Friday, June 23, 2017

The Last Kids on Earth

After the Monster Apocalypse there are few survivors.  In this humorous, yet heroic-like adventure, 4 survivors and former classmates find each other to fight for survival amongst the monsters and zombies that have taken over the world...or at least their town.

Some Kind of Courage


Set in 1890, a boy struggles after loosing his mom, sister and dad...then his beloved horse.  His fight for survival during his quest to retrieve his horse makes for a book hard to put down.

Lola Levine: Drama Queen



A fun transitional chapter book with a spunky character full of drama and life.   Even with her spunk, stage fright brings her down until her grandmother saves the day.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Captain Jack and the Pirates


Kids that actually use their imagination for adventure instead of staring at a screen.  Fun had by all!

Beauty and the Beast


This retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast will be a great addition to our library. 

Wolf in the Snow

First a young wolf gets lost, then the young girl who tries to save him gets lost.  A story told in pictures.

A Unicorn Named Sparkle


You don't always get what you want...but sometimes the unexpected is even better!

Maybe a Fox

A young girl seeks answers after her sister disappears.  A baby fox is filled with her spirit and seeks the girl to help her find the answers she is looking for.

Little Cat's Luck

A novel written in verse about a new mommy kitty seeking a safe place to have her kittens.  She travels outside by herself for the first time, finds refuge in a mean dog's house and then struggles to get back home with her human family.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle



Set in the 1830's, a young girl has to travel alone on a ship across the Atlantic from Europe to the America's to catch up with her family.  The boat ride is anything but conventional, and the young girl has to find her way with a harsh captain and untrusting crew on the 2 month voyage.


Friday, June 16, 2017

Time for Andrew

A must read!  This Bluebonnet Award Winner is book I had a hard time putting down.  Drew, a boy from present times, has to spend the summer with his aunt in an old family house.  He meets up with and changes places with Andrew, a ghost from his family's past.  Their meeting changes both boys' lives...for the better.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse


This book makes me want to travel to Nebraska and Wyoming and walk in the same footsteps as the grandfather and Jimmy did that summer.  The half Lakota/half white boy struggles with bullies at school until his grandfather takes him on a journey of the footsteps of Crazy Horse and retells the legendary stories of over 130 years ago...the beginning of the end to the freedom of the Lakota and other tribes.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Raymie Nightingale

Summer months find three girls, all fatherless, in a quest each of their own.  Raymie just lost her father, to a dental hygienist, thinks if she can just win the local beauty contest then he'll return.  Her two new friends find themselves on an odd journey that leads them to a deep friendship.

Upside-Down Magic



In a town where kids going to an "ordinary" school until 5th grade, then transfer to a school of magic, you find the third child of the headmaster of the most prestigious magically school not quite up to par in getting in to her own father's school...because her magic is "wonky".  Another book about owning your true identity.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Unidentified Suburban Ojects

At first you feel as though this book is about a middle school genius who is concerned with finding out about her family's Korean ancestry, then there is a huge twist with who she really is.  It's also about figuring out your identity and accepting it and friendship.

Fever 1793


Historical Fiction novel based on the epidemic of Yellow Fever in Philadelphia in the summer of 1793. Written from a young teen girl's perspective of growing up, survival and hardship.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

The Whipping Boy

A Newbery winner by Sid Fleischman about a prince that is a brat and his whipping boy that takes all the "heat" for his mischievous ways.   They soon find themselves in opposite positions and learn compassion from stepping into each other's roles.

The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island

 A realistic fiction about a family that goes on their traditional summer vacation to their beach house, but they find that not all is the same.  The four boys look for their traditional activities but are disappointed by events and people that get in the way.

The Great Shelby Holmes

 A detective mystery book with a main character that is advanced for her age, 9 going into middle school, and has issues with making friends.  Yet, when an 11 year old moves in, he is looking for new friends and Shelby allows him to tag along on her case.  By the end, you have had a fun kid detective adventure and learned that friendship comes in all shapes and sizes.

Towers Falling


Written as recent historical fiction from a 5th grader's point of view that had never heard of the 9/11 event even though she's lived within viewing of the site her entire life.  In school, the curriculum has been updated to include 9/11 and the teachers come at it gracefully, without direct teaching.  Deja has to get the facts from her friends and Googling it.  She is in for a shock and surprised out the tragedy directly relates to her family.

George


A middle grade novel about a boy that identifies as a girl.  In their 4th grade play of Charlotte's Web, she really wants to play the role of Charlotte, but is not even allowed to find out.  In this book, you find a young 4th grader trying to figure out who they are and let other know.  I find I am not sure if this book belongs in my library collection, not because of the issue of transgender, but because of other discussions relating to male genitalia.