Friday, December 31, 2010

The Oxford Book of War Poetry

The Oxford Book of War Poetry was edited by John Stallworthy. An epic collection of war poetry from all eras by a wide range of poets. It is arranged in chronological order and has a selection of footnotes to explain the various battles referred to in the poems. A magnificent collection of poetry, every poetry lover should own this anthology.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10.

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman is by Jon Krakauer. This biography of the life of Pat Tillman also looks at Afghanistan and its history as well. This book is full of profanity and violence, but nothing that you wouldn't expect in a story of military life and the reality of terrorism. A fascinating and well researched book. It does take an anti-Bush slant, so if this will bother you consider yourself informed.

Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence).

Tunnels

Tunnels is by Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams. The first book in a charming new series. Will Burrows and his dad love to engage in archaeological digs. When they discover a tunnel beneath London they believe they are on the brink of a major find. When his father disappears Will is determined to find him. Will and his friend Chester decide to go after Will's father and discover an entire world beneath our own. When both boys are captured by the "underworlders" they begin to despair of ever finding Mr. Burrows or making it home. A series boys will enjoy.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10.

Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me

Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me is by Kristen Chandler. Chandler's first novel is about sixteen-year-old K.J. and her father who live near Yellowstone National Park. Her mother has died and her father runs an outfitting business taking visitors hunting, hiking, or fishing. K.J. has been chosen as the editor of the school paper. She begins working on a story about the reintroduction of wolves into the park with a new boy, Virgil, whose mother studies animals. Not everyone though is thrilled to have the wolves back in the park. This charming coming of age story follows K.J.'s attempt to become her own person. A wonderful read girls will thoroughly enjoy and relate to.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity).  

The Journal of Curious Letters

The Journal of Curious Letters is by James Dashner. The first book in The 13th Realty series. A fascinating series both boys and girls will enjoy. Tick Higginbottom receives a letter from a mysterious person named M.G. The letters inform the thirteen-year-old Tick that events have been set in motion that could result in the destruction of reality. Tick will receive 12 riddles and if he solves them he will be able to save the day, but he will be in danger if he attempts to solve the riddles. What will Tick do? Will he be able to solve the riddles in time? A really exciting series. The involvement of Tick's father is a nice twist since most modern books tend to make parents look either evil or incompetent.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

The Time Paradox

The Time Paradox is by Eoin Colfer. The sixth book in the Artemis Fowl series. Artemis Fowl's mother is dying. The only cure lies in the brain fluid of an animal Artemis himself sold into extinction when he was ten years old. His only choice is to travel back in time with Holly and stop himself from killing the last silky sifaka lemur and return in time to save his mother. Can Artemis outsmart himself? Will he change the future while trying to change the past? Another exciting installment in this charming series.

Ratings: 7th grade - 8 out of 10.

Inkdeath

Inkdeath is by Cornelia Funke. The final installment in the Inkheart Trilogy. Meggie and her family are trapped inside the Inkworld now controlled by the evil Adderhead. Even Fenoglio has lost control over the characters he created and the story seems to be spinning into chaos. Can Mo set things right? Will they ever return back home to Elinor, who believes her family to be lost between the covers of a book?

Ratings: 7th grade - 6 out of 10.

Usborne Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths and Legends

Usborne Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths and Legends is by Cheryl Evans and Anne Millard. A wonderful introduction to Greek Mythology. The illustrations are magnificent.

Ratings: 5th grade - 8 out of 10.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is by Sherman Alexie. A magnificent book and definitely on the list of the 1001 books you must read before you die. Written in the form of a diary, Alexie examines the life of Junior a budding cartoonist living on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Junior was born with numerous medical problems which assures he is picked on by everyone. Determined to receive a good education he leaves the reservation to go to a public school in a local town. Now he is hated by both the whites and the Indians. A brutally honest look at the lives of modern Native Americans. This book has mature thematic content and profanity, but none of this is gratuitous it is essential to the story. If you only read one book this year, make it this one!

Ratings: 10th grade - 10 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence) - S (non-graphic sexual references).

