Carolyn

I should have know what I was getting myself into when I started reading this book. I actually read the whole thing while I was on a trip wit our school's baseball team and I'm so glad they couldn't see the faces I made throughout this. It was entertaining, graphic, and oddly riveting.

I'll be the first to admit that I have weird tastes in books. The weirder the better. The gorier the better. I think that's why, despite the nature of this book, I actually enjoyed it.

I got a little nauseous on the bus reading it, but it made the trip go fast!

Luke Abbott loves video games. It's basically all he does with his free time. That is until he's forced to sign up for the Forest Shade Middle School Robotics Team. Forest Shade Middle School has never won anything - their sports teams are terrible but is their hope for the Rallying Robo-Raccoons?

The team is comprised of a cast of characters from a kid who has pockets full of sunflower seeds, a girl who does everything with her feet, and boys that are twins but aren't (I don't know a better way to explain it). Oh yeah, and Lunchbox Jones. The meanest bully at school.

What I loved about this book is that you think it's going to be a story about a kid learning to love robotics, but it's so much more than that. There is another storyline where Luke's brother is leaving for boot camp in a few short months and Luke is having a terrible time with it. So much so that he actually refuses to even acknowledge his brother. Throughout the story, he kid of warms up to him again and once he finally shares his feelings with hi parents, his relationship with his brother gets better.

I also loved the dialogue in the book. Luke seems like a kid that couldn't care less about other people but it turns out that he really cares a lot. He rallies his team together and gets them to the tournament even after everyone quits. He joins forces with the kid he is most afraid of and they make it happen. He even comes to the realization that he's friends with these kids - kids he didn't want anything to do with in the beginning.

Reading this book made me wish that I had been into robotics when I was in school. It wasn't that I thought it was weird or nerdy (I'm so nerdy it's not funny) but it was because I didn't think I would understand how to do it. This book made me realize that I can't do a lot of things until I try and practice. And besides, the chances of me maiming the school principal like Luke did are pretty slim, right?

I gave this book 4/5 stars.

Star Wars is everywhere these days. Movies, clothes, TV shows, cereal, and of course, books.

“The Princess, The Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy” is the original Star Wars story, but told a different way. Not only do you follow the adventures we all know and love, but you get to see it from three different perspectives. If you couldn't guess by the title, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker tell this tale.

I obviously won't bore you with the details of the story (we should all know if by now), but there are a few things in this book that I absolutely loved.

First of all, the reader gets to see inside the minds of the main characters. I love the way that Leia talks to herself about being more than a princess. She wants to make a difference for the lives of her people. She also speaks about her mother, father, and aunts, all of whom she is trying to live up to.

Han, surprisingly, has a soft side (mostly for his best bud, Chewy). Did you know Chewy was married? Neither did I, but apparently he's working hard with Han to support his family. I would love to have a movie where we learn more about the beginnings of the most famous Wookie in the world!

Luke is just a kid from a farm trying to be taken seriously. Sure, he's flown his own speeder on his home planet of Tatooine, but a rebel ship? Not so much. Something else we learn, thanks to this book, is that Luke's ability behind the wheel was tested officially before he was just thrown into space with the rest of the crew. Actually, he aced the test thanks to his training from none other than Ben Kenobi. WE also get to see his relationship with Biggs (you know, that friend he bumps into right before takeoff).

Not only was the storytelling great, but also I loved that they used quotes directly from the movie. I seriously couldn't help but smile at moments like that. I mean, I would have been really disappointed if they didn't mention, “Don't tell me the odds!”

The pictures in the book were also amazing! They look pencil drawn, almost as if the book were parts of the characters journals or something.

The biggest thing that I noticed that was missing from the book was Darth Vader. Well, he wasn't missing, but he definitely wasn't the center of the book. In fact, I'm pretty sure he was only seen in one chapter.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with kids (or without) that want a deeper understanding of the Star Wars world. It helped me a lot with the names I always have trouble remembering or understanding (let's be honest, some of the names and places are confusing).

I gave this book 5/5.

