Ghosts by Raina Telegemeier. Graphix, 2016, 256 Pages.

The same but different from Raina-
 Sisters, family issues, moving, fitting in, friends and boys...All preteen and developmentally appropriate issues.

But, with a Día de los Muertos twist- set in a community modeled after her own northern california hometown, Telegemeier tackles the pleasantly familiar - as well as the serious (death). We love Raina and if she wrote it, we will buy it.

Human Body Theatre: a nonfiction revue by Maris Wicks. First Second, 2015. 234 Pages.

Anatomy and Human Body for kids. In appealing graphic style-- well written and accurate, easy to understand and lots of fun. Circulates like crazy too.

I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis. Scholastic Inc. 2012, 82 pages

Popular Scholastic series fiction based on real life disasters. Each book follows a youngster experiencing a famous disastre. The child deals with real life issues-- parents, sickness, school, etc., against the back drop of the disastre. No kids are hurt or killed but the reader gets to understand a little of what it was like to live during that event. End pages include non fiction materials and information.

When the Moon Meets the Mountain by Grace Lin. Little, Brown and Company, 2009, 277 pages.

Strong girl character, dragons and chinese folktales and storytelling at its best. Bookclub.

I Survived: The Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis. Scholastic, 2012, 82 pages.

Great series--realistic disaster historic fiction- famous disasters through out history are the background for stories about a child who lived through the disaster--no children are harmed--
-- Also the kids have a back story too.
Lucas's Dad and Uncle are NYC firefighters. Lucas get especially close to his uncle when his dad gets hurt on the job. Lucas loves football, just like his uncle, but gets a concussion, and when his parents tell him no more football, he goes to NYC to find the Uncle at the firestation to ask him to intervene.
Realistic without being too graphic--end pages provide more history. Light over all. A winner with younger and middle grade readers. 3rd and 4th i would think.

A Boy Named Queen by Sara Cassidy. Groundwood Books, 2016. 77 Pages.

Into the Wild by Doreen Cronin.Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016. 95 pages

Disappointing- formatted as early chapter but the vocabulary and in jokes are not. Surveillance? I had to check the spelling myself. Too bad. the kids love Cronin's Diary of a Worm, but the jury is still out on this one.

Dead Wake by Eric Larson. Crown Publishers, 2015, 430 pages

Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald. Candlewick Press, 2005, 102 pages.

Lola Levine Drama Queen by Monica Brown. Little Brown and Company, 2016. 88 pages

Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede.Magic Carpet Books-Harcourt, 1990, 212 pages

 Two Strong Female characters- A Princess and A Dragon. High Fantasy with Fairy Tale elements. So well written it feels like an adult book-- in the vein of Rowan of Rin or Ranger's Apprentice. Loved it.

-- chosen for Bookclub-- Not sure if it is young encough!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Speak, 2002, 210 Pages.

Teen Age Love Story. Kill Me Now

The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl. Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, 56 pages

So Roald Dahl--my new favorite author-- if you love funny, irreverent, violent, a little scary, smart books for kids. Quirky Books for Quirky Kids. The ending, as satisfying as La Mariquita Malhumorada, is a bonus.

Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale. Candlewick Press, 2014, 90 pages

 Well respected authors are trying their hand at Early Chapters- and coming up with winners. Like Mo Willems and Kate DiCamillo, the Hales include quality writing and an appealing storyline with color pictures and a larger format.
-- A perfect princess constraining against the limits of the princess stereotypes by day-- a masked ninja fighting for justice (sort of) by night! Who could resist?

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm.

Late 70s, summer vacation and Sunny is sent to visit her Grandfather in Florida. She has visions of traveling with her best friend and going to Disneyworld, the beach, having a vacationy fun time..Instead she finds herself alone with a nice old man who lives in a retirement community. Fun is following him around on his errands, eating dinner at a geriatric buffet at 4:30 pm, and hanging out with his lady friends who make crotcheted Barbie toilet paper covers. Sunny does make friends and has a revelation that she was sent to Florida so her parents could deal with her drug addicted older brother.

Looking for Alaska by John Green. Dutton, 2005. 221 pages.

John Green's first novel. Printz Award. My first John Green book. It is fiction, not autobiographical, but he really did live in Florida and he really did go to boarding school in Alabama and a student really did die while he was a student there. A very good book.

Emma and the Blue Genie by Cornelia Funke. Random House, 2014, 90 pages.

Clearly drawn from folklore-Arabian Nights style-- a fun and well written story for elementary aged kids-- Genies, Dogs, Girls, Magic, humor, adventure-- what more could you ask for?
I love this new trend in early chapter and early fiction--  new series for younger kids  by great and well established authors with color pictures.

see also: Mo Willems/Diva and Flea
               Kate DiCamillo/ Mercy Watson
               Shannon Hale/ Princess in Black.

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson. Viking Books for Young Readers. 2014. 391 pages.

PTSD in the family. Daughter and her very messed up Dad. Frightenly realistic.

Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina. Candlewick, 2016. 356 pages.

Summer of 1977, NYC, hot and gritty. Son of Sam is on the loose and Nora is poor and street smart and seventeen. I love the tension of the hot-son of sam- background and I love Meg Medina's female characters. The men do not measure up though. Still, a very strong enjoyable read. Quick one too.

Soundless by Richelle Mead. Razor Bill (Penguin), 2015. 266 Pages.

Hugely popular at Tattered Cover and PLA in Denver. YA distopian romance and adventure. What's not to love? Well written to boot.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Dial Books, 2015. 240 Pages

Recommended by several young patrons-- always a good sign. What's your Roller Derby Name?

Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan. Harper Collins, 2005, 195 pages.

I adored this book. a strong young girl living in Africa loses her family and everything she knows and loves. She is sent off to England to live a lie with strangers- carrying secrets and sorrow. But she is strong and kind and her desire to return to Africa shapes her decisions. A lot more too. loved it. Deserves every accolade it receives.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Harper, 2011, 262 pages.

Beautiful, lyrical, powerful. A young girl arrives in Alabama from War ravaged Vietnam. Recommended by a lovely young patron with a good eye for story. Recommend, Recommend, Recommend for everyone.

The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlilzzi. Hyperion Books, 2015, 70 pages

Sweet and fun story about 2 unlikely friends-- with a very French feel. High quality all around. end notes detailing the story.

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova. Yen Press. 2015, 224 pages

Excellent graphic in the vein of Sisters, Smile, El Deafo, etc. Unsure if it is an actual memoir or just reads like one.
big, big hit.

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Scholastic Press, 2015. 592 pages.

Modern Fairy Tale

The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale. Candlewick Press, 2014, 90 pages.

Rules by Cynthia Lord. Scholastic, 2006. 200 pages

Saw Cynthia Lord at MLA once, years ago. Loved her and resolved to read RULES. She has a daughter who is sister to a sibling with autism. A great and quick read, I have been recommending it- and telling Lord's story-- for years. only just read it now. Wow! and it was the first of a whole slew of excellent books with main characters having disabilties, Rules was the first.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. Yearling, 2010, 208 Pages.

Audio, so, so good. Reads like a book written for adults.

A Circle Unbroken by Sollace Hotze. Clarion Books, 1988. 202 Pages

Found in the stacks. Low Circ. Not popular. planned to weed but started reading it. Fabulous historic fiction a la Dances with wolves for upper elementary. Then page popped out of binding in my hand-- so dry, the glue.

Weeded and read anyway. A book I would have loved even as a kid.

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. Feiwell & Friends, 256 pages.

4th, 5th grade. sad. magical realism. Bookclub.