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.

Hero by Perry Moore

Hero by Perry Moore. 2009.
Audience: Grades 8th and up; 13 and up (who can handle GLBT lit)
My Rating: 4*s of 5
Summary: The last thing in the world Thom Creed wants is to add to his father's pain, so he keeps secrets. Like that he has special powers. And that he's been asked to join the League - the very organization of superheroes that spurned his dad. But the most painful secret of all is one Thom can barely face himself: he's gay.

Comments: Overall a funny, entertaining, and engaging story that is highly original. Kind of a look at what the Incredibles family could become many years later. The concept is great--a budding superhero teen struggling with his missing mom, fallen superhero dad, his own new powers and the biggie--his homosexuality. Characters are appealing (Typhiod Larry, ha!) and there are many funny moments (huge laughs over The Lorax scene). There are a few bumps in the road execution-wise, especially with early action scenes. But any transgressions are easily forgiven as we root Thom on in the battlefields of hero-dom and looooove!

Awards:
Read-alikes: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies / Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies by Hartinger; How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater by Acito

Franny Parker by McKinnon

Franny Parker by Hannah McKinnon. 2009.

Audience: Grades 4-8th; ages 10 and up

My Rating: 3*s of 5

Summary: Franny Parker's life revolves around her family, their farm, and their dusty Oklahoma town. Then the Dunns move in next door, harboring painful secrets. From the moment Franny meets Lucas, the two begin a friendship that introduces Franny to a larger world.

Comments: A nicely written coming of age story (and debut novel). Readers will especially enjoy the animal rescue elements and the dangerous mystery of Lucas and his family. Franny's mother is a particularly appealing character.

Awards:

Read-alikes: Dairy Queen

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. 2008.
I know I'm way behind to just be reading this one. Wow! A fantastic and compelling read that you can't wait to get to the ending of but hate for it to be over. I'm impressed by how different it is from her Gregor books. The point at which the books ends surprised me--I expected a painful cliffhanger--but it is still intriguing enough to propel you into book 2.