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Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Cammie Morgan questions the loyalty of her classmates and friends after she learns that one of her most trusted allies is actually a double-agent, and now danger follows her everywhere.
My Thoughts - I loved this next book in the Gallagher Girls series! At the beginning of the book, I was a bit confused and had to stop and remember what had happened in the previous book. But I quickly got back on track and couldn't put this book down! I look forward to Ally Carter's next book!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Ashes by Kathryn Lasky
In 1932 Berlin, thirteen-year-old Gaby Schramm witnesses the beginning of Hitler's rise to power, as soldiers become ubiquitous, her beloved literature teacher starts wearing a jewelled swastika pin, and the family's dear friend, Albert Einstein, leave the country while Gaby's parents secretly bury his books and papers in their small yard.
My Thoughts - I tend to enjoy historical fiction set in this time period. I imagine that Gaby's feelings and reactions to what was happening around her were typical of young people at that time. I liked this story, especially the twist with Albert Einstein and another twist with Gaby's sister.
*Summary taken from CIP data.
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Sixteen-year-old Clary conintues trying to make sense of the swiftly changing events and relationships in her life as she becomes further involved with the Shadowhunters and their pursuit of demons and discovers some terrifying truths about her parents, her brother Jace, and her boyfriend Simon.
My Thoughs: This was a fast-paced page turner! I'm ready for City of Glass, the last book in The Mortal Instruments trilogy! I can't wait to find out what happens with Clary and Jace! I can't say more because I don't want to spoil any of the story for you.
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Four Perfect Pebbles: A Holocaust Story by Lila Perl and Marion Blumenthal Lazan
The author tells the story of her family's experience as Jews in Hitler's Germany, tracing their horrifying journey from their home country to Holland and back again, living in refugee, transit and prison camps, including Bergen-Belson.
My Thoughts - This is another powerful story narrated by a mother and daughter as they tell their story of survival.
*Summary taken from CIP data.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Suddenly able to see demons and the Shadowhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizarre world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster.
My Thoughts - Get ready for a fantastic ride through this story that twists and turns and leaves you hanging and running for the next book in the series!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Cold Hands, Warm Heart
After sixteen-year-old Tyler convinces his parents to donate the organs of his fourteen-year-old sister, who died during a gymnastis meet, he writes letters to the recipients, including Dani, who finally has a chance at normalcy after living fifteen years wiht a congenital heart defect.
My Thoughts: An interesting story from two points of view: Tyler's and Dani's.
*Summary taken from CIP data.
In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth
Told in their separate voices, Eagan, who has died in a figure-skating accident, becomes a heart donor for Amelia, who then begins taking on some aspects of Eagan's personality.
My Thoughts: I stayed up late into the night to finish this captivating story! It makes me wonder if it is possible, which the author addressed in an end note saying that there are reports from patients that this can happen but nothing has been scientifically proven. I felt sad for Eagan and her mom. I felt happy for Amelia and the new opportunity for life that this brings to her.
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Slob by Ellen Potter
Picked on, overweight genius Owen tries to invent a television that can see the past to find out what happened the day his parents were killed.
My Thoughts: I liked this story that shows what middle school is really like from the point of view of the person who is bullied. It has lots of sadly funny situations that made me keep reading!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Swindle by Gordon Korman
After unscrupulous collector S. Wendell Palamino cons him out a valuable baseball card, sixth-grader Griffin Bing puts together a band of misfits to break into Palamino's heavily guarded store and steal the card back, planning to use the money to finance his father's failing invention, the SmartPick fruit picker.
My Thoughts: Wow! What a page turner! This story is full of fast paced adventure with all sorts of twists and turns! Great read!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Fifteen-year-old Kat schemes her way into the best boarding school, hoping to leave the thieving antics of her family behind her, but Hal, a former co-conspirator, appears on campus to tell Kat that a powerful mobster believes her father stole art from a priceless collection, and in order to save him, Kat will have to recover the paintings.
My Thoughts: I LOVED this book! It played like a movie in my head as I read it. The intrigue was great, it kept me reading straight through to the end! I was left with questions still unanswered, so I hope there is another book coming!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
The 6th Grade Nickname Game by Gordon Korman
Eleven-year-old best friends Jeff and Wiley, who like to give nicknames to their classmates, try to find the right one for the new girl Cassandra, while adjusting to the football coach who has become their new teacher.
My Thoughts - Jeff and Wiley are great! They have fun finding nicknames but have trouble finding the right one for Cassandra because they like her so much. Their new teacher, the football coach, is hilarious! I would like to see him in real life!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Babymouse: Skater Girl by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm
Babymouse is sad because everyone has a special talent and she doesn't know what hers is, so she starts ice skating and is excited when an Olympic coach notices her skills.
