Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci: Giants of Science #1 by Kathleen Krull
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was rather disappointed in this book. da Vinci was such a fascinating man, painter and inventor, that I feel a book for young people must at least include illustrations of his many sketches. This book does not do that, and it's a shame. There are so many excellent biographies for middle school and high school readers today, which captivate our interests. I fear that when a middle school student takes this book off the shelf, and sees virtually no illustrations, maps or portraits, they will not give this book a chance. I know that this book is part of the Giants of Science series, and the author does not elaborate on the artistic side of da Vinci, but there could still be illustrations of his inventions. There is some very good information, and I do hope that some young people will at least try to read this.


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Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I know a lot of 8th grade girls are going to disagree with me, but I did not love this novel. I liked the setting, South Carolina, and the fact that there was a touch of Civil War history, and I did like the characters, Ethan and Lena, and I was rooting for them as a couple, but...
The story takes place in a small town, where Ethan is in high school, on the basketball team, but is mourning the death of his mom. His father has hidden himself away in his room, and so when Lena comes in to town and begins school, Ethan feels as if he instantly connects to her. That's probably because he has been dreaming about her every night, even though he had never met her before. But strange things happen around Lena, she can make windows shatter, and storms weak havoc.
I thought this was a bit drawn out, lots of repetition, but young ladies who love romance, psychic phenomena and weird families, will love this.


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Small as an Elephant

Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another book about elephants, but really, this book is about a young boy named Jack who has a very dysfunctional mother. The story opens with Jack and his mom on a camping trip to Acadia National Park in Maine. When Jack wakes up on the first morning, his mother is gone. She has left him all alone at a campsite, and we learn that she has done crazy things like this in the past. He loves his mother, and so will not report this to the police, but actually tries to find her. I could not put this book down, because I was fascinated with how Jack managed to be on his own for a few days, trying to make his way back to the Boston area, and his apartment. It is also a story about mental illness, and how children suffer as a result of parents not seeking medical help.


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The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful story! This is the tale of Ivan, a silverback gorilla, who is living in captivity in a mall and video arcade off of I-95. He has two special friends, Stella, an elephant, and a small dog named Bob. His "domain" is small, and it's hard for him to remember what it was like as a young gorilla in the jungle. When a baby elephant comes to join this sorry circus, Stella is dying, but makes Ivan promise to take care of baby Ruth when she is gone.  This very simple, but heartwarming story, is beautifully written. I highly recommend it, even for reluctant readers.


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Helen Keller Courage in Darkness

Helen Keller: Courage in Darkness by Emma Carlson Berne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fascinating biography of a very remarkable person. We all know that Helen Keller was some woman in history who was deaf and blind, but this book reveals so much more. Her life spanned some of the most interesting times in modern history, and this book intertwines these events with Helen's life smoothly and clearly.  There are many actual photographs, and so many things that I never knew. Helen actually was in silent movies, and in vaudeville. She took up many social causes, and of course, helped change the way the world views disabled people. She died in 1968! I would recommend this for 7th grade and up.


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Searching for Sarah Rector

Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a book full of information, photos, sidebars, and notes. There is everything you wanted to know about the Oklahoma oil boom, the African-Americans who lived in Indian Territory during the early 1900's, and good people and bad people, of both races. I thought this would read more like the other informational books for middle school students that I love,  but unfortunately, this book left me with more questions than answers. The narrative does not flow like a story, in fact, it reads more like a dry history text. It seems as if there was just not enough actual data on Sarah Rector, and nothing in her own words, and so, it left me disappointed.


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The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The setting: El Barrio in NYC, during the turbulent late 60's. Evelyn is a young Puerto Rican girl, who lives with her mother and father, and is just at the point where she is trying to become her own person. She looks at her mother, and sees a tired old woman, who cares only about her dream to own a home. Her father, too, is always working in their store. And then, that summer of 1969, her grandmother walks into her life. This woman is the opposite of her mother, and Evelyn is caught in between the two women's constant arguing. Things are changing in the Barrio, as protests grow and a group of young people, The Young Lords, take over Evelyn's church, so that they can start a preschool in the neighborhood. There are clashes with the police, and Evelyn's grandmother is right there, protesting with the Young Lords. Evelyn has many decisions to make, as life begins to change for the people in her neighborhood.


