A Whole New Ballgame: A Rip and Red book

This big-kid fiction book surprised me.  (FIC BIL)   I was unfamiliar with the author.  The cover looked like a graphic novel.  I expected it to be light, shallow, and silly.  I did, however, think it would attract students with its cartoon drawings.  I should not have judged it by its cover.  It was a heartwarming, beautiful story about two friends starting fifth grade.  Red and Rip are perfect for each other.  Red has some issues, but Red is patient and kind and knows how to handle them and be a great friend.  Their new fifth-grade teacher is an unconventional teacher who refuses to teach to a test and stifle students' creativity and expression.  With references to great works of fiction throughout and schoolwork that 5th graders will relate to, this is a must-have for my shelves.

Orphan Island

This story was odd.  Nine children on an island, each delivered alone by a self-guided boat out of nowhere, one child a year.  The oldest on the island leaves in the return trip of the boat, and the cycle continues.  The island is perfect and the nine children are self-sufficient and happy.  But things change when one Elder refuses to leave when it is her time.  For the entire book, I was looking for backstory.  I wanted a revelation.  I wanted explanations as to where the island came from.  I did not get it.  I imagine there will be a sequel.  I will not read it.  (FIC SNY)

Walking with Miss Mille

I thoroughly enjoyed this short novel set in the South in the 1960's.  Alice is turning 11.  She has moved to her Grandma's town because her health is failing.  The neighbor is an elderly black woman.  Through their dog-walking routine, Alice and Miss Millie become great friends and they each learn of the other's troubles:  Alice and her missing father, and Miss Millie and the struggle of blacks in the South during that time.  It is a beautiful story of friendship.  (FIC BUN)

The 13-Story Treehouse

This is the first in a series written by Andy Griffiths.  It is a silly story illustrated extensively about two boys who live in an amazing treehouse and their wacky, unbelievable adventures.  It was very easy and quick to read, resembling a Wimpy Kid book.  (FIC GRI)

Amina's Voice

This was a relatively brief, easy read about a Muslim family living in the U.S. in the present day and some of the struggles that they go through.  The main character is Amina, a sixth grader.  She is adjusting to middle school and is jealous as her best friend adds a new girl to their group.  I found the story a bit boring until the end, where a tragedy happens.  I do think reading this will enlighten some students about the struggles of Muslims in today's United States.  (FIC KHA)

The Lemonade War

I originally read the fourth in this series first.  (link) I was unaware it was a series.  I liked it so I thought I would go back and see how it all started.  Jessie and Evan are siblings.  Evan is starting fourth grade.  His sister should be starting third, but she skipped a grade and will be in his class!  Evan is not happy about it.    When they could have been working together on a lemonade stand for the last week of the summer, the two are battling against one another, not really understanding what is behind their anger and competition.  This is a quick, fun read.  I will buy more in the series as I think it will be a hit.  (FIC DAV)

The War I Finally Won

In this sequel to her The War That Saved my Life, Kimberley Brubaker Bradley continues the story of Ada and Jamie in their new home.  I could not buy this book fast enough after I read the first one.  This sequel offered more backstory and more fully developed a few of the storylines started in the first.   All of these characters will stay with me for a long time.  I enjoyed the introduction of Ruth's character and how it changed all of their ideas about Germans.   (FIC BRA)

An Elephant in the Garden

In this Michael Morpurgo novel set during WWII, we meet a family living in Dresden, Germany.  The mother works at the local zoo.  Fearing for the safety of an elephant she has cared for since its birth, she soon starts bringing her home at night to stay in her garden.  One night while they are out walking the elephant at a local park, their town is bombed.  They begin a journey to safety, never leaving the elephant behind.  Based on a true story, this was a brief but moving story, based on real-life events.  (FIC MOR)

