each day and picks her up. One day, her dad brings home a stray dog that he found and Rose names him Rain/Reign because he was found in the rain. They become inseparable.

Hurricane Susan is approaching and the community begins to prepare. She comes with a vengeance: closing school, knocking out bridges, falling trees, but all survive. In the middle of repairing the damages, Rose's dad lets Rain out but forgets to bring her back in. Rose doesn't understand how he could do that . . . and without her collar for identification. She creates a plan for locating her by identifying all the animal shelters within a several mile radius of home and calling each one. Days and days pass. Finally, a shelter has a dog that fits Rain's description; however, when Rose and her uncle get to the shelter and identify her, they learn that Rain is actually named Olivia due to a microchip planted by her "real" owners. Being the rule follower that she is, she sets out to find Rain's true owners.

The author pulls at the reader's heartstrings with tenderness. Do we want Rose to find Rain's real owner? Aren't we happy that Rain and Rose have one another? Will Rain want her previous owner more than Rose? Will Rain's previous owner see the love between Rose and Rain? The ending brings surprises, tears and smiles. Be prepared to fall in love.

Paperboy, Vince Vawter. This truly delightful Newbery Honor book about Victor Vollmer, III, is a treasure. A stutterer that uses as few words as possible is an unforgettable character. He is in charge of his best friend, Rat's, paper route for the month of June while he is away. He fears asking for his weekly collections and must think of words that start with less painful letters to ask for payment. However, he learns that adults, unlike kids, are not so cruel and he has favorite patrons that he hopes to see each week: Mrs. Worthington, the prettiest, but maybe the loneliest woman he has ever met, Mr. Spiro who tells him stories and gives him part of a dollar each week with a new word written on it, and TV boy, who comes to be an unlikely friend.

This story takes place in Memphis, during the time of civil unrest. Although that is not the focus of the book, his colored Mam takes care of him and she is his protector and his defender. She warns him to stay away from Ara T, the local shopping cart wielding thief. Mam has a past with him, and she shows her tigress when Victor's prized possessions and stash of newspaper money are stolen from his own room. She knows exactly who stole it and she sets out to make it better.

This is a new favorite story. The author, a stutterer himself, wrote a beautiful book worth reading.

Love, Ruby Lavender, Deborah Wiles. Ruby Lavender and her grandmother, Miss Eula, share a close, warm relationship and it is no secret in their small town that they stole three chickens, saving them from the slaughterhouse. A tree serves as their mailbox, sharing notes back and forth. When her grandmother decides to visit her newest grand baby in Hawaii, Ruby is devastated and misses her terribly, however, Ruby writes her regularly to keep her grandmother current with local events, secretly hoping that she doesn't fall in love with the baby, replacing her. Her grandmother is also missing her husband, who died a year earlier, along with Melba Jane's dad, Lavender's friend, in an accident. Their friendship shatters soon after, but with a little help from a new friend, Dove, they find their way back to each other. This is a lovely little story, sure to make any young reader smile.

Bluish, Virginia Hamilton. Natalie, or Bluish, as she comes to be called, has cancer. She lives in a wheelchair, wears a hat to cover her hairless head and falls asleep easily. The cancer treatments cause her to have a "bluish" cast to her skin. Dreenie and Tuli, classmates, struggle with how to befriend her because they are both scared and curious of Natalie. But become friends they do. This is a heartwarming tale of what it means to be a friend to someone that most others ignore. This slim book reads quickly and is interspersed with journal entries written by Dreenie.