What Waits in the Woods by Kieran Scott

WOW!  This is like a horror movie in book form!!  Kids lost in the woods, ghost stories told that seem to be coming true, creepy laughter that seems to be following and taunting them.  This fast paced novel will keep you  reading...I was surprised by the twist it took at the end.

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

If you liked Mr. Lemoncello's Library you will really like this book. Emily's family lands in San Francisco (they move almost every year in a quest to live in all 50 states). This move brings Emily a new friend AND an adventure. San Francisco is the home to Emily's hero...the founder of "Book Scavenger." Book Scavenger is a game where books are hidden, clues are given and points are earned for finding the books.  Emily and her new friend, James, get embroiled in a new hunt that no one else knows about.  This is just a fun little book, and if you like puzzles and ciphers, you are going to love it.

Other books I have read this summer...

I have been reading, reading, reading, but haven't stopped to blog, so I'm a bit behind.

Discovering Wes Moore by Wes Moore: What a fantastic, motivational memoir of this young man's life.  After moving to a new town after the death of his father, Wes starts making some bad choices.  He starts stealing, skipping school and hanging out on the street.  His mother decided to send him to military school and it made all the difference to this Wes Moore.  I say "this Wes Moore," because Wes becomes aware of another man with his name, that grew up with a similar background when he was young, but his life couldn't have turned out more differently.  Some of my favorite quotes of this book: " The written work isn't a chore. It can be a window into new worlds."  In speaking about a history teacher he had: "He had no interest in excuses-effort and hard work were all that mattered." And, my favorite: "Through my own experiences, I've become convinced that you have the potential to control your own life, even if the odds are against you."  I think everyone should read this book, it shows that hard work and effort can pay off.

The Question of Miracles by Elana K. Arnold: Why do some people get miracles and others do not?  That is the question that Iris asks in this novel.  Her best friend, Sarah, has died. Her family has moved and she meets Boris. She finds out Boris is a medical miracle.  If he gets a miracle why not her? Iris is a great character. She tries very hard to put on a brave face as she handles the grief of loosing her friend.

I Love, I Hate, I Miss My Sister by Amèlie Sarn: This book has been translated from the original French novel. This is the heart wrenching story of Sohane, who looses her sister to a horrible hate crime.  It's Sohane's story of trying to be who she wants to be and accepting her sister for who she wants to be, but feeling she failed at this. Sohane's story is told in alternating chapters of "before the crime" and "after the crime."  This book was part of the Mosaic collection of multicultural literature.  Sohane and her sister are Muslim. Sohane wants to wear her headscarf to school, her sister wants to be more "western." In 2004, France passed a law that prohibited students from wearing religious symbols or religious attire.

Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel:  Maisie is involved in a horrible accident that has left her badly burned. Because of this, her family decides that she should be the recipient of a face transplant. Everyone tells her how lucky she is, but Maisie doesn't feel lucky.  She doesn't even recognize her self. Great story about reinventing and re-finding yourself.

Shock Point by April Henry:  Another fantastic mystery by the author of Girl, Stolen and The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die.  Cassie's step father sends her to a "boot camp" for kids who, according to their parents, are out of control. But Cassie is not out of control, she just knows something that her step father doesn't want others to know. This is a fast moving, exciting mystery!!

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin:  I couldn't put this one down.  It is an alternative history. History is full of "what-ifs." This story addresses what might have happened if Hitler and the Axis powers would have won WWII.  Yael was sent as a child to one of the concentration camps and experimented on.  Through chapters from THEN and NOW, we find out all about Yael's story.  How she escaped and became a member of the resistance movement against Hitler. Each year a motorcycle race is held to commemorate the "Great Victory." It becomes Yael's job to win this race and kill Hitler.

Last two Golden Sowers!!! Historical fiction stories of two strong girls!

The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.  Ada and her brother live in London with their awful mother at the very start of WWII. Ada was born with a club foot and her mother has NEVER let her out of the house.  (SHE IS AWFUL) When Londoners become worried about bombing, they send their children off to live with others to be safe. Ada and Jamie go to live with Susan.  This was a heartwarming story of what family can be.  Sometimes families are MADE by choices not always by blood.  Ada is a fantastic character...she is strong and determined.

Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper.  This book takes place in the segregated south of North Carolina in the 30's.  Stella and her family are African American, so in Bumblebee, NC, she can go into some of the stores but not all of them.  Stella and her brother JoJo witness a secret Ku Klux Klan meeting one night.  It brings their community together. This is just Stella's story. Stella wants so badly to be a good writer and she works hard to practice that as she tells her story of what's happening in her little corner of the world during this tumultuous time. Stella, like Ada, is strong and brave.  She asks great questions (which all of you know I LOVE).

