13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Genny is a 17 year old girl, living a normal life.  Sure, she has an eccentric aunt...one who came and went as she pleased and lived life freely without worrying about obligations.  However, she always had room for Genny.

One day Aunt Peg disappeared...with no word.  Until one day her family received a phone call telling them she died.  Not too long after, Genny received a package of envelopes directing her to travel to Europe following several rules including no electronics, bring only what you can fit in a backpack, no money and no guidebooks.  She is instructed to open each envelope only after she has finished the task directed in the letter she holds.   She is taking a step of faith, and leaping out of her comfort zone.

Through her travels, Genny meets a variety of interesting people and travels all over Europe while discovering a lot about her deceased aunt.   Oh, and there some adventures along the way! 

What I Thought: 
This book has been on my "to-read" list for quite a while, and I'm so glad I finally got around to it!  I loved Genny's story and found myself wishing I was more adventurous and could just take off backpacking around Europe.  Of course, Genny wasn't the personality to that either...she had to be pushed to do so. 

This book did reignite my desire to go to Greece.  Hubs and I have always wanted to visit there, we need to start saving now!

Johnson crafted a wonderful story full of adventure, some romance, and even a little mystery!  I anxiously wanted to know what each letter would say and where Genny would end up next. 

This was the first book I read using the Kindle app.  I'm not quite ready to jump from purely paper books to e-books, but when this book was released as a free download by Kindle, I jumped at the opportunity to download and read it.  It was very nice to always have a book on my iPhone and I read at just about every free chance I got.  I'm not completely sold on reading on my phone though...it's convenient and cool but I did miss holding the actual book in my hand.  Not gonna lie!

(I might feel different with an actual Kindle, Nook or iPad though.  I'm just not quite ready to jump just yet.  Well, I do want an iPad.  I'm ready to get one of those...my wallet just isn't though!) 

Great book, highly recommended!

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson.

Reviewed from a personal copy.

The sequel, The Last Little Blue Envelope comes out today!  (April 26, 2011.)  I'm excited to see what happens to Genny!

Calvin Coconut: Zoo Breath by Graham Salisbury, illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers

It's research time in Calvin's class, and they have been charged with completing a primary research project with his partner Julio.  What should they research?  They decided to research stinky items and an attempt to remedy Streak's (Calvin's dog) horrible dog breath. 

What ensues is lots of fun...and lots of stinky things!

What I Thought:
Another great Calvin Coconut book!  He is such a lovable fourth grader and I have a great time discovering his world!  (And he lives in Hawaii...that doesn't hurt things!)

This book is laugh-out-loud funny and at times you'll shudder at the stinky things Calvin encounters...dog breath, dog droppings, and even a sewage pipe.  (As he watches the toilet get switched out!)   Calvin is also dealing with everyday problems...a teenage friend who stays with them and helps watch Calvin and his sister, a little sister, classmates, divorced parents...

This is a delightful book that kids will eat up!  Go Calvin!

Highly recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Calvin Coconut: Zoo Breath by Graham Salisbury, illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don't) by Barbara Bottner, illustrated by Michael Emberley

Miss Brooks loves books and wants her students to love them too!  But our narrator doesn't like books so much...they are too flowery, furry, or even yippety. 

But she has to bring a favorite book to class for Book Week.  Will our friend find a great book?

What I Thought:
I must have this book for my collection because Miss Brooks rocks!  I love her enthusiasm for books and her love for learning. 

And I hope to be just like her one day! 

I love that the little girl isn't such a fan of books...she's your typical reluctant reader.  But she FINALLY finds a book she adores and is excited about! 

Great illustrations and just a fun, relevant story.  There IS a book out there for everyone!

Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don't) by Barbara Bottner, illustrated by Michael Emberley.

Reviewed from a public library copy.  

Crunch by Leslie Connor

It's crunchtime and Dewey Marris is right in the middle.  There is a gas shortage and with his parents stranded hours away, it is up to him and his siblings to keep life running as smoothly as possible for his 5 year old twin brother and sister.  While his older sister keeps the home running, Dewey keeps the family's bicycle repair business, the Marriss Bike Barn, going.

Since there is no fuel available Dewey and his brother Vince are busy with the booming business.  While the duo try hard not to become overwhelmed, when parts go missing and it appears they are being robbed a little at a time, the kids make hard decisions.  

What I Thought:
An entertaining read!  It didn't take long for me to get involved in Dewey's story, Connor did a great job peaking my interest in the first pages.  I was interested in how the family would function during the gas shortage and while mom & dad were stranded hours away. 

