Freddy is ready — for 2nd Grade! It's almost Christmas, and Freddy is thrilled when his teacher tells the class that they'll be doing a Secret Santa gift swap. He can't wait to make a special present for one of his friends — until Freddy picks the worst name in the class! Freddy can't believe it, but maybe with some help from his friends he can be the best Secret Santa ever! Views: 41
Yikes! As if being the new girl isn't bad enough, Charlotte just made the biggest cafeteria blunder in the history of Abigail Adams Junior High. There's no way that Katani, Avery, and Maeve will want anything to do with her now. Can a mysterious landlady, a romantic evening gone wrong, and a cryptic key to nowhere help four very different girls become the best of friends? Or will they remain worst enemies forever? Views: 41
A coming-of-age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, this is the story of Perry, a Harlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attending college falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon come face-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violence and death aren't the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue in himself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is even there at all. Views: 41
It’s the seventh grade "outdoor education trip" to Lake Rescue! Adventure girl Charlotte’s excited; city girls Katani and Isabel are not so sure. Of course, outdoor sports are right up Avery’s alley, but bugs, snakes, and bears are so not up Maeve’s. But no self-respecting BSG wants to miss out on adventures, and the week at Lake Rescue has more than its share: rock climbing, an unfortunate canoeing incident for a Queen of Mean, a hike that turns dangerous -- and the chance for one classmate to discover strengths she didn’t know she had. Views: 40
Meet Kevin Pugh, 12-year-old couch potato. Now meet Cromwell, his part beagle, part potato chip dog. Kevin's looking forward to spending his summer doing as little as possible. Unfortunately, Kevin's father, former Chicago Bears star player/super-sports fanatic, Howie Pugh, feels differently. So does Cromwell, who has suddenly and mysteriously developed a fascination with agility competitions: running up seesaws, leaping over hurdles, soaring through hoops (sometimes). If he has to do anything, Kevin would rather do something for newly obsessed Cromwell, but dog agility lessons do not constitute a sport in his father's mind, so football camp it is. Until some well-timed events collide, literally, and soon Kevin's found a way for he and Cromwell to take classes, and the upstart Team Cromwell is born.Andy Behrens has written a hilarious novel with a dry-as-dirt protagonist who's constantly tortured by the goings-on around him. It's also a charming story about a boy and... Views: 40
JANICE LYNN celebrates the release of her debut novel, JANE MILLIONAIRE (DORCHESTER, 2005). With this charming, fun tale Janice has established herself as a unique voice in contemporary romance which was validated with her winning Romantic Times AMERICAN TITLE CONTEST. JANE MILLIONAIRE competed for six months in the American Idol style contest and won the contest in April, 2005 at the Romantic Times convention in St. Louis, MO. Prior to winning the American Title contest, JANE MILLIONAIRE won the prestigious GOLDEN PEN award.From BooklistIn an effort to get away from the man who dumped her, and to appease her flighty sister, Jill Davidson agrees to pose as her sister Jessie, who landed the starring role in a reality TV show called Jane Millionaire. Now she's in a small European country, pretending to be Jessie, who is pretending to be "Jane," the princess of said country. Twelve men are to spend time with her, hoping to be chosen by the princess. But Jill only has eyes for Rob Lancaster. Rob appears indifferent, but he's attracted to Jill as well. Many issues stand in their way, including Jill's lies about her identity, and the fact that Rob's entire career depends on the success of the show, which does not allow for canoodling with the star. It's an all-out war between their heads and hearts as Lynn's love-struck characters struggle with conflicted feelings and subterfuge in this thoroughly modern, surprise-filled, and entertaining romance. Maria HattonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reservedReviewDon’t miss this fabulous book. Janice Lynn is definitely an author to watch! -- Reader to Reader Reviews, Suzanne Coleburn, October 2005Fans of reality TV, fans of romance, and fans of engaging stories with endearing protagonists will enjoy this story. -- The Romance Studio, Sarah W., reviewer, October 2005I look forward to her next book! -- The Best Reviews, Kathy Boswell, reviewer & managing editor, October 2005JANE MILLIONAIRE is delightful, funny and oh-so romantic. If it possible to give a rating higher than 5, I would. -- Romance Junkies, Rosie Bindra, November 1, 2005Janice Lynn is a name that will soon become a household name within the romance genre. -- Fallen Angel Reviews, Missy Andrews, reviewer, October 2005 Views: 40
