Magic Tree Bookstore: book reviews of newly published and upcoming children's books

Usually, Bean is all for conducting experiments; however, when her parents try leaving Nancy as Bean’s babysitter for an afternoon, she is none too pleased. Trapped in the house while every other kid is outside playing?! It’s just not fair. With the help of her trusty cohort, Ivy, Bean plots her escape. Things don’t go quite according to plan, and Ivy, Bean, and Nancy all learn a thing or two about rescue, rules, and responsibility.

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat may be my favorite book to come out this year. In it, Ottoline, certified Mistress of Disguise, and her long-haired companion, Mr. Monroe (who used to live in a bog in Norway), turn their attention to a string of neighborhood burglaries. Their efforts to solve this mystery are accompanied by quirky illustrations that keep this story fresh and engaging. Chris Riddell delivers a delightful mystery/caper that will appeal to the Ivy + Bean crowd. It is the first in a series.

An excellent read for thoughtful teens who appreciate good writing and are willing to let a story take its time in the telling. The novel begins: "Henry Smith's father told him that if you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you.” But Trouble does find Henry’s privileged family when his older brother Franklin, out jogging, is hit by the pick-up truck of a fellow student, Cambodian immigrant Chay Chouan. Although Chay immediately goes for help, he is arrested, and racist feelings run high in the Massachusetts town of Blythbury-by-the-Sea—especially after Henry’s parents accept a plea-bargain and Chay is released on parole. As Franklin lies in a coma and with his family traumatized, Henry turns to Black Dog, the abused mutt he rescued from drowning in the cove, for love and companionship. (Black Dog is quite a character, and the way she is depicted nearly makes the book worth reading for that alone—that, and the author’s understated style and beautiful descriptions of nature.) After Franklin’s death, Henry and his friend Sanborn (also an interesting and well-drawn character), along with Black Dog, run away from home on a quest to climb the treacherous Maine mountain, Katahdin, that Henry was supposed to climb with Franklin. Only one driver will pick them up as they try to hitchhike to Maine—Chay Chouan, himself running away, from an abusive family situation. As the boys travel slowly and uneasily together, encountering both kindness and violence, truths about the accident and Chay’s past in Cambodia are gradually revealed, and Henry learns a lot about Trouble, but also, ultimately, about Happiness and Grace. (Reviewed by Elaine Marzal)

What would you do if in an instant you shrank to the size of a pencil?! Well, this is what happened in In the Small. All of civilization shrinks when a bright blue light blinds everyone. Now people are trying to makes sense of their situation and avoid being eaten by their pet cat or dog. Now you must also choose a side...are you a demon or a chosen? I think this is a great book for boys who are just over with Harry Potter and want some more meat on their story meal. The illustrations are detailed and phenominal. Great Summer Read! (Reviewed by Rosie Camargo)

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Those of you who have been eagerly awaiting the next adventure of The Mysterious Benedict Society will not be disappointed in the series’ second installment. Set 1 year after the defeat of Leodropthe Curtain and his dreaded Whisperer, Mr. Benedict has arranged a reunion of the society’s members, complete with a mystery adventure. However, instead of their beloved mentor, the children arrive at Mr. Benedict’s home to find a frantic Rhonda Kazembe and a pigeon bearing a ransom note from their old nemesis, Mr. Curtain. The Mysterious Benedict Society is faced with its greatest challenge yet, as the children must unravel Mr. Benedict’s clues and save him from the clutches of his maniacal brother—all in four days! Cryptic clues, deadly henchmen, and new group tensions must all be confronted during the course of this treacherous rescue mission. Perilous Journey achieves new heights with stronger writing and character insight, and is every bit as engrossing as its predecessor. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

Wings is a very exciting adventure story that keeps the reader eagerly reading to find out what is going to happen next. The main character, Tamisin, a high school student, has often felt different from her family and those around her. For instance, she was born with very pointed ears, can see goblins and fairies that are invisible to others, and feels compelled to dance, almost trancelike, when the moon is full. And soon after the story opens, Tamisin painfully sprouts wings!

