Three Times Lucky

Sheila Turnage’s first mystery novel for upper elementary and middle school is already getting great awards including the Newbery Honor Book. She successfully draws her readers in this tale of mysterious beginnings, suspicious murders, kidnappings, ransoms, and hurricanes. Mo (short for Moses), a sixth grader, narrates the story. She describes how she was found after a devastating hurricane wrapped in the arms of The Colonel who suffered memory loss and has no idea who he was before the storm. With the help of an eccentric woman named Miss Lana, The Colonel has raised Mo for the past eleven years. Lately Mo has been searching for her “upstream mother” by sending out messages in bottles. Mo and her best friend, Dale, help out at Miss Lana and The Colonel’s café. One day a detective from another area comes to the café asking questions concerning a mysterious death in his city. The little town turns upside down when a local man, Mr. Jesse, is murdered and Dale is the last person presumed to have seen him alive. Soon The Colonel is missing, next Miss Lana. It is up to Mo and Dale to solve the mystery before it is too late. The problem is that a hurricane is headed their way and no one can be trusted. Read Three Times Lucky – you won’t be disappointed!

Ripper

Ripper by Stefan Petrucha is the perfect selection for upper middle school students looking for a meaty thriller that has a huge twist in the story. It is another selection from the Texas Lone Star Reading List 2013-14. Carver Young knows he was meant to be a detective his entire life. Shortly before being told that he has to find a new home because the orphanage who had raised him could no longer care for the three eldest children at the facility, Carver finds a note with clues about his father. Thankfully, he is taken in by Mr. Hawking an infamous lead detective in New York City who is part of the well-known Pinkerton Agency. It seems that Jack the Ripper has traveled from London to New York City to continue his killing spree. Mr. Hawking makes sure that Carver solves all his own clues to move forward in his investigations. Could the treacherous Jack the Ripper actually be Carver’s father? Read Ripper to find out. I had to go back and reread parts that seemed too shocking to believe – 8th graders will love it!

The Humming Room

Ellen Potter’s The Humming Room, inspired by The Secret Garden, is on the Texas Bluebonnet Reading List 2013-14. Roo Fanshaw , tiny for her twelve years with dull green eyes, often hides from the outside world. Most would consider her a wild child neglected by her parents. Hiding beneath her parents’ trailer saves her life when her parents are murdered. She is sent to live on Cough Rock Island; the home of her rich uncle that she never knew existed. His estate is a former hospital where they sent children who were dying from tuberculosis. Roo leaves the house as often as possible to hideout in a nearby cave – her love of nature draws her there. Something in the house is making a humming noise and Roo is determined to find out where it is coming from. Who is the mysterious boy who seems to glide on the water surrounding the island? Roo hears rumors that her uncle killed his beautiful young wife. Will Roo be able to uncover the dark secrets even though her uncle remains aloof? Readers will enjoy Potter’s descriptive writing style. Other great books by Potter include Slob and the Olivia Kidney series.

The Humming Room by Ellen Potter (book trailer) from Ellen Potter on Vimeo.

Girl, Stolen

April Henry's Girl, Stolen is a suspense novel that will keep readers wanting to know what will happen next. The main character is a teenager named Cheyenne who became blind as a result of a deadly accident that killed her mother a couple of years ago. Cheyenne, seriously sick, stays in the backseat of her stepmother's car while her stepmother goes into a pharmacy to fill her prescription. A teenage boy, Griffin, steals the car not knowing that Cheyenne is in the backseat. As he drives the car home, Cheyenne tries to fight back. She is unsuccessful and quickly realizes that she needs to think straight and use all of her senses in order to survive. When he brings Cheyenne home to his criminal father and his two hooligan partners in crime, he begins to feel protective of Cheyenne. Griffin's father thinks they have a prize in Cheyenne when he finds out that her Dad is the president of Nike. He is determined to use her for ransom money, but doesn't plan on returning her alive. This thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Dead is the New Black

