Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman

Living in Southern California my entire life, I get earthquakes, fire and drought. I made it through the Northridge earthquake, I was recently evacuated because of the Woolsey fire, and my grass is a parched brown in the summer. I conserve water, as a good citizen should, but have never given a second thought to the thought of the tap running dry. Until Now.

Dry, while somewhat dystopian, explores what would happen if the tap went dry, called the Tap-Out. Taking place in a quiet suburban Orange County neighborhood, Dry is told through the voice of alternating characters, but primarily Alyssa. Alyssa, lives with her parents and 10 year-old brother Garrett. The government, warning that water supplies are extremely low, has turned off all water. Her parents seem unconcerned, feeling the crisis will end soon. Slow to react, by the time they go to Costco to get water, all supplies are gone, and the atmosphere has become every-man-for-himself. With supplies running low, her parents go to get water from a desalinization facility set up on the beach. They never come back. Left to their own resources, Alyssa and her brother turn to their survivalist neighbors, the McCrackens. Kelton McCracken is your Boy Scout geek that always has an answer. Kelton's one weakness is Alyssa, having had a long crush on her. Kelton warns Alyssa that society will break down very soon. Against his better judgement, Alyssa convinces Kelton to go with her to look for her parents. As society quickly disintegrates, and not finding her parents, Alyssa and Kelton return to find their neighborhood a war zone. Now it is all about survival.

As Alyssa, Kelton and Garrett struggle to survive, they meet some nefarious characters along the way; Jacqui, a fiercely independent squatter, living in unoccupied vacation homes, and Henry, a slimy conniving self-serving huckster. The story unfolds through their four voices (Garrett only gets one little chapter). Occasionally the story is interspersed with informational "snapshots"  that add to the understanding of the situation and what is going on.

Dry hits very close to home. In fact, I was reading it as the hills behind my house were burning and we were evacuated. Seeing the way first responders mobilized, and the way the community responded, made the premise more difficult for me to accept. Shusterman, and his son, Jarrod, do an excellent job of setting the ground work, building the characters, and creating an exciting story arc. While not my favorite Shusterman stand-alone novel (that would be Bruiser), it is very good.
Mark's Book Picks Score: 3.5

Reading Level: 7.0 • Interest Level: 7-12 • AR Points: NA • Lexile: NA  
Publisher: Simon & Shuster • 390 Pages • Copyright: 2018 • ISBN: 978-1-481-48196-0 • Available in Perma-Bound binding.

Love by Matt De La Peña, Illustrated by Loren Long

How do you explain the concept of love to a young child? How do you make it universal in its appeal so it speaks to all people of all ages? How do you create images that convey the deeper meaning of the words but are easily relatable to all that view them? Love by Matt De La Peña and illustrated by Loren Long is one of those rare picture books.

Starting with a first experience of love, that of a baby looking up at adoring parents in their crib, the book presents us with vignettes of the way life presents us with love. A couple dancing on the roof of their trailer, frolicking in the water from a fire hydrant, watching the stars at night, the embrace a loved one after a nightmare, a family game of horseshoes ...these snippets of life show us that love really is all around us. More importantly, situations where love can be lost, and the emptiness created are beautifully integrated into the vignettes. The illustrations created with acrylic and colored pencil perfectly integrate with the text. The images' colorful, rich hues help to reinforce the vibrancy of the message: love is all around us, love is what binds us.

This is a book I'd read over and over to my children. In the classroom, read it every time a little love is called for.  Ask, "How did love touch you today?"
Mark's Book Picks Score: 5

Reading Level: 3.7 • Interest Level: P-2 • AR Points: 0.5 • Lexile: NA  
Publisher: Penguin • 40 Pages • Copyright: 2018 • ISBN: 978-1-524-74091-7 • Available in Perma-Bound binding.

In Your Shoes by Donna Gephart

Miles Spagoski loves to bowl. How could he not? His family owned the only bowling alley in Buckington, a small Pennsylvania town. While shy and a bit socially awkward, in the bowling alley, Miles is as proud and confident as a lion.

Amy Silverman has been torn away from Chicago, her school, and her friends, when the death of her mother forced Amy and her father to join her undertaker uncle in podunk Buckington. She is bitter and angry about the move.

Before school, Miles and his fashionista friend Randall, bowl an early morning game. As Miles' father takes the boys to school, he notices that Miles forgot to change out of his bowling shoes. While his father and Randall feel that wearing the shoes to school will label him as a pure dork, Miles decides that he is making a fashion statement and decides not to change into his tennis shoes. As they walk into school, Miles and Randall get into a heated argument over the shoes. A fight ensues, one of the bowling shoes come off, Randall throws it, and knocks over a girl as it hits her in the head.

Amy, feeling uncomfortable on her first day of school, is worried about her outfit and is self-conscious of the special shoe she wears to accommodate one leg shorter than the other. As she is walking into school, she suddenly finds herself on the ground, knocked down by a flying object. Why would anyone do this to her?