This book also made me wonder what I would do if a gas shortage like this ever happened.  (I wasn't around for the one in the 1970's.)  In this book, people are riding their bicycles down the highway, which is an interesting concept. 

Overall, a good book with some interesting characters. 

Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Crunch by Leslie Connor.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) by Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat

In this second installment of books about young Bobby Ellis-Chan.  Bobby is a fourth grader with a working mom, a stay at home dad/former professional football star, a little sister who is obsessed with princesses, and an older sister who is the starting quarterback for her high school team.  Bobby is feeling a little un-special these days.

When he overhears part of conversation between his dad and older sister, he feels even worse.  Could his father really think they aren't alike at all?  Especially since he is not great at football, and really doesn't care for the sport anyway.  Bobby would much rather be learning tricks on his skateboard.

Bobby is excited to land the part of Sandy the dog in his class performance of the musical "Annie."  But when an asthma attack interrupts the performance and his dad rushes to the rescue, Bobby is even more embarrassed.  Will Bobby be brave and tell his dad how he feels?

What I Thought
Oh, I love Bobby!  In his first book, Bobby takes on the girls, and in this book he takes on himself!  I love how Bobby feels kind of unappreciated and unsure of himself throughout this book, only to find out he isn't the only one that feels unsure. 

I also really appreciate about this book is the strong family unit with the stay at home dad.  With this becoming more common, I am glad to see some children's literature with this family dynamic.

Bobby suffers from asthma attacks, and this book includes a great explanation on what asthma is and how it feels like to have an attack.

A fantastic story, and I'm looking forward to the next book about Bobby!

Highly Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) by Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat.

Reviewed from a library copy.

(You can check out my review of the first book about Bobby, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) here.)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

In the fifth installment of Greg Heffley's diary...er, journal...Greg encounters that middle school rite of passage we all look back at with a grimace and a smile...PUBERTY.

That's right, this year during Health class the boys are separated from the girls for part of the class where they are lectured about hygiene, and later in the year they are given the task to take care of an egg "baby" overnight.  (Which is almost successful for our pal Greg.) 

In true Diary of a Wimpy Kid fashion, Greg manages to find himself in a few situations that he finds super embarrassing, and experiences some new things....like his first lock-in!

On top of that, Greg is lectured about being responsible at home and when his mom decides to take some college classes, those responsibilities are piled on even more.

Why can't things just stay the same?

Greg comes to realize that growing up...it's the ugly truth. 

What I Thought: 
Oh, Greg.  How I find you absolutely adorable. 

And all BOY. 

Being a girl, but growing up with a brother, I have an appreciation of these books because I SEE middle school boys in this book.  They will LOVE it!

And though I imagine a good bit of this book is lost on me (though I LOVE it), there are millions of kids out there that will gobble this book up.  And rightly so. 

Very highly recommended.  I'm ready for book six, because I just can't get enough!

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney.

Reviewed from a library copy.

See my other Diary of a Wimpy Kid reviews here:

Dog Days

Clementine, Friend of the Week by Sara Pennypacker

Clementine is excited!  Her name was chosen for Friend of the Week at her school!  She rushes home to share the news with her family and best friend Margaret!  Her family was very excited, but Margaret didn't exhibit the same amount of enthusiasm.  (But if you know Margaret, this isn't that surprising.)

There are other exciting things happening too!  The third and fourth graders are having a bicycle ride on Saturday and Clementine is so excited to decorate her bike with the decorations her father uses to decorate the apartment building....that is until something important gets lost!


What I Thought:
I love Clementine!  This is another great installment in this series by Sara Pennypacker.   Clementine experiences some of the not-so-fun things about growing up...fighting with friends, losing something important to her, and the excitement of being chosen as the "friend of the week' and getting to share exciting things with her class! 

It's encouraging to see Clementine's family there to support her and help her along life's path.  This is a great book to give to kids...I think they would love it! 

Highly recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Clementine, Friend of the Week by Sara Pennypacker.

Reviewed from a library copy.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Can an origami Yoda puppet really predict the future?  This is what the sixth graders at McQuarrie Middle School want to know.

It all started with Dwight, a rather odd student who created the origami Yoda.  He often just wore it on his finger, but one night at the PTA Night of Fun Yoda made his first prediction.  And it came true!

Time after time, when Yoda was was asked a question, his prophecy came true.  Could it be a fluke, or is Yoda (via Dwight) up to something??

