Seriously, Norman - by Chris Raschka

International spies, bomber salesmen, weird parents, odd coffee-loving tutors, lots of new words, and four friends with a shared love of old movies and saving the day.  This is a zany but brainy, quirky but just-right story about young Norman and his worries about his father, whose job as a bombastic bomber salesman may be endangering them all.  Can his best bud Leonard and the twin girls from next door form a quadrumvirate (noun: a group of four powerful or notable people) without getting sidetracked by Norman's muddle-headed mother or taken out by two furry-hatted European spies?  Probably, but not definitely.

This is kind of a weird story, but I loved it.  Norman didn't do so well on his standardized test, so his parents hired a tutor, one Mr. Balthazar Birdsong, who seems more intersted in having Norman read the dictionary and watch clouds than in preparing him for the test.  In the end, though, Mr. B's lessons turn out to have been just what Norman needed to find his courage and save the day.

This book will get you curious about New York City, kites, dictionaries (my son asked for a dictionary of his own after we listened to this audiobook), and of course, hot chocolate.  It's well worth the read, even if the cover has you scratching your head (as it does me).  It's a well-voiced audiobook, too.

Serafina and the Black Cloak - by Robert Beatty

Serafina is Chief Rat Catcher at the historic Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, home to one of the richest men in America.  The year is 1899, and strange happenings are afoot at the mansion. Not just strange - terrible!  Children are disappearing, one each night.  A mysterious and dangerous strangers is stalking the halls of the mansion in the dead of night, and the only thing that can stop him is... a scrawny, dirty 12-year-old girl?

This is an excellent piece of historical fiction, set in the author's own backyard and introducing the reader to a fascinating piece of American real estate and point in time.  This book combines true-to-life descriptions of the setting with local legends, and tosses a scary fantasy/mystery over the top to keep us on the edges of our seats.  It works.

Thank you to my young friend Lilia for introducing me to this book, and loaning me your copy.  This is a real girl-power story, and you will be amazed by Serafina's courage, as well as her secrets, which even she doesn't know about at first.  It's a bit scary at times, but scrape up a bit of courage yourself, and check it out.

Shark Wars - by E.J. Altbacker

I had seen these books on the shelves, but had resisted picking up the shiny-covered series because it looked kind of ridiculous. Now that I've read the first book, though, I am hooked!

This is the story of the world's oceans - from under the water!  It turns out that shark rule the seas, through groups known as "shivers".  Each shiver has a leader, who is supported by a "line," the next five strongest sharks in the shiver.  You won't be surprised to learn that the sharks in the story behave like you would expect: Sneaky and violent.  Not all of them, though...

Meet Gray, a reef shark who, with his best friend dogfish, leaves his shiver to go off and explore the big blue.  Before long, they are swept up in one new shiver, then another, and their world is turned on its head.  These peace-loving but sharp-toothed fish want nothing more than a good meal and an adventure, but they find themselves in the middle of a battle for control of all the world's oceans.  As you might have expected, Gray turns out to be a pretty important shark.

This is not only a great adventure story, but it is a strong and touching tale of friendship and loyalty.  I loved looking at the world from a shark's point-of-view, and the characters, good and bad, were portrayed so clearly that I felt like swimming along at their side.  This is one excellent story for sailors and landlubbers alike.

Sunny Side Up - by Jennifer & Matthew Holm

What young girl wouldn't love to spend a summer in sunny Florida?  Sunny Lewin was pretty excited about the opportunity, until she realized that her grandpa's retirement community was not what she expected... just a bunch of geezers sitting around all day doing boring, boring, and more boring.

Before long, though, Sunny realizes that there may be a little more to these old folks than she first thought.  Once she meets another kid, they begin having adventures, making new friends, and turning the summer into something special after all.

This is a fun, thoughtful graphic novel about one girl's everyday adventures over the course of a surprising summer.  It will appeal to readers of Rain Telgemeier, for sure.  

Space Case - by Stuart Gibbs

Stuart Gibbs is an amazing writer, and this may be his best book yet!  

