The Exact Location of Home - by Kate Messner

Geocaching is pretty popular these days, and this book will tell you all about this fun activity.  Along the way, it will take you on the emotional journey of a young teen boy and his friends, leaving you with an aching heart, a thirst for exploring your neighborhood, and a new perspective on poverty and homelessness.

Kirby Zigonski is not your typical teenage boy.  First, his dad is missing, his mom won't tell him why, and they are about to get evicted from their apartment.  Second, Kirby is a whiz with electricity, and can repair just about anything.  This time, though, Kirby may have found a problem that he can't figure out how to fix.  His two best friends (both girls) try to help, but Kirby pushes them away, drawing closer to a mysterious stranger that he *hopes* is his missing father.

Kate Messner never disappoints.  Really.

A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans - by Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder

I love stories told from an animal's point of view, and the viewpoint of this thousands-of-years-old dragon is a great example of the genre.  Miss Drake, as we know her, recently lost her "pet" human, but as the story begins, a new pet is just arriving.  Winnie is a charming and precocious young teen, and her great aunt seems to have told her everything she needed to know about caring for the family dragon.  Little did Winnie know, however, that the dragon had plans of its own!

This captivating story imagines life in modern San Francisco, but with hidden magical life all around.  Take Miss Drake, for instance.  She may be a fierce, full-grown red and scaly dragon, but she can transform into a fashionable French fashionista in the blink of an oversize eye.  There is a problem in every story, of course, and in this case it takes Winnie and Miss Drake a little while to realize that a seemingly wise act has resulted in setting wild magic loose on the city, possibly breaking ages-old magical rules, and threatening the destruction of land and life.  Don't worry; Our heroines are up to the task of taking the magic into their own hands, but the process promises quite a magical adventure.

This is a very interesting and well-written book, full of magic and girl power.

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict - by Trenton Lee Stewart

I opened this book expecting it to be my new favorite book. Why?  This comes at the end of an amazing series, the Mysterious Benedict Society and its follow-ups, and it focuses on possibly the most intriguing character in those stories, Mr. Benedict himself.   Was I disappointed?  Not a bit.

Although not an action-packed story, this book is nonetheless full of quick wits, realistic adventures,  mystery, reading, problem-solving, courage, and unlikely friendship.  It's got a little of everything, and a bit of something more:  Wonder and Genius. Can you tell I am a big fan of Trenton Lee Stewart?

When you begin this book, you meet young Nicholas, the precocious orphan with a remarkable memory who is just heading to his last-chance home, a very odd and problematic mansion full of mean boys and inattentive caretakers.  Before long, Nicholas puts his impressive mental talents to the challenge of solving a decades-old mystery before his arch-nemesis, and to the ultimate goal of getting himself out of this dead-end life and into a successful path to a rich, orphanage-free future.  Of course, nothing in this poor boy's life is easy, and this task may be his most difficult and hopeless yet.  Or not.

Mr. Stewart's latest book is a wonderful balance of just about everything, and is a must-read for anyone who's read his series, and even those who have not.  Like any of Roald Dahl's best work, this book is a stand-alone, unforgettable novel of an extraordinary boy whose pluck and wits help him make the best out of a troublesome life.  Go read it.

 

Eleven Birthdays - by Wendy Mass

Happy birthday! Again.  And again.  And... well, you get the idea. Poor Amanda is all set to celebrate her first birthday apart from her former best-friend Leo, when something a bit unusual happens.  Things repeat.  Everything repeats. What in the world!

This is the lighthearted but deeply touching story of Amanda and Leo, and the world around them that just won't do what they want it to.  We the readers travel back to the moment when it all went wrong for these two friends, and follow them as they try to make it right.  It is a fun story, full of interesting descriptions and funny moments.  The series promises to be fantastic, though the boys may shy away from it because of the covers.  Hey Boys:  Go ahead and read books because they're GOOD, even if they're about girls!

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate - by Jacqueline Kelly

I thought this book had a cool cover, so I read it. I thought it would be a book that would mainly interest girls, and it probably is.  I thought it would be a little boring, and it... WAS NOT!  Imagine that you're a 12-year-old girl in Texas in 1899, with all the limitations and expectations that come with that.  What are those?  Let's see: You must wear a bonnet and skirts, learn to keep house and knit, cook and clean, play the piano and have social graces, and of course give up any chance of ever having a career of your own unless you want to be a lonely spinster school teacher.  Equal rights?  Yeah, right.

Now imagine that you're Calpurnia Tate, the only girl in her large family, and granddaughter to the mysterious and grumpy Mr. Tate, who also happens to be a famous naturalist and scientist.  When her grandpa takes her under her wing and begins to give her the education he thinks she deserves, but which stands in direct opposition to her mother's plans for her.  Calpurnia is stuck in the middle, begin to see herself as a scientist and a strong, independent woman, but facing the bleak housewifey future of her parents' expectations.  Does she have the will to break from her family and plot her own course into the new century, heading off to University to become a scientist, or will her destiny be that which her parents have forecast?  The answer isn't as clear as you might expect, but in showing Calpurnia's growth (or evolution) through the book, the author gives us hope and  lets us, the readers, put the final touches on young Miss Tate's fate.

This really is a fabulous book, realistic and full of interesting people, places, and ideas. The ideas of Charles Darwin play heavily and help shape Calpurnia's thinking and her relationship with her grandpa.  The writing is smart, careful, and nuanced, and will delight readers who appreciate well-crafted prose and straightforward but captivating plots.  There's not much adventure, no violence, nothing disgusting, and not much humor, so it's not a book for everyone. Young ladies who have an interest in science and nature are obviously the ideal readers, but I can't think of anyone who couldn't benefit from reading this delightful story.

