Ratchet Reads: Sunshine State Books 2010-2011

SUNSHINE STATE BOOKS 2011-2012

Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award Program
Master List of Titles 2010 - 2011

Grades 3-5

Avi.. The Seer of Shadows. HarperCollins, ©2008.

[(2008 Hardcover) - 0060000155 (2009 paperback) – ISBN 0060000171; Recorded Books (2009) – ISBN

1436137756]

Newbery Medalist Avi weaves one of his most suspenseful and scary tales—about a ghost who has to be seen to be believed and must be kept from carrying out a horrifying revenge.

The time is 1872. The place is New York City. Horace Carpetine has been raised to believe in science and rationality. So as apprentice to Enoch Middleditch, a society photographer, he thinks of his trade as a scientific art. But when wealthy society matron Mrs. Frederick Von Macht orders a photographic portrait, strange things begin to happen.

Horace's first real photographs reveal a frightful likeness: it's the image of the Von Machts' dead daughter, Eleanora.

Pegg, the Von Machts' black servant girl, then leads him to the truth about who Eleanora really was and how she actually died. Joined in friendship, Pegg and Horace soon realize that his photographs are evoking both Eleanora's image and her ghost. Eleanora returns, a vengeful wraith intent on punishing those who abused her.

Rich in detail, full of the magic of early photography, here is a story about the shadows, visible and invisible, that are always lurking near.

READERS' GUIDE

http://files.harpercollins.com/PDF/ReadingGuides/0060000155.pdf

MCLS LIBRARY LINK

http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/NrHCrvpXEl/STUART/180930128/9

and audio copy

http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/iGnq8WAyYn/STUART/180930128/9

Beaty, Andrea. Cicada Summer. Amulet Books, ©2008.

[(2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0810994720]

“... this is compelling fiction that will be a hit with young readers, as rich and thought-provoking and yet as accessible as DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie." —Horn Book

Lily has read every Nancy Drew book in the library. She’s good at spying and keeping secrets. She has to be. She has secrets of her own that no one can ever find out.

When summer brings lying, stealing Tinny Bridges to town, Lily must depend on her wits to keep ahead of this sly newcomer. Tinny takes candy from the general store and blames Lily. She tries to steal Lily’s friends and her father’s affection. Worst of all, she seems to know Lily’s secrets. When Tinny goes missing, only Lily has any idea what happened to her. But for Lily, finding Tinny means confronting her hidden past.

In one unusual summer, Lily Mathis will have a chance to solve a mystery, make a friend, and, most important, find forgiveness.

Sir David Attenborough talks about Cicadas

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/Jgu6wDeQl2/STUART/110630009/88

Broach, Elise. Masterpiece. Henry Holt and Co., ©2008.

[Henry Holt (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0805082700; Square Fish ( 2010 paperback) – ISBN 0312608705;

Macmillian Young Listeners Audio (2010) – ISBN 1427211159]

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 4–8—Broach combines discussion about the art of Albrecht Dürer with a powerful tale of friendship in a novel that is entertaining and full of adventure. Marvin is a beetle, and he and his family live in the Manhattan kitchen that belongs to the Pompaday family. When James receives a pen-and-ink drawing set for his 11th birthday, Marvin discovers that he is a bug with artistic talent. Although he can't speak to James, they soon bond in a true interspecies friendship, and their escapades begin. Because of Marvin's wonderful drawing, presumed to be James's work, the boy is recruited to create a fake Dürer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art to help trap an art thief. Marvin produces the forgery, but he soon realizes that the original artwork is in danger. Only by placing his life on the line and relying on James's help can he save the masterpiece. Broach's projection of beetle life, complete with field trips to the family's solarium and complex uses of human discards for furniture and meals, is in the best tradition of Mary Norton's The Borrowers (Harcourt, 1953) and similar classic looks at miniature life. Murphy's illustrations add perspective and humor, supporting the detailed narrative. A masterpiece of storytelling.—Beth L. Meister, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
James lives an invisible existence in a grand apartment on the Upper East Side. His mother, busy with her new husband and baby and her climb up the Manhattan social ladder, has little time for him. By contrast, Marvin, a beetle whose overprotective, extended family resides behind James’ mother’s kitchen, gets more attention than he wants. The two find friendship when James’ artist father gives him a pen-and-ink set, and Marvin discovers his talent for “drawing,” crafting delicate, museum-quality miniatures with his legs. When Marvin and James find themselves embroiled in a plot to steal a Dürer drawing from the Metropolitan Museum, they must find creative ways to communicate to foil the thieves and protect the masterpiece. Murphy’s own pen-and-ink spot art reflects the text’s sweet insouciance. With suspense, art history, complex family relationships (human and arthropod), and a resonant friendship, this enjoyable outing will satisfy the reserved and adventurous alike. Grades 3-6. --Thom Barthelmess

Vid about Albrecht Dürer

MCLS LINK
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/f0rDtr9e93/STUART/180930128/9

Delaney, M. C. Obi, Gerbil on the Loose. Dutton Juvenile, ©2008.

