Dead End in Norvelt

Title: Dead End in Norvelt Author: Jack Gantos ISBN: 9780374379933 Pages: 341 pages Publisher/Date: Farrar Straus Giroux, c2011. BLAM! The rifle fired off and violently kicked out of my grip. It flipped into the air before clattering down across the picnic table and sliding onto the ground. “Oh sweet cheeze-us!” I wailed, and dropped butt-first [...]

Breaking Stalin’s Nose

Title: Breaking Stalin’s Nose Author/Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin ISBN: 9780805092165 Pages: 154 pages Publisher/Date: Henry Holt and Company, c2011. Awards: Newbery Honor, 2012 “Why does Vovka call you Amerikanets?” I shouldn’t tell him. “My mom was American. Don’t tell anyone.” He squints at me. “And she was arrested and shot?” “What do you mean? Of course [...]

Meet Marie-Grace and Cecile

Title: Meet Marie Grace Series: American Girl Cecile and Marie Grace, book 1 Author: Sarah Masters Buckey Illustrator: Christine Kornacki ISBN: 9781593696511 Pages: 105 pages Publisher/Date: American Girl Publishing, Inc., c2011.               Title: Meet Cecile Series: American Girl Cecile and Marie Grace, book 2 Author: Denise Lewis Patrick Illustrator: [...]

Wonderstruck

Title: Wonderstruck: A Novel in Pictures and Words Author/Illustrator: Brian Selznick ISBN: 9780545027892 Pages: 639 pages Publisher/Date: Scholastic Press, c2011. Publication Date: September 13, 2011 He inched closer until he was right outside her door. He turned off the flashlight and put it in his back pocket. The door was open a crack, and he [...]

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Title: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Author: Jacqueline Kelly Narrator: Natalie Ross ISBN: 9781441802422 Discs/CDs: 8 CDs, 9 hours and 6 minutes Pages: 349 pages Publisher/Date: Brillance Audio, Henry Holt and Co., 2009. Being the only girl in the family, falling smack in the middle of six older and younger brothers, Calpurnia Virginia Tate is [...]

Turtle in Paradise

Title: Turtle in Paradise Author: Jennifer L. Holm ISBN: 9780375836886 Pages: 191 pages Publisher/Date: Random House, c2010. Mama says she’s lucky to have a job with Mrs. Budnick considering how tough times are. I don’t know how lucky I am, though. Mrs. Budnick shook her head when Mama brought our things over to her house. [...]

Heart of a Samurai

Title: Heart of a Samurai Author: Margi Preus ISBN: 9780810989818 Pages: 301 pages Publisher/Date: Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams, c2010. “We can never go back to Japan, you know,” Goemon said, staring across the sea. “Why not?” “The law says, ‘Any person who leaves the country and later returns will be put to death.’” They [...]

Fever 1793

Title: Fever 1793 Author: Laurie Halse Anderson Narrator: Emily Bergl ISBN: 9780739349052 Pages: 252 pages Discs: 5 CDs, 5 hours, 46 minutes Publisher/Date: Scholastic Inc. (Listening Library), c2000. A thin white arm flopped over the side of the cart as it jostled over the cobblestones. “Hullo there, good man! called Grandfather. “There is no place for [...]

Best Friends Forever

Title: Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook Author: Beverly Patt Illustrator: Shula Klinger ISBN: 9780761455776 Pages: 92 pages Publisher/Date: Marshall Cavendish, c2010. “Dottie is the reason I am starting this scrapbook. She left today, and I don’t know when she’ll return. The Masuokas and all the other Japanese families have been ‘relocated’ (Mother [...]

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

Title: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg Author: Rodman Philbrick Narrator: William Dufris ISBN: 9780739372326 Pages: 224 pages Discs: 4 CDs, 5 hours 1 minute Publisher/Date: The Blue Sky Press, c2009. My name is Homer P. Figg, and these are my true adventures. I mean to write them down, every one, including all [...]