How Not to Be Popular

How Not to be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler

Seventeen-year-old Sugar Magnolia Dempsey is tired of being dragged all accross the United States by her hippie parents! Every few months she has to move to a new place and a new school. She has to leave all of her new friends who quickly forget her each time. Now Maggie is on her way to Austin, Texas. Her boyfriend has just broken up with her via text message! She can't take it anymore this making friends and trying to fit in, just to pack up and leave again in four months! So Maggie comes up with a plan! She will not be popular! She sets out to do everything she can to prove she is a supreme dork - carrying a Star Trek backpack and lunch box, wearing the weirdest clothes from the thrift shop where her dad works, and shunning all of the popular kids. Will her plan work?

This is a laugh-out-loud funny story about being the new kid at school!

Jennifer Ziegler will be visiting Stafford Middle School in the fall of 2009!

Escaping into the Night

Escaping into the Night by D. Dina Friedman

Thirteen-year-old Halina Rudowski narrowly escapes the Polish ghetto and flees to the forest, where she is taken in by an encampment of Jews trying to survive World War II.

This is a great but little known story of how some of the Jews survived the Holocaust by escaping into the forest and living in small groups away from the Nazi soldiers.

*Summary taken from the CIP data.

Darkness Over Denmark

Darkness Over Denmark: The Danish Resistance and the Rescue of the Jews by Ellen Levine

This non-fiction book is the true account of the Danish Resistance to the Nazi's during World War II. The stories of the many people who worked and risked their own lives to save their friends and neighbors is told. The true story is captivating! If you liked this book, try "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry.

Number the Stars

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

When the Nazi's occupy Denmark, life slowly changes for Annemarie and her Jewish friends. People are grim and life is not as happy. When the Nazi's plans to round up the Jews is discovered, Annemarie wonders if she has the courage and bravery to do what she can to help her friends escape.

This story is based on real life events and the Danish people who resisted Nazi rule in their country during World War II. If you like this book, try "Darkness Over Denmark" by Ellen Levine. It tells the true stories of the real people of the Danish Resistance.

Death by Bikini

Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber

Sixteen-year-old Aphra Behn Connolly has much to investigate at the secluded island resort she and her father run! Who killed the rock star's girlfriend on the beach? Why has her dad allowed a mysterious family to stay at the resort with no reservation or notice of their arrival? What about their good looking son? What is he hiding? How do they know Aphra's mom who left four years ago? This mystery has lots of suspense and danger to keep you reading! Look for the next book "Death by Latte"!