Into the Blizzard

Harrowing account of an attempted rescue and tragic end during a blizzard off the coast of Massachusetts in 1978.  I have students who will love this book and the action involved.  

Spies, Lies, and Disguise

This book contains tidbits of WWII history in the form of spies and subterfuge.  Many of the people and events are ones adult readers would be familiar with but these short, accessible nuggets would be fun for middle school readers.  The tone is light overall without losing the fact that it was a war.  I can think of a handful of students I could give this to right away.

Day Zero

Jinx's father has been preparing for the worst for years - he even wrote a survival guide about it.  But when bombs destroy banks all over the country survival becomes a real thing - especially when her stepfather is being framed for everything.  Jinx, her brother, and stepsister are told to go find her father while her mother and stepfather are taken into custody.  But things do not go smoothly - Jinx doesn't know who to trust or who is after her and when those she cares for betray her things get even more confusing.  

I quite liked this dystopian novel.  There were definitely political parallels to current events which didn't bother me too much because the members of the family argued about the 2 sides in a pretty balanced way.  I did feel the Kennebunk reference was a bit much.  There was also a good deal of swearing, especially near the end, and some violence which skew this more to the YA than for my middle grade readers.

The Dragon Warrior

Faryn and her brother have been trained by their grandfather for years to be warriors even though others in the Jade Society think there is no longer any threat.  All that changes when Faryn encounters a demon at the beginning of the Lunar New Year.  Soon she and her brother are on a quest and somehow she is now the legendary Heaven Breaker with a sword and a mission.  But can she truly control dragons and save the world or is there something else going on?

I appreciate the diversity of this and for fans of Rick Riordan type books this will be a hit.  Because I have little context for Chinese mythology and culture it was hard for me to understand.

The Hadley Academy for the Improbably Gifted

Jack is dreading his science project and he is nervous about his friend's presentation too because Freddy is always spouting off about weird conspiracy theories.  But then Jack is chased, rescued, and then magically transported to a mysterious island and the Hadley Academy for the Improbably Gifted.  Soon his and a band of other "improbables" become a new 13th group.  But who is Jack really, who are they fighting, and how can they possible defeat them.

This book had a lot of action.  It was one I was reading in spurts in the morning on my elliptical.  At times I got a bit confused and the climax was a bit convoluted but it was overall a good read.  Those who have the opportunity to read it at a more steady pace may not experience the difficulties I did.  This is the first in a series.

Blood Mountain

Not many blog posts lately.  We moved 2 weeks ago - away from the pond and to a condo.  It is hard for me...  away from my kayak spot, my summer tranquility but we are closing to the ocean and less stress with a condo.  I have been reading though - just not always blogging...

Grace, Carter, the dog, and their dad set out for Blood Mountain.  But, when Carter goes way ahead and then Grace follows they get lost and separated from their dad.  The their dad has a heart attack.  Once Grace and Carter realize they are lost they try to get to higher ground to see if they can find a path, a road, anything.  But Grace falls and gets hurt pretty bad.  So, Carter leaves to get help.  Unfortunately, it's not just the wilderness and injury they have to contend with but also a mysterious mountain man and an escaped mountain lion.  

Will they all make it out?

As I am writing this it seems to me that there are a lot of obstacles - maybe too many.  But hey this is a children's book.  I enjoyed it.

Friend or Fiction

Jade is a lonely girl.  She has no best friend and her dad is fighting cancer.  Instead of trying to make friends she write about a perfect friend - Zoe.  But when a classmate, Clue, steals her notebook and sprinkles "magic" pond water on it Zoe becomes real.  Zoe is just like Jade imagined - funny, popular, and she lives right across the street.  But soon Jade realizes that she can't imagine every thought and action for Zoe and Zoe starts becoming her own person.  Can Jade control this friendship?

This book was actually meatier and more thought provoking than it might appear initially - some good friendship guidelines and thoughts.