Raine and her mother move around a lot. After being in 5 different schools in 3 years, Raine hopes that Yielding is a place that will stick. They move into a bright pink house that is full of mystery. The family that lived there before suffered a loss - their daughter Emily disappeared one night on her way to a sleepover. Raine is special, though. She collects memories that she finds all over town in an attempt to solve the mystery that has been plaguing the town for months.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Emily isn't missing and she isn't dead. Using her powers and tips from neighbors and classmates, the discovers that Emily has been living in her basement this whole time! She's been hiding from a high school arsonist that is out to get her because she knows his secret. Raine uses her abilities to help her out but it's not before they are both put in a terribly dangerous situation.

My favorite part of this book was the mystery. With all of the sneaking about and the small hints at Emily's fate, it's hard not to be involved with the case. The subtle hints about the fires and the small memories that seem like nothing can easily draw you in once you start connecting the dots.

You can never go wrong with stories about overcoming bullies, too. Jennifer (the bully) is an awful person and even though we don't really know why, we do find her weakness and Raine and her new friend, Shirlee, take matters into their own hands to bring her down.

Despite this being a mystery/sci-fi kind of story, it also has heart. Raine is standoffish at first, trying her best to make no friends because she thinks her mom will make them move again after her next boyfriend messes things up, but by the end she's created friendships with people that she didn't even realize would be important to her.

The whole collecting memories thing was actually pretty cool, but I wish there would have been more of a backstory to that, other than her grandmother having that ability too. I want to know more about the origins and how and why it came about.

Overall, I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I Love You, Michael Collins is not a true story, but I'm sure it hits home with a lot of people when it comes to the “celebrities” that they look up to.

In this story, Mamie, is directed to write a letter to one of the three Apollo 11 astronauts. With most students picking Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin, Mamie takes a different route and writes to the main pilot, Michael Collins. Mr. Collins is almost never mentioned by anyone (most people don't know who he even is) but Mamie takes it upon herself to let him know just how great he is.

A one time assignment to write a letter becomes a passion for Mamie. She writes him a letter almost everyday until the day he lands safely back on earth. She writes about her family problems, her best friend, Buster, her cat, Campbell, and asks him all sorts of questions about his life and family.

What I love most about this book is that she is rooting for the underdog. I'm sure there is a better way to say that, but I can't think of one currently. Mamie learns everything she can about this man and comes to find out that it was a struggle for him to get to where he is. She also realizes that he may be the most important one on the Apollo 11 mission; without him, no one will get home.

The emotions that Mamie goes through during the story are vivid in her messages to Mr. Collins. Haven't you ever just wanted to tell someone everything that's on your mind? Although she had never met this man and he didn't get most of her letters before his trip to space, she feels confident that he's reading them and that he cares. Back when a time when there was no social media to connect with people that we admire, letter writing was the only way to go and there are no “read receipts” for snail mail.

I thought that some of the issues that Mamie had to deal with, like both of her parents more or less abandoning her and her sisters being unaware of how to take care of a ten year old were a little too much for this story. I understand she needed something to write to Mr. Collins about but it just seemed weird and out of place and something that wouldn't actually happen, even in 1969 (but I could be wrong).

If you love space, diaries, the moon, and kids becoming friends with adults, then this is a book for you. It will make you smile, laugh, and even cry a little but it's a story with heart.

I was already a huge fan of the Twisted Tales series before I read this book and what this book has done has made me an even bigger fan!

In this retelling of Disney's “Mulan”, the story picks up right after Shan Yu has started to attack Mulan and her troop on the mountain side. With no more ammo and time running out, Mulan bravely takes their last cannon and shoots it at the mountain, creating an avalanche, covering the Huns in it's path. Shan Yu, leader of the Huns, manages to get one blow in before he's covered, aiming for Mulan but getting her leader and friend Li Shang instead.

Once the snow clears, Li Shang is on the verge of death and Mulan takes it upon herself to save him. Little did she know that praying to her ancestors would bring her Shang's guardian, a lion named Shi Shi, that arrives to take her to Diyu, the underworld. There, she negotiates with the king of the underworld in an attempt to bring her friend back home - he's not ready to die. He still has a lot to do for China.

Battling through 99 levels of the underworld proves to be difficult not only because of the trials the team faces but also because of the spirits that are there to misguide them along the way. It's a thriller in every sense of the word.

You know what I love about this book? It was unpredictable. I thought I knew what was going to happen and found myself with my jaw dropped on several occasions. The twists and turns remind me a lot of one of my favorite TV shows, “Once Upon a Time”, which is also in the Disney franchise and intertwines stories and characters in such a way that is so impressive you could die.

