Proven Guilty

Proven Guilty is by Jim Butcher. The 8th book in the Dresden Files series. Harry is in up to his eyeballs, again! Horror movie creatures are killing people in Chicago. It appears to be the work of black magic. When Harry comes up with a plan to target the "warlock" he discovers the person responsible is Michael's teenage daughter, Molly. When Molly is kidnapped and taken to the stronghold of the Winter Court, Harry and company set out to rescue her. This story has more twists and subplots than it is possible to count. As with all the books in this series, nothing is ever straightforward and no one is ever what they seem. Another wonderful entry in the series!

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

The Captive

The Captive is by Christoph Von Schmid. Another in the wonderous Rare Collector's Series by Lamplighter Publishing. This is the story of a young Christian boy who is kidnapped and sold to a rich Muslim family. This account is powerful and gripping. He struggles with his desire for freedom and his desire to serve his Lord even in captivity. A wonderful book about trusting God when things don't seem to be going your way. A great story!

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10.

A Year Down Yonder

A Year Down Yonder is by Richard Peck. The sequel to A Long Way from Chicago. In 1937, 15-year-old Mary Alice is going to live with her grandmother for a whole year, maybe more. She is not looking forward to sleeping in the attic or attending the country school. She gets caught up in her grandmother's outrageous schemes and plots and even a few of her own. This book is filled with hilarious adventures and is a stirring story of commitment and love.

Ratings: 6th grade - 10 out of 10.

Rascal

Rascal is by Sterling North. This is the story of a boy named Sterling and his pet raccoon. Sterling lives with a variety of animals: dogs, crows, skunks, and of course Rascal. He has lost his mother at age seven and struggles with the loss and his independence. He decides to build a canoe in the living room! He finds and raises a baby raccoon, he calls Rascal. Their bond leads to many hilarious adventures. A wonderful read! Boys will love this story.

Ratings: 5th grade - 9 out of 10.

The Eternity Code

The Eternity Code is by Eoin Colfer. The third installment in the Artemis Fowl series is a total joy to read. The most suspenseful and exciting story thus far. Artemis creates a new supercomputer using stolen fairy technology. He decides to meet with the evil Jon Spiro and offer him a deal. For a price, Aretmis will suppress his cube, and allow Spiro time to sell his stock and buy into Fowl Industries. Spiro double-crosses Artemis, steals the C Cube and murders Butler. Artemis teams up with Holly Short and others to bring Butler back to life, and bring Spiro down. The action never lets up; lovers of the series will love this one as well.

Ratings: 6th grade - 10 out of 10.

Wyvernhail

Wyvernhail is by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. The fifth book in The Kiesha'ra series. Oliza has abdicated the throne of Wyvernhail. As her cousin Salem prepares to take the throne, Hai keeps having visions of Salem dying in her arms and Wyvernhail being destroyed by war. Hai struggles with her growing love for her new land and the lack of acceptance she still feels from serpents, avians, and falcons. How can she change her visions of the future and prevent the war she sees coming? Can she save Salem? If she does save Wyvernhail, can she save herself? A wonderful addition to the series. It is a little hard to read as Hai's narration is as fragmented as her own psyche.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief is by Rick Riordan. The first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. This book combines Greek mythology with action and adventure in the modern world. Percy Jackson has ADHD, a mean stepfather, and a long line of schools that have rejected him. Strange events seem to happen to him on a regular basis. Then he discovers that he is the son of a Greek god and that Mount Olympus exists - on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building. He goes to Camp Half-Blood a school for other children of the gods. But a war is brewing, someone has stolen Zeus' thunderbolt. Percy, a satyr, and the half-blood daughter of Athena set out to find the thief, return the thunderbolt, and stop the war. A great modern introduction to Greek monsters, gods and myths. A promising new series.

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10.