[(2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0525478906]

From School Library Journal
Grade 3–5—Obi is content with her simple life in a cage—or apartment, as she likes to think of it—cared for by her human owner, Rachel. Then one day, Rachel's family leaves for vacation. Tad, a neighbor, comes to feed their many pets, but he seems to have forgotten that the gerbil exists. Obi doesn't know how long the Armstrongs will be gone, and she's starving. Thus begins her quest for freedom, food, and to find out if Rachel really cared enough to leave Tad a note to feed her. Along the way, Obi hilariously confronts three sadistic cats, a harebrained parrot, a menacing tarantula and snake, and a paranoid squirrel who thinks Obi is a jailed criminal. The house also holds a surprise—a wise old mouse who has been keeping an eye on Obi through all of her escapades. He offers to help her, but at the expense of her loyalty to Rachel. Throughout each new challenge, readers feel Obi's terror, joy, and surprise, which are all written with a sense of fun. The chapters are peppered with black-and-white illustrations and are very short, which adds appeal for younger and reluctant readers. This is a laugh-out-loud story.—Jane Cronkhite, San Jose Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Obi, a young gerbil named for the Jedi knight in Star Wars, lives a cushy existence with the Armstrongs until they go on vacation, leaving a neighbor boy to feed all the pets. Unfortunately, Tad doesn’t know about Obi (headphones prevent him from hearing her frantic yelps), so he doesn’t feed her. Hungry Obi finally breaks out of her cage, beginning an adventure that takes her to the attic (where she meets an elderly mouse who shows her secret passageways and escape routes); the kitchen (home to three particularly nasty cats); and a bedroom, where she finds a boa constrictor and a tarantula. Themes of self-reliance and loyalty are woven into the story as Obi learns to assert herself, take care of her needs, and reassure herself that her owner, Rachel, did not forget about her care. Small, black line drawings add drama and emotion to a book that will be popular with young pet lovers; the ending hints at more Obi stories to come. Grades 2-4. --Kay Weisman

Pirate Gerbil Vid

Obi, the Gerbil's Blog
www.obi.typepad.com/

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/sLzp5cBVRU/STUART/110630009/88

DiTerlizzi, Tony. Kenny & the Dragon. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, ©2008.

[Simon and Schuster (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 1416939776; Simon and Schuster UK (2008 paperback) –

ISBN 1847385028; Simon and Schuster Audio (2008 audiobook) – ISBN 0743572122]

From School Library Journal
Grade 3–6—Kenny's father brings home a fearsome description of an enormous creature: "...one of them flying things that eats pretty maidens and burns castles to the ground." Instead of being frightened, Kenny, a curious and well-read rabbit, wants to meet the beast. His father, not too bright in some ways but quite sensible in others, is sure Kenny can handle it, but Kenny's no-nonsense mother insists, "Dishes and homework first." What follows is a delightful riff on Kenneth Grahame's classic The Reluctant Dragon, starring a dragon named Grahame that can delicately torch crème brûlée with the flames from his left nostril and has no interest in killing anyone. Before long, rumors and fear create a mob mentality among the local townspeople, and Kenny has to come up with a plan to prevent the retired dragon slayer (George, of course) from killing Grahame. This is a fun story with substance. At one point, Kenny wonders, "How can they want someone killed they don't even know?... How can George just blindly do whatever the king says?" The civilizing influence of literature is another theme that has relevance for today's readers. Lively pencil sketches add to the charm. The author's reputation will enhance the popularity of this solid fantasy.—Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description
What do you do when your new best buddy has been designated a scourge by the community and marked for imminent extermination? Just ask Kenny Rabbit. When the simple folks in the sleepy little village of Roundbrook catch wind that there's a dragon running loose in the countryside, they get the wrong idea and the stage is set for a fight to the death. So it's up to Kenny to give his neighbors front-row seats to one of the best-known battles in history -- the legendary showdown between St. George and the dragon -- without losing a friend in the fray.

Tony DiTerlizzi's Blog about Kenny and the Dragon- has fan art, book tour pics, and great author interviews
http://diterlizzi.com/blog/category/kenny-the-dragon/

Tony DiTerlizzi Talking About Dragon Mythology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVmgXV7lrH4&feature=related

MCLS LINK
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/tpBOmGkbhl/STUART/180930128/9

and audio
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/1MdYL6bMXd/STUART/180930128/9

Feldman, Jodi. The Gollywhopper Games. HarperCollins, ©2008.

[HarperCollins (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0061214507; Greenwillow (2009 paperback) – ISBN 0061214523]