I also loved that I learned more about the Chinese culture, especially their thoughts on honoring your ancestors and what happens in the afterlife. Learning that some spirits wait forever in a place, waiting for their turn to go to heaven, and some never making it there was sad but informative. I also learned that some people are reincarnated while others have debts to pay before they can move on.

If you are a fan of fairy tales, Disney princesses, or thrilling adventures, then this book is for you. I would recommend you check out the other Twisted Tales and be on the lookout for the newest one “Part of Your World” coming out in September.

My friends, if I told you that I have never been so excited to read a book, I would not be lying to you. I've been looking forward to reading this book since I read the first page a few months ago and yesterday, I took full advantage of a rare snow day in Louisiana and read it in one sitting.

Don't worry, I won't spoil anything.

This story is about Aza, who has always had self confidence issues. Her struggles affect her life everyday and it's not just her, but her friends too. After an old friend's dad disappears, they reconnect and Aza tries to solve the mystery. Again, I'm not here to spoil anything!

What I love about this book is how much I can relate to it. People don't understand how hard living with depression and OCD can be. Throughout the book, Aza has to deal with intrusive thoughts. John Green does a great job representing how these thoughts can totally take control. I deal with this myself. People assume that OCD means you like to clean things, but they don't understand the “obsessive” part of OCD. Aza's thoughts make her question everything to the point where she hurts herself - therein lies the compulsion.

If you want to get an idea of what it's like living with OCD, dealing with it on a regular basis, and finding the strength to find help, you need to read this book.

Thank you for this, John Green.

This book stole my heart.

I am a firm believer that animals have more capabilities than their people give them credit for. This book shows how a dog that thought of himself as a failure worked hard to find a new purpose in life.

Chester was trained to be a service dog, but after he failed his certification because he hates out noises, he thought he'd never get another chance. When a family comes along in search of a friend for their autistic son, Gus, Chester bring it upon himself to help this boy like he knows he can.

After a lot of time spent observing the boy, Chester learns the dos and don'ts of life with Gus. Don't make too much noise. Don't get too close to him. Don't lick him. Don't ask too many questions.

That's right. Chester finds himself bonded to this boy in such a way that he can't even describe it at first. Gus, who doesn't talk, seems to understand the things that Chester asks him and he answers back (some of the time). Using this new tool for communication, Chester gets Gus to trust him because he needs him now more than ever. But Chester has just been told he's not allowed in school anymore because he's not a certified service dog.

Strange things have been going on with Gus lately and it all comes to a head once the fire alarms go off at school. Being frightened at first, Chester loses track of Gus but forces his way to his boy. He finds Gus passed out in a closet and Gus is taken to the hospital for a few days.

Gus has epilepsy.

Now Chester has a renewed sense of responsibility for the boy and their relationship changes daily.

Can Chester be the dog that Gus needs him to be?

Payton and Dylan Brave are identical twins but they couldn't be more different. They have separate styles, friends, and dreams. When Dylan suddenly goes missing, Payton has a hard time remembering who she is and in the middle of the drama, decides to take on a new personality - Poe. Poe is a sweet mixture of both girls and a way for Payton to cope with the loss. With the help of her friends, can they find out what happened to her sister?

THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD!

First things first - IS THIS GOING TO BE A MOVIE BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE IT?!

Second - I connected with this book on a personal level mostly because I have a twin sister and I'm not sure how I would manage if I were no longer part of “The Deas Twins” as we are affectionately known. Losing your best friend that you can tell anything to and they have similar experiences must be awful.

Third - HOLY PLOT TWISTS! I spent the first 3/4 of this book thinking that Payton was the one who was involved with the disappearance of her sister but the subtle clues in every chapter made me question my theory. It wasn't until Poe was attacked in her beloved Winnebago and she mentioned something about her memory of an event being different did I realize what was going on. That's quite a feat because I'm usually really good at figuring out the plot early in the book.

I read this book because I'm a fan of Bailee Madison. I'm not going to lie and say that I wasn't skeptical of the quality of the book, but this may be one of my favorite mystery novels I've ever read. I hope she continues to write in the future (and if she needs any beta readers, I'm always available).

