a Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle. Square Fish, 2007, 256 pages

Iron Giant, a Story in Five Nights by Ted Hughes. Yearling, Reprint Edition, 1999, 96 pages.

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary. HarperCollins, 1990. 176 pages

Nine year old Beezus has a four year old sister named Ramona who drives her crazy. Beezus cannot enjoy anything on her own because Ramona wants to tag along and always ruins everything. She throws temper tantrums, doesn't listen or do what she is told and-- worst of all-- is cute and clever and full of imagination. It seems to Beezus that in the end, Ramona always gets her way. It is so unfair! AAAAh-- an older but goodie--the original was written in 1955 and some details are a little dated-- the theme sounds like something from shakespeare! Cleary is the master once again with this classic tale of sibling rivalry and the subtlety of family relations. This is the only Huggins/Quimby story told from big sister Beezus' point of view and as a big sister myself, i can sympathize. The littler ones are always cuter and there's no glory in keeping an eye on your little sister. (of course, Ramona thinks her sister gets to do everything!) This is a quiet tale the unwraps slowley-- Beezus takes her sister to the library where Ramona insists that the book she borrowed is hers. Ramona writes her name on every page to prove it is hers and Ramona has to pay for it. The sisters are very different-- Beezus the thoughtful and responsible older sister while Ramona is the carefree one full of bad behavior and imagination-- personality traits that are mirrored in the mother and aunt---something the reader does not fully realize until the birthday party at the end. A classic, gentle tale from a master storyteller.

Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2). Disney-Hyperion, 2006. 288 pages.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riodan. Disney-Hyperion, 2006. 400 pages

Very Harry Potteresque-- Young Percy Jackson learns at the age of 12 that he is really a demi-god-- his absent father is really Neptune, God of the Sea. For his own safety he must leave his mortal mother and his home in Manhattan and travel to Camp Half-Blood with his best friend who, it turns out, is not a boy at all, but a Satyr (goat feet). He learns the skills needed to survive the greek monsters and must go one a quest with Grover and new friend Annabeth. They must find who has stolen lightning from Zeus-- but before they do, lots of adventures and humor and learning about Greek mythology
Very Harry Potter-- if for a younger set who like the US setting, the fresh and sassy and smart alecky Percy and a lot more action-- less pages but still a healthy read. i enjoyed it. An 11 year old i am very friendly with Loved it and cannot wait to read them all--fancies himself a young Percy i have no doubt-- just waiting to be rescued and sent to live with his exciting new family...
A very good series-- i recommend it absolutely-- kids love it. it will not have the adult followers that HP did, but it is not as deep as HP-- still
i do not hesitate to recommend it and even put it on the city of boston's myths and legends summer book list for middle school grades 6-8.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Penguin, 2003. 336 pages

It is Georgia, 1964, and 14 year old Lily Owens hates her life. She has vague, ominous memories of her mother 's violent death, lives with a cold, abusive father (physical and emotional abuse) and is a social outcast among her peers. The only stable figure in her life--Rosaleen- is-a middle aged black farm worker employed by her father to watch over Lily while he operated his peach farm. One day, Rosaleen goes into town to register to vote --it is 1964-- and insults the biggest racists in town and Lily and Rosleen are forced to flee. They end up in Tiburon SC, at the home of 3 sister bee keepers--the first real home Lily and Rosaleen have ever had. All goes well until one day, when the past catches up with them. i enjoyed the story, told from Lily's point of view. The characters, who continue to develop as the story unfolds, are fun and interesting, quirky and sad. It feels very southern, full of strong, colorful women who are both in conflict and bonded together and like family. The book is well written, holds your interest and moves along rapidly. I do want to note, however, that the backdrop is Georgia and South Carolina, 1964-- big events from the civil rights movements frame the story, but it is not a work of historic fiction--and the sensibility is completely 21st century-- as a historian, i cannot let this go and it did mar my enjoyment of the book. For example, the interraccial love affair between Zach and Lily is treated by the church ladies with knowing smiles and cute asides-- which certainly does not ring true because in that historical time and place, Zach's life would have been in real danger; young black men were murdered for a lot less than that. Still i enjoyed the book immensely-- a fun, fast read with lots to talk about for book groups. i recommend it with the above disclaimers.