House Arrest, K.A. Holt. What a story. Timothy has been court ordered to keep a journal for 52 weeks. He is under a house arrest, with a tracking device, only able to go to school, and to see his probation officer and counselor. The reason? He stole a wallet, hoping to buy medicine for his baby brother, Levi, who was born with health issues. He has a tracheotomy and efforts to avoid germs and infections is always a concern. His dad skipped town, leaving him and his mom to care for Levi by themselves. James, his probation officer and Miss Bainbridge, his therapist, are key characters in helping him get through the year. Told in verse, this story is one that you won't put down easily.

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.

Twerp, Mark Goldblatt. Julian, upon his suspension from sixth grade, takes up his teacher's invitation to keep a writing journal in place of other required writing assignments. Mr. Selkirk, recognizing Julian's writing talent, is hoping that he will share what really happened with Danley and the egg escapade. As the year moves along, Julian records major events in his life: causing an accident by dodging cars, writing a note to Jillian, the hottest girl in class, for his friend, Lonnie, being bested by a faster runner than himself, firecrackers in the abandoned Ponzi lot. We meet his close friends. We go on the humiliating date that he makes with Jillian when she doesn't believe that the note was not "really" from him. We feel the cold shoulder he gets from Lonnie when he finds out about the date. We meet Eduardo, the foster kid, that is so much faster than him. Through it all, he knows that Mr. Selkirk is waiting for the one entry that Julian needs to write. We, as readers, have to wait for it, but it does come and when it comes, it comes with a shudder.

A Snicker of Magic, Natalie Lloyd. As soon as Felicity Pickle's mom feels it is time to leave, she ups and moves her and her sister, Frannie Jo, to a new place, a new house, a new school. Nowhere does she call home, until they venture into Midnight Gulch, Tennessee, a place once full of magic but also a curse that took it all away. Felicity collects words and keeps a blue book full of them where "lonely" seems to be a recurring theme. She meets Jonah, aka Beedle, who changes the lives of others, as well as her life in ways that she never expected. They strike up a deal that she will use her collection of words to write and read a poem at "the duel" forcing her artistic mother to hang around a bit longer. Not only does the poem touch a part of her mom's heart, it moves her to finally begin painting again. The small town holds many stories and tales and secrets that Felicity sorts through to learn more of her own background. But through it all, she finds a home and learns that Midnight Gulch still has a "snicker of magic."

This is a lighthearted story that would make a nice read aloud. It is one about loss and loneliness, hope and a home. It leaves you with a sense of contentment and happiness.