Imagine yourself on the moon, but not as an astronaut:  You are a member of the first group of moon colonists, along with your mom, dad, and six-year-old sister.  This is where we find Dash, the 12-year-old protagonist, and he's not too happy about it.  It turns out that the government's advertisements for the "resort-like" Moon Base Alpha were way overblown, and it's nowhere near as nice or exciting as he'd expected. 

Things get MUCH more exciting, though, when Dash witnesses a murder!  Now it is up to him and a couple of unexpected friends to solve the crime before things get worse.  As the government begins to cover it up, Dash is running out of time, and with a murderer on the loose in    their small community on the surface of the moon, things will definitely get worse before they get better. 

This is a compelling mystery, a realistic sci-fi look at our future in space, and a very interesting story about a brave young man who's trying to do the right thing.  Read it!

Sorry You're Lost - by Matt Blackstone

It's not easy when your mom is dead, your dad won't really talk to you, your teacher kicks you out of class, and your best friend is so weird that nobody talks to him.  Oh, and your name is DONUTS. For Donuts (Denny) Murphy, seventh grade is not off to a very good start.

When Manny, that oddball friend, concocts a flabbergasting plot to raise a lot of money and solve all of their problems, Donuts agrees to help, which could be the best, or the worst, decision of his life.  Will money, a cool car, and cute dates to the 7th-grade-dance turn their lives around, or are these two destined for a life as oddball rejects?  Wouldn't you like to know! Just go read the book.

This book reminds me of Slob, another excellent book which I've reviewed on this blog.  Both of them are a bit sad, but also hopeful, with lots of funny stuff thrown in along the way to a nice ending.  This book has plenty of humor, from a clueless principal and Donut's crush on his "goddess" math teacher to Donut and Manny's ridiculous attempts to impress Allison, the queen bee of the 8th grade.  Add a little bit of a middle school romance, and this book has it all.

It runs a little slow (or maybe just depressing) at times, but that's important to the plot and it all balances out in the end.

Sports Camp - by Rich Wallace

Well, a more appropriate title would be impossible.  This is the story of eleven-year-old Riley, who heads off to a two-week sports camp with 59 strangers, to vie for the Big Joe trophy.  Over the course of those two weeks, Riley learns many lessons, including:

• everybody has something to contribute
• training can enhance your natural talents
• never eat week-old in refrigerated fried chicken
• legends can't hurt you, but giant snapping turtles can
• first impressions can be deceiving
• sometimes cheaters DO prosper
• but sometimes they don't

This short book is great for kiddos who love sports!  Softball, basketball, water polo, swimming, and archery were all part of the competition, pitting cabin against cabin.  Riley was the smallest in his group of boys from New Jersey, and was hopeless at basketball, but he found ways to contribute in the endurance events, and earn his teammates' respect by working hard and never giving up.

It was an interesting story that built toward a predictable but exciting conclusion, but the very end didn't tie things up quite as neatly as I had hoped.  It was good, but kind of abrupt.   Read this if you enjoy camp, competition, huge turtles, or lousy dining hall food.

The Storm Makers - by Jennifer E. Smith

Sometimes books with awesome covers can end up being pretty bad, but this one was as good as it looks.  It feels like a story we've heard before:  A normal boy is minding his own business when a mysterious stranger arrives, and suddenly the boy discovers he has special powers.  The interesting twist here is that the main character is the boy's sister, the super power doesn't really work, and the bad guy seems kind of like a good guy.

The boy in question is 12-year-old Simon, who recently relocated from Chicago to a rural Wisconsin farm with his parents and twin sister Ruby.  A terrible drought is hitting much of the nation, and the big worry is whether the family can make farm life work when nothing will grow.  When Ruby catches a disheveled man sneaking out of their barn one morning, things start to get interesting.  What is Simon's power, and why isn't it functioning correctly?  What is Ruby's role in the story?  Can two kids on a farm save their country from a not-so-natural disaster?

It's an interesting story with good pacing, some fun surprises, and a satisfying ending that hints at, but doesn't require a sequel.  To top it all off, it's beautifully illustrated by Brett Helquist, the master.