Turnabout

May Petersen Haddix is the queen of science fiction.  This is her latest story which tackles the question of aging and lengthening life.   She calls it unaging.  People in a nursing home are given an injection that not only keeps them from aging, and therefore dying, but actually turns back the clock and makes them get younger.  But, the patients need to decide when to stop that process.  And unfortunately, the doctors haven't perfected that part.  What happens if the process can't be stopped?
(FIC HAD)

The War That Saved My Life

I was told I HAD to read this book. It is set during WWII, and I love a good historical fiction book. During WWII, children from London were taken from the city to live in the country with other families for their safety. (The government knew the city would be bombed by the Nazis.) Ada and Jamie are two such children who were glad to leave their family and get away because their mother was abusive. Ada is handicapped. She has a club foot. She was told by her mother she was never to go outside because she was ashamed of her. Ada's new home is the complete opposite. Encouraged to go outside, and treated by a doctor, Ada now has freedom and love. But can she trust the woman who seems to care for her? Will she have to go back to her abusive mother? I found Ava's character to be hauntingly real in her inability to trust and her confusion with the world outside of her previous isolation. I also love the character of Susan, their caretaker, who was also broken in a way, and who was also changed by the kids' presence. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again. I believe a sequel is on its way. (FIC BRA)

Full of Beans

Jennifer Holm, the author of the Babymouse graphic novel series wrote this historical fiction story set in Key West Florida during the Great Depression of the 1930's.  Beans is a local boy who is barely scraping by trying to earn a nickel or two for his family.  When a smuggler asks him to help him in exchange for some serious cash, Beans can't resist.  But what is the money worth?  Beans' lying and bad choices start to eat at him.  He realizes that the people from Washington who are trying to make Key West a tourist destination could use some help, and may help cleanse his guilty conscience.
(FIC HOL)

My Life as a Book

Fans of the Wimpy Kid series will like this quick read with a 12-year-old boy as its main character.  Derek hates reading and his summer reading assignments are ruining his whole vacation.  However, a mystery that he is intent on solving spices his summer up, even though his parents make him go to Learning Camp.  I found the kid somewhat of a brat and quite unlikable at the beginning.  I also found many elements of the story quite random and not developed well at all.  This is the first in the series.  I hope my students like it more than I did.  I did like the illustrations which described vocabulary words in the book, though.  (FIC TAS)

Ballpark Mysteries: The Fenway Foul-Up

Students are going to love this mystery series by David Kelley.  Each story features the same two main characters:  cousins named Mike and Kate.  Kate's mom is a sports reporter, so they get to go to major league ball parks.  Their first is Fenway Park where the star hitter for the Red Sox has had his bat stolen. Mike and Kate have to help him find it or he will forever lose his mojo!  Each book is full of facts about each ball park and its team.  (E KEL)

Heidi Hecklebeck Has A Secret

Heidi has always been home-schooled and definitely does NOT want to start regular school.  Her fear is only reinforced when, in her first minute at her desk, a mean girl starts picking on her.  She knows how to stand up for herself, but it will mean revealing her secret.  This first in the early chapter book series has a cliffhanger at the end that will make students grab the next one!  Fans of  Critter Club and Ivy and Bean will love this!  (E COV)

Galaxy Jack: Hello, Nebulon!

This is the first in a cute, early-chapter-book series by Ray O'Ryan.  Zack lives far into the future on Earth, but his family moves to the planet Nebulon. Moving across the galaxy means leaving all that he knows behind, like his friends.  He soon realizes that his new home and school may be different, but it may just work out o.k.  Kids will love reading about this futuristic world. (E ORY)

Roscoe Riley Rules #1 - Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs

In this first of an early-chapter-book series by Katherine Applegate, we meet first grader, Roscoe Riley.  The poor kid is a trouble magnet, but he is only in first grade, so he is still learning all the "rules".  He is the narrator of the stories, which make them funny and totally realistic.  In trying to help his teacher make a good impression on the principal, he thinks he helps by gluing his classmates to their chairs. (E APP)

