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.