Secret Identity, Shredderman book 1

by Wendenlin Van Draanen

****

FIC VAN

This is about a boy named Nolan who gets picked on by a bully named Bubba. Watch him battle Bubba and make Shredderman.com in this fun filled adventure! It is cool and funny at the same time

--reviewed by K.S., 3rd gr.

Freak the Mighty

by Rodman Philbrick
****
FIC PHI

Maxwell Kane is thought of as stupid, freakishly large for his thirteen years, and the son of a killer. He has no friends, preferring to spend his life in his dark basement room, avoiding other kids, who think he is a bully. Then he meets Freak, an enormously smart kid with a birth defect that reduces him to the size of a toddler. After a close encounter with Tony D., the local juvenile delinquent, Freak and Max realize that together they can be unstoppable. Together they can be Freak the Mighty, and go on adventures, slaying dragons and rescuing people. But what happens when Freak's heart gets too big for his body? Will Max be able to go on?

I really liked that Freak helped Max learn that he had his own brain, and that he could live down his dad's reputation. I thought that it was really sad that Freak died, but I thought that it was really nice how brave he was, even though he knew that he would die young. I also enjoyed how Freak had tons of imagination, and how he combined fantasy with science to have one of a kind adventures with Max.

Reviewed by M. P., (8th gr.)

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period

by Gennifer Choldenko
FIC CHO (Teen section)

Kirsten's life is falling apart. Her parents aren't speaking, her best friend has ditched her, and her only ally is her geeky sister. Walker is trying to fit in at the predominantly white middle school his mom forced him to attend, so he wouldn't "screw up" like his cousin. But when Kirsten's and Walker's lives collide after an incident with the school's queen bee, Brianna, and being paired for a school project, they discover something that can change the way Brianna is seen-- and help repair Kirsten's reputation.

Reviewed by K. M., 6th gr.

The Year of the Dog: a novel

by Grace Lin
FIC LIN

The Year of the Dog is about a young girl who is Taiwanese-American. She can only speak English. Her name is Grace (Pacy) Lin. She just moved to America and is starting school. She has an older sister named Lizzy (Taiwanese name) or Beatrice (American name). It's the year of the dog and Pacy needs to find her talent before the end of the year. At school there will be a book project contest. The students will write a book authored and illustrated by themselves. Pacy is having trouble. Her teacher says she has writer's block. When Pacy comes home, her mom somehow convinces her to help her plant a special kind of Chinese vegetable that look very ugly but tastes very good. After helping her mom, Pacy has a great idea for her book.

Reviewed by S. S. (5th gr.)

Rules

by Cynthia Lord
FIC LOR

Catherine's younger brother David has utism which makes life hard on her family. David doesn't understand a lot of stuff about the world so Catherine makes rules for him like "no toys in the fish tank." Because her best friend is out of town, it's lika a dream come true when Kristi moves in next door. She also meets a boy at David's occupational therapy named Jason who can't speak or walk. Unfortunately Catherine feels she can't tell Kristi about David or Jason.

I really like this book because it's funny and has a good lesson.

Reviewed by R. M. (6th gr.)

Rules was a Newbery Honor book in 2007 and the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award. --Leslie

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: a novel in cartoons

by Jeff Kinney
FIC KIN

I liked this book because it was funny and artistic. There were pictures in this book that helped me think of what happened. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is so realistic that I'm sure I can match people up with the characters in the book!

I think that Greg shouldn't have done the things he did, such as chasing kindergarteners with a worm and sneaking to try and hear his brother's CD. I don't think I would have done anything like him!

Reviewed by H. Y. (6th gr.)

Paint the Wind

by Pam Munoz Ryan
FIC RYA

Maya's parents have died and she lives with her strict grandmother. She knows nothing about her mom except that she loved horses. When grandmother dies, Maya moves in with her mom's relatives. At first she's very obnoxious but becomes kind as she learns to ride horses. One day when an earthquake strikes Maya falls and hurts her leg miles from home. Her own hope is Artemisia, a wild mare her mom tamed. Will they make it back alive?

I thought this book was really well written and full of adventure.

Reviewed by R. M. (6th gr.)

The Schwa Effect

by Neal Shusterman

****

FIC SHU, Teen section

Calvin Schwa seems to be invisible. People forget about him the minute he's no longer standing next to them. His friend Antsy calls it the Schwa Effect and hatches a moneymaking scheme based on Calvin's "talent." That is until they get caught by the neighborhood's legendary mean guy, Mr. Crawley, who forces them to walk his 14 dogs as punishment. Later Antsy and and Lexie, Crawley's blind granddaughter, try to figure out what happened to Calvin's missing mother. Will Calvin's greatest fear come true? Will he disappear completely like his mother?

I love Shusterman's books. They're exciting, fast-paced, unique. Other books that we have by him that I enjoyed are Everlost and Downsiders. The Schwa Effect is one of the California Young Reader Medal nominated titles for middle school students.

