The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Calpurnia Virginia Tate never knew that her name had such an interesting legacy until she started spending time with her grandfather. She always thought it was just plain unusual, not the name of the last wife of Julius Cesar and especially not the name of a family of plants.

At the turn of the 20th century in a small town just east of Austin, Texas, Calpurnia, Callie Vee to her friends, learns about the natural world and about her place in it. While she's young her interests in the natural world are encouraged by her grandfather- she begins reading Darwin's Evolution of the Species, and making her own observations of the natural world around her. She is inquisitive and notices the connections between the world of the plants and animals with the world of people that she inhabits- plants and animals adapt to their surroundings to ensure their survival. She quickly realizes that for her best friend to marry one of her brothers, one of the Tate boys, it would ensure her survival more so than marrying someone of lesser influence. Even though her family is influential and own hundreds of acres of cotton, Callie is still expected to be a successful girl, and eventually marry. With this realization, she becomes depressed and even more obsessed with the idea of going to the university in Austin and becoming a scientist.

This is a book for inquisitive minds, girls who are interested in science and feel dorky because of it, and for those who love them. Although the novel is long, it is full of fully developed, relatable  characters that tweens will find endearing and entertaining.



Kelly, Jacqueline. (2009). The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. New York: Henry Holt. 340 pages. ISBN: 978-0-805-08841-0.

Ages 10+
Rating: Outstanding
Newberry Honor Book 2010

The Westing Game

This classic award winning mystery for tweens still captures the attention of modern audiences after 30 years in print. The story begins with an unusual group of people being offered apartments in a prestigious lake side apartment building. After their neighbor, town legend, and local millionaire Sam Westing is murdered in his own home, a group of unlikely heirs are summoned together for the reading of his will. In order to collect their inheritance they must first solve the mystery of his death and find his killer. All of the sixteen  gathered are potential killers and potential heirs to the Westing fortune- they are divided into groups of two and given different clues to the mystery... two words.

None of the heirs are who they seem and through the process of solving the mystery of Sam Westing's death, each person learns more about their neighbors than they had wanted to know. As the story unravels, it appears that one person is the killer, and then the next, until everyone looks guilty except the young, innocent, Turtle Wexler. The cast of characters is diverse and the mystery will keep young readers engaged. Readers will make guesses about the heart of the mystery and will disagree with the narrator, gasp when surprising facts are revealed, and never guess how the story ends.

Raskin, Ellen. (1978). The Westing Game. New York: Dutton. 185 pages. ISBN 978-0-142-40120-0.

Ages 10+
Rating: Outstanding
Newberry Winner 1979

The Red Blazer Girls #1: The Ring of Rocamadour

Nancy Drew hasn't got a thing on the Red Blazer Girls. Yes, she has money and resources, but the Red Blazer girls have Margaret, the human computer and smartest girl at St. Veronica's. When Sophie sees a ghost in a window of the church across from their school and screams during English class she convinces her friends Margaret and Rebecca to help her investigate. What they find is a mystery, indeed- a woman in need of some assistance in solving a mystery thirty years in the making. The mystery begins with an inscription in a card the woman (Ms. Harraman) found in her library. The card was written to her daughter Caroline as a gift from her grandfather and contains a clue that will lead to many others and finally to her gift- a rare and precious artifact. If the girls of St. Veronica's can follow the clues and solve the puzzle, then they can help and old woman make amends with her adult daughter. Fans of Nancy Drew will be pleased with the fast paced story line and interesting mysteries to be solved. The narrator, Sophie urges readers to figure out the word puzzles and math problems before continuing in their reading giving the story a conversational tone.


Biel, Michael, D. (2009). The Red Blazer Girls #1: The Ring of Rocamadour. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 299 p. ISBN: 9780375843037.

Ages 10-12
Rating: High Additional

Sardine in outer space

Sardine is the spunky niece of Captain Yellow Shoulder- in the company of her cousin and companion Little Louie, these space pirates defeat the evil Supermuscleman and free the orphans from the orphanages he operates. Through out the twelve chapters Sardine and her companions come face to face with cosmic squids, talking clouds, and space leeches on their adventures to save the orphans. The illustrations are brightly colored and appear to be drawn with the detail only a 5th grader could muster, but that only adds to the allure.


Gilbert, Emmanuel. (2006). Sardine in outer space. New York : First Second. 122 pages. ISBN: 978-1-596-43126-3.

