Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

Marcelo loves taking care of the ponies at Paterson, a school for high functioning autistic youth. His father, a high powered attorney, wants Marcelo to spend his senior year mainstreamed in a public school because he must experience the "real world." At odds, Marcelo and his father compromise by agreeing to Marcelo spending the summer working in his father's law offices, and from that experience will decide which school he will attend. Marcelo enters a world he fears and doesn't understand. At the office he teams up with Jasmine who takes him under her wing, helping him sort out the competition, jealousy, and indifference that is typical of the business world. When completing a task, Marcelo discovers a picture of a girl whose face is grossly disfigured. His search for the truth behind the picture is life changing. The story is convincingly written in the voice of Marcelo, with deep characterizations and a plot that unfolds beautifully. I loved this book, and while perhaps better suited for high school, it is an important story told with heart and compassion. The book is for more mature readers because of language and light sexual inferences. An excellent companion to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime by Mark Haddon.
Reed Reads Score: 5

Everwild by Neal Shusterman

The second book of the Skinjacker Trilogy, Everwild is just as creepy, but more complex than Everlost, to which it is a sequel. Mary Hightower (the Sky Witch), Nick (the Chocolate Ogre), Allie (the Outcast), and Mikey (formerly the monstrous McGill) are all back along with some new characters, which requires reading the first book to understand what is going on.  Everlost is a world inhabited by Afterlights; children and teens in a world between the living and the dead.  Mary and Nick are at odds, Mary believing that Everlost is where Afterlights should remain in perpetuity, and Nick who wants to send them to "the light". The story follows the maneuvering for dominance between Mary and Nick, as well as Allie who uses skinjacking; the ability to enter the bodies of the living, to help her find her parents.  Several plot twists, and mixed allegiances keep you wondering, but with so much going on the story bogs down. The climax is a cliff-hanger, leaving you yearning for book three.
Read Reads Score: 3.5                                                                                        

Darkwood by M.E. Breen

Overhearing her wicked uncle plotting to sell her to the Drop, a cruel mining operation that utilizes children to harvest ringstone from perilous cliffs,  twelve-year-old Annie escapes to the Darkwood, where her fight for survival begins. This adventure/fantasy will pull you in all directions as Annie encounters friend and foe, constantly leaving you bewildered as to which is which. From the kinderstalk lurking in the forest, ready to grab children, to the King and his glittering palace, Annie must constantly be watching her back. Well written, and vividly described, Breen creates an unusual, twisted world that is dark, creepy and mysterious,
Reed Reads Score: 4.5

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games are over. Katniss and Peeta, Hunger Game victors, are settling into their life of privilege. Panem is head over heels for the pair of lovebirds. Soon to be married, the people get to vote for which wedding dress Katniss will wear. But Katniss is not happy, nor is the President. Katniss is torn between Peeta and her true love, Gale. Her defiance of the government in the Hunger Games is fueling unrest throughout the country. Hopefully Katniss and Peeta's victory tour will convince the people of their love for each other and settle the brewing rebellion...or will it? The second book of the Hunger Games trilogy is a thriller, but will leave you hanging and angry that you have to wait for book three to learn the fate of Katniss and all that surround her.

Reed Reads Score: 4.5

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Miranda witnesses her best friend, Sal get beat up by a mysterious boy for no reason. Sal doesn't want to be with Miranda since the incident. Miranda, searching for new friends finds Annemarie and Colin, who together, volunteer to work at Jimmy's sandwich shop at lunch. Then mysterious things start happening...the key to her apartment is missing, a shoe is stolen, and mysterious notes start appearing in the most unusual places..."I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own. I ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter." A story that seems to wander at first, but the end is stunning, pulling all the loose ends together.

Read Reads Score: 4

The Liberation of Gabriel King by K.L. Going

Gabriel King is filled with fear. Spiders, alligators, and a friend’s older brother don’t compare to his greatest fear; entering the 5th grade and facing the school bullies in the upper grade yard. His best friend, Frita, decides that she is going to help him confront his fears by forcing him to make a list of all his fears, and face them over the summer. What Gabriel doesn't realize is that Frita’s fears are deeper. Frita is African-American, and faces the prejudice that was existent in the South in 1976. K.L. Going has created a humorous and heart warming coming of age story, that teaches us about friendship, family, and overcoming hatred. Highly recommended for all students and their parents!

Read Reads Score: 5

Trophy Kid, or How I was Adopted by the Rich and Famous by Steve Atinsky

We have all heard about Brad and Angelina's adoptions. Famous Hollywood celebrities have a habit of gaining publicity by adopting a foreign under-privileged child. Imagine what it might be like to BE one of those children. That is the premise of Trophy Kid...

