Darkside

Darkside by Tom Becker
Reading level: grades 5 and up

Darkside is the first book in a new horror series. Darkside is a dark and dangerous, seedy world where vampires, werewolves and criminals walk the streets. Existing alongside London, it is a hidden city established during the 19th century with freaks and criminals and was once ruled by Jack the Ripper. When Jonathan's father is hospitalized in a mental institution after one of his bad days, Jonathan discovers his father had been researching a way to cross over to Darkside. Jonathan finds himself in danger when he is almost attacked and kidnapped. Running for his life, Jonathan manages to cross over to Darkside, where he now finds himself in danger from the citizens of the city. Will Jonathan be able to find his way out?

Readers who enjoyed the Cirque du Freak series will be happy to get their hands on this series. Gorey descriptions and monsters will draw fans of horror. Jonathan is a resourceful and quick-thinking hero who will appeal to readers who like their main characters intelligent and brave.

Kit Feeny

Kit Feeny on the Move by Michael Townsend
Reading level: grades 2-5

Look out Babymouse, now there's Kit Feeny! Kit is moving to a new town, but that means leaving his best friend Arnold behind. Don't worry, they have a plan. In fact, Kit has a plan for just about everything. Readers will enjoy Kit's outlandish schemes whether it's coming up with a quiz for his classmates to find a replacement best friend or finding ways to make money to buy pizza. If you like silly adventures then this is the book for you. Kit Feeny is Babymouse for boys, but can be enjoyed by anyone.

Diamond of Drury Lane

Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding
Reading level: grades 5-8

Orphan Catherine Royal, better known as “Cat” to her friends, has been living in Drury Lane since she was a baby. After she discovers the owner of the theatre has hidden a diamond in the building, she vows to help keep it safe. When a viscious street gang discovers the existence of the diamond, Cat must do whatever it takes to protect it. Will the help of her friends -- Pedro, a musical prodigy, two nobles, and another street gang – and her own cunning intelligence be enough to keep the diamond safe?

Set in the 1790’s, Diamond of Drury Lane is a fast-paced, exciting historical fiction with a little mystery for spice. Much of the book is set in the streets of London in Covent Garden. Vivid descriptions of the city and the people bring the story to life. The author uses many phrases and words of that time period which also adds to the atmosphere. There is a glossary in the back of the book for readers who want to familiarize themselves with the language of that period. Readers will be happy to know that there are more books in the series. Recommended.

Farmer McPeepers and His Missing Milk Cows

Farmer McPeepers and His Missing Milk Cows, by Katy S. Duffield

Farmer McPeepers needs his glasses to see, but one morning his glasses—and his cows—go missing! Farmer McPeepers is having trouble getting around, but that doesn’t stop his cows from having a good time. With bright, goofy illustrations and a rhythmic text, this is an amusing and mischievous tour through fun summertime activities.

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman

Reading Level: Grade 6 and up

While his entire family is being murdered by a man named Jack, a small boy crawls out of his crib and down the road to the graveyard. The ghosts in the graveyard adopt the boy, naming him Nobody, or “Bod” for short, and he grows up under the protection of the graveyard. Bod finds treasure hidden deep in the oldest grave, learns how to disappear whenever he needs to, and stops a school bully. While Bod stays in the graveyard, nothing can harm him—not ghosts, ghouls, or assassins—but the man named Jack is still looking for Bod, and what happens when Bod grows up and has to learn to survive among the living?

This book is the 2009 winner of the Newbery Award. It’s a little bit scary and a little bit adventerous, and perfect for those who like something different! There are a wide range of characters, from ghost and ghouls to children and pawn shop owners, and the illustrations are both cool and creepy. Be prepared for some longer chapters, but this is a story to be savored.

Hard Gold

Hard Gold: The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859, a tale of the Old West by Avi

As part of Avi's "I Witness" series, this book tells the first person (but fictional) story of Early Whittcomb, a thirteen year old boy from Iowa. Prompted by a threat to his family farm (the railroad wants to build through their land), Early runs away to follow his uncle Jesse to Colorado to look for gold. Early signs on as a helper on a wagon train for a barber and his family, meeting the challenges and hardships as a pioneer heading West in the mid-19th century. Dangers await them at every turn, even after they arrive in Colorado. The gold rush provides a great backdrop for this adventure.

"I Witness" books are historical fiction featuring young characters and based on events from American history. Avi liberally sprinkles in maps, old photographs, and even newspaper clippings to enrich the historical setting. These well-researched books also include glossaries to help explain terms and people from the period. Although the characters he creates are fictional, Avi's fascinating stories could be real. These books are perfect for curious readers 5th grade and up.