Jak, the new boy in school, is different from the people around him, too. However, as a “halfling—“ half goblin and half human-- he is also different in the fairy world, from which he has now been sent to bring back the human girl who can see the goblins that are invisible to other humans. Jak does not know, at first, that the girl that he must bring back is his friend Tamisin nor does he know why he must bring her back to fairyland. Once Tamisin and Jak have been thrust into Fairyland, both are in great danger from the planned troll rebellion and a very personal vendetta against the fairy queen, herself.

As mentioned earlier, the plot is very ingenious and totally engrossing. However, on the minus side, most of the characters are rather generic and undeveloped—possibly intentionally so by the author, who perhaps felt them to be of secondary importance to the imaginative plot and action. Also, the prose is pedestrian and not as lyrical as one might expect to find in a fairy tale. On the whole, however, the reader will probably find reading Wings a very enjoyable read. (reviewed by Marsda Conner)

Pen Piedmont, the editor of the local newspaper The Bee begins to write daily inflammatory articles about the ghostly activities around the old Ludlow House. These articles cause fear to spread throughout the community. Madam Zobek , a psychic, appears in the town, further alarming the town by “sensing” the evil spirits hovering around the Ludlow house. Then strangers appear who try to force the struggling apple growers to sell their beloved orchards at a cheap price.

Under the banner “Veritas” (“Truth”), Hildy Biddle, chief student writer for The Core, and her co-workers, undertake a dangerous, dedicated investigation to find out the truth about what is really happening in connection with Ludlow house. This student investigation causes the high school to cancel The Core, forcing Hildy Biddle and her student co-workers to then found an underground newspaper The Peel—which will peel away the lies so that the people of Bansesvile can finally find the truth.

The theme of this inspiring novel is that journalism must have absolute integrity and courage and that courageous, truthful journalism is crucial to a free society. The freedom fighters and writers of Solidarity, who won freedom for Poland and defeated Communism, become an inspiration and example to the struggling and often discouraged young writers of The Peel. This is a very thoughtful, inspiring novel by the Newbery Honor author of Rules of the Road. (Reviewed by Marsda Conner)

There's trouble at the Castle, and it's all because Merrin Meredith has returned with Darke plans for Septimus. More trouble awaits Septimus and Jenna in the form of Tertius Fume, the ghost of the very first Chief Hermetic Scribe, who is determined to send Septimus on a deadly Queste. But Septimus and Jenna have other plans—they are headed for the mysterious House of Foryx, a place where all Time meets and the place where they fervently hope they will be able to find Nicko and Snorri, who were trapped back in time in physik. But how will Septimus escape the Queste?

Many of us, for one reason or another, has stayed up all night, perhaps witnessing daybreak, perhaps not. Here is a unique collection of stories from some top notch authors for teens writing about what can happen during the hours when almost everyone is asleep. For instance in Orange Alert by Patricia McCormick, the teen protagonist finally puts her nasty stepfather in his place in one exciting moment when darkness and quiet are her only companions.
School Library Journal had this to say, "Each story shines in its own way, giving teens a whole new appreciation for the short-story format. The selections as a whole become much more than they would be separately, exploring the darkest edges of night and the glory of emerging changed into the light of the new day

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What is celebrity? What does it take to be a celebrity? These are some of the thought provoking questions that are brought up in this totally original book. Audrey dumps her boyfriend Evan, Evan of the Do Gooders band. Out of this experience Evan writes and records "Audrey, Wait!" Wouldn't you just know it--it rockets up the charts and the "inspiration", Audrey, suddenly finds herself the center of attention--and it's not always in a good way! Anyone who loves their music nice and loud will appreciate the intense musical nature of this contemporary tale. (reviewed by Iris Yipp)

"Smiles to go before I weep" becomes a major theme in this new book of Spinelli's . The teenage narrator, Will Tuppence, learns not to obsess over the death of protons, which will occur at a future time too far away for human comprehension--and, by implication, not to obsess over his own eventual death. Instead, he must enjoy to the fullest the happiness of every moment of the present.

