Pack of Dorks

Title: Pack of Dorks
Author: Beth Vrabel

4th grade, first kisses, new friends, the girl no one likes, and the super cute boys. What does a girl do?

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–6—Lucy is the second most popular girl in fourth grade. She maintains her social standing by obsequiously following her "best friend," queen bee Becky—even when that means succumbing to peer pressure and giving Tom Lemmings a quick kiss during recess. Suddenly, Lucy finds herself being made the butt of jokes and is no longer in her exalted position as a popular kid. When groveling doesn't work, Lucy opens up to spending time with other kids she had previously overlooked and finds herself making some real friends in the process. This book doesn't soft-peddle the strange cruelty that kids inflict on one another, nor does it underestimate the impact. At the same time, it does not wallow unnecessarily. Instead, Lucy finds joy in her new little sister and helps her family gain perspective as they struggle to come to terms with the baby's special needs. The challenging subject matter is handled in a gentle, age-appropriate way with humor and genuine affection. Lucy is likable even when she's not behaving well; just like a real kid. When things work out in the end, it feels as natural as two like-minded kids learning to trust one another.—Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK --This text refers to theHardcover edition.

Free as a bird-

Title: Free as a Bird
Author: Gina McMurchy-Barber

In a time when being born with differences meant you were locked away, one girl shares her story with the world. Take time to read this one. It will make you see the world differently. 

A powerful and intense story about how recently our society considered some children to be worthless and expendable and a reminder that this is still the the case in many places.

(Canadian Children's Book News)

Outside in- Sarah Ellis

Title: Outside In
Author: Sarah Ellis

What if your life had to be hidden underneath the streets?

From School Library Journal

Gr 6–8—With the exception of her quirky, unmarried mother, Lynn is a typical 13-year-old Canadian, navigating through life filled with choir practice, projects, best friends, and school. Things start to fall apart when her mom wrecks her relationship with the only man who has ever stuck around and Lynn's passport doesn't come in time for her to take the choir trip with the rest of her friends, who leave for Portland and the promise of a fun week away from school. Then a mysterious girl named Blossom is thrust into her life and introduces her to a wonderful world within their city called the Underland. Ellis's descriptions of the Underlanders are enthralling, and readers will easily believe that people live off the grid within big cities. While Lynn's ability to break the rules and join the Underlanders so easily seems questionable at first, the compelling cast of characters enable readers to suspend disbelief. Each of the Underlanders has an interesting, heartbreaking story that is developed throughout to keep readers guessing. Lynn's difficult relationship with her mother and her strong bonds with friends make this story very relatable. A thoughtful, exciting read that makes everything ordinary suddenly have the possibility to be extraordinary.—Ellen Norton, White Oak Library District, Crest Hill, IL

Echo- Pam Munoz Ryan

Title: Echo
Author: Pam Munoz Ryan

Yet another wonderful novel from Ms. Ryan. This explores three separate lives all connected by their love of music.

From School Library Journal

Gr 5–8—"Long before enchantment was eclipsed by doubt," a young boy named Otto lost in the woods is rescued by three sisters imprisoned there by a witch's curse. In return, he promises to help break the curse by carrying their spirits out of the forest in a mouth harp and passing the instrument along when the time is right. The narrative shifts to the 20th century, when the same mouth harp (aka harmonica) becomes the tangible thread that connects the stories of three children: Friedrich, a disfigured outcast; Mike, an impoverished orphan; and Ivy, an itinerant farmer's child. Their personal struggles are set against some of the darkest eras in human history: Friedrich, the rise of Nazi Germany; Mike, the Great Depression; Ivy, World War II. The children are linked by musical talent and the hand of fate that brings Otto's harmonica into their lives. Each recognizes something unusual about the instrument, not only its sound but its power to fill them with courage and hope. Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy are brought together by music and destiny in an emotionally triumphant conclusion at New York's Carnegie Hall. Meticulous historical detail and masterful storytelling frame the larger history, while the story of Otto and the cursed sisters honor timeless and traditional folktales. Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to believe they can do the same.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

Crossover

Title: Crossover
Author: Kwame Alexander

From Booklist

The Bell twins are stars on the basketball court and comrades in life. While there are some differences—Josh shaves his head and Jordan loves his locks—both twins adhere to the Bell basketball rules: In this game of life, your family is the court, and the ball is your heart. With a former professional basketball player dad and an assistant principal mom, there is an intensely strong home front supporting sports and education in equal measures. When life intervenes in the form of a hot new girl, the balance shifts and growing apart proves painful. An accomplished author and poet, Alexander eloquently mashes up concrete poetry, hip-hop, a love of jazz, and a thriving family bond. The effect is poetry in motion. It is a rare verse novel that is fundamentally poetic rather than using this writing trend as a device. There is also a quirky vocabulary element that adds a fun intellectual note to the narrative. This may be just the right book for those hard-to-match youth who live for sports or music or both. Grades 6-12. --Gail Bush

