Bub, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis, ISBN # 0-385-32306-9

This is a wonderful story of a thirteen-year-old boy who takes off on his own in search for his father. With the backdrop of the Great Depression, Bud is equipped with a cardboard suitcase and Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. This book is very funny and sad too.

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbit, ISBN #0-590-98886-7

The Tuck family drinks from a magic spring and receive eternal life. This beautifully written book deal with protecting the secret of the magic spring because what would the discovery of it do to the world order. This book is complicated by Winnie who accidentally comes across the secret of the Tuck family. To makes matters worse there is another complication that makes for great drama.

Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman, by Dav Pilkey, ISBN # 0-439-05000-6

Dav Pilkey is at it again. This, as he calls it, the Fifth Epic Novel, is about how George and Harold create a monster who is smarter, faster, and more evil than anything in the world. Yes, you guessed it--The Wedgie Woman. This part novel, part comic book is a great hit with third, fourth, and fifth grade boys, and usually just the opposite with their teachers. It is silly and sometimes gross. As Dav Pilkey says on the cover, Action, Terror, Laffs.

With Every Drop of Blood: A Novel of the Civil Way, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier, ISBN # 0-440-21983-3

This book gives a realistic portrayal of the Civil War, with authentic battle scenes. There are two protagonists, a Confederate fourteen-year-old, who serves as the narrator and an African American Union teenage soldier who becomes his captor. Race issues are dealt with in an optimistic but still realistic manner. This would be a great book to supplement eighth grade social studies curriculum.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Why Commas Really Do Make a Difference, by Lynne Truss, Illustrated by Bonnie Timmons, ISBN# 978-0-545-04222-2

This book, based on the #1 bestseller Eats, Shoots, and Leaves is a must for every tween. It really speaks to the importance of the proper use of commas, and how the wrong use can completely change the meaning of a sentence.The Illustrations are wonderful. A very enjoyable book.

Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George, ISBN # 0-06-440058-1

This fascinating Newberry Winner, is a realistic journey into Eskimo life. Protagonist, Julie runs away from a arranged marriage, gets lost and is cared for by wolves. By reading this book, I learned a lot about wolf behavior, and how difficult it is to live in the Artic. This is a very engaging story in which Julie has to decide to live the ways of the Eskimo or the ways of the White man.

Smoke and Ashes, The Story of the Holocaust, by Barbara Rogasky, ISBN # 0-439-56121-3 ky,

This books tells the story of the Holocaust in chronological order, with liberal use of photographs which will most likely stun the tween reader. An older tween can comprehend this book. The text is clear; the message is strong. I feel that this book should be required reading in the seventh grade. Also, this book has a complete bibliography and index.