Half a Chance

Half a Chance
by Cynthia Lord

Like her photographer father, Lucy enjoys viewing her world through a camera.   Shortly after the family moves to their new home on a New Hampshire lake, her father once again must leave for a photo shoot, but before he lives mentions that he will be judging a photography contest for children.   Lucy realizes that this contest may be her one chance to show her father that she can be a great photographer too, and decides to enter it anonymously.

Lucy gains the help of her new friend and neighbor, Nate, as she searches for the perfect scenes for her contest photos.    As the two new friends work together, they also must deal with the declining health of Nate's beloved grandmother as well as the jealousy of one of Nate's other friends.     Lucy faces a difficult choice when she takes what she feels is a perfect picture, but risks losing her friendship with Nate if she chooses to use it for the contest.   

Half a Chance is a wonderful realistic fiction story of friendship and family.    The book is full of touching moments and deals with many issues that readers will be able to relate to.     

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

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Heroes in Training)
by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
illustrated by Craig Phillips

 Hidden since birth, young Zeus is unaware of who is parents are.    After first being kidnapped by a group of giants, and then snatched by a flock of Harpies, the ten-year-old find himself brought to Greece where  he eventually faces Cronus, the King of the Titans.   Along the way, Zeus begins to realize that he may have some unique powers and, as he faces Cronus, he must use his powers to rescue others before he meets the same fate they did!

This series, which follows the lives of the Greek Gods and Goddesses as children, is a great choice for readers who enjoy mythology.    The books are relatively short (around a hundred pages), fast paced, and full of a lot of adventure, as well as many amusing moments!

Houseboat Mystery

Houseboat Mystery (Boxcar Children Graphic Novels)
by Gertrude Chandler Warner and Joeming Dunn
illustrated by Ben Dunn.

Taking a drive through the country, the Alden family come across a houseboat for rent.    After Grandfather agrees that the family can rent the houseboat, the Aldens prepare for a journey!    Their journey's start is almost interrupted when they almost get into an accident with a speeding car as they head home to pack for their houseboat adventure, but they are soon able to begin their exciting vacation.   However, it seems that they mysterious car they encountered keeps appearing everywhere they go, causing the family to be suspicious.  When a valuable vase gets stolen from an auction the family attends, they find themselves involved in the mystery and wonder if the suspicious car is somehow connected to the theft.   Will the Aldens be able to solve the mystery?

The Boxcar Children series was one of my favorites when I was in elementary school, so I was thrilled to see that a graphic novel version of this series is available!   Joeming Dunn's retelling of Gertrude Chandler Warner's story paired with great illustrations by Ben Dunn make this graphic novel a fun read.  I hope that those who find enjoy this book want to then read the original story, which I do have in the library!

The Odd Squad: Bully Bait

The Odd Squad: Bully Bait
by Michael Fry

Nick just doesn't fit in with anyone else at his school.   The shortest kid in seventh grade, he finds himself frequently being stuffed inside his own locker by a school bully.  After another locker-stuffing incident, Nick finds himself being forced by his guidance counselor to join the Safety Patrol, along with two other classmates, Molly and Karl,  who also don't fit in very well at school.   Although they get off to a rough start, the three members of the Safety Patrol decide to work together to combat bullying at their school.

Full of quirky characters, humorous illustrations, and many funny moments, The Odd Squad: Bully Bait is an entertaining book that many readers will enjoy, particularly those who like Diary of a Wimpy kid and similar series.   Bully Bait is the first in The Odd Squad series, so there will be more adventures of these three friends in future books!  

Book Trailer: 

Athlete vs Mathlete

Athlete vs Mathlete
by W.C. Mack

Owen and Russell are twins that couldn't be more different!  As fraternal twins, they look nothing alike, but the differences don't stop there.   Owen is an athlete, determined to impress his new basketball coach.    Russell has no interest in sports, preferring to compete with the Masters of the Mind team.   That all changes, however, when the new basketball coach spots the tall Russell and orders him to try out for the basketball team.    To the shock of both brothers, Russell makes the team!   Russell's success in basketball causes challenges for both brothers.   Russell struggles to balance being on the the Masters of the Mind team and the basketball team, and Owen must now share the basketball spotlight with his brother.  Will the twins be able to overcome their differences and work together as a team? 

I liked how this book not only dealt with sports, but also family and school issues as well.    Owen and Russell are great, realistic characters and I look forward to reading more of this series.  Athlete vs Mathlete is a nice choice for readers who enjoy sports stories as well as those who like school stories!

