The Beast: A DarkDeep Novel (#2) by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs

Nico, Opal, Emma, Tyler and Logan are back.  The DarkDeep keeps spitting out figments even though no one is going through it anymore.  They don't know where they are coming from, but they are able to dispel them.  It is getting close to Halloween, the "Beast" has become popular and is bringing in tourists, and now a You-tuber shows up from Freakshow to document what he can find. As the kids try to figure out what is going on with the DarkDeep, the green blob starts to communicate with them, the figments start becoming where they can't be dispersed, and the you-tuber starts discovering more about what's going on.  Will the kids be able to contain the chaos?  

Another great addition and a window left open for another book!  Can't wait!

 

Maybe he Just Likes You by Barbara Dee

Mila is in 7th grade and has a group of friends:  Omi, Zara, and Max.  They are celebrating Omi's birthday, when a group of boys comes over and gives a group hug that makes Mila uncomfortable.  As she goes through the next few weeks, it just gets weirder.  A boy will touch her shoulder, will sit next to her on the bus and bump her and not move his legs to let her out, will sit right behind her with his nose in her hair.  She feels very uncomfortable, but doesn't really tell an adult.  Max tells her she needs to let someone know, but she doesn't think it will help.  She is just hoping they get tired of it and stop.  

Mila also is dealing with friendship problems and a single mom who is struggling to make ends meet.  Really liked this book and think it will be great for windows and mirrors of what is not an easy topic.  #tellsomeone

Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy

Enter Sweet Pea (AKA Patricia) who is in 7th grade and whose best friend is Oscar. Sweet Pea's parents have divorced and strangely enough have decided that having 2 identical houses on the same street only one house apart will make the transition that much smoother for her.... She also is struggling with fitting in and her "old" best friend Kiera is shutting her out and doesn't invite her to her birthday. 

When her neighbor Miss Flora Mae has to go on a trip to visit her sister, she asks Sweet Pea to pick up her mail and send it to her. Miss Flora Mae has an advice column in the local paper. What happens next is of course Sweet Pea reads a letter and decides to answer it. The letter turns out to be from Kiera and Sweet Pea has started something that may get her into more trouble. She also starts to build a friendship back with Kiera and Oscar feels left out which leads to him shunning Sweet Pea. 

We find out that her parents divorced because her dad is gay and it is hinted that Oscar is gay. 

Overall a GREAT middle book.

Throwback by Peter Lerangis

Corey is living in New York and has a best friend Laila.  He comes to find out he can touch objects and travel in time.  They need to have some metal in them.  His grandfather who has been missing for over a year, suddenly shows up to talk to Corey because he too can time travel and as Corey has traveled back in time accidentally he saved someone's life and changed history!  He is called a throwback, which means he not only can travel time, but he can change history.  Corey's grandmother died during 9/11 and he decides to travel back to try to save her.  His grandfather has tried many times, but it never works.  As he travels back to 2001, he accidentally travels even farther to 1917 and things get a little out of control.

Great sci-fi.  I couldn't stop reading!

Remarkables by Margaret Petersen Haddix

Marin has just moved to Pennsylvania from Indiana.  She has a baby brother, her dad is a teacher, and her mom just got a new job overseeing the nursing program at a college.  As Marin explores the woods in her backyard, she sees some teenagers in the house behind hers.  They seem  to appear and disappear, weird.  She encounters Charley, a neighbor, who is the same age as Marin.  He sees the teenagers too.  As they become friends, they solve the mystery surrounding they teenagers and the house.  

Wasn't super impressed with this one, although I normally LOVE all of Haddix's work.  

Sorry...