A second theme of Smiles to Go is that Will's five-year old sister, Tabby, is such a brat and even has a terrible accident, eventually, because her teenage brother,Will, does not pay enough loving attention to her. It seems to me that Tabby is such a brat because her overly permissive parents set no limits on her outrageous behavior and expect Will to be far too involved with his much younger sister.

Spinelli , a past winner of the Newbery medal for his Maniac Magee, is a master of language. The conversations of the three teenagers Will, BT, and Mi-Su are hilarious, authentic, and a pleasure to read, even though these three likable teenagers are not drawn in great depth by the author. (reviewed by Marsda Conner)

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	Allie Finkle’s Rules For Girls: Moving Day Written By Meg Cabot Published by: Scholastic, Inc. March 2008 $15.99

Allie Finkle likes rules. They sets standards and make life easier and she tries really hard to live by them …. well except for a few. Some rules are very hard to follow like the rule of not sticking a spatula down your best friend’s throat , or stealing turtles from the local Chinese restaurant. Now Allie’s parents are planning on moving to a new town in a different school zone and in to a very creepy looking house that may have a killer zombie hand in the attic! It doesn’t matter if the girl next door is nice or that she may get a kitten, it is now Allie has to win the war against moving. If there is one rule Allie can not allow to be broken it is never let your family move in to a haunted house.
This is the newest book by well known author Meg Cabotwho is making her debut in middle-grade fiction. This is a delightfully bright book with well written characters who have interesting personalities and quirks that make them believable and hilarious. The story is kept at a consistently quick pace with the on going cyanogens of Allie Finkle. Though her pranks and problems are many, they are creatively novel and with purpose to the plot and lose the feeling of being forced. While this is the author’s first attempt to write books for the 9-12 year old crowd it will not be the last with the second installment of this series coming out this August. (reviewed by Ann Krusec)

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	Ma! There's Nothing to Do Here! : A Word from Your Baby-in-Waiting! by Barbara Park, Illustrated by Viviana Garofoli Random House $15.99

"Dear Ma,
What's a baby to do in a womb with no view?"
Ya gotta love a book with a beginning like that! Barbara Park has written a delightful picture book that bemoans the lack of trees, puppies, sandbox or swings and then shows all the things baby-in-waiting is doing to occupy his/her time in confinement such as sloshing, kicking and "working on hair. But my head is still bare." What a great gift for the new mother and also for the older sibling. (reviewed by Iris Yipp)

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Vitamins are supposed to improve life not ruin it but from Kate¢s point of view that could not be farther from the truth. It is her sophomore year of high school her dad quit his well paying job to sell infomercial vitamins in the mall, money is getting tight and her grandma has moved in to help out. To make matters worse her best friend Anna lost weight got blond and now pretends she never even knew Kate. Really how could things get worse? In a time when her whole world is coming down how is Kate expected to survive let alone remember her homework. Elizabeth Scott's novel is a realistic portrayal of the true inner workings of the 16 year old mind. She shows the confusion , worry and self doubt that can come from all those life lessons one experiences during high school. A good book for any girl who feels misunderstood or unheard and wonders how functioning is even an option. (Reviewed by Ann Krusec)

Welcome to the Gollywhopper Games, the 50 year celebration of Golly toys, with a cash and prize pay out large enough to pull in thousands of possible contestants from all over the country to compete. For most it is nothing more than a fabulous road to riches. But for Gil Goodson it is much more. It is the only way to get his family out of the scandal involving his wrongfully accused father. Through mazes, races, tests of logic, wit, and skill we follow as Gil and the other contestants find their way around their own problems as well as the games. But as the pressure mounts is it only a matter of time before Gil too is eliminated or will he be able to clear the clouds of accusations that have taken over his life by taking home the win? The first book by author Jody Feldman is a feast of fantasy and wonder for the child in any one. This novel is a fresh breath of whimsy that keeps the book both light and riveting and keeps the reader turning page after page with excitement right to the end. A great read that will have you guessing and challenging yourself along with characters.
(reviewed by newest Magic Tree Staffer Ann Krusec)

