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.

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, by Kimberly Willis Holt, ISBN # 0-8050-6116-9

Thirteen-year-old Toby Wilson is having a bad summer, his mother left his family and the girl he likes won't give him the time of day. Then Zachary Beaver, the heaviest boy in the world comes to town in a trailer, and people pay two dollars to peak in the trailer to see him. As Toby struggles with his problems as well as helping his new friend Zachary, he learns he is starting to fit in an imperfect world. Kimberly Willis Holt tells this story is beautifully with great sensitivity.

Hurricane, a Novel, by Terry Trueman, ISBN # 978-0-06-000010-6

This novel is set in Honduras during and after Hurricane Mitch in 1968. With his Father, older sister and older brother away, thirteen-year-old protagonist Jose Cruz must be the head of his family and muster up the courage to do what he can after the worst storm to hit Honduras in 200 years.The reader of this book will really have a true feeling of what such devastation can do to a community.

Bone, Out of Boneville, by Jeff Smith, ISBN # 978-0-439-70623-0

This is one book of a nine volume series about the Bone cousins getting kicked out of Boneville. They get lost and the journey begins. Lost, each Bone gets caught in a strange valley with strange happenings. Fast paced, great art, quite a journey.

Letters from Rifka, by Karen Hesse, ISBN# 0-590-51587-X

This book, told in a series of letters from Rifka, who is separated from her family while immigrating to the United States from Russia due to the Bolshevik Revolution. Rifka goes through many trials and tribulations before being reunited with her family. This book gives a powerful insight into the immigrant experience.

Stand Tall, by Joan Bauer ISBN # 0-399-23473-X

Tree is six foot three seventh grader and really stands out. Besides this his parents are just divorced. With the help of his grandfather, a new girl in school, and a flood, Tree finds purpose in his life and takes pride in his size. Bauer's humorous and wonderful characters help make this book a must read.

Kira-Kira, byCynthia Kadohata, ISBN # 0-439-79941-4

In Japanese, kira-kira means glittering. In this book, the Takeshima family use the term kira-kira to describe all the subtle wonders of being alive. Fourteen-year-old daughter Lynn's life is kira-kira until she is struck down with lymphoma. This tragedy affects the family in unexpected ways. This is a sensitive and beautiful story.

The Giver, by Lois Lowry, ISBN # 0-440-21907-8

The protagonist, Jonas, lives in a completely controlled culture in the future. No one in the society has any knowledge of the past. Jonas is chosen to be trained by The Giver to be the only person to hold the memories of pain and pleasure of life. The responsibility is huge and Jonas makes a big decision. This book is Lois Lowry at her best. I couldn't put it down.

Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, ISBN # 0-689-82167-0

In this survival story, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on is way to visit his father in northern Canada when the pilot of the plane has a heart attack and the plane clashes. Brian survives with little more than the hatchet his mother have him. This Newberry Honor book keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli, ISBN # 978-0-316-80722-7

Maniac Magee is quite a guy, actually, you can call him a legend. In the span of 180 pages Manic, stopped potential gang warfare between the east side and the west side, taught an illiterate janitor to read, and helped two runaways return home, among many other things. Maniac seems to run all the time because he is always helping people. Truth is somewhat suspended in this book, because Maniac is like a superhero with sneakers. This was a fun and enjoyable book.

Dragonwings, by Laurence Yep, ISBN# 0-06-440085-9

This book is a beautifully written testament to the courage and industry of the Chinese-Americans of the early 20th century. Moonshadow, an eight-year-old. sails from China to be with a father in San Francisco he has never met. Father has a dream to make a flying machine, and he and his son have to go through much mockery in their pursuit. This is a heart-warming story of father and son and many other characters.

Rickshaw Girl, by Mitali Perkins, ISBN # 978-1-5089-308-4

This is a story of a young Bangladeshi girl, Naima, who challenges the traditional role of women in her village so she will be able to help her family in a time of drastic need. Naima is also a master of painting the traditional alpana patterns. This combination of change and tradition makes for a great story showing that being a girl can be a good thing.

