Freak the Mighty

So, the question is: why did it take me so long to pick up this book? It's been around since 1993, (yes, older than you kids!) and it's just wonderful! Two boys, each with problems - some physical, some educational, some emotional - find a friendship where the whole is so much stronger than the sum of its parts. You'll laugh and cry for these boys (I did, anyhow). If you've never read it, do! It's a quick, exciting, and emotionally satisfying read. Philbrick has recently written a sequel - Max the Mighty - but that one is packed away until the library reconstruction is done.

Book Clubs - Parents Welcome!

To the book club participants reading Born on a Blue Day and Yell-Oh Girls - let your parents know that they are welcome to read the books along with you and join in the discussion. That could be an interesting dialogue!

Al Capone Does My Shirts (and Shines My Shoes...!)

This I guarantee: If you've read Al Capone Does My Shirts, you'll want to read Al Capone Shines My Shoes.

I love these books! (Can you tell??)

Just in case you don't already know - it's 1935, and 12 year old Moose Flanagan is living on Alcatraz Island with his father (a prison guard), his sister Natalie (autistic before autism was named or understood) and his mother (entirely and desperately focused on helping her daughter)...and, of course - Al Capone (who, yes, does his shirts...) The books deal with typical teen troubles - girls, baseball, girls, friendship, girls... not to mention, in book 2, an attempted prison break! Choldenko aims for, and hits, both the heart and the funnybone. By turns touching, heroic, and hilarious, these books are winners!

The Uprising

Many of you may know Margaret Peterson Haddix through her suspense series (Shadow Children). In The Uprising, she focuses on something very different - the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Her flair for suspense is evident, and there are some surprising twists, but this book is most notable for the way in which the author brings to life this crucial moment in American history. You will hope, cry, dream and despair with Bella and Yetta and Jane - the three voices through which Ms. Haddix tells her tale. A moving and involving story.

Born on a Blue Day

To: book club people - Hi! Time to start. Read 20-30 pages, and post your impressions of Daniel. Do you think you could like him as a friend? Why or why not? Let me know by the beginning of the week. Mrs. M.

If I Stay

If I Stay - just read this novel by Gayle Forman.

Sometimes, life changes suddenly.
Sometimes, your worst nightmare comes true.
17 year old Mia goes for an ordinary early morning drive with her parents and her little brother.
Now Mia is in a coma. And she has to make a choice -
to go - with Mom, with Dad, with Teddy -
or to stay...