At three years old, Josef is orphaned when his parents are killed during the civil war in Croatia. Robert Francis and Greta Powell, Hollywood super-stars step in and out bid all others to adopt Josef, or Joe. Fast-forward, and Joe is now 13, and given the task of writing a book about his experience, with the help of Tom, a writer that never gets credit for his work. As Joe and Tom discuss Joe's past, several questions come up. Are Greta and Robert self-serving ego maniacs? Has their over-protection been hiding the truth? Is Robert's father really alive? Get a peek at the Hollywood lifestyle as Joe searches for the answers, and learns what family really is. Great for reluctant readers.

Reed Reads Score 3.5

Gold Rush Kid by Mary Waldorf

At the height of the Alaskan Gold Rush, twelve-year-old Billy’s father has set off to the Klondike to make it rich. After the sudden death of their mother, Billy and his 15 year old sister Edna are left alone. Faced with being sent off to relatives, they decide to head for gold country and search for their father. The story unfolds as a fantastic adventure where children are thrust into the tough and difficult life of a gold miner. The pair face hardships, friendship, sibling rivalry and grief, while learning that family is what will ultimately help them survive. Provides rich details of the life of the Alaskan gold miner in the 1890s. Excellent for discussing families, grief, and Alaskan gold rush history.

Reed Reads Score: 4

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Enter the Hunger Games, a sporting event that no other can match; in scope, in pagentry, in fame for the victor. And for the losers? Nothing less than death.

In this dark picture of the future of North America is Panem, a country divided into twelve districts, plus the Capitol. To remind it's citizens of it's power, the Capitol requires each district to send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the Hunger Games; a televised event where the combatants must fight to the death until only one remains. Enter Katniss Everdeen a 16 year-old girl who, because of the loss of her father, has learned to survive and support her family. When her younger sister is selected for the games she steps in to take her place. Katniss enters a world more extravagant than she could dream, and so dangerous, she doubts that she can survive. An engrossing story that pulls you in immediately and maintains a tenseness throughout. A thought provoking look at how a strong sense of humanity can survive in a heartless world.

Read Reads Score: 4.5

The Porcupine Year by Louise Erdrich

I love science fiction because I get to see into the imagined future. It’s the same with historical fiction except it's factual: I get to peek into the world the author has researched and really see how someone lived from day to day. Louise Erdrich wrote three books about a Ojibwe girl growing up along the rivers of North Minnesota in the 1800’s.  Her name is Omaykayas and her family is a colorful group of native Americans with bad moods, and funny traits just like your family. The difference is that they live totally off the land and the waters, their existence threatened by the Western expansion of the United States. In the third book, “The Porcupine Year,” her brother takes a porcupine as a pet and even wears him as a hat! Omaykayas loves an Ojibwe boy older than her twelve years; her uncle steals the winter supplies from the family, and she almost drowns in a river storm. The entire series begins with “The Birchbark House” followed by “The Game of Silence” and finally “Year of the Porcupine.” Survival skills and family are key here. Ms Erdrich also writes adult historical fiction, and I find all her books fascinating.

Reed Reads Score: 4.5

The Evolution of Capurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Lately, I seem to always write about historical fiction with a girl as the main character. But there are plenty of guys in this book, including a rascal of a grandpa. Hanging out with old folks may not be your idea of fun. It all depends on who it is, right? Calpurnia Tate, 11 years old in 1899, discovers three important things: her granddad is NOT a mean guy; learning how to observe nature as a scientist is really fun, and being forced to learn housekeeping is NOT.  It's the era when Charles Darwin's theories of evolution are making news, automobiles make their first appearance in town, and it's the mating season for Cali's older brothers. Natural science is all over the place!  I predict that this novel will win Newbery honors, and that when you read how the author, Jacqueline Kelly, weaves all these ideas together, you will also love The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.

Reed Reads Score: 5

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Total, unadulterated, middle school humor! The diary, no, JOURNAL of Greg Heffley reveals the inner-workings of the mind of a middle school kid. No logic, no real story line, just pure fun that will make you laugh out loud. The girls have Georgia from Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging and now the boys have Greg to reveal what really goes on in the heads of middle school boys.

Reed Reads Score: 4

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Eight-year old Bruno loves to explore, loves to play with his best friends, and lives a full, rich life in World War II Berlin. Suddenly his life is turned upside down, when his father gets a promotion and he must move, leaving behind all that he loves. His new home is isolated in the country, and there is no one to play with, and nothing to do. Bruno decides to explore, discovering the "farm" he could see from his bedroom window. And there, sitting behind the barbed-wire fence, is a boy...

This is a beautifully told story of a special friendship in World War II Europe. Even if you've seen the movie, the book is still well worth reading.

Reed Reads Score: 4.5

Click: One Novel Ten Authors

We all leave legacies, the way we affect people and history, in unexpected ways. Click is the legacy of a photographer, George "Gee" Keane. The first chapters introduce the reader to his grandaughter, Maggie and grandson, Jason, each mourning the loss of their grandfather in different ways. Through them we learn that Gee was a well traveled, fairly well known photo journalist, who has left his grandchildren a gift that ultimately will change  their lives. Each chapter, written by a different author, is a short story unto itself that focuses on people and places in the life of Gee, and how they ultimately all connect. The concept is interesting, but I found the writing from chapter to chapter uneven (not surprising), with some chapters far more compelling than others.

