The Sister's Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley.Amulet Books, 2005. 284 pages.

Two sisters, Daphne, 7, and Sabrina Grimm, 11, find themselves in a series of awful foster homes after their parents (and only living relatives) inexplicably disappear. The real story starts when the girls are dropped off with a new foster mom who turns out to be their grandmother Grimm, an Everafter  who lives in an isolated and strange little town in upstate New York filled with mythic and fairy tale characters. Snow White is a school teacher, Prince Charming the Mayor, The 3 Pigs are Police. The sister's Grimm must get used to their new life while solving a crime involving a destroyed farm house and a huge foot print, while saving their Grandmother from a kidnapping Giant.  Part mystery, part fractured fairy tale, part adventure the story is delightful, but long and windy-- take note because not all 4 to 6 graders will be ready for a thick twisty plot and 300 pages. But for those that are the book is a clever and funny and satisfying. series.

The Dream Stealer by Sid Fleischman. Greenwillow Books, 2009. 89 pages.

Susana, a young Mexican girl, misses the best friend she left behind when her family moved to a new city. Susana is reunited with Consuelo Luisa in her dreams, until Zumpango, the Dream Stealer, tired of taking people's nightmares, steals the lovely dream for himself. Susana sets off to get it back. Short and sweet, The Dream Stealer is full of rich language and not too scary fantasy. Fleischman includes a great explanation of his inspiration for the story.

Ain't Nothing But A Man: my quest to find the real John Henry by Scott Reynolds Nelson. Washington DC: National Geographic Society, 2008

The youth version of Nelson's highly acclaimed work Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry: the untold story of an american legend, Ain't Nothing BUT A MAN is fascinating, well written and very accessible to upper elementary and middle school students. Nelson follows clues in the John Henry folksongs to separate legend from history and uncover the real man. John Henry's story is the story of african american men in the mid nineteenth century--the civil war, reconstruction, railroads, and prison labor. Highly recommended for kids who love history and for those that think they don't. Includes Aronson's excellent overview of the research process, Nelson's appendices and suggestions for further research and multimedia sources. Summer Reading List, myths and legends, middleschool. Loved it.

Reckless by Cornelia Funke. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2010.

Princess at the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. New York: Bloomsbury. 280 Pages.

Rich retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, George deftly weaves a fresh tale of Romance, of FairyTale, of Fantasy. A modern twist on an old classic, this well done fairytale will appeal to older middle school girls who may well insist they do not like fairytales. Especially well done. Look for several sequels. 2012 Summer reading list, myths and legends, 6-8.

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. New York: Dutton. 256 pages.

Deliciously Creepy and right on point- fairy-tale wise, Gidwitz takes Hansel and Gretel to places we never even dreamed. Clever and rich. Summer Reading list, 2012. middle school legends and myths. 5th grade+.