Macgregor, Virginia. WISHBONES

Macgregor, Virginia.
WISHBONES
New York : HQ, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 0008217297
When Feather returns home on New Year's Eve, she finds her mother unconscious on the floor.  When the paramedics come to take her to the hospital, they are faced with a difficult task.  You see, Feather's mom is overweight. Not just overweight but morbidly overweight. She weighs over 500 pounds and the paramedics need to get a crane to lift her out of the house. Needless to say, there are a lot of people watching, laughing and taking pictures. This is why she never leaves the house. Feather overhears the nurses in the hospital say that Jo has only about 6 months to live if she doesn't do something about the weight.  And now Feather is determined to get her mother healthy through diet and exercise. It won't be easy when her mother won't cooperate and her father won't help. Feather enlists the help of her best friend and the new boy in the neighborhood who if fighting his own battles. Can Feather find out why her mother is like this? Will she be able to help her mother?

Shoup, Kate. GHOSTS, POSSESSIONS, AND UNEXPLAINED PRESENCES

Shoup, Kate.
GHOSTS, POSSESSIONS, AND UNEXPLAINED PRESENCES
New York : Cavendish Square, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 7.3
ISBN 1502628538

Do you believe in ghosts? Would it surprise you to learn that people have believed in ghosts for thousands of years? Even as far back as the Sumerians and Babylonians, people believed that ghosts exist. But has there been any proof? Ghost hunting has gained popularity in the past few years. There are even TV shows devoted to ghost hunting and a lot of scientific equipment is used in the search. What do you thing?

Reynolds, Jason. PATINA

Reynolds, Jason.
PATINA
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL 5-8, IL 4.6
ISBN 1481450182

When Patina comes in second place in the track meet, she is furious. She tries not to show it. She doesn't want to be known as a sore loser. But second place is unacceptable. We first met Patina in Reynolds' book Ghost. Now we learn much more about her. We learn about her father's death. How her mother got the "sugar" that took her legs.. Her sister Maddy. And about her living with her aunt and uncle. Since she has come to live with them, her aunt has decided that the girls should attend Chester Academy rather than their old school.  The girls at the Academy are "hair flippers" and Patina has a bit of trouble fitting in. But as she gets to know them, things are getting better. But the track team is her obsession. She can't come in second again. When Coach assigns Patina the anchor of the 4x800 relay team, she wants to shine. But what will happen when she gets some terrible news?

Reynolds, Jason. LONG WAY DOWN

Reynolds, Jason.  
LONG WAY DOWN
New York : Atheneum, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 1481438255

Will is on his way to avenge his brother's shooting. That's the rule.  The rules that         Shawn taught him. "Don’t cry, don’t snitch, always get revenge." And now 15-year-old Will has his brother's gun tucked into his waistband and he will get revenge. He gets in the elevator and pushes the button on the way to his brother's killer. Seven floors away. At each floor, the elevator stops and someone gets in. But these are people who Will knows. And they are all people who have died from gun violence. As Will takes the short ride in the elevator, he begins to learn about the Rules. And what they have cost.

Noyce, Pendred. MOSQUITOES DON'T BITE ME

Noyce, Pendred.
MOSQUITOES DON'T BITE ME

Boston : Tumblehome Learning, 2017
IL 3-6, RL 6.5
ISBN 1943431302
Nala is just your ordinary teen. Unless you discover that she is never bitten by mosquitoes. For a science project in school, she is paired up with a girl who just happens to be the daughter of the president of a drug manufacturing business.  When he hears about Nala, he is determined to find out why. Can you imagine a world where you can prevent mosquito bites? Not just the inconvenience of them but the diseases they cause. Like malaria. Nala's father stayed in Kenya after her mother's accident. She only sees him through facetime now. But now she has a chance to go to Kenya and meet her entire extended family. If they agree to be tested by the drug company. Nala thinks she is doing a good thing but things may not be as they appear.