And so meet Miles and Amy, an awkward pair to say the least. From this chance meeting builds a friendship that has its many ups and downs, but becomes one that helps Miles and Amy work through the difficulties and challenges that life has thrown at them. A sweet story, that while not challenging or thought provoking, is the right kind of warm escapism that we need ever-so-often.  The story is interrupted intermittently with a message to the reader to inform or fill in the gaps. While informative, I felt they were unnecessary. Most readers will figure things out on their own.
Mark's Book Picks Score: 3

Reading Level: 4.0 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: NA • Lexile: NA  
Publisher: Random House • 323 Pages • Copyright: 2017 • ISBN: 978-1-524-71373-7 • Available in Perma-Bound binding.

Mike by Andrew Norriss

Floyd, a teenage British tennis prodigy is unbeatable. He is absolutely dedicated to his game, supported by loving parents. Floyd has everything going for him. During a competitive match he sees Mike walking in the stands. He has seen Mike quite often, usually observing him during practice, never during a match. Mike walks down the stands, opens the gate and walks on to the court. Floyd tells the umpire to ask Mike to leave. The umpire is confused. Floyd's father (also, his coach) comes on to the court to find out what's wrong. Floyd explains, that Mike must leave. His father is confused as well. When Floyd tells Mike that he must go, his father, equally frustrated, says, "but I can't see anyone..."

The pressure and the stress of the constant practice and competition are starting to affect Floyd. As Floyd enters therapy, his therapist, Dr. Pinner, works to peal away the facade and get to the root cause of what Floyd is experiencing. What Floyd discovers has a ripple effect on those that love and care about him, as Floyd begins to question who he is, and what he wants out of life.

Andrew Norris's text is clear, a bit sparse, but pulls you right into the story. While character development is not detailed, which for me in this instance, was fine, you do see Floyd change and grow. While the plot was predictable, it was a pleasure to see it unfold. The ending is neat and tidy, which for many young readers is the way they like it. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Note: This review is from an advanced readers copy. The book is not available until February 26, 2019.
Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level:  • Interest Level: 7-12 • AR Points:  • Lexile:   
Publisher: David Fickling Books, Scholastic • 240 Pages • Copyright: 2019 • ISBN: 978-1-338-28536-9 • Publication details will be added when available.

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Three children escaping tyranny and war is sadly, not a new story. The immigrant story is one of our times, and also of our past. Refugee looks at three fictional characters leaving their homelands for a journey seeking a better life. While each character is from a different time period in different parts of their world, their similarities are what reminds us that little has changed.

Josef's story starts in 1938 Berlin, Germany. Asleep at home, it is the evening of Kristallnacht and his home is ransacked by Nazis, who take his father, a lawyer, from his home. His father is eventually returned, but after being tortured and mentally beaten down, he is not the man he used to be. His family gets passage on the St. Louis, a cruise ship filled with Jewish refugees escaping the tyranny of Nazi Germany, bound for freedom in Cuba. Initially, his family believes that all is well...

Isabel's story starts in 1994 Havana, Cuba. She is a talented trumpet player, living under the communism of Fidel Castro. A riot has broken out in the streets, and Isabel enters the pandemonium looking for her father. She finds him being beaten by policemen and jumps in to stop it. Her father is now a marked man, and her family must leave Cuba. Isabel knows that her friend, Ivan's, father is building a boat. When Castro announces that he will not stop people from fleeing Cuba, Isabel convinces Ivan's family to allow Isabel's family to share their homemade boat to leave Cuba and head for Miami, where the freedom of the United States awaits.

Mahmoud's story starts in 2015 Aleppo, Syria. Mahmoud is a quiet boy with few friends. The Syrian civl war has taken its toll on Mahmoud. The sound of fighter jets, bombs, and gunfire has made him nervous. Everyday he must lead himself and his younger brother home from school, taking a different path to avoid fighters in the streets as well as bullies from school. Sitting at home, doing his homework, Mahmoud hears the whine of an incoming missile. He dives under the kitchen table and after the deafening sound of a bomb, discovers the whole side of his apartment is gone. His mother, baby sister and brother are okay. They find Mahmoud's father and the decision is made. They must leave. They grab what money they have, what belongings they can carry, and head for Germany, one of the few countries in Europe accepting Syrian refugees.

The difficult part of this book is knowing that what these three young people and their families go through is based on what people were/are experiencing. Each character goes through a series of unfortunate events, one more tragic than the next. The human will to survive and search for a better life is exemplified in these stories. While sometimes the stories get bogged down a bit, my curiosity kept me going.
Mark's Book Picks Score: 3.5

Reading Level: 5.3 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 10 • Lexile: 800L  
Publisher: Scholastic • 338 Pages • Copyright: 2017 • ISBN: 978-0-545-88083-1 • Available in Perma-Bound binding.

The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros; Illustrated by Dana Wulfeotte

James has a lot of balloons, and each one of his balloons keeps one of his memories. Mom and Dad have even more balloons, but Grandpa has the most balloons and loves to share his memories with James. Lately, Grandpa has been having trouble with his balloons. Sometimes they get caught in trees, and he tells the same stories over and over. Other times he loses a balloon and doesn't know its lost. Soon Grandpa has lost all his balloons. James can't understand what is happening to Grandpa, but discovers he has many more balloons, each containing his grandpa's memories. Now, James is the storyteller, who reminds Grandpa of all his memories.