So B. It

So B. It is by Sarah Weeks. A wonderful book! A must read! Heidi and her mentally disabled mother are cared for by their unconventional neighbor. A mysterious word in her mother's vocabulary starts her on a journey to discover her family's identity and by extension her own. Who or what is "soof"? She travels alone from Nevada to New York to search out the secrets of her past, but are some secrets better not known? What happens when the answers you discover are not the answers you really wanted? You will laugh and cry your way through this delightful book.

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10.

Lionboy: The Truth

Lionboy: The Truth is by Zizou Corder. The final installment in the Lionboy series. Charlie has found his parents and returned the lions to Africa. Just when he thinks everything is going his way, he is kidnapped by Maccomo and taken to the Corporacy's Caribbean headquarters. His parents, the lions, and the King Boris are following close behind. Can they rescue Charlie and take down the Corporacy? A fine ending to a charming series. 

Ratings: 7th grade - 8 out of 10.  

Virus on Orbis 1

Virus on Orbis 1 is by P.J. Haarsma. The first book in The Softwire series. Johnny, his sister, and 200 other children have spent years on a seedship headed for the Rings of Orbis. Their parents left Earth for a new start, but all the adults died on the voyage. Once the ship arrives the kids discover they are little better than slaves. But Johnny is a softwire - someone who can enter any computer with his mind - and since the central computer on Orbis 1 is malfunctioning Johnny may be the only one who can fix it. He finds himself involved in an alien power struggle and it's up to him to prevent a war. Boys will enjoy this science fiction book that reads like a virtual reality video game.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.

Z. Rex

Z. Rex is by Steve Cole. A wonderful opening to a new series called The Hunting. Boys will LOVE this series. Adam's father designs cutting-edge video games and his son helps him test them. When his dad disappears, Adam finds himself being chased by armed men and a - dinosaur! Is the Z. Rex real or a part of the video game his dad was working on? More importantly is it his friend or enemy? The only thing Adam is sure of is that the dinosaur is after him. A great series!!

Ratings: 6th grade - 10 out of 10.

The Monstrumologist

The Monstrumologist is by Rick Yancey. The first in Yancey's new Monstrumologist series. This book is for older readers. There is no sex or profanity, but the vocabulary and level of violence is definitely not for young readers. This book is set up to read like a journal. Will Henry is an orphan apprenticed to a monstrumologist, the science of studying monsters. When a grave robber brings the corpse of a young girl entwined with the corpse of a supposedly extinct monster called Anthropophagus to their door, Will and his mentor find themselves in a race against time to hunt these monsters before they kill again. This book is deep and at times slow, yet worth the time invested. The violence is quite intense and the vocabulary might be difficult for young readers.

Ratings: 9th grade - 7 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).

Intertwined

Intertwined is by Gena Showalter. The first book in the new Intertwined series. Many adult readers recognize Showalter for her two best-selling series Atlantis and Lords of the Underworld. Intertwined is for young adult readers. Sixteen-year-old Aden has been shuffled from institution to institution; most people believe he is crazy. But this teen has four disembodied spirits sharing his body. Then he meets a girl who silences the voices in his head. Aden, Mary Ann, a vampire princess and her werewolf bodyguard set out to free the spirits and set Aden free. Sounds easy, not a chance. A great new series.

Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content) - MP (mild profanity).

The Siege of Macindaw

The Siege of Macindaw is by John Flanagan. The sixth book in The Ranger's Apprentice series. Will and Horace must lay siege to Castle Macindaw in order to rescue Alyss and prevent the Scotti from invading the kingdom with the help of the traitor Keren. Can Will, Horace, an old healer, and 30 shipwrecked Skandians defeat a castle full of traitors and save both the kingdom and Alyss? A wonderful addition to a magnificent series both boys and girls will love.

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10.

The Prophecy of the Sisters

The Prophecy of the Sisters is by Michelle Zink. The first in a new trilogy of supernatural thrillers. Set in America of the late 1800s, this is the tale of two sisters, Alice and Lia, who find themselves caught up in an ancient prophecy. One sister is the Gate, who will bring forth Samael an ancient demon who will bring about the end of the world, and one is the Guardian who will prevent Samael from coming through the gate. As each sister strives to fulfill her role in the prophecy everyone they love is caught in between them as they battle. An exciting new series girls will enjoy. It does contain spiritualism, astral projection, speaking with the dead, and other similar ideas.

