The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (2006)

Plot Summary:  Edward Tulane is a porcelain rabbit who lives on Egypt Street with an owner that loves and adores him-Abilene.  Abilene always makes sure that Edward is dressed just right and looks perfect.  She treats Edward as one of the family and makes sure that he is always included at all meals and outings.  All Edward thinks about is how beautiful he is and he is quite full of himself.  Sadly, one day Abilene boards a ship and Edward is lost overboard.  This is the beginning of Edward's journey on the path to learning that there's more to life than just taking love, it should be about the giving.

Awards & Reviews:  Reviewed by Publishers Weekly Review, Library Journal Review, School Library Journal Review, and Booklist Review.

Genre:  Realistic Fiction
Subjects/Themes: Toys, love, adventure.

Age Group:  SLJ: Grades 3-6, Booklist Grades 2-4-I feel that some of the vocabulary in this book would be difficult for 2nd graders, with the exception of those that are advanced readers

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (2009)

Plot Summary:  When an author visits the school, the kids can’t wait to meet him and get their books signed.  They find out that the author isn’t so nice, and when the gym teacher mysteriously goes missing, Lunch Lady realizes that something is fishy.  She and her sidekick , Betty, head out to uncover what’s really going on.

Format:  Graphic Novel

Genre:  Mystery/Adventure

Series:

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown (2010)

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians (2009)

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute (2009

Reviews:  School Library Journal and Booklist.

Age Group:  Grades 2-4, definitely a high interest read for older kids.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (2004)

Plot Summary:  Sixth grader Petra Andalee is having a great school year so far.  Her teacher, Ms. Hussey, is unlike any other teacher that she has ever had.  Ms. Hussey enjoys mysteries and wants her students to really think about things.  Ms. Hussey’s class is always very excited to learn about whatever adventure or investigation that she has cooked up for them.  Enter Calder Pillay, her classmate and neighbor.  They are not really friends, but know each other from school.  Petra finds a discarded book at the local book store and finds it very intriguing since it contains files of unexplained mysterious events all over the world.  This gets Petra thinking about a possible project for Ms. Hussey’s class.  When a rare painting by Johannes Vermeer appears in the news because it has been stolen, Ms. Hussey decides that the class will work together to try to solve this mystery.  The thief has written letters to the media explaining why the painting has been stolen and what needs to be done in order for it to be returned.  The thief is demanding that certain circumstances surrounding the life of Johannes Vermeer be set straight and that the world needs to recognize that it’s probable that not all of the paintings attributed to Vermeer were actually painted by him. 

Together, Petra and Calder team up to try and put together the clues.  At times, it is really hard work and even dangerous following their leads.  Petra and Calder are determined to discover the thief and the location of the painting, and no one can stop them.  They will be challenged with puzzle after puzzle, but they will not give up until they have solved this mystery.

Genre:  Mystery

Subjects/Themes:  Art history, Vermeer, puzzles

Reviews: Great reviews from Booklist, Voice of Youth Advocates, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.

Age Group: Grades 5-8

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (2006)

Plot Summary:  Lucky, a 10 year old girl, is being raised by her absentee father's first wife after her mother dies in a lightning storm.  Lucky is trying to find her own "higher power" which is all that she hears the anonymous adults talking about at their twelve step meetings at the museum where she cleans. What is this higher power?  How does Lucky get there? Brigitte takes good care of her and seems to love her, but what if she decides to leave this dusty California desert and return to France? Will Lucky end up in an orphange in Los Angeles?  This touching story shows a young girl who is trying to find a family and love, and she can't recognize that it's right in front of her until she finally comes face to face with her very own higher power.

Awards & Reviews: This 2007 Newbery Award Winner has been reviewed by Publishers Weekly Review, School Library Journal, and Booklist.

Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Subject/Themes: Family, runaways, Twelve-step programs.

Age Group:  Grades 4-6

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper (2010)

Plot Summary:  This is an excellent story written from the perspective of an 11 year-old girl who has never spoken a word because she has cerebral palsy. Melody is confined to a wheelchair and only is able to make very small and mostly uncontrollable movements with her arms and hands.  Melody is quite brilliant-probably the smartest kid in her school.  She has a photographic memory, but unable to express this so she is left to suffer in a “baby classroom” with other special needs children, learning the ABC’s and her colors day after day. Life in general is very frustrating and unhappy for Melody since she is unable to communicate.  Things change for Melody when she is able to get a computer that does the talking for her. A sad but uplifting story of the challenges this young disabled girl is able to face and conquer because of her own courage, along with the strength of those who love her.

Awards & Reviews:  This book received a *Starred review* from Booklist as well as a very positive review from School Library Journal.

Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Subjects/Themes:  Cerebral palsy, special needs children, cliques.

Age Group:  Grades 4-6 according to SLJ, but I felt that this book would definitely be enjoyed by students up to Grade 8.

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (2000)

Plot Summary:  Matilda is a 16 year old girl living in Philadelphia during the time of the yellow fever epidemic. This book is accurately placed within the historical fiction category for its story of this young girl and how she must forget about being a child and do what is necessary to survive.  When her family's servant girl dies from this plague, Matilda realizes how dangerous things really are and is forced to stand by and watch while her mom is taken to be quarantined when it becomes obvious that she is infected.  Matilda must try to protect her family's Coffeehouse while trying to also care for her grandfather, who also displays symptoms of infection.  The detailed description of living conditions within the city during this time, as well as society's reaction to the plague and those sick, makes this story very real for the reader.  Mattie is forced to do things and make decisions that are entirely out of element for a young girl in this time period, but it is necessary because of the grave situation that she is in. 

Awards & Reviews: This book was reviewed by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Subjects/Themes: Plague, Philadelphia, yellow fever, epidemics.

Age Group:  Grades 6-10

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book One: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood (2010)

Plot Summary:  A very interesting story, combining a Mary Poppins type governess with Matilda like parents (or guardians in this case) and three children: Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia who have been raised by wolves in the woods. The children were found by Lord Ashton on his property while he was on one of his hunting expeditions.  He captures the children and brings them back to his home where he puts them to live in the stables.  Enter Miss Penelope Lumley, a 15 year old girl who is a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy.  Miss Lumley becomes governess to the children & teaches and loves them.  These children are seen by the rest of society as incorrigible and savage. The lady of Ashton Place, Lady Constance, is a whiny and uncaring woman who simply sees these "children" as a burden.  Lucky for them, they have "Lumaroo," (aka Miss Lumley) to love and care for them.  The reader on the audiobook has an English accent, which makes the story quite charming. Some of the mysterious happenings at Ashton Place are left unsolved at the end of the story, leaving a trail to the next book in the series.

Awards & Reviews: This book was reviewed by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and received a *Starred Review* from Booklist.

Genre:  Mystery

Subjects/Themes: Orphans, governesses, hunting, wolves.

Age Group:  Grades 5-8, although I believe that younger children would enjoy this audiobook, since it is read with such zest and imagination!