11-year-old Alex Petroski loves space and rockets, his mom, his brother, and his dog Carl Sagan—named for his hero, the real-life astronomer. His current project involves documenting his life on Earth so he can launch his voice recordings into space with the hopes that an alien life form will find it. With his story starting in Colorado and moving to New Mexico, trekking to Los Angeles and finally ending up back home, he meets new friends and learns new things about the world and himself.

WARNING: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD!

What I love about this book is that it is so much more than an adventure story. Sure, Alex travels by himself and builds a super cool rocket with hopes of it making it to space - that's quite an adventure by itself. But it also showed that an adventure can lead you to so much more. While he doesn't know it at first, his trip leads him to uncover the truth about his dad that he thought was dead and meeting his half-sister. It started out as an attempt to share his story with people outside of this world and ended with him learning even more about his own story.

All along, I was worried about Alex. With how his mother is described, I knew that she was battling some type of depression and whether or not Alex actually knew that was heartbreaking. With a kids with as much spunk as Alex and such big dreams, it makes it impossible not to root for him and hope that everything turns out. I was so emotionally involved in this story that I couldn't even think about what would have happened if things didn't work out like I wanted them to (you know, when you know what needs to happen better than the author does).

Something that drew me to this book was the title, though. As a amateur astronomer myself, there was no way that I could pass this book up. Seeing a kid that is only 11 and with such a deep interest in something so vast and unknown as the universe made me believe that there is hope for the future. If Alex can be so focused on his life on Earth and learning about people outside of it, the world has nowhere to go but up.

I rated this book 5/5

I may be biased because I know the author, but this book blew me away. Not only is it about baseball (one of my true loves), but it's about a girl beating the odds (and the boys) and a sport that she loves.

Gabby is spending the summer in Chester, Ohio. He father was just deployed and she's having a hard time adjusting. She left behind her friends and her softball team but she's hoping that playing for Chester's team will make things better. She promised her dad she would pitch in the Championship game, just like he did when he was a kid.

Unfortunately, she finds out that there aren't enough girls to participate in softball this season because everyone in town seems to be part of the Miss Popcorn Pageant. She leaves the rec center defeated.

By a twist of fate, Gabby's mom signs her up for the pageant. She is a legacy in town because she won the crown several years. Gabby's mom is so excited about the pageant that Gabby can't bear to squash her dreams of a daughter following in her footsteps.

Grace and composure are not something Gabby thinks herself to be good at, but this summer will test her in more ways than one. Refusing to go back on her promise to her dad, Gabby signs up for the Chester baseball team. Unsure of the rules, she disguises herself as “Johnny” and blows the boys out of the water with her arm.

Juggling these two new personas (beauty queen and a boy) gets out of hand and her friendships are in trouble because of her lies.

Can she make her mom and her dad proud?

Most important, can she pull it off?

If you are a fan of “The Hunger Games” and “Ready Player One,” this book is a dream come true for you. It has espionage, gaming, technology, love, relationships, teamwork, and a little bit of backstabbing.

WARNING: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD!

Warcross isn't just a game—it's a way of life. Struggling to make ends meet after her father died, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the International Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation - something she didn't even realize she could do.

The next day, Emika is shocked when she gets a call from the game's creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year's tournament in order to uncover a security problem and he wants Emika for the job. After getting drafted to play in the game for the Phoenix Riders as an architect and finds out she's actually pretty good at it. Her relationships with her teammates are torn when they find out about her relationship with Hideo (they know the romantic side, not the business side) and her mission is almost a disaster.

What she comes to find out about the creator and her love interest breaks her apart. Does she have the strength to follow through?

In the ranks of Holocaust memoirs, this book might be my favorite one.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Young Michael wasn't even born when WWII started. For the first 5 years of his life, he only knew fear, anger, and distrust. After being able to avoid camp life for his first few years, even his family, led by his father who had a position of “power” amongst his peers, couldn't keep his family safe for long. When Michael was 4, he was taken to one of the most notorious concentration camps, Auschwitz. Separated from his brother and father, Micheal managed to avoid any major punishments. His mother, hating to see her son struggle (he was the youngest at the camp and was picked on mercilessly by the older kids often going without food), she hid him away in the women's barracks. This worked out fine until she herself was sent to a new camp but luckily he still had his grandmother by his side. When the camp was freed by the Soviets 6 months after their arrival, Michael and his grandmother went back to their hometown thinking that they were the only ones in their family left alive.

