Soar

In this big-kid fiction book written by Joan Bauer and on the Great Stone Face nominee list this year, a boy moves to a baseball-crazy new town, which is perfect for he and his dad.  The high school's team, however, soon finds itself in a scandal that could end baseball there forever.  Jeremiah leads the charge for the revival of the middle school team.  His weak heart won't allow him to play, but his love for the game, courage, and positive outlook create a spark that will help the town soar.  (FIC BAU)

The Big Dark

The author of this story wrote Freak the Mighty, so I was excited to read his latest, The Big Dark, a Great Stone Face Book Nominee this year. It is a survival story, a hugely popular genre right now.  When a solar flare causes a world-wide geomagnetic phenomena, the electric grid collapses. Car engines won't start. Batteries do not work. The town of Harmony, New Hampshire is in the middle of winter. Things look bleak, especially when a well-armed local family wants to establish their own sovereign nation of strong, white citizens. Charlie has to leave Harmony and trek to a place where he can get his mother's life-saving medicine.  It is an exciting story.  (FIC PHI)

Pax

This novel from the author of the early-reader Clementine series, Sara Pennypacker, was a wonderful read.  It is a big-kid chapter book, unlike her earlier series.  A boy and the fox he has raised since he was a pup get separated.  It is the story of how each of them separately tries to find their way back home.  I especially liked the journey that Peter took, highlighted by his time with Vola.  What a wonderful character.  They each are forever changed by the brief time they spend together.  The book is a Great Stone Face book this year.  I would not be surprised if it won.  (FIC PEN)

Nine, Ten: A September 11th Story

This book is available on our nooks.  It is a short book written by Nora Raleigh Baskin, but for older students.  The story begins two days before the tragic events of 9/11.  It is told from the perspective of four young people from around the country. Each of their experiences is unique and yet their stories connect, as all of us do in such a tragedy.
(FIC BAS)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

This story picks up where the Deathly Hallows leaves off.  But although the story belongs to J.K. Rowling, it is written in play form by someone else.  I thought it was great to revisit beloved characters, of course.  However, I do not like that this amazing, epic story continues in another form. I found that the play left so much back-story out.  I missed the language and flow of the original stories.  (FIC ROW)

The Scourge

Jennifer Nielsen is one of my favorite authors.  Several years ago, she wrote the Ascendance Trilogy which I adore.  This is a stand-alone book, which is rare these days.  It is a story of a disease that is tearing through a kingdom.  When Ani is infected, she is taken to an island into isolation with other victims.  What she find is worse than the disease.  I loved Ani: a brave and sassy girl.  This fast-paced adventure story has friendship, betrayal, and courage.  But at its heart, it makes us think of tragic times in history when man was judged by where they lived or what they believed.  It speaks of courage to break down those barriers and to see all men as equal and do away with stereotypes that separate.  (FIC NIE)