Confessions of an Imaginary Friend

Confessions of an Imaginary Friend: A Memoir by Jacques Papier
by Michelle Cuevas

Jacques Papier often feels invisible.   Teachers never call on him at school, no one ever picks him to be on a team.  It's as though no one realizes he's there.  The only person who really seems to notice him is his twin sister, Fleur.  One day he finally realizes why no one ever sees him:  he's Fleur's imaginary friend.   As he struggles to deal with not being real, he meets other imaginary friends.   One offers him the opportunity to become free from his imaginary world, but Jacques soon learns that it comes with a price.

One of two books on this year's MSBA list about imaginary friends, Confessions of an Imaginary Friend starts off as an almost funny story yet, further in, becomes very deep and emotional as Jacques struggles to understand his role as an imaginary friend and questions what is real.   Despite being "imaginary", Jacques has very real thoughts and feelings that many readers will relate to.   A great book that goes well with The Imaginary, a similar book on this year's MSBA list.


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

A Night Divided

A Night Divided
by Jennifer Nielsen

Gerta Lowe's family has been divided by a wall.  Shortly after her father and brother travel to the west in search of work and a new home for the family, the Berlin Wall goes up,  separating them.   Stuck under heavy guard in East Berlin with her mother and brother Fritz, Gerta fears she will never see her father and brother Dominic again.   Then, one day, she sees them on the other side of the wall.   After a while, she begins to realize that her father wants her to do the impossible: find a way to tunnel under the wall and out of East Berlin.   Will Gerta and her family risk their lives to escape East Berlin so that their family can be together again?

A Night Divided is a sad, beautiful story about a family trying to be together after years of separation.   This book shows readers the struggles faced by many people who lived in East Berlin during the time surrounding the rise of the Berlin Wall.   Not only is this a wonderful story about family, but also an emotional story about an important time in history.

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

Masterminds

Masterminds
by Gordon Korman

Can a town really be perfect?  With a population of only 185 people, no crime, and beautiful homes, Serenity seems to be a perfect small town.  However, Eli Frieden begins to suspect that Serenity may not be as perfect as it seems after he receives a mysterious letter from a friend.    Suddenly, Eli begins to question everything in his beautiful, calm, New Mexico town.   Is his world real?   What secrets are the grownups hiding from them?  Eli and his friends investigate and find a shocking answer!

After finishing this book (the first in the Masterminds series)  I needed to know what happened next and immediately went online to buy the next one!  Masterminds is full of action, suspense, and many unexpected twists.   I loved how Gordon Korman alternated between narrators, allowing the reader to  get to know the different characters and experience the life of Serenity from various perspectives.   I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series when it gets published in March!

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

Fuzzy Mud

Fuzzy Mud
by Louis Sachar

A “shortcut” home meant to avoid a school bully has two friends battling something even more dangerous: fuzzy mud! Soon after their encounter with the odd looking mud Marshall and Tamaya find themselves battling unusual symptoms.  Where did the mud come from?   And will anyone find a cure for the fuzzy mud that soon spreads all over town?

What an entertaining science fiction book by award-winning author Louis Sachar (Newbery winner for his book Holes)!   It's a fast read that is full of action, mystery, environmental issues, and school struggles.  

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

Upside Down Magic

Upside-Down Magic
by Sarah Miynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins

Nory desperately wants to get accepted into Sage Academy.  Not only is it the best private magic school, her father is the headmaster and her brother and sister go there.  Unfortunately, Nory has a hard time controlling her magic, which ultimately costs her the chance to attend Sage Academy.    After failing her admission test,  Nory is sent to live her unusual aunt and attend a public school, where she finds herself in an "Upside-Down Magic" class with other kids who have a hard time getting their magic to work the way it should.   Will Nory, and her family, ever learn to accept her unusual magic?

Readers looking for a magical, humorous book will love this story!   A great choice for fans of Harry Potter and other fantasy books about kids learning to use their magical powers.

Book Website:  http://upsidedownmagic.scholastic.com/#_

Book trailer:

The Doldrums

The Doldrums
by Nicholas Gannon

Archer B. Helmsley was born a dreamer.   Growing up in his grandparents' unique home, Archer is surrounded by unusual items collected by his explorer grandparents throughout their travels.   All he wants is adventure, but after his grandparents disappear on an iceberg in Antarctica, his mother barely lets him even leave the house.    When Archer comes up with the idea for the ultimate adventure,  finding his missing grandparents, he and his friends Oliver and Adelaide must come up with a clever plan to get them to Antarctica before his parents, and their scary new teacher Mrs. Murkley, find out what they're up to!

The Doldrums is a humorous book about friendship and adventure.  Full of unique characters, charming illustrations, and many funny moments, this is a book that I know many readers will enjoy!   I was often reminded of the Roald Dahl classic Matilda as I read this, particularly with the character of Mrs. Murkley, who is very much like Matilda's Mrs. Trunchbull.   The ending of this book left me, and will likely leave other readers, curious about what will happen next with Archer, Oliver, and Adelaide.   Fortunately, it looks like author Nicholas Gannon plans to continue with this series and future adventures are in store for these three friends!

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

Book trailer: 

Moving Target

Moving Target
by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

A legendary spear with the power to change the world has turned Cassie Arroyo's life upside down!   The daughter of an art professor, Cassie is used to traveling the world.  However, when she learns that she is part of an ancient bloodline linked to the Spear of Destiny, she is in for the journey of a lifetime as she and her friend Simone flee from a dangerous organization that is out to get her!   As they embark on the dangerous, possibly deadly, mission of locating the missing spear, Cassie begins to uncover many secrets about her and her father's past that change her life forever.

What an exciting book!   Moving Target is an thrilling, suspenseful adventure that will leave its readers anxious for the next book in the series.   I know I'm looking forward to September 27th, when the next installment of Cassie's adventures will be available!  


Author's website:  http://www.christinagonzalez.com/index.html