Maximillian Fly by Angie Sage

Available June 2019

Maximillian Fly is a human with cockroach features.  Kaitlin and Jonno (two human children) are trying to escape the Enforcers who mean to kill them.  Maximillian decides to help them and that begins the story.  They live in a town called Hope, which really doesn't have any hope.  It is surrounded by an Orb (which is like a force field) and no one comes in or leaves.  Kaitlin and Jonno's parents are dead, their brother joined the Enforcers and they are on their own.  As the story continues Maximillian and the children become more and more entangled in a fantastical adventure where no one may survive.

Great story for those who like things to always go wrong and lots of twists.  You'll never see the end coming.

Out of Place by Jennifer Blecher

Available June 2019

Cove lives in Martha's Vineyard with her artist mom and she has never left the island in her 12 years.  Her mom refuses to leave, even for a trip.  Cove's best friend, Nina, is moving to New York City so her dad can try selling his artwork there.  Cove is devastated.  She is bullied by the other girls on the island, and really has no other friends.  Once Nina moves Cove decides to apply to be on a reality show called "Create You" so she can go to New York and find Nina.  There's only one problem, Cove doesn't know how to sew.  With the help of her friend, Anna (who lives in a retirement home), Cove begins learning how to sew.  Things go terribly wrong though when Cove makes a decision that she is not ready for. 

Great book for theme, character development, and learning how to deal with typical adolescent social issues.

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

This is the first book in the Land of Stories series.  In this book Alex and Conner Bailey are twins.  Conner is kind of a slacker in school, but has friends and Alex is very smart, but she doesn't have really any friends.  Their dad was in an accident and has passed away and their mom works super hard to make ends meet now.  On their twelfth  birthday their grandma comes to visit, while their mother has to work.  She gives them The Land of Stories book that they grew up listening to stories from.  Soon after the twins fall into the book and are transported to the LAND OF STORIES!  There they meet Froggy who tells them about a wishing spell that could take them back home.  As they are collecting items for the spell, they run into Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and more, but they are not the only ones searching for the items for the spell.  Will they be able to collect the items and get home?

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix

True account of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's years growing up.  He was from a family of 8 kids and parents who were very educated.  He was raised to be very scientific, logical and knowledgeable.  He also at an early age became known as a theologian (expert on God).  He was born in 1906 and grew up in the time that Germany was recovering from WWI and Hitler was starting to "worm" his way into power.  Through his choices in life Dietrich became a spy and was part of the German resistance to remove Hitler from power.  Great format of pictures and print.  Goes into detail of the timeline of events that happened leading up to WWII.  Has an index, notes and a bibliography. 

Author's intro to book

Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes

Paloma and her mom are headed to Mexico City for 4 weeks.  Her mom is working on writing a paper with the college there.  Her dad died when she was 3 years old in an accident and he was from Mexico.  Once there Paloma meets Tavo, whose family is funding her mom's trip to Mexico, and Gael and Lizzie, twins who recruit her to help them solve a mystery.  As Paloma decides to help with the mystery, because that is what her literary hero Lulu Pennywhistle would do.  Gael, Lizzie, and Paloma begin to find trouble as they try to find Frida Kahlo's missing peacock ring.  Who can Paloma trust and who really took the ring?

Ana Maria Reyes Does NOT Live in a Castle by Hilda Eunice Burgos

Ana Maria (Anamay to her family) has 3 sisters.  Her mom stays at home and her dad is a lawyer, but does it more to help people than work for a big firm making lots of money.  Anamay is the 2nd oldest and wants to go to a private school with her friend Claudia.  She plays the piano and gets invited to an exclusive recital.  Her aunt Tia Nona is getting married and wants the whole family to come to the Dominican Republic for her wedding.  She will pay for all travel and at first Anamay's dad says no, but then agrees after some persuading from Ana Maria.  Her parents also announce they are having another baby, ugh.  Ana Maria learns some very tough lessons in this book about family, sacrifice, and helping others.  

Marshfield Memories: More Stories about Growing up by Ralph Fletcher

This is the sequel to Marshfield Dreams:  When I was a Kid.  In this book Ralph talks about when he was a kid and tells stories about how being the oldest he felt more like another parent than a sibling, his boy scout adventures and moving with his family.  Great stories for all.  Boys especially will be able to relate.  

Fake Blood by Whitney Gardner

AJ and his best friends Ivy and Hunter are starting 6th grade.  AJ decides to impress Nia, who loves vampires, by trying to become a vampire.  He starts wearing sunglasses, darkening his eyes with makeup and even gets some fake blood.  What he doesn't realize is Nia is a Slayer!  Now she has eyes to Slay him!  She finally realizes he is not a real vampire when she finds his fake blood, however now Hunter is missing and  the kids must work together to find him and save him.

Surviving the Desert by M. Weber

Stories of 5 individuals who survived desert conditions as they were either hiking, exploring or just traveling through a desert. One guy survived 71 days!! Do you think you would have what it takes to survive a desert?

  

 Has a table of contents, glossary, stats, index and FULL color pages.  

Carey Price: How a First Nations kid became a superstar goaltender by Catherine Rondina

Carey Price grew up in Anahim Lake British Columbia playing hockey on a frozen river in his back yard.  His parents took him to the closest town (3 hours away) to join a hockey league and from there he moved to Pasco, Washinton to live with a family and play for an amateur league.  

This book tells the story from his humble beginnings up to the Olympics and the NHL.  Has a table of contents, glossary, index and highlights from his life.  Black and white photography.  

What the Woods Keep by Katya de Becerra

Hayden has lived a strange life.  Her mom went missing when she was 8, she was expelled from school for hurting a student, her dad cannot keep his job as a college professor because he believes in mythical creatures called Nibelungs.  When Hayden turns 18 the family lawyer contacts her and tells her that she has inherited Holland Manor in Promise, Colorado; the house she grew up in, but left when she was 8 and her mom went missing in the woods behind the house.  She decides to go with her friend/ roommate Delphine to check it out.  Once she is there strange things start to happen and as she tries to solve her mom's cryptic message and she finds out her heritage.  

Blends modern day with mythology, some romance, and a creepiness factor.

8th and up.

The House in Poplar Wood by K. E. Ormsbee

Lee and Felix Vickery are twins. Lee lives with his mother and Felix lives with his dad. They are also apprentices to Shades - Lee to Memory and Felix to Death.  They are not allowed to see their other parent or visit them because of an Agreement made with Death. 

Gretchen Whipple needs their help to solve a murder that was hidden.  She promises if the boys will help her solve the murder she will be able to help them undo the Agreement. 

Full of supernatural mystery, twists and turns, it is still not a "have to keep reading to find out what happens book".  I did enjoy it, but will probably not revisit.  :)

Blended by Sharon Draper

Wow, wow, wow... Isabella deals with many things in this book.  She is dealing with her parent's divorce (white mom/ black dad) Dad moves away for years and then moves back.  Izzy has to deal with her "mixed-ness" and how people perceive her, comments made and how she responds.  She also has to deal with parents having new relationships and getting remarried.  Classmates that are judgmental and racist.  And the SHOCKER that I didn't see coming was police profiling and the shooting.  I love this book for giving people a window to see how others live and a mirror to those going through the same issues.  Can't wait to share this with my students!