Publishers Weekly Review
When his father is charged with embezzlement, 12-year-old Gil Goodson becomes an outcast at school and his family sinks under a black cloud that doesn't lift, not even after his dad is acquitted. From this somber premise, first-time novelist Feldman concocts an outlandish method by which Gil will come out on top again-and get enough cash so his family can move. But winning the Gollywhopper Games, a contest sponsored by the toy company that fired his father, means besting 25,000 entrants in a series of brainteasers. Gil makes it to the final 10, where two teams compete against each other. His teammates are as obnoxious as the golden ticket holders on Charlie Bucket's famous tour, though not as imaginatively drawn, and their bickering nearly drains the fun from the whacked-out challenges they face. Indeed, the appeal of the book lies in the puzzles, which involve unscrambling clues hidden in rhyming verses and then tackling various stunts (obstacle courses, mazes, scavenger hunts) that get increasingly difficult as the field is winnowed. As the outcome of this intricate, potentially interactive story is never in doubt, many kids will want to put the story on pause to try to work out each answer. Final illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 10-14. (Feb.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Booklist Review
Combine the contest and puzzle elements of the TV show The Amazing Race, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1967), and Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game (1974). Then, add a young man's desire to defend his father, and you've got Feldman's slight but enjoyable debut novel. Twelve-year-old Gil Goodson's father worked for the Golly Toy and Game Company but was fired after being investigated for (and acquitted of) embezzling funds. Gil is determined not only to win the Gollywhopper Games grand prize (cash, a college scholarship, and all sorts of Golly toys and games) but also to clear his father's name. Feldman includes truly despicable villains, unexpected kindnesses, and a surprise ending. The characterization is somewhat underdeveloped, but this is clearly a plot- and puzzle-driven novel. Nonstop action, appealing pencil illustrations, and increasingly difficult brainteasers will keep readers engaged, and readers will pull out paper and pencil to try and solve the puzzles as they work through the book.--Carton, Debbie Copyright 2007 Booklist

Actual real live kid review

MCLS LINK
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/XoCcUB0K8H/STUART/180930128/88

To read more about Jody feldman and the Gollywhopper Games go to:
http://www.jodyfeldman.com/

http://www.gollywhoppergames.com/

http://jodyfeldman.livejournal.com/

Forester, Victoria. The Girl Who Could Fly. Feiwel & Friends, ©2008.

[Feiwel & Friends (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0312374623; Square Fish (2010 paperback) – ISBN 0312602383]

Summary
You just can't keep a good girl down . . . unless you use the proper methods. Piper McCloud can fly. Just like that. Easy as pie. Sure, she hasn't mastered reverse propulsion and her turns are kind of sloppy, but she's real good at loop-the-loops. Problem is, the good folk of Lowland County are afraid of Piper. And her ma's at her wit's end. So it seems only fitting that she leave her parents' farm to attend a top-secret, maximum-security school for kids with exceptional abilities. School is great at first with a bunch of new friends whose skills range from super-strength to super-genius. (Plus all the homemade apple pie she can eat!) But Piper is special, even among the special. And there are consequences. Consequences too dire to talk about. Too crazy to consider. And too dangerous to ignore. At turns exhilarating and terrifying, Victoria Forester's debut novel is an unforgettable story of defiance and courage about an irrepressible heroine who can, who will, who must . . . fly.

Booklist Review
*Starred Review* In this terrific debut novel, readers meet Piper McCloud, the late-in-life daughter of farmers. Her parents revel in conformity, so it's disconcerting at best when Piper shows a talent for flying. Homeschooled and kept away from outsiders, Piper is lonely. Finally, her parents let her go to a community picnic, where she thinks she'll meet new friends. Instead, she terrifies the neighbors by flying up to catch a ball during a kids' game. In no time, the McCloud farm is besieged. Then, out of a helicopter comes the empathetic Dr. Letitia Hellion, who whisks Piper off to a secret school for kids with special talents. But are things there what they seem to be? No. Forester gets almost everything right here. The story soars, just like Piper, with enough loop-de-loops to keep kids uncertain about what will come next. Her plainspoken heroine has a big heart and a strong streak of defiance, and Piper's reactions always seem true, even in the midst of sf machinations. Many other characters are also clearly set within the context of their lives, giving them dimension sometimes lacking in supporting casts. Best of all are the book's strong, lightly wrapped messages about friendship and authenticity and the difference between doing well and doing good. Give this to fans of Trenton Lee Stuart's The Mysterious Benedict Society (2007).--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2008 Booklist

MCLS LINK
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/M2R9Gq5IqF/STUART/199990090/9
and
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/CCxsGeIwDb/STUART/199990090/9

The Girl Who Could Fly Vid

Giff, Patricia Reilly, Eleven. Wendy Lamb Books, ©2008.

[Wendy Lamb Books (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0374308470; Yearling (2009 paperback) – ISBN 0440238027;

Listening Library (2008) – ISBN 0739362801]
Summary
Sam is almost 11 when he discovers a locked box in the attic above his grandfather Mack s room, and a piece of paper that says he was kidnapped. There are lots of other words, but Sam has always had trouble reading. He s desperate to find out who he is, and if his beloved Mack is really his grandfather. At night he s haunted by dreams of a big castle and a terrifying escape on a boat. Who can he trust to help him read the documents that could unravel the mystery? Then he and the new girl, Caroline, are paired up to work on a school project, building a castle in Mack s woodworking shop. Caroline loves to read, and she can help. But she s moving soon, and the two must hurry to discover the truth about Sam.

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/fmaOOP3qBk/STUART/235590109/9

Henkes, Kevin. Bird Lake Moon. Greenwillow Books, ©2008.

[Greenwillow Books (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0061470769; Greenwillow Books (2010 paperback) – ISBN

Summary
Spencer thought the house might be haunted. Mitch knew it wasn't. And he knew why. The whole time Spencer and Mitch hung out together at Bird Lake that summer, there were secrets keeping them apart. And maybe a secret knowledge keeping them together, too-together like members of the same tribe. Like friends.