This is one of the most touching books I've ever read.  A beautifully told story that makes understanding dementia and Alzheimer's accessible to young people. Beautifully illustrated with pencil drawings on stark white backgrounds, with only the balloons in color. This is a picture book for all ages. An excellent opening for discussion on aging, memory loss and Alzheimer's.
Mark's Book Picks Score: 5

Reading Level: 2.0 • Interest Level: K-3 • AR Points: NA • Lexile: NA  
Publisher: Simon & Schuster • 48 Pages • Copyright: 2018 • ISBN: 978-1-481-48915-7 

Warcross by Marie Lu

Emika Chen is gifted with unsurpassed skills in technology. She has lost her father, is alone in New York, and has no money. Scanning police transmissions, she tries to round-up criminals for bounty, but luck never works in her favor. Even though she is about to be evicted, Emika plays her favorite game, Warcross, on a hacked account.  The first tournament of the Warcross world championships are about to begin, and the entire world is watching. Emika decides to do the impossible; hack into the game and affect its outcome.

When she wakes up in the morning, she finds out that her hack is making news all over the world. Now the founder and owner of Warcross, Hideo Tanaka wants her. Emika has always admired him and his fame, but is now fearful of what he will do to her. She is confused by his actions. He has deposited a large sum of money in her bank account. He has paid all of her bills. He has sent an agent to fly her on his private jet to Warcross corporate headquarters in Japan. Why? What are his plans?

Warcross is a near-future dystopian novel that at times is a page turner, and other times drags, especially during some of the longer game-playing sequences. Marie Lu offers a little bit of everything here, and her fans will enjoy this one. The cliff hanger at the end, will make you groan for the next installment.
Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 5.6 • Interest Level: 7-12 • AR Points: 16 • Lexile: 810L  
Publisher: Penguin • 416 Pages • Copyright: 2018 • ISBN: 978-0-399-54797-3 • Available in Perma-Bound binding.

All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

This book made me squirm. Not because it is scary, but because of my empathy for the main character Imogene. Imogene's parents have regular jobs, but are seasonal characters in a Renaissance Faire. The moment is exciting for Imogene. She has been home schooled, and now, will go to public middle school. The faire is starting soon, and now Imogene for the first time, gets to be a full character in this year's faire. Exciting times! So one would think.

Imogene now has to navigate the academic and social norms of middle school. Daunting for any 6th grader, but especially one who has never attended school. How will she handle the academic load? Studying for exams? Making up missed work? How will she navigate her friendships between the social girls, the "nerds", as well as boys? How will she manage all of this, while devoting most of her spare time with the faire? Then there is her little bother, her parents, and other adults at the faire? How she does this, you'll have to read the book, but discovering how she handled all of this made me squirm with the memory of all the awkwardness that is middle school!

This is a fun graphic novel. The artwork is humorus and simple, while the text moves you through the story smoothly. There is a lot that middle schoolers will relate to here. Ties in especially well with the 7th grade history curriculum.
Marks Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 3.4 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 3 • Lexile: GN460L  
Publisher: Dial • Pages: 247 • Copyright: 2017 • ISBN: 978-0-525-42999-9 • Available in Perma-Bound binding.

Squirm by Carl Hiaasen

Squirm is another environmental/animal book by Carl Hiassen that holds up well with the other books he has written for young readers. As with his other books, there is a focus on an animal; this time snakes. But, the true center of this, and Hiassen's other books are people and their relationships. In Squirm we are introduced to Billy who has a fascination with snakes, and has become an expert amateur handler. Billy lives with his mother and sister, Belinda. Billy's mother has a fascination with bald eagles, a fascination so extreme that she will uproot Billy and his sister to follow them, wherever they nest. Billy and Belinda have difficulty making lasting relationships because they move so much. They both hope the most recent move is their last. Billy's parents are divorced, and he doesn't know his father. He does know that a support check comes monthly like clockwork. Billy's father is a mystery that he wants to solve. Billy's mother is so secretive in regards to his father that he thinks that his father must be an FBI or CIA agent. His curiosity drives him to dig in his mother's trash to see if he can find some return address on a envelope used to send the support payment. He finally finds one. It is an address in Montana. He decides he is going to the Montana address and uses his savings to buy a plane ticket. When he gets there, he discovers a woman, a teen-aged girl, but not his father. What he does find is something more mysterious than he could imagine, leading to an adventure that will take him deep into the Montana forest.

