Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan, 2010.
Audience: Grades 8 & up
My Rating: 4.99999* of 5
Summary: Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy?
Comments: The Nick & Norah magic is back! Plus Christmas in NYC as a feel-good bonus backdrop! Would have been perfect if not for a Cohn chapter that was unpleasantly and obviously more Norah than Lily. Lexiphile Dash is on the verge as unbelievable as a teen unless you were one or knew one yourself.
Read-alikes: Nick & Norah's infinite playlist, Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by Green/Levithan

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger, 2010.

Audience: Grades 4 through 6

My Rating: 4* of 5

Summary: Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future.

Comments: Fun, relevant Middle-School read that is perfect for Wimpy Kid fans (though it has more boy-girl crush content than the Wimpy books).

Read-alikes: Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Big Nate series

Awards: 2011-2012 Bluebonnet nominee

The Cabinet of Wonders (audio)

The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski, 2008. Narrated by Lorelei King.
Audience: Grades 4 through 7
My Rating: 3* of 5
Summary: Twelve-year-old Petra, accompanied by her magical tin spider, goes to Prague hoping to retrieve the enchanted eyes the Prince of Bohemia took from her father, and is aided in her quest by a Roma boy and his sister.

Comments: Pacing was off for me--too slow until the final few chapters when it seemed everything resolved in a hurry. The magical elements are well done and appealing. Well read by King.

Read-alikes: Kronos Chronicles series, Ella Enchanted by Levine, The Princess Academy by Hale

Awards: 2010-2011 Bluebonnet nominee

Wolf Brother (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) by Michelle Paver

Wolf Brother (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) by Michelle Paver. Recorded Books, 2005. Narrated by Ian McKellan.

Audience: Grades 5 through 8

My Rating: 4.5* of 5

Summary: 6,000 years in the past, twelve-year-old Tarak and his guide, a wolf cub, set out on a dangerous journey to fulfill an oath the boy made to his dying father--to travel to the Mountain of the World Spirit seeking a way to destroy a demon-possessed bear that threatens all the clans.

Comments: Read me a story, Gandalf! What reader could do better by this skillfully written adventure? Paver gives just enough detail to create the world, but not so much to slow the pace. The same goes for her explanation (or lack thereof) of the complex beliefs and practices of these ancient clans; we discover only what unfolds naturally in the story which is just enough to begin mapping this world while leaving the reader wanting more. I'm super sensitive about animals in books so I made a co-worker tell me what happens to Wolf right away.

The Lost Hero (aka The Lost Editor) audio

The Lost Hero (aka The Lost Editor): Heroes of Olympus, book 1 by Rick Riordan. Narrated by Joshua Swanson.

Audience: Grades 4 through 7

My Rating: 2* of 5

Summary: After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt Camp Half-Blood where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own.

Comments: Isn't it a shame when a good author goes viral and becomes "above" editing? That appears to be the case for Riordan as evidenced by the dull heft of The Red Pyramid and this, his latest whopper. The Lost Hero begins with all the excitement, interesting characters, and snappy pacing that made the Percy Jackson books such a success, but soon bogs down under sluggish scenes and overdone dialogue (no fault of the talented narrator, Swanson). Lost Hero would be a fantastically fun read if it were missing about 150-200 pages of redundant writing. Trim the fat, Rick, and I'll be a fan once more. As it is I'm done with your books for a good, long while.

Read-alikes: Percy Jackson and the Olympians series; The Red Pyramid

Rant: Bury Dumbledore!

BURY DUMBLEDORE!

If you haven't seen Harry Potter 7.1 yet, there may be spoilers ahead (though if you read the books, no surprises).