Dead is the New Black is Marlene Perez's first book in her Nightshade High School series - this book was brought to my attention by the girls at my school. Daisy Giordano, an average teenager, comes from a unique family. Her mother is a psychic who works for the local police department solving crimes. Her sisters also have telepathic powers which make Daisy feel like the black sheep of the family at times. The school year at Nightshade High School starts off strangely when head cheerleader, Samantha Devereaux, comes to school with pale skin, wearing all black, and dragging a coffin backpack. When Daisy hears about a difficult case her mother is working on, she decides go to the morgue to see the teenage victim’s body…the girl has a white streak of hair and distinctive tattoos. The body turns up missing the next day. Daisy recruits her crush, Ryan, who is the police chief’s son to help her investigate why weird things are happening in their town. Could Samantha’s new appearance be linked to the missing dead girl? When Daisy joins the cheerleading squad she notices that all the cheerleaders except for Samantha are starting to change – starting with gray streaks in their hair. Is there a vampire who sucks the souls out of young people in the Nightshade community? Could it be Samantha? Read Dead is the New Black to find out. Currently, there are six books in her popular series.

Belly Up

Stuart Gibb’s entertaining mystery, Belly Up, is on the Texas Lone Star Reading List 2012-13. Teddy Fitzroy is your typical mischievous boy who lives in a trailer on the grounds of a new African-modeled zoo and amusement park in Texas called Fun Jungle. Both of his parents work for the rich owner, J.J. McCracken. Although it has only been open for a few months, their popular mascot – an ornery hippo named Henry – is found dead in his water hole. How beloved was Henry? Think about what Mickey Mouse is to Disney…you get the picture. The visitors of the busy attraction are saddened over Henry’s death. Those that worked behind the scenes at the money-making amusement park were not going to miss Henry’s disturbing behavior especially his poop slinging. In fact, any one of them could be his murderer? But why kill him? While spying on Henry’s autopsy, Teddy hears Doc say that someone caused Henry’s death. He teams up with J.J.’s daughter, Summer, to conduct their own investigation and the two find themselves in dangerous situations. Twists throughout the book will keep the reader guessing all the way to the end! If you like this one, read Gibbs’ newest book, Spy School.

Dark Eden

Patrick Carman has creatively infused technology and reading in his newest series - Skeleton Creek, Trackers, and Dark Eden. Before I started reading Dark Eden, I downloaded and explored the free app (the first segment is free). Dark Eden is different from the Skeleton Creek and Trackers series which are told with both video and text. Dark Eden is narrated by 15-year-old Ben, who like six other teens has a debilitating fear. The teens are sent by their therapist, Dr. Stevens, to Fort Eden to face their fears and be cured. Prior to going to Fort Eden, Ben was able to steal the files that Dr. Stevens had one each of the teens. When the teens arrive at Fort Eden, Ben escapes and hides out. He stays in a secret bomb shelter that has monitors which enable him to watch the others, one by one being cured. Based on the files he has read and the video feed he watches on the monitors, he knows something is terribly wrong with the process. As the teens are "cured", they return without their fear, but have other strange ailments. Rainsford, the old man that takes them to their special rooms for their cure, is not what he seems. Dark Eden is the first in the series - the story is told in segments for each of the teens. This was a bit choppy for me and the end seemed rushed, but I think 7th grade and up would love it! Other great books by Patrick Carman include Things that Go Bump in the Night, Thirteen Days to Midnight, The Land of Elyon series, Atherton series, Skeleton Creek series, and Trackers series.

The Seventh Level

The Seventh Level by Jody Feldman is a mystery with a secret middle school society and challenging puzzles that must be solved along the way. Travis Raines is surprised to receive a coveted blue envelope from The Legends, a secret society that performs various stunts at his middle school. He has been chosen to complete various tasks along the way to become part of this highly secretive group. While trying to figure out his first task, a large bully named Randall throws Kip’s hat (with the letter inside) out the school’s second floor window. When it gets stuck just under the roof, Travis is determined to climb outside to get it. His plan backfires when he is caught by Mrs. Pinchon, the strict assistant principal. His punishment is to ride to school with her each morning for detention before school and after-school detention. As the blue envelopes and puzzles keep coming, Travis finds it even more difficult to accomplish the tasks given to him under Mrs. Pinchon’s scrutiny. Even worse, someone is setting him up for other pranks that are occurring at school. Will Travis be able to complete all levels required? Is it even The Legend that is sending him these tasks? Read The Seventh Level to find out. Another great book by Jody Feldman is The Gollywhopper Games (I gave that one 5 stars).

