The Fourteenth Goldfish

By Jennifer L. Holm 

     What a great read!  A pleasurable, multi-layered, multi-generational read that I really enjoyed!  This book is full of surprising twists and humor, most assuredly on every page.  Ellie is embroiled in aiding her teenage grandfather, yep you read that right her teenage grandfather.  Ellie is having a hard time with the fifth grade and the loss of her best friend and her goldfish, but things quickly change when her grandfather shows up on the doorstep.  Her grandfather, a scientist, has discovered a fountain of youth, per say, a jelly fish of youth, and has rejuvenated himself to his teenage years.  Unfortunately, for him, no one believes who he is and his discovery is going unnoticed!  

     Melvin is convinced that Ellie can help him break into his lab and retrieve the jellyfish so he can continue his experiments.  Ellie and some new friends try to help him attempt several break ins at the lab, meanwhile Melvin discovers getting his youth back is not all he remembered.  The obvious downfall is the return of acne, and the loss of his freedom of driving a car.  His daughter is now responsible for her father and makes him help with chores and return to school, under the guise of a nephew.  When Melvin discovers that he is not even mentioned in the science books, and many feel that he is a quack, things shift into high gear.  Melvin eventually, sets out on his own, to discover more of the world.  Ellie learns to appreciate science and discovery from her grandfather and truly misses him.  

     There are several lasting lessons in this book.  One that you don't know what you will really miss until it is gone, two that the lessons that we learn and the interactions that we have outside of our own generation are exceedingly worthwhile.  This is a fantastic book that I am giving a 4.5 stars out of 5, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was very sad when I finished it.  I feel that this book is appropriate for fourth grade and up and that everyone would enjoy the story.  

Links 

Author; Jennifer L. Holm

Fountain of Youth

Knock Out

By K.A. Holt 

     This book is a treasure for readers of all ages.  I love this book, it was highly entertaining from the first page all the way through to the end; page turning action, drama and a direct pulse into young readers.  Levi is getting ready to enter Middle School, but he is no normal kid.  Levi is smaller than most and has been sickly most of his life.  He has to travel to Cincinnati a couple of times a year, just to check on his airways.  Levi has been able to develop by an overly protective mother and brother, who keep him sheltered from everything.  His best friend Tam, helps him get through the days.  As Levi enters the  middle school things will change and secrets begin to mount. 

     Levi wants to be the class clown and will do just about anything to get a laugh out of his classmates, even becoming a secret alternative mascot for the school.  He loves hearing all of the laughter! Tam even convinces Levi to join chess club, neither of them enjoyed that.  During a visit with his dad, a kernel of an idea is thrust into his head, Levi should try a sport, any sport, Mom does not need to know, his Dad will even foot the bill.  Levi has never been athletic because of his breathing issues, what sport could he ever do?  On a "joke" he says hey I want to try boxing.  Dad loves the idea and signs Levi up for gym time at a local ring.  On days that Levi is supposed to be at Chess club he either hangs out in his tree of his dad takes him to the gym.  Levi loves the energy and the focus that concentrating on his footing and hitting gives him.  He is small, quick and mighty.  

     Of course when lies start to build, at some point  they all come tumbling down.  Will all of Levi's secretive freedom be lost, or will his jailers see that he needs more freedom.  Of course  a couple of health problems stumble upon Levi and another trip to Cincinnati may give him his dreams.  Things are changing and Levi is coming of age right before your eyes.  

     What is the most impressive about this book is the complexity of the story told through poetic verse  The descriptive tone of the book, the reader is transported with Levi as he develops and grows and hurts.  Some of the verse is very evocative and thought provoking.  I am definitely giving this book a 5 out of 5 starts and believe that any reader 5th grade and up would enjoy this tale.  If you have the opportunity pick up your copy today.  