What I Thought:
This is an interesting book.  I love the whole concept of the origami Yoda and how the book is set up as case files with many different students telling their experience with origami Yoda in their own words and commentary from Tommy who started the case file and Harvey who is a die-hard non-believer.

Complete with middle school romance and awkwardness (remember those school dances?) and other shenanigans, this book is great for the middle school crowd. 

Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell

Could you imagine spending your summer living just like the frontier people of 1890 did?  Instead of spending your summer at soccer camp, or at the mall, at the pool...you spend two months milking cows, mucking stalls, tending to the garden and crops, cooking over a wood stove and washing the laundry by hand.  Oh, and don't forget the lack of indoor plumbing and running water. That's right...outhouses.

That's just what Gen experienced when her mother signed her family up for this frontier camp...where they lived just as they did during the 1890's.  This was the time Laura Ignalls Wilder was living that we experienced in her book Little House on the Prairie.

Upon arrival to the camp the "campers" are instructed to change clothes into the typical 1890 fashion and relinquish any item that was not time period appropriate.  Including cell phones, iPods...everything.  Gen manages to talk her way into keeping her facial soap...but in the box was actually her brand new cell phone.

Life is hard in the 1890's.  Their mom is learning how to cook using only a wood stove and the very basic staple items.  For days they ate corn grits and beans.  (Blech.)  Her dad must learn to tend to the corn crop while Gen and her brother figure out how to help around the frontier house, take care of chickens, and help their parents with the jobs of the farm.

Gen manages to stay somewhat sane by texting her friends back in the "real world" telling them all about her experiences and the other kids there, including Caleb the really cute guy and Nora who lives here all the time as her family runs the camp.  Even though they may be living in conditions like the 1890's, the drama that surrounds teens is exactly the same. 

When Gen's friend starts a blog with all of her texts, things get crazy.  And Gen doesn't even know!  Will Gen and her family survive? 

What I Thought: 
This book has such an interesting concept, I literally couldn't put it down!  I LOVE the Little House books and always thought it would be cool to live in that era.  But wow!  The work that entails living this life....we are definitely spoiled rotten living now in 2010!

Gen's family dynamic definitely changes throughout their experience.   I truly enjoyed "watching" them change...each of them.  The teenage drama keeps the book "real" and set in the current times.  Every good book has to have a little romance with drama mixed in right? 

Overall, a great book!  I think a lot of people, especially those into frontier historical fiction will enjoy this.

Highly recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

Hollis Woods was abandoned as an infant in a little town named Hollis Woods.  The person who left her there pinned a note to her shirt instructing that her name be just that...Hollis Woods.  Hollis has been bounced around the foster care system for her entire life.  She has made it a habit to run away from these homes as well as skipping school and prides on being "trouble."

When really, all she truly wants is a family.

This book alternates between flashbacks of an almost perfect summer with a wonderful family in the mountains and the present when Hollis is placed with an older women, Josie who turns out to have some memory problems, but is a craftsman which is perfect for Hollis who is a very talented artist herself.

Hollis decides to stay at Josie's for a while but when the social worker informs Hollis she cannot stay with Josie because of her memory problems, Hollis talks Josie into running away.   They go to the cabin where she spent that wonderful summer in the mountains, but now it is winter and a harsh one at that!

As Hollis cares for Josie and tries to come to terms with her past, she learns a lot about herself.

What I Thought: 
A wonderful, well-written book.  I fell in love with Hollis Woods and so badly wanted her to get her dream...a family!  I loved how Giff alternated each chapter with a flashback allowing us to gain insight into her past while living her life with her in the present.   Hollis is a great girl who just has been let down by adults her whole life and has learned to fend for herself.  It's such a gift to see Hollis trust others and allow herself to become a part of a family unit! 

A super book...give to readers who love reading books about strong characters and happy endings.

Very highly recommended.

This book was the recipient of a 2003 Newbery Honor.  

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff.

In 2007, a Hallmark movie was premiered on CBS of this novel starring Jodelle Ferland as Hollis Woods,  Sissy Spacek as Josie, and Alfre Woodard as Enda Reilly--the social worker.  It was really a wonderful movie and though it has been several years since I saw it, I believe it was pretty parallel to the novel.   You can check it out here. 

Lawn Boy Returns by Gary Paulsen

In this sequel to the book Lawn Boy, where a twelve year old makes a killing mowing lawns after his grandmother gives him an old riding mower.  He unintentionally turned a little summer job where he hoped to earn enough money to purchase a bicycle tire innertube into a VERY successful business. 