Dogman

Dav Pilkey has added another series to his Captain Underpants and Ricky Riccotta collections with this first installment into a new genre - graphic novels.
An accident left the head of a policeman and the body of a dog useless and so doctors took the pieces that still worked and put them together.  George and Harold have such imaginations! Simple text makes this an appropriate choice for younger students.  I also likes the fact that each chapter is its own self-contained story. (GN PIL)

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones

In this silly adventure story, a girl picks her nose and eats it, transporting her through a portal to a pirate ship.  There, she must help them find pieces of an X that will reopen the portal to get her home.  Crazy characters, bathroom humor, tons of action, fun drawings, and different fonts may attract readers.  It is a Great Stone Face nominee for this year, and is the first in a new series.  (FIC MAB)

Nest

I think this fits best on a middle-school shelf.  There are very mature topics in this story;  disease, suicide, abuse.  Written by Esther Erlich, it has Chirp as its main character, a girl who loves birds.  Her mom is diagnosed with a disease and has a nervous breakdown.  Chirp has a neighbor named Joey who becomes a great friend to her, but he is in a very bad situation at home himself.  I liked it and was eager to see how it ended, but it certainly was not a light, uplifting book. It was heavy.. too heavy for elementary school, I believe.

The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond

This was a lovely story about a bi-racial young girl who does not feel at home in her skin.  Her father died before she was born and she does not know her black side of the family.  Her mom, sister and grandparents are white.  When her dad's mother, whom she has never met, puts on an art show, Violet asks her mother if they can go.  Her new relationship with her black side of the family fills a hole in her life and makes her understand herself better.  (FIC WOO)

Last Stop on Market Street

This picture book won the Newbery Award last year.  You heard right.  The Newbery...not the Caldecott medal which is given to the book whose illustrations best help tell the story.  The Newbery is an award "given to the most distinguished contribution to children's literature".  I don't understand how that could be a picture book. It is a beautiful book with a touching story about a boy and his terrific grandmother who is teaching him about the important things in life while he complains a bit about their financial circumstances.  I loved it, but it is not your normal Newbery winner.

True (sort of)

I did not want this book to end.  It was full of fragile, lovable characters, all wounded and broken in some way.  Delly is a girl who has been told she is bad so many times, she believes it.  A new girl named Ferris Boyd moves to town who does not speak but can play hoops like a pro. Brud stutters and wants to be a basketball superstar.  They find and help one another through the power of friendship.  This book has a mature theme in it.  Although handled well and somewhat discreetly, it is for mature fourth and fifth graders who possibly can have a discussion with their parents about abuse.  (FIC HAN)

Ghost

I enjoyed this short Great Stone Face nominee for 2017-18.  Written by Jason Reynolds, we meet Castle, also known as Ghost.  I found him to be a refreshing and unique character.  He is in middle school, growing up on the tough side of town and living with his mom after a violent episode with his dad.  He constantly gets into trouble at school, until he discovers Track as a sport, and a coach who helps him become a responsible kid who can stay out of trouble.  I did find several topics a bit mature for my students, including the domestic violence and drug use.  I will not be carrying this book on my shelves.

Beyond the Bright Sea

Lauren Wolk may be my new favorite author.  This book was absolutely beautiful and original.  The characters were endearing and lovable; the plot exciting and mysterious.  It is set a long time ago, when a very contagious disease called leprosy took the lives of many innocent people and caused fear among others.  Crow was cast to the sea as an infant, away from an island plagued with the disease.  She finds a home with a reclusive man and his neighbor and they become the girl's family.  But when people start searching for treasure on the island of her birth, her past catches up to her.  (FIC WOL)

The Candy Smash

This is the 4th in a series called The Lemonade War series.  The two main characters are a fourth grade boy, Evan, and his sister, Jessie.  Jessie is brilliant and skipped a grade, which puts her in Evan's class.  He is not too happy about it.  Even though she is so smart, she struggles with understanding how to interact with other kids.  In this story, her desire to publish the Valentine's Day edition of the classroom newspaper threatens to embarrass most of the class, especially Evan.  I enjoyed this immensely.  I loved how, through the story, the reader gains a great understanding of poetry conventions and how to appreciate a beautiful poem, like Evan does.