Links

Author K.A. Holt

Boxing Boarding School

Airway obstruction - causes

The Charm Bracelet

By Viola Shipman

    This is a wonderful generational story.  Three wonderful characters in different parts of their lives, all connected by familial ties.  Lolly is the matriarch and lives in the small Michigan coastal town where she grew up.  She resides in the same cabin that has been handed down through the family.  Lolly honors the past with a charm bracelet that chronicles important events for herself and her for"mothers".  Lolly is also a local icon, she portrays Dolly at Scoops the candy and ice cream parlor.  She is recognized and adored by locals and visitors alike, but how can you hide crazy wigs and crafty aprons.  The persona that gives Lolly joy and a purpose in life, chases her daughter out of Michigan into Chicago.  As Lolly ages and begins to lose her memory she struggles to reconnect with her distant family in Illinois.
     Arden ran from her home town, wanting more than her quaint cabin and a local boy, she craved affluence and wealth.  She falls in love, marries and has a beautiful daughter, but when her marriage falls apart and she divorces, she is left floundering in a dead end job.  Her ex husband refuses to help foot the bill for Lauren's college and has left Arden in a financial crisis.  She can not handle too much more stress, the phone call from Michigan informing her of her Mother's dwindling memory, and missing shifts at work has her worried.  After a quick lunch with her daughter Lauren, they decide to take an extended Memorial day weekend and check on the aging Lolly.
     Lauren a senior in college is well aware of her mother's financial difficulties and has changed her plan of becoming an artist to be a business major.  She feels caged and is wildly unhappy with her current direction.  She idolizes her Grandmother, Lolly, and can not wait to visit her in Michigan.  Lauren knows she has to change her major, if she is ever going to be truly happy, but dreads the discussion with her mother.
     When Arden and Lauren reach Michigan, they are despaired of Lolly's obvious lapses in memory. After a doctor's visit and a consult with a home care professional, it is decided that Lolly should remain at home with some medication and a viable treatment is for her to relive the past.  Arden is dismayed since this means a reciting of the  meaning of the charms on her bracelet.  The bracelet that Arden has abhorred for years.  As the three women reconnect, wonderful heartwarming changes are made and they form loving lasting bonds.
     This book is a very heartwarming read, I don't feel that most children will appreciate the intricacies of the relationships at play.  The story resonated with me on a personal front, and I enjoyed it, it is not however, a story for kids.  Highschool girls may find this a eye opening tale as they prepare for college.  It does put life, school and love in a definitive perspective.  Since the book is not for children, I am giving it a low rating, of 2 out of 5, but for any adult readers this is a great story.

Links

Author - Viola Shipman

Wade Rouse

Memory Loss

Northern Lights

The Truth Game

By Anna Staniszewski

     This is a very entertaining tale of young Rachel as she embarks on her high school career.  She is hoping that this is going to be a new and exciting time for her.  She is entering high school, has a boyfriend, is beginning her dream job at a bakery and might be on television.  But Rachel's school does not start off all that great.  Her parents are separated, she rarely sees her boyfriend, her best friend is absorbed in her own life and barely has time for Rachel and of course her arch enemy works with her at the bakery  

     As Rachel's enemy, Briana, continues to sabotage Rachel at the bakery, she is also Evan's sister and Rachel tries to get along with her.  Briana is one of popular girls at school and Rachel would love to fit in with the rest of her classmates.  When Briana signs Rachel up for the Truth Game, she grudgingly gives it a try.  She quickly finds out that she is not that different from her classmates and reveals a lot of her inner secrets.  Things are going pretty good, her and Evan finally kiss, she is finally learning more at the bakery but all good things must come to an end.
     One day the Truth Game is hacked and everyone's secrets are shared with all of the participants of the application.  Rachel's budding relationships are destroyed and she is left floundering.  Her best friend and boyfriend are not returning her texts or calls and Briana is furious at her.  The only good thing is her building relationships with her parents and the faint possibility of meeting Chip.
     When a crisis at the bakery places Rachel in the spotlight and she needs help, she has no other recourse than to reach our to Marisol and Evan.  As only true friends would do, they rush to the rescue, but can Rachel repair the damage from her Truth Game reveals?  Is there hope for her relationships?
     I enjoyed this realistic fiction book a great deal and found it very plausible.  I am rating it as a four out of five stars and saying any young women in seventh grade on up would enjoy reading this great story.