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The Prince of Mist

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is a creepy, chilling story of a demon, kind of like maybe, Satan? It takes place in a seaside town someplace in Europe. It is during war time, and Max's father wants to move his family from the dangerous city, to a safer place. He finds a ramshackle house that holds a few, very dark secrets. Max and his sister meet Roland, who tells them the story of a shipwreck, which leads to a story about a sinister character named Dr. Cain. Well, of course Max and his sister, Alicia,  get caught up in the terror. Max's little sister is pushed down the stairs by an evil force, and is in a coma, and the demon is unleashed.


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Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai: Education Activist by Rebecca Rowell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very interesting biography of the young Pakistani girl who was attacked for standing up for something she and her family believed in--the freedom for girls to go to school. This may not sound that interesting for most middle school students, who sometimes think that school is boring, and cuts into their time on Facebook or YouTube. But for Malala, it was a major issue, because she lived in a place where the Taliban ruled, and they actually tried to assassinate her as she was coming home from school. The book is filled with lots of photos, and many sidebars with some good information on Pakistan, rights for girls, and what life is like in a typical town in Pakistan. 

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The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really liked Looking for Alaska, and so I was anticipating another excellent book from Mr. Green. I know a lot of teens have raved about this story, too. I was rather disappointed by it. The story is about two teens, Augustus and Hazel, who meet at a support group for teens battling cancer. Yikes, right? Mr. Green does not make this depressing, though, but rather amusing. They are extremely witty, intelligent teens, who are quite willing to face their horrific medical problems. I actually liked Hazel's parents, who come off as being very real people who are dealing with their teenage daughter who happens to be very sick. It's a love story, but more than that. I think girls will like this better than boys, and bring along your tissues.


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Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I guess I should not be comparing this book with Hunger Games, but I can't help myself. Both books have a female character who appear to have great strength and endurance, and exhibit such bravery that it's mind boggling, but...I fell in love with Katnis, but never felt the same connection with Tris.  Both books take place in the future, in a dystopian world, but it seems that Tris' world is not as cruel, there is a government, and most people are taken care of. Don't get me wrong, Divergent is a good story, and it did keep me reading to the end. In Tris' world, at the age of sixteen you take a series of tests, and are placed in your community. There are a few exceptions, where you don't exactly fit, and you are considered Divergent, which can be dangerous. There is a love interest, and the training seems to go on and on, but the real action doesn't start until the last few chapters in the book. I'm not sure if I will read the next book in the series. We'll see.


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Inside Out and Back Again

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a beautiful, beautifully written story. This is based on the author's life as a young girl in Saigon, South Vietnam, just at the end of the Vietnamese War, and takes us all the way to Alabama. Ha's father, an officer in the their navy, has been missing, and her mother is trying to keep a roof over their heads, and food on the table for her and her three brothers. As the Communist troops draw closer, they realize they have to leave. With Canada, France or the USA as their choices, the family votes on the USA. They are sponsored by a kindly man from Alabama, who has a rather unkindly wife. Ha finds herself in school, an outcast, not speaking the language, and with some very mean children to deal with.  With it's simple, sparing style, the author gives us a glimpse into this very important year in Ha's life. A very quick read, but very memorable.


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Jefferson's Sons

Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an interesting tale of one of our most important Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson. Yes, the man who penned the Declaration of Independence did indeed own slaves on his plantation, Monticello, in Virginia. He was also the father of Sally Hemings' children, Beverly, Harriet, Madison, and Eston. Sally Hemings was one of Jefferson's slaves. The story is told through the eyes of all four children, who have been told that they will be free when they turn 21, as promised by Jefferson to their mother. Sally tells her children that when they leave Monticello, they will "pass" as white people, and live with all the advantages of white people at that time. I'm not sure all of the historic facts are accurate, and for sure, the dialogue is not, but it is an interesting piece of historical fiction.


