Stolen Children By Peg Kehret

Book Type: Young Adult

Amy's Rating: A

Anderson's Rating (14): C "Not scary enough, too young"

Recommended for: Grades 2-6

Genre: Action

Themes: Babysitting, Kidnapping, Survival

Main Character: Teen Girl

Annotation: After Amy and the young toddler she is babysitting are kidnapped she knows it is up to her to keep them safe. Peg Kehret always manages to get your heart beating but this book is definitely on a juvenile level. The kidnappers aren't super mean. They threaten the girls but not very roughly and although I enjoyed it this book is better suited for younger readers who want action without the scary stuff. I recommend anything from Peg Kehret who is actually from Washington state and that is most ofter the setting of her books.

A Girl Named Zippy By Haven Kimmel

Book Type: Adult Literature

Amy's Rating: A+

Amy's Mom's Rating: B

Alicia's Rating:B

Recommended For: Older Teens and Up for some language and adult themes

Genre: Memoir

Themes: Growing up in a small town, Family, Friends

Main Character: Haven Kimmel or Zippy

Annotation: If a book makes me laugh out loud I consider it a good one. If a book draws me in to the life of the character I love it all the more. This book does all that and more. It reads like the author is sitting with you and telling you the stories as they come to her. Don't let this get to you. She mostly stays in chronological order but often she slips in something that happened in the past. Just enjoy the book for the life that it has. I love Haven Kimmel's writing style, she really is a great story teller. Now how much is actually true and how much has been dressed up doesn't matter to me...it's that good.

A Year Down Yonder By Richard Peck

Book Type: Young Adult

Sequel To: A Long Way From Chicago

Amy's Rating: A+ I liked this one more than A Long Way From Chicago

Amy's Mom Rating: A+

Recommended For: All Ages 3rd Grade and Up

Genre: Comedy/Adventure

Themes: Family, Adventure, Small Town Life

Main Character: Teen Girl, Grandma

Annotation: When Mary-Alice returns to live with her Grandma for the entire year, more amazing adventures await her. Her extended visit is filled with escapades and moonlit outings, romance, and all kinds of people made to look foolish in front of Grandma Dowdel. A truly hilarious read, A Year Down Yonder is just as good as the first book (and I think even better)

A Long Way From Chicago By Richard Peck

Book Type: Young Adult

Amy's Rating: A+

Amy's mom's Rating: A+ She liked this one better than A Year Down Yonder

Recommended for: All Ages 3rd Grade and up

Genre: Adventure/ Comedy

Themes: Family, Small Town, Adventure

Main Characters: Grandma Dowdel, Teen Boy, Teen Girl

Annotation: When Joey and his sister Mary-Alice make summer visits to their Grandma's small town, the two city slickers are in for the adventures of a lifetime. You never know what Grandma will be up to next or what she might do at any given moment.

In 1929 they see their first corpse and "he isn't resting easy"

In 1930 Grandma takes care of the town hoodlums with a dead mouse and a bottle of milk

In 1931 the kids help grandma trespass, pinch property, poach, catch the sheriff in his underwear and feed the hungry---all in one day.

A Season of Gifts By Richard Peck

Book Type: Young Adult/Holiday

Sequel To: A Long Way From Chicago and A Year Down Yonder

Rating: A+

Recommended For: Reading Lever 3rd Grade and up but there are some more mature themes that are alluded to such as unwed pregnancy, severe bullying and sneaking out at night.

Genre: Adventure/Comedy

Themes: Growing Up, Small Town Life, Bullying, Service

Main Characters: Grandma Dowdel, Teen Boy

Annotation: Grandma Dowdel had me laughing out loud once again. Her grandchildren are full grown now with children of thier own. This story is told by a 12 year old preacher's son who moves into the house next to Grandma Dowdel. First suspected to be a witch Mrs. Dowdel quickly snags the hearts of everyone around her with her spicy ways and uncanny adventures. I loved this book. It is brand new and only in hardback but you catch yourself smiling as you are reading and even later when you think about reading it. Here is a small sample from the text

"It was the hunting season, at least in Mrs. Dowdel's mind. Any time before dark you were apt to hear the full voice of a twelve-gauge shotgun. Then something on the wing would stop short in the sky and drop like a rock. And whether it was actually pheasant season or not, it was too late to warn the pheasant."

Hate That Cat By Sharon Creech

Book Type: Young Adult

Sequel To: Love That Dog

Rating: B+

Recommended For: Kids who like poetry & Kids that don't like poetry!

