The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd

Summary:

A perfect fall story complete with adventure, mystery, friendship, potential treasure, and ghosts? The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd has it all! Emma Pearl is a 12 year old girl being raised by her semi-crazy, former-boxer grandmother, Blue, in a house with a downstairs cafe and a graveyard for a backyard. Prior to her death, Emma Pearl's mother presented her with the Book of Days, an old book filled with stories from her ancestors, all of whom dreamed of blue flowers in a field that contained an exciting destiny. Emma knows she is set to have the "destiny dream" at a young age. Her time is typically spent in the cafe with her brother, Topher, or giving graveyard tours to the townsfolk of Blackbird Hollow. When she finally has the destiny dream, she knows it is up to her to save the cafe by finding the phantom treasure she's heard about all her life. Teaming up with her best friend, Cody Belle, and her new friend, Earl Chance, Emma Pearl will encounter mysterious telling vines that just might contain the voices of the dearly departed, interpret the meaning of her mysterious destiny, make a new friend, and learn more about the ghosts in their town than they ever dreamed. Find out if Emma Pearl and her friends find the treasure and save the beloved cafe from Warren Steel and his minions when you pick up The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd, available in your library and on Overdrive as an audio book.

Personal Reflections:

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The reader did an excellent job portraying a young, Southern girl. The book had elements of magic, great imagery, and believable characters. The only thing missing was a cup of Boneyard Brew sitting in front of me! My favorite part was when Emma Pearl, Earl Chance, and Cody Bell were heading down a hill and ended up sliding down a muddy trek. The book was humorous but serious - depicting the many attributes of small-town life and the adventures three young friends create. I think most middle school students would enjoy The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd. 

Moo by Sharon Creech

Summary:

Sharon Creech writes a novel in poetic verse about two young kids, Reena and Luke, who move to Maine with their parents and make a very unlikely friend. When the brother and sister are volunteered by their parents to help out the elderly Mrs. Falala, they are more than reluctant at first. To begin with, Reena recalls a number of times when she was volunteered to do something and found herself regretting her obedience. Second, Mrs. Falala is mean! She tells Luke to stop sucking his thumb! Then, the "chores" they were supposed to do seemed way too difficult! They knew nothing about cows, but they were expected to clean up after, groom, and eventually show one at the county fair! And, Zora, the cow, mooed really loudly every time they came near her and refused to follow Reena into the pen. How can they achieve the impossible task of convincing a stubborn cow to do what she's told? 

There's no getting out of it, though, and what ensues is a beautiful lesson about the benefits and joy of hard work and what happens when first impressions are not always accurate. Find out what happens at the county fair and if the kids and Zora can ever get past their differences when you pick up Moo by Sharon Creech today!

Personal Reflections:

I've always been extremely fond of poetry of almost any kind, so verse novels in particular draw me in almost always immediately. Whereas this novel has segments that are more prose in nature, the flow is really quite beautiful. Moo is a fast read - with short chapters and a story line that's easy to follow. I love the simplicity of the story, although the much deeper meaning behind it is what makes it great. Creech is known also for her other verse novels, Love That Dog and Hate That Cat, both of which are popular reads in my library. Moo is recommended for upper elementary through middle school. I think people of all ages can appreciate, though. Check it out! 

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Summary: 

Two classes . . . entirely separated . . . entirely different. Reds bleed red and are insignificant, forced to fight a century-long war once they turn 18. Silvers are of the higher class, bleed silver, and have supernatural powers. Two friends, Mare and Kilorn, find themselves facing war as their 18th birthdays approach. Kilorn should be safe. He'll turn 18 first and has a job working as a fisherman's apprentice. Mare has little hope, though. She isn't good at anything but stealing. But when Kilorn's master dies, Mare knows she has to do something to save them both from their fate. The answer comes from an old man named Will, who runs a junk shop in town. Will is not alone when Mare pays the visit. He's with Farley, a member of the Scarlet Guard, a secret society that rebels against the war, the silver king, and the treatment of reds. Protection will cost her and Kilorn more money than they could dream of getting in just two days, not to mention they will pledge their allegiance to the Scarlet Guard, which they know almost nothing about. By a chance encounter with Cal, a prince in disguise, the money is in hand. 

Plans change, however, when Mare is summoned then forced to the palace, where the silver king and queen rule from a distance. Mare is offered a job, meaning she won't have to face war now. How did it happen? She isn't good at anything but stealing! As she's waiting tables at the Queenstrial, a competition in which the prince chooses his bride from among the various houses, Mare reveals a power of her own, one she's not supposed to have . . . one she didn't even know she had. She then faces the king and queen who wish to study her, find out the source of her power, and force her into an engagement with the younger prince. Now she must act a part she doesn't know how to play, the part of a silver. 

Find out if Mare pulls it off when you check out Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard!