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Within Reach My Everest Story

Within Reach: My Everest Story by Mark Pfetzer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very interesting story of a young boy's determination to climb Mt. Everest. It is not just a thirteen year-old's fantasy, Mark is so focused and willing, that he gives up at least 3 high school years to pursue this quest. It is told as if Mark is keeping a journal, from when he first discovers mountain climbing on a camping trip when he is in the seventh grade. Mark becomes obsessed with climbing, and like any obsessed kid, it becomes his heart's desire to find a way to eventually climb Everest. I will say, I am pretty amazed at how he came up with the money to do all the traveling, buy the equipment and train on "smaller" mountains until he goes for Everest. Obviously, he is not your typical teenager. This is an amazing journey, and it is told through Mark's teenage eyes.


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A dog's Life The Autobiography of a Stray

A Dog's Life: Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Reading this book reminded me of Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell, which I read when I was a little girl, a long time ago. Even though I was a city girl, who had no pets at all, that book allowed me to see what a horse might be thinking or feeling as it meets up with both good and bad humans. Well, Ann M. Martin does a very good job on letting us see what life may be like for a stray dog. Squirrel and her brother Bone are born in a barn, and begin their lives as two close companions. As they grow a bit older, their mother leaves them, and eventually, Squirrel is on her own. There are good and bad humans, and good and bad animals, but the writing allows us to believe everything that Squirrel thinks and feels. This is a good story, even if you don't own a dog.


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Life As We Knew It

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

An interesting take on what life would be like if we had never recovered from Superstorm Sandy. I know many of the Plainfield students were without power and heat for over a week after that storm, so they may be able to relate to some of the things going on in this story. The moon has been hit by a huge meteor, and has moved closer to the earth, which causes major tsunamis, flooding, power outages, and earthquakes. Miranda lives with her mom and two brothers in a town in Pennsylvania, and they are coping with food shortages, oil shortages, and no electricity. We learn about all this through Miranda's journal. This is the first in a trilogy.


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Football Genius

Football Genius by Tim Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book that I have read by former NFL player Tim Green, and I enjoyed this one just as much as I enjoyed Football Hero. This book is set in Atlanta, and actually involves Green's former team, the Atlanta Falcons, but the story really is about Troy, a middle school-age boy who is a great quarterback, but who never gets to play. He feels it is because the coach plays favorites, (his son), and Troy also feels slighted because he does not have a dad. Troy does have two great friends, Tate, a girl who is a great kicker, and his friend Nathan. Troy has one other gift, a football sense, where he can anticipate what plays are going to happen on the field. It all leads to a great story, with some pretty exciting scenes.


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Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very, very good story. I will certainly be getting it for the Maxson MS library collection. It seems as if writing about young people with different kinds of disabilities seems to be in vogue, as I had read Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper just a few weeks ago. This is the story of a boy, his mother and father, his sister, and the friends he meets as he enters school for the first time as a fifth grader. August was born with a rare condition, which has left his face so deformed, that most people gasp and look away when they see him. So, starting school in fifth grade is a huge step for him, and for all those people who care so much about him.
It is told by the different voices, but mostly by Auggie, and it is so well written that I could not put it down. A great read for all middle school students, (and adults, too.)


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Smiles to Go

Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I usually really love a Jerry Spinelli book. He has written so many beautiful books, like Maniac Magee, Stargirl, and one of my favorites, Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? I always used to read that one to my classes. Smiles to Go seems like a combination of a few of his novels. It is a love story with some science thrown in, but there is also sibling rivalry, friendship issues, and a lot of other good middle school angst. A good read for both boys and girls in 6th or 7th grade.


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My Voki

Children of the Great Depression

Children of the Great Depression by Russell Freedman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very good non-fiction book about the children who lived through the depression, from all areas of our country. There are photos of children from the rural south, the northern cities, and the migrant camps of California. There are pictures of kids hopping trains, and outside of a school in West Virginia. It amazes me that these kids grew up during this difficult time, and became the greatest generation--the heroes of WW II.
A great book to read, or, just to look at the incredible pictures.