With a title like that how could this book be anything but extraordinary? Basil and Louise embark on their second round of exploits, this time on a secret and roving island “peopled” by highly intelligent monkeys—the handiwork of the diabolical Euric Von Rottweil. No child is to set foot on the island without an adult, but when Basil and Louise fly there on the back of Beatrice the pteronadon, they become caught in the middle of a monkey uprising.

Sixteen-year-old Sam wants nothing more than to be a great skateboarder, but when his girlfriend gets pregnant his ambition is slammed into the rough cement of reality. Told in retrospect, Sam narrates the novel in a rambly, stream-of-consciousness manner that places the reader directly in the main character’s psyche. We see his panic and his rational. We also see him make the wrong decisions and attempt to correct his errors. Hornby keeps the mood from becoming too heavy through Sam’s humorous inner dialogues with his skate idol, T.H., and occasionally “whizzing forward” in time to glimpse Sam’s possible future. It is a story that finds its true merits in having a decidedly average main character who is confronted with more responsibility than he is ready to handle. Known best for his adult novels High Fidelity and About A Boy, Slam! marks Nick Hornby’s first foray into young adult literature. I recommend it for boys 14 and up who would rather not be given yet another book about wizards or dragons (though I personally enjoy both wizards and dragons). (reviewed by Julia Smith)

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Tennyson begins in the backwoods of Mississippi where we see two girls, Tennyson and Hattie Fontaine, return from a game of hide-and-seek. Their mother, however, never comes home. When their father goes in search of her, he takes the girls to live with an estranged aunt in a decaying plantation home—Aigredoux, or “bittersweet.” While there Tennyson learns unsavory truths about her family’s past and works to preserve the “poetry in her family.”

The Wild Girls is about friendship, family and the power of writing. Joan, 12, new to California, soon finds a best friend: nature-loving Sarah, who calls herself Fox. Encouraged by Fox’s sci-fi author father, Gus, the two friends enter a contest, with a story about two wild girls who live in the woods. They win! When they read their story at an assembly, the girls are invited to enroll in a writing course for kids their age at the university. The stories they create help them work through their complicated feelings about their difficult family situations: for Fox, about the mother who abandoned her; and for Joan, about her alcoholic, emotionally abusive father. I especially enjoyed the depiction of Joan’s deepening relationship with her mother and growing understanding of her father, who is drawn as a sympathetic character rather than a villain. Because The Wild Girls contains a lot of information about the writer’s craft, it's an especially terrific book for preteen girls who are interested in books and writing.

Raul Colon beautifully illustrates this wonderful story of the childhood of one of my favorite authors, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Gabito, as he is called, had a magical and loving childhood. His grandfather and he would wander through their town and see all kinds of interesting things! Later, he uses what he saw and imagined in his books. Read about what imagination and magic can do for you! For ages 4 and up. (reviewed by Naomi Pooley)

Liza loves her crayons and their wonderful colors. But one day, she does something bad with her crayons and her mom takes her crayons away. Suddenly, her world turns gray and she is sad. As her day goes on, she finds that the world around her is very colorful and that she doesn’t need her crayons to make her world bright and happy. For ages 4 and up and especially for those kids, who love to color! (reviewed by Naomi Pooley)

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	Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison and Kevin Hawkes Random House, $16.99

It’s hard to be the littlest sister and Velma Gratch wants to be remembered and noticed like her two big sisters. She tries really hard and does get noticed for the wrong things. The principal tells her that she needs to be noticed for good things and so the search begins. Like a caterpillar, Velma metamorphoses into something wonderful! For ages 4 and up.(reviewed by Naomi Pooley)

