Unraveling Freedom

Unraveling Freedom by Ann Bausum

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


During World War One the United States enacted laws which surpressed the civil liberties of certain American citizens. This book asks important questions such as: Why did the government believe that these laws were necessary? Was the government right in passing these laws? Are there parallels today?



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Genius Files

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Pepsi and Coke are 12 year old twins on a cross country RV trip with their parents. They are unaware that they have been recruited into the Genius Files, a group created where kids are expected to save the world. Lots of action in this one and lots of weird but true facts.



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Moon Over Manifest

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Abilene and her father have been drifting from town to town, looking for work, for as long as she can remember. Her father, thinking that Abilene needs more, sends her to live with his friend in Manifest, Kansas. She soon discovers a hidden compartment in her bedroom that contains letters written years before. Who wrote these letters and who kept them hidden away?



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Penderwicks at Point Mouette

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I don't know how Ms. Birdsall does it - but each Penderwick book is better than the last! This series is a joy to read! It's a perfect summer read. You MUST read it!



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They Called Themselves the KKK: the Birth of an American Terrorist Group

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Did you know that there is a terrorist group in the United States. That it has been around for many years? This is the history of the Ku Klux Klan; why it began and how it survives. This is NOT a gentle read, but it is definitely worth reading!


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Close to Famous

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Foster and her mom run away from her mom's abusive boyfriend and end up in Culpepper, West Virginia. Foster wants to be a chef on t.v. and she bakes for everyone in town; a great way to meet people! This is a story about strangers becoming family.



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Storm Runners

Storm Runners by Roland Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Chase is caught in a massive hurricane - alone. You will hold your breath until you reach the end of this book!



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Penny Dreadful

Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Penny had enough money to do whatever she wanted until her father quit his job and they had to move from their mansion in The City, to a teeny-tiny town called Thrush Junction, TN. Her life will NEVER be the same again - thank goodness!!



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Bloody Times

Bloody Times: The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis by James L. Swanson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book provides insight to our history immediately after President Lincoln was assassinated. He begins where "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" leaves off.


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January

January by Gabrielle Lord

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Cal's father has just died from a horrible disease - or so Cal is led to believe. On New Year's Eve a man comes running after him saying that Cal needs to stay alive for the next 365. He needs to run or they will kill Cal like they killed his father. There is one book for every month of the year. Full of action. Think Jason Borne for middle-graders.



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The Other Half of My Heart

The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Minni and Keira are twins, but no one believes it because they don't look alike. One has light skin and the other has dark skin. (Their mom is black and their dad is white) When they enter The Miss Black Pearl Preteen America Pageant, will this difference break them apart?



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What Happened on Fox Street

What Happened on Fox Street by Tricia Springstubb

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Mo Wren lives on Fox Street with her sister (The Wild Child) and her dad. Fox Street is a place she loves like no other place in the world. It's perfect. One summer though, things begin to change and Mo is scared that her her world will never be the same.



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A View from Saturday

The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book defies description. Please just pick it up - you'll love it. It's about four kids - all outcasts - who find each other and create a family. You will smile so much, your cheeks will hurt.



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Jimmy's Stars

Jimmy's Stars by Mary Ann Rodman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Ellie is very close to her brother Jimmy. When Jimmy is drafted to fight in WWII, Ellie worries ab out him and lives for his letters home. After he doesn't come home for Christmas, like he promised, the War comes closer to home



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No Passengers Beyond This Point

No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


India, Finn and Mouse are told they have 24 hours to pack. They are moving to their Uncle's house because the their house has been foreclosed on. They are to fly alone, because mom needs to stay behind for her job. The plane takes off for Colorado, but it definitley does NOT land there!



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Here Today

Here Today by Ann M. Martin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ellie needs her mother. She is constantly getting picked on in school and needs some tender loving care. Unfortunately, her mother is so obsesses with becoming an actress that she doesn't notice Ellie or her brother and sister. Instead, Ellie's mom abandons her family and goes to New York to become famous, leaving Ellie to care for her brother and sister. Your heart will ache for Ellie while she makes her way in this world. Get the tissues ready!



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Skulduggery Pleasant - The Faceless Ones

The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. I don't know how it's possible, but it keeps getting better. Listening to the audio book is a gift!!



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Everything on a Waffle

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Primrose is an amazing kid. Her parents have been lost at sea and although everyone in the town thinks they are dead, she is absolutely sure that they are coming back. In the meantime, she lives with her uncle and learns to cook from a chef that puts everthing on waffles. There are a lot of people who care about what happens to her - and a few that don't. Despite her hardships, Primrose always sees the best in everything. She has a lot to teach us.



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Touch Blue

Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Tess lives on a small island and her school is going to close because there are not enough students. The island residents decide to bring in foster kids in order to keep the school open. Tess' family welcomes Aaron and he just wants to be left alone. She was hoping for so much more.