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/UdFBx8m5U9/STUART/235590109/9

0061470791; HarperChildrens Audio (2008 audiobook) – ISBN 0061551856]

Holt, Kimberly Willis. Piper Reed, Navy Brat. Henry Holt and Co., ©2007.

[Henry Holt (2007 hardcover) – ISBN 0805081976; Square Fish (2008 paperback) – ISBN 0312380205;

Listening Library (2007) - ISBN 0739359584]

It s not easy being the middle child, especially when your dad is a Navy Chief. Meet Piper Reed, a spunky nine-year-old who has moved more times than she can count on one hand. From Texas to Guam, wherever Piper goes, adventure follows, inspired by her active imagination, free-wheeling spirit, and a bit of sister magic. Unlike her older sister, Piper loves being part of a Navy family, and unlike her little sister, Piper is no prodigy genius. Piper is Piper—fearless and full of life. Based on her own childhood experience, Kimberly Willis Holt portrays the life of a Navy family with warmth and humor. Chief stood in the hallway, again. “Piper, you re going to be late for mess hall. Mess hall was what the Navy called the place where they ate their meals, but Chief called our kitchen that, too. The bed creaked as I rolled off my mattress. I took Bruna outside to see if she d do her business, but she kept jumping on me, wanting to play. Finally I figured she didn t need to do her business. She d already done it on me. I gave up and we went inside. I needed to get out of my stinky nightgown and take a shower. But it was too late. Tori was already in the bathroom. That could take forever. Sam hurried with Annie toward the bathroom door, wearing her stupid crown. “I m next! she hollered. “You forgot about the list, I reminded her. “You re last. Sam rubbed her eyes. “But I have to go real bad. “Okay. Real quick because I get to shower next. I pounded on the door. “THAT S IF TORI REED EVER DECIDES TO GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM! “LEAVE ME ALONE! Tori shouted back. I was feeling grumpier by the minute.

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/k1JhHgcowh/STUART/199990090/9
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/tTBd8uhz0N/STUART/199990090/9
and on cd
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/cjSBsYx1XW/STUART/199990090/9

Lupica, Mike. Safe at Home. Philomel, ©2008.

[Philomel (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0399247165; Puffin (2009 paperback) – ISBN 0142414603; Penguin Audio

(2010 audiobook) – ISBN 0143145746]

Nick Crandall feels like he doesn't belong anywhere. He never has felt like he belongs, really. He doesn't fit in this new family with his new foster parents, both of whom are professors. They don't know the first thing about sports—and he's not exactly a model student. It's only a matter of time until they realize he's not the right kid for them. And Nick certainly doesn't belong playing varsity baseball. He's only twelve years old! His teammates want a catcher their own age, not some kid. But Nick needs to prove something. He needs to prove that he belongs—to his parents, to his team, and to himself.

Mike Lupica's website
http://www.mikelupicabooks.com/books.html

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/9pBQ13c8Az/STUART/199990090/9

Mass, Wendy. 11 Birthdays. Scholastic Press, ©2009.

[Scholastic (2009 hardcover) – ISBN 0545052394; Scholastic (2010 paperback) – ISBN 0545052408]

It's Amanda's 11th birthday and she is super excited — after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong. The worst part of it all is that she and her best friend, Leo, with whom she's shared every birthday, are on the outs and this will be the first birthday they haven't shared together.

When Amanda turns in for the night, glad to have her birthday behind her, she wakes up happy for a new day. Or is it? Her birthday seems to be repeating iself. What is going on?! And how can she fix it? Only time, friendship, and a little luck will tell. . .
Scholasic.com book description

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/Bs7X7Jdjr1/STUART/199990090/9

Napoli, Donna Jo. Mogo, the Third Warthog. Hyperion Books, ©2007.

[Hyperion (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 1423108167 ]

From School Library Journal
Grade 3–6—When warthogs have their third litter, the sows cast out their first litter. That's how Mogo, the runt of his litter, finds himself on his own. Using what he has learned from his mother, from his older brothers' missteps, and from a helpful baboon who is also alone, he carves out a life as he matures and finds a potential mate. While the author builds on a strong natural-history base, she also explores her characters' emotions, hopes, and fears. This tempers the potentially frightening wild world of the African savanna's hungry cheetahs, wild dogs, and lions, who hunt to ensure their own survival in a harsh environment. The book's high read-aloud potential stems from Mogo's appeal as an unlikely hero who thrives when he finds friendship and loving companions. Realistic black and gray-tone watercolor illustrations that range in size from small vignettes to full page grace every chapter, introduce unfamiliar animals, and interpret the action.—Ellen G. Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
As in Napoli’s Ugly (2006), the protagonist here is a young animal learning to survive on its own. The last of three male warthogs born in his litter, Mogo always walks behind his mother and his just-slightly-older brothers in the last position, the most vulnerable to the many predators on the savanna. In a convincing first-person narrative, Mogo tells how he survives after his mother forces the three brothers out on their own. Instincts, learned lessons, and reasoning are on his side, but luck and an unlikely friendship with a lone baboon also come into play. Though the final art for Judge’s illustrations was not seen, the sketches look very promising. Readers with no particular interest in African animals may find themselves unexpectedly caught up in this well-told, life-or-death adventure tale, while children who love animals, even those as apparently unlovable as the warthog, will be in their element here. Grades 3-5. --Carolyn Phelan

National Geographic vid on wart hogs

MCLS Link-
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/hmTEGGKeP9/STUART/130780102/9

Wolf, Joan. Someone Named Eva. Laurel Leaf, ©2009.

