April Books

Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde
New York : Alfred A. Knopf : Distributed by Random House, c2006.
Jordy and Chloe meet in a cellar of an abandoned building in New York City. Jordy has nothing. No one to depend on and nobody to look after but himself. That is until he meets Chloe. Chloe is lost and drowning in her innocence. Jordy wants so much to help her especially when she goes to measures to save his life which seem extraordinary for her in Jordy's eyes. Chloe doesn't see the world as beautiful. In fact, she thinks the world is ugly and decides she doesn't feel much like staying in it. But Jordy saves her and takes her on a cross country trip to find beauty. A mix of despair and hope makes this a beautiful read.

Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz
Prince Frederick, Md. : Recorded Books, p2005.
I am hooked to the Gatekeepers series and want to read everything by Horowitz. An imaginative and thrilling story about a seemingly normal kid Matt who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances. An orphan, he is living with an Aunt who could care less about him. He finds himself in a warehouse with a friend committing a crime he was more or less forced to committ. He is then sent to Lesser Malling to live with a rather strange woman in a very strange village. The villagers appear to be hiding something and Matt senses danger all around him. Moreover, anyone who can help Matt seems to end up dead. A thrill ride, although violent at times, it will keep you hooked until the end. The second book in the series, Evil Star, will be out June 2006.

Catherine, Called Birdy
Prince Frederick, MD : Recorded Books, p1996.
In the middle ages, women have no say in their future. Catherine is free spirited and will stop at nothing to fend off the suitors her father chooses for her. Her brother asks her to write a journal (reading and writing is rare for a woman in this time) about her life as a lady. She hates doing all the lady things required of her but she must. Throughout the book she struggles with her own longings to be someone else and her duty to her father and family. A hard book to listen too but interesting.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c1998.
Luke is the third child to his parents and in his world that is a death sentence. He doesn't exist in the real world because of a law passed by the government to control the population: every family can have only two children. Luke lives in fear of the Population Police and has learned to hide quickly at every knock on the door. Once he was allowed to go outside and get some fresh air but the government took that away too. The government bought the land around Luke's house to build homes for Barrons. Now Luke is confined to the attic and spends his days watching the Barrons come and go freely. Until one day he sees another set of eyes looking through a window of one of the big houses. Could it be another hidden child? This is the first book in the Shadow Children series. A captivating and quick read that will leave you wanting to pick up the next book in the series.

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
New York : Knopf, 2005.
Ed Kennedy is a very unlikely hero. He revels in his self proclaimed mediocrity as a 19-year old cabbie. He plays cards with his friends and talks to an odorous dog named, The Doorman. But one day his life changes. He tackles a bank robber and gets his name in the papers and on the news. Everyone thinks he's a hero but he still has his doubts. Then he receives a mysterious card in the mail. It is the Ace of Diamonds from a pack of cards with three addresses on it. What do the addresses mean to him and who sent the card? Markus Zusak weaves a compelling story and has you guessing with every card Ed receives. He introduces us to characters, including Ed, The Doorman, and the people Ed meets in his attempt to understand the meaning of the cards, who are cut from reality. Romance, mystery, humor and family dysfunction all make their way into the drama of Ed's life and the ending will have you jumping up and screaming, "Wow!" I know I did.
Also a Printz Honor Book.

March Books

Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
New York : Bantam Books, 1962.
Listened the audio book read by Megan Follows (Anne of Green Gables). The Incredible Journey is the story of three friends, two dogs and a siamese cat, who travel across the Canadian wilderness together. They overcome several perilous obstacles to arrive home. Suspenseful and at times heartbreaking, this a great story for animal lovers.

Freaks: Alive on the Inside by Annette Curtis Klause
New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2006.
Abel is the only normal person at Faeryland, a freak show in Maryland at the end of the 19th century. He ventures off to find his fortune and romance but instead finds himself to be the only ally to a group of young freaks. Abel must find the strength in himself to help those in need and the courage to love a mysterious lady.

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
New York, N.Y. : Scholastic Press, c2003.
Gregor follows his small sister, Boots, down a portal to the Underland. The Underlanders tell him he is the Warrior of an old prophecy and he must save the Underland and his father. I wonderful adventure.

The Hook-Up Artist by Tucker Shaw
New York : HarperCollins, [2006].
A love triangle, Selena, and the Hottest Guy Ever all make this a fun but interesting read.

Small Steps by Louis Sachar
New York : Delacorte Press, 2006.
A sequel to Holes but not nearly as good. Armpit, a minor character in Holes, is trying to make his life over after Camp Green Lake but his old friend X-Ray is making that a challenge. Armpit finds insight through a neigbor who brightens his life and a friend in a pop star.

The Day of Tears by Julius Lester
New York : Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, c2005.
The Day of Tears is when the most slaves where ever sold in a single day. Through the characters we see the pain of being stripped from your family and those you love without being able to say goodbye. Through the characters, which are researched by Lester and written with seering accuracy, we learn about this horrible day which changed the lives of so many.

Looking for Alaska by John Green
New York : Dutton Books, c2005.
This year's Printz Award winner. Written with poise and beauty, it tells of Miles' first year at Culver Creek Prep School. Miles knows a lot of last words and struggles to find meaning in many of them and is caught up in a life of a dangerous and impulsive young girl, named Alaska. A great book that doesn't leave you when you put it down.

Avalon High by Meg Cabot
New York : HarperCollinsPublishers, c2006.
Camelot meets Saved by the Bell. Ellie moves with her parents to Annapolis and begins her Junior year at Avalon High. She is quickly intrigued by Will and is swept away in a whirlwind of events equal to the adventures of King Arthur and Sir Lancelot. The beautiful poem "The Lady of Shallot" is the cornerstone of this fascinating novel.

Permanent Rose by Hilary McKay
New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, c2005.
The third installment in McKay's wonderful series of books about the Casson Family. The incomparable Rose takes center stage in this one. Rose's good friend Tom has gone back to America and, missing him terribly, she takes drastic measures to see him again. Saffron is looking for her real father while Cadmium begins to doubts her engagement to Michael. Simply wonderful, fun and entertaining books. Caddy ever After comes out in June 2006.