Shame on you, Steve Kloves and David Yates. Shame on you, J.K. Why, oh, why would you even consider the omission of Dumbledore's funeral on film? Are you really telling me that the horribly executed and in poor taste wands-in-the-air moment in movie 6 is all we get as a send-off for one of the most important characters of this series? I hoped you had chosen to open movie 7.1 at Dumbledore's funeral--a fitting choice to give closure to his death and launch the action of Deathly Hallows. No such luck. AND you add insult to injury by dedicating 5+ minutes of screen time to Dobby's death and burial? Nothing against Dobby, he was a good Elf, but you can find precious screen time to bury an Elf and not the Godfather of this story? Shameful. As filmmakers, Kloves/Yates, you should have seized the opportunity to use Dobby's burial scene as a catalyst for Harry to flashback to images of Dumbledore's funeral, seamlessly transitioning the audience and poignantly juxtaposing these images to the final scene of the film. And you, Rowling, you can't stand up to the movie eggheads and insist your beloved fans see your beloved Dumbledore given a proper burial? Shame, shame, know your names.

I can only hope you have the sense to put this scene in HP7.2. To close this series' final screen adaptation without burying Dumbledore would be a huge omission. Fans of the books can forgive a lot, but this is an Unforgivable.

Disappointed,

Bonnie

NERDS by Michael Buckley (audio)

NERDS (National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society) by Michael Buckley. Recorded Books, 2009. Narrated by Johnny Heller.
Audience: Grades 4 through 6
My Rating: 3* of 5
Summary: While running a spy network from their elementary school, five unpopular misfits combine their talents and use cutting-edge gadgetry to fight evil around the world.
Comments: Revenge of the Nerds meets James Bond. Clever and funny with plenty of booger jokes to boot. Heller lost my interest in many spots with his slow pacing, but I always made it back on track eventually.
Read-alikes: Give to fans of Wimpy Kid and the like. Or kids with braces. Book 2 (M is for Mama's Boy) available now.

Big Nate: In a Class By Himself by Peirce

Summary: Supremely confident middle school student Nate Wright manages to make getting detention from every one of his teachers in the same day seem like an achievement.

Comments: Total Diary of a Wimpy Kid rip-off, but funny anyway. Hand it to those waiting on the next Wimpy Kid installment.

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling (audio)

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood. Listening Library, 2010. (Narrated by Katherine Kellgren)

Audience: Grades 5 and up

My Rating: 5* of 5

Summary: Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary trio of children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position, but finds that mysteries abound at Ashton Place.
Comments: "All books are judged by their cover until they are read," according to Agatha Swanburne, headmistress of Penelope Lumley's former boarding school. This, along with many more pithy sayings by Swanburne, are the heart of what makes The Mysterious Howling a delightfully charming read (perfectly voiced by Kellgren). Part Lemony Snicket and part Mary Poppins, Wood has created a darling backdrop (though not saccharine) for her vivid characters to play out their often surprising parts. As this first installment in the series winds down, the mystery is just beginning to surface, making the wait for another trip to Ashton Place seem like an eternity. But as Agatha Swanburne says, "One can board one's train only after it arrives at the station; until then, enjoy your newspaper."

Awards:

Read-alikes: Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Mirror Mirror

What a delightful concept! Mirror Mirror is a collection of poetry that centers around fairy tales. What sets this book apart is that every single poem is written in reversible verse meaning that you read it one way, then you flip it and begin at the end of the poem and read it in reverse. Usually the reverse implies a new meaning or makes you think of something in a way you hadn't before. With a few changes in punctuation a whole new poem is born. Take for example The Douubtful Duckling: "Someday I'll turn into a swan. No way I'll stay an ugly duckling, stubby and gray, Plain to see--look at me. A beauty I'll be." Now the reverse: "A beauty I'll be? Look at me--plain to see, stubby and gray. An ugly duckling I'll stay. No way I'll turn into a swan someday." Josee Masse's illustrations also reflect this duality with his colorful bold creations cleverly mirroring the text. Marilyn Singer has started a poetry revolution with the excellent collection surely enticing readers to imitate the style.

Monster High by Lisi Harrison (ARC)

Monster High by Lisi Harrison. Poppy, 2010.

