The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

This one wrapped me up and didn't let me go.  I ugly-cried in public at the end.  It was unique and beautiful and it will stick with me for a long time.  Coyote and her father have lived on a bus - driving around the country - for five years... since "it" happened.  During a phone call from her Grandma, Coyote learns that the local park where she used to live is being demolished.  There is a memory box under a tree there that she HAS to retrieve.  She promised.  But her dad vowed never to go back there. It's a no-go.  Coyote stands up to her father, and the ghosts of her past, and begins the journey back to her family.  Along the way, the pick up a glorious cast of characters who help them find their way home.  I adored this book.  (FIC GEM)

Right as Rain

Lindsey Stoddard, author of Just Like Jackie, wrote this, so I had to read it.  It was a sweet, yet mature, story of a girl named Rain who has lost her brother.  The family makes a fresh start in New York, but the loss can not be left behind.  Rain feels responsible for the death, the mom is distracting herself from the loss by working too much, and the dad can't get out of bed with depression.  Rain finds new friends who share her passion for running and finds a way for the family to have a purpose again.  I enjoyed the way the author wove the tragic night into the story as flashbacks.  (FIC STO)

Ellie, Engineer

In this first installment of a new series, we meet Ellie (and her friends).  She is an engineer, but not the kind that drives a train - the kind that BUILDS things.  Her best friend is having a birthday and Ellie always builds her something.  This year, she builds a dog house for her, but in her attempts at secrecy, feelings get hurt.  Ellie figures out a way to fix the mess.  Many authors are now concentrating on presenting STEM topics in fiction to get students interested.  This book does that, of course, but it also tackles gender stereotypes of "girl" things and "boy" things, which is also important for students to see.  It is a short chapter book, probably best suited in my big-kid fiction series, rather than early chapter book.  (FIC PEA) 

The Storm Keeper's Island

This book was a gift for our Bradford library from Nancy O'Leary, my friend and volunteer.  She was traveling in Ireland, saw it and thought of me.  It is written by an Irish author named Catherine Doyle.  It is a fantasy story of a magical island, an evil sorceress trapped in its soil, and the boy destined to defeat her by wielding the island's magic.  I found too many similarities to Harry Potter that it turned me off a bit.  It was a fine story, but not original, unfortunately.  It is the first in a series.  I am unsure if I will buy the others as they are released.  (FIC DOY)

Harbor Me

Jacqueline Woodson is an award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming.  Like that story, this story focuses on characters of color and their struggles in our country.  In Harbor Me, six students who struggle in school are encouraged to meet privately and talk.  At first, they are uncomfortable, but soon they realize that their stories matter, and having someone to share them with matters even more.  They become each other's harbor, or safe place.  Their struggles include a dad in jail, a deportation threat, and police brutality.  Although a bit mature in content, it is a timely and important view of America in the 21st century.

Pony Scouts: The Camping Trip

In this early reader series, we meet three young girls who are Pony Scouts.  In this story, Meg goes camping with her friends and of course, the ponies.  Meg finds that she is unprepared to camp.  But her friends help her have a great time by sharing their supplies.  These will be added to my collection because a library can't have enough pony stories.  (E HAP)

Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters

Andrea Beaty originally wrote some picture books based on these main characters:  Rosie Revere: engineer, Iggy Peck: Architect, and Ada  Twist: Scientist.  They are wonderful stories about children who love science.  Now, the author has written beginning chapter books.  This one features Rosie and her aunt, who was a riveter during WWII.  Her aunt and her fellow riveters need Rosie's help in designing a tool to help an injured friend paint.  The reader sees Rosie's questioning mind work through the scientific process of brainstorming, designing, research, and testing.  Any student who loves science will eat these up!  The series with all the characters is called The Questioneers.  (E BEA)

Mighty Meg and the Magical Ring

This beginning-chapter-book series by Sammy Griffin is a no-brainer.  A young girl is given a ring as a birthday present and discovers that it gives her super powers.  Each subsequent book then has a separate exciting task that Meg needs to tackle with her powers to help someone.  Her powers include invisibility, super strength, speed, and super senses.  The kids will love these!  (E GRI)

King and Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats

This is a wonderful series of early readers.  King (the dog) tells the stories that are at a first or second grade reading level.  I would compare them to a Henry and Mudge level.  Unlike Henry and Mudge, where each chapter is its own story, this has one story throughout and it is a mystery.  In this story, Kayla is baking treats and some are missing.  King helps discover the culprit.  I think students will enjoy the mystery element at this level.  There are not too may lower-level mystery series.  These will be a good addition to my collections.  (E BUT)