Sidekicked - by John David Anderson

Finally, a superhero book that really gets it right.  This is the story of would-be sidekick Andrew Bean, who would like nothing more than to have his hero pay him some attention, for the girl he likes to stop hanging out with his mortal enemy, and for those pesky villains to stop hanging him over pools of acid.  Sadly, when it seems that things are getting better, they are actually on their way to getting much, much worse.

Through Andrew's view as narrator, we meet an unlikely crew of middle school students who are secretly training to become superhero mascots.  When they are not training in the school's basement, they are trying to live normal lives, which isn't easy.  It becomes even harder when a super-villain long thought dead returns to terrorize their city, and the superheros who are expected to defeat him are not who they seem.

This is a great story, a wonderful take on the superhero genre from an unusual point of view, and an excellent bit of writing.  You don't have to love superheros to admire this super story.

Spy School - by Stuart Gibbs

Ben, a 12-year-old boy is invited to go to a secret school for spies.  He doesn't really fit in, but by the end of his first year, he has not only proven that he belongs at the school, but has managed to save the school (and the country) from destruction by the enemy, but has become friends with the school's most beautiful (and talented and deadly) girl.  It sounds like a story I've read time and time again, but the author keeps it interesting with a number of twists and turns and some excellent spy-speak.

There are a lot of references to spy agencies, which may prove distracting for readers who are less familiar with that lingo, but which will appeal to fans of James Bond, Alex Rider, and the like.  This is a nice coming-of-age story with an unlikely hero, and it is a tight plot.  We don't get a lot of background or in-depth character description, but that keeps the book short enough to hold the attention of the boy readers, who are clearly the target audience.  However, the most compelling character is definitely Erica, a ninja-like girl who steals the show, and Ben's heart.

For a book that seems a lot like so many others I've read, this still stands out for its quick pace, surprising outcomes, and good writing.

Son - by Lois Lowry

Not at all what I expected.  How many times have I written that, yet it's perfectly true here.  You'd think I'd learn to not expect anything, and to just go with the flow, yet when I read the back of this book, about how a mother goes searching for her son, I definitely did not to read about an adventurous, mystical quest, and an epic battle between good and evil!

This is a powerful book on many levels.  Any parent will relate to it deeply because of the strong parental themes, but any child will be swept up in the mystery and adventure of Claire's quest to regain what once was hers: Her son.  Claire was born in the futuristic and utopian/dystopian village that was the setting of The Giver and its sequels: The Messenger and Gathering Blue.  Unlike these three, this fourth and last book of the series takes its characters on long, fantastical journeys, into new and mysterious lands, and places them in harms way again and again. Although it is a fitting end to the series, you could easily read this book on its own without ever having heard of The Giver.

This is an amazing, surprising, hair-raising, emotionally touching book.  It has elements of the movie Rocky, especially the training scenes as Rocky builds strength to take on that Russian powerhouse.  At the same time, it is reminiscent of the best Harry vs. Voldemort battle scenes in the Harry Potter books.  Yes, there is adventure and action, though sometimes you have to wait for it... wait for it... though it is worth the wait.

Not at all what I expected, but so much better!

Smile - by Raina Telgemeier

I've never been a teenage girl.  Not once.  If anyone ever asks me what it's like to be one, I could just shrug.  More likely, though, I'll hand them this book. 

This is a very enjoyable graphic novel, and finally one written mainly for girls!  The author tells the story of her own childhood, from life as a tween with tooth trouble, all the way through high school, with all of the social situations that come along with those years.  The focus of the story may be on Raina's unfortunate dental problems, but the real story is her life itself, and told in this way, it's quite an enjoyable story!

There's drama, romance, athletics, dentists, orthodontists, braces, retainers, headgear, crowns, and stuff like that.  The illustrations are great, some of the tooth stuff kind of gross, but the take-away message positive:  Be yourself, you'll find friends who like you for who you are, just remember to smile.

