It is that time of year again,  SUMMER READING!  I of course am a huge fan and it is the perfect time of year for kids to read fun and exciting titles that appeal to their interests.  This year we have a combined 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade list with a few titles reserved for specific grades.

Please visit me in the Williams Library this summer:

Tuesday, June 10  1-5
Tuesday, June 17   3-5
Tuesday, June 24  9-12
Tuesday, July 8     9-12
Tuesday, July 29   10-12

Click on the MS Summer List Reviews for detailed information about the titles.

Blindsided

Natalie, a 15 year old high school sophmore,  was born with an eye disease that slowly robbed her of her eyesight.  At 15, with her eyesight becoming extremely poor, she has to leave her friends and her school to take up residence at The Baltimore School for the Blind to learn how to use a cane, read braille, and overall prepare herself for the day she wakes up with no sight at all.  You will root for Natalie all the way  and feel her frustrations as she struggles to accept everything the new school has to offer.  You will find yourself wondering, "What would I do if I knew I was going to wake up blind one day..."  You also empathize with Natalie as she negotiates her relationship with her best friend since childhood and the new friends she makes.  This book offers heartache, hope, and an amazing glimpse at resilience.  You will also have a new insight and respect for the blind. Natalie's pet goat (she lives on a goat farm) Nuisance is a fun part of the book too!

The Lions of Lilttle Rock

  A great historical fiction read revolvoing around the true story The Little Rock Nine in which nine African American students integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas which made headlines during the very heated years of segregation and civil rights.  This story illustrates the impact segregation and the times had on the friendship of two girls, Marlee and Liz.  Marlee and Liz are two 12 year old middle school girls whose friendship is severely threatened due to the times and the ignorance of their community.  What struck me the most in this book was the realization, that even if Marlee's family and other's were forward thinking, the friendship posed a very real and life threatening danger to both families.  What a difficult time period for so many.  This is a great read!
 

Close to Famous

Butterscotch muffins- I never wanted one before but everytime I picked up Close to Famous it was the first thing that came to my mind.  Joan Bauer makes you drool wanting one of her main character Foster's muffins or cupcakes as well as wanting to purchase your very own "Bake and Take"!  Joan Bauer tells us the story of Foster, a middle school girl on the run from her mother's abusive boyfriend  who finds herself in a very small town with it's own set of problems.  However, some truly down to earth characters help Foster and her mother find friendship and support to conquer their troubles.  You will root for Foster and several of the quirky characters throughout this entire book.  I loved it and I also have a finer appreciation for muffins and cupcakes!

Ship Breaker, Paolo Bacigalupi

YA * Michael Printz Award 2011; National Book Award Finalist 2011

Nailer has absolutely nothing to lose when he finds a wrecked clipper ship and it's lone survior, a "swank", except for his own life. Life as a "ship breaker" really isn't much of a life anyway. You live in a make shift shelter on the beach and your food and the security of keeping your job depends on how much salvage, copper wiring, you can strip from wrecked oil tankers and give to your crew boss.

Does Nailer trust Nita to mean what she says that her family can help him? Nita is extremely wealthy whose value to several is enormous. The risk of escape is huge for Nailer, but the risk of staying on the beach is just as great. Nailer's life is worth nothing to many, several could kill him at any time, including his own father.

Suspenseful with unexpected twists throughout, Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker will have you holding your breath at moments and turning the pages all the way to the end. This book is not for the squeamish or timid!

Chasing Brooklyn

mysterious, romantic, and poetic.

Chasing Brooklyn is written in verse and takes you in the hearts of two grieving teens, Brooklyn and Nico. Lucca, Brooklyn's boyfriend and Nico's brother has been killed in a car crash and overwhelmed with grief his best friend Gabe soon after takes his own life. The story unveils through Brooklyn and Nico's personal journal entries where they share their thoughts and feelings. As a friendship develops between Brooklyn and Nico, you are taken Quickly caught up in their feelings of grief, fear, attraction, hope, and the possibility for love again.

The verses are beautifully and yet simply written. The story is so honest you will feel their sorrow and page by page hope they will find the joy of life and love again.