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Out of My Mind

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderfully written book that every teacher and middle school student should read. This is the story of Melody, a remarkable 11 year-old who thinks thousands of words in her mind, but is not able to speak aloud. She has cerebral palsy, and terrific, supportive parents, and a wonderful neighbor who has always believed in her. The story is Melody's struggle to find a way to communicate with her world. It is also a story of good and very bad teachers, and kids who are cruel. I was very moved by this story. Bravo, Ms. Draper.


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"I'll Fight You For The Library" performed by Taylor Mali

Secret Saturdays

Secret Saturdays by Torrey Maldonado
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very different kind of story about friendship. Justin and Sean are best friends, they have each other's back in school and on the streets. It's a rough neighborhood, Red Hook, Brooklyn, and the two boys do not want to fight with fists, but with words. School is important to them. And then, Sean begins to change, turning into a bully, and Justin wants to know why. The story rings true, and that could be because the author grew up in Red Hook, and was a teacher in a New York City public school. The dialogue is real, and so are the problems these two boys face. This is a book that middle school boys and girls might enjoy, if they give it a chance.


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Freaky Green Eyes

Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a book that I could not put down. Francesca, or, Franky (as she likes to be called) is a 14 year-old, whose father is a famous retired football player- turned-announcer. She seems to have this great life, but very quickly, the reader discovers that Franky's father has a super short temper, is brutal and has his wife and children terrified of making him angry. This is a scary novel, that moves quickly. I would recommend this book for Maxson's mature 8th grade readers.


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Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very interesting biography, dealing with a subject that many middle school students know very little about--autism. Temple Grandin was very lucky that she had such a brave and loving mother, because at the age of three, Temple's father wanted to put her away in a mental institution because she was not normal. She was diagnosed with autism, a disorder of the brain. This was way back in 1950, when most people had no idea what autism was.
This book does a wonderful job in explaining how Temple grew up, and was able to go to college. It tells this story with photographs and diagrams of Temple's work. Temple has been able to become a scientist and professor of animal science at Colorado State University, and has changed the livestock industry with her incredible designs for handling cattle. The author writes this story in a clear, straight-forward way. We see the many trials Temple had to deal with, as she learned what she needed to do to help change the world's view of people with autism.


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13: Thirteen stories that capture the agony and ecstasy of being thirteen

13: Thirteen Stories That Capture the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen by James Howe
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a collection of short stories by some really good writers. I thought some of the stories were good, and some were just OK. I would definitely say the very last story, Tina the Teen Fairy, by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin was my favorite--short, cute, and funny. Some of the stories were way too serious, but a reader could always skip them. The stories are meant for both boys and girls, but I don't think too many middle school boys will find them that interesting.


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Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting

Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting by Jim Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another very good non-fiction book from Jim Murphy--this time about the First World War. Murphy does a very good job explaining how the war began, without getting too complicated. There are actual photos and some illustrations of both sides, which brings this war to life. The remarkable truce that happened on a cold Christmas Eve during the fighting, is a remarkable story.


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Maximum Ride the Angel Experiment

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was non-stop action, from the opening pages right to the end, when I said to myself, "I think I really need to read the next book in the series". I'm not a particular fan of James Patterson, and the writing style in this book is pretty basic, but I will admit the action and dangerous situations will definitely keep middle school and high school students on the edge of their seats.
Max and her crew are on the run. They are a group of kids that have been genetically modified- they all have some kind of super power. Max, for example, has great strength. They escaped from the "school" where the scientists experimented on them as if they were lab rats. Oh, and by the way, they all have wings and can fly! Now, it looks like the scientists who created them, want them back in the lab. Lots of fun!


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The Truth about Truman School

The Truth about Truman School by Dori Hillestad Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An absolutely up-to-date book on social media and bullying on the middle school level. Zebby and Amr are friends, and they are not part of the "cool" kids at Truman Middle School. They decide to set-up a webpage, when the school newspaper becomes too restrictive. Zebby just wants to have a discussion on the important issues at Truman, but things go terrible wrong. The website takes off, but it becomes a forum to attack one particular girl. A quick read, told by the different voices of the students at Truman. Very realistic.


