Bluefish by Pat Schmatz
Travis Roberts has just moved from the only home he's known to a new place in town and a new school. He had to leave behind his "place" at the swamp, and most importantly, his best friend, a dog named Rosco. His parents are gone, and his grandpa isn't around much between work and AA meetings. Travis struggles in school, knowing that the secret he's keeping won't be one for long. Then he meets a teacher named Mr. McQueen who gives him a new hope for his future and a girl named Vida, a.k.a. Velveeta, who has some struggles of her own. Together, the two lean on each other, and end up saving themselves.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Book 28: The Night She Disappeared
The Night She Disappeared by April Henry
Gabie, Drew, and Kayla have nothing in common except that they all work at Pete's Pizza. Gabie is the quiet, rich girl whose parents are doctors, Drew is the average C student whose mom struggles with a drug addiction, and Kayla is the pretty, popular girl that everyone adores. One night on a pizza delivery, Kayla is kidnapped. Drew is the one who took the kidnapper's order over the phone, and he can still hear the guy's voice in his head. Even worse, Gabie discovers that she is the one the kidnapper truly wanted. As the days pass, the police struggle with leads, and Drew and Gabie try to hold onto hope that Kayla is not only alive, but okay. Will they find her before it's too late?
Gabie, Drew, and Kayla have nothing in common except that they all work at Pete's Pizza. Gabie is the quiet, rich girl whose parents are doctors, Drew is the average C student whose mom struggles with a drug addiction, and Kayla is the pretty, popular girl that everyone adores. One night on a pizza delivery, Kayla is kidnapped. Drew is the one who took the kidnapper's order over the phone, and he can still hear the guy's voice in his head. Even worse, Gabie discovers that she is the one the kidnapper truly wanted. As the days pass, the police struggle with leads, and Drew and Gabie try to hold onto hope that Kayla is not only alive, but okay. Will they find her before it's too late?
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Book 27: First Light
First Light by Rebecca Stead
Peter's parents are scientists, so when they decide to move the family from New York to Greenland to conduct research, he tags along for what will surely be the adventure of a lifetime. The conditions are tough and Peter quickly finds that he's not used to the brutal cold. He is also keeping a secret: severe headaches that cause him to experience confusing visions. Meanwhile, under the ice, an entire civilization has been established in a place called Gracehope. Thea wants nothing more than to travel to the surface, despite the dangers she has been taught. Finally, their two worlds collide and it turns out that Peter's secret is only the first of many that will affect them.
Peter's parents are scientists, so when they decide to move the family from New York to Greenland to conduct research, he tags along for what will surely be the adventure of a lifetime. The conditions are tough and Peter quickly finds that he's not used to the brutal cold. He is also keeping a secret: severe headaches that cause him to experience confusing visions. Meanwhile, under the ice, an entire civilization has been established in a place called Gracehope. Thea wants nothing more than to travel to the surface, despite the dangers she has been taught. Finally, their two worlds collide and it turns out that Peter's secret is only the first of many that will affect them.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Book 26: The Raft
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen
Robie lives on Midway Island, an Pacific island past Hawaii, where she is currently visiting her aunt, A.J. When business suddenly calls A.J. to leave for Los Angeles, she allows Robie to stay by herself until next week when Robie's parents are expecting her home. But then Robie gets scared and decides to head back to Midway on a small supply plane, a flight she often takes back and forth to her island. This trip, however, is anything but typical as the plane goes down and Robie finds herself alone in a raft with Max, one of the pilots. No one knows that she was on the plane, and she soon realizes that she'll have to rely on a total stranger to survive at sea.
