Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Another read recommended by Mrs. Bickley, I was surprised to discover that the author Dave Barry was the same Dave Barry, adult newspaper columnist, humorist and inspiration for "Dave's World", a cancelled sitcom.

I have always loved the story of Peter Pan. I loved this book, because it explains how Peter learned to fly (by using star stuff), how Tinkebell was created, and introduces the Lost Boys and Smee.

Fantasy
Sequel - Peter and the Star Thieves

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Book One in the Inheritance Triology

I chose to read this book, because so many of my students were reading it. Also, I was curious, because I am a fan of the Dragonrider series by Anne McCaffrey (upper teen/ adult books).

Actually, I enjoyed the movie more than the book. I felt like the book spent a lot of time explaining the background history. The movie cut out all of the extra information and got to the story of Eragon and Sapphira and their journey.

Science Fiction/Fantasy
Sequel - Eldest

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo by Obert Skye

This book is one of the Bluebonnet Award nominees for 2007-2008. Cole was reading it in class this year and the title looked interesting. One of the best introductions that I have ever read. It definitely got my attention. I liked the characters Leven, Winter, Geth and especially, Clover. They certainly have quite an adventure trying to find the Gateway to Foo. I would only recommend this book if you really like fantasy stories. Harry Potter fans may enjoy it. For me, it was a little far fetched. I don't think I will be reading the sequel.

Science Fiction/Fantasy
Sequel - Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret

Shadow Children Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Among the Hidden - Among the Imposters - Among the Betrayed - Among the Barons - Among the Brave - Among the Enemy- Among the Free

This is a great series. All of these books have been "can't put down, page turners".

Luke Garner lives on a farm with his parents and two brothers, Matthew and Mark. Because the government has passed a law which forbids women to have more than two children, Luke is an illegal third child. His family lives in a remote area so he is relatively safe until houses for the Barons (rich people) are built nearby and the woods which surrounded his house are destroyed. Luke faces a lifetime hidden away in his family's attic. One day he sees a face at a window in one of the Baron houses when the parents and two brothers are gone but assumes that he must have been mistaken or that someone broke in until he sees it again. He goes to the house and discovers another third child, Jen Talbot. Jen Talbot opens a new world for him by telling him of the outside world. She tells Luke that there are many more third children out there and shows him a secret chat room. The advenutures of Luke continue...

Fantasy

Among the Enemy & Among the Free by Margaret Peterson Haddix

I started reading Among the Free and discovered that I had not read Among the Enemy yet. I started Among the Enemy and discovered that I have not read Among the Brave. However, I am going to go ahead and finish these two. There is enough continuity that I am able to follow the stories.

BTW...Thank you Emily V. and Collier L.! They gave me these books this year from the Book Fair.

Fantasy

How to Train Your Dragon (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III) by Cressida Cowell

If you have ever wondered how to train your dragon, Hiccup documents his exeperiences and advises any young Viking or you. First and most important you have to steal your dragon, then determine what motivates him/her. Besides learning to train your dragon, this story takes on Hiccup's quest to be heroic.

If you enjoy this story, Cressida Cowell has several other intriguing titles, including How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, How to be a Pirate, and How to Speak Dragonese.

Fantasy

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

This is by far one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. The author uses a china rabbit to illustrate the ups and downs of life, including disappointment, heartbreak and death. My eyes were filled with tears of joy by the end of the story. A must read!!!

Thank you to Cara for giving me this book at the end of the year!

Fiction

The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis

This book is one of the Bluebonnet Award nominees for 2007-2008. Excellent wild west adventure story! I am considering reading it aloud to the class this year instead of Mr. Tucket for our historical fiction selection. The story is about Maude & Sallie March and their journey from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Independence, Missouri.

Historical Fiction
Sequel - Maude March on the Run

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

10 years ago, my step-daughter, a 4th grader at the time, urged me to read this book. For some reason, I never have. This Newberry Award winner is a beautiful tale of a young girl and her heroic adventures. This book reminded me of My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, except the hero is a heroine.