Genre: Real Life Drama

Themes: Poetry, School, Parents, Pets

Main Character: Male Teen

Annotation: Hate that Cat is the sequel to Love that Dog. Both are a fun, quick (and by quick I mean QUICK) read. The entire book is a glimpse into a young boys life as he writes letters and poetry assignments to his teacher. There are parts that made me chuckle as the young boy learns about life and poetry and pets. Whether you love poetry or hate it this book is a treat.

Princess Academy By Shannon Hale

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: A+

Recommended For: Girls in Reading level 4th grade and up

Genre: Fantasy
Themes: Magic, Romance, Prince and Princesses, friendship

Main Character: Female Teen

Annotation: This is a delightful book. A young girl is sent to an academy where she and all her friends are trained how to be princesses so that the Prince can choose one of them for a wife. Shannon Hale does an excellent job of sharing a story with added depth and feeling. I didn't want it to end. She is also successful in weaving a bit of magic into the story and she keeps it believable. There is a touch of romance but nothing that isn't appropriate for the younger reader. If you are looking to purchase Princess Academy, be aware that it can be found in two different covers.

Rockabye Farm By Diane Johnston Hamm

Book Type: Picture Book

Rating: A+

Recommended For: Toddlers and Early Preschool

Annotation: We have had this book ever since Anderson was a toddler and each of my kids have loved it. A farmer starts his evening by rocking his little baby. When the baby is asleep the farmer rocks the dog, then the chicken, all the way through the farm animals. Finally after everyone is sleeping the farmer rocks himself to sleep. Although the books doesn't rhyme the writing is short and catchy so children can easily repeat the lines on each page. Now, we own the first book shown on this post. I don't know why they changed illustrators (maybe it is because in our book the pig kind of resembles a cow.) This will become an instant favorite for your young child and it has been deemed a classic in our house.

The Boy With A Drum

Book Type: Little Golden Book

Rating: A+

Recommended for: Children who love rhymes and animals

Annotation: A little boy sets out one morning with his little toy drum, "Rat-a-tat-tat-a-tat Rum-a-tum-tum." Along the way various animals join him, making their specific sounds as they go. By evening there is a whole parade headed over the hill. First published in 1969, this was my favorite book when I was young. I keep my copy tucked away to protect its worn, rounded corners and well loved pages. My children have a duplicate copy that they can enjoy...it is that good. In fact...I have a copy that I found at a thrift store last week and if anyone wants to claim it...first person gets it.

Ruby Holler By Sharon Creech

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: A+

Recommended For: Anyone who likes a feel-good story.

Genre: drama

Themes: Orphans, Relationships, Wilderness Living

Main Characters: Teenage brother and sister/ Older husband and Wife

Annotation: Sharon Creech is one of my favorite authors of all time and this is one of my favorite reads. While a brother and sister are planning their escape from a dead-end orphanage, an elderly husband and wife discuss leaving their cabin for a condo in the city. The four lives come together to create a touching story about love, acceptance and family.

Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: A

Recommended For: Older Grades 5/6 +

Genre: Action, Adventure

Themes: Survival, Murder, Death, Friendship

Main Character: Female with Male Supporting Role

Annotation: A young woman's land must send one person a year to participate in the Hunger Games. The whole books focuses on the Games: drawing the names for the game, preparing for the games, competing in the games and life shortly after the games. A battle to the death, the games are exciting and not too gory but I wouldn't let my 3rd grader read this book. A lot of people are murdered. I personally love the survival element in this book as each contestant tries to out last all the rest. It is well written and captivating but I have to admit that the very ending was a disappointment. The book is a series and it does leave several questions unanswered...I can't stand that.

Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: A+

Recommended For: Older Teens and up

Genre: Real Life Drama

Themes: High School/Rape/Art

Main Character: Female

Annotation: Despite the fact that I despise stories that include a rape, I loved this book. Not only is the rape NOT discussed in full detail, it is handled in an appropriate manner, but it is discussed throughout the book. Laurie Anderson does a superb job using humor to lighten the mood of this book. My mom shares my loathing of rape books and she too thought this was a great read. I would allow my younger teens to read this book only after I had read it myself and was able to discuss the issues with them. Once again, believe me when I say that this book isn't full of doom and gloom but is a sweet story of how a young girl faces ridicule at school after calling the cops at the last big drinking party. No one else knows what happened to her at the party and she must come to terms with her problems alone.

