Saturday, May 31, 2014

Blindsided

by Priscilla Cummings
Lexile:  710
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Natalie is a typical 14 year old looking forward to starting high school.  She's a great student, has lots of friends, loving parents, and a cute boy who might possibly be interested in her.  But Natalie is keeping a secret from almost everyone in her life.  Since age 8, her eye sight has been deteriorating and at her last eye doctor appointment, her doctor told her that it was only a matter of time before she would be completely blind.  Natalie is devastated and must make a tough decision.  Her parents think she should go to a school for the blind where she can learn the skills she'll need to be able to live independently. This would mean leaving her home and everything she has ever known.

Friday, May 30, 2014

How They Choked

by Georgia Bragg
Lexile:  ???
Genre:  Informational

If you liked the book How They Croaked, then you will for sure want to check out How They Choked! This book is all about the ways that famous people failed, flopped, and how they were full of flaws. You will read all about these 14 famous achievers...but not about what they are famous for.  If you want to learn the back story behind how these 14 people became famous, you will want to check this book out.  Learning from mistakes is something we can all appreciate!

Monday, May 26, 2014

The Shadow Throne

by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Lexile:  810
Genre:  Fantasy

War is coming to Carthya and there is nothing Jaron can do to stop it, but he knows it's up to him to save his kingdom from disaster.  Who can he trust?  If he is going to survive this, he will have to surround himself with loyal friends and former enemies.  This is the thrilling conclusion to the Ascendance Trilogy.  If you enjoyed The False Prince and The Runaway King, this is one book you will not want to miss!

Saturday, May 24, 2014

The London Eye Mystery

by Siobhan Dowd
Genre:  Mystery
Lexile:  640

Ted and Kat are sort of looking forward to a visit from their cousin Salim, whom they haven't seen in many years.  When Salim arrives, he wants to visit the London Eye, a ferris wheel type ride, that takes people sky high.  Ted and Kat agree to go, but when they are waiting in line, a mysterious man approaches Salim and offers him a free ticket.  Salim takes it, gets on the ride, and disappears.  Ted, Kat, their parents, Salim's parents and the police are all baffled.  It will be up to Ted and Kat to figure out the mystery.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The Boy on Cinnamon Street

by Phoebe Stone
Lexile:  720
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Louise has a secret admirer and it is up to her and her friend Reni to figure out the mystery.  Is it the adorable pizza delivery guy?  Reni is convinced it is, and Lousie is happy to believe her.  Life for Louise has been rough.  Her mom is gone, her dad has started a new family, and Louise is living with her grandparents and has quit the one thing she loved the most:  gymnastics.  Will her secret admirer help her confront things from her past in order for her to move on to a future?

Sunday, May 18, 2014

How to Survive Middle School

by Donna Gephart
Lexile:  660
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

David Greenberg is starting middle school - ready or not.  His goal in life is to become a famous talk show host so he and his friend Elliot make lots of videos of their version of a daily talk show.  But when Elliot and David get in a fight, David is left alone - starting a new school is hard enough.  Starting a new school without your best friend is even worse!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Hunger (Gone Series #2)

by Michael Grant
Lexile:  570
Genre:  Science Fiction

The adults are all gone and the children are in charge.  But now, food and other resources are running low and the teenagers who are trying to keep things running, are in disagreement about the next steps so they are now starting to turn on each other.  Caine and his allies are hunkered down at the old Coates Academy, while Sam, Astrid, Quinn and Edilio try to keep things running calmly on the beach.  The two factions still view themselves as enemies, but now an even bigger threat appears.  The Darkness is talking and no one knows who or what the Darkness is or wants...

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Cress (Lunar Chronicles Book 3)

by Marissa Meyer
Lexile:  840
Genre:  Science Fiction

Cinder and Captain Thorne are still on the run.  Wolf and Scarlet have joined them.  But if they are going to overthrow Queen Levana and stop her wedding to Emporer Kai, they are going to need some help.  Their best help will be Cress, a girl who has been imprisoned for seven years on a satellite, but a rescue will not be easy.  Will they be able to get to Cress in time to stop the wedding?

A Tale Dark and Grimm

by Adam Gidwitz
Lexile:  690
Genre:  Traditional Literature

Do you know the story of Hansel and Gretel?  The real version?  Or just the one where two little children get lost in the woods and almost eaten by a witch?  If that's all you know, then reading this book will teach you a lot.  The true story of Hansel and Gretel - from start to finish.  This book is NOT for little kids!

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
Lexile:  700
Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Ready or not, it's time for Rafe Khatchadorian to head to middle school.  Rafe quickly learns that if he is going to survive, he's going to have to come up with something to entertain himself and others.  With the help of his make believe friend, Leo, Rafe sets out to be the first person in the history of Hidden Valley Middle School to break ALL of the rules.