My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson

•         Genre:  Fantasy/Adventure
•         Grade Level: 4th - 7th
•          Reading Level: 6.1 (13 points)
•          Length: 419 pages
•         Publisher:  Aladdin (November 3, 2015)
•          My Rating: 5 out of 4
•          Readability: Fun, easy to read. longer in length but amazing plotline.
•          Divsion 2 or Crossover
•          Summary:  Spirited, restless Gracie Lockwood, twelve, of Cliffden, Maine, living in a world where sasquatches, dragons, giants, and mermaids are common, keeps a diary of her family's journey in a used Winnebago as they seek The Extraordinary World in hopes of keeping her little brother, Sam, safe against all odds.

Gracie keeps a diary while the family goes through a crisis, which results in this book. They live in an alternate world from what our planet lives in. It is the same but very different. The fantastic characters such as dragons, witches, mermaids, genies, etc are in full force and the people are always on the defensive in staying alive. Gracie's little brother has been ill and a large cloud is following them. This cloud is known to take people away to their death. Gracie's family will do anything to escape. They get in an RV and drive to the end of their flat world and hope to get to the world in which we the readers are familiar with. One in which life doesn't have to fight the fantasies. 

The characters are wonderful in this book! It is about a family sticking together no matter what happens and supporting each other despite the ups and downs. The whole fantastic plot line is not something I would usually pick up to read and yet, I couldn't put it down. I kept wondering if I would have time at school to read my book. Of course, I knew I wouldn't but it was the kind of book that you can't wait to get back to reading.  The author wrote the Maybird series and I may have to read that series this summer even though it is an older copyright. 

The Classy Crooks Club by Alison Cherry

• Genre:  Adventure
• Grade Level: 4th - 6th 
• Reading Level: 5.6 (11 points)
• Length: 336 pages
• Publisher:  Aladdin (March 29, 2016)
• My Rating: 3 out of 4
• Readability: Fun, fast and easy read. 
• Divsion 1 or Crossover
• Summary:  Twelve-year-old AJ is dreading spending the summer with her uber-strict grandmother--that is, until she's recruited to join Grandma Jo's madcap band of thieves.

AJ is spending a month of her summer with her grandmother who is very strict and doesn't seem to be proud of how AJ would rather play soccer than do girly things. She wants AJ to be a proper young lady. However, through some snooping, AJ discovers that her grandmother's bridge club is just a cover for a crooked operation where they plan heists to steal items and each one takes turns picking out the target. They in turn need AJ as she is able to move about quickly and get into places that have become difficult for the one who usually has this role. (She had to have hip surgery and is using a walker.)

Of course, even though it is exciting at first, AJ starts to wonder if what her grandmother is doing is really morally right. She realizes she needs to make a stand for doing the right thing and not what her grandmother wants.   

Even though this book was fun to read, I was a bit uncomfortable with the the morality of the grandmother and the resolution of the story. It did not feel like there was true transformation of the grandmother's crooked ways.  It is also a very girl driven character and may not appeal to the boys. 

Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King

• Genre:  Fantasy/Ecological Mystery
• Grade Level: 3rd - 7th 
• Reading Level: 
• Length: 256 pages
• Publisher:  Arthur A. Levine Books (January 31, 2017)
• My Rating: 4 out of 4
• Readability: Great story, lots of ecological facts and a little mystery/fantasy
• Summary:
  Obe Devlin spends a lot of his time cleaning up the creek that runs through what little is left of his family's once extensive farmland, and worrying about what the developers are doing nearby, and the pollution it is causing--but one day he finds a strange creature by his creek that eats plastic, and soon the animal he calls Marvin Gardens becomes his personal secret, which he believes needs to be protected from pretty much everybody.
• Division 1 and Crossover

This book begs to be a spring read aloud for upper elementary teachers. The focus is on saving our earth from pollution and destruction by the hands of humans who are not taking care of our earth. There are also lots of family dynamics and growing up issues to discuss throughout the story line.

Obe Devlin, an eleven year old, spends lots of his free time picking up garbage along the creek of their rural home. However, land developers have purchased most of the land and are developing the area into a complex of homes. In the past, the Devlin family owned all the land but it was lost because of the grandfather's alcoholism and spendthrift ways.  As Obe is wondering, he discovers a dog/pig like animal that eats plastic. As he spends time with the animal he even names him Marvin Gardens after a place in his father's favorite game of Monopoly. Obe finds that Marvin Gardens has toxic poop which is burning holes into the ground and on the shoes of anyone who walks in it.  The boys in the development housing blame Obe. So, Obe turns to his favorite science teacher for help. 