The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game

Teen reporters Susan Carol and Stevie Thomas return on another mission in John Feinstein’s fifth sports/mystery novel, The Rivalry: Mystery at the Army-Navy Game. Once again the duo, working under the guidance of professional journalists from the Washington Post and the Washington Herald, is assigned to report at an important sporting event when conflicts arise. One of the biggest football rivalries, the Army-Navy game, has even more significance, because President Barack Obama will be attending the game. With the heavy presence of Secret Service preparing for the big game, Stevie and Susan immediately sense the critical elements the President’s appearance brings to the scene. Is someone planning to harm the President because of racial or political affiliations? Is Susan’s critical story about the poor officiating that occurred at the Nayy-Notre Dame game going to affect the officiating at the Army-Navy Game? Readers will learn so much from Feinstein about the history of this huge college football rivalry. If you love football, you will enjoy this mystery. Other great books for middle/young adult readers by John Feinstein include The Last Shot: a Final Four Mystery, Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open, Cover-up: Mystery at the Super Bowl, and Change-up: Mystery at the World Series. Click on the video from Fox Sports which shows the author discussing his book.

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children

The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children written by Keith McGowan and illustrated by Yoko Tanaka is on the Texas Bluebonnet Reading List 2011-12. This entertaining read, reminiscent of the Grimm fairy tale – Hansel and Gretel, will appeal to upper elementary students. Sol and his little sister, Connie, have moved into a new house with their father and stepmother. Unbeknownst to them, their father and stepmother are scheming to get rid of them. Sol is very smart and loves everything about science. Connie may not be as intelligent as her brother, but she is street-smart and can take care of herself. The pair figure out early on who the witch in the neighborhood is and try to stay out of her clutches. Sol researches clues at the local library. I appreciated the way McGowan made the library a focal point…even found the evil librarian to be quite humorous. The only thing I was hoping for was someone to rescue the kids. Read this quick read to find out if Sol and Connie are able to stay out of the witch’s kitchen.

13 Treasures

You are invited into the Faerie realm as soon as you begin to read 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison. Tanya has had to hide a dark secret her entire life – she can see faeries. At the beginning of the story, her mother, ultimately fed up with Tanya’s misbehavior (caused by taking the blame for the faeries’ mishaps), brings her to her grandmother’s house to live. Tanya’s grandmother, Florence, is not happy about this situation and the feeling is mutual. Florence’s house is also occupied by Amos, the aged former caretaker of her home; Warwick, Amos’s grown son who is the current caretaker; and Fabian, Warwick’s son. The faeries are as relentless at her grandmother’s as they were at her house. Tanya and Fabian have been warned to never go into the woods beside the house. Tanya questions Florence when she finds an article from fifty years ago that tells of a fourteen-year-old girl named Morwenna Bloom who went missing in those woods. Her grandmother tells her that she has never been found. Although her grandmother offers no more information, Tanya finds out that Amos was accused of being the last person with Morwenna when she went missing. Florence gives her a special bracelet with thirteen charms, believed to ward off evil spirits, which has been in the family for many years. When Fabian’s actions cause Tanya’s dog to run into the forbidden woods, their lives will change forever. Entering the woods to find the dog, the teens find themselves face to face with the missing Morwenna Bloom who hasn’t aged at all in the fifty years she has been missing. She begins to lead them somewhere when they are found by Warwick and she disappears. The teens are determined to find Morwenna once again in order to clear Amos’s tarnished reputation. Readers are taken into a secret world unlike any other…things are not as they seem. When the teens get in over their heads, the only hope for Tanya is a young girl, named Red, who can also see faeries. This is a great read for upper elementary through middle school fantasy readers. This novel which reads like a movie is the first in a trilogy – the second book, 13 Curses, comes out June 7th. Click on the book trailer below for more information.