This is a  typical, fun and adventurous Hiassen read that will hold readers to the climatic ending. For upper elementary and  middle school students. Excellent for tying into environmental studies and animal conservation units. This book goes on sale on September 25, 2018, but can be pre-ordered now.
Mark's Book Picks Rating: 4

Reading Level: 3.0 • Interest Level: 3-6 • AR Points: NA • Lexile: 740L  
Publisher: Knopf • 276 Pages • Copyright: 2018 • ISBN: 978-0-385-75297-8 • Available in Perma-Bound binding.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

The Age of Anarchy brought an end to civilized society. The world was ruled by gangs of anarchists; prodigies with super powers that felt betrayed by the world and would exact revenge.  Gatlon City was at the center of the chaos. But, hope was on the horizon. A group of superheroes called the Renegades would bring stabilization and order. They promised protection. One little girl, Nova Artino, counted on that protection. Her father could pull energy from the air and create threads of metal. She too had powers. She never required sleep, and her touch caused grueling nightmares. When her father refused to help the anarchists, he relied on the Renegades' protection. She witnessed her home invaded and her family murdered. Where were the Renegades? They failed her and her family. Nova would become Nightmare, an anarchist who would would dedicate the rest of her life to destroying the Renegades.

Fast forward 10 years. A world of chaos and anarchy is brought together and stabilized by superheroes Captain Chromium, The Dread Warden, Lady Indomitable and others on the Renegade Council. Lady Indomitable was killed in battle. Her son, Adrian is a young prodigy who can sketch an object, and then make his drawings a reality. Adrian would soon become known as the Renegade called Sketch. After his mother's death, Adrian was adopted by Captain Chromium and the Dread Warden, and he is now dedicated to finding his mother's murderer. Sketch and Nightmare will soon confront each other, while Adrian and Nova will become a budding romance...

Having devoured Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series, I had extremely high hopes for this new saga. My hopes were extinguished quickly when reading this long over-reach of a novel. I had so many issues, but I read on hoping that my issues would be resolved, but they were not.  The superheroes and their powers seemed like a stretch on the ridiculous and were difficult for me to accept (as far as superheroes go). The world building just left me empty. The plethora of characters were often confusing, using both their given names and their superhero name, requiring me to refer to the list of characters in the front of the book. This one just didn't do it for me.  Renegades does end on a cliff-hanger that will have me reading the second installment, I just hope I can make it through the whole book
Mark's Book Picks Rating: 3

Reading Level: 6.5 • Interest Level: 7-12 • AR Points: 25 • Lexile: 860L  
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends • 552 Pages • Copyright: 2017 • ISBN: 1-250-04466-2 • Available in Perma-Bound binding.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Russell Pickett, billionaire, has been missing, disappearing before his arrest for bribery. Now there is a $100,000 reward for him, and Daisy Ramirez is going to tap Aza Holmes to help find him and collect the reward.

Daisy and Aza are juniors in high school and best friends. Daisy learns that years ago Aza was a camp friend of Davis Pickett, Russell Pickett's son, and recruits Aza to find Russell Pickett and split the reward money. The problem is, Aza suffers from invasive thoughts...thoughts that spin out of control subjugating her life.

When they wade through the White River, running through the Russell estate trying to find evidence, they get caught by security. Aza tells them she is a friend of Davis, so security takes them to Davis to verify. Davis immediately remembers Aza. As they talk, Aza can see the pain Davis is in, as his mother has passed, his father's missing and he is left caring for his younger brother Noah. Davis welcomes this friend from the past, and trusts her. As their friendship grows into attraction, Aza's issues start spiraling out of control....especially when they kiss. "...billions of people kiss and don't die, just make sure his microbes aren't going to permanently colonize you come on please stop this he could have campylobacter he could be a nonsymptomatic E. coli carrier get that and you'll need antibiotics and then you'll get C. diff and boom dead in four days..."  Aza must deal with school, her friends, her mom, her relationship with Davis, all while trying to deal with these thoughts that paralyze her.

Solving the mystery, the budding relationship with Davis, Aza's relationship with Daisy, her visits with her therapist, and her thinking spiraling out of control are what drives the plot along, but it plods more than drives. While not my favorite John Green novel, I mostly enjoyed the way he represented Aza's  spinning thoughts, her sessions with her therapist, and learning to live life with what we've been dealt. Fans of Green will demand this and enjoy it. For high school, and sophisticated older middle schoolers with f-bombs sprinkled throughout.
Mark's Picks Rating: 3.5

Reading Level: 5.6 • Interest Level: 9-12 • AR Points: 10 • Lexile: 840L
Publisher: Penguin • 286 pages • Copyright: 2017 • ISBN: 978-0-525-55536-0 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Booked by Kwame Alexander

Having to read a dictionary from beginning to end is not anyone's idea of entertainment. Yet, to Nick Hall's father, a wordsmith who has written a dictionary of unusual words, nothing could be further than the truth. The dictionary has become required reading for thirteen year old Nick...

A wordsmith himself, Kwame Alexander's free verse poetry always finds the right rhythm, tone and precision to voice Nick; an extremely bright, passionate soccer player suffering through the bends and curves that life brings. The poems capture the true voice of a thirteen year old boy whose parents are divorcing, is being bullied at school, and has a mad crush on a girl with whom he hasn't the foggiest idea of how to approach. He is supported by a well rounded, dedicated friend, Coby, parents who are supportive and loving, a school librarian that is cool and insightful, and April, the girl his heart melts for, who is understanding, patient, and who also has a crush...on Nick.