**NEXT BIG THING ALERT!** This is gonna be a huge tween hit! It is way voltage!

Audience: Ages 12+ (though younger are going to want to read it bc of the dolls)

My Rating: 4* of 5

Summary: Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and prom. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters stalking the halls, Frankie learns that high school can be rough for a chic freak like her. She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver-but can a "normie" be trusted with her big secret?

Comments: Leave it to Lisi to make a Clique + Twi-tween mash-up of monstrous proportions! The beauty is that MH offers infinitely more concept, fun, and substance than the girls of OCD ever could. Frankie is exceedingly likable and her "normie" foil, Melody is likewise. "Coming out of the casket" references abound, but rather than elicit zombie groans they crackle with Frankie's enthusiasm toward her cause of monster acceptance. An appealing and quality read that backed by some evil genius marketing (uh-dorable dolls by Mattel, Monsterhigh.com video shorts and games, and stinking cute Halloween costumes rtg) is going to explode by October!
Awards:

Read-alikes: Clique, Alphas

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (*spoiler-free except for one vague quote*)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Scholastic, 2010.

Audience: Ages 13+

My Rating: 4.5* of 5

Comments: After hearing Suzanne speak in April, I was worried that Mockingjay might shift what had thus far been a seemingly unbiased series of war stories toward a didactic vehicle for Collins' personal message/agenda on war and politics. Suzanne, I will never doubt again. She is far too talented a writer for that to happen even with such delicate subject matter. None of my predictions for the conclusion of this trilogy came to fruition--I've never been so glad to have guessed incorrectly. I enjoyed the pacing, surprises, punches to the gut, revelations, unexpected connections, and unfortunate losses woven into this powerful conclusion. Above all, I admire Suzanne for giving young adult readers an honest, realistic ending to Katniss's story. Life is messy, love is imperfect, war is impossible, but somehow many survive and slowly rebuild a life...and even try to make it good.

There are worse games to play.

Zombiekins by Bolger

Zombiekins by Kevin Bolger, Razorbill 2010.
My Rating: 5 *s out of 5!!!

Drop everything and read Zombiekins! Oh, baby, is this a gem. Be prepared to laugh hysterically and uncontrollably so chose your reading locations accordingly. Bolger writes with pitch perfect pacing and razor sharp wit; in this case he deftly spoofs every zombie movie you've ever seen and wraps it in a cute (though slightly macabre), fluffy package.

Give this book to every 4th, 5th, or 6th grader who walks in the door! Especially fans of Franny K. Stein or Bunnicula. Pure, dark, genius!!!

"Don't worry, this isn't a real zombie. It's just a stuffy with a sort of macabre, half-dead appearance."

"Zombiekins started to cross the room, walking stiffly and with a limp--one leg swiveling on its teddy-bear joint, the other dragging like a dead limb...Stump!--scri-i-i-i-i-itch..."

"In Ms. Mellow's kindergarten the classroom was bustling with non-gender-specific role-playing activites...In the Playhouse, one boy was pretending to be the kind of daddy who liked to wear an apron and bake mud pies, while the girl he was playing with was pretending to be the kind of mommy who liked to throw dishes and yell at you to get a job."

Goal!

Beautifully written this soccer book is about more than just the game. Safety, poverty, bullying and friendship are all explored in this deceptively simple picture book. The language is lovely “I follow the ball to the end of the alley; I follow the ball to the end of the world.” A repeated refrain also helps remind the reader that danger is always lurking. Lots of fantastic examples of multi-culturalism from the kids’ names to “Bafana Bafana” the South African nickname for their home team. The illustrations are energetic and lush at times spread out over both pages showing the determination on the kids’ faces as they play. The alley that is their soccer field is also telling with the worn out buildings and complete lack of adult supervision. The encounter with the bullies can be read much deeper as the repression of so many in the war torn African continent and the over arching message that soccer unites is inspiring, “when we play together, we are unbeatable.” The author’s note at the end explains how important soccer has been in history and around the world. An uplifting sincere picture book.

