The Dunderheads

Have you ever had a teacher who kept an electric chair in her classroom? Be grateful that you've escaped Miss Breakbone. When she confiscates a thrown-away cat that Junkyard found for his mom's birthday, she goes to far. Her "fiddling, twiddling, time-squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, don’t-knowing dunderheads" decide to help get it back. With unusual talents (and nicknames), this group of clever kids will keep you entertained.

What's the worst thing you've ever seen confiscated by a teacher?

Night of the Spadefoot Toads

Have you ever had to move across the country in the middle of a school year? Such is the unfortunate plight of Ben Moroney. He does not like anything about his new town or his class in Massachusetts until he becomes interested in the marshy wildlife in his own backyard. Find out about the amazing toad that you might only see once a year...if you're lucky. This multi-faceted novel by Bill Harley is an interesting glimpse into backyard ecology.

What have you seen in your own backyard?

The Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson doesn't know there's a reason he is dyslexic, hyper-active, and kicked out of one school after another. But he finds out in a stunning visit to an unusual camp that he's a "half-blood." Readers must accept that the ancient Greek gods are alive and living in the Western hemisphere. Zeus is missing his bolt, and Percy, Annabeth, and Grover have to find it. They brave encounters with many strange and dangerous monsters in their quest, as Percy discovers some incredible facts about himself. Read this first of five books in the "Olympians" series before the movie comes out in February, 2010.

Savvy

If you look up "savvy" in a dictionary, it means "understand." If you read the Newbery Honor book Savvy by Ingrid Law, you'll understand that for the Beaumont family a savvy is a special power, attained on the 13th birthday. When Mibs' father has a dreadful accident, Mibs thinks her savvy will wake him from unconsciousness. She sneaks on board the ancient bus of an unsuccessful Bible salesman and the adventures begin. Each chapter brings unpredictable predicaments and non-stop fun.

What books have you read where the character has a magical power? What magical power would you wish for if you had a choice?

Suddenly Supernatural: Unhappy Medium

Meet Kat, a teenage girl with an unwanted gift: she sees dead people. Now meet her friend Jac, who also is gifted - at playing the cello. These two unlikely oddballs become best friends and have incredible adventures. In this novel, the girls are at a rich mountain resort with musicians, but a ghost visits Kat in her hotel room. To her surprise, Kat learns that the spirit thinks she is living and Kat has been summoned from beyond. An evil presence threatens her, Jac falls for a cute musician, and the plot thickens. Some exciting scenes have this reader wondering if a film might be in order...

I met them first in their 3rd story, but I plan to read more about Kat and Jac.

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Two Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

Jeanne Birdsall has created a fascinating story about a motherless family that includes four sisters, a father, and Hound. All the girls have their unique qualities, like Batty who won't talk and wears wings, or Jane, who's constantly writing stories. In this first story, the family stays in a cottage for a 3-week summer vacation. The wealthy, but unhappy, land owners both befriend and frighten them. Many adventures ensue, including hilarious hiding games in the garden and scary incidents with a bull. But all lives are impacted by the interactions of these glorious three weeks. And I can't wait to read more.

What are you reading this summer?

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups

Do you really believe all the reasons your parents tell you to do things? Do you think you drink milk and eat vegetables because they're good for you? Do you really think you comb your hair to keep it neat? Well, this incredibly wacky book explains the top-secret, classified, security-clearance required real reasons behind all those explanations that your parents have give you over the years. This author, David Wisniewski, is the award winning illustrator of Golem. His wacky insane ideas and wacky illustrations will keep any clever child entertained for hours...reading and rereading to get more secrets. In the words of a 5th grader, "Where does he come up with this?"

Can you make up an incredibly insane explanation for something you've been told to always do?