Ages 9-12
Rating: High Additional

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

This is the story of an unlikely friendship between a young black girl and an 11 year old white minister's son in Maine, 1912. Turner Buckminster had only lived in Phippsburg Maine for less than 6 hours and he already hated it, that is until he met Lizzie Bright Griffin. She is smart as a whip and teaches Turner how to play baseball the way they do it in Maine and shows him all the natural wonders of the coast. When they learn that the townsfolk intend to force Lizzie's people off of their island (founded by former slaves) to use as a tourist site, Lizzie and Turner band together to save the island's inhabitants.


Schmidt, Gary D. (2008). Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy.
New York : Clarion Books. 219 pages. ISBN: 978-0-618-43929-4.

Ages 12-15
Rating: Outstanding
Newberry Honor book 2005
Printz Honor book 2005

Chains

Freedom depends on the color of your skin. In the beginning of the Revolutionary war, a thirteen year old slave girl and her five year old sister Ruth are sold to a cruel and dangerous wealthy couple in New York City. They were a long way from Rhode Island, and the reasonably comfortable life they previously knew. Their prior owner, Ms. Mary Finch, was kind and cared for them, taught Isabel and her mother to read, and finally promised to free the young girls when she died. Her nephew, and sole heir did not honor her promise, and instead sold Isabel and Ruth to the first person who could pay his asking price. Since her word was their only promise, and the promise was not written on paper, Isabel and her sister had no recourse and had to go to New York with the Lockton family.

On their first day in New York, Isabel learns that her new owners are influential English loyalists, Tories, from a slave boy, Curzon, whose owner is a Patriot rebel. He urges Isabel to listen in on conversations in the Lockton household and bring any important news to him with the promise that after the Revolution, the rebels will free her and her sister. The Lockton mistress is cruel and enjoys working Isabel like a dog- when she finds out that Ruth suffers from bouts of fits, Mrs. Lockton does something even more cruel than Isabel can imagine. After this, Isabel reluctantly agrees to help the rebels. It is dangerous, but now, she has nothing to lose.

The story is fast paced and will keep readers engaged in this character driven novel. Readers will sympathize with the struggles that Isabel faces and come to understand the injustice of slavery as well as the irony of the rhetoric of the rebels- if all men are created equal, what does this mean for slaves?



Anderson, Laurie Halse. (2008). Chains. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 316 pages. ISBN: 978-1-416-90585.1.

Ages 9-12
Rating: High Additional

The 39 Clues Book 2: One False Note

The second installment in the 39 Clues adventure series finds Amy and Dan Cahill on their way to Paris with their nanny in search of the next set of clues. With violent and deceitful relatives hot on their heels, Amy and Dan must move even faster to outwit the other contestants in order to become the most influential of all the Cahill clan.





Korman, Gordon. (2008). One False Note. London: Scholastic. 174 pages. ISBN: 978-0-545-06042-4.

Ages 9-12
Rating: High Additional

Case of the Goblin Pearls

Lily and her brother Chris don’t see what all the fuss is with their auntie “Tiger Lil.” Yes, she’s a “famous” Hollywood action star, but they’ve never heard of any of her movies, let alone seen any of them. When she comes to San Francisco to promote a new product for a friend, Lion Salve, in the Chinese New Year’s Parade local politicians threaten to shut the event down due to a rise in robberies and muggings by a local gang, the Powell Street Boys. Auntie “Tiger Lil” keeps the politicians at bay and the parade and festivities continue as planned, until the world famous goblin pearls worn by the principal actor on Auntie’s float are stolen right in front of Lily. On their hunt for the thieves, Lily and her Auntie are pulled into the dark underbelly of Chinatown where new immigrants work for slave wages and danger lurks in every corner. Fast paced action will keep boys and girls alike engaged in this realistic mystery set in San Francisco's Chinatown. Themes of self discovery and ethnic heritage are explored as relevant social issues are brought to the forefront. Readers will be delighted to learn that many more mysteries await them in award winning author Laurence Yep's Chinatown Mystery Series.

Yep, Laurence. (1997). Case of the Goblin Pearl. New York: Harper Collins. 179 pages. ISBN  978-0-060-24444-6.


Ages: 9-12
Rating: High Additional

The Shadows: The Books of Elsewhere, Volume 1

When Olive and her parents move into an old Victorian house it almost seems too good to be true. The old lady who lived there before had no living heirs, so all of her possessions (read: all of her old stuff) was inherited by Olive's family. The house is filled with furniture, old books, and most importantly tons of antique paintings. One day, while exploring the house, Olive notices a quick, but small movement in one of the paintings and senses that she's being watched.

