Savvy

Someone Named Eva

The Underneath

The London Eye Mystery

The Great Wide Sea

The Graveyard Book - Audiobook

This YALSA Amazing Audiobook for Young Adults as well as Newbery Medal winner is written and read by Neil Gaiman.  Having the author read the book is a real treat because no one is better equipped to express the tone of the story.  From the very beginning, the music blends with the reading to set the tone.  Gaiman's tone while reading enhance the storyline and perfectly creates the suspense in this haunting tale.  In addition, his voice and accent, inflection, and intonation are simply easy and pleasing to listen to.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village - Audiobook

This ALSC Notable Children's Recording written by Laura Amy Schlitz tells the story of medieval times through a series of mini-plays.  Each play is told from a different point of view.  The sound recording begins with the forward read by the author and continues with narrator Christina Moore and a full cast to read the different parts.  This audiobook is a delight to listen to and truly brings each character to life.  It's a great way to teach this time period and to truly make history come alive.

Hawaiian Playground - Sound Recording

This ALSC Notable Children's Recording is a compilation of songs of Hawaii.  Performed by various artists, some are in English and others in Hawaiian.  The style of the singing, instruments, and music overall is very indicative of what you hear on Hawaiian radio stations.  This is a highly entertaining sound recording, especially if you want to hear the true sounds of Hawaii.  I have to admit I am slightly biased, since I am part Hawaiian.  But the songs and music are quite authentic.

The Nation - Audiobook

A YALSA Amazing Audiobook, the reading of Terry Pratchett's novel tells the story of young Mau who returns to his island home after his initiation period to find the entire Nation wiped out by a tsunami.  He meets a shipwrecked survivor of the storm, and they work together to form a new community comprised of refugees from the wave.  Narrator Stephen Briggs' British accent serves the story well, as some of the characters seem to originate from somewhere in England.  My only complaint is a lack of emotion in the reader's voice at key moments was disappointing for me.  I think this is due in part to the narrator's British accent and matter-of-fact tone and the fact that am a very emotional person and reader.  

I'm Dirty - Audiobook

I'm Dirty written by Kate McMullan and Jim McMullan and read by Steve Buscemi is a delightful listen.  A 2009 Odyssey Honor winner, the narrators fun tone and inflection keep the reader listening.  The music and sound effects work with the storyline and illustrations to tell about the muddy exploits of this spunky backhoe.  Buscemi does a wonderful job of reflecting this tone.  

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Book #1 in the New York Times Bestselling series by Jeff Kinney, this book gives a delightful glimpse into middle-school life from the perspective of Greg Heffley.  The book is written as his journal, not diary, and gives a very comic glimpse into his life.  The text is written to look handwritten and is accompanied by cartoon drawings.  The subject matter and format of the book make it highly appealing to older elementary and younger middle school students, boys in particular.  It's an easy, fun read and a great stepping off point for the rest of the series.

Marked

Book #1 in the New York Times bestselling House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast, Marked tells the story of Zoey Redbird who has received the mark of the vampire.  In this series, vampires coexist with humans.  At her new vampire school, Zoey must deal with the special allotment of powers bestowed on her by the vampire goddess Nyx.  In addition, she finds new friends and romance.  This mixture of emotion and the action and suspense keep the reader engaged.  The ending leaves the reading wondering what will happen next.  While this book is appealing for fans of vampires and the supernatural, the language and sex throughout the book make it a better choice for older readers.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

A New York Times bestseller by John Boyne relates the story of the Holocaust and the notorious death camp Auschwitz from an interesting point of view, that of Bruno the young son of the new commander of Auschwitz.  Because Bruno is so young and unaware of what is truly going on, the reader really knows more than Bruno.  He tries to learn more about his new home by exploring the fenceline of the camp and befriending a young inmate.  His ignorance of what the camp is truly about and this friendship lead to a tragic ending that highlights the innocence of all victims of the Holocaust.

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane

Written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Sean Qualls, this book about the childhood of John Coltrane received a Coretta Scott King illustrator honor.  This picture book focuses on the sounds of life Coltrane heard as a boy growing up, from his grandfather's ukulele to weeping at a family funeral.  The book ends with John finally playing a note that imitates all these sounds he heard as a child.  The beautiful illustrations keep the focus on the sounds and work with the text to encourage any young, aspiring musician to listen to life around them as inspiration for their music.

The Blacker the Berry

This book illustrated by Floyd Cooper and written by Joyce Carol Thomas is both a Coretta Scott King illustrator award and author honor book.  Each poem celebrates a different hue of black with respect to African American diversity.  The poetry and illustrations combine to celebrate the strengths and beauty of different shades by relating them to the strength and beauty seen in these same shades in nature.  The book is an encouraging, uplifting celebration of diversity within a culture.

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

This Coretta Scott King author award book written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson explores the history of African Americans in baseball.  The lifelike illustrations of the actual players and fields give the reader a vivid picture of what baseball was like for the players.  The narrative is told from the viewpoint of a player and explores the hardships endured by the players as well as celebrating their talents, personalities, fortitude, and contribution to the history and legacy of baseball in America.  

Breaking Dawn

The final book in the New York Times Bestselling Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn finalizes Bella and Edward's love for each other in marriage.  In a surprising shock, Bella discovers she is pregnant with a half-human/half-vampire child.  In order to save her life, Edward turns Bella into a vampire, and she must discover her own vampiric power.  However, their worries are not over.  Vampires from across the world and the local werewolves band together in a show of strength against the mighty Volturi.  They will either all stand victorious or die together.  