Historical Fiction

Mandy by Julie Edwards

A sweet & beautifully written book by Julie Andrews Edwards. Mandy, a 10 year old orphan, is desperate for something or someone all her own. She discovers a cottage on the other side of the orphanage wall. Can she keep it a secret? The ending was predictable, however, written in such a way that you kept reading to find out what happens to Mandy.

Fiction

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Awesome book! I loved the Greek mythology that was intertwined in the plot and characters. Percy is a hero worth cheering for. Read to find out whether or not he is successful on his quest and will the Oracle's prophecy come true.

Note: Rick Riordan is a Texas author. He lives in San Antonio.

Historical Fiction
Sequels - The Sea of Monsters and The Titan's Curse

Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Great story! Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives. And what happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: "Reader, it is your destiny to find out."

Fiction

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message all come together...in The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Historical Fiction

The Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan

Santa Claus is the King of Forever, Land of the Immortals. When one special boy writes to Santa asking what no other child has ever asked -- what he wants for Christmas -- a miracle occurs: Santa and his wife are blessed with a daughter. But the birth of Holly Claus also brings about a terrible curse -- from an evil soul named Herrikhan. Holly's heart is frozen, and the gates to Forever are locked, barring exit or entry.

Now grown into a beautiful and selfless young woman, Holly becomes consumed with the desire to break the spell that holds her people hostage. Accompanied by four faithful and magical animal friends, she escapes to the wondrous world of Victorian New York and embarks on a series of dangerous and life-changing adventures.

Fantasy

Mystery at Blackbeard's Coveby Audrey Penn

Set on Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the approaching Halloween festivities find Billy, Daniel, Stefanie, and Mark exhausted from their trip to sea to give their eccentric friend Mrs. McNemmish the pirate burial on which she insisted. But now they are trapped in a tunnel, locked in by Zeek, the local scoundrel and direct descendent of Israel Hands (Blackbeard’s first mate), who is racing against them to find the hidden treasure.

Mystery
Sequels - Blackbeard and the Sandstone Pillar Part I: When Lightning Strikes and Blackbeard and the Sandstone Pillar Part II: The Gift of Silence

George's Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy & Stephen Hawking

Take a rollercoaster ride through the vastness of space and, in the midst of an exciting adventure, discover the mysteries of physics, science and the Universe with George, his new friends next door - the scientist Eric and his daughter, Annie - and a super-intelligent computer called Cosmos, which can take them to the edge of a black hole and back again. Or can it? And who else would like to get their hands on Cosmos? A funny and hugely informative romp through space, time and the Universe.

Science Fiction
Sequels - Will be published in September 2008 and 2009

The Palace of Laughter: The Wednesday Tales No. 1 by Jon Berkeley

Miles Wednesday, orphaned, unwashed and living in a barrel, has never been to a circus before - but when the Circus Oscuro comes to town, it's immediately clear that this is no ordinary circus. There's a strange and terrifying caged beast among the animals, the audience laughs hysterically and can't seem to stop itself (in fact, they are laughing so hard that something seems quite wrong)... and when an unusual little girl falls from the trapeze, Miles' life is changed forever.

Miles and 'Little' embark on an impossible quest to rescue two friends, and in so doing they encounter untold dangers and all manner of wonderful and eccentric characters, including a talking tiger, a giantess, a stately dowager who lives in a tree, scrappy street urchins, villainous clowns and fallen angels. Their extraordinary adventures ultimately lead them to discover nothing less than the true meaning of friendship.

Adventure/Friendship
Sequels - The Tiger's Egg

The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives (Book One) by Michael Buckley

Orphaned after their parents mysteriously disappear, sisters Daphne and Sabrina Grimm are sent to live with the grandmother they’ve never known. They had been told that Granny Relda was dead, when in fact she was very much alive and living in upstate New York. In The Fairy-Tale Detectives, Granny introduces the girls to the unusual assortment of characters who inhabit Ferryport Landing, a town on the Hudson River were many strange and mysterious crimes have been occurring. In Ferryport Landing, Sabrina and Daphne learn that they are descendents of the famous Grimm Brothers and that those
famous fairy tales were actually histories of a magical parallel world. Described as “Nancy Drew meets Shrek,” the Sisters first cases focus on Jack and the giant who is rampaging through town, smarmy Price Charming, who as mayor of Ferryport Landinghas broader political ambitions, and a plot to kidnap Granny Relda.