Personal Reflections:

I would place this novel in the same category as the Divergent series. I enjoyed Red Queen because it was a pretty quick read and had a story line that wasn't hard to follow but still left an air of suspense. My favorite character was Cal, mostly because he turned out to be the opposite of the other Silvers in the story. I did a few book talks on RQ with my middle schoolers, and many of them have since checked it out or requested it. It's great for middle to high school. Probably a little too strange for elementary. (I don't think they'd get it.) This was the first book I'd read by Victoria Aveyard, and she proved to be a very skilled writer. Anyone who enjoys the sci-fi, fantasy, or dystopia genre would enjoy Red Queen. 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Summary:

Meet Junior, a resident of the Spokane Indian Reservation, who has big hopes and dreams. When his teacher tells him everyone on the reservation has given up and has no hope, Junior realizes he has to get out of there! But he's a poor Indian kid with a father that binge drinks and disappears, a sister that hides out in the basement all day, and a best friend that is routinely beaten by his alcoholic father. How can he find hope and cling to it? The answer comes in the form of Reardon, a mostly white school about 20 miles from the rez. Attending Reardon is something no one on the rez has ever done before, and Junior will pay many prices for going there. But, he just may find himself and his true place in the world if he does. 

Find out if Junior's dreams are realized and eventually achieved when you pick up The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie today!

Personal Reflections:

Of all the young adult books I've read, I think this could easily be among my favorites. It is funny and witty, course but with an element of softness inside. The characters are very real - ones every kid can relate to - with real emotions, problems, and intentions. The comic-strip-like artwork adds an element of humor while relaying some of the character's deepest desires. I chose this book for a student book club I started with my middle schoolers. The consensus among them was that it is definitely worth reading. For me, I found it to be a very deep representation of society today, with all of its discrimination, fear of dreaming, and tragedy. The book didn't seem to be just about a goofy looking Indian kid. It was more about the imperfections of society and the importance of keeping hope alive. Truly a beautiful story. 

Origami Yoda Series by Tom Angleberger

Summary:

The students of McQuarrie Middle School face off against a few of their teachers, the principal (Mrs. Rabbski), the school board, and the EduFun corporation when they form the Origami Rebel Alliance, a play off of the Star Wars Rebel Alliance. When test scores seem to be directing the curriculum for the entire school and the elective teachers are either fired or forced to teach a FunTime class, the Origami Rebel Alliance has no choice but to . . . well, rebel! Tom Angleberger's series, which consists of 6 books, explores what can happen when students and teachers align to defeat a greater power - the EduFun enterprise, which is backed by the school board. 

Find out what the McQuarrie Middle School students do to defeat the Dark Side when you pick up The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Darth Paper Strikes Back, The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee, The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett, Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue, and Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus by Tom Angleberger. And be sure to check out the tutorials in the back of each book and Art2 - D2's Guide to Folding and Doodling so you can make your own origami Star Wars characters! 

Personal Reflections:

I probably never would have picked up this book if it hadn't been for my 5 year old son who asked me to check it out during a random visit to my library. I am so glad he asked, too, because it was such a fun series to read with him! It is definitely written for middle school kids, but he still got the gist of each book. And I found myself laughing because the books were just a little too close to reality! I definitely recommend this series to anyone who has ever had anything to do with the school system, which means basically everyone. Check it out or buy a copy!  

The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Ocean of Blood by Darren Shan

Summary:

Ocean of Blood, which is Book 2 in the Larten Crepsley series by Darren Shan, is the story of Larten and his vampire brother, Wester, who set off in a path of self-discovery that includes quite a bit of self-indulgence as well. When they cut themselves off from the vampire clan to temporarily enjoy the finer pleasures the human world can offer, Larten and Wester are often seen binge drinking and womanizing, in addition to engaging in occasional warfare, in which they feast upon the blood of those fallen. While Larten enjoys being with the young vampires, he soon grows tired of the constant speed and chaos this kind of life lends itself to. 

Find out how Larten deals with his hunger for adventure and his need for settlement when you pick up Ocean of Blood by Darren Shan.

Personal Reflections:

Being the second book in the series, I knew I would enjoy Ocean of Blood because I was already familiar with the character in the book and knew how his whole life would eventually turn out (which we see in the subsequent Cirque du Freak series). Shan does not disappoint. My husband and I read through this book very quickly while we were traveling home from Kansas this past summer. One of the great things about Darren Shan's books is that he writes them for middle school aged kids while still making them enjoyable for adults. They are quick reads - short but intriguing - making them perfect for the average middle school kid. However, in the breadth of the text, you find some very adult things happening in the lives of the characters. I recommend his books for middle schoolers and up. They're a little too advanced for most elementary kids. I also think any adult who needs something quick to read, has a taste for the macabre, and likes vampire stories should check out any of Darren Shan's books. I personally enjoy them immensely. Happy reading! 

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Summary:

Francis Chan is well-known in the Christian world for his development of a mega-church in California. This book uncovers some of the greatest attributes of our relationship with God. Chan interlaces the fine points of this relationship with the story of his own recognition of the calling God has on his life. The King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God is crazy about us! He loves without condition and calls us to do the same. This book calls for selfless, Christ-like living, in which we give ourselves to God's love and seek to empower others to do the same. 

Personal Reflections:

I picked up Crazy Love when I saw it on one of the Featured Titles tables at Barnes and Noble. When we headed to Kansas this summer, my husband and I decided to read it while on the road. We loved this book for so many reasons. Specifically, we love how it spoke to our faith and to the true character of the God of the Universe. How amazing it is to be a child of the one true king! How crazy it is that He loves us as much as He does! And how awesome it is that we get to live out that love on a daily basis. Pick up your copy of Crazy Love today and read it. You won't regret it.