A Taste for Red audio

A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris. Listening Library, 2009. (Narrated by Jaclyn Gaines)
Audience: Grades 5-6
My Rating: 1* of 5
Summary: Svetlana Grimm thinks she's a vampire and when her beautiful science teacher, Ms. Larch, begins reading her thoughts Svetlana wonders if Ms. Larch might be a vampire, too? But the thrill of finding another of her kind quickly vanishes when strange "accidents" start happening. Svetlana is always the intended victim, and her teacher is always nearby. So if she and Ms. Larch aren't allies, then that means...Sunny Hill Middle School is about to become a very dangerous place for Svetlana Grimm.

Comments: A poor reading of a poorly written story. I was only just curious enough about where the strange plot was going to finish.

Awards:
Read-alikes: Vampire Island

Delcroix Academy: The Candidates (book 1)

Delcroix Academy: The Candidates by Inara Scott (ARC). Hyperion 08/2010.

Audience: Ages 13+, Grades 7-10

My Rating: 3*s of 5

Summary: Dancia Lewis' otherwise mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. When recruiters from the prestigious and mysterious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over.

Comments: A debut novel with a strong premise and love triangle (do I smell a "Team Cam" and "Team Jack" campaign!?) that keeps the sometimes sluggish pace afloat. My biggest stumbling block...the names. "Delcroix" and "Dancia" sound so awkward to me that they tripped up my eyeballs every time. There are some interesting developments at the end of book 1, but not a major cliffhanger as I anticipated.

Awards:

Read-alikes: Twilight, etc., Vampire Academy

Will Grayson, Will Grayson (collecting quotes while I listen)

Loved this book enough the first time to now experience the audio fabulousness (complete with singing!) and collect a few choice cuts this time. [owg=Green; wg=Levithan]

owg: "You like someone who can’t like you back because unrequited love can be survived in a way that once-requited love cannot."

wg: “...because Isaac has become the one the songs are about.”

owg: "i know it sucks, but in a way, it’s good....love and truth being tied together, i mean. they make each other possible, you know?

owg: “She kisses like a sweet devouring, and I don’t know where to touch her because I want all of her."

wg: "when things break, it's not the actual breaking that prevents them from getting back together again. it's because a little piece gets lost. the two remaining ends couldn't fit together even if they wanted to. the whole shape has changed."

owg: [discussing Schrödinger's cat with Jane] "It seems to me that all the things we keep in sealed boxes are both alive and dead until we open the box. That the unobserved is both there and not...I chose the closed box."
Jane: "They eventually figured out that keeping the box closed doesn't actually keep the cat alive and dead...keeping the box closed just keeps you in the dark, not the universe."

owg: "It's hard to believe in coincidence, but it's even harder to believe in anything else."

wg: "i just want to be myself and i wanna be with someone who's just himself, that's all. i want to see through all the performance and all the pretending and get right to the truth."

wg: "this is why we call people 'exes' i guess because the paths they cross in the middle end up separating at the end. it's too easy to see an ex/x as a crossout--it's not. because there is no way to cross out something like that. the ex/x is a diagram of two paths."

owg: "Since when is the person you want to screw the only person you get to love?"

Tiny: "Love is the most common miracle. Love is always a miracle...everywhere...every time."

[curtain]

Possessions: Unclean Getaway

Possessions: Unclean Getaway (bk. 1) by Ray Fawkes, 2010.

Meet Gurgazon the Unclean, the cuddliest little pit demon ever trapped in the Llewellyn-Vane House for Captured Spirits and Ghostly Curiosities! This pit demon may look just like a cute little 5-year-old girl, but it isn't interested in playing checkers with other ghosts. The Gurgazon is determined to escape! Will the house contain it? Or will the world of peace and friendly bunnies come to an end as the Gurgazon exacts its revenge?

BB: Fabulous, dark, demonic fun! Cute Pit Demon Gurgazon and Polly the Poltergeist had me giggling at the info desk! Great for graduates of Franny K. Stein, Series of Unfortunate..., or other sardonic stuff for tweens.

"Gurgazon is not entertainment! Gurgazon is your DOOM!"

Mwoo-ha-ha-ha!

