This nonfiction book on scorpions for emergent readers has fascinating photographs.  The text is large and well chosen to go with the detailed photos.  Young readers learn about behavior, appearance, and habitat of these incredibly adaptive arachnids.  This is an engaging book – a sure hit with those with a love for arachnids and insects.

Books in this series begin with true/false statements.  The answers are found within the pages and also in the back.  Camouflage simply means using a disguise to help a creature to hide from predators.  However, sometimes camouflage also helps animals sneak up on their prey.  Animals use mimicry, coloration, behavior, physical appearance, and shape as a means to hide.  Photos fill about half the page and are well chosen to illustrate the informative text.  Over 30 animals, insects, sea creatures, reptiles, birds, and even people, are depicted using camouflage.  Words in bold text are defined in context as well as in the glossary.  Additional facts, resources, an index, and a paragraph about the author are included.  This is a terrific resource for any collection.

Webster is a dog who has returned to the shelter after his third unsuccessful attempt at adoption.  He has decided to go the way of the free, independent cowboy: no friends, no attachments to people, no cozy home – a loner through and through.  He calls himself “Bad Hat”.  No matter how gruff Webster tries to be, the other animals in the shelter are friendly, encouraging, and hopeful that everyone will find a “forever family”.  Webster makes an escape one stormy night to continue his life as an outsider.  During his adventures, he rescues a drowning man, saves a toddler in traffic, defends a child from bullies, and brings a litter of kittens to the shelter.  “Bad Hat” is not the best name for this reluctant hero!  Throughout the book, there is mention on the importance of pet adoption and rescue groups.

Fourth grade Krystal is a psychic but only her friends, Claire and Billy, know of her ability.  After a collision with Billy, Krystal discovers she can now also hear what animals are saying!  The chapters are short and the sentences are simple.  This book is the 4th in the series but they do not need to be read in order.  Although Krystal is in the fourth grade, this book will be more enjoyed by younger readers.  Illustrations are cartoon-like in black and white.  In the back are horoscopes and instructions for making a paper fortune-teller.  Included is a website containing videos, contests, games, and puzzles.

In this fantasy/sci-fi novel, teenager Nadia is an outcast because she is the dyer’s daughter (one who dyes clothes). In the town of Canaan where Nadia lives, a wall surrounds the town; no one is allowed to venture past this wall, but Nadia climbs over the wall every night to find out what is really behind the structure. Every twelve years in the city of Canaan, everyone forgets everything about who they were and everything that has ever happened. The only way to remember is to record things in “your book” which is always on one’s person. Nadia is the only person in Canaan who can remember the past. Nadia knows that someone has replaced her book with a false one. Who replaced her book and why did they replaced it?!!

The pacing of the story was a bit slow, but the variety of characters keeps the story interesting. The story begins seemingly as a regular fantasy, but half-way through, the plot develops into a sci-fi story. When the sci-fi elements appear in the book, it answers a lot of misconceptions which gives the reader a new insight into the city and its residents. The concept of the book itself is very intriguing; the subject matter of memory is fascinating. Nadia is portrayed as a very strong protagonist. This book will appeal to teens who like fantasy, sci-fi and suspense.

–Charlotte H.

In this realistic fiction novel, seventeen-year-old Katie’s grandmother comes to live with her, her brother and her mom due to Alzheimer’s disease. A journey of self-discovery for all three women occurs as a result of her grandmother’s disease. During this process, Katie realizes that she is gay.

In this touching book, the three main characters are portrayed in a very realistic way and the reader can relate to them. The plot does not read in a straight timeline; it jumps back and forth from the present to the past. The author’s style of enthralling writing is clear and concise and easy to read. This novel would appeal to those struggling with parental relationships and those who are dealing with loved-ones with Alzheimer’s. This book will also be appreciated by those who are questioning their sexual identity. I highly suggest that everyone (teens and up) read this book.

— Faith E.

In this futuristic, yet realistic, novel, teenage Liberty goes to live with her grandmother after her mom is sent to prison. Liberty moves into a small impoverished town. In a very cliche high school, Liberty gets a boyfriend, makes enemies and friends. Also, the town has a company that is excavating the top of a mountain for coal. As Liberty settles into her new life, she discovers that the digging of the mountain and the air pollution that is created because of this digging is causing the towns folk to become sick. When her grandmother becomes sick, Liberty struggles to manage school, her grandmother’s health and the taking down of the excavation company.