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A Chinese princess must marry a king from a distant land. She looks at her world with new eyes and tries to remember everything that she loves of her home. When she leaves to go to her new home, she takes with her, secrets of “woven wind”. This is a wonderfully written retelling of the story of silk and it told in the style of ancient Chinese poetry. For ages 3 and up.(reviewed by Naomi Pooley

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We try to teach our children about caring about others but sometimes in our daily lives, we forget these lessons ourselves. Frances’ mother is too busy that she forgets about what the holiday truly means. But Frances does not forget and she really comes through. Find out what happens to Frances on her very important day. For all ages. (reviewed by Naomi Pooley)

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Do you ever wonder which world record you would try to break to earn your place in history? My brother thinks that he could eat an entire onion faster than the current record holder, and I can consume an inordinate number of marshmallows at one go. Well, when Bean's teacher hands her a copy of The Amazing Book of World Records, she and her fellow 2^nd graders do their best to break the records contained therein. Bean and Ivy decide to become the world's youngest archaeologists and promptly begin excavating Bean’s backyard for prehistoric remains. Ivy and Bean's 3 ^rd adventure is full of the comic shenanigans and schemes you have come to expect from this quirky duo. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

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I LOVE the Elephant & Piggie series, and I Am Invited to a Party does not disappoint. Gerald and Piggie dress to impress when Piggie receives an invitation to a party. But what kind of party is it? With a recurring mantra of “We must be ready,” these two friends don—unique—ensembles that leave them prepared for whatever the festivities may bring, with hilarious results. Be sure to check out There is a Bird on Your Head!, as well (reviewed by Julia Smith)

I feel that I should preface this review by saying that while I found Cowboy & Octopus hysterical, it may not appeal to the average reader; but then again, Sciescka and Smith aren’t your average writers. Personally, I love the idea that an Octopus and Cowboy could be friends. The book, comprised of seven mini stories, offers lessons in helping, friendship, compromise, honesty, knock-knock jokes, and hat fashion. Sciescka and Smith’s off-kilter humor runs throughout the book’s pages, which are illustrated with unique collage-style artwork. The dynamic of Cowboy and Octopus’s friendship is akin to that of Elephant and Piggie; subsequently, I would highly recommend this book to fans of Mo Willems and Neil Gaiman. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

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From my previous reviews, you know that I enjoy quirky, offbeat stories and climbing into boxes. I will now reveal that I am a slight hypochondriac and possess a great love of snacks. For these reasons—except for the boxes—I fell in love with Mucumber and sympathized strongly with his plight. You see, Mucumber McGee, in desperate need of a snack, ate the only thing he could find in the house—a raw hot dog. He gobbled down half of it before his older sister stopped him, exclaiming that hot dogs are made of meat, and eating raw meat could kill a person. Appalled, Mucumber resigns himself to a tragically early death.

Loehr’s cautionary tale is darkly humorous (but not too dark) and perfectly complimented by its Goreyesque illustrations: pay attention to the background portraits and you will see that Mucumber comes from a long line of snackers. This is a perfect book for Halloween. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

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When I saw that Brian Jacques had turned Redwall into a graphic novel, I got very excited because the Redwall Series had been one of my favorites growing up. For those of you unfamiliar, Redwall is the story of a clumsy young mouse named Matthias who lives in Redwall Abbey and dreams of being a great warrior. He gets his chance when the abbey is attacked by the infamous rat, Cluny the Scourge, and his horde. As the animals of Redwall rally together to protect their home, Matthias is finally given the opportunity to realize his destiny.