Klepeis, Alicia. ESP, SUPERHUMAN ABILITIES AND UNEXPLAINED POWERS

Klepeis, Alicia.
ESP, SUPERHUMAN ABILITIES AND UNEXPLAINED POWERS
New York : Cavendish Square, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 6.8
ISBN 15062849X


Have you heard of ESP -- Extrasensory Perception? It is also sometimes called the sixth sense.  It is the ability some people say they have to get information without  using their five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.  ESP can be broken down into three phenomena -- telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition.  But how do you prove this ability exists? Come along and find out.

Hyman, Fracaswell. MANGO DELIGHT

Hyman, Fracaswell.  
MANGO DELIGHT
New York : Sterling Children's Books, 2017
IL 5-8, RL 5.3
ISBN 1454923326
Mango and Brooklyn are BFFs. They are on the track team together and Mango always comes in 2nd to Brooklyn. Until one day when Mango actually wins the race. Now a true BFF would be happy for her. But not Brooklyn. She becomes distant and even mean. Mango is confused about this new new side of Brooklyn. When Mango gets tossed from the track team, she finds that there may be other opportunities in middle school. Can she navigate this new territory? New friendships, new interests, and mean girls.

Holt, K. A. HOUSE ARREST

Holt, K. A.
HOUSE ARREST
New York : Chronicle Books, 2015
IL 5-8, RL 4.0
ISBN 1452134774

Timothy doesn't know what he was thinking when he stole that credit card. That's not true. What he was thinking is that he could use it to buy his brother's medicine that is so expensive. And that is what he did. But he was caught. Because of the circumstances, he was sentenced to house arrest for a year. No hanging with friends or going to the mall. He can only leave the house to go to school or if his mother is with him. That won't be too hard since he rarely leaves anyway. Ever since his brother Luis was born with medical issues. Luis has a trach which needs to be changed and cleared as needed. And they only only have a part time nurse so it is up to Timothy at times. He will do anything for Luis. Oh, another part of his sentence is to keep a daily journal. This is shared with his probation officer and counselor -- and us.

Griffin, Paul. SAVING MARTY

Griffin, Paul. 
SAVING MARTY
New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2017
IL 5-8
ISBN   0399539077                  

Lorenzo lives in a small town in western Pennsylvania. He lives with his mother and grandfather.  They barely have enough money to get by and his mother looks for every opportunity to make a few dollars. When the pig has a litter, they are sold and the money comes in handy. But when their dog has a litter, Lorenzo notices a small pig in the corner. One o the piglets was left behind. The dog accepts the piglet and Lorenzo names it Marty after his father who was killed in the war.  As Marty grows, he becomes more and more like a dog and less like a pig.  Lorenzo wants to keep him but he knows his mother needs the money.  Will Lorenzo be able to find a way to save his friend?

Gregory, Josh. GRAND CANYON

Gregory, Josh.  
GRAND CANYON
New York : Children's Press, 2018
IL 3-6, RL 6.6
ISBN 0531240207


Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? It is truly a magnificent sight. It is a mile at it's deepest point. The temperature at the top is much higher than at the bottom.  Humans are thought to have first come to the canyon 12.000 years ago. There are lots of animals that call this area their home. Come along and find out about this amazing area.

Farish, Terry. THE GOOD BRAIDER

Farish, Terry.
THE GOOD BRAIDER
New York : Skyscrape, 2012
IL YA
ISBN 1477816283
Viola's life began in Juba in Sudan. The country is a war and it isn't safe for anyone. The family would love to leave but the village is surrounded by land mines and trying to escape is a very dangerous venture. But Viola, her mother and younger brother are able to get out and make the long trek to Khartoum and eventually Cairo.  After years in the refugee camp, they finally get their paperwork to go to the United States. But they have lost so much on the way, including her brother. Life in Portland Maine is so different and Viola reflects on her life and the differences between her old life and the new one.

Coddington, Andrew. THE HOPE DIAMOND, CURSED OBJECTS, AND UNEXPLAINED ARTIFACTS

Coddington, Andrew.
THE HOPE DIAMOND, CURSED OBJECTS, AND UNEXPLAINED ARTIFACTS
New York : Cavendish Square, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 7.8
ISBN 1502628511

Do you believe items can be cursed? That merely possessing these items can make bad things happen? This book explores several curses but the most interesting one is the Hope Diamond. It is the largest cut blue diamond in the world and estimated to be worth $250 million. Since it was found in India in the mid-seventeenth century, tales of the curse have been reported. Those who possess it have had very bad luck indeed.