Overboard, by Elizabeth Fama, ISBN # 0-553-49436-8

In the book, a family drama leads to the protagonist, Emily running away from her family. The ferry boat she escapes on sinks and this book promptly turns into a survival story. Emily's strength and courage combined with a fellow survivor, Isman's quiet faith combine for a satisfying story of bravery and mutual understanding.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham, by Christopher Paul Curtis, ISBN # 0-590-69014-0 tis

The Watsons go to Birmingham is a Newberry Honor Book as well as the winner of the Coreta Scott King Award, Narrator Kenny, tells of the Watson family trip to Birmingham in 1963, the year of the church bombing. Curtis switches beautifully between fun and serious in this great book of family love and endurance.

Chee-Lin, by James Rumford

Chee-Lin, A Giraffe’s Journey, by James Rumford, ISBN # 978-0-618-71720-0

This book is a picture book for older readers. According to Chinese mythology, a Chee-Lin is a horned beast with the body of a deer, the tail of an ox, and hooves of a horse. Its presence is a good omen. In the beginning of the fifteenth century, China sent out a fleet of ships to explore the world. On one of the journeys, the Chinese sailors discovered a Chee-Lin, in this case, a giraffe. Before this the last Chee-Lin to appear was on the day of Confucius’ birth.

In a beautifully illustrated book, James Rumford tells the history of this one giraffe, whose name is Tweega. Each two-page spread of this book is a chapter in the life of Tweega. Each two-page spread had a block of print and a beautiful watercolor.

As Tweega is carted from place to place, we meet a new set of characters that demonstrate the whole gambit of human emotions. Some treat Tweega kindly, and some treat him cruelly.

Even though this book is based on fact, the author takes great liberties in the way he gives human emotions to Tweega. By doing this, the book takes on an unrealistic feeling of a story that is basically true.

For the art and the uniqueness of this story alone, this book is recommended for tweens

Bad News for Outlaws, The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshall, by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. Illustrations by R. Gregory Christie

Bad News for Outlaws, The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshall, by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Illustrations by R. Gregory Christie, ISBN # 978-0-8225-6764-6

This newly published picture book, a winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, is first and foremost visually striking. Some pages are sepia toned, making the book look old. Other pages are full-page paintings, with the print nicely combined with the paintings.

The author does a thorough job of presenting Bass Reeves life. The book includes a time-line of Bass Reeves’ life as well as a glossary of western terms.

Bass Reeves was an African American Deputy Marshal in Indian Territory. He was both loved and hated in his pursuit of justice, and he did a very effective job. The author did a good job in describing Bass Reeves’ character.

This book was thoroughly researched, and has quite a lengthy bibliography. The book also offers jumping off points for further research.

I see this book as a good candidate for reluctant readers for a few of reasons. First, the subject (an African American Deputy Marshal) is unusual and could spurn a lot of interest in male readers. Secondly, there isn’t much print on each page, which serves as another inducement for reluctant readers. Finally, this book is visually striking. The characters seem to leap off the page.

This book isn’t just any picture book, but a picture book for older readers, especially tweens.

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, by Eleanor Coerr

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, ISBN # 0-439-16824-4

This book is a fictionalized account of a true story. The year is 1955 and Sadako, the main character of this book, and a track star at her school, takes ill. After tests at the hospital, it is discovered that she has “atom bomb disease”, leukemia.

The bulk of this book deals with how Sadako and her friends and family deal with her disease. Her friend tells her if she folds one thousand paper cranes, she will get well. She died before making it to one thousand paper cranes. This is a touching story, but what makes it even more touching is the love and kindness that is shown not only by Sadako’s family, but also all the other secondary characters.

This quiet book doesn’t demonize the United States for dropping the bomb, but adroitly shows the human toll the bomb extracted. The sadness in this book is overwhelming at times, but the sadness is countered by the love and optimism shown by Sadako’s family, especially her brother.

This book is written on a fourth grade reading level, but the story and message is appropriate for anyone who can read and comprehend it.