Alexander beautifully weaves the soccer play, and Nicks devotion to the sport, with all the emotional hurdles that Nick deals with. Humor abounds, and the word play is fun, with footnotes defining words learned from his father's dictionary and often funny commentary explaining why he used it. There are so many uses and discussion points for the classroom; dealing with divorce, bullying, relationships, as well as gaining an appreciation for poetry. Excellent for reluctant readers.
Mark's Picks Rating: 4

Reading Level: 3.9 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 3 • Lexile: 660L
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin • 314 pages • Copyright: 2016 • ISBN: 978-0-544-57098-6 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Trees and animals that talk? I knew this book was not for me, not my cup of tea.
As it turns out, I loved it!
Red is a Red Oak, well over 200 years old. She has seen much in life and is currently the home to a family of owls, opossums, skunks, and a crow named Bongo. The tree has deep roots in the community. Every May, people write their wish on a scrap of fabric and tie it to the tree. A young girl, Samar,  moves in across the street with her family. Often, Samar sneaks out of her house late at night to come and sit by the tree. One night, Samar ties a scrap with a wish to Red; she wishes for a friend.  Samar is lonely and has no friends because her family is not welcomed by the community, as they are Muslim. The young boy next door, Stephen, takes note of Samar, but will not talk to her. Red has decided that she must do something to make Samar's wish a reality. She schemes with Bongo and the other tree residents to get Samar and Stephen together as friends. Red is motivated to help Samar not only to make her happy, but also because she knows she is going to die. The property's owner has decided that the tree is causing too many problems and has scheduled to have Red taken down.

At first, I was put off by a story told in the voice of a tree, but was immediately pulled in by the beautiful, lyrical writing. It begs to be read aloud. The early chapters are a bit pedantic, but that dissipates quickly. There is much to discuss here with young people. Tolerance, intolerance, acceptance, friendship, and family all come into play. But what touched me, was Red's acceptance of her imminent death. She understands that she has had a long, good life and that if it is her time, then let it be so. As a senior myself, this truly resonated, and expresses beautifully an appreciation of life. Beautifully illustrated by Charles Santoso, the pictures help bring the story to life. For grades 4-7, maybe older if you can pull them in.
Mark's Picks Rating: 4.5

Reading Level: 4.2 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 3 • Lexile: 590L
Publisher: Feiwell & Friends • Copyright: 2017 • ISBN: 978-1-250-04332-1 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

Thunderhead is all knowing and encompassing. Once the Cloud, the Thunderhead now stores all human knowledge, provides leadership and order, and oversees almost every aspect of life on earth. The world has never been more stable or peaceful since the mortal years. Death, disease, hunger and poverty are all constructs of the past. Scythes, the order of humans ordained to control population by gleaning (killing) people at random cannot be overseen by the Thunderhead.  They are held to a high standard of humility, morality and equity to avoid corruption. Until now.

Book two of the Arc of the Scythe Trilogy, starts one year after the end of book one, Scythe. Rowan is now Scythe Lucifer, hunting and destroying corrupt Scythes. His best friend Tyger has been hired to train in the martial art of Bokator, with the hope to become a Scythe himself. Citra is now Scythe Anastasia, whose destiny is to have a profound influence on Scythes and the world. Working with Scythe Curie, they have had an attempt to destroy their lives, and are now in seclusion. Scythe Faraday is in Alexandria, doing research, looking for the land of Nod, where he hopes to find answers that will stop the corruption plaguing Scythedom. Enter Greyson Tolliver. A young man, all but abandoned by his family, has been raised and mentored by the Thunderhead to which he is resolutely devoted. The Thunderhead has recruited him to be his agent, using his human eyes and ears to keep the Thunderhead informed and carry out actions it deems necessary.

In Thunderhead, Shusterman builds the world with great detail that he started in Scythe. With several story lines, so much going on, so many twists and turns, there is just no time to stop turning the pages. The 504 pages will go fast, but be prepared. The crescendo is a cliff-hanger that will leave you yearning for book three.
Mark's Picks Rating: 4.5

Reading Level: 6.7 • Interest Level: 7-12  • Lexile: 870L• AR Points: 20
Publisher: Simon & Schuster • Copyright: 2017 • ISBN: 978-1-442-47245-7 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

Jule, 18 years old, and on her own at a luxurious resort in Cabo, has been working out for over an hour in the resort gym. In walks a middle aged woman who strikes up a conversation with Jule. Jule normally keeps to herself but, for some reason, she is drawn to this woman. Jule speaks in her British accent, telling the woman she is from London. They agree to meet later that evening. After working out, Jule is talking with the pool-side bartender that she has come to know. He tells her a woman, whom he describes and Jule recognizes as the woman she met in the gym, was asking him about an American girl that looks like Jule. Jule immediately knows that this woman is undercover and is after her. Jule needs to get out of the hotel, out of Cabo. She quickly packs, changes her make up and puts on a wig.

