Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Alfred A. Knopf, 2012, 315 Pages.

School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—Due to a rare genetic disorder, Auggie Pullman's head is malformed, his facial features are misshapen, and he has scars from corrective surgery. After much discussion and waffling, he and his parents decide it's time for him to go to a regular school for the fifth grade instead of being homeschooled. All his life Auggie has seen the shocked expressions and heard the whispers his appearance generates, and he has his coping strategies. He knows that except for how he looks, he's a normal kid. What he experiences is typical middle school—the good and the bad. Meanwhile, his beautiful sister is starting high school and having her own problems. She's finding that friendships change and, though it makes her feel guilty, she likes not being labeled as Auggie's sister. Multiple people tell this story, including Auggie, two of his new school friends, his sister, and his sister's former best friend. Palacio has an exceptional knack for writing realistic conversation and describing the thoughts and emotions of the characters. Everyone grows and develops as the story progresses, especially the middle school students. This is a fast read and would be a great discussion starter about love, support, and judging people on their appearance. A well-written, thought-provoking book.—Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC

The Last Invisible Boy by Evan Kuhlman. Atheneum Books For Young Readers, 2010. 232 Pages.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-7

This illustrated novel, reminiscent in style of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Abrams, 2007), is sure to have huge appeal. Finn Garrett tells the tender yet humorous story of how he begins to disappear following his beloved dad's sudden death. The 12-year-old awakens the morning after the day when everything changes to find a strand of white hair and less "pinkness" to his skin. Each day he grows whiter and less visible. He begins to write a memoir, which is really an account of his and his family's grief over their devastating loss. While poignant and sad, the book is ultimately upbeat as they begin to heal. At times Finn feels he is being erased because he failed to save his dad. At other times he wonders if he is aging in order to get closer to him. He recounts memory after memory, ultimately realizing the importance of them, and of being the keeper of his father's stories. Finn sees a therapist, and eventually he, his mother, his grandpa, his little brother, and his friend Melanie move beyond their initial pain. Finn's invisibility reverses itself and he becomes a boy who has managed to hold on to the world. The book's engaging, intimate tone is enhanced by Finn frequently addressing readers. Stop signs placed at points when he is overwhelmed with feeling add to the tenderness. The language and style are pitch-perfect middle school, and the illustrations ably capture the boy's memories and moods.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME

The One And Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. HarperCollins, 2012. 305 Pages

From barnesandnoble.com:

Overview

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.

Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.

Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal

Heidi Heckelbeck In Disguise by Wanda Coven. Little Simon, 2012. 119 pages.

Heidi is upset that Mean Melanie, the class bully, plans to dress as an ugly stereotypical witch for Halloween. Even worse, she cannot tell her friends that it hurst even worse because Heidi IS a witch-- a good and lovely one whose mother will not let her use magic just because. So Heidi uses just a little magic without permission to dress up as Melanie for Halloween. Heidi loves that she gets Melanie's goat, but will she lose her friends when her "act" is so true to type?
Easy reader, very popular with 2nd and 3rd graders--its fun and pink and magic. also longer at  100+ pages, even with large type and the occasional drawing. Recommended by several young readers who love a series--and want them in order.

Fortunately The Milk by Neil Gaiman. Harper, 2013. Unpaged.

Short funny bizarre fantasy- very British and very Neil Gaiman, story about a family home one morning without mom. There is no milk for the kids cereal or for Dad's tea, so dad goes out to get some. When he finally returns home, really really late but with the milk in hand, he relates a bizarre time travel kidnapping dinosaur, alien, balloon story. The kids love it but do not believe a word. Good back and forth with hard to fool kids and a storytelling dad who thinks on his feet. lots of illustrations make this a fast fun read.

Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer. Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin, 2010, 200 Pages.

Off Shoot of a Stevermer adult series, but stands alone well. Very Harry Potterish-including the type set-- but much shorter, of course-- still, this single volume leaves lots of room for sequels. Fun, fantasy magic fiction with a historical feel and some adventure. Ending see big showy fight with evil spirit-ish thing. Good Guys win-- for now.
Rated for grades 4 -7. First choice for 4th,5th and 6th grade book club. upper elementary.