Robie lives on Midway Island, an Pacific island past Hawaii, where she is currently visiting her aunt, A.J. When business suddenly calls A.J. to leave for Los Angeles, she allows Robie to stay by herself until next week when Robie's parents are expecting her home. But then Robie gets scared and decides to head back to Midway on a small supply plane, a flight she often takes back and forth to her island. This trip, however, is anything but typical as the plane goes down and Robie finds herself alone in a raft with Max, one of the pilots. No one knows that she was on the plane, and she soon realizes that she'll have to rely on a total stranger to survive at sea.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Book 25: Soccerland
Soccerland by Beth Choat
When she's not helping out on her family's Maine potato farm, Flora Dupre lives, eats, and breathes soccer. Before her mom died, Flora promised her that she would play for a national team. Then she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: to train at the International Sports Academy in Colorado. It's everything Flora has ever wanted--the first step to making it on a national team. But camp is tough, and Flora's not used to the level of talent or the attitudes of other players. She has to deal with a coach who seems to hate her, a group of girls who want nothing more than to see her fail, and then a phone call from home with tragic news. Can Flora overcome everything to make the team, or will she return to the potato farm and her family?
**A Truman Nominee for 2012-2013
When she's not helping out on her family's Maine potato farm, Flora Dupre lives, eats, and breathes soccer. Before her mom died, Flora promised her that she would play for a national team. Then she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: to train at the International Sports Academy in Colorado. It's everything Flora has ever wanted--the first step to making it on a national team. But camp is tough, and Flora's not used to the level of talent or the attitudes of other players. She has to deal with a coach who seems to hate her, a group of girls who want nothing more than to see her fail, and then a phone call from home with tragic news. Can Flora overcome everything to make the team, or will she return to the potato farm and her family?
**A Truman Nominee for 2012-2013
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Book 24: Wonder
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
August Pullman is like most middle school boys. He has an older, moody sister starting high school, a dog named Daisy whom he adores, and a love for all things Star Wars. The only difference is that Auggie has been home-schooled his entire life--he's never attended a "real" school. Until now. It's hard enough to fit in, to figure out the "right" lunch table, to know who to trust in class. But there's one more difference that makes middle school tough for him. August Pullman was born with multiple birth defects that have left his face severely deformed. What's it really like to see the world through Auggie's eyes? And what happens when his world suddenly collides with others'?
August Pullman is like most middle school boys. He has an older, moody sister starting high school, a dog named Daisy whom he adores, and a love for all things Star Wars. The only difference is that Auggie has been home-schooled his entire life--he's never attended a "real" school. Until now. It's hard enough to fit in, to figure out the "right" lunch table, to know who to trust in class. But there's one more difference that makes middle school tough for him. August Pullman was born with multiple birth defects that have left his face severely deformed. What's it really like to see the world through Auggie's eyes? And what happens when his world suddenly collides with others'?
Monday, September 10, 2012
Book 23: The Grimm Legacy
The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
Elizabeth Rew has a new part-time job. But just not any job. After a referral from her social studies teacher, Elizabeth is a library page at the New York Circulating Material Repository where patrons can check out a variety of objects and collections. As if that's not strange enough (Elizabeth was expecting a library to check out books), a giant bird creature has been seen hovering around the repository, a former page has disappeared, Elizabeth can see her boss's freckles dance around on his face, and there are a lot of secrets regarding the repository's most special collection: The Grimm Collection. When Grimm objects start disappearing, it's up to Elizabeth and the other pages to figure out what's going on. Will she survive to live "happily ever after?"
**A Truman Nominee for 2012-2013
Elizabeth Rew has a new part-time job. But just not any job. After a referral from her social studies teacher, Elizabeth is a library page at the New York Circulating Material Repository where patrons can check out a variety of objects and collections. As if that's not strange enough (Elizabeth was expecting a library to check out books), a giant bird creature has been seen hovering around the repository, a former page has disappeared, Elizabeth can see her boss's freckles dance around on his face, and there are a lot of secrets regarding the repository's most special collection: The Grimm Collection. When Grimm objects start disappearing, it's up to Elizabeth and the other pages to figure out what's going on. Will she survive to live "happily ever after?"
**A Truman Nominee for 2012-2013
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