The Puzzling World of Winston Breen

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen
(Book 1)
by Eric Berlin


12 year old Winston Breen is obsessed with puzzles. He thinks about them all the time and tries to solve everyone he finds.  So when his sister finds a puzzle in an antique box he got for her birthday, he can't help but want to solve it.  

But this is the most exciting and mysterious puzzle he's ever laid eyes on.  The puzzle was left by a deceased man and leads to treasure. 

Winston won't be able to solve the puzzle by himself.  He needs the help of 2 treasure hunters, a librarian, and many others. Even with all this brain power, will Winston and his team be able to solve the puzzle and avoid the double cross that is lurking in the pages?

Published: 2007

Genre: Mystery

Locations: School library, public library, and Amazon

Revenge of the Dragon Lady

Revenge of the Dragon Lady
(Dragon Slayers' Academy Book 2)
by Kate McMullan

In Revenge of the Dragon Lady, Wiglaf, the world's unlikeliest dragon slayer, continues his training at Dragon Slayers' Academy.  He still dreams of being a hero despite his fear of blood. 

Wiglaf's faces his biggest challenge yet, when the stinkiest mommy dragon of all, Seetha, comes searching for him.  Seetha is set on destroying Wiglaf because of something  he did in Book 1, The New Kid at School.  Will Wiglaf survive Seetha's vengeful attack?  You'll need to read the book to find out.

Published: 1997

Genre: Fantasy

Locations: Classroom, public library, and Amazon

The Girls Get Even

The Girls Get Even
(Boy-Girl Battle book 2)

In this hilarious book, the Hartford boys and their across the river neighbors the Malloy girls are back at it again.  They continue to play tricks on each other and constantly inspire one another to get even. 

In this installment, the kids antics revolve around camping, a class play, a Halloween costume competition with colossal stakes, and a party at a cemetery.    Please, only read this book if you are willing to laugh to at the silly pranks both sides try to play on each other. 

Published: 1993

Genre: Realistic fiction

Locations, School library, public library, and Amazon

The Great Brain

The Great Brain
(Book 1)
John D Fitzgerald

It's 1896 and you're an 8 year old growing up in Adenville, Utah.  Your life would probably be pretty normal, but it isn't.  You have an interesting life because your older brother Tom or T.D. is a genius, known as "The Great Brain."  You get the pleasure of spending day after day observing Tom try to make money off of every imaginable thing that pops up in front of him. 

Published: 1967

Genre: Historical Fiction/Humor

Locations: School library, public library, and Amazon

Earthquake Terror

Earthquake Terror
by Peg Kehret

Your family has gone camping in October.   You literally have a whole island campground to yourselves. No one else is there. 

After your mom breaks her ankle, your parents leave you, your little sister, and your dog at the campground while they rush to the hospital.
  
Your think your dad will be back in few hours but then the unthinkable happens, an earthquake strikes.  Now the three of you have to battle mother nature on your own.  

Oh, yeah, not only is your sister six years younger, she also has difficulty walking due to an accident. Will you be able to keep your sister and dog safe while you wait for help to arrive?     

Revenge of the Loser

The Revenge of the Loser
(The Loser List: Book 2)
by H.N. Kowitt

Danny Shine, you're back.  This time you're not concerned with getting off the loser list, you're concerned with Ty.  

Ty's the new kid at school.  The really cool new kid at school that everyone seems to like.  He's getting all sorts of attention for the Earth Day festival he's planning and you're a wee bit jealous. 

Your jealously is fueling an uncontrollable rage.  You must destroy Ty.  Do you think you were successful, I'm not sure.  Let's just say your attempts entertained me.

Published: 2012

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Location: Classroom, public library, and Amazon

The Loser List

The Loser List
by H.N. Kowitt

You are 12 year old Danny Shine. You spend your days trying to survive 7th grade at Gerald Ford Middle School.  You love to draw stuff, read comics and spend time with your cape wearing best friend Jasper.

Your life is OK, until you decide not to loan, really give, Chantal your $12.00 T-360 drawing pen. Based on that slight, Chantal decides to put your name on the loser list found in the girls' bathroom. 

You won't believe what you try to do to get your name off that list!

Published: 2011

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Location: Classroom, public library, and Amazon

Amulet Series Book 2 and Book 3

Amulet
The Stonekeeper's Curse (Book 2)
The Cloud Searchers (Book 3)
by Kazu Kibuishi

In these action packed books, Emily,"The Stonekeeper" tries to protect her friends and family,  control the amulet's powers, and save the planet of Allendia from the Evil Elf King. The excitement continues in Book 4 and Book 5.   

Note: Going into too much detail about each book will spoil what happens in previous books. 

Published: 2009 and 2010

Genre: Fantasy/Graphic Novel

Locations: Public Library and Amazon

The Stonekeeper

The Stonekeeper
(Amulet: book 1)
by Kazu Kibuishi

2 years after her father died in a car crash, Emily and her mother and brother move to into a family house once owned by her Great Grandpa Silas.

While exploring the house Emily discovers an amulet in her great grandfather's library.  The amulet warns her that her family is in danger and she'll need to protect them.  

Emily finds out the amulet is telling the truth after they go through their basement and end up in the alternate world Alledia.   Her mother is kidnapped by some hideous monster and Emily decides to save her. Read The Stonekeeper to see if Emily can save her mother and protect her brother. 

