The Pet War

Eleven-year-old Otto wants a dog, and his twelve-year-old sister, Lexi, wants a cat.  Their mother wants neither.  Pets are expensive, and who is going to care for the pet when the children visit their father? 

Otto has a great idea.  He can get a job and earn enough to pay for his pet.  Then, Lexi proposes that whichever sibling can raise enough money first will decide which pet they get.  Their mom agrees to this plan and the race is on to earn money. 

Enjoy the laughs as some of Otto's ideas don't quite work out the way he planned.  The rivalry is intense and battle lines have been drawn.  Let the pet wars begin!

Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff

It's 1944, and World War II is raging. Jayna's big brother, Rob, is her only family. When he is called to duty on a destroyer in Japan, Jayna is left in the care of their landlady. Right before he leaves, Rob shares a secret with Jayna. They may have a grandmother in Brooklyn that they have never heard about. Rob found a blue recipe book with a name and an address for a bakery in Brooklyn. He tells Jayna that they will check it out when he returns. When Jayna finds out that Rob is missing in action, she decides to go to Brooklyn to search for the bakery on the recipe book. Along with her turtle, Theresa, the recipe book, and an encouraging ghostly voice as her guide, Jayna sets out in hopes of finding the family she so desperately needs. Does the recipe book hold a clue to her past and a key to her future?

The Quilt Walk by Sandra Dallas

It's 1864 and Emmy Blue's father has just told his family that he is selling their farm in Quincy, Illinois, buying a covered wagon, and moving them to Golden, Colorado to provide a better life for the family.  Ten-year-old Emmy is both excited and sad to be leaving her friends, and grandparents behind.  Before the family leaves, Grandma Mouse gives Emmy fabric pieces to make a quilt.  She is determined that Emmy learn to sew, which is something Emmy is not at all interested in doing.  During the long and trying trip, Emmy pulls out the fabric and turns her journey into a quilt walk.  If you like historical fiction read this book to be transported to a time of adventure and excitement in our country's history.

Hideout by Gordon Korman

Griffin Bing, his friends, and Luthor, the 150-pound Doberman are back for another zany adventure.  S. Wendell Palomino, or "Swindle" as he was called by the friends in the first book, tries to regain ownership of Luthor.  Swindle not only wants Luthor back, he wants revenge.  Griffin devises a plan to keep this from happening.  The plan involves hiding Luthor at the different summer camps the kids are attending, but problems begin and the efforts to stay ahead of Swindle's plans provide plenty of adventures and laughs.  For those who haven't read the previous four books in this series, the author provides a short recap at the beginning.  However; after reading this book, I'm betting that you'll become a fan and will want to go back and read the first four books.

Stranded by Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbetts

In an effort to bond, new stepsiblings, Carter, Jane, Vanessa, and Buzz, are going on a five-day sailing expedition off Hawaii with their uncle and his first mate.  During a storm, the Lucky Star runs into a rocky shoal and begins to take on water.  The two adults are blown away on the Lucky Star's only lifeboat before the kids can get on.  The four kids end up stranded on an unknown island in the South Pacific.  If you like adventure and survival books, this novel co-authored by Survivor host, Jeff Probst, will keep you turning the pages as the kids struggle to survive and hope for rescue.

Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook by Beverly Patt

The year is 1942, and the bombing of Pearl Harbor has brought the United States into World War II.  Louise and her Japanese friend, Dottie, are separated when the United States requires all Japanese American families living on the west coast to relocate to internment camps.  These camps take away the rights, freedom, property, and dignity of the Japanese families.  Dottie and Louise keep in touch by writing letters which are presented in this book in scrapbook format, and include many historical pictures. 

This book is based upon a story the author's mother told her about a family she knew during her own childhood who was relocated to an internment camp.  Though this is a fiction book, the author's research provides much information about what life was like for both girls during this time time of war.