The Maze of Bones

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
Book One of The 39 Clues series

The 39 Clues series is a unique new mystery that follows siblings Amy and Dan Cahill as they follow clues left by their late Grandmother. After her death, Amy and Dan find out that their extended family is much larger (and more powerful!) than they'd ever imagined!

At the reading of their Grandmother's will, Dan and Amy are given the choice of receiving a million dollars immediately, or uncovering the 39 clues hidden around the world that will lead to "something bigger..." but no one knows what. By taking on the clues, they end up in a dangerous race against their own family members that takes them around the country and eventually, the world.

There will be 10 books in this exciting series, each written by a different author. This mystery is perfect for middle school readers, with enough action and suspense to keep you on your toes! Start the adventure in The Maze of Bones, continue it with One False Note, by Gordon Korman, and keep an eye out for book 3, coming soon!

The Leanin' Dog

The Leanin’ Dog
By K. A. Nuzum
Reading level: Grade 4 and up

Dog lovers will appreciate the loyalty of the Leanin’ Dog who befriends a lonely eleven year old girl living with her father in a wilderness cabin. Left to herself each day while her father goes out hunting and trapping, Dessa Dean coaxes a stray dog to return day after day so that she has companionship which she dearly misses since the tragic death of her diabetic mother in a snowstorm. The story has an exciting ending and satisfying conclusion.

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko
Reading Level: grades 6-10

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? Choldenko uses this middle-school story to explore the impact an individual can make in others' lives, intentionally or otherwise.

Kirsten and Walker tell this story in alternating chapters from opposite viewpoints. Their lives don't intersect until they find themselves in the same class at a fancy private school. But once they meet, these seventh-graders find themselves connected in ways they could never have imagined. Along the way, both of them also touch the lives of their classmates and families in unexpected ways.

So, if a tree falls at lunch period...?

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox & Helen Oxenbury
Reading Level: Ages Birth-5

Celebrating babies all over the world, this book explores baby hands and baby feet. One baby is born far away, and another is born on the next day. Each baby has something in common, ten little fingers, and ten little toes.

Told in a repetitive pattern, perfect for early readers, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes illustrates how babies all over the world are unique. But each baby also has something in common. This book is perfect for families with little ones!

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey
Reading level: Ages 3-6

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley are opposites, but they are best friends. Pearl Barley is loud, Charlie Parsley is quiet. Pearl Barley likes to act nutty, Charlie Parsley likes to think. Despite their differences Pearl and Charlie appreciate each other.

A charming picture book for young readers, and a heartwarming story for adults Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley tells a tale familiar to all. The book helps readers learn that despite differences friendships endure.

Swindle

Swindle by Gordon Korman
Reading level: grades 4-6

6th grader Griffin Bing is known as "The Man with a Plan" - no matter what the situation. So when he is duped out of a valuable baseball card (worth at least 1 million dollars!), he comes up with a plan to get it back. Putting together a specialized team of his classmates, Griffin plans for a grand heist! This group of elementary detectives becomes entangled in one roadblock after another, until they manage to get their hands on the prize... but not entirely as planned!

True to Korman's style, this book is full of quirky humor. Be warned, however, that Griffin's plans are mostly illegal! But underneath it all, Griffin is a thoughtful character. This heist is fast paced and exciting, and perfect for an upper elementary reader looking for something different.

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
by Nahoko Uehashi
Reading level: Grades 5 and up

Translated from Japanese, this is an action-packed fantasy set in New Yogo, a country very similar to medieval Japan. When the main character Balsa, a wandering female warrior, saves the life of Prince Chagum, she is hired by his mother to become his bodyguard. Because it is discovered that the Prince has been possessed by a water demon, he has been targeted for assassination by his father, the Mikado of New Yogo. Not only must Balsa protect Prince Chagum from his father, but from otherworldly magic as well.

Fantasy lovers and adventure seekers will enjoy this fast-paced book that offers a setting not often seen in children’s fiction. Readers familiar with Japanese manga will fall right into the story, but the novel is written for anyone to enjoy. Balsa is an interesting character with a tragic past and love story. Boys should not be put off by the fact that the main character is a woman because there is enough action and swordplay to satisfy them as well. Balsa can definitely take care of herself and anyone who dares to become her enemy. This is not a book for girls or for boys but for anyone who wants to enjoy a good read. The novel was so popular in Japan it spawned nine book sequels, comic adaptations and a television series. Let's hope the rest of the series will be brought to the United States soon.

