One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
2014 Newbery Honor Award

This is one of those book so well written that I was up until Midnight to finish it because I could not put it down. That doesn't happen for me very often! A sister lost. A body found. The truth buried. This adventure mystery will keep you on your toes and have you cheering for the main character until the very last page. I can't wait to hear what you think. There are some scary parts, so beware!

Paperboy

Paperboy by Vince Vawter
Newbery Honor Book 2013

An eleven-year-old boy throws the meanest fastball in Memphis, but talking is another ball game altogether. He struggles with a stuttering problem that makes even his own name almost impossible to say. When he takes over his friend's paper route for a month he knows he will be forced to talk to people. This is an amazing story about an amazing boy. This books has changed the way I understand and think about individuals with speech difficulties.

The Janitor's Boy by Andrew Clements

Jack commits the perfect crime, which unfortunately leads to the perfect punishment. Having "gum patrol" is no fun, especially when your dad is the head janitor. Jack doesn't like that his dad is the janitor, you might even say he hates it. It's embarrassing. That all changes when Jack becomes an assistant janitor and is forced to get to know his dad better. 

This was a great book. I felt like I really got to know both Jack and his dad.

Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari

Bird McGill has dreamed of flying all of her eleven years. The fact that she's a girl never mattered to her. WWII is raging and Bird's dad gets sent off to fight. When a Japanese American boy comes to school, everyone is sure he is a traitor or a spy. But one night, after he saves her from drowning, Kenji and Bird accidentally discover a real spy. Will they become friends or enemies, heroes or criminals? This was an exciting page turner of a read!

Out of My Mind

By Sharon M Draper

Out of My Mind

By:  Sharon M Draper

Melody is eleven-years-old and one of the smartest kids in her class. It's too bad that nobody knows it though. Melody has a disability that keeps her confined to a wheel chair and does not have the ability to speak, so everyone assumes she is dumb, when quite the opposite is true. During a research project Melody stumbles across a machine that could give her a voice. She gets so excited that she can hardly contain herself. Would having a voice help her prove to everyone once and for all how truly brilliant she is? Would having a voice make her "normal?" This is an amazing book. It has an unexpected ending and will make you think differently. What a great choice for a battle of the books title!

Love That Dog

by:  Sharon Creech

Jack's class has to write a poem.

This is Jack's first poem:
    I don't want to
    because boys
    don't write poetry.
    Girls do.

Very very good - quick read.

Ida B

by:  Katherine Hannigan

Ida B eats the exact same thing for breakfast and lunch everyday.  Her dad says, "Why don't you try something different?"

Ida B says, "There are too many things to think about in this world besides what I'm going to eat."  Then her dad looks at her like she is a true mystery.

Excellent!