4 Golden Sowers I read earlier in the year.....

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm: this was NOT what I was expecting.  This little story had the unexpected surprise of some science fiction.  11 year old Ellie hates change, that is why her parents kept replacing her goldfish when they died.  She is definitely NOT ready for the change that shows up in the form of a crabby, bossy teenage boy, ESPECIALLY when that boy turns out to be her grandfather!!  This was a very funny, entertaining story.

Beneath by Roland Smith is fantastic! Smith is the author of another of my favorite books, Peak. Pat's brother has gone missing.  Pat misses him, but hasn't been worried about him because that is just how Cooper (Coop) is. That is, until, Coop begins sending Pat recordings about what he is finding UNDER the streets of New York City.  I love reading about "counter cultures." A "counter culture" is one that exists outside what is considered "normal." Obviously, living UNDER the streets of a major city is not the norm.  This book was intriguing and exciting and I just couldn't put it down.

Loot: How to Steal a Fortune by Jude Watson is an exciting mystery.  Alfie McQuinn's father is a master cat burglar. Unfortunately, he has fallen from a roof top after his latest job.  His last words to Alfie are "find Jewels." Alfie is determined to find out what "jewels" his dad was talking about and whether or not his dad's "accident" was an accident or MURDER!!

This is a supernatural thriller that I think many of you will enjoy.  Do not read this if you don't like murder mysteries, and a little bit of gore.  Willa can communicate with the "beyond." He new house in L.A. is haunted and she is pretty sure the ghost is the victim of a serial killer that is plaguing the city.

Another 3 Golden Sower Nominees....more stories about people with "grit"

El Deafo by Cece Bell: This is the first time, that I remember, that a Golden Sower has been a graphic novel.  This is a great one!  Cece lost her hearing after an illness when she was 4. Now that she is starting school, she has to wear a LARGE hearing aid.  She doesn't want people to really know about it and she doesn't like talking about her deafness. This book is based on the author's own life.

Hunt for the Bamboo Rat by Graham Salisbury: I read this right after I had finished Dash.  It is also historical fiction. It is another view about what was going on in the world around the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Zenji is an American born in Honolulu but of Japanese descent.  He is asked to become an intelligence officer for the US Army because he speaks both Japanese and English.  This story is based upon a true story.  It was an incredible story. If you like this, you may want to now read Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand.  

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff: This is a realistic fiction story about Albie.  Albie is just "almost." He is not great at anything, he is just "almost." This is Albie's story of fitting in and finding a way to "stand out."  

3 more Golden Sower Nominees...

The Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz: I LOVED THIS BOOK!! Nina decides to spend her summer doing 65 small "good things" for others. She does small, nice things anonymously.  I love this whole concept.  We live in an "everyone gets a trophy society" these days, people EXPECT to get praised and noticed for EVERYTHING they do.  This is a wonderful concept of just doing nice things to help people because its nice and will make them feel better without wanting anything back for yourself.  This book shows that "niceness" spreads.  Nina's efforts take on a life of their own throughout her neighborhood.  This story just makes you feel good.  I hope it inspires everyone to go out and just be nice...the world needs kindness right now.

Dash by Kirby Larson: Dash is a work of historical fiction.  Mitsi is an American citizen who just happens to be of Japanese descent.  She has never even been to Japan.  This doesn't matter to the US government after the bombing at Pearl Harbor.  They make Japanese-Americans leave their homes and enter internment camps.  Mitsi is forced to leave her dog Dash with a neighbor, and it breaks her heart.  Stories like this hurt my heart.  Blaming an entire group of people for the wrongs of others. Unfortunately, it is still happening in our world today.  Makes you want to be like Nina in the previous book and be kind for the sake of being kind.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt:  Ally can't read and she does everything in her power to make sure people don't know it.  She ends up getting in trouble at school and picked on at school.  Then, Mr. Daniel shows up as her new teacher and Ally finally gets help.  Ally is a great character, and I love Keisha and Albert, her two classmates who become fierce friends with her.  This is a great reminder that people are smart in different ways.  You can be "smart" without always getting A's in classes.  What's important is sticking with something, having the "grit" to continue to try.  Kindness would have gone a long way to helping Ally and her friends.  I hope as we read these three books, it helps us realize that we have the power to tear others down BUT we also have the power to build each other up.  We need to celebrate our differences, otherwise, what a boring world this would be.