Isabel Feeney: Star Reporter

Isabel Feeney: Star Reporter
by Beth Fantaskey

Isabel Feeney wants to be a reporter, bur for now she has to settle for selling newspapers. When she becomes a witness in a murder investigation, she decides to conduct her own investigation.   Even though the evidence is pointing at Miss Giddings as the culprit, Isabel knows that she is innocent. Can the outspoken, aspiring reporter prove it?

Set in 1920’s Chicago, this is an exciting mystery!  Isabel is a fun, determined character.    This book is a good choice for fans of mysteries.  I hope that author Beth Fantaskey writes more stories about this young, aspiring reporter soon!

Author's website: https://bethfantaskeyauthor.com/

Once Was a Time

Once Was a Time
by Leila Sales

Charlotte’s father is about to make a great scientific discovery that could change World War II! Unfortunately, a dangerous group of people have found out about it and want it for their own use. When Charlotte and her best friend Kitty are kidnapped, Charlotte makes a choice to save herself and finds herself transported through time from 1940 England to 2013 Wisconsin. Will she be able to adjust to her new life in an unfamiliar place and time? And will she ever find out what happened to her family and friends?

Once Was a Time is an amazing blend of historical fiction, science fiction, and realistic fiction. While World War II and time travel are essential parts of this magical tale, what I loved most about this book was Charlotte's adjustment to life in 2013, dealing with school, family, and friendship situations, while she persisted in trying to find out happened to the family and friends she left behind in 1940. This is a great choice for readers looking for a story about friends and family with a unique twist!

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

Garvey's Choice

Garvey's Choice
by Nikki Grimes

Told in verse, this wonderful book is the story of Garvey, a young man more interested in science than athletics, much to the disappointment of his father. At school he faces frequent bullying due to his weight. Things take an interesting turn, however, when Garvey becomes a soloist for the chorus. Will Garvey’s father approve of his new love of singing?

I flew through this book! I always tell my students that, if I open a book don’t budge from the couch until I’m done, then I know it’s a great choice for me. Garvey is a likable character and, the more I got to know him, the more I wanted things to go his way. Many readers will be able to relate to the situations that Garvey goes through in this story. I love how the story was told in verse, each page was like its own little poem. An author’s note at the end shares that the story is told using an ancient form of poetry called Tanka, and she also gives a breakdown of how it is written.

I had the opportunity to hear Garvey's Choice author Nikki Grimes speak at the recent American Library Association annual conference in Chicago earlier this summer.  What an outstanding person - I had not read any of her books until I read Garvey's Choice, but I will be sure to read more of her work soon!

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