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.