How I, Nicky Flynn, Finally Get a Life ( and a Dog)

How I, Nicky Flynn, Finally Get a Life ( and a Dog)
By Art Corriveau

Nicky Flynn's life has been turned upside down. His parents are getting divorced and his mother has moved him out of their house and into a tiny apartment where he doesn't even have his own bedroom. Just when things couldn't get any crazier, his mother adopts Reggie, a large German Shepherd from the animal shelter. At first Nicky can't stand Reggie, but he soon learns that Reggie is a former seeing eye dog with an unusual past. In his efforts to learn more about Reggie, Nicky ends up inventing a new life for himself.

I liked this book so much that I didn't want to put it down! Readers who like stories about pets will enjoy reading about Nicky's experiences with Reggie. This is a great choice for readers who like pet stories as well as realistic fiction.

Author's website: http://www.artcorriveau.com/

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling
By Maryrose Wood
Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Penelope Lumley has no idea what awaits her when she is hired as the governess for the children at Ashton Place. She eagerly arrives to teach her new students, only to learn that these three children are far from ordinary! Instead of acting like normal children, Penelope's three new students think they are animals and prefer to spend their time howling, barking, biting, climbing trees, and chasing squirrels! Will Penelope solve the mystery of what happened to them and find a way to teach them to act like children?

I really enjoyed this book. This is a twisted story of humor and mystery that many readers will love! I am looking forward to reading the next book in this exciting series!

Author's website: http://www.maryrosewood.com/

Anything But Typical

Anything But Typical
by Nora Raleigh Baskin

This story is told from the point of view of Jason, a sixth grader with autism who struggles to fit with his classmates and family. Life is difficult and isolated for Jason, who prefers to spend his time writing stories that he can share on an online forum. It's through this online forum that he makes a friend, but when he faces the possibility of meeting his new friend in person, he fears that she will treat him just like everyone else does.

This was a wonderful book that gives readers an excellent opportunity to read a story told from the perspective of someone with autism. This is a great choice for readers who enjoyed books such as Rules by Cynthia Lord, Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine, and Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper.

Author's Website: http://www.norabaskin.com/

Floors

Floors
by Patrick Carman

How would you like to stay in a hotel that has crazy rooms? The Whippet Hotel is an unusual place with wild rooms, such as one that is a lifesized pinball machine, and another that is filled with cakes. Every room has a different theme. Leo lives in the basement with his father, who is the janitor of the Whippet Hotel. He thinks he knows every room, but shortly after the owner of the hotel mysteriously disappears, Leo starts finding strange boxes and soon learns that the hotel has more secrets then he ever imagined!

When I started this book, I didn't want to put it down! I loved reading about the different rooms in the hotel. It's a great mystery with a little fantasy and adventure mixed in. With all the wild rooms in the hotel, this story reminded me a lot of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Author's Website: http://www.patrickcarman.com/

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
by Tom Angleberger

Can an origami finger puppet really give advice? Tommy needs to know fast so he can decide if he wants to take Origami Yoda's advice! He decides to investigate to find out if his unusual classmate Dwight's origami Yoda really has powers, or if it is just a joke. To find out, he interviews others who have gotten advice from Origami Yoda. Is Origami Yoda for real? Read the evidence and decide!

This was a very entertaining book and left me looking forward to the sequel!

Book Website: http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/

A Tale Dark and Grimm

A Tale Dark and Grimm
by Adam Gidwitz
Most of us know the story of Hansel and Gretel, but author Adam Gidwitz turns the familiar tale into a thrilling book that is full of unexpected twists and turns. This story follows the two children along many wild, dangerous, and occasionally humorous adventures as they struggle to find a place where they are safe and loved. Readers who love fantasy will enjoy this unusual retelling of Hansel and Gretel.


Author's Website: http://www.adamgidwitz.com/

Penny Dreadful

Penny Dreadful
by Laurel Snyder
illustrated by Abigail Halpin

Penelope Grey is bored with the way her life is and wishes for something exciting to happen. Her wish for excitement leads to unexpected results when her father suddenly quits his job, causing the family to have little money. In danger of losing the their home, the Grey family is relieved when an unexpected inheritance gives them a new home in a small town. In her strange new home, surrounded by unusual neighbors, Penelope reinvents herself as Penny as she struggles to fit into her new life.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a wonderful story about changes and friendship.

Author's Website: http://laurelsnyder.com/

Here Comes the Garbage Barge!

Here Comes the Garbage Barge!
by Jonah Winter
illustrated by Red Nose Studio

The garbage barge is coming, but no one wants it! A garbage filled barge travels with more than 3000 tons of garbage from New York all the way to North Carolina, only to get turned away. After several months and many attempts to get rid of the garbage, the smelly barge must return to where it came from!