[Clarion (2007 hardcover) – ISBN 0618535799; Sandpiper (2009 paperback) – ISBN 0547237669]
Summary
On the night Nazi soldiers come to her home in Czechoslovakia, Miladas grandmother says, "Remember, Milada. Remember who you are. Always." Milada promises, but she doesnt understand her grandmothers words. After all, she is Milada, who lives with her mama and papa, her brother and sister, and her beloved Babichka. Milada, eleven years old, the fastest runner in school. How could she ever forget?Then the Nazis take Milada away from her family and send her to a Lebensborn center in Poland. There, she is told she fits the Aryan ideal: her blond hair and blue eyes are the right color; her head and nose, the right size. She is given a new name, Eva, and trained to become the perfect German citizen, to be the hope of Germanys future-and to forget she was ever a Czech girl named Milada.Inspired by real events, this fascinating novel sheds light on a little-known aspect of the Nazi agenda and movingly portrays a young girls struggle to hold on to her identity and her hope in the face of a regime intent on destroying both.
MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/TnXm6z0mTP/STUART/116120103/9

Yep, Laurence. The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.

HarperCollins ©2008.

[HarperCollins (2006 paperback) – ISBN – 0060275243; HarperCollins (2008 paperback) – ISBN 0060008466]
Summary
Tuesday, April 17, 1906It is early evening in San Francisco. Streetlights come on. People hurry home. No one knows about the danger below. Underneath their feet, the earth begins to stir.Wednesday, April 18, 1906, 5:12 A.M. , Sacramento StreetEarly the next morning, Henry Travis hears a low rumbling. It sounds like a train coming. . . . Windows rattle. Doors thump. . . . There is a crash above him.Wednesday, April 18, 1906, 5:12 A.M. , ChinatownAcross town, Henry's friend Chin waits for the trembling to stop. But it goes on and on. . . . “The tenement is falling!” Chin's father shouts. Walls crack and crumble. Windows shatter. Broken glass sprays like little daggers.The Earth Dragon has awakened . . . with a vengeance.When the quake subsides, Chin and Henry and their families are lucky to be alive. But now they must escape the fires that have broken out and find their way to safety.

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/pi5JltxCGQ/STUART/116120103/9

Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award Program Master List of Titles 2010-2011

Grades 6-8

Avi.. The Seer of Shadows. HarperCollins, ©2008.

[HarperCollins (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0060000155; (2009 paperback) – ISBN 0060000171; Recorded Books

(2009) – ISBN 1436137756]

Newbery Medalist Avi weaves one of his most suspenseful and scary tales—about a ghost who has to be seen to be believed and must be kept from carrying out a horrifying revenge.

The time is 1872. The place is New York City. Horace Carpetine has been raised to believe in science and rationality. So as apprentice to Enoch Middleditch, a society photographer, he thinks of his trade as a scientific art. But when wealthy society matron Mrs. Frederick Von Macht orders a photographic portrait, strange things begin to happen.

Horace's first real photographs reveal a frightful likeness: it's the image of the Von Machts' dead daughter, Eleanora.

Pegg, the Von Machts' black servant girl, then leads him to the truth about who Eleanora really was and how she actually died. Joined in friendship, Pegg and Horace soon realize that his photographs are evoking both Eleanora's image and her ghost. Eleanora returns, a vengeful wraith intent on punishing those who abused her.

Rich in detail, full of the magic of early photography, here is a story about the shadows, visible and invisible, that are always lurking near.

READERS' GUIDE

http://files.harpercollins.com/PDF/ReadingGuides/0060000155.pdf

MCLS LIBRARY LINK

http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/NrHCrvpXEl/STUART/180930128/9

and audio copy
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/iGnq8WAyYn/STUART/180930128/9

Bartolett, Susan Campbell. The Boy Who Dared. Scholastic ©2008.

[Scholastic (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0439680131; Scholastic (2008 paperback) – ISBN 0; Listening Library

( 2009 audio) – ISBN 0739374052]
From School Library Journal
Grade 6–9—In the newly formed Third Reich, Hitler's initial political doctrine is filled with hopeful solutions for a country plagued with unemployment, poverty, and a post-World War I feeling of defeat. Propaganda and promises quickly turn to oppressive new laws including the required participation in the Hitler Youth. Helmuth Hübener enters the program and is at once impressed with the bravado, shiny uniforms, boots, and patriotic fever sweeping the country. But his Mormon-based teachings trigger questions in his mind about the reality behind the regime's invasions of neighboring countries, mistreatment of Jewish citizens, and closely controlled media. He creates an underground newsletter with information gathered from BBC reports using an illegal shortwave radio. As he secretly distributes the flyers throughout the town, his boldness encourages him to gather several accomplices resulting in his arrest, trial, and execution. The novel opens as he is on death row, and the story is told as a series of flashbacks. Helmuth is portrayed as a brave, outspoken voice amid a family of acquiescing brothers, mother, and new SS stepfather. Based on a real person, the novel includes black-and-white photos of Hübener and his family. Bartoletti offers another perspective on the Holocaust, demonstrating that even if the effort proves unsuccessful, the courage and convictions of a minority should be motivation to speak the truth rather than remain silent. It's a message that must be continually emphasized as a lasting legacy of the Holocaust.—Rita Soltan, Youth Services Consultant, West Bloomfield, MI

