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?

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword Of Summer by Rick Riordan, Disney Hyperion, 2015. 491 Pages

Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman. HarperTeen, 2000. 112 pages.

14 year old Shawn McDaniel is paralyzed totally-- unable to even move his eyes. But unknown to his family, his mind sharp and he is fully aware of what goes on around him. He thinks his father is trying to kill him, but he has no way to tell anyone.
Fast paced and well done, this HILO is told in the voice of Shawn himself. a winner for boys and reluctant readers and everyone else. several in series, great for bookclubs.

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex. Hyperion, 2007. 425 pages

Upper Elementary/Early Middle-- fast paced and very well written, cleverly put together this fantasy has all the right elements-- a strong orphan-ed type heroine who sets out with a good natured and misunderstood alien on a quest to save the world and her family. A long book for this age- 400 pages. Funny and well done for strong readers-- due to length, mostly.

The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Scholastic Press, 2010. 334 Pages

Fictionalized account of the sad childhood of the Great Latin American Poet, Pablo Neruda. Young Pablo is a sickly frail boy growing up with a loving but subservient grandmother and an overbearing, bully father in early 20th century Chile. Young Pablo's gift with words was noted early and often, but his father considered the field of "letters" feminine and unsuitable for a son of his.

Doodlebug; A Novel in Doodles by Karen Romano Young. Feiwel and Friends, NY, 2010.

Doreen and her family are relocating from LA to San Fransciso--and Doreen is nervous and blames herself. She had big problems in her last school--didn't want to take her ADHD meds, made some bad decisions and got expelled--and wants to reinvent her self for a fresh start in SF. Doreen decides to journal in DOODLES to help her cope with these big changes for herself and her entire family. Written entirely in DOODLES--Doodlebug is fast paced- frenetic even- and full of fun and drama and all things wonderful and compelling-- I loved it so did every girl i offered it to. Romano clearly remembers what it is like to be a kid, to make mistakes, to want a clean slate, to reinvent yourself as the person you want to be-- all her characters and observations are spot on. The Art is the story--they are inseparable- Fresh and fun-- a great journal/diary book that will lead to many future Doodlebugs. YES!

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Little, Brown and Company, 2010. 217 pages

12 year old Lanesha lives in New Orlean's Ninth Ward. Her mother died in childbirth and she is being raised by Mama YaYA-- an 82 yr. old midwife and healer who keeps to the old ways. Lanesha is a powerful seer-- she sees ghosts everywhere-- her house, her school, her neighborhood--the other kids are afraid of her and so, always different-- Lanesha keeps to herself. When Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans, Lanesha needs to stay strong and focused and trust in all she has learned in order to save herself and her family.
Beautifully written and well paced ---a coming of age story (of sorts) in the eye of Katrina. For Middle School and up-- reads like an adult novel. wonderful-- indie hit of the year.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier. (GRAPHIX) 2010, 224 pages.

I love a graphic memoir! Raina Telgemeier's (graphic artist of The Babysitter's Club fame) memoir of her middleschool years-- memories forever intertwined with braces and other dental issues-- that the dental stuff becomes a metaphor for the middle school period itself. Telgemeier clearly remembers what it is like to be in a teenager--family, acne, friends, hormones, boys, friends, teeth, appearance, friends, shyness, mean girls, friends-- add in lots of pain and surgery--and in the end, of couse, Raina overcomes it -- as we all do. A perfect choice of a positive "it gets better" coming of age story--and we always need more of these! SMILE was a pleasant surprise-- a quiet little graphic memoir about a girl i never heard of before but who i liked and felt for. the story pulled me in and will resonate with girls 11+-- and their mothers.
highly recommend