Ratings: 8th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content).

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Seeing Redd

Seeing Redd is by Frank Beddor. The second book in The Looking Glass Wars series. Alyss has defeated her Aunt Redd and has begun her rule in Wonderland. When Glass Eyes begin to attack Wonderland Alyss wonders if Redd and the Cat have freed themselves or if she has another enemy to deal with. Alyss must also deal with her feelings for Dodge, the disappearance of Homburg Molly and the disobedience of Hatter.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

The Little Prince

The Little Prince is by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. The classic tale of love and a child's view of the world. A little prince from another planet leaves home to visit the universe and finds himself on Earth. Pride made him leave his home and he learns from a fox the true meaning of life. A must read for everyone.

Ratings: 6th grade - 10 out of 10.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact on Us

The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact on Us is by Tanya Lee Stone. A wonderful and balanced look at an American icon and her affect on American culture. Love her or hate her, everyone has an experience with Barbie to share. Stone does a wonderful job of weaving the story of Ruth Handler, Barbie's creator, with a discussion of the various opinions regarding the doll's controversial place in Americana.

Ratings: 8th grade - 8 out of 10.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

The White House, I, Q the Series

The White House is by Roland Smith. The second book in the I, Q series. The ghost cell is planning a terrorist attack in Washington, D.C. Angela, Q, and the S.O.S. Team must help the President stop them. There's one small problem - there is a terrorist mole in the White House. Can the team find the mole without exposing Angela's mother? Can they prevent the attack on our nation's capital? This book is much better than the previous one. The action starts from the beginning and rushes right on to the cliff-hanger of an ending.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10 - V (violence).

Sunday, November 28, 2010

City of Bones

City of Bones is by Cassandra Clare. The first book in The Mortal Instruments series. Fifteen-year-old Clary heads out to a club with her friend Simon but she doesn't expect to witness a murder committed by three teenagers no one else can see. The murderers explain they are Shadowhunters, a secret sect of warriors that hunt down demons. When Clary's mother disappears and Clary is almost killed by a demon she finds herself needing the Shadowhunters' help to find her mother. But do they need Clary as well? 

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity).  

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is by Suzanne Collins. Set in what's left of North America in a nation called Panem, the Capitol is a harsh government that keeps outlying districts in control by forcing each district to send two teens to participate in "The Hunger Games", where the "tributes" fight to the death on live television. Sixteen-year-old Katniss steps forward to take her sister's place in the games and finds herself fighting for her life. A thought provoking and action packed series. Boys and girls alike will devour this trilogy. Adults can't help thinking of Orwell, Rand, or Wells as they read these books.

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (some mature thematic content).  

Thirsty

Thirsty is by M.T. Anderson. Chris discovers he is turning into a vampire. He is approached by Chet, a supposed member of the Forces of Light, who promises to cure him of his vampirism and make him human again if he will just do a "little favor" for the forces of good. Can Chet be trusted? Is he the good guy or the bad guy? Exactly what will Chris do to remain a human? A strange and intense story boys will enjoy.

Ratings: 9th grade - 7 out of 10 - P (profanity).

The World Above

The World Above is by Cameron Dokey. An imaginative re-telling of Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack is not an only child, he has a twin sister Gen. Jack and his family come from the world above. His father, the Duke Roland, was murdered and his kingdom taken over. His wife escaped to the world below where Gen and Jack were born. Now that Jack has traded the cow for some magic beans, he and Gen are going home to reclaim their inheritance. Another stellar installment in the Once Upon a Time series.

Ratings - 6th grade - 9 out of 10.

Open Season

Open Season is by C.J. Box. The first of the Joe Pickett novels. Joe Pickett is a low-paid over-worked Wyoming game warden with a wife and two daughters. When a local hunter staggers into his yard and dies, Joe finds himself involved in a mystery that endangers the life of the family he loves. Box creates a flawed but lovable hero we all can relate to. His depiction of Joe's young daughter Sheridan is extraordinarily well done. A mystery series all males will love. 

