The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

An interesting tale told in an original voice for the narrator--well rarely published anyway. I find many of my sixth graders write like this, using a voice that is talking directly to the readers, is very dramatic and engaging. I will say I was a bit annoyed by the self-importance of the narrator at times and the whole mystery around the SECRET, but it was, overall, an amusing book. It is about a girl who sees impending doom in everything and is determined to survive those disasters. She cries wolf a bit too often, so when a real disaster strikes, you guessed it, no one believes her. I won’t give away too much of the story, as it is, after all, a SECRET, but will say it’s a mystery that is a bit hard to imagine at times, but interesting at the same time. I think this is tailored for 4-7 grade.

Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick

This is a story that fits well for middle school, for that is the time that many people adopt different personalities, either out of curiosity, due to stereotypes, or because of a girl/boy. This book is about a boy’s experience will all three. He falls into this personality of a Zen master and takes it as far as it will allow him. Never mind that you would think he learned his lesson watching his father scam person after person until he was finally caught and sent to jail, but perhaps that is what drives his inability to be himself. Perhaps it's true that sometimes you need to learn lessons for yourself. It’s an interesting peek into middle school personalities but is a little clean, cliched, too neatly tied for my taste. Real life is just a little messier, but maybe that's why books are better!

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R.L. La Fevers

Theodosia is a character that is British through and through. She lives in London with her parents, who are museum curators that focus on Egyptian artifacts. They are busy and Theodosia spends a great deal of her time at the museum as they work. She has full reign to wander and learn and knows a great deal about Egyptian black magic and spells. In fact, she has a sixth sense about spells and sets about removing them from the various artifacts her parents bring home. A lot of work!

When Theodosia’s mother returns from Egypt with a prized artifact, Theodosia senses the curses surrounding it are worse than anything she’s seen so far. Then it goes missing and Theodosia has to find it and figure out a way to get rid of the spell, all without her parents knowing! It’s possible the British Empire is in trouble! Her adventures introduce her to some great people and some evil people. This is the first in a series.

Grades 4-7 maybe but content is higher? Would need knowledge of ancient Egypt to fully comprehend

Wild Things by Clay Carmichael

Wild Things is an interesting read. It is about a girl who grew up with a mother who sounds like she was manic depressive and lived life either up and out with men or in bed in the dark. This girl, Zoe, has had to fend for herself for a long time. Her father was out of the picture from the beginning. The story begins when her mother dies and Zoe has been sent to live with an uncle she doesn't know. He is a recluse and was a famous surgeon at one point, but now just works in his barn on sculptures, for which he is somewhat famous. She is not used to trusting anyone and he is not used to loving anyone, as his wife died a few years ago. The two of them build a tentative relationship as she gets used to the rural area and people and she tries to tame a wild cat that lives in the woods. This story is about that growing relationship and the tests that the community offers, as well as the tests they throw at each other. It's a touching story of learning to love and trust.
Grades 5-8 Caudill 2013 nominee

Black Radishes By Susan Lynn Myer

This book takes place in the 1940's in France. It starts when Germany is threatening, but moves into the time that Germany occupied France. I must say I never realized that Germany took over almost half of France, nor did I realize just how awful it was for the French people. I'm not sure if my history teachers skipped that, glossed over it or I just didn't pick it up, but I always knew we invaded Normandy, but never put it together that many French people were ruled by Germans during this time. Anyway, Gustave is a boy of about 11 who lives in Paris with his family and close friends Jean-Paul and Marcel. Marcel came from Poland, but they are all Jewish. As the Germans continue to threaten, Gustave's mother decides they must leave Paris and they leave for a small town south of Paris. Gustave's cousin and friend stay in Paris. Shortly thereafter, the Germans invade France and the provisional occupation occurs. Gustave is very worried about his friends and relatives, as they learn more and more about the abuses to which the Jewish people are subject in Paris. Even in his remote town that is just south of the occupied part of France, Jewish people are stripped of rights and marginalized. This book was a good book but it seemed to be more history lesson than story. It was bits and pieces of Gustave's life over almost 3 years, I think. It didn't make for a very cohesive story but it painted a vivid picture of occupied France and the pressures of being Jewish in this time period.
Grades 4-7 Caudill nominee 2013

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

This book is about a boy, Jeremy Fink, who receives a present from his father where he has to find keys to open the very intricate box to learn the meaning of life. The twist is that his father has been dead for about 5 years and no one seems to know where the keys are. Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy go off on several interesting and somewhat impractical adventures throughout New York to find these keys before his 13 birthday, which is when he is supposed to open the box. Interesting story with impractical elements but if you can overlook them, it is entertaining.
Grades 5-7

Countdown by Deborah Wiles

I read it but am keeping a lid on the summary, as we will be working with it in class this year. Once we get that done, I'll post a summary/review!