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

Book trailer:

The Waffler

The Waffler
by Gail Donovan

Monty can never make up his mind about anything!  His difficulty in making decisions keeps getting him in trouble and causes the new principal at his school to call him a "waffler", leading to Monty to soon have the nickname "Waffles" among the kids at his school.    Despite efforts by his parents, teacher, and principal to help him make (and stick to) decisions,  Monty continues to struggle to make up his mind about everything, including what to name his new pet rat!

After being assigned a kindergarten reading buddy, Monty soon learns that three other kindergartners are without 4th grade buddies.   Not wanting them to be left out, Monty decides to secretly become their buddy and read with them during recess.    Unfortunately, his teacher learns about his extra kindergarten buddies and orders him to only choose one!     Will he be able to choose just one without making the others feel left out?

Set in Portland, Maine, this realistic fiction addresses a lot of issues that many readers will be able to relate to, including step-families, conflicts with siblings, and school challenges.   This book is a good choice for readers who prefer realistic fiction and school-related stories.  

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

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing
by Sheila Turnage

When Mo's guardian, Miss Lana, accidentally purchases a rundown inn at an auction, she learns she just hasn't bought an inn, but also the ghost that lives there!   Mo, and her best friend Dale, impulsively decide to try to interview the ghost for an extra credit school assignment, and begin to investigate to figure out who the ghost of the Tupelo inn is.   As they work to solve the mystery, many obstacles, including a suspicious new student, stand in their way.  Will they be able to solve the mystery of the Ghost of the Tupelo Inn? 

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing is the sequel to Newbery Honor Book, Three Times Lucky.   The small town setting with its quirky characters adds a lot of humor to this ghostly mystery.    This is a great choice for readers looking for a mystery full of action, suspense, and funny moments!

Author's website: http://www.sheilaturnage.com/SheilaTurnage/Desktop.html

Book Trailer: 

The Boy on the Porch

The Boy on the Porch
by Sharon Creech

Imagine the surprise when a young couple, John and Marta,  find a little boy sleeping on their porch!  The boy cannot speak, but has a note saying his name is Jacob and that someone will be back for him.    As time passes, however, no one returns for Jacob.  Now John and Marta must decide what to do about this little boy who has become a big part of their lives. 

This is a very sweet, heartwarming story that shows how one person can have a lifelong impact on the lives of others.   This is an excellent choice for readers looking for a book about family and relationships.  



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

Mystery on Pine Lake

Mystery on Pine Lake
by Tamra Wight

Don't you think it would be great if your parents owned a campground?  Cooper thought it would be awesome when his parents bought a campground.   He was wrong.  Instead, his days are full of chores like cleaning bathrooms, emptying trash, and watching his little sister while his parents are always too busy to spend much time with them.   Even his old best friend from Portland no longer wants to spend time with him when he comes to the campground with his family.  

An aspiring Game Warden, Cooper enjoys spending the little free time he has keeping track of the wildlife around the campground.    When he learns that a loon nest is being threatened, he and his new friend Packrat work to help protect the birds.   Unfortunately, not everyone wants them to help the loons and soon Cooper and Packrat find that their efforts are being sabotaged.    Will they find the culprit before it's too late to help the loons?

Set in Maine, the Mystery on Pine Lake is a fun story that will be a good choice for readers who enjoy stories that involve camping and other outdoor activities.   With the focus of the story being about the loon, this is also a great book to use to talk and learn about Maine wildlife.     This book is also the first in a new series, so readers who enjoy this story will be able to read more about the adventures of Cooper and Packrat!

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

The Girl from Felony Bay

The Girl from Felony Bay
by J.E. Thompson

Abbey's happy life is torn apart when her father is accused of stealing jewels from a wealthy client.   With her father in a coma and unable to defend himself, Abbey loses her home, Reward Plantation, and is forced to live with her cruel Uncle Charlie and his wife Ruth.    Convinced her father is innocent, Abbey is determined to prove that he is not a thief.

At the start of her summer vacation, Abbey meets Bee, the daughter of the family who bought Reward Plantation.   As Abbey shows Bee around the plantation, they come across something at Felony Bay that makes them very suspicious.   Suspecting that the activity at Felony Bay is connected to her father's accident, Abbey, with the help of her new friend Bee, begins to investigate in hopes of proving her father's innocence. 

The Girl from Felony Bay is an exciting mystery full of suspense and adventure!    It also is a wonderful story about friendship and family.    I was very happy to learn that the author is writing to a sequel story because, although the ending was great, I felt that Abbey's story was not yet complete.  I'm looking forward the sequel, as will many others who read this excellent book!

Author's website: http://booksbyjohnthompson.com/the-girl-from-felony-bay/

Book trailer:


girl from felony bay from Authro on Vimeo.