Clean Getaway

When William's G'Ma rescues him from his weekend of being grounded, he is at first thrilled.  A road trip retracing the path his grandparents took down South sounds like fun.  But William soon learns that the South in the 1960's was no place for a white woman and a black man to be in love.  He learns about the struggles of blacks in the South, but also realizes his G'Ma is hiding something.  (FIC STO)

Mac B. Kid Spy

 

I have been a fan of Mac Barnett for years.  He reaches all kids with his picture books, his early readers and his larger chapter books.  I have loved all of them so I was excited about this series.  Unfortunately, I was disaapointed.  I found the premise ridiculous:  Mac gets a call from the Queen of England.  One of the Crown Jewels has been stolen.  So she buys him a plane ticket to come to England and retrieve it.  There is ZERO explanation as to why the Queen would call Mac.  It  has fun facts and excitement, but I think he missed the mark here.  I am told kids LOVE it, so I will buy it, but I am not a fan.  (FIC BAR)

Edward's Eyes

 

Patricia MacLachlan gets me every time.  This quick read introduces us to a wonderful and large family.  Jake is the main character who, when baby Edward is brought home, bonds with him immediately.  Edward is special - intelligent, unique, and one who sees signs in life others do not.  And he loves baseball.  After a tragedy, Jake must find the stength and courage to learn from Edward and see the world more through Edward's eyes.  (FIC MAC)

The Christmas Pig

 

J.K. Rowling's magical story about a boy who enters the World of Lost Things to find his favorite stuffed toy is wonderful and refreshingly unique.  The magic of Christmas Eve allows his Replacement Pig to take him there, wher he must not only locate DP, but avoid the Loser, a monstrous evil machine who eats lost things.  In the end, it is a story of loss and love, and the knowledge that even though we may lose things and people in our lives, they are never really gone from our hearts.  (FIC ROW)