Links

Author - Anna Staniszewski

Dangerous teen apps

Kids cooking competitions

Booked

                                                     By Kwame Alexander 

     Middle school is a tremendous time of growth and maturity.  A time of new interests, old friends new friends and romance.  Nick has a highly developed lexicon due to a father that is a professor of linguistics.  In fact, his father has even written a dictionary of interesting words.  Nick loves to play soccer, hang out with his best friend Coby, he is shy around the girl of his dreams, has a great relationship with his mother and friction with his father.  He has a marvelous mentor in the school's librarian, former rapper Mac. Nick seems to be muddling through his 8th grade year pretty well until strife between his parents makes his home life strained and until the class bullies come back to school.  One of the twins likes Nick's dream girl, which leads to even more turmoil.  

     When Nick's parents openly disagree and dad ends up sleeping on the couch, his life really starts shifting to a new normal.  Nick's mother decides to have a trial separation and moves out of state to further her career has a horse trainer.  This leaves Nick with an exacting father with extremely high expectations.  Nick's father forces him to read his dictionary daily and Nick hates to read even though his romantic interest is in the school's book club.  Nick's love of soccer and his best friend Coby are really his saving grace and they are looking forward to a large tournament with college scouts, but in a rival soccer match, when Coby is on the opposing team. Nick is injured and he suffers a burst appendix.  The tournament is out and Nick is devastated.  When Nick is injured his mom returns home and thinks seems to return to normal, until she packs to return to Kentucky.  Nick learns that the written word is his life-save; a new activity, book club, communicating with his mother and using his words to avoid confrontation.  Nick does return to health and his life has changed. 

     I absolutely love this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.  It was amusing fast paced and highly entertaining.  I think that it is very appropriate for any student 5th grade and higher.  I could not put this book down and will be one of those books that I will keep for a long time.  I especially liked the thought  that was put into the the font size, the footnotes and the care for the total package.  I never knew that poetry could be this incredible!  This book is awesome! 

Links

Kwame Alexander

Soccer rules

What to do if you are bullied.

License to Spill

By Lisi Harrison                               

     The second installment from Ms. Harrison continues the story of the Phoenix Five from "The Pretenders."  All of the cliffhangers from the first story are answered, yet the year is not complete so who knows what is to happen to Sheridan, Jagger, Lily, Duffy or Vanessa.  Harrison continues with the journalling of Phoenix Five.  So all of their inner thoughts, concerns and troubles are known to the reader.  

     You will discover Jagger's big secret, but does he spill it by the end of this book?  Everyone's favorite drama queen, Sheridan, continues as Octavia's understudy, and her aspirations of becoming a professional actress.  Will she be able to regain her best friend Audry?  The Stalker, Lily, is she arrested? does she continue at Noble High School? what about her friendship with Blake?  Duffy, the young promising basketball player, what is to become of his budding relationship with Sheridan? does he continue on the path of fashion sales? Finally, what is to become of the Overachiever, Vanessa?  All of these questions are answered in the book, but I refuse to divulge too much because you need to read it!  

     I totally enjoyed this quick read book!  The charm is that I know my own school's version of these characters.  I may have been one of these.  It really does give one an inside glimpse of what many would believe are exemplary role models, yet they struggle like many, they have their own doubts concerns and problems!  I would give this installment a 5 out of 5 stars and would keep it for 6th grade up, just because of some of the mature content.  

Links

Lisi Harrison

Teen Outreach

Teenage Stalking

Teenage Stardom?