Coddington, Andrew. THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE, STONEHENGE, AND UNEXPLAINED PLACES

Coddington, Andrew.
THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE, STONEHENGE, AND UNEXPLAINED PLACES
New York : Cavendish Square, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 8.4
ISBN 1502628430

You have probably heard of the Bermuda Triangle. It is an area between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico.  Unexplained occurrences have been reported in this part of the Ocean for hundreds of years. Even as far back as Columbus who reported problems with navigation in this area of the world. Have you heard any of these stories? Would you like to?

Coddington, Andrew. ALIENS, UFOs, AND UNEXPLAINED ENCOUNTERS

Coddington, Andrew.
ALIENS, UFOs, AND UNEXPLAINED ENCOUNTERS
New York : Cavendish Square, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 8.8
ISBN 1502628457

The universe is huge. So large that it is hard to imagine. It is also hard to imagine that we are all alone in the universe. There have been many reports of UFOs and even some reports of people meeting aliens. But there is no definitive proof. Or is there? The truth is out there.

Bougie, Matt. BIGFOOT, THE LOCH NESS MONSTER, AND UNEXPLAINED CREATURES

Bougie, Matt.
BIGFOOT, THE LOCH NESS MONSTER, AND UNEXPLAINED CREATURES
New York : Cavendish Square, 2018
IL 5-8, RL 7.4
ISBN 1502628473

Although scientists try to debunk some of the stranger things around, some things just have no logical explanation. Cryptozoology is the study of animals that have not been proven to exist -- like bigfoot.  Bigfoot shows up in many different folktales. Bigfoot stories go back hundreds of years.  Come along on a scientific search for Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster and more?  Do you believe?

Alexander, Kwame. SOLO

Alexander, Kwame.
SOLO
New York : Blink, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 0310761832

Boy, you would think that Blade has it made! He is the son of a famous rock star. He lives in a mansion and has everything he could possible want. And he is smart. He is even asked to give the commencement speech at graduation. Blade writes a song for the event and is looking forward to sharing it with everyone. But just as he starts to play, up rides a crazy man on a motorcycle, screaming and hooting and crashing into the stage. Yep, this is the famous rock star -- Rutherford. And he is drunk again. And he has ruined Blade's big day. Blade has had enough of this fool and his antics. But his sister begs him to give her father another chance. In a heated argument with her, the truth comes out.  Blade is adopted. How could he not know that? This is when his journey begins. He is determined to find his birth mother and ask her why she gave him up. The journey eventually takes him to Africa and to some truths that he could never have imagine.

Adams, Sabrina. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TROLLS AND CYBERMOBS

Adams, Sabrina.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TROLLS AND CYBERMOBS
New York : Rosen YA, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 1508174202

The Internet is so great. It lets us keep in touch with our family and friends. And we have the world at our fingertips. But social media has also brought us a new way of bullying. And it is getting bad. There is something about anonymous bullying that empowers people. So we hear a lot more about cyberbullying and trolling. What can you do to avoid it? How do you protect yourself? And how do you repair your reputation if you are a victim?

Wittekind, Erika. THE BIG PUSH : HOW POPULAR CULTURE IS ALWAYS SELLING

Wittekind, Erika. 

THE BIG PUSH : HOW POPULAR CULTURE IS ALWAYS SELLING
New York : Compass Point Books, 2012
IL 5-8, RL 7.7
ISBN 0756545188

We hear a lot about fake news and how the media shapes the news. But did you ever think about how the media shapes what you buy and what brands are popular? How the media affects consumerism? Take  ya look at how you are being targeted. Notice how your favorite stars are wearing name brand clothes. About how products show up in movies and television. Once you are aware of this, you will be better prepared to evaluate products. Do you want them because they are important? Or because you saw them being worn by a pop star?