Hero

Over the six years I have been the librarian at my school, Mike Lupica’s books have been on our middle school reading list every single year. Yes, he’s that good and my students enjoy his books tremendously. Although he mentions the New York Knicks a lot, he has strayed away from the sports genre to mystery/suspense with his newest novel, Hero. The beginning of the story is narrated by fourteen-year-old Zach Harriman’s father, a hero who worked for the government, but ultimately dies in a plane crash. The story is then narrated by Zach who has doubts about his father’s death being an accident. His father was invincible. Strange things begin to happen to Zach shortly after his father’s death. He begins to have special powers which enable him to sense danger and fight off attackers. With the help of his good friend, Kate, Zach sets out to find answers about his father’s past. In doing so, he must decide who can be trusted in his life. Will Zach be the hero his father was? Other great reads by Mike Lupica include Million Dollar Throw, The Big Field, Travel Team, Miracle on 49th Street, Summer Ball, and Heat.

Payback Time

I think most people can name an author who made a difference in his or her “reading life”. For my oldest son that would be Carl Deuker. My son was a good, but slow reader who turned into a reluctant middle school reader. The book that changed that was High Heat by Carl Deuker. My son loved baseball and could totally connect to the story. He then wanted to read other books by Mr. Deuker. Interestingly enough, I was able to correspond with Mr. Deuker when I created an author study of him for my Library Science Young Adult Literature class. His advice to new librarians was to help students find the right book for them. Carl Deuker’s latest book, Payback Time, is on the Texas Lone Star 2011-12 reading list. It is as much about football as it is about journalism. The narrator of the story is talented high school reporter, Daniel “Mitch” True, who aspires to attend Columbia University when he graduates from high school. Mitch struggles with self esteem issues, because he is overweight and has been ridiculed in the past. After being passed over for the school newspaper’s editor position, Mitch becomes the sports reporter. One perk that comes with the new position is working with the school photographer – beautiful, smart Kimi Yon. While reporting about the high school football team, the pair’s inquisitive nature produces a lead story that will put them and others in grave danger. Who is the talented new football player named Angel Marichal? Why doesn’t Coach McNulty, who wants an undefeated season, play the best player on his team? Why does Angel look older than his age and where are his school records from the past? This quick page-turner will prompt readers to create their own theories as to what Angel’s past means right up until the very end. Other great books by Mr. Deuker include Gym Candy, Runner, High Heat, Heart of a Champion, and Night Hoops.

The Hunt for the Seventh

The Hunt for the Seventh by Christine Morton-Shaw is a must read for those of you who love ghost stories and mysteries. This is another great read from the Texas Lone Star list 2010-11.Jim and Sally’s father is still grieving their mother’s death. Thinking that he will give his family a fresh start, he takes the position as head gardener of Minerva Hall. The family is allowed to live in a section of the castle-like grounds. The first sentence of the book is –“Somebody died here once”. Actually, six children have died over many years – all on the summer solstice every thirty years. The grounds hold the statues of these children. The ghost of a child tells Jim to find the seventh. The only person on the grounds that he can communicate with is the master’s autistic son, Henry. Henry speaks in riddles and makes very little eye contact. Jim keeps seeing frightening things and soon relives each child’s death. It is up to him to stop the prophecy that is destroying Minerva Hall. Readers who like The Hunt for the Seventh will want to read Morton-Shaw’s The Riddle of Epsilon. Click on the book trailer video below for more information.

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer is John Grisham’s first novel for young adults. I listened to this one on audiobook – the reader was actor, Richard Thomas. Theo is unlike any of the kids in his class. He spends most of his free time at the local courthouse following trials and learning about the judicial system. Although Theo is only thirteen-years-old, he knows every step of the legal process. Many of his friends come to him for advice about the legal system. Ultimately, Theo is thrust in the middle of a very important murder case. Through Theo’s experiences, readers will learn about the elements that make up a fair trial. Click on the video below for an introduction to the book.

Beautiful Dead: Jonas

Eden Maguire’s Beautiful Dead: Jonas is a great recommendation for Twilight fans although there are no vampires in this story. Four teenagers from one high school have died in different accidents in one year. The most recent death has left Darina mourning the loss of the love of her life, Phoenix. She soon discovers that these teens’ souls are in limbo somewhere between heaven and earth for one year’s time. Jonas’s death was the first and his soul will be trapped unless Darina can find out exactly what caused his fatal accident before the one year anniversary of his death. Darina’s only hope is Zoey, Jonas’s girlfriend. Zoey survived the tragic accident, but is left unable to walk and has no memory of the accident itself. This novel is filled with romance and suspense. The series will continue with book #2 – Beautiful Dead: Arizona – which comes out on October 5th.