Among the Hidden

Mary Petersen Haddix wrote a series about a dystopian world in which third children are illegal.  Jen and Luke are such children.  Their lives and experiences are very different, however, and their attitude toward changing that reality is, too.

In the last chapter, we discovered Luke's decision about the future.  What is that decision?  Do you think Jen would be happy with it?  Explain.

Upside-Down Magic

This first book in a new early-reader series was very sweet.  (E MLY) A young girl's magic doesn't work correctly and she ends up in a special class with other magic misfits.  They all think they are broken.  Only with the help of their special teacher who values them for ALL that they are do they begin to see they are not broken but gifted.  This is a story about loving who you are.

A Night Divided

Jennifer Nielsen is one of my new favorite authors.  She wrote The False Prince and its two sequels in the Ascendence Trilogy.  Like those, this is a historical fiction novel.  This is set during the Cold War in Berlin, right after the wall went up to separate the democratic sections of the city from the communist.  Gerta's father was on the other side of the wall when it went up overnight.  For four years the family was separated until she sees him one day on the other side.  His strange dance motions are sending her a message.  When she figures it out, she must use all her courage to do what he is asking and try to reunite their family.  (FIC NIE)

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics

When Chris Grabenstein started this series a few years ago, as a librarian, I was excited.  I devour any book that sings the praises of reading and libraries.  I just did not know how it would translate for kids.  His first one, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library was a bit reminiscent of Willie Wonka, but it was exciting and original in other ways and my students loved it.  This sequel in which Kyle (and his other friends who won the contest in the first book), are now challenged by kids across the country who want a shot at winning the library games, too.  So Mr. Lemoncello is back at it, creating another set of games revolving around the library, reading and the Dewey Decimal System.  I did not find this one as exciting as the first, but it was still a great, fun read.  (FIC GRA)