The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows

Reminiscent of Gaiman’s Coraline, Olive is a curious lonely girl that falls into a magical situation. Her parents decide to ditch dull generic apartment living for a kooky odd house. Sure enough the house has plenty of secrets mainly that it was formerly owned by accomplished witches that have figured out a way to remain immortal in order to keep their home. Their power has been stored in paintings, which Olive eventually figures out how to enter. There are helpful felines, long ago kidnapped characters now trapped in paintings and enchanted spectacles. All the supernatural elements blend well with reality and Olive is instantly likeable as the hero. The narrative is well written, evenly paced and fun. Jacqueline West has created an imaginative story filled with adventure and the main character never even leaves her house!

Turtle in Paradise

I am not usually a fan of kid's historical fiction. It is often trying so hard to illustrate life at that given point in time that it makes for tedious reading. This novel is nothing like that. This story loosely based on Jennifer L. Holm's own family history is quite entertaining. Turtle is 11 years old and living in New Jersey with her mom in 1935. She learns some things quick being the housekeeper's kid mainly that other kids can be really cruel. After her mother takes on work for a demanding woman who detests children, Turtle gets shipped down to her mom's home town in the Florida Keys to live with an aunt she has never even met. There she is surrounded by cousins-- all boys who due to their unique babysitting talents are known on the island as The Diaper Gang. She quickly experiences a completely different way of life and finds herself encountering people that know a lot about her even though she has never heard of them. The writing is excellent, detailed and interesting. Turtle seriousness is contrasted expertly with the island kids' wit and savvy. The ending is abrupt and a bit unbelievable, but the overall story is so strong that it is enjoyable just the same.

Falling In

Author: Frances O'Roark Dowell

Ages:9-12

On a scale of 1-5 this book is a 5

Eleven-year-old thrift-store-loving, dumpster-diving Isabelle Bean is different. The kind of different that makes other children avoid her and teachers suspect her of always being up to something. So, when she is again sent to the principal's office for inattention, she goes quite happily. Perhaps she will find the source of the mysterious buzzing coming through the floor of her classroom and up her feet, legs, and body to her ears. Reaching the principal's office she hears a squeak coming from the closet and upon opening the door falls in...to another world; a world of frightened villagers, dense, scary woods, and a child-eating witch. A world where Isabelle, in her favorite dumpster-rescued, pointy-toed, red boots is mistaken for the witch.

A fairy tale adventure that addresses universal themes of acceptance, fear of those who are different, and the destructive power of gossip and rumor.

Cicada Summer by Beaty

Cicada Summer by Andrea Beaty. 2008.
Audience: Grades 4-6
My Rating: 2*s of 5
Summary: Twelve-year-old Lily, believing she could have prevented the accident that caused her brother's death, has quit speaking leaving everyone to think that she is brain damaged, but in her silence she sees everything, and when sly newcomer Tinny comes to town, Lily suddenly has a lot to talk about--if only she can make herself speak the words.

Comments: A debut novel that has many of the right ingredients, but somehow the recipe is off. Lily's vow of silence is a strong concept, but it gets lost until the end of the book. The flashback chapters are unclear as is the unfolding timeline of the climax. Drama of Tinny's criminal ties seems forced.

Awards:
Read-alikes:

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

What? Seriously, Printz committee!?! I quit listening to this contrived literati mess half-way through then skipped to the final disc and really didn't miss all that lie between.

This must be a love-it or hate-it book. I hated it. If you loved it, please explain.

Booooo....moooo....booooo. Did anyone on the committee even read Wintergirls???

1* out of 5

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce. 2010.

Audience: Grades 5-8, ages 10-14.

My Rating: 4*s of 5

Summary: Twelve-year-old Liam, who looks like he is thirty and is tired of being treated like he is older than he actually is, decides he is going to pose as the adult chaperone on the first spaceship to take civilians into space, but when he ends up in outer space with a group of kids and no adult supervision, he must think fast to make things right.

