The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Petra and her father live in a small village and have a simple life. Her father works with metals and his hobby is making tin animals that come to life - all they need is oil to survive. Petra's pet is a spider named Astrophil. Because of his beautiful work, the Prince has requested that her father make a special clock for his castle. Unfortunately, the Prince wants to be the only one to work this magnificent clock and steals her father's eyes and wears them. (gross!) Petra sets off to get her father's eyes back - but danger is all around her.

This is the first book in The Kronos Chronicles

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The Pinballs

The Pinballs by Betsy Byars


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Three kids, Carlie, Harvey and Thomas J, all sent to live with the Masons. They are all foster kids that have had difficult lives but somehow, together they are a family.

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Leaving Gee's Bend

Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ludelphia lives in Gee's Bend, Alabama a place known for making beautiful quilts. It is a way for the women in this little itty bitty place to remember their history, because each quilt tells a story. Ludelphia's story is about her mother's illness, the new baby and a trip of a lifetime.

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YouTube - A Great Idea

YouTube by Adam Woog


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ever wonder how YouTube started? Well wonder no more! Read this and you will know who to thank for all those videos you watch the moment you ask for them.

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Mick Harte Was Here

Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mick Harte was Pheobe's younger brother. He was in an accident while riding his bike and died. I am not giving the story away because Pheobe tells you this in the first chapter. This story is about how Pheobe and her parents each deal with Mick's death. Both a tragic and uplifting story.

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The Road to Oz

The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum by Kathleen Krull


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
"We are off to see the Wizard . . ." Not really, but you will meet the creator of the Wizard, Dorothy, Toto and the rest. An interesting picture book biography.

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Written in Bone

Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walker


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Discovery the mysteries that archeology can uncover. You'll be amazed at the stories bones can tell!

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The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A group of boys in a small town play one baseball game a year against a team from the next county over. It is a heated rivalery, and it is a very big event. The pitcher of the team is doublely excited because he had a broken elbow last year and couldn't play. All because of a girl. This year, however, the county is putting on a huge production and the person in charge is the same girl who broke his elbow and the county has cancelled the game.

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One Crazy Summer

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In 1968, two girls are sent to visit their mother over the summer. The same mother who left them years ago and never bothered to checked how they were doing. When they arrive in Los Angeles, it is clear that their mother still doesn't want them. Thankfully, there is a community center close by where the girls are fed and where they meet friends. This community center is run by the Black Panthers and the girls become involved in their community in ways they never dreamed

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Knights of the Lunch Table

Knights Of The Lunch Table by Frank Cammuso


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Arthur "Artie" King just moved to a new school. He wasn't very popular in his last school so he makes up a story that he was a dodgeball champion. He becomes fast friends with a three people but they are constantly being picked on by a bully. A dodgeball duel will decide who is the leader of the school. There is also a wise teacher, Mr. Merlyn and a magic locker that only works for Artie. This is the first book in this Graphic Novel series.

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Horror at the Haunted House

Horror at the Haunted House by Peg Kehret


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
For halloween, Ellen participates in a haunted house. The house is staged in an old mansion and she is Joan of Arc. Unfortunately, not all of the characters are fake. A former resident (a ghost) is trying to tell Ellen something and she won't leave Ellen alone until she does!

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Caddie Woodlawn

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink



Frontier life for Caddie and her family is not easy - but Caddie loves it. She is a tomboy through and through, and while her father loves that she is a free spirit, her mother wishes she was more like a lady.

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The Forgotten Door

The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A boy falls through a hole and lands in a cave. He doesn't remember his name nor his language and he doesn't know where he is. What he does know is that he can communicate with animals. From the same author who wrote "Escape To Witch Mountain"

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Horrid Henry

Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Like to laugh? Then you will love Horrid Henry. He gets in trouble for everything and most of the time his proud of himself. A fantastic early chapter book series!

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Not Just Anybody Family

The Not-just-anybody Family by Betsy Byars


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is the first in the Blossom family books. Their grandfather is in jail and their mother is on the rodeo circut - that leaves three siblings to handle things on their own. This book is entertaining and will leave you wanting to know more about the Blossoms.

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