Magyk: Septimus Heap, Book 1 - by Angie Sage

Harry Potter, watch out.  That's what one of my local librarians said as she shoved this book into my hand, and you know what? She has a point.  Nobody can dethrone the Harry series from top of my list, but this series is fantastic.  It is about a boy, but that is from there it takes a totally different direction than the Potter series, spinning out delightfully different tales in each book, but connecting them all together with the same central characters and setting.  If you love a good fantasy series that sucks you in and leaves you wanting more, here it is.

This is really the story of the Heap family, two poor wizards and their children who live in the "Ramblings", a ramshackle collection of apartments and such inside the castle walls of a kingdom which has been somewhat lost since the queen died a decade earlier.  This is a world of magic (magyk), but one in which wizards must study to gain their skill, and in which wizards are not as respected as they once were.  In this book we encounter a lost (and found) princess, a fashion-conscious Extraordinary Wizard, an ex-soldier called Boy 412, a witty message rat, a white witch who loves boiled cabbage, an extraordinary boat, and so much more.  I can't believe how much good stuff is packed into these pages. 

The funny thing about this book is, you spend the whole time wondering who the heck this Septimus Heap person is, and you don't find out until the very end.  That doesn't take away from anything though, and the author provides plenty of memorable characters, both good and bad.  It is a thrilling series that will have you laughing, cheering, and rushing to the library or bookstore for the next book.

As Simple As It Seems - by Sarah Weeks

Simple?  Not so much.  Fifth grade is hard for everybody, but when Verbena Cole finds out that she is adopted, and that her biological father was a mean drunk, things begin to spiral out of control.  Once sweet and fun, Verbena begins to feel like she's destined for failure, and nothing really matters.  Sad stuff.

But wait!  Along comes a new neighbor, an oddball boy named Pooch who is visiting for the summer with his mother, and things began to get even more complicated.   Fake ghosts, allergy attacks, wild bike rides, and a mysterious boat all play a part in this odd but sweet story, in which Verbena and Pooch take a winding road toward friendship, changing both of their lives forever.

This may sound like a weird story, but it is really heartwarming and will hold your interest, especially if you are a 9-12 year old girl, which seems like the ideal audience.  Remember, though, that if 30-something Mister K enjoys it, you may too, no matter who you are.

The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives - by Michael Buckley

Who do you call when Fairy Tale creatures begin to cause trouble in the real world?  The Grimms, of course.  Unfortunately, twelve-year old Sabrina and her little sister Daphne have no clue how this will affect them, they only know that after a year and a half of terrible foster homes after their parents' mysterious disappearance, an old lady who seems to be absolutely bonkers is trying to get them to investigate the appearance of a nasty giant in the town of Fairy Landing.  Before long they are up to their their necks in fairy tale follies, and they begin to realize that fairy tale creatures would be very happy if the Grimm family were gone forever.

Why did it take me so long to try this wonderful series?  The writing is fantastic, the story a fresh new take on the old fairy tales, and the characters absolutely hilarious.  One sister is sweet and trusting, the other tough and independent, and their grandmother zany, lovable, and surprisingly powerful.  This is an adventure, a drama, a mystery, and a fantasy tale all wrapped into one delightful story.  This series, by the author of N.E.R.D.S., is sure to please a wide array of readers. Don't believe me?  Read the book, then we'll talk.  But watch out for that giant!

Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius - by Frank Asch

This is a book that will leave you wondering what is real and what is imagined.  Young Alex loves to create things with cardboard boxes and other bits of junk he's collected, but his biggest challenge comes when his pesky little brother threatens to foil his latest invention.  When Alex is forced to reveal his plans for escape into outer space in his cardboard spacecraft, he must find a way to prevent his brother Jonathan from ruining everything.

There is plenty of sibling rivalry, fancy space and inventor's talk, and creativity in this short but fun book.  The reader won't know where the truth ends and Alex's fantastic imagination begins as this book moves from the bedroom to far above the Earth.  It will appeal to young inventors, older siblings who have to deal with little pests, space fans, and anyone wanting a curious but rewarding short book.