From Booklist
*Starred Review* In Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow, Booklist’s 2005 Top of the List for youth nonfiction, 2005, Bartoletti included a portrait of Helmuth Hübener, a German teenager executed for his resistance to the Nazis. In this fictionalized biography, she imagines his story as he sits in prison awaiting execution in 1942 and remembers his childhood in Hamburg during Hitler’s rise to power. Beaten and tortured to name his friends, he remembers how he started off an ardent Nazi follower and then began to question his patriotism, secretly listened to BBC radio broadcasts, and finally dared to write and distribute pamphlets calling for resistance. The teen’s perspective makes this a particularly gripping way to personalize the history, and even those unfamiliar with the background Bartoletti weaves in–the German bitterness after World War I, the burning of the books, the raging anti-Semitism––will be enthralled by the story of one boy’s heroic resistance in the worst of times. A lengthy author’s note distinguishes fact from fiction, and Bartoletti provides a detailed chronology, a bibliography, and many black-and-white photos of Helmuth with friends, family, and members of his Mormon church. This is an important title for the Holocaust curriculum. See the Booklist interview with Bartoletti, in which she discusses how this teen’s story moved her. Grades 6-12.--Hazel Rochman

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/3uzDkx1kjy/STUART/199990090/88

Bloor, Edward. Taken. Knopf Books for Young Readers ©2007.

[Knopf (2007 hardcover) – ISBN 0375836365 ; Knopf (2009 paperback) – ISBN 0440421284]
When Charity Meyers is taken, she knows better than to panic--at first. As the hours of her imprisonment tick by, Charity realizes that no training could have prepared her for what the kidnappers really want--or worse, who they turn out to be.

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/mrSXeUarG6/STUART/34740132/9

Cooney, Caroline B. Diamonds in the Shadow.
A powerful novel about the difficulty of doing what is right.

Through their love for people, yet ignorance of the unknown, the Finch Family has joined alongside their church and opened their home to an African refugee family who are moving to Connecticut. The Amabo family of four– Andre, Celestine, Mattu, and Alake: father, mother, and teenage son and daughter– arrive in great hope as they have escaped the tyranny of Africa. What the Finch Family doesn’t know is that there are not just four refugees in this Amabo family, but five.

As the Amabo family, who have suffered unimaginable horrors, begin to adjust to a life of plenty in the Finches' suburban Connecticut home, and the Finches are learning new lessons of “The Golden Rule”. The life adjustment for all seems flawless.

But the fifth refugee does not believe in good will. This lawless rebel has managed to enter America undetected. And the Amabo family has something of his--something that they agreed to carry into the country for him.

When Jared, the oldest Finch son, realizes that the good guys are not always innocent, he must make a decision that could change the fates of both the Finches and the Amabos. In this uncommonly penetrating story, Caroline B. Cooney presents a fresh perspective on how doing what is right can be most difficult.

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/mwme6HzcJl/STUART/116120103/88

Green, Tim. Football Hero. HarperCollins ©2008. [HarperCollins (2008 hardcover) – ISBN

0061122742; HarperCollins (2009 paperback) – ISBN 0061122769; Full Cast Audio (2009 audio) – ISBN 1934180858]
Summary
Ty Lewis can't believe it when Coach V recruits him for the football team. This is Ty's big chance to prove how fast he is on the field, get a fresh start in a new school, and be like his older brother, Thane "Tiger" Lewis, who's about to graduate from college-and is being courted by the NFL. But Ty's guardian, Uncle Gus, won't let him play. Uncle Gus needs Ty to scrub floors and toilets for his cleaning business while he cooks up gambling schemes with the local mob boss, a man called "Lucy." When Lucy hears just how famous Ty's older brother is, he becomes suddenly friendly. Are the questions Lucy is asking Ty really about fantasy football . . . or is the Mafia using Ty to get valuable insider info from his superstar brother? Desperately worried, Ty must come up with a plan to save Thane's football career-and, ultimately, his life. Author of the New York Times bestselling Football Genius, former NFL player Tim Green will have you on the edge of your seat rooting for Ty-and enjoying an up-close look at what it's like to be inside the NFL.

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/NeElOgbV6j/STUART/116120103/9

Herlong, M. L.. The Great Wide Sea. Viking Juvenile ©2008.