This is the first graphic novel that I’ve ever read, but I have to say that the heroic tale of Matthias translates marvelously well. The action of the battle scenes gains a new intensity and Belvins’ depiction of Cluny in particular truly captures the evil Redwall’s creatures must battle. Jacques’ graphic novel is an excellent introduction to this series, especially for readers who may be intimidated by the size of the original novel. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

In this new picture book, many classic fairy tales are woven together and humorously told in reverse. From Goldilocks to the Gingerbread Boy, characters are constantly “running like mad” into one another, and Ahlberg recounts their exploits via what they had been doing previously. An engaging new twist is put on these familiar stories, which ends where they all began—once upon a time. This book is great for the whole family and especially fun to read aloud. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

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When the king’s best huntsmen disappear into the woods without a trace, a giant, wild man is discovered guarding a golden river running within its borders: his name, as you might have guessed, is Iron Hans. An unlikely friendship is forged between Iron Hans and the king’s young son, which leads the prince to give up his privileged life and live as a pauper. Tavares’ illustrations beautifully compliment the prince’s journey that, like so many beloved fairy tales, includes a princess, a spell, and a lesson or two to be learned. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

Lucy Cousins brings us a new book of opposites featuring the loveable mouse, Maisy. The concept of opposites is clearly defined through Cousins’ bold illustrations and simple text. The book takes a playful approach to learning as Maisy undergoes drastic transformations throughout its pages—literally. Whether covered in spots or stripes, flying with butterfly wings or swimming with mermaid’s tail (in addition to her existing mouse tail!), Maisy serves as a delightful introduction to the world of opposites. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

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I could not put this book down until I finished the whole thing! My kids kept asking why I kept reading after I told them some of the problems that Ben (in the book) encountered. But it is so well written that I had to find out what happened to Ben. During his senior year, Ben Wolf finds out that he has leukemia and does not tell his family. His senior year will not be ruined! He wants to live and experience life to its fullest. So he quits track and becomes the star of the football team even though he is, by far, the smallest player on the team. He has always wanted to date beautiful Dallas Suzuki and they finally get together. He also decides that his town needs to have a street named after Malcolm X. How does he do this all in one year? Read this book and find out what happens in Trout, Idaho. For YA readers. (reviewed by Naomi Pooley)

It’s another book in the series Traitor and Payback. Danny Watts, his grandfather, Fergus and his best friend, Elena are back and they have been recruited again by the British government to catch the top bomber, Black Star. But the British government has a secret agenda, as well, to eliminate Danny, Fergus and Elena once their mission has been accomplished. Will Danny, Fergus and Elena survive? Find out in this exciting thriller. For ages 10 and up. (reviewed by Naomi Pooley)

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Since my girls are ice skaters, I was very excited to read this new book about a teenager who teaches herself to ice skate and eventually, competes in an interpretative figure skating contest. Elisa finds out a lot about herself and her abilities in this wonderful story about finding love in the most unlikely places. The title of the book refers to Elisa’s secret job of writing love notes and dispensing love advice to her fellow teenage boys. One day, she takes her own advice and falls in love. Read this delightful book! For YA readers. (reviewed by Naomi Pooley)

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Full of quirky details and intriguing twists, The Name of This Book Is Secret will delight middle-grade readers who like mysteries with a dash of silliness. The omniscient narrator claims that all vital details of this story have been changed to protect its top-secret nature. In the story the narrator has concocted to protect the real story, 11-year-old outsiders Cass and Max-Ernest, by way of a wonderful but perplexing box called the Symphony of Smells, find themselves involved in the suspicious death (or disappearance?) of an Italian magician. Spunky Cass, who carries a “survival backpack” everywhere, is reminiscent of Harriet the Spy. The supporting characters, including a lip-gloss loving popular girl, Cass’s kindly grandfathers, and Max-Ernest’s parents, who live together in separate halves of a strictly divided house, are realistic touches in this slightly larger-than-life world. Letters, digressions, and footnotes keep the story—which is longer than many novels for this age group—engrossing and surprising.
The Name of This Book Is Secret invites readers to use their imaginations to fill in the blanks, and the not-quite-an-ending leaves the door wide open for a sequel. (reviewed by Elizabeth Lund)