Ratings: Adult - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - S (non graphic sexual references) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence).

The Fire Thief Fights Back

The Fire Thief Fights Back is by Terry Deary. The final installment in the Fire Thief Trilogy finds Prometheus still looking for his hero. Back in Eden City he must join with Zeus against the Avenger and a whole plethora of Greek monsters to save the town. Will Prometheus find his hero and return to ancient Greece? A surprising conclusion to a fun and humorous trilogy.

Ratings: 6th grade - 9 out of 10.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society is by Trenton Lee Stewart. The opening book in a charming new series. When an add appears in a local newspaper asking gifted children to take a series of tests, four very special children find themselves embroiled in the adventure of their lives. They become part of the Mysterious Benedict Society and must go undercover in an institute for gifted children that may be involved in more than education. A great opening to a promising new series.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies is by William Golding. The classic tale of a group of young boys who when marooned on an island degenerate into anarchy. A must read tale that is as tragic and provocative as it is beautifully written. All of us see parts of ourselves in Ralph, Jack, Piggy, and Roger. What are we really when the facade of civilization is scraped away? Golding plumbs the heights and horrifying depths of human nature.

Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content) - MP (mild profanity) - V (violence).

The Curse of the Pharaohs

The Curse of the Pharaohs is by Elizabeth Peters. The second book in the Amelia Peabody Mystery series. Amelia and her husband Radcliffe return to Egypt to uncover a new tomb. The previous archaeologist is dead and his wife wants to continue the excavation despite the threat of the mummy's curse. Are the deaths the result of a real curse? Can Amelia solve the mysterious deaths before Radcliffe is targeted as the next victim?  A fantastic series! The witty humor and suspense are totally enjoyable. Agatha Christie fans will love Amelia.

Ratings: 8th grade - 10 out of 10.

The Book of Time

The Book of Time is by Guillaume Prevost. Sam's father has been missing for ten days, he's been gone before but never for this long. When Sam goes to his father's bookstore to search for clues he stumbles on a statute, a coin, and an old book. When he places the coin in a slot on the statue he finds himself transported through time. As he fights to get back home, he begins to realize that his father is also lost somewhere in time. Can he find him and get them both home? A fascinating new series.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.

Goodbye, Vietnam

Goodbye, Vietnam is by Gloria Whelan. Mai and her family attempt to flee Vietnam when her grandmother is targeted by the Communist government. A touching look at the plight of the Vietnamese boat people as they attempt to flee Vietnam for freedom and safety. A charming tale of sacrifice and family.

Ratings: 5th grade - 8 out of 10.

Deep Down Popular

Deep Down Popular is by Phoebe Stone. Conrad Parker Smith is the most popular boy in the entire 6th grade. Jessie Lou has had a crush on him for years, but she is nothing but a typical Southern tomboy. When Conrad hurts his leg and finds himself in a brace, he can't keep up with his old crowd. When the teacher asks Jessie Lou to help Conrad get home after school she finally has a chance to get close to her idol. Can Jessie Lou actually be friends with such a "deep down popular" boy?

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.

Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush is by Becca Fitzpatrick. Nora and Patch are thrown together as lab partners. She doesn't like her attraction to him and fights it, until curiosity gets the better of her. But curiosity killed the cat and could very well kill Nora. She is being stalked, attempts are made on her life and that of her friend. Is Patch to blame? Is he even human? Could he possibly be a fallen angel? Is he trying to kill her or protect her?

Ratings: 9th grade - 7 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).

Left for Dead: A Young Man's Search for Justice for the U.S.S. Indianapolis

Left for Dead: A Young Man's Search for Justice for the U.S.S. Indianapolis is by Pete Nelson. If you've every watched Jaws you've heard of the Indianapolis, it's one of the most riveting scenes in the movie. Here is the true story which is every bit as riveting. The story begins with the sinking of the Indianapolis, continues through the court martial of its Captain, and the search for justice for Captain McVay and the other survivors. A search spear-headed by an 11-year-old boy. A fantastic tale of courage and the power of an individual to change things. We highly recommend this book!