Comments: Another Cottrell Boyce winner. This one is so different from Millions that there is no need to compare. A rare juvenile book that is a positive portrait of a dad. Funny, warm, great dialogue, and fantastic views of space.

Awards:

Read-alikes: George's Secret Key to the Universe by Hawking

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies (audio)

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane. 2009.
Audience: Grades 5th-9th. Ages 10+.

My Rating: 4.5*s of 5
Summary: Eighth-grader Molly's ability to throw a knuckleball earns her a spot on the baseball team, which not only helps her feel connected to her recently deceased father, who loved baseball, it helps in other aspects of her life, as well.
Comments: A wonderfully written book--so much so that even this monotonous narrator (Maria Cabezas) can't ruin it. Captivating, real character development, well balanced, and subtly yet satisfyingly ended. A story as delicate and interesting as the butterfly pitches Molly throws. Impossible to resist the urge to play catch after reading this one!

Awards:
Read-alikes: Zen and the Art of Faking it by Sonnenblick, Dairy Queen by Murdock

Boys are Dogs (audio)

Boys are Dogs by Leslie Margolis. 2008.

Audience: Grades 4th-6th. Ages 8-12.
My Rating: 4*s of 5

Summary: When her mother gets a new boyfriend, sixth-grader Annabelle gets to cope with a new town, a new school, and a new puppy and, while training her puppy, she decides to apply some of the same techniques to tame the unruly boys that are making her middle-school life miserable.

Comments: What can I say, I'm a softy for a cute puppy book! Annabelle is fun to follow as she begins to stand up to the boys who bully her. The mom/new boyfriend subplot is also very well written. As an adult reader, I was at times concerned that she never involved an adult in her problems with boy bullies. But overall it was more satisfying to watch her solve her own (and in turn her friends) conflicts with boys.
Awards: YALSA Amazing Audio list 2010.

Read-alikes: Girls Acting Catty by Margolis

Zen and the Art of Faking It (audio)

Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick. 2007.
Audience: Grades 6th-8th. Ages 12+

My Rating: 2.5*s of 5
Summary: When thirteen-year-old San Lee moves to a new town and school for the umpteenth time, he is looking for a way to stand out. His knowledge of Zen Buddhism provides the answer--and the need to quickly become a convincing Zen master.

Comments: One of those palm to forehead books where the protagonist is always missing the obvious. The story fell a bit short for me, mostly because of some awkward language ("Yikes!") and predictable plot devices. Woody is a great character--in fact I found her more interesting than San by a long shot (I mean, 3-Pointer).
Awards: YALSA Amazing Audio list 2010.
Read-alikes:

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff. 2009.

Audience: Grades 4th-6th. Ages 8-12.
My Rating: 3*s of 5

Summary: After her brother Jared dies, ten-year-old Annie worries about the hidden dangers of everything, from bug bites to bicycle riding, until she is befriended by a new neighbor who is grieving her own loss.

Comments: A light touch on a heavy subject. While I found it difficult to connect with Annie for the first half of the story, the last few chapters made the read worthwhile. One can only hope there is a Mrs. Finch out there for every grieving young person.

Awards: Bluebonnet List 2010-2011.

Read-alikes: Olive's Ocean by Henkes, Leo and the Lesser Lion by Forrester, Love Aubrey by LaFleur.

11 Birthdays

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass. 2009.
Audience: Grades 4th-6th. Ages 8-12.

My Rating: 4*s of 5
Summary: Amanda and Leo, born on the same day, have celebrated their birthdays together for 10 years. Still feeling hurt from an unkind remark Leo made at last year's party, Amanda spends her eleventh birthday without her now-estranged friend to share the fun. In the days that follow, both Amanda and Leo discover that they are caught in a time loop, waking up each morning to find themselves repeating their eleventh birthdays.

Comments: Fun and not as predictable as I thought going into it. Leo borders on too good to be true, though!

Awards: Bluebonnet List 2010-2011.
Read-alikes: When You Reach Me by Stead. Finally by Mass

*Sequel, Finally*

Not as engaging and magical as 11, but stronger on the coming-of-age themes.