Savvy by Ingrid Law, Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008, 342 pages.

Well written and easy reading- children's fantasy told in the voice of a soon to be 13 year old. Recommended by a rising 4th grader.

Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2012, 64 pages

Lovely and lyrical and beautifully written.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, HarperCollins, 1997.

A modern Cinderella story for girls-- A dimwitted fairy gives baby Ella the gift of "obedience"-- and now she must always do what ever anyone tells her to do-- she is compelled. What's a modern Lady to do? A fun and freshly modern tale that kids will relate to, yet still full of magic, fairies, fairy god mothers, step sisters, Lords, Ladys and a Handsome Prince.
--Newbury honor sticker is there for a reason! well done.

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang, First Second, 2014.

Fabulous graphic for gamer girls middle school and up. Cory Doctorow. Action, gaming gender issues, gaming economy, international issues come home. Quick Read-- wish I ordered this one.

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen. Yearling/RH, 1998, 163pages

Edgar award winner- a Sammy Keyes mystery. Ms. I from bookclub wanted to read a mystery and i always wanted to read Sammy who does not move as well as she should.

Relish; my life in the kitchen by Lucy Knisley. First Second, 2013

I love a graphic memoir and i love foodies too.  i found this on a list of great graphics for teens, but i do not see it as a teen book per se. Knisley tells the story of growing up with 2 foodie parents and how she became a foodie too. comes with recipes!!
 I loved it-- well written. will especially appeal to those of us who cannot get enough of all those cooking and reality tv chef shows.

Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda. Scholastic, 1993. 151 pages

Fabulous Fantasy series-- middle grade readers-- Rodda weaves a mesmerizing and exciting tale of high fantasy-- kids will identify with young rowan, the smallest of his clan who often lacks confidence and feels different from the rest. Great character development too.

Mallory on the Move by Laurie Friedman. Lerner Classroom, 2004. 158 pages.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. Houghton Mifflin, 1989, 1397 pages.

Holocaust tale for younger children. Told from the point of view of a Danish girl who learns her Jewish Friend must go into hiding and then escape to neutral Sweden. They are aided by members of her own family, in the Resistance to Nazi occupied Denmark. Annmarie learns alot in a few days. coming of age-ish. A modern Classic.

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier. Graphix/Scholastic, 2014. 197 pages.

I love a graphic memoir and I always love Raina. Not as spectacular as Smile, but wonderful just the same.

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1971. 57 Pages.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd. David Fickling Books, 2007. 322 pages.

The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene. Simon and Schuster, 1930. 180 pages.

Spirit Animals Book 1: Wild Born by Brandon Mull. Scholastic Inc., 2013. 200 pages.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Crown Publishers, 2010. 370 Pages.

The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker. Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. 137 Pages.

In the spirit of Judy Moody, Junie B and Pippi Longstocking, Clementine shines-- clever and quirky, thoughtful and fun loving, she speaks to kids and to families. Lots of truths here about being a kid, the books are great and filled with kid-logic that we all thought but most of us were afraid to say.
Great and always recommended.

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows. Chronicle Books, 2007, 120 pages

Elementary aged fiction- part of the 3rd Grade Book Club in the library. 2 friends, different but the same, share everyday adventures and friendship. Great series for girls.

Nothing But The Truth: a documentary novel by AVI. Avon Books, 1991. 212 pages

School Room classic recommended by an 8th grade class. Realistic Fiction is still my favorite. I loved it. For thoughtful and sophisticated readers.

The Shark King: A Toon Book by R. Kikuo Johnson. Toon Books, 2012. 39 Pages

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Graphic novel, easy reader-ish version of the Hawaiian folk legend -- the shape shifting shark king, Kamohoalii. Well done and patron recommended. Great series of early readers  graphics with parent teacher guides included. Loved it.

Bad Kitty vs Uncle Murray by Nick Bruel. Square Fish, 2011. 176 pages.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012. 312 pages

The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin. A Tom Doherty Associates Book, 2006. 107 pages.

A small and beautifully written book. Rich and luscious language, dragons, danger, secrets, myth, melancholy, battle-- Martin does not disappoint. A small but deep  book for thoughtful and sophisticated kids. a short story for adults.

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. Delacorte Press.2010, 268 pages.

I was so disappointed with this-- I liked the first half of the book-- the classroom, the kids, the types, the issues, the new teacher who is not easy to fool, etc. I did notice though that it is not written in an authentic voice of kids-- not like Sharon Draper or Judy Blume or Rita Garcia Williams-- but i still did like it alot. Then,-- the accident--and it becomes very heavy handed cautionary tale-- Play Nice or someone you love might have a terrible accident .   I wanted to love it but was disappointed instead. Am interested to find out what the kids think of it.  

White Crane: Samurai Kids by Sandy Fussell. Candlewick Press, 2011.

Romeo & Juliet by Gareth Hinds. Candlewick Press, 2013.130 pages.

The Never Girls: In a Blink by Kiki Thorpe. RH/Disney, 2013, 128 pages.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier. Graphix/Scholastic, 2012, 231.

Not exactly so, but feels like a sequel to Smile, this graphic memoir-ish fiction has all the charm of Telegmeier's first. The story plays out over the course of one middle school play-- Drama -- as in the play and drama-- as in the lives of 7th and 8th graders-- who's gay, who thinks they are gay, bi or whatever, who falls in love with every nice guy she meets, who are the prima donnas-- on and off the stage, etc. Telegmeier's drawings are warm and familiar and the dialogue is spot on. Telegmeier remembers what it is like to be a middle school Drama-Geek. Loved it.

Bink & Gollie: Two For One by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee. Candlewick Press, 2012. 75 pages.

 

REVIEW

Best friends Bink and Gollie are complete opposites in terms of appearance; they are kindred spirits, though, and readers will delight in sharing in their adventures at the state fair... Short, compact sentences make this book an ideal selection for beginning readers... Fucile employs an economical use of sketchy lines and splashes of color to capture facial expressions and emotions with spot-on accuracy. His artwork goes a long way in making this title the funny, touching book that it is. It would be no surprise if Bink and Gollie were to join the likes of Elephant and Piggie and Frog and Toad in the ranks of favorite friend duos.

—School Library Journal (starred review)

B&G again hit that sweet spot where picture books, graphic novels, and early readers converge... The book follows a satisfying trajectory from the first story’s slapstick through the second’s pathos to conclude with the affirmation of friendship in the third, and the blend of humor and sympathetic warmth buoys the story throughout. This endearing partnership remains a treat to follow, and readers will be as delighted as Bink and Gollie about the fortune-teller-certified long-term soundness of their friendship.

—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)