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City of Orphans

City of Orphans by Avi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another good story from Avi, with a tale of turn-of-the-century New York, very poor immigrant families, tough gangs and cruel gang bosses. This book is a detective story wrapped around a family story. The story moves along quickly, and young people today can see how life was quite difficult for the immigrants back in the old days. Children are working for very low wages in unsafe conditions, and there is no one to protect them. Maks, the main character, is a thirteen year-old newsboy, who is not in school, but works selling newspapers on the streets, to help out his family. His older sister, who works in the new, Waldorf Astoria hotel, gets arrested for stealing an expensive watch. It's up to Maks to try to get his sister out of jail. With the help of a new friend, a homeless orphan named Willa, the friends do their best to save Maks' sister.


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Things Not Seen

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very different premise for a serious story--fifteen year-old Bobby wakes up one morning, and when he looks in the mirror, he can't see himself. He knows that he's there, he can feel himself, and he can wear clothing, but, he's invisible. His parents, who he didn't seem to get along with even before this happened, are not taking this well. They want him to hide, to tell no one, and Bobby feels that they are not getting what he is going through, they are only thinking about themselves. He meets a blind girl, Alicia, when he sneaks out to the library, and weirdly enough, they form a quick friendship.  Together they try to find a solution to Bobby's problem. Thought-provoking.


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I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan


I read Lois Duncan's book, Killing Mr. Griffin many years ago, and enjoyed it. I thought it was a good story that 8th graders could really get in to, as Mr. Griffin is a hated high school English teacher. I know that this book, I Know What You Did Last Summer was made into a movie a few years back, so I was looking forward to the story. Unfortunately, it's almost the exact story as Mr. Griffin, the same premise. A group of young people, while out for a fun summer night, mistakenly hit a young boy riding his bike, and leave him for dead. They try to cover this up, instead of "doing the right  thing". A year later, they all start receiving ominous notes, making them believe that someone else knows their terrible secret. The story moves quickly, and does hold some suspense. Again, I think eighth graders will enjoy this..


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2013 National African American Read-In

2013 National African American Read-In
Our Read-In at Maxson is on Thursday, February 28th.

Climbing the Stairs

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very, very good story!This is very different from most of the books in the Maxson LMC. This story takes place in India, just at the start of WWII, which was also a time when the country was rebelling against British rule. The author does a terrific job of taking us inside the life of Vidya, a strong-willed fifteen year-old, who has dreams of going to college. Many Indian women at that time had no rights, and were treated like second-class citizens. There is a terrible attack on Vidya's father, which she feels responsible for, and her life takes a terrible turn. She is able to escape through books, and, a handsome young man who stands up for her. A family story, a story of India and its customs, a love story, all rolled into a well-written novel. I would recommend this to 7th and 8th grade young ladies, but boys may enjoy this, too.


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Ninth Ward

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful story about a special twelve-year-old girl named Lanesha, who lives in New Orleans with Mama Ya-Ya. It is hurricane season, and Katrina is bearing down on the city. Lanesha is different from most of the 7th grade girls in her school, she has no friends, but Lanesha can "see" ghosts, she sees her own mother almost every day. The writing is beautiful, the tension builds as the big storm is about to hit, and Lanesha does what she has to do to survive. Good story, great characters.


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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting and quirky book, and I have to admit, I don't think I've ever read such a weird story. Peculiar children is putting it mildly, these kids were downright scary. The story involves time travel, WWII, and some scary otherworldly beasts, that come together on a remote fishing island off of Scotland's coast. What was pretty unique about this book, is that there are "real" photographs to go along with the story, and you find yourself studying them. I was fascinated with the story, which becomes a page-turner, and I was slightly surprised at the ending.

This is a first novel for the author, Ransom Riggs, and I can't wait to see what comes next.