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat - by Lynne Jonell

A rat who can talk, a girl whose parents seem to have forgotten she exists, a beautiful but nasty nanny with a curious cane and an unhealthy interest in health food, and a very tiny soccer player.  These elements combine with interesting illustrations and a quick and mysterious plot to create an enjoyable adventure.  If you love rats, or brave girls, or perhaps supernatural powers, you may want to read this book.  

Emmy is a lonely girl, who nobody pays much attention to.  When she becomes friends with her classroom pet, things begin to get interesting, and before long she's in a headlong race to save her friends, her family, and herself, before it's too late.  This makes a good class read-aloud, so good in fact that it inspired me to write a song, posted below.  Enjoy! (I make no claims to be a good singer or guitar player, simply a brave one.)

Eleven - by Patricia Reilly Giff

What if you were in the attic, looking for something random, when you came across an old newspaper article that made you question EVERYTHING about your life?  And worse, what if you weren't able to read it yourself, because you're pretty bad at reading?  When this very thing happened to fifth-grader Sam, he set off on a quest to uncover his true identity and solve the mystery of his childhood.  Who is the man he's living with, his best friend, his "grandpa"?  With the help of a curious new girl, Sam learns new things about his history, his family, and himself. 

This fascinating story is kind of a mystery, but is also one of those books where unlikely kids get mashed together and end up as great friends.  Imagine the relationship between the kids from Bridge to Terabithia, but with a totally different type of (and less tear-jerking) ending.

Read this if you love interesting characters, trying to solve mysteries before the author does, or Indian food.

Extra Credit - by Andrew Clements

Andrew Clement, who is the master of school stories, adds an internation twist to his usual smart-kids-solving-their-own-problems-when-the-adults-around-them-make-dumb-decisions story plot.  Abby is a failing sixth grader in Illinois who agrees on an extra credit project to try to save her grades.  Sadeed is a 12-year-old boy from a small village in Afghanistan, and the two of them become the most unlikely of pen pals.  There's a lot more to this story than you'd expect, and you will likely learn something by the time you're done reading it.  Yes, you should read it, kid and teacher/parent alike.

One big theme in this book is children from very different lives becoming friends, but other important topics in the story include: Life in Afghanistan, rock-climbing, keeping secrets, brother-sister relationships, and the beauty and  importance of writing letters.

Elijah of Buxton - by Christopher Paul Curtis

This is the story of Elijah, an eleven-year-old boy who was born in the town of Buxton, a settlement of freed and escaped slaves in Canada. Although he is living in the 1800's, Elijah will remind many young readers today of themselves: He is full of energy, curious and eager to please, and able to get himself into all kinds of trouble in spite of his parents' warnings. Like Mr. Curtis's other books (Bud, Not Buddy, The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963), the characters in this story are not only believable, but unforgettable.

Although the story is fiction, the town of Buxton was a real settlement for free slaves, and is still around today. History buffs willl love this book, as will anyone interested in adventure, funny characters, and dangerous situations. The ending is the best part - be ready to laugh, cry, and cheer!

Each Little Bird that Sings - by Deborah Wiles

You may guess that a book about a girl named Comfort Snowberger and her dog, Dismay, who live in a funeral parlor would be a little strange. If so you'd be right, but in the best way imaginable. In this charming Southern story, the author introduces us to a cast of characters, mainly Comfort's family and friends, who are each portrayed richly and imaginatively, and a town that seems to come alive as you read. Comfort and her family run the local cemetery and funeral parlor in Snapfinger, Mississippi, and they have a hand in every death that happens in the area. Because of this, Comfort has become very comfortable with the idea of death, at least until her favorite great-great-Aunt Florentine passes away in the family's vegetable garden at the age of 94. While she is dealing with the loss of her beloved aunt, Comfort has some death-defying adventures, loses and finds a best friend, is forced to spend a lot of time with her annoying younger cousin, Peach, and finally learns a thing or two about life, and about death, all from the places you'd least expect.

This seems like a novel about death, and in a way it is. In another way, though, it is entirely about life and how wonderful it is. Don't worry, it's not a depressing book (though there are a few weepy parts), and it's not all about dead people, even though it takes place in a funeral home. This book reminds me of Richard Peck's funny novels, except young readers will like this one better, I'm positive. Each Little Bird is ideal for readers who enjoy adventure, drama, dogs, great character description, and really wonderful, bright writing.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves

What good IS a comma? In this children's version of British punctuation fiend Lynne Truss's bestseller, pictures and simple sentences are imaginatively combined to answer this question in a clear, funny way. Rather than replace the original book (a punctuation guide for adults), this picture book supplements it nicely.

Though this is a very short and simple book, targeted toward young audiences (3rd grade, it is said), I think it is a must-read for readers and writers of every stripe and age.

Eragon - by Christopher Paolini

People always ask me "What's your favorite book?" There's no easy answer, but Eragon is somewhere near the top of the list. Why? You'd really have to read it to find out, and that is an undertaking that requires a major time commitment, trust me. Even if you could read it fast, it's so good that you wouldn't want to. There's so much to keep track of in this epic fantastic adventure, from the history of dragons to the secrets of special types of fighters, and then there are the various types of creatures and kingdoms to remember... this book will take over your life while you're reading it, and for a while after too. I could say this is simply a story about a boy and a dragon, but it's much, much more than that. If Harry Potter is small change to you and the Lord of the Rings trilogy is on your to-read list, you've got to read Eragon (and don't forget the sequel, Eldest, which is even better!)

P.S. A movie based on this book will hit the theaters soon.