After further explorations, she finds a pair of spectacles that allow her to enter any one of the paintings in the house. When she returns to the particularly strange painting, she meets a young boy named Morton who is particularly annoying and sets in motion a series of events that lead Olive to the truth about the old house, it's former inhabitants, and most importantly herself.

This story is cleverly written and just creepy enough to keep older tweens interested. Olive is a lonely and very intelligent and curious young girl. As she sets out to find out exactly what is happening in the paintings in her new house she makes some new feline friends who attempt to guide her and keep her safe. The conclusion of the mystery will surprise even the most astute readers and mystery solvers. Fans of Roald Dahl and Neil Gaiman will enjoy spending time with this young quirky protagonist.

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West, Jacqueline. (2010). The Shadows: The Books of Elsewhere. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. 241 pages. ISBN: 978-0-803-73440-1.

website for the book: http://www.thebooksofelsewhere.com/
Ages 9-11
Rating: High Additional
2010 Cybils Award Winner

11 Birthdays

What if you had to live through the same day again and again? If that day was your worst birthday ever, you might give the question more thought. On Amanda's 11th birthday, she finds herself celebrating without her best friend Leo for the first time in her life- they've celebrated every single birthday together since they were a year old. On their first birthday they learned to walk, on their fifth birthday they planted seeds in pots and watched them grow, and on their tenth birthday they learned that words can really hurt. Since they had a fallout the year before, Amanda hasn't spoken a single word to Leo and won't explain what happened to her parents or friends. The story will undoubtedly remind adults of Groundhog Day, but unlike the movie's protagonist, Phil, Amanda and her friend Leo are embroiled in an ancient curse that has sealed their families fate for generations. The story is as much about friendship between boys and girls as it is about solving mysteries and puzzles. Friendship is the heart of the story and the mystery is the skin and bones. Readers who enjoy Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me, or the classic tween mystery The Westing Game will find this title worth the time.

Mass, Wendy. (2009). 11 Birthdays. New York: Scholastic Press. 267 pages.  ISBN: 978-0-545-05240-5.

Ages 9-12
Rating: High Additional

Shiver

The beginning of this series finds Grace, an intelligent young teen, obsessed with one wolf in particular, and a pack of wolves in general, that live in the woods near her home. She survived an attack by this same pack when she was younger and is haunted by the yellow eyes of one wolf in particular. The eyes were so human, so feeling.

The wolf, half wolf, half human is obsessed with Grace as well. His human name is Sam. The book switches narrators from Grace to Sam and follows them through their courtship and into the beginnings of their lives together- until their obligations to their families and friends threaten to tear them apart.

I would recommend this series only because it is extremely popular and appears to be the next go to read for young tweens after the Twilight series.

Stiefvater, Margaret. (2009). Shiver. New York: Scholastic Press. 392 pages. ISBN: 978-0-545-12327-3.

Ages 12+
Rating: High Additional

Mockingjay

The third and final installment in the Hunger Games Trilogy takes place primarily in a place that shouldn't exist, a place that by all intents and purposes does not exits. District 13. The Capitol claims to have destroyed it during the last uprising, and uses images of the destruction as a warning to those who dare to dream of rebellion. In this installment, Katniss' role as the mockingjay is solidified and she is the symbol of the rebellion- she embodies the rebellion.





Collins, Suzanne. (2010). Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0-439-02351-1.

Ages 12+
Rating: High Additional

Catching Fire

After the shocking conclusion in the first book of the series, the winners of the annual Hunger Games are mandated to go on a victory tour of the twelve districts. During the tour, both Peeta and Katniss learn more about the political structure of the Capitol and the districts that support it. The young heroes also learn a very surprising fact that there is an undercurrent of rebellion in many of the districts and they see Katniss as their inspiration. As Katniss and Peeta prepare to mentor their tributes for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, they are horrified to find out that in honor of the Quarter Quell, President Snow has decided that these games will be special- they will be played by past winners of the Hunger Games.

Collins, Suzanne. (2009). Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic Press. 391 pages. ISBN: 978-0-439-02349-8.

Ages 12+
Rating: Outstanding

The Hunger Games

What 16 year old girl would volunteer to take part in a battle to the death?  Quite simply, one who is protecting her much younger sweet, innocent, and only sister. The battle to the death is the annual Hunger Games and the place where such a dreadful thing happens to children is Panem.