Review

* "This novel in verse is rich in character and relationships. . . . Poet Alexander deftly reveals the power of the format to pack an emotional punch."
—Kirkus, starred review

Echo- Pam Munoz Ryan

Title: Echo
Author:Pam Munoz Ryan
Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 978-0439874021

From School Library Journal

Gr 5–8—"Long before enchantment was eclipsed by doubt," a young boy named Otto lost in the woods is rescued by three sisters imprisoned there by a witch's curse. In return, he promises to help break the curse by carrying their spirits out of the forest in a mouth harp and passing the instrument along when the time is right. The narrative shifts to the 20th century, when the same mouth harp (aka harmonica) becomes the tangible thread that connects the stories of three children: Friedrich, a disfigured outcast; Mike, an impoverished orphan; and Ivy, an itinerant farmer's child. Their personal struggles are set against some of the darkest eras in human history: Friedrich, the rise of Nazi Germany; Mike, the Great Depression; Ivy, World War II. The children are linked by musical talent and the hand of fate that brings Otto's harmonica into their lives. Each recognizes something unusual about the instrument, not only its sound but its power to fill them with courage and hope. Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy are brought together by music and destiny in an emotionally triumphant conclusion at New York's Carnegie Hall. Meticulous historical detail and masterful storytelling frame the larger history, while the story of Otto and the cursed sisters honor timeless and traditional folktales. Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to believe they can do the same.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

Review

Praise for Echo :

* "Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to believe they can do the same." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* “A grand narrative that examines the power of music to inspire beauty in a world overrun with fear and intolerance, it's worth every moment of readers' time.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "The book’s thematic underpinnings poignantly reveal what Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy truly have in common: not just a love of music, but resourcefulness in the face of change, and a refusal to accept injustice." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Ryan’s ingenious plotting harmonizes as sweetly as the famed mouth harp itself, and her eloquent prose breathes life and energy into likable characters whose stories are individually compelling and historically resonant." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

"A satisfyingly multilayered tale of music, self-sacrifice and redemption." -- Wall Street Journal

“After reading Pam Munoz Ryan’s enchanting new novel, you’ll never see the harmonica the same way again….Start to finish the book is a joy to read….
The music swells, the book sings.” -- New York Times

Picture me gone

Title: Picture Me Gone
Author: Meg Rosoff
Publisher: Putnam
ISBN: 978-0399257650

Plot and Review:

Mila is 12. She is generally quiet and enjoys gathering information. She is a mentalist of sorts. She is hyper observant and picks up on details others miss. Mila and her father Gil are planning to travel from England to Upstate New York to visit a family friend when he goes missing. The trip suddenly becomes a mission to find the missing man, Matthew, instead of a vacation. This is a beautifully written book that takes the simple formula of a mystery and turns it upside down. Mila discovers a lot about her father, Matthew and his family. She even "reads" Matthew's dog in order to gather information. The puzzle is far greater than locating the man.

Words With Wings- Nikki Grimes

Title: Words With Wings
Author: Nikki Grimes
Publisher: Wordsong
ISBN: 978-1590789858

This is a beautifully written book about the power of words, perseverance and learning. Gabby spends her days dreaming. She gets lost in her head which causes problems in the world where work is valued and daydreaming is not.Everything changes when one teacher encourages Gabby to write her day dreams down. Will this help her in school as well as home or hurt her because she is still in the clouds?

Sure Signs of Crazy- Karen Harrington

Title: Sure Signs of Crazy
Author: Karen Harrington
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316210584
Plot and Review:
Sarah Nelson is not your average 12 year old girl. After a summer project is suggested from a former teacher, Sarah starts writing letters to Atticus Finch from the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" With a mother that left, a best friend who is a plant and a mind that thinks a little differently, Sarah loves her pen pal/ journal buddy. She likes to write down words that seem to cause trouble in peoples lives. Crazy is one of those words, but Love is also one. Is love a trouble word all the time? Is it for you? Read to see how Sarah navigates her summer after she decides to explore her family's secret. 

The Boy on the Porch-

Title: The Boy on the Porch
Author: Sharon Creech
Publisher: Joanna Cotler Books
ISBN: 9780061892356

Review:
This book is wonderful! The chapters are short so even the most reluctant readers could enjoy this book easily. The boy is found sleeping on a young couple's porch. This could be the start of many stories over the years but this boy does not seem to have the ability to speak. Instead, he taps on everything around him. He seems to relate to animals more than humans and quickly bonds with the animals on the farm. What can they do with this child? Can he stay? Where did he come from? There are so many things to find out, and yet, sometimes the most important thing is to live and love. This book brings a very real situation to the surface and yet does it with a positive and gentle outlook. I would recommend this to adults and children alike.