Little Secrets #1: Playing with Fire

by Emily Blake
*****

This book is about a girl who has a "famous" mother. When her mother gets taken away to jail, she doesn't know what to do. Thank godness she has her best friend, cousin and boyfriend to help straighten out this mess. They'll help her...right? The best part of this book is when in the very end she finds out that the house is on fire.
H.B. (6th gr.) 2007

A Week in the Woods

by Andrew Clements

****

FIC CLE

Mark is a rich kid who just moved to the country. Mark's class is about to go on a week long camping trip. His teacher Mr. Maxwell doesn't like Mark, and Mark doesn't really like him either. Mark doesn't want to but he goes on the trip. When Mark gets in trouble and is about to be sent back home, he runs to the forest where there are bears and other dangers. Mr. Maxwell goes in after him!

K.A. (5th grade), 2004

Homeless Bird

by Gloria Whelan

*****

FIC WHE

Koly is a girl living in a village and she is thirteen. She gets married to a sickly man and soon she becomes a widow. Her life is practically ruined, but will she get through the hard times? This book is good because it tells you a lot about getting over hard things and starting new. It also tells about persistence.

M.W. (6th gr.) 2006

The Pushcart War

by Jean Merrill
****
FIC MER

Two sides are against each other in what seems like a never ending war. The two sides are the pushcarts and the giant trucks. The trucks, owned by "The Three": Mammoth Moe (Big Moe), Louie Livergreen, and Walter "The Tiger" Sweet. The war begins when a pushcart driver, Morris the Florist, gets his pushcart run over by Albert P. Mack (Mack). All the people with pushcarts meet together and come up with a plan that will (hopefully) get the trucks off the streets of New York City forever. And that plan could get them a free ticket into jail for flattening the trucks' tires. The plan just might work, but things don't go as expected. What I liked best is that the author, Jean Merrill, created this book in an interesting way so that it seems like the Pushcart War really happened. This book is set in New York City, where truck population is sky-rocketing. They're crowding up the streets of New York City. The trucks are causing immense traffic jams all over the city. Cars and taxis can't get around the way they used to.
E.K. (5th grade), 2004

Are you there God, it's me Margaret

by Judy Blume
****
FIC BLU, Teen section

This book is about a 11 (almost 12) year old girl named Margaret. She is starting over at a new house and going to a new school. After making some new friends at her school, they make up a club. And she meets new adventures on the way. I like this book because it's funny and entertaining.
H.B. (6th gr.) 2006

The Boyfriend Trick

by Stephie Davis
*****

This book is about a girl who loves this boy and she becomes good frends with him. He told her that he had a girlfriend. So she said said......Dun Dun Dun. You'll find out.
M.D. (6th gr.) 2007

Beacon Street Girls #1: Best Friends, Worst Enemies

by Annie Bryant

***

FIC BRY, Series section

It's about girls who are very popular. A new girl comes and she is a klutz. She is totally trying to survive a new middle school. She finally makes friends with Maeve, Katani, Avery, and herself. They become Bff's and they find a tower and it belongs to another person and they all go in there all the time and then... What I liked best was that it was happy and very funny. You'll SO like it cause if you love boys like me then, there's a lot of boy talk!! READ IT!!

M.D. (6th gr.) 2007

There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom

by Louis Sachar

*****

FIC SAC

Bradley is having some trouble. No one likes him... and he's not even new! He's angry at his counselor just for being his counselor. And he's only not angry at his hard animals. Carla, his counsoler, still thinks he can change. Can he? I liked this book because it tells about Bradley's feelings and really makes you understand him.

R.R. (5th gr.) 2007

The Last Siege

by Jonathan Stroud

****

FIC STR, Teen section

Emily is going out to sled, but the only place to sled is the old castle that is closed. And when she accidently sleds into the area that is closed off, she sets off on an amazing adventure. She meets a person named Simon and a person named Marcus with a wacked out idea of going INTO the castle! Will Emily help Marcus with his crazy idea without getting into trouble? What I liked best about the book was how descriptive it was and how he described the characters.

C.F. (5th gr.) 2007

Flush

by Carl Hiassen

****

FIC HIA, Teen section

Noah's father is in jail, and he and his sister Abbey are willing to do anything to get him out, including trying to prove that a local citizen is dumping sewage from his casino boat into the Florida Keys near their hometown. Together they team up with others to try to get this man to confess. I loved the way the author described the characters, as well as the unusual plot and disgusting events. Great for a laugh!

K.M. (5th gr.) 2006

Alice Alone

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

****

FIC NAY, Teen section

This story is about a 14 year old girl who is starting high school and having a party. I loved this book because it is helping me with things!!!!

M.D. (6th gr.) 2006

Just as Long as We're Together

by Judy Blume
*****
FIC BLU

This book was great. Stephanie is in a crisis. Find out if she can get out of the crisis. Will she get her friendship back? This book has a sequel, Here's to you Rachel Robinson. I liked the book because Stephanie has a great life and she totally teaches you about life.......for girls.
J.K. (6th gr.) 2006