...

What I love most about this book is that it's based on true events but some of the details are made up. Obviously the author doesn't know specific things about what people said or what they wore or what went on when he wasn't around, but his voice and his storytelling sound so authentic. I can most certainly believe he remembers when he found out his mother had been moved and my heart broke, too, when he and his mother left his grandmother behind as they started their journey to the United States.

It's also very interesting to hear the story from his perspective because in his life he had known nothing but the war. He had hatred for Germans and knew the strict rules they had to follow to stay safe. To imagine a child going through that is horrendous, but if you think about it, it's happening today too.

The pictures provided at the end of the books are always one of my favorite things. Not only do you get to read about people, but you can also get a glimpse into their lives. See the real them.

What an amazing book. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Holocaust or even middle school students trying to wrap their heads around such an event.

“As Old as Time” tells the story of Beauty and the Beast, but it's a little... twisted.

I loved this book. So much so that I read all 500 pages in one sitting. Yes, 7 straight hours of reading because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!

WARNING: SOME SPOILERS AHEAD

The story starts off with a little history of how Beast came to be. Not only did Belle's parents meet in his kingdom, but Belle's mother is the one that enchanted him! Turns out she was an enchantress, and a pretty powerful one at that, named Rosalind. Her motive for the curse was over a decade old - she wanted to protect the magical people like her and the King and Queen were doing nothing but watch them suffer. She retreated to a provincial town with her husband, Maurice, and daughter Belle to live a more secluded life.

After many years, the King and Queen try to get Rosalind to help them during a time of disease, she learns that evil is in their hearts and refuses to help. After they die, Rosalind goes back to the hidden kingdom to test the young prince. After the curse is cast, it is thought that she disappeared and the people that knew her forgot about her completely.

But in this twisted tale, it gets even more twisted.

What was so enchanting about this book is the changes made. I already loved Belle's story, but I think I like it even more now. Belle is still strong, independent, and a little odd, but she yearns for adventure!

I don't want to give away too much (because you should seriously read this book), but one of the major changes is what happens to the rose. You know the one I'm talking about; the one encased in glass that is the signal for the curse to be forever. But in this version, Belle ruins any chance of the Beast saving the lives of himself and his servants! She grabs the rose from under the glass and it disintegrates before her eyes.

What does she do?

Reads of course. She uses the Beast's huge library to find out more of the history of the former kingdom and learns about her own history. I love this addition to the story. It makes Belle seem even more determined and kind-hearted. She knows she messed up their lives and is doing everything she can to change that. Including finding her mother that she just learned was an enchantress to see if there is another way to lift the curse. Besides, everything can be fixed with books, right?

The final big twist is about who the bad guy is. It's not Gaston, believe it or not. One of the old men that had magic and used to be friends with Belle's parents took it upon himself to rid everyone of magic. He's in charge of the insane asylum but he does experiments on the charmantes (the people with magic). To take him down, the Beast and Gaston work together! This was totally cool to see.

I won't give away any more, but I feel like I need to say this. I learned a lot of french words by reading this book. Some I already new, some I had to use context clues. There were also a lot of words I'd never even heard of before, probably to get the reader to understand words that Belle would understand because she's such a big reader. I mean, I had no idea what ululate meant (turns out its a howl or wail of expression of emotion, usually grief).

I give this book a 5/5. And there are even more “Twisted Tales” by Liz Braswell, including a twist on “Aladdin” and “Sleeping Beauty.”

I can't wait to read those.

I think the only way to tell you about this book is to share some of my favorite bits of wisdom from Mark Manson.

1. Happiness requires struggle. It grows from problems. Who you are is defined by what you're willing to struggle for.

2. There is no such thing as a personal problem. If you have a problem, chances are someone else has it too.

3. Certainty is the enemy of growth. Nothing is certain until it happens and even then, it's debatable.

4. Don't just sit there. Do something. The answers will follow.

5. Sometimes you think you want something but it turns out you don't.

6. We don't actually know what a positive or negative experience is.

I was immediately drawn to this book, thanks to the title. Albert Einstein once said, “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” That is exactly how the characters in this book feel.