[Viking Juvenile (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0670063304; Puffin (2010 paperback) – ISBN 0142416703]

Summary
Ben, Dylan, and Gerry are still mourning their mother's death when their dad decides to buy a boat and take them on a year-long sailing trip. Tensions flare between Ben and his father, but they gradually learn to live together in close quarters. Then one morning the boys wake up to discover their father has disappeared-and they are lost. What happened to him? Where are they? And what will they do when a terrible storm looms on the horizon?

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/XogQvwFKAY/STUART/116120103/88

Hill, Kirkpatrick. Do Not Pass Go. Margaret K. McElderry ©2007.

[Margaret K. McElderry (2007 hardcover)]
Summary
Deet's world turns upside down when his father is arrested for drug use. It doesn't seem possible that kind, caring Dad could be a criminal! After all, he only took the pills to stay awake so he could work two jobs. Now what will happen? How will Deet be able to face his classmates? Where will they get money? And most importantly, will Dad be okay in prison?Hurt, angry, and ashamed, Deet doesn't want to visit his father in jail. But when Mom goes back to work, Deet starts visiting Dad after school. It's frightening at first, but as he adjusts to the routine, Deet begins to see the prisoners as people with stories of their own, just like his dad. Deet soon realizes that prison isn't the terrifying place of movies and nightmares. In fact, Dad's imprisonment leads Deet to make a few surprising discoveries -- about his father, his friends, and himself.With moving realism, Kirkpatrick Hill brings to light the tumultuous experience of having a parent in jail in this honest and stirring story of a young man forced to grow up quickly.

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/Jejyhi8RIL/STUART/116120103/88

Paulsen, Gary. Lawn Boy. Wendy Lamb Books ©2007.

[Wendy Lamb Books (2007 hardcover) – ISBN 0670063304; Yearling (2010 paperback) – ISBN 0553494651;

Brilliance Audio (2009 Audiobook)]

Summary
One day I was 12 years old and broke. Then Grandma gave me Grandpa's old riding lawnmower. I set out to mow some lawns. More people wanted me to mow their lawns. And more and more. . . . One client was Arnold the stockbroker, who offered to teach me about "the beauty of capitalism. Supply and Demand. Diversify labor. Distribute the wealth." "Wealth?" I said. "It's groovy, man," said Arnold. If I'd known what was coming, I might have climbed on my mower and putted all the way home to hide in my room. But the lawn business grew and grew. So did my profits, which Arnold invested in many things. And one of them was Joey Pow the prizefighter. That's when my 12th summer got really interesting.

MCLS Link book
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/Ab4icbcNQm/STUART/116120103/9

MCLS Link playaway
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/QHU6vG3rVQ/STUART/116120103/9

Porter, Tracey. Billy Creekmore: a Novel. HarperCollins ©2007

[HarperCollins (2007 hardcover) – ISBN 0060775704; HarperCollins (2008 paperback) – ISBN 0553494651]

Summary
Folks say I'm bound to be unlucky in life, for I was born at midnight on a Friday, the thirteenth of December, and Peggy says it's certain I can commune with spirits. But I ain't never seen any ghosts, not even my own mother, and wouldn't that be the ghost I'd see if I could? So begins the tale of Billy Creekmore, a boy with mystifying powers and the glorious gift of storytelling. But what does life hold for someone growing up in the cruel clutches of the Guardian Angels Home for Boys, where Billy's gifts do more harm than good? Escaping the orphanage seems an impossible feat, but when a stranger comes to claim Billy, he sets off on an extraordinary journey. With only a tin box that holds precious mementos of his beloved mother and mysterious father, Billy travels from the coal mines of West Virginia to the spectacular world of a traveling circus in search of his past, his future, and his own true self.

MCLS Link book
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/QFE7ro9zf0/STUART/116120103/9

MCLS Link cd book
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/FIhkw2aPbD/STUART/116120103/9

Schmid, Susan Maupin. Lost Time. Philomel ©2008

[Philomel (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0399244605]
Summary
A space age mystery!Twelve-year-old Violynne Vivant wants answers. Orphaned and anguished, she wonders daily what happened to her parents, archaeologists who went digging for the ancient city of Ninthon and vanished into the red sands of Lindos never to return.Things heat up when a thief breaks into the Vivant’s house, looking for Violynne. Suddenly, she is swept into a maze of powerful adult forces: from the planetary ruler called the Arbiter to the murky underworld figure, the Coil—they all have a sudden deep interest in Violynne. Why? And what does it have to do with her parent’s disappearance? It becomes apparent that only Violynne herself can uncover her parents’ whereabouts—along with age-old secrets of the mysterious planet that many would rather stay buried . . .Imaginative and gripping, this unique blend of sci-fi and mystery will captivate young readers.

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/JpBMJEfrAp/STUART/116120103/9

Shafer, Audrey. The Mailbox.