In this latest adventure of the donut-loving, watchmaker/detective, we spy a punk haired young squirrel, a lazy but clever mouse and a new treat--cherry-rosehip-peanut cruller. Terfle, Hermux's ladybug and professional assistant has a major role in a rose-scented mystery which starts off with an "accidental" death of an unidentified squirrel, continues with an intriguing missing squirrel case, mutant bees and a secret tunnel on an uninhabited island. Whether you've read other Hermux Tantamoq stories before or not, you can easily pick up Time to Smell the Roses and get caught up in this exciting mystery. (reviewed by Iris Yipp)

Barbara McClintock illustrates this wonderful book in the style of Adele and Simon. Mary meets Mouse when Mary accidentally drops a fork. Mouse meets Mary when she drops a fork on the floor of her dining room and so every night, they meet. Life goes on and soon Mary and Mouse are all grown up with children of their own. Does Marie, Mary's daughter meet Mouse Mouse, Mouse's daughter? Read this delightful book and find out. I loved Mary's Volkswagen Beetle as well as her love beads! Recommended for ages from 2 and up! (reviewed by Naomi Pooley)

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A book of few words but each time I read it, I find something else that I missed the last time I looked. A man and his bird appear to be grocery shopping and need eggs. They find an egg machine and voila! an egg appears. They start home and the adventure starts. They put the groceries away and go to bed. In the middle of the night, there is a noise. What is it? I won't tell you anymore because you need to read this book to find out what happens. The illustrations are very vivid but only in white, black, blue and yellow colors. Recommended for 3 years and older. Each time you read this book, I am positive that you will find something new! (reviewed by Naomi Pooley)

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What do you get when you plunk a totally clueless outsider (boy raised by Rain, his hippie grandmother) on a deserted commune down into your average middle school? You get a refreshingly original story chock full of laughs. Capricorn Anderson has a lot to learn but he has much to "teach" as well. Gordon Korman has created a school story peopled with such familiar characters as the school bully, the school victim and the popular girl who grow up before our eyes.

Here is a sequel which I think is even funnier than the original Chowder book--not an easy thing to accomplish!
When Chowder goes off to the Fabu Pooch Boot Camp, as usual he just doesn't fit in. Chowder tries his best, but his attempts to make himself more fabulous all fall flat. When the First Annual Fabu Pooch Pageant is announced, Chowder anxiously tries to think of a way to stand out. After all, the prize is a one-year supply of Snarf Snacks!
Some pups practice their pearly grins, other hounds get massages to relax. One pooch even gets permed! But Chowder finds his calling when he discovers a trampoline. He leaps, he flips, he bounces, and he wows the crowd! My favorite picture is looking down at the trampoline and seeing a large slurp of drool heading down, knowing where that drool is coming from.

This is the diary...of a fly. A fly who, when she's not landing on your head or swimming in your soup, is trying to escape her 327 brothers and sisters who are driving her crazy! Even though she's little—just like her best friends Worm and Spider—Fly wants to be a superhero. And why not? She walks on walls, sees in all directions at once, and can already fly!
Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the team behind the New York Times bestsellers Diary of a Worm and Diary of a Spider, reach hilarious heights with their story of a little fly who's not afraid to dream big. Really big. There's much for youngsters to identify with in these books and enough humor to tickle everyone's funny bone--enjoy!

Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli's first novel about this free-spirited non-conformist was told from Leo's perspective and now we hear from Stargirl herself after she leaves Mica High. Originally this was going to be a small gift book but Stargirl took over and a whole novel, told in letter/diary format continues her story in a tale of hurt and healing, promise and revelation, solstice and sunbeams.
Stargirl returns to homeschooling and meets some pretty bizarre new neighbors like Dootsie, the curly-headed five-year old "human bean" and hot-tempered Alvina with that one glittery nail.

