Sunday, January 31, 2010

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead
Lexile: 750
Genre: Science Fiction

6th grader Miranda begins to get strange mysterious notes from someone who seems to know what will happen to her in the future. Is that even possible? To make it even more puzzling, the notes ask her to keep them a secret and inform her that this person is coming to save the life of her friend. Miranda struggles to make sense of it all.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Scat

by Carl Hiaasen
Lexile: 810
Genre: Realistic Fiction/mystery

Nick and Marta are on a field trip with their biology class was there rather strange teacher, Ms. Starch disappears. Was she injured in the wildfire that started in the Black Vine Swamp or has she really been called away on a family emergency like the school is telling them? Nick and Marta aren't content to let the matter rest so they begin investigating her disappearance on their own. What they learn, certainly surprises them...

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Home of the Brave


by Katherine Applegate
Lexile: ???
Genre: Poetic Novel

Kek arrives from Africa to the United States without his family. He knows his brother and father are dead and holds on to hope that his mother will be found in another refugee camp and join him later. With the help of his cousin, aunt, his ESL teacher, and a cow named Gol, he attempts to create a new life for himself in a country he doesn't always understand.

Or Give Me Death

by Ann Rinaldi
Lexile: 530
Genre: Historical Fiction

This is the story of Anne and Patsy Henry, daughters of the famous statesman, Patrick Henry. While Patrick Henry is off making history, Patsy is left at home to care for her siblings and keep secret the downfall of her mother who has been confined to the cellar as she is a danger to herself and others. The first half of the book is told from the perspective of Patsy and then Anne takes over in the second half. There's is a complicated relationship and both of secrets that they feel they can't reveal.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Hit and Run

by Lurlene McDaniel
Lexile: 610
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annalise: high school senior biking home from a babysitting job late on a Friday evening.
Laurie: high school freshman on her first date with a senior baseball star
Quin: high school senior expecting to win a baseball scholarship, enjoying his status as a favorite of the ladies
Jeremy: enjoying his perfect relationship with Annelise, looking forward to a bright future

In a single moment, all 4 promising lives of these young people intersect in a tragedy that will forever alter their lives.

La Linea

by Ann Jaramillo
Lexile: 650
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Miguel has finally received word that his parents have the money for him to travel north to join them in California. As he puts his plan into place, his sister Elena decides that it's not fair that she is being left behind. Elena decides to sneak along which foils Miguel's plan. Now they have even more obstacles in front of them. Can they come up with a plan to cross la linea and be reunited with their parents?