The Ordinary Princess

The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye
Reading level: grades 4-6
Interest level: grades 2-6

At the christening of Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne, the 7th princess of Phantasmorania, one of the kingdom's fairy godmothers bestows what the King and Queen consider to be a horrible curse. (Sound familiar? Keep reading... this isn't your typical fairy tale!) Fairy Crustacea gives the baby the gift of "ordinariness." Amy, as the baby comes to be called (after all, what name is more ordinary than "Amy"?), never measures up to the princessly standards that her 6 sisters set, but she is perfectly content to be ordinary. When her father threatens to ruin the kingdom just to find her a suitable husband, Amy runs away, following her heart to her own happily ever after.

This delightful and whimsical fairy tale brings us a spunky heroine not afraid to take matters into her own hands. Although the story does follow some of the typical fairy tale patterns, the character breaks all the molds. She is an empowered princess with a sense of adventure, who invites readers to join in. Published nearly 30 years ago, Amy's timeless story continues to charm audiences today! This is a quick and simple book to share with your daughters.

Teen, Inc

Teen, Inc. by Stefan Petrucha
Reading level: grade 6-10

The book starts off with an intriguing premise. Orphaned as a baby, Jaiden Beale is adopted by NECorp--the corporation that caused his parents death. Now fourteen-years-old, Jaiden is used to being “managed”, but still fantasizes about having a normal life. When the corporation tries to help with his lack of dating experience, Jaiden puts his foot down. Through a series of events, he unfortunately finds out that NECorp is knowingly polluting the city’s water with mercury and that the father of his secret crush is leading the protest against NECorp. There is never a dull moment and readers will find Jaiden to be an engaging character. The book keeps a steady pace and reluctant readers will find it easy to escape into the story.

A Beginning, A Muddle, and an End

A Beginning, A Muddle, and an End
By Avi
Reading level: Grade 5 and up

The subtitle of this book is “The Right Way to Write Writing”. Edward the Ant and Avon the Snail are best friends. Avon wishes to be a writer and Edward does everything he can to help him. In the end, Avon writes Something!! Join these two friends as they share their thoughts and words in a silly story loaded with double meanings. A fun book to read aloud and sequel to another Avi title: The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an Even Smaller Ant).

Fallen Angels

Fallen Angels
Walter Dean Myers
Reading level: Grades 7 and up

What was it like to be a soldier fighting in VietNam in 1968? Richie Perry is a seventeen year old Harlem boy with no future. He joins the Army without really understanding what he is getting himself into. Basic training isn’t too bad, but VietNam is another story. The fears that face a young soldier help Richie to understand that young enemy soldiers are really not much different from him. Everybody wants to survive the conflict, but sadly, wars don’t end that way.
This book is recommended for mature readers due to graphic language and content.

The Underneath

The Underneath
by Kathi Appelt
Reading level: Grade 6 and up

Ranger, the bloodhound, and Sabine and Puck, twin kittens, survive a brutal life in the backwoods and swamps of Texas and Louisiana. Their story is interwoven with the ancient magical story of Night Song, Hawk Man, and their tiny daughter.

Both stories test good against evil, love against hate. Both stories are rich in language and description. Readers will feel relief at the demise of the villainous character, Gar Face, and satisfaction with the redemption of Grandmother Moccasin.

The Seer of Shadows

The Seer of Shadows
by Avi
Reading level: Grades 4 – 8

Horace Carpetine is a fourteen year old photographer apprentice to Enoch Middleditch of New York City during the time period following the Civil War around 1870. When Mr. Middleditch decides to expand his business into “spirit” photography, Horace discovers his special gift as a seer of ghosts.
Together with Pegg, servant to the wealthy Mrs. Von Macht, Horace tries to help the restless spirit of Mrs. Von Macht’s daughter, Eleanora, find peace.

This is a fast paced story that will keep the reader turning pages. Horace, with the help of Pegg, is finally able to piece together the mysterious ghostly events surrounding the Von Macht family, business, and Fifth Avenue home. Another winner from prolific writer, Avi.

All the Lovely Bad Ones

All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn

Reading level: grades 4 and up

If you like spooky stories, you'll love All the Lovely Bad Ones! Travis and his sister Corey are spending the summer with their Grandmother in her inn in Vermont. The rumors say it's haunted, but Grandmother doesn't believe it. Travis and Corey decide to pretend they are the ghosts... until the real ghosts awake!

Mary Downing Hahn writes wonderfully chilling ghost stories, and this is no exception. Young readers who spook easily should avoid reading this alone at night, but those who enjoy a bit of a thrill will love the heart-pounding suspense. Travis and Corey are believable mischief makers who readers can connect with throughout their stay at the inn. The remote country setting provides a feeling of isolation, adding to the suspense. Enjoy at your own risk!