Home Away From Home

Cynthia Lord's latest does not disappoint.  In this realistic fiction novel, we meet Mia who is spending the summer with her Grandma in Maine while her mom and future stepdad sell their house.  Mia is excited to have her grandmother all to herself until she discovers a next-door neighbor boy who is way too close to her grandmother, in her opinion.  They soon develop a friendship as they discover a rare bird visiting the island who is threatening the local eaglet celebrities.  Mia breaks a rule and the consequences snowball in a frightening direction.  Can she make it right?  Will she lose her new friend and the trust of her family?  (FIC LOR)

Nell and the Netherbeast

 

This is a fun mystery-fantasy story.  Nell and her sister are spending the summer with their aunt who owns a Bed and Breakfast.  Before they go, Nell finds a "cat" in an alley that she knows is not a cat.  She brings the beast with her and become fast friends.  When they arrive at the inn, the place is falling apart, even though it was fine the last time they were there.  They soon discover that there is a ghost in the basement and Nell and the Netherbeast have to figure out what he is mad about before their aunt loses the inn forever.  (FIC RUL)