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The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I loved this book because of the humor. The "Weird Watsons" from Flint Michigan is a unique family - to say the least. You will be laughing through tears during the first two-thirds of this book. It does become serious - instantly and you are left to work through serious issues. It is bound to lead to several discussions.



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Defiance

Defiance by Valerie Hobbs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Toby is finally finished with his cancer treatment. To celebrate, he goes on vacation with his mom. He is so happy to be a "normal" kid that he ignores the lump that he finds. Will he find the courage to face his illness - again?



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Zombiekins

Zombiekins by Kevin Bolger

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Stanley buys a stuffed animal at a yard sale. He is warned to follow the instructions included with it, but he throws them out without reading them. That was NOT smart! Stanley is about to find out how dangerous a stuffed animal can be!



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Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A beautifully written book about an ugly time in our history. When non-white people were not allowed to eat in restaurants with white people. Four boys sat down at a lunch counter and asked for a cup of coffee and a doughnut. A simple act that started a revolution!



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Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester

The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O'Connor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Three friends, the best bullfrog in Georgia, a submarine and a know-it-all girl who lives next door. Once again Ms. O'Connor has written a gem!



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Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol

Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol by Jim Krieg

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Griff Carver is a new student at a new middle school. He had to change schools because of an "incident" at his old school. Unfortunately, his reputation follows him and he is quickly accused of being the trouble maker. In truth, as part of the student patrol (a kid with a badge) he has stumbled upon a counterfeit hall pass ring. As he searches for the facts, will anyone believe what he discovers?



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Mockingbird

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Catlin has Asperger's Syndrome and has difficulty with emotions. When a tragedy rocks her family and community, she struggles with the aftermath.


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Elijah of Buxton

Elijah Of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Elijah was the first child born in the settlement of Buxton - a village created by freed and runaway slaves. This story weaves Elijah's story with the hardships of everyday life creating a community in the Canadian forest. You'll fall in love with this story. Humorous, sad, uplifting and powerful. A Newbery Honor book.



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Over Sea, Under Stone

Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The three Drew children find an ancient map in an attic. Little do they know that evil people are looking for that map, and now the Drew children are in danger. This is the first book in "The Dark is Rising" series.



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Daisy Dawson

Daisy Dawson Is on Her Way! by Steve Voake

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Daisy LOVES animals. She is always late to school because she is stopping to talk to all the animals she sees. One day something amazing happens and she begings to understand the animals that she talks with. This is a wonderful early chapter book series! So cute! I highly recommend.



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Flawed Dogs

Flawed Dogs: The Shocking Raid on Westminster by Berkeley Breathed

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Sam, a prized dachshund, should live the pampered life of a show dog, but because of another dog's jealously, that is not the life he leads. Funny and sad all at the same time.



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Fablehaven

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Kendra and Seth are stunned to learn that their grandparents are the current caretakes of Fablehaven, a sanctuary for mythical creatures. It turns out that they both have the gift of seeing these creatures too, which turns out to be both a blessing and a curse. This is my favorite new fantasy series (not new to the library, but new to me). I can't wait the read the rest of the books!


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Cracker

Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Did you know that dogs were used to sniff out bombs and snipers during the Vietnam War? Neither did I. This story is about Cracker's journey from being a pampered and beloved family pet to an Army dog. I LOVED this book. Be sure to read about the real life "Crackers" at the end of this story.



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Woods Runner

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Samuel's family is captured by the British at the start of the Revolutionary War. He believes that he is all alone in his attempt to rescue is parents, but along the way the men and women of the Colonies provide him with much needed help. His rescue mission takes him deep into enemy territory. Will he be able to get his family out alive?



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Ninth Ward

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Twelve year old Lanesha lives with Mama Ya Ya in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mama Ya Ya is not related to Lanesha by blood, but her mother died giving birth to her and her "real" family doesn't want her. Now a Hurricane is coming and will be devestating to New Orleans. Will Lanesha and Mama Ya Ya survive?







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The White Giraffe

The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Martine's world is turned upside down and she is sent to live with her Grandmother. She didn't even know she had a Grandmother and she definitely didn't know that her Grandmother owned an wildlife reserve in Africa. Legend has it that there is a White Giraffe on the reserve. Martine is determined to find out if the legend is true. This is the first book in The Legend of the Animal Healer series. If you are an animal lover, this series is for you!



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Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade

Princess Posey & The First Grade Parade by Stephanie Green

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Are you ready to start reading chapter books? If so, I have a fun new series for you. Her name is Posey and she loves to wear her pink tutu - everywhere. She feels like a princess when she wears it, but her mom doesn't think that she should wear it on her first day of first grade. This is the first book in the Princess Posey series. I can't wait for the second one to get here.



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