     

The Pretenders

                                                                                    by Lisi Harrison


     This was a very enjoyable quick read.  The author gives incredible insight into 5 young adults lives and innermost thoughts as they enter into Noble Nigh School.  Their teacher has given all of the students in ninth grade the task of journaling at least one page a day for the entire school year.  You are to write your feelings or innermost thoughts.  The journals will never be read and will be locked in a cabinet.  The assignment initially terrifies the students, but they eventually warm up to the concept and quickly pour their feelings and secrets into their journals.  How are we reading these journals?  One of the students has broken into the cabinet and has published the journals, in order to show everyone the truth about the Phoenix 5.  Not everyone is who they appear to be, everyone puts on some sort of front or show, everybody has secrets, including these 3 girls and 2 boys.
     The Phoenix 5 is the most notable of the freshman each year at Noble High School.  These students have been selected and voted by their classmates as having something special.  Meet Sheridan, she is a prima donna drama queen.  She lives for the theater and enjoys a very rich imagination.  She has been the lead character in all of the plays.  She has a best friend Aubrie, they are sole mates.  Aubrie is always the understudy to Sheridan's lead, that is until Aubrie meets Octavia at summer camp.  Sheridan's family is very wealthy, her father owns the local BMW dealership and Sheridan does not lack material things.
     Next meet Jasper, he has had a hard life.  His parents are sitting on death row, for helping stop a bully.  He has been emancipated and cares for himself.  He lives in the back room of a local pet shop, he pays the rent by feeding the animals at night.  He is a loner with no friends.  He catches the eye of Aubrie and they become close.  He has his own secrets, not to be disclosed.  Then there is Vanessa.  She is a straight A student and very academically oriented. She has a troubled home life and views this assignment as non-productive, that is to say, she puts other school work before her journal.  Her parents constantly fight, her brother is constantly in trouble or losing a job and the only peace is at a local restaurant.  Beni's is a place that the family goes to celebrate, good grades, new jobs etc. - no fighting is ever allowed at Beni's.
     Our next two characters are Lilly and Duffy, they are neighbors.  Lilly has had a crush on Duffy for a while and convinces her parents to allow her to attend public school so that she may see more of him.  Duffy and his buddies play basketball all of the time.  He lives for basketball and dreams of making the varsity team.  Lilly and her best friend Blake have been homeschooled forever and try to fit into life at Noble.  Blake, who is naturally very attractive, immediately catches Vanessa's eye.  Only Lilly knows that he is gay and the relationship and her friendship with Vanessa is doomed for failure.
     Where these relationships will end up and the choices that these students make are very believable and entertaining.  I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.  It is a very quick read and enjoyable.  The ending leaves one wanting more.  Which is why I will be reading "License to Spill" very soon.

Link 

Author: Lisi Harrison

Dealing with teen peer pressure - wanting to fit in.

Teen Journaling

Teen Help line
   

The Swap

                                                                                           By Megan Shull

     What happens when you swap bodies with the most popular boy in school?  This is a very engaging tale of star crossed shenanigans!  Ellie has had one best friend since kindergarten, but Sassy has a new friend, and Sassy is well SASSY!  She likes to mock and belittle those around her, and has found Ellie to be a handy target.  Ellie begins 7th grade feeling ostracized and friendless.  The "Prince", Jack, on the other hand is Mr. Popularity, all of the girls have a crush on him and all of the boys want to be like him.  Jack, however, is shy and the youngest of four boys.  His father, "The Captain", is a hard nosed ex military man who runs his home like the army.  It is hard work, and training all day every day in Jack's home.  When Ellie and Jack end up in first aid on the first day of school, things are bound to happen.
     By the end of the day, Ellie is no longer Ellie and  Jack is no longer Jack. They promise each other that they will spend the weekend in the perspective bedrooms and avoid their "normal" lives.  Of course, that would be boring and too simple.  Jack comes face to face with the bully Sassy, and Ellie meets "The Captain".  This story takes, walk a mile in someones shoes to a whole new level.  It is told very endearingly with plenty of charm and humor.  Of  course, the story ends with a twist, that ensures that Jack and Ellie will be friends for a long time.
     This book is a very nice read, very enjoyable, with just enough humor to keep someone totally entertained.  It is a fairly easy read, and appropriate for 5th or 6th grade up.  Although, this book tells both sides of the swap,  it read a bit more on the female side, but would be worthwhile for either gender as a good read.  I give this book a 5 star rating!

Links 

How to avoid being bullied in Middle School

Bullying Facts

Coping with Divorce

Megan Shull books etc