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Code Talker

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a WWII story based on real events, and an action novel that young men will enjoy. This is the story of how the Navajo men were trained to be code-talkers for the Marines, to keep the Japanese from learning the plans of the US military. It also tells the tale of Navajo Indians who were told to NEVER speak their native language, and to forget their Indian ways, no matter how painful it was for them. And yet, once the government saw how much they could help the cause of the Allies, they were trained as Marines and were allowed to be themselves. There is a lot of action in this book, with some graphic battle scenes. The author, Joseph Bruchac, a Native American, has crafted a very good war story, as well as a tribute to those Navajo Indians who sacrificed much to help our country in time of need.


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Football Hero

Football Hero by Tim Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very good sports story that should appeal to middle school boys AND girls. Yes, there are football action scenes, but there is also lots of drama, family problems, even Mafia problems, enough to keep you turning the pages. Ty Lewis, a 12-year-old whose parents are killed in a car crash, has to live with his alcholic uncle, an aunt who doesn't show any affection, and a strange cousin who doesn't talk. The uncle has a cleaning business,and makes Ty clean toilets after school, instead of practicing with his school's football team. Ty's older brother, Thane, has just been drafted by the NY Jets, and tries to make Ty's life a bit easier. Then, Ty is dragged into a gambling plot with the Mafia, all because of his greedy uncle.
This has some great characters, a terrific plot, and is very realistic because the author is a former NFL player. I think I'll read Tim Green's first YA book, Football Genius in the near future.


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You Don't Even Know Me

You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems About Boys by Sharon G. Flake


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have read other books by Sharon Flake, The Skin I'm In, and Money Hungry, and enjoyed both of them very much. She is a popular author here at Maxson, because her writing rings true. This collection of short stories and poems was interesting, and I think will be a hit with both boys and girls. I know she is writing with inner-city students in mind, and so sometimes the stories are a bit hard to take, gritty and sad. I hope that any students who check this book out will find a positive message in her stories.




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Moon Over Manifest

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a wonderful story, with terrific characters, and some good guys and villains. The setting is the 1930's, and so perhaps some background might be needed for middle-schoolers, and the flashbacks bring you to WWI, which many students know absolutely nothing about, but still...
A twelve year-old girl named Abilene is put on a train to the town of Manifest, leaving her daddy behind to work on the railroad. Abilene is not shy, and so makes some friends. She is trying to "discover" her father's boyhood in Manifest, but seems to be running into roadblocks at every turn. There is a mystery in this town, and the three young ladies have decided to try and solve it. And, Abilene is missing her dad, and wondering if he has abandoned her. I loved this book!




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Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning

Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning: Football's Royal Family by Jeanne Nagle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With only 38 pages, lots of pictures and captions, and even some sidebars, this is an extremely readable book about the Manning family. I am big fans of the Manning brothers, and actually remember Archie Manning playing in the NFL (ouch) so I was interested in how the Mannings were raised, what kind of home life they had, etc. This is a good pick for any middle school student, and they should actually be able to finish this in one sitting.


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Blizzard

Blizzard by Jim Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An excellent edition to the Maxson Library, this book tells the story of an amazingly ferocious blizzard that hit the East coast in March of 1888. After a particularly mild winter, this killer storm took everyone by surprise. The author, Jim Murphy, does a remarkable job weaving personal tragedies and triumphs with real historical facts. There are great photos and drawings, and just enough scientific information to keep teachers happy, but the story will not be boring to your average reader. I am always fascinated with weather phenomena,and this book is just the right fix for that. I love glimpses into the past, and Murphy allows us to do just that with this book.


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The Slayer Chronicles First Kill

First Kill by Heather Brewer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, I have NOT read the Vladimir Todd books, but they certainly were a big hit in the Maxson Library. These books were devoured by the Maxson female students. I decided to read this book, because it is about vampire slayers, and I had had enough of vampires. This book is very violent and a bit gruesome, so I'm sure it will prove to be popular.
The main character, a boy named Joss, has witnessed his sister's horrible death by a vampire. Unknown to Joss, his uncle is a Slayer, and has recruited Joss for training in the summer before he enters 9th grade. Of course, author Heather Brewer ends it on a cliffhanger. I may actually read the next volume.


