A World Without Heroes

A World Without Heroes
(Book 1 in the Beyonder Series)


James Walker, age 13 from Vista, Colorado, falls into a hippo pool at his local zoo and emerges in a strange world with unknown flowers, animals, and trees. James is not on Earth and all he wants to do is go home.


Then he meets the Blind King who introduces him to Rachel, another teenager from Earth.  The Blind King tells them that their best chance of returning home is to find the magical word that destroys the evil Maldor.  


James and Rachel take on the quest to find the word but can they survive in a world that is so strange and mystical?


Published: 2011

Genre: Fantasy

Locations: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon

Because of Mr. Terupt

Because of Mr. Terupt
by Rob Buyea


Mr. Terupt is a magical teacher and his students love him.  7 different students tell us what his classroom is like.  They also talk about their challenges at home, at school, with friends, with family, and with Mr. Terupt.  


Those stories are exciting enough in their own right but then a terrible tragedy occurs during school.  While the 7 characters struggle with determining who to blame, their lives suddenly change.  


Please read this book.  It is amazing.


Published: 2010

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Locations: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon 

Stir It Up

Stir It Up
by Ramin Ganeshram


Hi, I'm Anjali.  I love to cook and my dream is to have a show on the Food Network.  My parents think cooking is just my hobby even though my dad owns a restaurant that I work in everyday.  They want me to go to school to become something better than a "chef."  But like I said, I love to cook and I don't think there is any better job than that of a chef. 


The butting of heads between my parents and me wouldn't be that big of a deal but I just got offered a chance to try out for spot on a show on the Food Network.  I'm so excited.  My parents are not.  The tryouts are at the same time as an admission test to the school that my parents have always dreamed of me attending.  Should I go to tryouts or take the test?


Published: 2011

Genre: Realistic Cooking

Locations:Class Library and Amazon

Dinosaur Cove Attack of the Tyrannosaurus

Dinosaur Cove Attack of the Tyrannosaurus Book 1
by Rex Stone

You are Jaime, the new kid in Dinosaur Cove.  You love to hunt for fossils.


While you out hunting for fossils, you meet Tom.  Tom leads you to a cave that he had found.  


While messing around in the cave you see dinosaur tracks.  The two of you follow the tracks, step through a cave wall, and emerge in the past.


Instead of a cave, you see plants, trees, sky, and dinosaurs. At first all seems well and you become friends with a small dinosaur you name Wanna.  


Then suddenly danger emerges.  A tyrannosaurus is after you.  Will you escape this ferocious beast and make it back home?  Read Attack of the Tyrannosaurus to find out. 


Published: 2008

Genre:Fantasy/Adventure

Locations: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading
by Tommy Greenwald


Written with short, easy to read chapters, Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading details Charlie Joe Jackson's quest  to not read any books for school.


Charlie Joe may not like to read but he isn't lazy.  He works extremely hard to not read.  He may actually be one of the most dedicated students that I have ever read about. 


If you want to see how hard Charlie Joe works to not do his school work, don't be like Charlie.  Instead read this book!


Published: 2011

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Locations: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon

Along Came Spider

Along Came Spider
by James Preller


Have you ever had a friend that was a lot different than you?  Did you ever wonder if you should stay friends?  That's the question Spider asks in this story. 


Trey is very odd but Spider is pretty typical.  They have been best friends since they were very little. Trey's oddness sometimes causes problems for Trey and Spider at school. 


But when Spider has a chance to hang out with the cool kids at school, he tells Trey they can only be friends at home.  Trey accepts this decision and they start to pretend they don't know one another in class. 


Will their new friendship survive? How will Trey handle losing his best friend? More importantly, will hanging out with the cool kids make Spider feel better?  Read Along Came Spider to find out.


Published: 2008

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Locations: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon

Darth Paper Strikes Back

Darth Paper Strikes Back
by Tom Angleberger


Blogger's Note: This is the sequel to The Strange Case of Origami Yoga


Dwight is back again giving great advice with the help of Origami Yoda. In this sequel instead of trying to prove Origami Yoda is real, Tommy is trying to prove that Dwight and Origami Yoda shouldn't be expelled from McQuarrie Middle School for being disruptive.  Tommy collects as many positive stories about Origami Yoda as he can but will his work keep Dwight and Origami Yoda in school?


If you read Darth Paper Strikes Back you will laugh at more great Origami Yoda stories, witness an awesome show down with school administrators, and just feel good about one all around awesome ending. 


Published: 2011

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Locations: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon

True (Sort of...)

True (Sort Of...)

by Katherine Hannigan

Delly gets in trouble, a lot of trouble.  She just wants to have fun and be kind but she never asks if she can do stuff, she just does it. Just doing stuff gets you in trouble, and like I said before, Delly gets in a lot of trouble. 

After being told she is bad for so long, she starts to get in trouble for fighting too. For awhile she doesn't mind being a bad trouble maker.   She doesn't even mind when they threaten to kick her out of school.  But when she sees her mama start to cry because of her, Delly starts to feel bad about being bad. 

Delly knows she has to change.  She has to be good.  She just doesn't know how to be good.  Luckily for her she finds help from a few unlikely sources, her little brother RB and from Ferris Boyd, a new girl who doesn't speak or let anyone touch her. 