Read Reads Score: 3.5

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

A murderer's knife is dripping with blood. Three in the family are dead, and now its the baby's turn. Little does this baby know that his curiosity has saved his life. Climbing out of bed and wandering outside, he was not to be found by the murderer. His curiosity has led him to a nearby graveyard, where the spirits that live there, know that he is now an orphan. The spirits decide that they must protect and  raise this child. A child that they will call Nobody or Bod for short. This is Bod's story, a story of a young boy raised in a graveyard by spirits and a guardian, the people he meets, the adventures he faces, and the mystery he must solve; who murdered his family and why they are still after him? This is Neil Gaiman's second book for young reader's, following the immensely popular Coraline. This is a great read especially for you horror and mystery lovers

Reed Reads Score: 4.5

Trivia question: Where did Neil Gaiman get the title from?

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Once again, Ms Halse gives us someone to care about: a smart young slave girl caught in the onset of the American Revolutionary War as it began in New York. I wanted to finish it because things happened fast, because New York and the life back then came vividly to life, and because I learned more facts I wasn't aware of during the War. Isabel is a heroine who follows her best instincts where others would not, and has to deal with difficult people and dire circumstances. She achieves great things despite her slave status. Reading this book took me to New York: it's muddy streets, cold winters, smells, foods, and vocations. This book is bound for awards for its rich portrayals, realism, and age-appropriate historical fiction writing. Read it, and I'll race you to the sequel when it comes out.

Reed Reads Score: 5

Antsy Does Time by Neal Shusterman

Antsy Does Time, a sequel to The Schwa was Here,  is a strong novel on its own. Antsy, Anthony Bonano is now fourteen.  Antsy and his buddies see a disaster in the making and run to go witness it themselves. Not able to watch a man falling to his death, Antsy turns away, his eye catching a kid from school, Gunnar Ümlaut, who must turn away as well. After this quick connection, they talk on the bus going home. Gunnar reveals that he has a fatal disease and will die in six months. Touched by this, Antsy creates a contract, giving Gunnar one month of his life. When others catch wind of Antsy's generosity, they too want to join in giving Gunnar time -- creating a situation that is soon to spin out of control. Antsy senses something is afoul when he develops a friendship with Gunnar and romance develops with Gunnar's older sister Kjersten. Fun and heartwarming, Antsy Does Time is a story about family, friendship and the strength of giving

Reed Reads Score: 4

The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill

I'm partial to fiction books about Alaska because my big brother lives there, and was a bush teacher. Bush teachers know how to teach multi-grade classes in small, remote towns and villages, the only access being small airplanes in the winter, and boats if they are near the water.

In Kirkpatrick Hill's novel,  "The Year of Miss Agnes," Fred and the other kids of the Athabacan village get, yet again, another new teacher. But this one is different. She does not complain about the smell of fish and she tosses out old textbooks! She talks as if all the kids could be scientists and doctors if they wanted.  When you get a great teacher, you never forget, right? Ms Hill has written about just such a teacher, and a time in Alaska when everything was on the verge of change. I zipped through the book, not just because it was about Alaska, but because it was about a year of change and growth and fun.

Reed Reads Score: 4

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I read Twilight this summer, reluctantly,  under pressure from my daughters. Needless to say, I did enjoy the book. Twilight is so wildly popular, and with the movie coming out this month, I didn't feel the need to review it, but then guilt set in and so here it is. Twilight is the story of Bella, a bright and independent girl who moves to gloomy Forks, Washingtion to live with her dad. In school, she meets Edward, whose perfection brings her to her feet. Falling rapturously in love, she soon knows something is different here - Edward is a vampire who lusts for her blood. Edward is  just as enraptured with Bella, and the fact that she is the one girl that he can't look into her mind. Their romance creates the collision of vampire and mortal worlds. 

While Bella's musings over the gorgeous Edward became a bit tedious for me, there were some real moments of excitement here. While this book's appeal has been mostly to a female audience, some of the guys could get hooked into the vampire fantasy and the adventure that ensues. This is the first of a series of four books. Be sure to read Eclipse, New Moon and Breaking Dawn.

Reed Reads Score: 4

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

In this future world, the conflict between pro-life and pro-choice armies has been resolved. From conception, no human life will be touched until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, a life can be aborted by the process of "unwinding", the harvesting of all body parts for transplantation. Three teenagers are destined to be unwound; Connor, a 17-year-old troublemaker, unwanted by his parents, Risa, an orphan whose talents are not quite good enough for the orphanage to keep her, and Lev whose religion makes it the highest honor to be unwound at 13. The three meet by chance, but their struggle to survive makes this one of Shusterman's most engrossing, high powered adventures to date.

Reed Reads Score: 5