Ally has been tricking people her entire life. She moves a lot because of her dad's job. He's in the service and she has been at 7 different schools in almost as many years. Generally, she tries to lay low and not draw attention to herself. Her latest school though, has been nothing but trouble. She lands in the principal's office almost daily and her secret is getting harder to hide.

Especially after she picks out a card for her pregnant teacher because it has flowers on it but doesn't realize that it's actually a sympathy card. Everybody sees her as a troublemaker and she constantly calls herself dumb. Ally is in 6th grade and can't read. She says that the words like to float around and doesn't understand how people can read like that.

With her teacher now on maternity leave, she has to start the whole charade over with the new guy. Mr. Daniel's turns out to be a blessing in disguise. He sees Ally as a creative kid and notices that she's special. Working together, Ally becomes more confident and slowly starts to read. It's the ultimate story of believing in yourself!

What I loved about this book was the concept. I'm sure there are a lot of kids that go to school and go unnoticed. They may have significant needs that no one has bothered to help them with. All it takes is one teacher that pays attention. That's what teachers are for right? All of my favorite people growing up were my teachers. I felt connections with them and that was a major reason I only went to school. Just by knowing that there is someone that cares can really make a kid open up (I see it all the time – I'm a teacher now, too).

I also love the mind movies that Ally has. She is incredibly creative and keeps a journal of impossible things. The things in her mind movies are sometimes crazy like teaching cats to play hockey. You can even see some of the impossible things at the end of the book!

Ally's friends are the best. Her relationships with other kids have been strange because she moves so much but once she gets the opportunity to reach out and learn about the kids in her class (thanks to the awesomeness of Mr. Daniels), she becomes great friends with Keisha and Albert. We also learn about their eccentricities and they learn to love why their different and they work together to stay positive and help each other out.

This book gave me goose bumps. The story of redemption and being yourself really hit home with me. If you have a kid (or not) I recommend that they read this book. It could have the ability to change the way they think about themselves and the things that make them “different.”

My rating: 5/5

Julia thought her best friend had her back, just like she did when she took revenge on the slob that embarrassed her with graffiti on a wall at her school. Julia's work, though, was art. Julia's best friend can't stand the heat and snitches on her which sends Julia to a mainstream school, leaving behind her Deaf and Hard of Hearing School and all of the comfort it provided.

SPOILERS MAY BE AHEAD!

Julia didn't want new friends, especially after what he former friend did but try as she might, she couldn't get away from Yoga Pants (YP). Their friendship is obvious and YP learns to sign throughout the book. Julia can't get over how fast she's learning. I love this development with the characters. As much as Julia doesn't want to be involved with YP, they get closer everyday. I think this is the way most friendships form, right? Slowly and then all at once?

I also loved that the artwork was not just talked about, but it was shown in the book. Like Julia, I didn't think of it as graffiti, but artwork. Just like they argue about in the book, graffiti has a connotation of being bad and unimportant. I like how they refer to her work as street art because that's what it is. Artistic. She wasn't being a vandal and doing it to be mean spirited, but instead showcase her talent while also beautifying places that needed it.

This book gives a lot of insight into Deaf culture that I didn't even realize was a thing (like capitalizing Deaf). As a teacher, I deal with students with lots of different abilities and reading this book makes me want to learn to sign so I can be prepared for my future students that may need that from me. It made me want to be a better teacher.

I'll admit that this was one of those books that I kept putting off reading because the title wasn't speaking to me like some of the other books I had on my table at home. Once I got into this book, though, I couldn't put it down. It's no wonder they put it on the Louisiana Young Reader's Choice list for 2017.

The main character has just moved into a new town, Sinkville, SC. Because of the Paper Mill in town that her dad now runs, the town stinks, hence the name “Stinkville.” Not only is she new to town, but she's also suffers from albinism. She's legally blind and has to stay out of direct sunlight. This was something that everyone just accepted in Seattle, but this new town is full of new challenges.

With a contest for young journalists in town, Alice makes new friends and learns more about what makes her new city great. She also learns more about herself as she pushes her own boundaries and steps way out of her comfort zone.

I love this book. It's not your typical “new kid in town” story. It gets down and dirty and tells the story of a girl that has a exceptional situation that she deals with. It has heart and humor and I'm going to recommend this book to my students.