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

The Woman in the Wall

The Woman in the Wall is by Patrice Kindl. Anna is very shy and quite the little carpenter. At seven, terrified at the prospect of attending school, she builds her own world inside the walls of the family's Victorian house. As time goes by, everyone in her family forgets she ever existed, until one day a letter appears in the wall and Anna's life changes forever. An unrealistic, yet entertaining, story. Many of Kindl's books are strange and this one is no exception.

Ratings: 6th grade - 7 out of 10.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Boys That Bite

Boys That Bite is by Mari Mancusi. The first book in the Blood Coven series. Sunshine and Rayne are twins. Sunshine is the typical high school girl and Rayne is the queen of all things goth. Sunshine has just been asked to the prom by the hottest guy in school and everything is going great right...wrong! Her sister talks her into going to a goth club where in the worst case of mistaken identity ever, she is bitten by Magnus. Now Sunshine is turning into a vampire and if she doesn't find a way to reverse it fast she'll be a vampire for the prom, and the rest of eternity. Typical teenage vampire fare.

Ratings: 8th grade - 7 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity).

The Magic Thief: Lost

The Magic Thief: Lost is by Sarah Prineas. The second book in The Magic Thief series. Conn has lost his locus stone and will do anything to find another one. He discovers that through the use of pyrotechnic spells he can communicate with the Magic of Wellmet.  But all is not well, shadows are creeping into Wellmet and people are being turned to stone. Join Conn as he sets out to find a new stone or a way to save the Magic yet again. A charming and fun filled book.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.

Disney At Dawn

Disney at Dawn is by Ridley Pearson. The second book in the Kingdom Keepers series. Everything seems to be going well for Finn and his friends until Amanda's sister Jez mysteriously disappears in the middle of a celebration. It also appears Maleficent and the Overtakers are behind it and they are trying to take over a computer server so they can control and create DHI's in the parks. This means that if Finn or his friends go to sleep they will slip into a coma - permanently. They must find Jez and stop the Overtakers before they fall asleep. Another exciting thrill ride from Pearson. All lovers of Disney will love this series.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

Blade of Fire

Blade of Fire is by Stuart Hill. The second book in The Icemark Chronicles. Almost twenty years have passed since Oskan and Queen Thirrin defeated the evil General Bellorum and the Polypontian army. Now they threaten the Icemark again and Thirrin, Oskan, their allies, and their children must rally once again to save the Icemark and its people from death and slavery. Their youngest child Sharley, crippled from a childhood disease, is being sent away to lead those from the Icemark who are being sent into exile in the South. Sharley can't help but feel he is being sent away because no one believes he is capable of fighting. His father prophesied that he would return with a blade of fire, and Oskan's prophecies are never wrong. But what is the blade of fire and how can a crippled boy save his people? A better and more exciting book than the first. 

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.   

The Garden of Eve

The Garden of Eve is by K.L. Going. After Eve's mother dies of cancer, her father moves her away from everyone she's ever known and all the places where memories of her mother linger to a barren apple orchard in upstate New York. Eve doesn't believe in magic anymore and hates being surrounded by death. As her father struggles to revive an orchard the townspeople say is cursed, Eve is given a mysterious seed and meets a boy who claims to be dead. A touching fairy tale of love, death, and re-birth. A must read book!

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10.

Where I Want to Be

Where I Want to Be is by Adele Griffin. Griffin's books are strange and haunting and this one is no exception. Jane and Lily are sisters and were always very close until it became clear that Jane was not like everyone else. For Jane the boundary between make-believe and reality is cloudy at best. When Jane dies Lily must learn to cope with her memories and a world that has changed. But is Jane really gone, or is she still watching from the other side? A poignant tale of living with a sibling who has a mental illness. The point of view in this story switches between Lily (1st person) and her dead sister Jane (3rd person). This book can be confusing, but it is worth the effort to read.

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity).

Jason's Gold

Jason's Gold is by Will Hobbs. Another stellar effort by this wonderful author. Boys especially will not be able to get enough of Hobbs. When fifteen-year-old Jason learns his brothers have headed north into the heart of the Klondike gold rush, he decides to follow them on his own. On the way he learns about survival and greed, and makes some new friends as well - a young writer named Jack London and a black and white huskie named King. An historically accurate story of the excitement and terror that was the Alaskan Gold Rush.

