Josie and her two friends, Alison and Jackson, decide to sneak into the local graveyard, Bachelor's Grove, to obtain information for a killer news artJosie and her two friends, Alison and Jackson, decide to sneak into the local graveyard, Bachelor's Grove, to obtain information for a killer news article that will clinch their position as school paper editors for the next year. Instead, they inadvertently run across an unmarked grave and draw the attention of a ghost who gives them a deadline to solve the mystery of what the ghost wants...or else, the else not really being specified. This tale becomes increasingly creepy and the need to solve the mystery more and more urgent. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading it and only thought afterward about a couple of points that were not answered satisfactorily. ...more
Welim notices the moon turning red, so he must leave home on a quest to save the world. He has been told that under those conditions, he must dip the Welim notices the moon turning red, so he must leave home on a quest to save the world. He has been told that under those conditions, he must dip the aura seed in the River Flora. Along the way, he meets another habilis and some other unusual traveling companions who may or may not be able to help him on his quest. He learns more about his origins, too. I found the language overly simple and chapters seemed to jump over events without a smooth flow. There was something about the story, though, that kept me reading....more
12-year-old Hurricane has a hard time speaking for herself--since their mother died, she usually tries to have her older sister speak for her. However12-year-old Hurricane has a hard time speaking for herself--since their mother died, she usually tries to have her older sister speak for her. However, her sister contracts tuberculosis and is admitted to a sanitarium. Fortunately, since no one has much money with the depression, their Aunt Claire pays for the care. Unfortunately, with her sister unable to care for Hurricane, Hurricane must move to Boston with her aunt. There, she makes friends with a boy who sells fish, her Aunt Claire's chauffeur, a mangy cat, and even Aunt Claire herself. Along the way, Hurricane finds her voice....more
Mary Russell is drawn into a case because of a university friend, but she becomes interested enough, and concerned enough about the person at the centMary Russell is drawn into a case because of a university friend, but she becomes interested enough, and concerned enough about the person at the center of the case to investigate closely and even help, with Holmes going against his own principles to commit his most-hated crime. The setting, Venice in the 1920s, is described in interesting detail as are some of the more famous personages who spent time there. It did not need Mycroft to warn about the political intrigue in order to see World War II on the horizon....more
Squire is accompanying Sir Kelton to help bring the goblin/wizard/child to a boarding school for wizards. Although he does everything right, nothing aSquire is accompanying Sir Kelton to help bring the goblin/wizard/child to a boarding school for wizards. Although he does everything right, nothing actually goes right after the trio find themselves on a path that continually loops back on itself. Squire learns that sometimes brawn is helpful when learning falls short. ...more
Geetha has moved to the east coast of the United States from India. She misses her old life: her family, her food, and her music. In her new home, sheGeetha has moved to the east coast of the United States from India. She misses her old life: her family, her food, and her music. In her new home, she finds a harp seal pup injured on shore, and with the help of a new friend, Miguel, rescues it. The seal pup struggles to overcome infection as Geetha struggles to deal with bullies and learn to talk with her mother and teachers honestly about how she is feeling. The one bright note in her life at first is her traditional music, but with time, she finds new friends as well as she helps Miguel form an environmental club to clean up beach trash. Geetha must also learn how to let the seal pup go free as her family in India let her mother go free for a new beginning....more
Reanna' sister Chelsea just disappeared one day, and Reanna's life became a holding pattern. Would Chelsea ever be found? Would Reanna's mom stop runnReanna' sister Chelsea just disappeared one day, and Reanna's life became a holding pattern. Would Chelsea ever be found? Would Reanna's mom stop running from the hurt? Reanna tries to honor her sister by connecting with the family's Ojibway traditions, but it is hard without much family guidance. Reanna's little brother begins to let her know that he can see spirits, little moons, that appear to him in his room. When Chelsea's bag is found buried, hope for her survival is gone, but the little moons bring a level of comfort to Reanna. I found this story very moving and could sympathize strongly with the characters. I found the art work sometimes confusing....more