Charlie is afraid of everything. “He worried about flooding on a cloudless day. He worried about wildfires when the rain wouldn't stop. He worried about things that went bump in the night and worried equally about things that didn't.” He hadn't slept in the 6 years that his dad died, worried something bad would happen to more people he loved. His sister, Georgie, on the other hand is quite the adventurer. After children from their town start disappearing after they go on trips to visit their grandmothers, Charlie get suspicious. Where are they all going? He doesn't have anything to worry about though because he no longer has grandmothers. Or does he?

After a sickness grips his mother, Georgie and Charlie are sent away to visit with Grandmother Pearl and Grandmother Opal, neither of which they knew existed. Charlie's fear is strong and that's what ultimately keeps him safe. Georgie forgets about life before arriving at the farm which gets her into trouble.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

It turns out that the grandmothers are not who they seem. They are actually henchmen for the wicked Queen of Fear. All seems lost until Charlie realizes that his fear has been preparing him for this for the past 6 years. In order to defeat the Queen, he has to face his biggest fear - remembering the good times with his father. After realizing that he needs to focus on what he has and not take it for granted, Charlie, Georgie, and all of the kids that had been captured before them are returned to their homes.

...

I had high hopes for this book but I had such a hard time getting into it. I really like the premise because it reminds me a lot of a book that I've been writing for... 9 years. Sometimes it seemed like important moments were just glossed over and other times I got wicked bored but kept trudging through.

The illustrations are fantastic though. The author is also the illustrator, and she does a great job. Her design style for the book is eerie and creepy and I love it.

Overall, I liked this book although based on what my kids at school have said, it's hit or miss with the younger crowd too.

I've been putting off writing this review because I wanted to do it right.

Lily is a girl. Or at least, wants to be a girl. Her real name is Timmy and after struggling with her identity for as long as she remembers, she finally decides that she will be Lily full-time in 8th grade. Unfortunately, despite having support from her mother and sister, her father is not on board.

Dunkin is a boy. His real name is not actually Dunkin. It's Norbert and he hates it. He's just moved to Florida with his mom. He met Lily inadvertently when she burst out of her house in her mom's dress and sandals and he thought she was pretty. Lily nicknamed him Dunkin because he's obsessed with Dunkin donuts.

They spend the summer together, never really revealing the truth about themselves to each other. Dunkin finds himself in with the basketball team when school starts and his relationship with Timmy (she actually didn't go through with being herself once school started) goes sour. Dunkin finally faces the truth of what brought him to Florida and Lily is tired of hiding.

Can they help each other embrace who they are?

***

Lily and Dunkin is one of those books that is unsuspecting on the surface but once you get into the guts of it, it will leave a profound influence on how you think of transgender kids and also kids with mental illnesses.

Gephart does a fantastic job of painting transgender teens and their struggles. Throughout the book, Lily knows who she is but is afraid to let her light shine. It also brings forth the realities of kids that are too afraid to come out as transgender. One of the most touching parts of the book is when Lily's father (who refuses to accept that she is a girl) finally caves and lets Lily get the hormone blockers she needs (so she doesn't go through puberty as a boy). Lily asks what changed his mind and he said that the psychiatrist they met with told him the figures of transgenders kids that commit suicide because they feel like they don't belong.

Dunkin's story, while less intense on the surface, is just as interesting. Throughout the book, he wonders about where his father is and wishes he were back home with his best friend Phineas. It's not until the end of the book that you find out that Dunkin is actually bi-polar. His best friend Phineas is make-believe. His lack of medicating himself finds him in the hospital where the truth of his father's death comes to light.

I can't gush enough about this riveting story. It was so well written and pertinent to kids and adults today.

Again, this is one of those books that wasn't really on the top of my list but I read it so I could finish the Louisiana Young Reader's Choice list (which I did - yay!).

I know that the 6th grade girls in my school loved the book and I didn't really know what to expect. I can telly why everyone loved it - I mean, I couldn't put it down and read it in only 2 sittings.

Lara has never had it easy. She suffered from depression in middle school and finally thinks she's turned the corner when she joins the cheer squad at school. Not only that, but I super cute guy has been talking to her on Facebook and he's hinting that he's going to ask her to the dance. Her world collapses when this guy, Christian DeWitt, publicly proclaims that he wishes she didn't exist. The struggle that she has not only affects her, but her entire family.