Mac Attack

Mac Attack
(Adventures of Daniel Boom aka Loud Boy book 2)

Written by D.J. Steinberg
Illustrated by Brian Smith

Loud Boy and the rest of the Freak Five team up with Uncle Stanley to stop a Kid-Rid plot to make all kids be polite. Can they stop Kid-Rid in time?  Read this graphic novel to find out?

Super Amoeba

Super Amoeba
(Squish book 1)
by Jennifer L. Holm and 
Matthew Holm

Squish, a normal single cell amoeba, has to deal with school bully Lynwood, a scary single cell amoeba.  How will Squish handle him?  Read this graphic novel to find out. 

Published: 2011

Genre: Graphic Novel

Locations: Classroom, public library, and Amazon

My Teacher is an Alien

My Teacher is an Alien
(Book 1)
by Bruce Coville

When sixth grader Susan discovers her substitute teacher, Mr. John Smith, is an alien intent on kidnapping her classmates, she is faced with the ultimate challenge.  She needs to convince her classmates that Mr. Smith is actually an alien intent on kidnapping students so they can stop him. Can she do it?  Read the book to find out. 

Published: 1989

Genre: Science Fiction

Location: Classroom, public library, and Amazon

The Friendship Matchmaker

The Friendship Matchmaker
by Randa Abdel-Fattah





Published: 2011

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Location: classroom and Amazon

Fourth Grade Fairy

Fourth Grade Fairy
(Book 1)
by Eileen Cook

Do fairies walk among us?  Do they use spells to blind us from their existence as they grant our wishes?  According to Fourth Grade Fairy they sure do. 

Willow is one of those fairies.  She's messy, she has an annoyingly perfect big sister, and she's waiting for her fairy power to appear.  

Unlike most fairies, Willow isn't scared of humans and actually dreams of becoming friends with one.  Willow's big problem is that human friends are forbidden by fairy rules.  What will Willow do when she meets  a  really nice human?  Read Fourth Grade Fairy to find out.  

Published: 2011

Genre: Fantasy/Fairy

Locations: Classroom, public library, and Amazon

Dragonbreath

Dragonbreath
(Book 1)
by Ursula Vernon

Danny has to do with parental pressure to achieve, writing a paper about oceans, and a bully.   Read Dragon Breath to find out how he deals with these problems.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that Danny is an enthusiastic, humorous, young dragon who can't breathe fire and his helpful best friend is a green iguana named Wendell.

Published: 2009

Genre: Talking Animals/Humor

Locations: Classroom, public library, and Amazon

Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities

Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities
by Mike Jung

Vincent is obsessed with two things, his hometown Copperplate City's superhero Captain Stupendous and his cute female classmate Polly Winnicott-Lee.

Polly doesn't pay Vincent any attention until she unintentionally becomes Captain Stupendous.  She doesn't know what to do, so she turns to Vincent for help.  Can Vincent teach her how to be Captain Stupendous in time to save Copperplate City from its newest super villain Professor Mayhem?  Also, now that Polly is talking to him, can Vincent get her to like him? You'll need to read this exciting book to find out!

Published: 2012

Genre: Science Fiction

Locations: Class, public library, and Amazon

Pie

Pie
by Sarah Weeks

Alice spent almost all of her free time in her Aunt Polly's kitchen.  So when Polly Portman, "The Pie Queen of Ispwitch," a pie making genius dies, Alice's life is thrown asunder.  

Alice now has to deal with loss of her aunt, taking care of Aunt Polly's nasty cat Lardo, and trying to find Aunt Polly's million dollar secret pie crust recipe before a mysterious someone steals it.  How will Alice handle all of these challenges? Read Pie to find out. 

Published: 2011

Genre: Mystery

Locations: Class, public library, and Amazon

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
by Sharon Creech

This story is all about choices.  Rosie, age 12, has to decide what to do when her best friend Bailey gets mad at her and she gets mad at him.  With the help of her granny, Rosie decides what to do.  Read this book if you want to see how Rosie handles this very real problem. 

Published: 2003

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Locations: School library, public library, and Amazon

The Secret of Zoom

The Secret of Zoom
by Lynne Jonell

Christina may live one of the most sheltered lives ever.  After her mother is blown up in a scientific experiment, her scientist father keeps her locked up in their giant mansion.  Besides an hour a day of outdoor time in their fenced in yard, Christina is never allowed outside of the mansion.  She goes to school on a computer and has no friends.  This sheltered girl is so lonely she enjoys watching schoolchildren play and orphan children pick up garbage with her telescope. 

While exploring the mansion, she discovers a tunnel that leads to the outside world.  When she sets foot outside of the mansion grounds, Christina starts to discover what her father has been protecting her from. Read this combination mystery, science fiction book to see if Christina can survive outside of her mansion.

Published: 2009

Genre: Science Fiction/Mystery

Locations: School library, public library, and Amazon

Three Times Lucky

Three Times Lucky
by Sheila Turnage

Eleven year old, Moses LeBeau lives a very interesting life in Tupelo Landing, NC, population 148.  Raised by the Colonel, who found her floating down the river as an infant, and the eccentric Miss Lana,  the three of them own and operate a cafe that everyone in town eats at. 

Her life gets even more interesting when a town local gets murdered and a detective from the big city comes to investigate.  The prime suspect is Moses's best friend Dale.  Can the two of them find out who actually committed the murder and clear Dale?  Read Three Times Lucky to find out. 

Published: 2012

Genre: Mystery

Locations: Classroom, public library, and Amazon