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.