Eclipse

Book #3 in the New York Times Bestselling series, Eclipse continues Bella and Edward's love story.   To complicate matters, Bella discovers that her best friend Jacob is a werewolf and a sworn enemy of her boyfriend, Edward.  They must all come to terms with this animosity and band together to fight off a new threat - a vampire bent on revenge and her army of volatile newborn vampires.  This emotional, action-packed book will keep you riveted to the very end.

New Moon

Book #2 in the New York Times Bestselling series, New Moon continues the saga of Bella and Edward.  In order to protect Bella from himself, Edward leaves the town of Forks.  Bella copes with her heartache and anguish by renewing her friendship with Jacob Black, who has his own supernatural secret.  She takes up dangerous stunts with Jacob as a way to ease her pain.  One such stunt sends Alice Cullen back to Bella and Edward on a suicide mission.  Can Bella save Edward from himself?  Can their love continue?

Twilight

The first book in this New York Times Bestselling series, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer begins the love story of Bella and her beloved vampire, Edward.  Moving to a new town to live with her dad and dealing with being the new girl in town, Bella is intrigued by the Cullen family, particulary Edward.  Even after discovering their family secret, Bella and Edward decide their love is too strong to deny, even in the face of death.

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City

A Bluebonnet book by Janet Schulman and illustrated by Meilo So, Pale Male tells the true story of how a red-tailed hawk made New York City his home and became a true citizen of the city.  From his initial entry to the city, to his courtship of a female and the setting up of a home for their young, you will find yourself cheering for Pale Male along with the New Yorkers in the book.  The soft illustrations give non-New Yorkers a glimpse into city and Central Park life.

Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty, a Bluebonnet book by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Matt Tavares, gives the story of the Statue of Liberty from the point of view of those involved:  engineer, poet, sculptor, newspaper writer, and individuals who all contributed to the creation of this national symbol.  The illustrations chronicle the step-by-step process leading to the construction of the statue, ending with a foldout picture of Lady Liberty.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale

This Bluebonnet book, a tale retold by Carmen Deedy and illustrated by Michael Austin, tells the story of how Martina the Cockroach finds the perfect mate.  I think it's funny that the cockroach is the beautiful one.  But with the advice of her grandmother, this beautiful cockroach does find just the right man.  The illustrations help with the personification of the characters and beautifully portray their emotions.  

Frogs

This Bluebonnet book contains the most colorful, vivid photographs of frogs I have ever seen.  Nic Bishop, author and photographer, informs the reader of various types of frogs through his brilliant photographs and text.  The background of the pages varies to match the vibrant colors of the different frogs.  A definite must-see for young readers!

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

This Caldecott Honor book  by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet tells the story of poet William Carlos Williams.  The story is written in the same free verse style used by Williams.  The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, a combination of drawings and collage.  The book looks like a scrapbook of Williams' life and tells of his passion for words throughout the different stages of his life.  I enjoyed reading about someone I was unfamiliar with and reading some of his poetry that is interspersed through the book.

How I Learned Geography

Uri Shulevitz recounts his childhood memories of fleeing to central USSR to escape war and persecution during World War II in this Caldecott Honor book.  Uri's father teaches him the importance of learning and imagination when he buys a map that teaches Uri about the world.  The colorful illustrations in the book are based on his memories of that time.  

The House in the Night

Illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson, this Caldecott Medal book is a soothing story about nighttime.  Night and dark can be worrisome for small children (I know, my 4 year old suddenly becomes afraid of his room in the dark), but this story shows how comforting it can be once you know what is in the night.  By focusing on the familiar, the night becomes soothing rather than scary.  The predominantly black and white illustrations are illuminated by small bits of yellow.  The yellow is often used to illustrate the familiar items children can find in their homes and rooms.  

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom

This Newbery Honor collection of poetry by Margarita Engle tells the story of conflict and struggle in the 1800s in Cuba and is told through different characters' points of view.  The main character is Rosa, to whom all other characters are connected.  It chronicles different periods of the characters' lives as they experience Cuba's history and struggle.  The poetic style makes it an easy read and engages the reader to continue reading about the characters and their struggles.  

Gym Candy

From the 2009 Lone Star List, Gym Candy by Carl Deuker is an athlete-oriented book that explores the use of steroids in high school.  This is a great read, especially for the male football enthusiast.  The storyline follows Mick from middle school to high school as he pursues his, and his father's, dream of becoming a football star.  If you're an avid football fan, the descriptions of the games and plays will keep you riveted.  But the opposite is also true; if you're unfamiliar with the game, you will be lost at times.  The combination of action and the exploration of Mick's emotions associated with football keep the plot moving and the reader engaged.

On an unrelated note, the setting is a town in Washington state.  At one point, Mick's team takes a trip to watch the state finals.  The powerhouse team in that game is from Pasco, Washington...which is where I grew up!  I couldn't believe my hometown was in a book because there's not a lot in Pasco.  Most people think of Washington as lush and green, but the southeastern part of the state, where Pasco is located, is nothing but desert - sand, sagebrush, and tumbleweed.  The only green comes from farmland irrigated by the Columbia River.