Mystery
Sequels - The Unusual Suspects (2), The Problem Child (3), Once Upon a Crime (4), Magic and Other Misdemeanors (5)

Trouble River by Betsy Byars

Trouble River is a novel that takes place on an isolated prairie farm in the 1800s. When 12-year-old Dewey Martin frightens off one Indian trespasser, Dewey fears a raiding party will soon follow. His parents have gone to distant Hunter City to have a new baby, leaving behind Dewey, his grandmother, and his dog. The fastest means of escape is the small raft Dewey has built but does not know how to use. The three set off—with Grandma on her rocker—on Trouble River, a twisting and unpredictable route that offers its own challenges to safety. As they head for Hunter City, they cling to the hope that Dewey's parents have not encountered the raiders. The travelers fend off a pack of wolves and overcome raging rapids before reaching Hunter City, reuniting with Dewey's parents and new little sister.

Adventure

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff: You Wish by Jason Lethcoe

Rules for Birthday Wishing: #1 The wish must be made with the eyes closed. #2 Every candle on the birthday cake must be blown out in one breath. #3 The wish must never, ever by spoken aloud.

Orphaned Benjamin Bartholomew Piff closed his eyes, blew out the candle, and wished with all his might. Soon after, sirens wailed all over the Wishworks Factory- Ben had followed every rule of birtday wishing to a T and had made the most dangerous wish of all...a wish for unlimited wishes.

Fantasy
Sequels - #2 Wishful Thinking and #3 Wishing Well

The Treasures of Weatherby by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Harleigh J. Weatherby IV feels misunderstood. At age twelve he is about as tall as a six-year-old, and no one lets him forget it. At school the bullies nicknamed him "Hardly." Now he is homeschooled at the Weatherby mansion, where strict Aunt Adelaide is always on his case about something.

Then Harleigh meets Allegra. When she literally flies over the walls of Weatherby and into Harleigh's life, the two form an unlikely friendship. Allegra is fascinated by the enormous Weatherby mansion, and against Harleigh's orders, sneaks inside. Together they discover that someone is trying to find -- and steal -- the long-lost Weatherby treasure. Will Harleigh and Allegra be able to foil the villain and save Weatherby House?

Fantasy

Read Sept. 2008

Read Sept. 2008

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

"I never had a brain until Freak came along..." That's what Max thought. All his life he'd been called stupid. Dumb. Slow. It didn't help that his body seemed to be growing faster than his mind. It didn't help that people were afraid of him. So Max learned how to be alone. At least until Freak came along. Freak was weird, too. He had a little body- and really big brain. Together Max and Freak were unstoppable. Together, they were Freak the Mighty.

Fiction
Sequel - Max the Mighty

Read Sept. 2008

The Middle of Somewhere by J. B. Cheaney
Veronica Sparks is hitting the road! She has practically memorized Seize the Way: Ten Weeks to SuperSize Your Life! and she is going to shake the dust of her little town off her shoes and see the world!

Well, someday. For now she's hitting the road in an RV with her cantankerous grandfather at the wheel and her hyperactive little brother in the backseat. Ronnie's grandfather is a wind prospector, and they are heading across Kansas in search of a good stiff breeze. Okay, so it's not the trip of her dreams. But with her newly affirmatized attitude, Ronnie figures that travelling somewhere is better than travelling nowhere. That is, until her little brother manages to disappear into thin air. . . .

On one weird, windy, wild ride across the prairie, Ronnie discovers that there are some things you just can't plan for or seize control of—but that sometimes a little chaos is just what a girl needs.

I connected with the setting of this book. It starts in the small town of Partly, Missouri and meanders through the state of Kansas. Many of the places Ronnie and Gee visit, I have visited, too.

Humourous Fiction - Bluebonnet Nominee 2008-09