The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere #1) - by Jacqueline West

So, you're an 11-year-old girl whose family just moved into a dark creepy mansion, and you're getting a weird feeling from the paintings in the hall.  The paintings, along with all the other furniture, stayed behind when the old lady who last lived in the house died, mainly because your absent-minded mathematician parents couldn't be bothered with cleaning it out.  You, however, are quite normal, at least you thought so until you started seeing odd things, like small movements and a creeping sense of dread when you stared into a certain painting outside of your bedroom.  Before long you find an old pair of spectacles and realize that you can see into the pictures (Kind of like in the Charlie Bone series, but creepier.)  If this rings a bell, you must be Olive, the lead character in the new Books of Elsewhere series.  Good luck to you.

Once Olive discovers the secret of the paintings, it's a rush against time for her to save everything she knows and loves from a sinister old man long dead who is somehow reaching back from beyond the grave to work his dark magic one more time.  Oh, and she has to deal with three mysterious cats who seem to have come with the house, but who are also far more powerful and important (and silly) than she would have ever guessed.

This is kind of a haunted house story, but also a girl-power mysterious adventure.  It was pretty dark at times, with lots of weird things happening (think Neil Gaiman's writing), but also a hint of hope.  The writing itself was flowing and beautiful, and the author's use of language was my favorite thing about the book.  I liked it, but have talked to tween girls who absolutely loved it, so be your own judge.  The second book in the series, Spellbound, is now out as well.

Storm: The Infinity Code - by E. L. Young

Alex Rider would love to join STORM, but he's probably not smart enough.  Yes, he's a brave adolescent English boy who gets roped into the international spy scene, just like the kiddos in this book, but he's a little bland for this group.  STORM is three exceptionally intelligent fourteen year olds in London who, as you would expect, need to save the world.  There's Will, the inventor, Andrew, the computer programmer, and Gaia, who is multilingual, has a photographic memory, and is really good at blowing things up.

This is a fabulous series, created by a technical science writer who decided to branch out and have some fun, which is exactly what the readers will find themselves doing as well.  It's brainy, fast-paced, mysterious, and just emotional enough to tone down the wild technological and planetary geek-speak.  Read this if you're curious about black holes, spies, inventions, Russian grandmothers, explosives, cutting-edge technology, or teens saving the world.

Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook

There are many books out there about writing, including some decent ones for young people.  I especially like Ralph Fletcher's How to Write Your Life Story.  When I read this book, though, I knew it was the winner.

Two funny, successful authors of young reader novels have teamed up to write this excellent guide for writers of any age, filling it with wisdom born of their own experiences.  The writing is down-to-earth and easy-to-read, and the authors' passion for their subject and the way they approach the difficulties of writing with both humor and humility make this not only a useful, but an enjoyable book to read.

It's split into helpful chapters, so it's easy to pick out just the sections you are interested in, but it's also fun to read straight through, as I did.  There are enough ideas and bits of inspiration in this book to send any curious writer scooting along on their way to their own first book.  If you are a young writer or know somebody who just needs a nudge, or perhaps a good book to spark their interest, call the bookstore or go online and find one of these at the library.  You'll probably have to special request it, since not everyone is as aware of its awesomeness as you and I.

Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me - by Lisa Papademitrou

Wow!  I know I'm not a preteen girl, but I still couldn't put this book down.  The writing was tightly wound and interesting, the characters very realistic and likable (or not, in some cases), and the plot just right for a summer read.  Are you a girl who will one day enter middle school, and who is afraid of how you'll fit in, or if you'll need to change your personality to be "cool"?  Read this book.

This is the tale of Allie, an incoming sixth-grade girl who could care less about the girly side of life, and just wants to play soccer, but whose best friend has her heart set on achieving coolness at their new school.  As they begin to make new friends and follow their interests, the girls' friendship is tested, as is Allie's courage and willingness to do what's right.  It's kind of a classic story-line, but given a fun twist by Allie's habit of making up new words (glommers, for instance) to describe the world around her.  The author uses this unique vocabulary to split the book into  chapters, which works well.  The other fun twist is another classic plot line, the idea that it's cool to be a nerd, which I just can't get enough of.

If you want a quick, fun, thoughtful story about life at a tricky age, love soccer, have best-friend problems, or want proof that it's okay to be smart, check this book out.