Ratings: 6th grade - 10 out of 10.

The True Meaning of Cleavage

The True Meaning of Cleavage is by Mariah Fredericks. Sari and Jess are just starting high school. They have been friends forever even though they are total opposites. When Sari falls for the hottest guy in school, who just happens to be the long-time boyfriend of the school's prettiest girl, Jess doesn't know what to do? David couldn't really be interested in Sari, or could he? What if he is? What will happen to Sari and where will that leave Jess? A much better and more mature book than Frederick's In the Cards series. A funny tale of high school, crushes, and friendship.

Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity) - AC (some mature thematic content).

The Light-Bearer's Daughter

The Light-Bearer's Daughter is by O.R. Melling. The Chronicles of Faerie continue in this third thrilling installment. Dana's mother disappeared when she was very young. Her musician father wants to move back to his home in Canada, but if they leave how will her mother ever find them? Just when all seems lost Dana meets a Lady in the woods who promises Dana her heart's desire in return for a favor. Dana must undertake a perilous mission to deliver a message, but can Faerie ever be truly trusted? Melling weaves old Irish mythology and modern Ireland together seamlessly. It's hard to get enough of these books.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity).

Eleventh Grade Burns

Eleventh Grade Burns is by Heather Brewer. In book four of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Vlad's life gets even more complicated. He has broken up with Meredith to protect her, but she is not happy about it - and neither is Vlad, especially when Joss the vampire slayer returns to kill him and makes a move on Meredith. Uncle Otis is awaiting trial, and probably execution, by the Council of Elders; and if all that isn't enough, a mysterious vampire named Dorian has decided Vlad would make a great midnight snack. You know Vlad will make it to 12th grade, as that will be the last book in the series, but this is one action packed ride. A very enjoyable series, for boys especially.

Ratings: 8th grade - 10 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity) - V (violence).

Ruined: A Novel

Ruined: A Novel is by Paula Morris. Rebecca is from New York, but when her father must travel to China for six months on business he sends her to stay with her Aunt Claudia in New Orleans. Stuck in a fancy prep school attended by the elite of the city, she finds herself in a world she never imagined. One night she sees a group of kids from her school sneak into the cemetery across the street and decides to follow them and see what's going on. There she meets Lisette, the only person who has really been friendly to her, only problem, Lisette is a ghost. A charming and creepy tale of curses, ghosts, and old blood in modern New Orleans.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity).

Jealousy

Jealousy is by Lili St. Crow. The third installment in the Strange Angels series. Dru has made it to the Schola Prima, the home of the Order, but things are even more complicated here. Her only protectors, Graves and Christophe, are so jealous they are ready to kill each other - and there is the small problem of whether or not she can really trust Christophe, or anyone else for that matter. At the Schola Prima Dru learns she is not the only svetocha, and the redheaded Anna is not exactly happy to share her power and position with Dru. The traitor is still out there and so are Sergej and his army of suckers. What's a girl to do? Who's a girl to trust?

Ratings: 11th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence).

Linger

Linger is by Maggie Stiefvater. The second book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series. Grace and Sam are finally together. As Sam struggles to deal with his werewolf past and the new wolves Beck created before he changed for good, Grace must deal with her own issues. Why is she feeling sick suddenly? Is she really immune to the bite she received so long ago? What if she changes now that Sam is cured? The sequel is better than the first book. We get a closer look into Sam, Grace, her friend Isabel, and the new wolf Cole. What will happen to the wolves of Mercy Falls?

Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity) - AC (some mature thematic content).

Letters from a Nut

Letters from a Nut is by Ted L. Nancy. Whoever this guy is, one thing is certain, he is a nut! This book is a collection of letters Nancy has sent to various businesses and groups over the years. Asking about everything from permission to bring his own vending machine to a hotel to how to market his 3-hole underwear, Nancy's letters are outrageous and outrageously funny - and he gets serious responses, which are equally funny. A great read when you need a laugh.

Ratings: 7th grade - 8 out of 10.