Wolf Hollow

I can not say how much I loved this book.  I fell in love with every character.  A beautiful, engaging story line woven with themes that will resonate with students, it is a true joy.  AnnaBelle lives in a lovely town that has a troubled soul name Toby who lives there.  He is a kind soul, but keeps to himself, which scares some people.  A mean girl moves into town and realizes she can do bad things and blame it on Toby and people will believe her.  AnnaBelle knows that it is her responsibility to speak the truth and be courageous in the face of prejudice and injustice.  It is a Great Stone Nominee for 2017-2018.  (FIC WOL)

Paper Things

I enjoyed this novel about a girl and her brother.  Ari and Gage leave their foster home and unfortunately, can not find a new one. They struggle with being homeless for weeks.  The story deals realistically with the struggles of the siblings, who vow to stay together while trying to succeed in school and at work.  I loved the older brother, Gage, and found myself rooting for Ari, wishing on a "wish-plane" that all would work out.
(FIC JAC)

The Bolds

This Great Stone Face nominee about a pair of hyenas who leave Africa and move to London to pretend they are human was full of silliness, jokes, and bathroom humor.  I found it less than satisfying, but I am also a relatively old lady.  Maybe I am too old to appreciate it.  (FIC CLA)

Mutt's Promise

Kids will love this animal adventure story.  When Mutt has puppies, she could never predict the future that is in store for them.  She promises each of them that they have a talent and will one day find it.  But when two of them, including quiet, shy Luna, are taken away by a mean puppy-mill owner,  Luna will need to summon her courage and her talents to find home again.  This is a 17-18 Great Stone Face nominee.  (FIC SAL)

The Seventh Wish

This is a fantasy story but one with a real heavy dose of reality.  A girl catches a fish that grants wishes.  Charlie makes a few that go a bit wrong.  However, when she discovers that her sister is addicted to drugs, her life changes, and so do her priorities about wishing.  The author makes many references to the D.A.R.E. program and what it teaches.  I think this story is very timely, given the state of our society right now and could be a eye-opening read for a mature 5th grader. (FIC MES)

The Courage Test

A Great Stone Face nominee for 17-18, this story about a boy trying to reconnect with his dad is heart-warming.  His dad is a history professor, fascinated with the journey of Lewis and Clark.  They set out to follow in their footsteps.  But nothing is as it seems.  His mother is not being honest with him about why he is going.  And they meet a girl who is on her own journey.  Some topics are a bit mature, but are handled well and carefully for a grade-school audience.  (FIC PRE)

The Princess in Black

This is a new early-reader series by authors Shannon and Dean Hale.  I love her Books of Bayern, and here she has branched out into an early chapter book for younger children.  Bright graphic pictures and a super-hero princess in disguise will attract the emerging reader.  Each story has a different monster that she needs to defeat, yet each story follows a familiar plot-line which should be comforting for younger children.

Jubilee

In this stand-alone short novel by prolific author Patricia Reilly Giff, we meet Jubilee, a young girl who does not speak.  The reader learns of her past, sympathizes with her struggles in school fitting in, and roots for her to overcome her fears and insecurities and speak again.  (FIC GIF)

The Wild Robot

I heard amazing things about this book.  A ship full of robots is lost at sea, and Roz is the only survivor. She learns to love the island, adapting her programming to survive in the wilderness and become friends with the animals.  Her makers want her back and she faces a hard decision that affects everyone on the island.  It was a cute story, but I did not love it or understand what all the hullabaloo was about.  (FIC BRO)