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The Disappeared

The Disappeared by Gloria Whelan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author, Gloria Whelan, is a National Book Award winner, and does a terrific job of presenting this story of the Desaparecidos (the disappeared) of Argentina during the 1970's. This story is told from two viewpoints, the voice of Silvia, a teenage girl of some privilege, and that of her older brother, Eduardo. It is scary and enlightening, and a great way to learn of this tragic era in Argentina's history. Perfect for middle school students.  


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Annexed

Annexed by Sharon Dogar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is rather hard to categorize. The events are somewhat true, the characters are real, but the author takes a different approach to the Anne Frank story. Dogar tells the story of the famous Anne Frank from Peter's point of view. Peter is the boy Anne ultimately falls in love with, and is mentioned many times in her diary. We feel his anger and frustration at being held a prisoner in an attic for two years, dealing with some very annoying people (in his eyes), and virtually no privacy. It is still heartbreaking at the end.
This is a more mature retelling of the story, and I would recommend it to 8th graders and up.


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A Tale Dark and Grimm

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. This was a great retelling of the Hansel and Gretel story, but done for older kids (and adults). It was gruesome and gory, and amusing at the same time. I enjoyed the author's style, never writing down to his audience. Very readable.


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Lost Childhood

Lost Childhood: My Life in a Japanese Prison Camp During World War II by Annelex Hofstra Layson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A different WWII story, as this was about a Dutch girl who was living on the island of Java when the Japanese took over, and her family became POWs. Annelex is only 4 when the Japanese make her a prisoner. She was one of the "lucky" ones though, because she was able to be with her mom and grandmother.  Her brother, who was only 10, was sent with the men to a different camp. Annelex was subjected to witnessing horrible cruelty and death, but the two women in her life were strong, and were able to keep her alive.
This is a quick, easy read, and a perfect way for middle school students to learn about this phase of history.




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Every Soul a Star

Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a terrific story. As a major solar eclipse is approaching, three very different characters, with very different problems, are brought together at Moonshadow Camp to witness the phenomenon. This unlikely group of kids, with very real problems, quickly become each other's best supporters. Wendy Mass does a fantastic job, I even liked Bree, who was pretty annoying. The characters make you laugh, and sometimes make you cry. Well written, and, I even learned something about the stars. I look forward to reading more of her books.




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The Dream Bearer

The Dream Bearer by Walter Dean Myers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this was an interesting little story with a good cast of characters. This is one of Walter Dean Myers' earlier works, but as usual, the setting is Harlem, with it's bustling and colorful streets. David is a 12 year-old who is dealing with a father who is unstable, and a brother who might be running with a rough crowd. He meets an interesting old man in the park, and is drawn to him when the old man informs him that he remembers dreams for people, and has been doing this for hundreds of years.


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Return to Sender

Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The story of Tyler, from a farm in Vermont, and his relationship with Mari, the daughter of an illegal migrant worker, is presented to the reader from both points of view, sometimes using letters as a means of telling Mari's part of the story. Mari's mom has gone missing, and the family is in constant terror of being found out by La Migra. Through the use of a telescope and the stars, the two develop a deep friendship.


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Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir Of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me

Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir Of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family And Me by Condoleezza Rice


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. It was well-written, touching at times, and well-paced. Ms. Rice and I were born in the same year, and as I was reading this, I thought about how much she accomplished in her life, the people she worked with, and her place in history. I am amazed at her tenacity, ambition, and her intellect. I want every one of my students to read how this woman, who grew up in Jim Crow Birmingham, accomplished so much with her life. Nothing and no one held her back. Ms. Rice emphasizes how important her parents were in her life, and how her faith carried them all through difficult times.
This book is from my school library collection, and yet, it really might be too difficult for middle school students. I would hope some teachers might read it, though, and share some excerpts with their students.




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