Winter Room, by Gary Paulsen

Winter Room, by Gary Paulsen, ISBN # 0-440-40454-1

Like another Paulsen novel, Tracker, the setting for Winter Room is the north woods of Minnesota. Unlike Tracker, Winter Room does not have a plot. Instead the book consists of the protagonist and narrator Eldon, speaking of the four seasons in prose that borders on poetry. Each season is described in terms that give the reader the feeling that she/he is standing in the woods. Eldon speaks of his teacher describing a season in terms he does not agree with. He is sure he is right because he knows that he is of the land.

True, the end of the book is a more conventional narrative with Eldon’s two old uncles telling stories of the old country (Norway) to the whole family in the winter room, which is kept warm after dinner with a stove. Difficulties develop about the telling of the stories, and this adds nicely to the novel.

This is not a book of heroes and strong men, but a book of wise boys, men, and women who develop a wisdom and enjoyment about living on the land. Like Tracker, I feel that this book can be equally appealing to tween boys and girls.

Tracker, by Gary Paulsen

Tracker, by Gary Paulsen ISBN# 0-59044098-5

This very satisfying book deals with a thirteen-year-old boy dealing with the death of his grandfather in the North Woods of Minnesota. Every year John and his grandfather goes hunting for deer so the family will have meat for the winter. Since John’s grandfather has cancer, John must go alone this year.

John’s first hunt alone is anything but normal. He tracks a single deer for over two days and something strange comes over him. As author Paulsen beautifully describes the Minnesota woods, John associates the life of the deer with the life of his grandfather. John takes on a whole new worldview which includes the preciousness of life and the necessity of death. In other words, the process of the hunt makes him understand the imminent death of his grandfather.

This quiet and concise book really delves into what John psychologically goes through as he grows up during the hunt. I really enjoyed this book and it is highly recommended for fourth grade and up. Many people think that Paulsen writes “boy” books, but the universal topic of life and death will have appeal for girls. There are four characters in this book: grandfather, grandmother, John, and the deer, and they are all very strong.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo ISBN# 0-439-74674-4

India Opal Buloni and her Preacher Father move to Naomi, Florida mainly because his wife left Opal and him because she had a substance problem. This leaves Opal with many questions and many fears because she does not know how she is going to adapt to a new town. But a dog saves the day. Not any dog, but a stray Opal finds in a Winn-Dixie supermarket. She names the dog Winn-Dixie.

Most of the characters in the book are lonely. There’s Otis, (the shy singer), Gloria Dump, (most people think she is a witch), Fanny Block (the librarian), and The Preacher, among others. What they all have in common is the dog and Opal. Somehow Opal links them all together. The themes of love, loneliness, and kindness are key to this book.

This book has a great sense of place. DiCamillo really shows the reader what Florida feels like.

This book is recommended for the lower end of the tween age range. This is a very sweet book, but I can see it turning off many older, especially boy readers because it tends to be sentimental.

A Year Down Under--by Richard Peck

A Year Down Under by Richard Peck ISBN# 0-14-230070-5

This book, which is a 2001 Newberry Winner, does not disappoint. Fifteen-year-old Mary Alice was living in Chicago when the Great Depression finally got to her family. With no place to live or money to raise her, her parents ship her off to a Grandmother in rural Illinois. This woman just isn’t any Grandmother; she is Grandma Dowdle, feared by most people in town. But it isn’t that simple. She is feared because she won’t take any stuff from anyone. This leads to many embarrassing situations for Mary Alice, but through these situations (most of them very humorous) Mary Alice discovers that Grandma Dowdle is a strong woman. Her strange habits such as wearing men’s clothes and chewing a toothpick whenever she is awake had to her foreboding image.

What Mary Alice learns is that her Grandma, in her strange ways, always cuts to the truth. By the end of the year, Mary Alice has a huge amount of respect for her Grandma.

Richard Peck’s characters are well developed. It is almost like they are in the room with you. The book moved along quickly, because I couldn’t wait to see what outrageous thing Grandma Dowdle would do next. This is a very enjoyable book and highly recommended to the upper end of the tween age range