This books deals with issues that are not usually found in a YA novel: cancer, poverty, and pollution. Liberty is portrayed as a very strong character; one that is trying to do it all. The reader will react compassionately to the events and resolutions of each of the main issues. The writing is thought-provoking; it connects the reader with different aspects of society compared to what a teen reader normally reads. Also, if the reader does live in a town such as Liberty, then he/she will feel that they are not alone. This compelling book will have the readers look at society in a different light.

— Natalie S.

Josh Baster states he’s the new kid in the “new town, new house, new school. And no player’s guide to give me the tips and tricks I need to make it through the year. This is one game I have to figure out how to beat on my own.” (1)

Josh eats, sleeps, and lives video games. It is not the best way to influence people. On the first day, Josh has a run-in with the top football player Schmittendorf, Josh’s new bully, whom the entire school is counting on to win the big football rivalry game for them.  Bad grades at mid-term  Josh’s mother takes away all of his video games and computer until the end of the quarter. “In every adventure game the character starts out at the bottom. A level-one scrub. No skills, powers, or magic items. And if I want to reach the top, to become the hero who could get the grades, beat the bullies, and maybe even impress the princess, there’s only one way. I have to grind my way through the levels. I need to learn the rulebook, earn the experience points, max out my stats, and level up.

I’ve been playing not to lose. It’s time to play to win.” (35)

This is how Josh acts and reacts to all of his real life situations, by comparing them to how videos games work. What would various video game characters do in this or that situation?  The reference to evolving his math skills to Pokemon, made me chuckle. When Josh takes the advice of one character to stand up to bullies, Josh gets into it verbally with ‘Mittens’, who hits Josh in the head before teachers arrive on the scene. Both Josh and Mittens get detention. This means Mittens won’t being playing in the big football game. When the school looses the football game, the entire school seems to turn against Josh.

On the up side, this middle school holds a Video Game Decathlon as a fund raiser for the class trip each spring.  Josh’s new  student English tutor and her friends (the geeks of this story) want to win this year! Mittens and his video gaming group are able to turn the Video Game Decathlon theme into video sports games, which of course Josh’s new friends know basically nothing about. Josh convinces his new friends, one at a time, to enter the Video Game Decathlon because of his knowledge of sports gaming.  When they win the Video Game Decathlon, Mittens is a gracious loser, a true sport.

The video gaming terms and themes give this book a fresh approach to school life and bullying!

This is the first book in the BOB AND TWEET series. The mob of Bobs are slobs, but one Bob (#7- Dean) is not a slob.The Bobs have been requested to move to a new neighborhood. They do not mind. The fleet of  Tweets are very neat, all but one Tweet (#7- Lou). The Tweets move, too. They move right next to the Bobs. After the Tweets clean, exercise, and do yoga, they decide to bicycle down to the swimming pool to swim 100 laps. After the Bobs finally wake up at noon, they decide to go to the swimming pool with their gear meant for the beach- jet ski and BBQ. The Bobs swamp the Tweets who are swimming laps. An argument arises. During the parents’ argument Lou Tweet meets Dean Bob. They discover they have been deceived by the same realtor as to where to move. Then, life guard Mark combs his hair, puts down his cell phone, divides the pool into two sections, and stops the families’ fighting with the Tweets on the right and the Bobs on the left.

” ‘Phew,’ says Dean Bob. ‘I am glad Mark helped out.

I get really stressed when my Bobs start to shout.’

‘I agree,’ says Lou Tweet. ‘I am glad Mark came through.

Most of all I am happy I got to meet you. ” (67)

Both families leave he pool to continue their opposing life styles, but Dean and Lou promise to see each other again tomorrow.

This story has nine short chapters, told in rhyme. The rhyme and zany illustrations are very reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’ style.

The chapter titles definitely state the main idea for each chapter.

Bright bold colors delight the eye of the reader as they follow two bugs with BIG eyes on their first trip to the beach.

Bitsy Bug and Busy Bug build a big sand castle. Then, a ” Bird Bug swoops down. It lands on the castle…It comes down with a crash.” Bitsy and Busy will build again later, for now, they will play in the water.

All the critters are bugs in this world. The dolphins and birds are bugs having antennae with with red knobs. Cute!

Written in very large font, with three or four lines of text per page.