So starts this mystery, thriller...which is actually the end of the story. What? The newest novel from E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars, uses the device of backwards storytelling. Starting with chapter 18, this story works backward, uncovering all the events that led Jule to this situation. At first this was disconcerting and confusing for me. Sometimes the storytelling is a bit droll, but my curiosity kept me moving. Many of the events were predictable, some unexpected. Many readers will be drawn to this mystery that centers around young college age students that live a life of Eastern privilege. Personally, I really didn't care about any of the characters, so felt little when "things" happened. It was like, "Eh? Okay. Let's move on."

The book is definitely older YA, with lots f-bombs, sex and violence. Not for middle school. This is a recreational read, with little fodder for discussion or to connect personally to.
Mark's Picks Rating: 3

Reading Level: 4.7 • Interest Level: 7-12 (I would recommend 9+) • Lexile: HL650L• AR Points: 8
Publisher: Random House • Copyright: 2017 • ISBN: 978-0-385-74477-5 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

Gary Schmidt is one of my favorite authors. His stories are well crafted and very human. They are often both joyous and tragic. Going into this one, I knew it was a tearjerker...

Jack Hurd is a typical, rural 12 year old. Doesn't call much attention to himself, does okay in school, works on the farm with loving, supportive parents. His parents are educated, hard working, and want to help others. They decide to foster a 14 year old boy who has been in juvenile detention, for having tried to murder a teacher, and fathering a child; meet Joseph Brook.

Joseph doesn't like to be looked at, or touched, and would rather be alone. He has a tough demeanor about him, and becomes quickly defensive. But, the Hurd family gives him his space, is firm but supportive, and lets Joseph acclimate at his own pace. As the story unfolds, Joseph's armor begins to peel away and he starts to smile (sort of), play, and eventually tell his story...the story of the girl he fell in love with, the child that they had, and his burning passion to see the little girl named after his favorite planet, Jupiter.

Joseph is misunderstood by outsiders but endeared by the Heards and some of his teachers.  They see beyond the surface, take the time to understand him, recognize his strengths, and allow him to grow. The one thing that will not change is his love and need to see Jupiter. Jack and Joseph build a strong bond, one that neither have experienced. It is their bond that drives this story. Have tissues handy, you'll need them!

While the book has sparse text on the pages, and is written to avoid language or situations that might limit its audience, the story itself is mature and will have a deep emotional impact on the reader. Adults after a quick, emotional read will enjoy this one. There is much to discuss here, and younger readers may have lots of questions.
Mark's Picks Rating: 5

Reading Level: 4.4 • Interest Level: 6-12  • Lexile: 740L • AR Points: 4.0
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin • ISBN: 978-0-544-93839-7 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires

We all have fears. Facing those fears are often difficult, but hurdles we take on because once overcome, we are better people.

In the charming picture book, The Thing Lou Couldn't Do, Lou, who loves adventures with her friends, is suddenly faced with a new challenge: climbing a tree. Lou tries to suggest other, down to earth, adventures, but her friends decide to climb the tree, and scamper up. Lou avoids the situation, making excuse after excuse (we've all been there). Lou finally admits to her friends that she can't climb a tree, but even after their offers of help, she just wants to be alone. She starts imagining all the ways she can get up the tree, and finally decides to face her fears. She attempts to climb the tree, and gets so far, and then falls. Her friends, concerned, come down to see if she is okay. Lou is fine, and all move on to another adventure. As Lou runs to join them, she looks back at the tree, knowing that she will be back to try again. Maybe even tomorrow.

The story perfectly captures facing fear, avoiding the fear, then confronting it head on. The story is not wordy or preachy, and Lou's facial expressions perfectly capture what she is feeling. The colorful digital illustrations are adorable, with conversation in speech balloons. While we will laugh at her antics and excuses, we will relate, because we have all been there.

Mark's Book Picks Rating: 4.5

Reading Level: 2.0 • Interest Level: P-2 • Lexile Level: AD500L • AR Points: Test not available

Publisher: Kids Can Press • Copyright: 2017 • Pages: 32 •  ISBN: 978-1-7713-8727-9 • Available in publisher's hardcover binding

Triangle by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen

Triangle leaves his home to play a sneaky prank on Square. He walks past triangles of all sizes, past shapes with no name, and past squares of all sizes, until he get's to Square's house. Triangle stands outside Square's door and hisses like a snake, because Triangle knows that Square is afraid of snakes. Triangle laughs, enjoying his mean trick on Square. When Square discovers it is a mean trick, Square chases Triangle all the way home...where now the joke is on Triangle...or is it?

A delightful book that is a perfect read aloud and fantastic teaching tool. I loved the precise writing. The sentences are simple and to the point. The illustrations are layered and textured with graphite and watercolor washes, but match the writing in their precision and simplicity. Look for the expression in the eyes of Triangle and Square; they are so revealing of what they are feeling. There's much to discuss here: shapes, size, feelings,  pranks.