The place exists in the not so distant future after a total collapse of the civilization that we know used to be. The 12 districts of Panem are governed by the Capitol city and it's President, President Snow and the Hunger Games are used as a reminder to all inhabitants of Panem that rising up against the government has deadly consequences. So, once a year the games are played and aired on television live for all to see. Each of the 12 districts hold a lottery before each year's games to draw the tributes for the game- one male and one female between the ages of 12 and 16. This year, the unlucky female tribute that was chosen is Primrose Everdeen, sister of Katniss Everdeen. After her sister's name is drawn, much to her horror, Katniss runs toward the stage and volunteers to take her place.

At the heart of the story is the love that Katniss feels for her friends and family. It is a story of a young woman who finds herself playing the role of the breadwinner for her family after her father is killed in a mining accident. She is intelligent, tenacious, and determined to do the unthinkable- win the Hunger Games. In order to do that, she will have to use her impressive hunting skills to kill other human beings, other children.

The story is action packed, so that even reluctant readers in the middle of the tween age range will stay engaged. Themes of romantic love, affection and friendship are explored while the the protagonist tries to figure out how she feels about male figures in her life. The story does contain violence that may make some parents uneasy, but Katniss thinks about these issues and contextualizes them for the reader. Overall, the story is a fantastic and engaging example of the science fiction genre. 


Collins, Suzanne. (2008). The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press. 374 pages. ISBN:  978-0-439-02352-8

Ages: 12+
Rating: Outstanding

Magic Pickle

Under the floor of Jo Jo's bedroom the Magic Pickle is created--quite accidentally as is the case with most superheroes. Magic Pickle is different though, he is vegetable! Jo Jo teams up with the superhero to thwart the efforts of the Brotherhood of the Evil Produce to take over the world and to impress the super cute Danny Johnson.





Morse, Scott. (2008). Magic Pickle. New York: Graphix. 112 pages. ISBN: 978-0-439-87995-8.

Ages 9-11
Rating: High Additional

When You Reach Me

If you received a cryptic note under your door that says, "I'm coming to save your friend's life, and my own," would you worry? Well, this is exactly what happens to 12 year old Miranda. Things get even weirder. Her best friend Sal gets punched by some random kid they don't know walking home from school and he stops talking to her. A mentally ill homeless man appears on their block- alternately raving at traffic and passersby, laughing at the sky, and sleeping under a set of apartment building mailboxes. "Backpack, pocket, shoe" he says to Miranda one day. More notes appear under her door with increasingly personal information about her that no one should know, but her. When the key her mother leaves outside of their apartment for emergencies disappears, Miranda starts to get scared. Armed with her tattered and carefully studied copy of Madeline L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time, Miranda sets off to figure out exactly what's going on. If all of the strange occurrences and cryptic notes have anything in common, Miranda will figure it out. Set in New York City in the late 1970's, this story is part historical fiction, part fantasy, and part mystery. The story is well paced and character driven- their relationships are portrayed realistically. There is a fair share of middle school drama as friends grapple with the meaning of friendship between boys and girls, but it only enhances the protagonist's quest to figure out what all the notes are about and who they are from. This Newberry award winning book will appeal to a wide variety of readers- boys and girls alike.


Stead, Rebecca. (2009). When You Reach Me. New York : Wendy Lamb Books. 199 pages. ISBN 978-0-37585-086-8.

Ages 9-12
Rating: Outstanding
Winner of the Newberry Award 2010
Winner of the Newberry Medal 2010

Ottoline Goes to School

I really loved this quirky story about a little girl, Ottoline, whose best friend Mr. Munroe is an unidentifiable creature. In this story she is accepted into an elite private school for children with special talents or gifts. As Ottoline struggles to find out what her special gift is she is drawn into an unusual mystery at the school- it's haunted.





Riddell, Chris. (2009). Ottoline Goes to School. New York: Harper. 170 pages. ISBN  978-0-061-44900-0.


Ages 8-12
Rating: Outstanding

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

Do you know what your lunch lady does when she's not serving mac n cheese and sloppy joes in the cafeteria? With the help of her super side kick Betty, this Lunch Lady saves the students of her school from the evil Cyborg substitute- Mr. Pasteur.







Krosoczka, Jarrett. (2009). Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. New York : Alfred A. Knopf. 96 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0-375-84683-0.

Ages 9-12
Rating: Outstanding