The School For The Insanely Gifted

The School For The Insanely Gifted By: Dan Elish

Daphna is a very gifted young lady. She attends the School for the Insanely Gifted, where she is composing a piano rhapsody, her two friends are inventing things like flying go carts, and creating Broadway musicals.  She is haunted by the fact that her mother has disappeared, so she continues to live alone in their apartment with her landlord's family watching over her.  She knows her mother will return.  But when a strange antelope many begins to follow her and hunts her down asking strange questions and she finds a picture of her mother with two men and the name is what the antelope man was asking about, Daphna knows something is up?  Her two close friends and her are off on an adventure to solve the mystery.

I thought this was an interesting book. It was sure full of kids with special talents. I liked how there was a mystery that the kids were trying to solve and that the bad guy was someone that they least expected. I thought the twist at the end was a great one and at  least gave Daphna something that she had been missing out on in her life.  Great read for I would say fourth grade and up.

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-0-06-113873-7

The Opposite Of Me

The Opposite Of Me By: Sarah Pekkanen

Lindsey is the typical overachiever. She has a great job in which she is about to present a huge ad campaign to a huge client. She knows she is going to be made vice president of the company.  And she does all this because she has always felt that she has to beat out her twin sister Alex, who is a beautiful actress and model.  But when things do not go as planned Lindsey is forced to face a new reality that maybe things are not always what they seem.

I loved this book. I thought that the story showed a character that thought she had it all and wanted it all, but was then forced to see things in a different light. Lindsey's character was one that wanted to prove so much to herself and her family to rid herself of the insecurities that she had, but then realizes that maybe those things do not matter. It also showed that life is fragile and you need to live like every moment matters.  Great adult read!!

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-1-4391-2198-6

Small Persons with Wings

Small Persons with Wings By: Ellen Booraem

Mellie Turpin has always see faeries, They do not like to be called that though so they are called small persons with wings.  She tried to tell her friends when she was little but then her best friend, a small person with wings, turned into porcelain.  She never forgot this and so is surprised when her family moves into her grandfather's house after he passes on that her whole family can see them.  AND that there are some small persons with wings that are not out for good but for evil. Can she protect her family and figure out just what these fairies want?

This was a pretty good book. I would not say that I loved it but it was a good read. It had mystery and a little magic.  I liked the main character and felt sorry for her that the other kids around her called her fat. I think that it is a horrible thing for kids to do to another peer.  I liked that the small persons with wings were very outspoken and the nice ones anyway were out to make her life more pleasant. Great read for fourth through about seventh grade I think.

I was given this by a student.
ISBN: 978-0-545-43931-2

Hot Rod Hamster

Hot Rod Hamster By: Cynthia Lord  Pictures By: Derek Anderson

Hamster wants to enter the Hot Rod race but he must first build a hot rod. So he heads to the junk yard to pick out his car and all the parts. Then comes the paint. When he enters the race no body thinks he is going to win, but he must might!

I love this book and so do my kiddos.  At each choice the Hamster makes the question is asked of the kids so it is very interactive. Fun for the younger crowd but great pictures make it a fun read for all!

I purchased this from Scholastic.
ISBN: 978-0-545-03530-9

One for the Murphys

One for the Murphys By: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Carly has been placed in foster care after her stepfather beat up her mother and her.  She is placed with the Murphy family who has three younger boys.  Carly is angry and upset at first and does not know how to be a part of this new family and go to a new school. She begins to make a place for herself in this new family and makes friends at school.  She believes her mother does not want her and is afraid when she finds out that she will be going to see her mother. She had started to belong in the family she was living with and now things will change for her again.

This was one of the most amazing stories I have read. I loved it.  I cried and cheered for Carly as this story shows the emotions that she was going through and the learning that she did while being placed in foster care. As a teacher, my heart breaks for the situations that some kids are placed in today and I am so thankful for the people that are able to help these children grow while their lives are out of their control.  A must read for anyone!  Perfect for junior high readers and up.

I borrowed this from the public library,
ISBN: 978-0-399-25615-8

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight   By: Jennifer E Smith

This is the story of Hadley who is seventeen and headed to London to watch her dad get married.  She misses her first flight and is frustrated to have to wait for the next one.  She meets Oliver who is also headed to London and they strike up a conversation.  They instantly feel a connection and spend the entire flight talking.  When they reach London after a quick surprise kiss Hadley says goodbye and heads off to the wedding hoping to get there in time.  She is frustrated with her father and is not handling him getting married very well, after the ceremony she learns the real reason Oliver was in London and rushes to see him again only to have to say goodbye and head to the wedding where she can hopefully resolve the issues with her father.

I thought this was a cute story of love at first sight. It was one of those fanciful stories that you know would rarely come true but I loved it anyway.  I thought it was great how the characters connected so quickly and felt that it was a fun quick read.  I do think skeptics out there will say come on how could this possibly be something worth reading, but like I said if you just want a fun read about people falling in love at first sight this is your book. Great for high school and up!

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-316-12238-2

The Beetle Book

The Beetle Book By: Steve Jenkins

This is the coolest book about beetles I have seen!  It has awesome illustrations and tons of facts about beetles! My boys love it so much that they are constantly looking at it and talking about the beetles they are seeing.  It is perfect for any bug enthusiast!

I purchased this from Scholastic
ISBN: 978-0-547-68084-2