Mark's Book Picks Rating: 5

Reading Level: 2.1 • Interest Level: P-2 • Lexile Level: AD310L • AR Points: 0.5

Publisher: Candlewick Press • Copyright: 2017 • Pages: 48 •  ISBN: 978-0-7636-9603-0 • Available in Perma-Bound Styleline binding

Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer, Art by Doug Holgate

If you are a fan of the Lunar Chronicles (and who isn't?), then you can join in the satisfaction that the adventure continues! Iko, an android, is front and center here. She is just as much as a vain fashionista as ever, but is serving her owner Cinder (also known as Queen Selene), by eradicating Earth of Lunar Wolves, who were left over after the end of the war between Luna and Earth. Lunar Wolves, genetically engineered beasts who thirst human blood, have been called back to Luna, but those that remain have been killing, as one of the alpha wolves recruits his fellow soldiers to hold hostage all the people that Queen Selene (Cinder) hold dear as ransom to meet their demand to reverse what has been done to them, so they can live a normal life.

This is clearly the first volume of many to come. Meyer craftily provides backstory and interweaves all of the main characters from the novels into the story arch. My imagery from the novels (which you can read all my reviews by searching "Lunar Chronicles" in the blog search box) is so strong, that I found the imagery in the graphic novel disappointing. The characters looked too cartoonish for me, but I must concede that graphic literature is not my favorite. All in all, this is a fun read, and if you are a fan of the Lunar Chronicles, you will certainly enjoy being back in with all your favorite characters.
Mark's Picks Rating: 3.5

Graphic Novel • Reading Level: 4.7 • Interest Level: 7-12  • AR Points: 2.0
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends • ISBN: 978-1-250-07826-1 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

The Terrorist's Son: A Story of Choice by Zak Ebrahim

It's hard to imagine the unimaginable. But to actually live the unimaginable is beyond conception. Such is the life of Zak Ebrahim, whose father is the assassin of Rabbi Kahane, a prominent, albeit somewhat radial Jewish leader, as well as the mastermind of the underground bombing of the World Trade Center in New York. Ebrahim provides sufficient background so the reader can grasp what might have motivated his father's radicalism. More importantly, this is a story of how Ebrahim lived through indoctrination and retched suffering in his most formidable years and ultimately made the choice to embrace nonviolence, and be open to listening and understanding people of all types. Originally a TED talk, this book provides more detail and a more complete picture of the young man's life. Recommended for high school, this book will foster a great deal of conversation on many levels.

Reading Level: 6.5 • Interest Level: 9+ • AR Points: 4.0 • Dewey: 921 •  Subject Headings: Terrorism. Psychological aspects • Publisher: Simon & Schuster • ISBN: 978-1-476-78480-9

We're All Wonders • Written and Illustrated by R.J. Palacio

Auggie is a very ordinary kid. He likes to ride his bike, play ball, eat ice cream. Yet, in one simple way he is not ordinary, he doesn't look ordinary. For that, he suffers painful stares, comments, and being ostracized by others.  Auggie's full story is told in the phenomenally popular book, Wonder by R.J. Palacio (See the full review of Wonder here). In this picture book, which Palacio has illustrated herself, she perfectly encapsulates the essence of the full book.

"I know I can't change the way I look. BUT maybe, just maybe, people can change the way they see."

The book is profound on many levels, and can easily be used with younger children all the way to older children. Use the book to discuss our differences, how we judge people, and the effects of how we judge people. The book could be used as an introduction to the novel, or,  it could be used following the novel as an introduction to a project based on how each one of us are different. I highly recommend this picture book for all libraries.

Mark's Book Picks Rating: 5

Reading Level: 1.5 • Interest Level: P-2 • Lexile Level: AD370L • AR Points: 0.5

Publisher: Knopf •  ISBN: 978-1-524-76649-8 • Available in Perma-Bound Styleline binding

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

You may be wondering, this is an adult book. Why is it here?  Well, I was doing a long-term subbing stint for a friend who teaches middle school English. In walks a student, a 7th grader who is an avid reader, with A Man Called Ove in hand. As I started to questioned her, she said. "MR.B! YOU MUST READ THIS!" And so I did.

Ove is a man who is very set in his ways, stubborn, and inflexible. He gets angry when his routine is broken. Early on, we discover he is trying to commit suicide. The love of his life, his wife Sonja, has passed away and he no longer feels that life is worth living. The ensuing chapters switch between interruptions that either prevent his suicide attempts, or disrupt his daily routine, and flashbacks that help us to understand his love for his wife, and why he is the man that he is. I don't like to give away too much; this book will make you laugh, make you cry, make you angry, make you overjoyed, and most of all will endear you to a man called Ove. Following is a passage, that moved me, and I found instantly relatable to my own life:

"Loving someone is like moving into a house. At first you fall in love with all the new things, amazed every morning that all this belongs to you, as if fearing that someone would suddenly come rushing in through the door to explain that a terrible mistake had been made, you weren’t actually supposed to live in a wonderful place like this. Then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there, and you start to love that house not so much because of all its perfection, but rather for its imperfections. You get to know all the nooks and crannies. How to avoid getting the key caught in the lock when it’s cold outside. Which of the floorboards flex slightly when one steps on them or exactly how to open the wardrobe doors without them creaking. These are the little secrets that make it your home.”