Lydia Green is happy with her home in Mulberry Glen, studying with her philosopher Garter and her fairy guardian Pit and enjoying the company of her oLydia Green is happy with her home in Mulberry Glen, studying with her philosopher Garter and her fairy guardian Pit and enjoying the company of her other friends. She knows her life will change as she becomes an apprentice to an herbalist, and since plants are her passion, she should be happy. Lydia, however, doesn't want anything to change and she struggles against it. Her life takes a turn when she learns for the first time about Tenebrae, a dark forest that casts shadows on people's minds and is bent on consuming the entire world. Lydia can feel the darkness creep into her own mind as well. When two of her friends decide to save the world by defeating Tenebrae, Lydia is forced to act in order to save them. If the darkness grows in her own mind too strongly, however, all the world will be lost. Lydia's story of self-discovery and the growth of new friendships makes for a very readable, if sometimes confusing, story....more
Kareem, a Syrian-American middle schooler, just wants to play football, but he has difficulty playing after his best friend moved away. Now, he feels Kareem, a Syrian-American middle schooler, just wants to play football, but he has difficulty playing after his best friend moved away. Now, he feels too Syrian when he is at school and too American when he talks to relatives in Syria that he has never met. A new student begins at his school, a refugee from the war in Syria. Kareem wants to be nice, but also wants the help of the coach's quarterback son to help him get on the football team. While he is trying to figure out how to be himself, the 2017 Muslim travel ban is enacted. His mother, who had flown to Syria to help her ailing father, was stuck away from her family and in danger. Kareem needs to make some choices about who he is going to be and what he will value....more
This book highlights inventions by 35 kids, some historical, but most recent. Kids have invented and patented games, prosthetics, appliances, and muchThis book highlights inventions by 35 kids, some historical, but most recent. Kids have invented and patented games, prosthetics, appliances, and much more. This book does a quick cover story for each and each section also contains information about science fairs, TED talks, obtaining patents, and the design process. This is a great book to pick up, read a few pages, and put down when you have other things to do. I enjoyed reading about the process of invention for each kid and their determination to perfect their product....more
Bess Stein hates speaking in front of groups, but she feels strongly about making changes to her school by serving as sixth grade class president, so Bess Stein hates speaking in front of groups, but she feels strongly about making changes to her school by serving as sixth grade class president, so she runs with her new friend June. One of the improvements to school life that they plan after winning as class president and vice-president is to install a book vending machine in the library. Each student in middle school will receive a special birthday token to use in the machine for a book to keep. Working with the librarian, Bess comes up with a fantastic list. June's list shares some of her titles, but not all of them. When June suggests substitutions, Bess is somewhat confused--Bess's idea is to represent every kid and family in the school. Shortly after the vending machine is installed, titles are removed that have been challenged by a parent, and eventually Bess learns it was June's mom. What follows is a storm in her small town culminating in a school board meeting about book bans and censorship where Bess must speak to her beliefs. Bess must learn to express her convictions in appropriate ways while she manages her anxiety, honors her Jewish heritage, and figures out friendships and crushes. I enjoyed this book very much and feel that it represented multiple facets of a complex topic...more
Will and his father leave their sharecropping in Texas for the Oklahoma land rush. Will's father wants his own land--sharecropping feels too much likeWill and his father leave their sharecropping in Texas for the Oklahoma land rush. Will's father wants his own land--sharecropping feels too much like the slavery he was born into in Louisiana that he left at age 9. Along they way, they experience racism, thieves, rattlesnakes, a raging river, and the shooting of a friend. Will is left to make the rush himself to make a future for his family, and he succeeds, but will his father ever see him as a man? This book explores a little-known chapter of the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889--the rush for land by formerly enslaved people....more
I was rather disappointed in this installment of the In Death series. It seemed lackluster compared to other titles in the series, almost as though thI was rather disappointed in this installment of the In Death series. It seemed lackluster compared to other titles in the series, almost as though the author was preparing to wind up the series or to pass the writing on to someone else. I hope the next book recovers a sense of anticipation for the reader in order to keep the attention....more