Walter Dean Myers brilliantly renders the realities of World War II.Josiah Wedgewood and Marcus Perry are on their way to an uncertain future. Their whole lives are ahead of them, yet at the same time, death's whisper is everywhere.One white, one black, these young men have nothing in common and everything in common as they approach an experience that will change them forever.It's May 1944. World War II is ramping up, and so are these young recruits, ready and eager. In small towns and big cities all over the globe, people are filled with fear. When Josiah and Marcus come together in what will be the greatest test of their lives, they learn hard lessons about race, friendship, and what it really means to fight. Set on the front lines of the Normandy invasion, this novel, rendered with heart-in-the-throat precision, is a cinematic masterpiece. Here we see the bold terror of war, and also the nuanced havoc that affects a young person's psyche while living in a barrack,... Views: 39
Eleven-year-old Isabella's blended family is more divided than ever in this thoughtful story about divorce and racial identity from the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Out of My Mind, Sharon M. Draper.Eleven-year-old Isabella's parents are divorced, so she has to switch lives every week: One week she's Isabella with her dad, his girlfriend Anastasia, and her son Darren living in a fancy house where they are one of the only black families in the neighborhood. The next week she's Izzy with her mom and her boyfriend John-Mark in a small, not-so-fancy house that she loves. Because of this, Isabella has always felt pulled between two worlds. And now that her parents are divorced, it seems their fights are even worse, and they're always about HER. Isabella feels even more stuck in the middle, split and divided between them than ever. And she's is beginning to realize that being split between Mom and Dad is more than switching... Views: 38
A boy's chance encounter with a scruffy dog leads to an unforgettable friendship in this deeply moving story about life, loss, and the meaning of family Ben Coffin has never been one for making friends. As a former foster kid, he knows people can up and leave without so much as a goodbye. Ben prefers to spend his time with the characters in his favorite sci-fi books...until he rescues an abandoned mutt from the ally next-door to the Coney Island Library. Scruffy little Flip leads Ben to befriend a fellow book-lover named Halley—yes, like the comet—a girl unlike anyone he has ever met. Ben begins thinking of her as "Rainbow Girl" because of her crazy-colored clothes and her laugh, pure magic, the kind that makes you smile away the stormiest day. Rainbow Girl convinces Ben to write a novel with her. But as their story unfolds Ben's life begins to unravel, and Ben must discover for himself the truth about friendship and the meaning of... Views: 37
In this paperback debut, Alison Pollet brings us the story of an observant uptown girl named Penelope, whose posh upbringing can't protect her from changes at home and at school.It's 1981, and nothing is going right in Penelope's life. She has just started seventh grade at Elston Prep, and she and her best friend Stacy aren't getting along. Stacy is all caught up in who's wearing what to whose Bar Mitzvah, and has even become friends with Annabella and Pia, two of the biggest snobs at Elston! At home, things are no better: there's a new mother's helper to contend with, and Penelope's little brother Nathaniel just won't leave her alone. And when her parents are at home—which is rare—all they do is fight. Views: 37
From the beloved author of Because of Mr. Terupt comes the sequel to The Perfect Score, about a lovable group of students at Lake View Middle School and the rewards and challenges of seventh grade.These students are in for a year of secrets, discoveries, and kid power!GAVIN finally joins the football team--a dream come true!--but Coach Holmes refuses to play him for reasons that also threaten to tear Gavin's family apart. When RANDI attends an elite gymnastics camp, she uncovers a startling family connection. SCOTT starts researching an article for the school newspaper and stumbles right into a hornet's nest of lies. With his loser older brother, Brian, out of the house, TREVOR's life is loads better--until he realizes that only he can save Brian from getting into deep trouble. NATALIE's top goals: (1) find out why Mrs. Woods and Mrs. Magenta no longer speak to each other--a mission shared by all the kids--and (2) teach a certain someone an important life skill without anyone knowing. It's tough keeping secrets. And tougher still to deal with the fallout when secrets spill out. Views: 37