This story is based on an event that happened in 1987. It's a great story that reminds us of how important it is to recycle and not produce so much garbage!

The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows

The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows
By Jacqueline West

Can a painting come to life? In Olive Dunwoody’s house they do. She and her parents have just moved into a mysterious house full of old paintings that scare Olive. One day she finds a pair of magical glasses that give her the power to go inside the paintings into a scary place called Elsewhere, a world where people have been magically trapped inside by an evil man. Once someone is inside Elsewhere, it is almost impossible to get out. Will Olive get trapped inside Elsewhere or can she, with the help of three talking cats, save her family and her home from the dark forces that created the sinister world inside the paintings?

This is a great book full of magic, mystery, and talking cats! I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Author's Website: http://www.jacquelinewest.com/

The Familiars

The Familiars
by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

Aldwyn is a troublemaking street cat living in a magical land. One day he finds himself in more trouble when a young wizard named Jack mistakes him for a magical cat, and chooses him as his companion. Soon Aldwyn finds himself living among three young wizards in training and their magical animal companions and struggles not to reveal that there is nothing magical about him! When the three young wizards are kidnapped by an evil queen, Aldwyn and his animal friends must try to rescue them before it's too late. Will Aldwyn success despite his lack of powers?

This is a great choice for readers who enjoy fantasy, animal stories, or both!

Book Website: http://www.thefamiliars.com/

Touch Blue

Touch Blue
by Cynthia Lord

A small school on an island in Maine is in danger of being closed unless they get more students. To solve this problem, several families have taken in foster children to help raise the number of students. Eleven-year-old Tess is excited about Aaron, who has come to stay with her family, but soon after his arrival problems start and Tess begins to worry that their plan to save their school may not work out after all. Can they save their island school?

This is a good book for readers who like realistic fiction. It is also set in Maine, so readers looking for a story with a Maine setting will enjoy this book.

Author's website: http://cynthialord.com

The Magical Ms. Plum

The Magical Ms. Plum
by Bonnie Becker

Everyone at Springtime Elementary School have heard that strange things happen in Ms. Plum's classroom, but only her students know just how magical their teacher really is! Her third grade classroom is full of excitement, including a magical supply closet full of unexpected surprises! This is a great choice for readers who enjoy school stories or stories with a little bit of magic in them.

The Crossroads

The Crossroads
by Chris Grabenstein

Can trees be haunted? Zack Jennings thought so. When he moved from New York City to his new house in Connecticut, he thought he was leaving a scary tree behind. He's about to learn that in his new yard there is an even scarier tree that has been haunted for over fifty years!

This is a great book for readers who love ghosts and scary mysteries. It also has a sequel, The Hanging Hill, where our main character Zack finds himself in another haunted place.

Author's Website: http://www.chrisgrabenstein.com/ya/index.php

Moon Over Manifest

Moon Over Manifest
by Clare Vanderpool

Moon Over Manifest is the 2011 Newbery Medal winning book. Set in 1936, it is the story of 12-year-old Abilene. Her railroad worker father has suddenly sent her to spend her summer with old friends in the small Kansas town of Manifest. During her summer, Abilene meets new people, makes friends, and tries to learn more about her father's past. The story alternates between 1936, when Abilene is living in Manifest, and 1918, the year her father lived there.

This is a great book and a good choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction.

Author's Website: http://www.clarevanderpool.com/

Interrupting Chicken

Interrupting Chicken
by David Ezra Stein

Little Red Chicken won't go to bed without a bedtime story, but gets so excited that she keeps interrupting each one! After three stories, there are no more left to tell. How will Little Red Chicken fall asleep without her story?

This is a funny book that reminds us how important it is to be patient and not interrupt during a story. I read this book to many of my classes this past week and followed it with a discussion on how to be good listeners during our library storytime. It is also a 2011 Caldecott Honor Book, so it is full of great illustrations.

Author's Website: http://www.davidezra.com/

The Night Fairy

The Night Fairy
by Laura Amy Schlitz

How can a fairy survive without her wings? Flory's wings are damaged one night after crashing into a bat. Now this night fairy can no longer fly and must learn to live during the daytime. Readers will enjoy this tiny, determined fairy's adventures which include meetings with squirrels, hummingbirds, spiders and other creatures.

The Night Fairy website: http://www.thenightfairy.com

Keepers of the School: We the Children

We the Children
by Andrew Clements

We The Children is the first book in a new mystery series by author Andrew Clements. Ben’s school is scheduled to be torn down at the end of the school year in order to be replaced by a theme park. When Mr. Keane, the janitor, dies suddenly after giving Ben a mysterious coin, Ben and his friend Jill try to solve the mystery of the coin and save their school. This is an exciting mystery that will have readers looking forward to the next book in the series.

Author's Website: http://www.andrewclements.com/