Melonhead and the Undercover Operation- by Sarah Weeks

In this third book about ten-year-old Adam "Melonhead" Melon and his friend, Sam, the laughs abound as the two go undercover to catch one of the FBI's Most Wanted. Having earned "Junior Special Agent" status from their many visits to FBI headquarters, the boys get caught up in their spy mission. They decide a woman they meet on the bus is The Chameleon, master of disguise and wanted by the FBI. Despite their good intentions, things don't work out as they anticipate. Enjoy this fun-loving book as the boys blunder from one hilarious situation to another.

PIE-by Sarah Weeks

When Alicia's Aunt Polly, The Pie Queen of Ipswitch, dies, her secret to her world-famous piecrust dies with her. She leaves the recipe to her fat and disagreeable cat, Lardo, whom she leaves in Alicia's care.

Amidst some crazy antics and sometimes mysterious happenings, the whole town tries to figure out how you leave a recipe to a cat.

This book is sprinkled with recipes for wonderful pies, and on the surface appears to be about everyone's efforts to become the next pie contest winner. However, on a deeper level, the book examines the true recipe for happiness. Read PIE to discover how Aunt Polly's bequest will lead everyone to this discovery.

Take Me to the River-by Will Hobbs

Fourteen-year-old Dylan Sands and his cousin, Rio, are on a ten day canoe trip down the Rio Grande River. Even a hurricane weather advisory and border dangers can't deter the boys from making this trip. They are traveling in some of the most remote and rugged areas of Big Bend National Park and are surprised by a man and a seven-year-old boy who wander into their camp. The man, who tells them he and the boy have lost their way and need help, acts suspiciously and the boy seems fearful. The cousins offer help and end up in a life-threatening situation, both from the river and the man.

If you like suspense, read this book to find out how Dylan's and Rio's adventure ends.

How I Survived Middle School by Donna Gephart

Eleven-year-old David Greenberg is nervous about starting Harman Middle School and deals with his fears by making TalkTime videos to post on YouTube. He dreams of becoming a TV superstar like his idol, Jon Stewart, and displays his zany sense of humor in his videos of his pet hamster and his top 6 1/2 lists at the end of each video. When he and his best friend, Elliott, have a fight, David meets Sophie. She thinks David's videos are hilarious and begins sending out the links to everyone she knows. Before long, thousands of people view his videos. Could David be on his way to becoming an Internet Super Star?

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

Evan Treski is not happy when he finds out that his younger sister, Jessie, is skipping third grade and will be in his class when school begins. Even though Evan is much better at dealing with people than Jessie, he feels threatened because Jessie is much better at math than he is. Rivalry and misunderstandings grow as they each set up a lemonade stand and compete to see who can reach $100.00 first. This is war--a lemonade war! You will enjoy the tips for running a lemonade stand and ideas for making money in any business.

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

It is 1776 and 13-year-old Samuel lives with his parents on the edge of the wilderness in the British colony of Pennsylvania. Returning from hunting in the woods one day, he finds that his home has been attacked and burned by British soldiers and Iroquois Indians. Samuel soon realizes that his parents have been taken captive. Using his forest skills he begins to track them, confronting the horrors of war as he moves through enemy territory. He finds unexpected help from people who are secretly helping the colonists. Can Samuel reunite his family? Gary Paulsen alternates the chapters of Samuel's story with historic notes about the Revolutionary War to create an informative as well as suspenseful read.

The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary by Candace Fleming

The fifth-grade class at Aesop Elementary school has a reputation for being difficult to teach. They are so "extraordinary" that the only teacher willing to teach them is their former fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Jupiter. ( You might want to read The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary school, first.) Mr. Jupiter, himself, is no ordinary teacher. Most of the other teachers at school agree that he is just plain weird. His methods of teaching border on eccentric, but his students love him and are enthusiastic to learn from his outlandish activities. Some of the humor is definitely corny, but will make you smile, roll your eyes and shake your head, and even laugh. From singing guinea pigs, to students whose names match their personalities, to morals learned from fable-like lessons, this is a fun and silly read that just might teach you some things!

Framed by Gordon Korman

Griffin Bing and his friends are in trouble again. A valuable Super Bowl ring is missing from a school display case. Even though Griffin didn't take it, all of the evidence points to him. Join Griffin and his friends as they try to find the real thief. Will the Man With a Plan be able to prove his innocence? If you enjoyed Swindle and Zoobreak, the first two books about Griffin and his friends, this will be a great pick for you.

Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez

Lina Flores loves volleyball, science, and socks of all colors and designs. Her best friend, Vanessa, lives across the street, and their special bond has always gotten them through every problem until now. Lina is grieving the sudden death of her mother and trying to cope with her dad's grief as well. She feels lonlier still when Vanessa develops an interest in boys and isn't always available when Lina needs her. Lina's grades start to slide, and she is not allowed to play volleyball. Even worse, she begins to feel that her dad loves the books he hides behind more than he loves her. Read this heart-warming book to see how Lina restores her relationship with Vanessa and her dad. She even learns alot about herself in the process.

The Big Field by Mike Lupica

Hutch Hutchinson loves everything about baseball. He especially loves playing shortstop, a position his dad once played professionally until an injury ended his short career. Hutch has always played shortstop and has been the star until Darryl Williams joins the Cardinals and takes over the position. Hutch is moved to second base and feels "second best." He strives to remain a team player and wants desperately to have a closer relationship with his dad, who no longer shows an active interest in baseball. When Hutch sees his dad giving fielding tips to Darryl, he feels angry and betrayed. As the Cardinals advance to the summer league championship, Hutch battles his emotions to remain a good teammate and salvage the relationship with his dad. If you love baseball, you'll feel the excitement of the game within the pages of this book. "Take me out to the ballgame!"

The Potato Chip Puzzles by Eric Berlin

Potato chip tycoon, Dimitri Simon, invites local school teams on a puzzle hunt with the winners receiving a $50,000 prize for their school. Winston Breen and his friends can't wait to tackle the puzzles and bring home the prize money. However; the competition is tough and someone is trying to sabotage the other teams. Although Winston is a puzzle whiz who has proven himself in the past, can he figure out who is cheating and stop them before they win the contest?

You will enjoy trying to solve a variety of brain teasers yourself as you read this fast-paced mystery. Then, you'll want to check out The Puzzling World of Winston Breen, by the same author.

Rule of Three by Megan McDonald

In this second book of the Sisters Club, Alex, Stevie, and Joey Reel return as three sisters with alot of love between them and just enough "sisterness" to spark normal sibling behaviors. As the youngest of five sisters, the author is well-prepared to write about this subject.

Alex, the oldest sister, has always been the actress in the family, and middle-sister, Stevie, has been content to stay behind the scenes. However; when her school plans a musical, Stevie decides that she wants to be in the spotlight for once. Only one of the sisters can play the lead role, and both sisters are in fierce competition. Youngest sister, Joey, is put in the middle of rivalry, tricks, and trying to remind her sisters that they are supposed to be "all for one and one for all." Find out who earns the starring role and how it affects the sisters' lives.

A Dog on His Own by Mary Jane Auch

Other dogs are K-9s, but K-10 is a cut above the rest. At least that's what his mother tells him when she gives him his name. K-10 is soon adopted, but returned because his new owners decide they want a smaller dog. After that, his days are spend running away from owners, only to be picked up by animal control and taken to a shelter. He has been in six different shelters and has learned not to trust humans. When another dog at the current shelter tells him her plan to escape, he decides to go with her. After his escape, he must search for food and avoid the dangers of being hurt or returned to a shelter. Life is hard for a loner, but he keeps telling himself he was meant to be a free and independent dog. Will he remain on the loose, or will he finally find a home with people who will love him and care for him?

Everything For a Dog by Ann M. Martin

In this book, a dog and two boys are connected in surprising ways. Bone and his sister are stray dogs, left homeless as puppies. They are soon separated, and Bone must go on alone. Charlie's brother has died, and he is healing with the help of his brother's dog, Sunny. Then another tragedy occurs which affects his life deeply. Henry's best friend has just moved away he is desperate for a dog to love. He just has to convince his parents to let him have one. If you've ever wanted a dog or you are just a dog-lover, you will love this heartfelt story and will be surprised at how the three characters' lives are interwoven.