Garvey's Choice

In this very short novel written in tanka poems, we meet Garvey. He likes Chess and reading.  His Dad unfortunately wants him to like sports. He finally finds a place that makes him fulfilled and happy, but will his choice further isolate him from the love and acceptance of his dad or bring them together? I was moved by this story and in awe of the author's ability to use the poetry style so effortlessly to tell it.  (FIC GRI)

The Bicycle Spy

This short WWII novel, written by Yona Zeldis McDonough is a great introduction into the world of Occupied France.  Marcel's parents are members of the resistance who secretly fight against Nazi Germany and the French who help them.  He becomes a spy himself, helping pass notes hideen in loaves of bread his parents make.  When a new friend's secret is revelaed, his courage and honor are put to the test.  I found this to be an exciting story, although written in a very simple style.  Students who are fans of historical fiction will enjoy this.  (FIC MCD)

Save Me a Seat

This is a beautiful novel about how two very different boys become friends: one is a newly arrived immigrant from India, the other is a quiet, insecure one with learning disabilities and sensory issues.  Each chapter goes back and forth between their perspectives over a one week timespan, which allows the reader to see how very different their lives are.  And yet, they become freinds when they both become the target of the class bully.  (FIC WEE)

Awkward

I will start by saying I do not read a lot of graphic novels.  I am not a fan.  However, I genuinely liked this Great Stone Face nominee written by Svetlana Chmakova.  (GN CHM)  The main character is a girl who made a bad choice and who feels guilty.  That is not the only moral dilemma that is tackled in the book.  The storyline revolves around her art club and its rival, the science club, and a competition that pits them against each other.  In the story, the characters learn how to stand up to bullies, work together for the school community, and use their varied talents.

Michael Vey: Prisoner in Cell 25

I enjoyed the first installment in Richard Paul Evans' new series about children with special powers.  It reminded me of Patterson's Maximum Ride series.  A hospital accident left a group of babies with electrical powers.  As teenagers, they are now being hunted and used for experimentation to create a super-race.  Michael and a few others resist.  It is an exciting storyline with very likable characters.  I was worried it would be too mature for K-5, but other than some crushes, it was benign.  I can not say the same for its sequels as I have not read them yet.

Billie B. Brown The Soccer Star

In this terrific series for younger readers (K-2), we meet spunky Billie B. Brown. When a boy tells her she can't play soccer with them because she is a girl, he doesn't know Billie!  A young reader will enjoy the bigger text on the page, the few short chapters and the adorable pictures spread throughout these books.  The author concentrates on feelings that any child may feel and how the characters react to and deal with them.  (E RIP)

Hey Jack! The Bravest Kid

This is a spin-off of Sally Rippin's Bobbie B. Brown series.  Bobbie's best friend, Jack, gets his own series now!  Like the Bobbie B. Brown books, they are a perfect realistic fiction, early chapter book for grades K-2.  Each book has a few chapters, bigger text, some pictures and a great lesson in each.  In this one, Jack learns that bravery shows itself in different ways and that it is o.k. for boys to be afraid or cry.  (E RIP)

Seven Dead Pirates

This ghost story written by Linda Bailey is a Great Stone Face nominee this year.  I enjoyed it immensely.  The main character is a young boy named Lewis who struggles with fitting in.  When his great-grandfather dies, he leaves his house to Lewis and his family.  Lewis soon finds out that the house is haunted by seven ghosts.  His job is to see that they get back to their ship, now in a museum.  The ghosts are quite funny and the storyline is engaging and entertaining.  In addition, the characters are unique and endearing.
(FIC BAI)

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

A town lives in sorrow and fear.  Each year they must sacrifice a child to keep the witch in the woods happy.  A baby is left but when a good witch rescues her, as she has done to all the previous babies, she mistakenly feeds her moonlight and enmagics the baby, now called Luna.  This is a beautiful fantasy adventure story of hope and love and magic, written by Kelly Barnhill. (FIC BAR). The language is beautiful, but the vocabulary is definitely for higher-level readers.  It is the winner of this year's Newbery Medal.