Look out, here comes Bible Grrrl! When Mena Reece began her first year of high school, she did not expect it to be as an outsider. The act of writing one letter had ostracized her from everything/one she’d known: her church (of which she had—until recently—been a very active member), her friends (from church), and her parents. She certainly never expected to play a pivotal role in the age-old battle of Science vs. Religion, specifically Evolution vs. Intelligent Design. However, a budding romance and passionate biology teacher give her a new perspective on theological points she had previously accepted without question. Mena is forced to reassess her beliefs and adapt to her new circumstances.
Robin Brande creates a sympathetic and realistic voice in her frustrated heroine, offering an articulate narrative about creation, adolescence, and the survival of the fittest. Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature is trenchant, engaging, and honest. Fans of Brian Dannelly’s film, Saved, will appreciate this novel. Look for it August, 2007. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

Traitors, treason, and intrigue—really, what more could you ask for? Avi takes a classic approach to his newest novel, set in 1849 London; and with a nod to Dickens plunges his readers into a Victorian tale of subversion. His hero, John Wesley Huffam, finds himself whisked from school one afternoon by a frantic family servant, from which point his world is turned topsy-turvy. His father is arrested, the family’s belongings are confiscated, and it is suddenly up to John to save them all. With nothing as it once seemed, young John teams up with tatterdemalion Sarry Sneak in order to unravel the mystery surrounding his father’s arrest. (reviewed by Julia Smith)

I loved it, loved it, loved it.
The action never stops from the beginning to the end in the Alcheymst. On the contrary, it builds and builds to a fantastic ending that left me wanting more and more and more.
The very innocent and somewhat average, human twins, Sophie and Josh have taken summer jobs to raise money to buy a car. Little do they know that Josh's job would lead them into the realm of magic. Josh works for Nick Fleming, the owner of a quaint little bookstore that he runs with his wife. But Nick and his wife, Perenelle are not your average humans. No, Nick is actually the famous alcheymst, Nicholas Flamel (who was actually born in France in 1330 BC.
After he supposedly died, grave robbers attempted to rob his grave and his body was not there.) Nicholas and Perenelle are over 600 years old and they are the keepers of a book that contains the secrets of the magic world. The story begins with the theft of the book while Josh is at work. He intervenes to help his boss and manages to rip the last two pages out of the book. Of course, the thief, Dr. John Dees, need the entire book to bring about the destruction of humans. Josh and Sophie must help Nicholas recover the book to save the human world from the dark forces at play. But they are also being chased by Dees and the Dark Elders he works for. During several confrontations with Dees and the Dark Elders, Josh and Sophie discover that they know a little magic too.
The story is outstanding. One of the best books I've ever read. I'm looking forward to the sequel, The Magician. Great story for anyone who loves fantasy. (reviewed by Tanya Califf)

Clementine is in the third grade and the dreaded talent show is approaching, "Talent-palooza". Clementine is having a problem finding her talent; her friend Margaret isn't much help either. They go through Margaret's vast list of talents to see if Celeminte would find one that would suit her. Unfortunately, on the night of the show, Clementine is desperate for anything. The school and Clementine are pleasingly surprised when she discovers what her most valueable talent is and how she can possibly help save the show.
Full of illustrations to keep the reader interested, humorous and enjoyable for ages 8 and up. (reviewed by Rosie Camargo)

Stacy Friedman is set on hitting the popular mark in her new back-to-school attitude and wardrobe. Sadly, maybe the popular gods should have notified the popular cliques, "The Chicas", about Stacy. Stacy and her friend Lydia aren't really catching the attention of anyone at Jefferson Junior High. Their best friend Kelly, however, is now the hot new "it" girl at the school. Kelly has been invited to Eben Siegler's Hollywood-themed bar mitzvah but not Stacy or Lydia. Stacy decides to crash the party, and confront the infamous "Chicas", and discover what kind of friend Kelly really is.
When I saw that Fiona Rosenbloom had written another novel I was ecstatic. This novel is the follow up to "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!". Her new book, "We Are So Crashing your Bar Mitzvah", had me laughing out-loud and I liked the real down to earth characters. Great for ages 12 and up and it would make a great gift for any kind of birthday, holiday, or summer outing. Fiona Rosenbloom has done it again! (reviewed by Rosie Camargo)

Meet Joan Bauer on Thursday May 8th at 7 p.m