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

• Genre:  Fantasy
• Grade Level: 4th - 6th 
• Reading Level: 4.8
• Length: 304 pages
• Publisher:  Dial Books (June 2, 2015)
• My Rating: 5 out of 4
• Readability: Great story, hard to put down. 
• Summary:
  "When he realizes that his grandfather's stories of an enchanted circus are true, Micah Tuttle sets out to find the mysterious Circus Mirandus--and to use its magic to save his grandfather's life"--
• Division 1 and Crossover

Micah Tuttle lives with his grandfather as his parents have died in a car accident. His grandfather is dying and his great aunt comes to live with them to help out. She is the character who is mean and hard-hearted and gets no sympathy from the reader. MIcah knows of the stories of a magic circus his grandfather visited as a boy. His grandfather has a saved wish to be granted by the circus and Micah believes it is to save his grandfather's life. Micah sets out to get this accomplished. 

This book is not the type of story I am drawn to.  I tend to lean toward liking realistic fiction. So, this book has not made it to my pile until this past week. I found this book hard to put down and totally engrossing! The characters were wonderful. The story was surprising and the lessons were wonderful. 

I highly recommend this book.  The illustrations between chapters were stunning.  I looked forward to them.  I can see this as a great movie someday!

The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla

• Genre:  Realistic Fiction/Adventure
• Grade Level: 4th - 7th 
• Reading Level: 
• Length: 336 pages
• Publisher:  Harper Collins (January 24, 2017)
• My Rating: 5 out of 4
• Readability: Great story, hard to put down. 
• Summary:
  Charlie, twelve, who has autism and obsessive compulsive disorder, must endure a cross-country trip with his siblings and a strange babysitter to visit their father, who will undergo brain surgery.
• Division 2 and Crossover

This is a new favorite book of mine!  You will fall in love with Charlie and his family as they go on a cross country trip in a RV and stop along the way to explore the USA, search for birds, and make the best out of a difficult situation. The characters are great and very likable. Charlie is a twelve year old who has autism and OCD which makes a wacky trip in close quarters with his family a great challenge. Busy twin brothers, a boy crazy teenage sister, a strange babysitter, and a three legged dog are all part of this great adventure.  It is a story about facing challenges and getting through difficulties in your life. 

Connect the Stars by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague

• Genre:  Adventure
• Grade Level: 3rd - 7th 
• Reading Level: 5.3 (11 pts)
• Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 22, 2015)
• My Rating: 5 out of 4
• Readability: Great story, easy to read, hard to put down. 
• Division 2 and Crossover

Audrey is a 13 year old girl who can tell when people are lying. This causes lots of issues for her and she has basically made herself a hermit and stays away from people in order to not be hurt.  Aaron has the ability to remember everything he reads or hears and is always spouting out facts and information but has not been able to deal with feelings and emotions. He gets into trouble for being a know it all. The main characters are told in alternately chapters in the book.  Marisa writes about Audrey and David writes about David. 

Both kids are offered the chance to go to an adventure camp in the dessert of Texas where 16 kids and a leader spend 6 weeks learning to survive, camp, and spend some renewal time. The kids are giving different tasks to accomplish which test them. They are broken up into groups of four and Audrey and Davis are joined by Louis  and Kate who also have their own personal difficulties they are working through. The problems they face throughout the camp involve personality conflict, internal conflict, survival and a mystery to solve. They mystery is slight compared to the adventure and coming of age story. 

This is a great story full of great characters which you will root for and learn to love.  It is funny, adventurous, mysterious, and heart tugging.  What is not to love!  I recommend it highly. 

Matylda, Bright & Tender by Holly M. McGhee

• Genre:  Realistic Fiction
• Grade Level: 3rd - 7th 
• Reading Level: 4th
• Length: 224 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (March 14, 2017)
• My Rating: 4 out of 4
• Readability:  Loved the beautiful writing style, slows in the middle, great conclusion
• Division 1 and Crossover

This book is a friendship story of a girl and a boy who have such a beautiful and loving bond. They are best friends and in fourth grade decide that they need a pet to love.. A spotted lizard is their new pet. The story is told from the point of view of Sussy, the girl. She realizes that Guy is much better at caring for Matylda, their new pet, but she wants to learn to be as competent. Then, a tragedy happens and Sussy is left alone to deal with  grief and  loss. 

My Girl and Bridge to Terabithia come to mind when I read this book. I also thought Newbery potential!

It is sad but a beautiful story of working through tough situations. Family and friends are supportive and helpful. Sussy, however, has the most to deal with.  The story slowed a bit for me in the middle as Sussy dealt with trying to care for her lizard, but the conclusion was satisfying.  I recommend this book!