Don't worry! I'm not giving away anything! I don't want to ruin anything!

The only problem I had with this book is that it was a little predictable. In fact, it reminded me a lot of the movie from ABC Family in 2011, “Cyberbully.” I actually watched the movie right after I finished the book and while the story line is a little different, it's pretty much the same.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

Emily's family moves. A lot. But the one constant in her life has been Book Scavenger; a game where books are the treasure. When she moves to San Fransisco, the home of Book Scavenger creator Garrison Griswold, she finds that her favorite past time is now a rescue mission.

THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD

Emily isn't used to making friends so when she finds out that her neighbor, James, is also a puzzle nerd, they band together to form the best book scavenging team in San Francisco. After Garrison Griswold is mysteriously injured in a BART station, Emily, James, and her brother, Matthew, can't help but investigate. This leads them to a hidden book that Emily is sure is part of Griswold's new game. In a mystery sending her around the city visiting famous landmarks and getting chased by scary old men, nothing can stop her and her mission to win - even if it means losing her friendship with James.

What I love about this book is all of the puzzles. They are not only incorporated in the Book Scavenger hunts, but it's part of their classes as well. Their teacher decides to use code breaking in his class which causes some real chaos amongst those that participate. These codes not only bring the main characters together, but it also breaks them apart. Friendships at that age are so easily made but just as easily lost that Emily really have to put everything in perspective.

This author reminds me of Trenton Lee Stewart. He is responsible for “The Mysterious Benedict Society” books and his latest, “The Secret Keepers.” It's mystery, and code breaking, and just so fun to read. The entire time I was reading this I kept thinking about what this author's next mystery would be. I can't wait to see where she goes in the future!

While we're at it, can Book Scavenger be a real thing? I went to the website that the author mentioned at the end of the book (Bookcrossing.com) that inspired part of this story and I want it to be as cool and involved as this story. I can't imagine the kids that would get more out of reading if they had to work to get the book. It's a reward system in itself!

I am so excited to read the next installment! I have to wait though because I turned a few of my students on to this book and they got checked out the newest one from the library before I did!

Do you want to be a Jedi!

I totally do so I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book. Obviously it tells the Star Wars story “The Empire Strikes Back” but just like the first book in this series, it's all about perspective.

The author, Adam Gidwitz, prepares you in the preface by getting you in the mindset of a Jedi. He's not just telling you a story. He's walking you through your story! In this book, you are Luke Skywalker, young Padawan, training with Yoda and fighting the Empire.

What I loved most about this book is the way in which it's told. Not only are you the hero, but between every chapter, there's an activity for you to do to work on your Jedi training. It starts off with easy tasks like trying to meditate (I mean really meditate) for as long as you can while counting to ten. Focus on the numbers and nothing but the numbers.

I tried it. It's super hard.

As the story progresses, so do your challenges. Focus on balancing on one leg while someone throws something at you.

Scatter things all over your room and then walk through with your eyes closed feeling the objects at your feet and not actually touching them.

Also like the first book in the series, it also spells out names that you (or me at least) can never remember or pronounce.

Yesterday I started the last book of this series and I can't wait to share my thoughts on that one with you!

Fifth grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi and seventh grader Marshall Walsh walk home from school together every day. When their normal path is too dangerous to walk thanks to the school bully, Chad Wilson, Marshall decides to take a detour through the woods that they know they aren't allowed in. Tamaya has no choice but to follow - she's not allowed to walk home alone. They find themselves lost and surrounded by the strangest fuzzy goop. Little do they know that this mystery mud is being investigated by the United State government.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

The story telling in this book is amazing. I love how the author goes back and forth from the kids to the trial. You get glimpses of the problem at the beginning of the book but the gravity of the situation doesn't really hit home until you see the effects that the fuzzy mud has had on Chad.

Speaking of Chad, I didn't even think about the fact that Tamaya threw the mud in his face. I was so focused on Tamaya's rash and the secret she was trying to keep for her friend that when they mentioned that Chad wasn't at school, my heart dropped.

I'm always a sucker for a story where the bad guy doesn't end of being so bad in the end. Chad, like a lot of kids, had to accept help for the sake of everyone and it's clear that now he has some friends for like (whether he wants to admit it or not).