If you are willing to risk a few tears and a few breathless moments, you should read True (Sort Of...) and find out if Delly can really be good and keep her mama from crying again.

Published: 2011

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Location: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon

Alvin Ho: Book 3

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects, and Other Man-Made Catastrophes
by Lenore Look


You are Alvin Ho, an honest little second grader who is afraid of everything and can't speak at school.  Because of your little quirk you don't always fit in with the boys at school, yet a girl named Flea adores you because of it.  


When you find out Hobson, a boy, is having a Settlers and Indians party you long to get invited. Instead you get invited to Flea's birthday tea party.  Now in addition to trying to get invited to Hobson's party you are trying to figure out a way to survive Flea's party.  What will you do?  How will things turn out for you?  Read your book to find out. 


Published: 2010

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Locations: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon

Trouble Don't Last

Trouble Don't Last
by Shelley Pearsall


You are Samuel, an eleven year old slave.  You are running away from your master.  You are running with Harrison, an elderly slave, who has taken care of you all your life. You didn't plan on running away but when Harrison woke you up in the middle of the night you followed him and now you're on the run to freedom in Canada.


As you run you constantly wonder if you will survive your journey.   Can you avoid slave catchers? Can you find shelter?  Can you find food?Can you avoid getting lost?  Can you make it? The odds seem impossible but you try.


Published: 2002

Genre: Historical Fiction

Locations: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon.

Blown Away

Blown Away
by Joan Hiatt Harlow



Blown Away is a wonderful book.  It is set up into two parts. In Part One we meet the characters.  Thirteen year old Jake is the main character.  He is is very likable and strikes up friendships with town grouch Sharkey and the new girl Mara. Jake also grows to love his little sister Star and Sharkey's dog and mule.  Throughout the first part of the book they all have fun and exciting adventures together and you grow to like them all.


Then Part Two starts and we go from a happy, fun story to a story about a natural disaster as a hurricane strikes Jake's hometown of Islamorada in the Florida Keys.  The hurricane is a bad one and described in great detail and throughout the description you wonder if all the characters you have grown to love will make it through alive. 


Published: 2007 


Genre: Historical Fiction


Locations: School Library, Public Library, and Amazon

Paul Bunyan vs. Hals Halson

Paul Bunyan vs. Hals Halson: The Giant Lumberjack Challenge
by Teresa Bateman
illustrated by C.B. Canga


Everyone knows the famous lumberjack Paul Bunyan but this is a new tall tale.  In this book, Paul faces off with Hals Halson, another giant lumberjack, set on proving he's a better lumberjack than good ole Paul.  Can Paul stand up to this horrible man and win?

Published: 2011

Genre: Tall Tale / Picture Book

Dinosaur vs. Books

1. Dinosaur vs. The Potty
2. Dinosaur vs. Bedtime
3. Dinosaur vs the Library

all by Bob Shea


In this series of picture books Dinosaur takes on all comers. Enjoy Dinosaur's battles as he roars his way through modern day challenges. The big question in each book is can Dinosaur defeat all of his challengers? 


Genre: Picture Books

Stuck

Stuck
by Oliver Jeffers
er
After Floyd got his kite stuck in a tree, he tried a variety of interesting ways to get it out. This picture book will definitely make you laugh.


Published: 2011

Genre: Picture Book / Exaggerated Fiction

Locations: Public Library and Amazon

Zorgamazoo

Zorgamazoo
by Robert Paul Weston


Katrina Katrell is a brave and adventurous girl who often sees monsters. Sadly Katrina happens to live with the horrendous Mrs. Krabone, who doesn't approve of seeing monsters and decides to cut out part of Katrina's brain.  Before that can happen, Katrina skedaddles and runs away.


Morty the Zorgle is a monster but a nice one.  He works for a newspaper and is not an adventurous sort.  But after the zorgles of Zorgamazoo disappear, Morty is chosen to find them. With lots of self doubt he sets out on his quest. 


Shortly after they set forth, Katrina and Morty meet up and team up.  Instead of two separate goals, they now have one: find the missing zorgles while evading Mrs. Krabone. Do you think this unlikely duo achieve their goal?  Read Zorgamazoo to find out!


P.S. This book is told in rhyme and is a lot of fun to read. 


Published: 2008

Genre: Fantasy

Locations: School Library, Public Library and Amazon

The Thief Lord

The Thief Lord
by Cornelia Funke


After their mother dies, Prosper, age 12 and Bo, age 5,  run away rather than live with their Aunt Esther.  The two boys make their way to Venice, Italy, their mother's favorite city.  In order to survive, they latch on with a gang of young thieves led by the mysterious teenager, Scipio, aka The Thief Lord. Together this motley crew attempt to survive while building a home and creating a family together in an abandoned movie theater. 


Prosper and Bo face what appear to be insurmountable odds.  Can they survive on the streets with only a gang of kids looking after them? Can they evade the detective their Aunt has hired to find them?  Can they help The Thief Lord pull off a major heist? But most importantly can their protect their new home and maintain their new family with out any adults to help?  Read Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord  to find out!


Published: 2000

Genre: Fantasy

Locations: Class Library, School Library, Public Library, and Amazon