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."

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.

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)