[(2008 hardcover) – ISBN 1439583056; Yearling (2008 paperback) – ISBN 0440421344; Recorded Books (2007 audiobook) – ISBN 1428146296]

Summary
Vernon Culligan had been dead to the town of Draydon, Virginia, so long that when the crusty Vietnam vet finally died, only one person noticed. Twelve-year-old Gabe grew up in the foster care system until a social worker located his Uncle Vernon two years before. When he comes home to discover that his uncle has died of a heart attack, he's terrifed of going back into the system--so he tells no one. The next day, he discovers a strange note in his mailbox: I HAVE A SECRET. DO NOT BE AFRAID. And his uncle's body is gone. Thus begins a unique correspondence destined to save the two people that depended on Vernon for everything. Through flashbacks, we learn about Gabe and Vernon's relationship, and how finding each other saved them both from lives of suffering. But eventually, Vernon's death will be discovered, and how will Gabe and the mystery note writer learn to move forward? THE MAILBOX is not a story about death--though it begins with a death. It's also not a story about Vietnam vets, although the author works with Vietnam veterans and wrote this novel, in part, to illuminate their sacrifices and suffering. THE MAILBOX is a story about connections--about how two people in need can save each other.

MCLS Link book
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/xSCDRJeBB3/STUART/116120103/9

MCLS Link cd book
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/SP2aMscWY6/STUART/116120103/9

Sherman, Delia. Changeling. Viking Juvenile ©2006

[Viking Juvenile (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0670059676; Firebird (2008 paperback) – ISBN 0142411884]

A determined heroine, a quest— adventure galore!
Neef is a changeling, a human baby stolen by fairies and replaced with one of their own. She lives in “New York Between,” a Manhattan that exists side by side with our own, home to various creatures of folklore. Neef has always been protected by her fairy godmother—until she breaks a Fairy Law. Now, unless she can meet the challenge of the Green Lady of Central Park, she’ll be sacrificed! Neef is determined to beat the rap—but time is running out . . .

map of New York Between
http://www.sff.net/people/kushnerSherman/Sherman/map.htm

Delia Sherman's website
http://www.sff.net/people/kushnerSherman/Sherman/writingchildren.htm

What Delia Sherman posted when she was notified that her book was on the Sunshine State booklist-
"Wahoo! This is gobsmacking on so many levels I can't even count them all. Florida! Who knew? And best of all, the prize will be voted on by actual kids. It's truly an honor just to be nominated, but I'd be so chuffed if kids read this book that is so close to my heart and love it enough to vote for it. I have no idea when I'll hear, but it's a much-needed shot in the arm."

Vid of sequel to Changeling, "Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen"

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/wRhIyEDRyW/STUART/116120103/9

Smith, Roland .I., Q: Independence Hall. Gale ©2009

[Gale (2009 hardcover) – ISBN 1585364688; Sleeping Bear Press (2008 paperback) – ISBN 1585363261]

Booklist Review
Adventure, suspense, humor, fascinating characters, and plot twists galore will draw middle-graders to this series starter. Thirteen-year-old Q (short for Quest) has just gained a stepfather and stepsister his mother, singer-songwriter Blaze Munoz, has married singer-songwriter Roger Tucker, and their new band, Match, is set to start a yearlong tour. Roger's 15-year-old daughter, Angela is, like Q, less than thrilled at the speed of their parents' romance, and both teens have mixed feelings about the prospect of spending a year together on a tour bus. But there's no time for grousing: the teens discover they are being followed, and given Angela's mother's past history as a Secret Service agent, that's not a good thing. The appearance of Boone, an old roadie friend of their parents, only keeps the mysteries building. Q's skills as a magician save the teens more than once, while Angela's knowledge of martial arts and spy games will fascinate readers. Think Ian Fleming for the younger set, and offer to those who love Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series.--Carton, Debbie Copyright 2008 Booklist

this book has a super cool website, check it out at
http://www.iqtheseries.com/author-dossier/roland-smith.asp

Book trailer for the book, I,Q by Roland Smith. Class project for Youth Programs, LS 5343.21, Summer 2009.

MCLS link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/iraneGke8i/STUART/133340135/88

Soto, Gary. Mercy on These Teenage Chimps. Perfection Learning ©2008

[Perfection Learning (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 1606860615; Graphia (2008 paperback) – ISBN 0152062157]

On his thirteenth birthday, Ronnie woke up feeling like a chimp--all long armed, big eared, and gangly. He's been muddling through each gawky day since. Now his best friend, Joey, has turned thirteen, too--and after Joey humiliates himself in front of a cute girl, he climbs a tree and refuses to come down. So Ronnie sets out to woo the girl on Joey's behalf. After all, teenage chimps have to stick together.

Acclaimed author Gary Soto tells a fun and touching story about friendship, understanding, and the painful insecurities of being thirteen.

About the Author
GARY SOTO's first book for young readers, Baseball in April and Other Stories, won the California Library Association's Beatty Award and was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. He has since published many novels, short stories, plays, and poetry collections for adults and young people. He lives in Berkeley, California. www.garysoto.com

Vid with Steve Martin and some teen chimps

MCLS Link
http://www.lib.martin.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/bzfbnB4Stq/STUART/116120103/88

Spinelli, Jerry. Smiles to Go. HarperCollins ©2008
[HarperCollins (2008 hardcover) – ISBN 0060281332; HarperCollins (2009 paperback) – ISBN 0064471978;

HarperChildrens Audio (2008 audiobook) – ISBN 0061551864]

What is stargazer, skateboarder, chess champ, pepperoni pizza eater, older brother, sister hater, best friend, first kisser, science geek, control freak Will Tuppence so afraid of in this great big universe?

Jerry Spinelli knows.