My Thoughts - Babymouse learns that if you really want something, you have to work hard at it. And if working hard at it is hard for you, you have to decide if what you are working for is really worth it to you! Funny and pink as always!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Paisley Hanover Acts Out by Cameron Tuttle
Paisley is beginning her sophmore year in high school and trying to work her way up the social food chain. But the first day of school puts her plan in jeopardy. Will she be a Pop or an UnPop? Paisley begins to see the downside of being popular and takes some anonymous jabs at the social food chain in The Fly, the school newspaper. This is a funny satirical look at cliques in high school!
My Thoughts: I liked to see Paisley struggle with what is right versus what is popular and try to make her way through. I thought it was a funny page turner! What story wouldn't be funny with a statue of a hornet in the school quad?
The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller
Sixth grade teacher Donalyn Miller describes the instructional approach she uses to turn children into readers, based on a combination of individual choice, a program of independent reading, a collection of high-interest books, and appropriate and authentic reading behavior modeling.
My Thoughts: I so enjoyed this book! It was so inspiring! I wish I taught at a school full of reading teachers that all subscribed to Donalyn Miller's ideas and methods. I am left thinking of how I can impact readers in the library.
*Summary taken from CIP data.
The Global Achievement Gap by Tony Wagner
The subtitle of this book is "Why Even Our Best Schools Don't Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need--And What We Can Do About It"
Charges that the failure to teach young people critical thinking skills, creativity, and effective communication is quickly making American schools obsolete and leaving students unprepared to compete in the global job market, offers advice on how to overhaul the U.S. education system, and includes examples of uniquely successful schools.
My Thoughts: I thought this book was right on target! It inspired me and frustrated me at the same time. I was inspired because I agree that what Wagner is saying about the teaching in our schools is correct and I want to be able to change the system. I was frustrated because I am at the bottom of the system, so I have very little influence to change it. In the end, our children and our country will pay the consequences for not addressing what our children need in order to succeed in today's world.
*Summary taken from CIP data.
In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry by Carla Killough McClafferty
This book chronicles the efforts of American journalist Varian Fry, who flew to Mareseilles, France, in 1940 to help artistic and intellectual refugees flee the Nazi regime, but ended up staying for over a year to assist as many people as he could before he was evicted.
My Thoughts: This is a true story of one very courageous man and his efforts to save the lives of those that Hitler deemed unworthy. A true adventure tale!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust by Allan Zullo and Mara Bovsun
A collection of nine true stories of children who lived through the Holocaust of Nazi Germany, and describes how each was able to survive.
My Thoughts: I was touched by the stories in this book. They all show that survivors of the Holocaust had to have a very strong desire and will in order to survive this horror.
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Anne Frank: Hidden Hope by Rita Thievon Mullin
A well researched and well written biography of Anne Frank, this book has lots of added photos, maps, diagrams and quotes to help the reader really get to know who Anne Frank was. Many quotes from Anne's diary add to the author's words. I especially liked the information about the chestnut tree that still stands outside the annex. This is a must read!
Babymouse: Queen of the World by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
An imaginative mouse dreams of being queen of the world, but will settle for an invitation to the most popular girl's slumber party.
My Thoughts: Babymouse is fabulous! I've wanted to read her books for quite awhile. (Who wouldn't? They all have lots of pink!) Babymouse knows how to be a real friend. I can't wait to read more of her stories!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting by Jim Murphy
This is a well researched acount of the Christmas Truce of 1914 during the first winter of World War I. The author did a great job explaining how the war began and how the armies came to be involved in trench warfare on the Western front. Photographs and paintings illustrate the true story.
My Thoughts: I loved the pictures and photos! This was very well written and easy to understand how this unforgettable event unfolded.
Purge by Sarah Darer Littman
When her parents check sixteen-year-old Janie into Golden Slopes to help her recover from her bulimia, she discovers that she must talk about things she has admitted to no one-not even herself.
My Thoughts - I enjoyed this powerful, moving story! The characters were great! If you liked Wintergirls or Jane in Bloom, try this book next!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
The Missing Book 2: Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Jonah, Katherine, Chip and Alex suddenly find themselves in 1483 at the Tower of London, where they discover that Chip and Alex are Prince Edward V and Richard of Shrewbury, imprisioned by their uncle, King Richard III, but trying to repair history without knowing what is supposed to happen proves challenging. Author's note includes historical facts about the princes and king.
My Thoughts - This was a thrilling sequel to the first book in the series, Found! I can't wait to read the next book to see if we find out who Jonah is!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
Donut Days by Lara Zielin
During a campout promoting the opening of a donut shop in a small Minnesota town, sixteen-year-old Emma, an aspiring journalist, begins to connect an ongoing pollution investigation with the turmoil in the evangelical Christian church where her parents are pastors.
My Thoughts: I really related to this story and Emma's fight for what is right, which can be difficult to determine in life!
*Summary taken from CIP data.