Now the lawn boy experiences the joys and hassles of owning a small business!  His stockbroker and friend Arnold, who is essentially running the business while keeping lawn boy involved in every decision hires lawyers, accountants, PR people....and when the story of lawn boy's success hits the news-watch out!  Overnight he turns into an overnight star!

Oh, and don't forget several "long lost" family members who show up asking for help...and some of lawn boy's cash and wants to "help" his prize-winning boxer. 

Whew!  It's all a little overwhelming...all he wants is to cut some grass!  What's a boy to do??

What I Thought:
Gary Paulsen has made a way to teach boring old economic and business concepts through an interesting story.

And for that, I salute him!

You had to feel for the Lawn Boy in this story...his frustration level rises throughout the book as everything gets more and more complicated until Lawn Boy makes an important decision. 

This book is also a great example of what a successful entrepreneurship can reap.  And WOW.  Does Lawn Boy reap.

Hand this to any economic or business student, as well as your teenage child.  Then point them towards the lawn mower.

Highly recommended!

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Lawn Boy Returns by Gary Paulsen.

Reviewed from a library copy.

A Brand-New Me! by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

It's nearing graduation from 5th from grade and that means one thing...NO MORE PS 87 and HELLO MIDDLE SCHOOL!

Then a couple of setbacks muddy up the road for Hank.  First, he receives notice that he has not completed the required community service hours needed for graduation.  But, he takes care of that by helping Mr. Rock clean the school's musical instruments.

But when he finds out that his two best friends will be attending the middle school for the gifted and talented....leaving him behind. 

Thankfully, Mr. Rock sees something in Hank...something that no one else does.  Does Hank step out of his box and shoot for the stars? 

What I Thought:
Sigh.  I love Hank Zipzer.  I love his quirky character; he's a funny, smart guy.  I love his positive attitude.  And it doesn't help the book is set in New York City, one of my most favorite places in the world!

But my favorite thing about this installment of Hank's story?  The influence of teachers in Hank's life.  We see two dramatically different teachers: one who encourages Hank to mature his talents and work through his difficulties; and another who doesn't see the positive in Hank but harps on the negative.   Both teachers I'm sure Hank will never forget...one he will see as a positive influence, and the other he will strive to never ever emulate.  I think this is a GREAT lesson for anyone who works with children!

Be sure to give this story to anyone who is a Hank Zipzer fan, along with readers who need a positive story about overcoming adversity to reach your goal.

Highly Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: A Brand-New Me! by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Band Geeked Out by Josie Bloss

It's spring of Ellie's senior year and she has a lot of decisions to make, the biggest is what college to attend!  She's always planned on attending the local State school, marching in the band and becoming a band director. 

Then she is accepted into Covington, a competitive school across the country. 

It's no contest, until she visits Covington and finds herself fitting right and befriending her tour guide, a girl named Alex. 

When she returns home, she is in turmoil about what to do.  Throw in relationship troubles and parental pressure and Ellie's almost at the breaking point.

It's a hard decision...one that she'll have to make and it will determine her whole future!

What I Thought: 
This book is a sequel to the book Band Geek Love, of which you can read my thoughts here.

I think this book will really hit home with a lot of high school seniors about to enter a new and exciting stage in their life: college!  It's a time of transition and it can be very scary.  I think Josie Bloss portrayed these feelings wonderfully through her character Ellie. 

Recommended, but make sure you've read Band Geek Love first! 

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Band Geeked Out by Josie Bloss.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Plum Fantastic by Whoopi Goldberg with Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Maryn Roos

 

Alexandra Johnson despises ballet.  She wants to be a speed ice skater, like her hero Phoebe Fitz.   But it is her mother's dream that she take ballet classes and become a little ballerina.  So she goes to class.

When Alexandra and her mother move from her home in Georgia to Harlem in NYC, she isn't thrilled.  New home, new city, and a new ballet school...one her mother has always dreamed she could attend. 

Alexandra quickly makes friends in the class, and as they prepare for their upcoming recital (where Alexandra was chosen to be the Sugar Plum Fairy in a solo dance), her new friends help her overcome obstacles to dance her best!

What I Thought:

This is a new series we got at the library and I couldn't wait to give it a try.  I am a fan of Whoopi Goldberg, which further peaked my interest.  I found the books to be quite good and I am sure that they will have a good reception with lots of ballet loving little girls! 

The books include a glossary at the end with "Al's Guide to Ballet Terms" helping those of us who are not so educated in the terminology. 

