Bibliotechies » Tween Readers

2010 Schneider Family Book Award Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

pforray — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:52:41 +0000

Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.

Liz says:

“This slice of life story about Jason takes us into the mind of a child with Autism as he experiences the day to day challenges of growing up. Jason’s story both illuminates his differences from and his similarities with ‘neurotypicals’. This is a beautifully crafted story with so much to tell, making it anything but typical.”

Artichoke’s Heart by Suzanne Supplee

pforray — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:41:08 +0000

When she is almost sixteen years old, Rosemary decides she is sick of being overweight, mocked at school and at Heavenly Hair–her mother’s beauty salon–and feeling out of control, and as she slowly loses weight, she realizes that she is able to cope with her mother’s cancer, having a boyfriend for the first time, and discovering that other people’s lives are not as perfect as they seem from the outside.

Liz says:

“This story has the magic of being able to make you laugh and cry from one page to the next. Tackling tough issues of self-image and self-esteem with unflinching reality and humor, Supplee has written a delightful book that is sure to be a winner with 7th and 8th grade girls.”

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

pforray — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:11:31 +0000

After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother’s route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.

Liz says:

“This is a must read for 5th and 6th grade girls. As Sal travels cross country to find her mom, she discovers the truth about why her mom left. Readers will find themselves crying on one page and laughing on the next. Creech is at her best in this Newbery Award winning book.”

London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

pforray — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:18:00 +0000

“When Ted and Kat’s cousin Salim disappears from the London Eye ferris wheel, the two siblings must work together–Ted with his brain that is “wired differently” and impatient Kat–to try to solve the mystery of what happened to Salim.

Liz says:

“This is a thoroughly enjoyable read that I recommend especially to 5th and 6th grade boys. It is reminiscent of Mark Haddon’s book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Ted has Asperger’s Syndrome and as a result has a unique perspective on the world and is able to see the facts of his cousin’s disappearance with greater clarity and insight than everyone else. This is a great mystery and a wonderful story.”

Mysterious Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart

carascherzer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:31:52 +0000

4 students are selected to go undercover and complete a secret mission. Their adventures continue upon graduation.

Septimus Heap by Angie Sage

carascherzer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:24:13 +0000

These comical fantasy adventures are loved by boys and girls AND they’re very well-written.

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

carascherzer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:07:04 +0000

Paolini has created a series of intricate stories of power and magic which are filled with dragons, elves and monsters.

Hungry City Chronicles by Philip Reeve

carascherzer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:01:27 +0000

Tom is a third class apprentice in a distant future in which technology has been lost and tiered cities move about the Earth on caterpillar tracks, often absorbing smaller locales.

Echo Falls by Peter Abrahams

carascherzer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:53:56 +0000

Fun, suspenseful mysteries, great for boys and girls.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

carascherzer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:45:20 +0000

Based on Kinney’s 2004 Web Comic, this is the diary of middle school student Greg Heffley. Greg is forced, by his mother, to keep a diary. Greg shares his hilarious take on life as a middle schooler. This is a top pick among kids!