Mark's Book Picks Rating: 5

Reading Level: 6.1 • Interest Level: 9+ • Lexile Level: 870L • AR Points: 15
Publisher: Simon & Schuster • ISBN: 1-476-73802-5 • Available in Perma-Bound binding

Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio pictures by Christian Robinson

Gaston is one of four puppies belonging to Mrs. Poodle. Mrs. Poodle taught her puppies how to be proper poodles, with fine poodle manners. Gaston loves his family, always trying the hardest. But, Gaston was different. He grew bigger and faster. His ears and tail were different. Even his bark was different. One day, Mrs. Poodle takes her family to the park. There she meets Mrs. Bulldog and her family, where both moms discover that a terrible mistake has been made. Gaston looks like Mrs. Bulldog's family. In Mrs. Bulldog's family, Antoinette looks like Mrs. Poodle's family. It appears that a switch was made when Gaston and Antoinette were born! What are they to do?

This sweet story whose text is loving and to the point comes alive with Christian Robinson's gorgeous acrylic paintings. His style is fluid and animated, with the texture of the brush adding to their depth. Kids will love the story on its surface but there is much to discuss here. Looking different, family, blended families and acceptance can be deeply explored.
Mark's Picks Rating: 5

Reading Level: 2.8 • Interest Level: P-2 • Lexile Level: AD500L • AR Points: 0.5
Publisher: Atheneum • ISBN: 978-0-605-86135-0   Available in Perma-Bound Styleline Binding

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

In 1665 London, orphaned Christopher Rowe gets a lucky break. He is chosen to be Master Benedict Blackthorn's apothecary apprentice. Christopher loves his master, loves the apothecary, and sometimes gets himself into trouble with his best friend Tom Bailey. Life is good. Until mysterious murders of apothecaries start spreading across London. Master Blackthorn gives Christopher an usual puzzle for his birthday, he leaves cryptic messages, and then too, Master Blackthorn is murdered. The rumor is it is the Cult of the Archangel, but what do they seek? Why all the murders? Christopher is determined to figure it out. He must sort through Master Blackthorn's clues to find the key.

This medieval adventure with puzzles, potions and plot twists galore will have readers glued to the pages. I really enjoyed the read and found most of the plot twists unpredictable. Correlates well with the seventh grade medieval history curriculum focusing on guilds and apprenticeship. This is the first book of the Blackthorn Key series. Book 2, Mark of the Plague and Book 3 The Assassin's Curse are already out.
Mark's Book Picks Rating: 4

Reading Level: 4.6 • Interest Level: 4-7 • Lexile Level: 630L • AR Points: 10
Publisher: Aladdin • ISBN: 978-1-4814-4652-5  Available in Perma-Bound binding.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

How perfect a world would be if the concept of death were eliminated. All disease and illness gone. Procedures to repair and regenerate body parts is routine; fall off a building? No problem, you'll be back to norm in no time. War? A thing of the past. Aging? Just have it reversed.  Hunger? There's food for everyone now that any food is synthesized. Sounds great, huh? There is a bit of a problem in this future society. How do you regulate population growth? Recognizing the issue, a system is in place. Honored and revered, a Scythe's job is to randomly determine people who will be gleaned which is a kinder word for elimination. The method of elimination is determined by the Scythe. Citra and Rowan are two teenagers who have been chosen to apprentice with Scythe Faraday. Both are feisty and unwilling at first, but once convinced are determined. When attending a Scythe Council meeting, an adversary insists that each Scythe may have only one apprentice. It is determined that their training will be a competition and the winner must glean the loser, and so the adventure begins.
Scythe is classic Shusterman with writing and plot development that makes the reader plunge into this dystopian world and forget reality. This is the first book in Shusterman's Arc of a Scythe series. A Printz Honor Book
Mark's Book Picks Rating: 4

Reading Level: 6.5 • Interest Level: 7-12 • Lexile Level: 830L • AR Points: 17
Publisher: Simon & Schuster • ISBN: 978-1-4424-7242-6  Available in Perma-Bound Binding

All About Families by Ruth Owen et al

All About Families helps a child understand the concept of family. I really like this book because it is designed to initiate a lively informative discussion between parent or teacher and children. There is little text so the discussion is open. The illustrations help drive the discussion where the adult first asks the child to describe what is happening in the picture, and then can relate it to the child's personal experience. All types of families are presented, allowing all children to make connections to the concepts. The colorful pictures are grouped by question or concept, such as What is a Family?, Who Takes Care of Me?, Brothers and Sisters, A New Baby and so on. The "Tips and Ideas" section at the end of the book provides more discussion suggestions, and the "My Family Activities" section provides activities to extend the concept beyond the book. Part of the First Words and Pictures series.

Reading Level: k-3 • Interest Level: k-3  • Lexile: 140L • Dewey: 306.85 •  Subject Headings: Families. Juvenile literature • Publisher: Ruby Tuesday Books • ISBN: 978-1-911341-81-9