The White Giraffe By Lauren St. John

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: B

Recommended For: All Ages Grade 3+

Genre: Fantasy/Drama

Themes: Africa/ Orphans /Endangered Animals/Family

Main Character: Female

Annotation: After the death of her parents a young girl struggles to adjust to life on her Grandmother's wildlife refuge in Africa. She hears tales of a mystical white giraffe and begins to question the probability that the animal may actually exist. This tale was a bit far fetched for my taste. It was an OK read but it wouldn't be on my top list of recommendations.

A Single Shard By Linda Sue Park

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: A+

Recommended For: All Ages Grade 4+

Genre: Multicultural/Historical Fiction

Themes: Orphans/ Homelessness/ Pottery

Main Character: Male

Annotation: As a teenage orphan struggles to survive in his "home" under a bridge, he dreams that one day he will become a famous Korean potter. This is my number one favorite book of all time. While I don't normally enjoy historical fiction this book is an exception. The story is full of life and the characters have a depth you don't find in every piece of literature.

Starry Safari By Linda Ashman

Book Type: Picture Book

Rating: Amy gives it an A+

Branson (age 20 months) gives it an A+

Recommended for: 18 months and Up and Up and Up!

Annotation: I LOVE this book. I find myself hoping that Branson will want me to read it to him for a second time. After Cayden (age 12) read it to Branson he said, "Mom, this book is really, really good! It's addicting." I am pretty picky when it comes to rhyming in a child's picture book. I can't stand it when the words don't quite rhyme or the timing doesn't jive. Linda Ashman does a great job both telling a story (that has an adorable and unpredictable ending) and creating an upbeat rhyme that has both you and your child dancing to the beat. As the little girl travels through the jungle Jeff Mack's illustrations are bright and whimsical. Throw in a jeep that beeps, animals that chase and roar and you've got yourself a new classic favorite!

Watchers: Last Stop By Peter Lerangis

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: Amy gives it an A

Anderson (age 13) gives it an A

Recommended for: Grade 3+

Genre: Suspense/Thriller

Themes: Disappearances/Friends/Dimensions

Main Character: Male with supporting Female

Annotation Both Anderson and I agree that this was a really good, quick read. We each read it in under two hours. Despite the creepy cover this is not a scary book, just very intriguing. It is the first book in the Watchers Series. A teenage boy is struggling to cope with the disappearance of his Father when he begins to see things that no one else is able to see. He fears he is losing his mind as he and a friend try to make sense of his visions.

The Misadventures of Maude March By Audrey Couloumbus

Book Type: Young Adult

Ratings: Amy gives it an A

Alison gives it an A

Alicia gives it an A

Recommended For: Boys and Girls of all ages Grade 3+

Genre: Western/Adventure

Themes: Orphans/Going West/Girls Disguised as Boys/Gun Slingers

Main Characters: Two sisters-but don't let that keep the boys from reading this one. These ladies are dressed as boys and get in some real hootin' shootin' trouble

Annotation: After being orphaned for a second time, two sisters head out West in search of their long lost uncle.

This Book was Recommended to Me By: Alison

Other Audrey Couloumbus Books: Getting Near to Baby (A+)
Maude March on the Run (Haven't Read yet)

Eleven By Patricia Reilly Giff

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: A

Recommended: Anyone/ Any age

Genre: Drama/Mystery

Themes: Quest for Identity/Family/Wood Carving

Main Character: Male with supporting Female

Annotation: After discovering he once had a different last name, a young boy secretly searches for answers to who he is and where he came from. My only disappointment in this book was that the cover lead me to believe it would be more suspenseful than it actually was.

Other Books By Patricia Reilly Giff: Pictures of Hollis Woods A+ (One of my favorites!)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian By Sherman Alexie

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: A+ if you took out all the JUNK! But because there is so much crud I have to give it an F. This book would have been great if you left out the crude language and sexuality. It is bad...R rating bad. I wouldn't let my teen read this book which is sad since it was good otherwise. Anyone have Clear Play for novels?

Recommended For: No one

Genre: Drama

Themes: Current Native American traditions/Life on and off the Reservation for an Indian teen/Basketball

Main Character: Male

Annotation: A young Native American wants more for his life than is offered on the Spokane Indian Reservation. This book depicts his ups and downs as he breaks all rules and begins to attend the white school miles away from the Rez.

Notes From the Midnight Driver By Jordan Sonnenblick

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: A+

Recommended For: Anyone/Any age 4th grade +

Genre: Drama

Themes: Life Lessons/Music

Main Character: Male with Female supporting character

Annotation: After taking his mother's car for a drunken joy ride a young man is given service hours with a cranky old man in a nearby nursing home. I put off reading this one because of the cover...a lawn gnome, really? But I shouldn't have judged this book by it's cover...it is now on my list of favorites. Very good.