The Center of Everything

The Center of Everything 
by Linda Urban

As Ruby Pepperdine anxiously awaits to present her winning essay at her town's annual Bunting Day parade, she continues to think back to recent events leading up to the day, including the death of her beloved grandmother and a fight with her best friend.   Ruby desperately hopes that a birthday wish made on the statue of Captain Bunting will finally come true on this day.    Will her birthday wish come true and fix everything?

Full of heartwarming, yet sometimes sad, moments, this touching story alternates between present day and Ruby's flashbacks of recent events.   Many readers will be able to identify with the challenges that twelve-year-old Ruby deals with throughout the story.

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

Chained

Chained
by Lynne Kelly

When ten-year-old Hastin's younger sister becomes sick, he must find a way to help his family raise the money to pay for her medical bills.    Hastin accepts a job from Timir, a circus owner in need of an elephant keeper.   As Hastin travels far from home to work for Timir, he imagines his new job to be full of excitement.   He soon learns, however, that Timir is a cruel man who is determined to make his circus succeed.    As Hastin struggles in his new job, he grows attached to Nandita, a young elephant that had been captured to work Timir's circus.   As he grows closer to Nandita, Hastin becomes determined to free himself and the young elephant from Timir.  

Readers who enjoyed "The One and Only Ivan" will want to read this book!  While the story has some sad parts, I enjoyed reading about the growing bond between Hastin and Nandita.  

Author's website: http://lynnekellybooks.com/wordpress/

Book trailer:

Prairie Evers

Prairie Evers
by Ellen Airgood

Prairie Evers has never been to school.   Having spent her life being home-schooled by her grandmother, Prairie has never experienced learning in a classroom.   All of that changes, however, when her parents decide to move and her grandmother decides not to come with them.   Prairie suddenly must adjust to being in school and soon learns that not everyone in her new class is friendly.    Will Prairie be able to find friends and get used to her new school?

This wonderful story about family and friendship is a good choice for readers who enjoy realistic fiction.   

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

That is Not a Good Idea!

That is Not a Good Idea
by Mo Willems

When a fox invites a goose to come for a walk with him, her babies keep insisting it is not a good idea!  Despite the persistent warnings, the fox and goose continue on the walk and visit the home of the fox.   A hilarious twist at the end of the story will leave many readers surprised and laughing!

I shared this funny story with several of my classes recently and, as with most Mo Willems books, it was a hit!   It's shorter length make it a great, engaging read aloud for younger grades.  


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

Book trailer:
 

Earthling!

Earthling!
by Mark Fearing

Imagine getting on the wrong bus on your first day at a new school!  That's what happened to Bud.   After moving to New Mexico with his father, Bud accidentally gets on the wrong school bus on the first day.   Not only does this bus go to a different school, it goes to a school in outer space!   Arriving at the Cosmos Academy, Bud soon learns that Earthlings are feared by everyone in the galaxy.   With the help of a new friend, Bud hides that he is from Earth by posing as an exchange student.   Unfortunately, pretending to be an exchange student from the planet Tenarian isn't as easy as he thought.  Will Bud be able to find a way to get home to Earth before everyone learns his secret?

With great illustrations and a lot of humor, Earthling! is a great choice for fans of graphic novels as well as readers who enjoy science fiction.  

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

Book trailer:

Malcolm at Midnight

Malcolm at Midnight
by W.H. Beck
illustrated by Brian Lies

Malcolm has a secret: he's really a rat but no one can know!  When fifth grade teacher Mr. Binney sees Malcolm at a pet store, he mistakenly believes that the small rat is a mouse.  In his new home in Mr. Binney's fifth grade classroom,  Malcolm adjusts to the life of a class pet.   Soon after arriving he discovers the Midnight Academy, a group of all the school's class pets.   Malcolm is eager to join, but soon realizes that rats are not welcome by some of the group's members.   To gain acceptance, he denies being a rat.    Despite his insistence that he can be trusted, some members are suspicious of him and, when the group's leader goes missing, Malcolm finds himself being accused of being a traitor.   Can Malcolm solve the mystery and prove his innocence?



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

Illustrator's website:   http://www.brianlies.com/

Book trailer:

Kepler's Dream

Kepler's Dream
by Juliet Bell

Ella has to spend her summer with a grandmother she has never even met.    With her mother in the hospital undergoing cancer treatment and her father too busy, the only option for Ella is her grandmother's unusual home.    Convinced it is going to be a long, boring summer, Ella suddenly finds excitement when a rare and valuable book, Kepler's Dream of the Moon, is stolen from her grandmother's library.   With the help of her friend Rosie, Ella seeks out to solve the mystery of the missing book, while at the same time working to fix her broken family.   

This book is a good combination of mystery and realistic fiction.    Readers who enjoy mysteries or books about family and friends will likely enjoy this story. 


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

Book trailer: 

The Cloak Society

The Cloak Society 
by Jeramey Kraatz

Alex Knight has spent his life planning to become a supervillain like his parents, Shade and Volt.   Growing up in the Cloak Society, an organization of powerful supervillains, he has been trained to use his own powers to aid the group in gaining control over Sterling City.   After spending his whole life devoted to Cloak, he suddenly begins to question their motives after meeting a member of the Rangers, a group of superheroes who have defeated Cloak in the past.    Will Alex follow in the footsteps of his supervillain parents, or will he leave the life that he has always known?

I had a hard time putting this book down! It is fast-paced and full of action and adventure.   I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!  Readers who enjoy the supervillain theme of this book may also consider reading Joshua Dread, another book about a boy from a supervillain family.

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

Author interview:

Supervillain Personality Test:

Island of Thieves

Island of Thieves
by Josh Lacey

Tom Trelawney didn't mean to burn down a shed.  Unfortunately, the accident with the shed means he has to stay with his Uncle Harvey while his parents go on vacation.   Shortly after Tom's arrival, Harvey announces that he must go on a secret trip to find a hidden pirate treaure.   After much pleading (and a little blackmail), Harvey agrees to take Tom along with him.    What Tom expects to be a fun adventure soon turns into a dangerous quest.   Tom had been worried about making it back to New York before his parents returned,  but now he's worried he may never even make it home at all!

What a great book! Island of Thieves is a good choice for readers looking for a book full of action and suspense! 

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

Always October

Always October
by Bruce Coville

What do you do when your little brother turns into a monster?   Jake Doolittle needs to figure that out.  When he and his mother discover a baby abandoned on their doorstep, they decide to keep it.   Everything goes well until one full-moon night when Jake discovers his new brother LD has turned into a furry green monster!  Jake soon learns that there are other monsters after his new brother and, despite the baby's new fangs and pointy ears, he becomes determined to help save LD.  With the help of his friend Lily, Jake brings LD to the mysterious world of Always October,  a land full of monsters and other creepy creatures. 

I thought this book was great.   Always October is full of adventure, humor,  and many surprising twists!  

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