LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The moon is going to be hit by a meteor. Big deal. But everyone in the country is talking about it. And every teacher in school is requiring the kids to watch it. So from the comfort of a lawn chair in the front yard, Miranda is doing just that. But no one is prepared for what happens. The meteor knocks the moon off course and sends it closer to the earth! At first it just seems kind of eerie but then the reality of what has happened hits Miranda and her family. The east coast is wiped out by tsunamis. There are earthquakes and volcanoes to deal with. And it comes down to a struggle for survival. This book is sure to keep you engrossed in their story. And to keep you thinking about the possibilities long after it ends.

Gabriel's Horses by Alison Hart

Gabriel has just one dream in life. He wants to be a jockey. Now that's not too much to ask, is it? Well, even though Gabriel is fantastic around horses and certainly does have the talent to be a jockey, he has several obstacles in his way. For one, he is African American and a slave. And the Civil War is raging. Kentucky has sided with the Union but there are lots of Confederate raiders found in these parts. And they would just love to get their hands on good horses. How can Gabriel ever hope to live his dream?

SWINDLED! : THE 1906 JOURNAL OF FITZ MORGAN by Bill H. Doyle

Fitz is ready for an adventure of a lifetime. Since his mother and brother died, his father has been reluctant to let Fitz out of his site. But 14-year-old Fitz thinks he's more than old enough to travel cross country to visit his aunt in San Francisco. So he boards the train with his trusty dog disguised as a baby, and sets off. Now one thing you need to know about Fitz is that he wants to be a detective. It's all he thinks about. And when he meets Justine Pinkerton, it's only natural that they become friends. After all, the Pinkerton family is just about the best detective agency ever. When a passenger on the train is poisoned, Fitz and Justine set out to solve the murder.