I found Alexandra to be a lovely character.  At first she hated her new life and begged to return to her home in Apple Creek, GA; but once she found some friends, began to enjoy her new ballet school, and became accustomed to her new life she doesn't want to ever leave.

This is a great book for the elementary crowd!   I can't wait to read further installments of the Sugar Plum Ballerinas! 

Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Whoopi Goldberg with Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Maryn Roos.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Gooney Bird and the Room Mother by Lois Lowry, illusrated by Middy Thomas

It's another fun day in Miss Pidgeon's second grade class. The principal has asked all the students to ask their parents to be a room mother (or father) for their class. Thanksgiving is coming soon and every class needs a room parent to provide cupcakes for the annual Thanksgiving pageant.

Unfortunately none of the parents of Miss Pidgeon's students are able to volunteer for the job. What are they going to do?

Gooney Bird to the rescue! As the class prepares for it's Thanksgiving performance written by Miss Pidgeon, Gooney finds a room mother and in turn receives the honor to play Sequoya in the pageant.

Everyone is excited about the room mother, and wants to know who it is...but Gooney Bird has promised she will remain incognito until the day of the pageant.


What I Thought:
I love Gooney Bird. I think she's become one of my favorite characters out there for the 1st-4th(ish) grade crowd. She's like the precursor to a lot of the popular kid characters out there like Junie B., Clementine, Roscoe Riley, etc. So much fun.

As in all of Gooney's books, Lowry tackles a topic of language arts and intertwines it into the story. This book focuses on vocabulary and dictionary skills, which is genius!

A few black and white illustrations accompany the text and adds a great visual aspect to the story.

Another great installment in the Gooney Bird series! You can see my reviews of the others here:
Gooney Bird Greene
Gooney Bird is so Absurd
Gooney the Fabulous


Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Gooney Bird and the Room Mother by Lois Lowry, illusrated by Middy Thomas.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

Seventeen year old Marcelo is so excited about his summer job working with the ponies at his school. You see, Marcelo goes to a special school for kids who need extra help...Marcelo has a type of autism. He hears music in his head all the time and sticks to a very strict schedule.

When his dad proposes that he work in his law firm for the summer, and if he completes this job successfully he can decide if he wants to finish his schooling at the special school or attend the local public high school. (His dad wants him to attend public school.)

So, Marcelo gives up his summer plans and works in the "real world," in the mail room of his father's law firm. For Marcelo, this is a huge deal as he has trouble with social cues so he must work extra hard to simply understand. For instance, small talk is very difficult and he takes things quite literal. He studies every night for things to talk about with his co-workers and usually has his computer handy so he can look up sayings on the Internet that he may not understand. He also befriends his boss in the mail room--Jasmine--who eventually helps him along.

Over the course of the summer, Marcelo learns all sorts of things about the real world: jealously, honesty, getting along with others, relationships, learning about the lives of others, and most of all--learning how much he really can operate in the "real world."


What I Thought:
What a great book! I was encouraged to read this book while at a literature workshop and the presenter had it picked as a contender for the Printz Award this year.

I love Marcelo. I found it absolutely fascinating to be "in his head" for the book and experience what life is like for him on a daily basis. He has a light case of Asperger's Syndrome, and his brain is simply just wired differently. What is so easy for most people is very difficult for him. Simply social interactions take great concentration and effort for Marcelo.

It was fascinating and incredibly interesting to watch Marcelo learn what the "real world" is like. This book will definitely make you think and gives a whole new aspect of those with issues in the autism spectrum.

Very highly recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork.

Reviewed from a library copy.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Ronnie was not happy about spending the summer with her father in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a city girl...her home is in New York City. Plus, she hasn't spoken to her father in three years, when he and her mom divorced.

Ronnie's first friend is not someone who has her best intentions at hand, and starts hanging out with a rough group. When she is accused of stealing, Ronnie's situation becomes dire. She has a record of theft in NYC, and this arrest could land Ronnie in jail.

While she waits for her court date, she befriends a nice young man who she eventually falls in love with and over time heals the relationship with her father.

It's a summer she'll never forget, full of fun, laughter, sadness and tears.

What I Thought:
Another great Nicholas Spark novel! Make sure to have a box of Kleenex handy for this one!

I enjoyed the transformation Ronnie experienced in this novel. She went from a spoiled bratty girl, to a wonderful young woman.

A great book for a light read, and one that teens could enjoy as well.

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks.

Reviewed from a personal copy.

Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert

Life is starting to get back to normal for DJ Schwenk. She made national news by playing football for her high school team (and dating the rival team's quarterback) and her brother who was severely injured during a college football game and is doing well in rehab adjusting to life in a wheelchair. She's ready to return to school, ready for basketball, ready for normal.

Well, life is never normal! DJ's life gets turned upside down once again when the basketball scouts come calling and DJ is put under enormous pressure to be a leader on the basketball court (which is hard for her) as well as decide her collegiate future. Her family is counting on her!

Mix in a boyfriend and the possibility of a true love...and you've got a junior year one can't forget.

What I Thought:
Front and Center is the finale to a wonderful trilogy of books about DJ Schwenk. While I anticipated the release of this book, I hated to read it because I knew the story would soon be over! This is one of my favorite characters out there today.

I loved how Murdock wrapped up DJ's story and pulled all the books together beautifully. DJ is a super strong female character who learns a lot about herself and life. She is not your typical girly girl...and I found that to be refreshing!

(Plus, I learned more about the technical game of basketball in this book than I have in 4 years of being married to a college basketball coach! Murdock intertwined basketball lingo in the book in a way that made me understand the game.)

Overall, a superb book, a great series. Give to any high school girl (or guy) who loves a great realistic fiction novel with a strong female character. Perfect for the sportsy type!

Very highly recommended.

Want to find out more? Check it out on Amazon: Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert .

Reviewed from a library copy.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano (but she does love being in recitals) by Peggy Gifford

It's time for Moxy's first piano recital, and she is very excited. She and her sister Pansy will be playing a duet: Heart and Soul. They have designed some very fancy outfits that even include capes and crowns! They even choreographed a intricate bow to do after their performance.

But when the piano teacher calls to ask if Moxy has been practicing stopping her piece at the appropriate time and not play for so long and not pounding the keys so hard...because if she hasn't she won't be performing!

Moxy's mom wants to hear the piece pronto. She has been in Africa with her twin sister who was injured feeding a giraffe and has not been around to listen to them practice.

But you know Moxy...there's always something else that has to be done before the task at hand!

Will Moxy get to perform at the recital?

What I Thought:
Moxy is such a lovable character. She is so busy, it can almost make your head spin!

In this book, she is so excited for her piano recital and being in the center of attention that she can hardly stand it. She is busy getting together her cape, doing her stage makeup, and other tasks all while her injured aunt is trying to sleep, her stepfather is trying to finish a poem, her mother trying to stay awake while making 175 cupcakes, her grandmother sewing, and her twin brother snapping photos at every chance.

I love how Moxy is SO excited for her recital, but when the time comes she gets so much stage fright it almost prevents her from going on stage to perform! But she overcomes and does a wonderful job.

These books are funny and I love how the chapter headings are a part of the story itself.

Moxy is perfect for any Junie B. Jones graduate and anyone else who enjoys a fun story.

This is the third story in this series.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano (but she does love being in recitals) by Peggy Gifford.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Nikki & Deja by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Nikki & Deja are best friends, and next door neighbors! They are in the same class at school, so they spend a lot of time together: doing homework, watching TV, or just watching the activity on Fulton Street. They are like sisters!

A new girl moves into the neighborhood and seems kind of stuck up, so the girls decide to start a drill club and only invite select people! Unfortunately, Nikki doesn't quite have the rhythm Deja thinks is needed, and asks her to be secretary and this hurts Nikki's feelings.

The best friends are fighting...will they make up and be best friends again?

What I Thought:
I was excited to read this book. I am always on the lookout for children's books with African American main characters, and I was very pleased with this one.

Nikki and Deja are great characters and experience an issue that is probably very common in elementary clubs...the creation of exclusive "clubs" that intentionally leave out others. Then there are feelings that are hurt, and often other exclusive "clubs" pop up in revenge.

Another great talking point is the new girl Antonia and how she appears to be stuck up. Is she truly stuck up, or maybe just scared of living in a new place? We don't really know, but readers could construct their own opinions.

This is a great book to discuss how the characters feel and then scaffold that to the readers' lives and how it would feel if it happened to them.

Nikki & Deja's relationship is a joy to experience...they are truly like sisters as they argue just like sisters.

This is the first book in a new series. Book two, Birthday Blues is currently availabe and book three, Newsy News Newsletter will be out in 2010. Perfect for young-middle elementary students, especially girls.

Recommended.


Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Nikki & Deja by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman.

Reviewed from a library copy.