Mrs. Laferriere read Long Lost, by Jacqueline West

I just kept coming back to this wonderful middle grade mystery! 

Fiona's sister Arden is a very talented figure skater. Arden's whole life, their parents have driven two hours to take her to intense practices and competitions, all in the hopes that she might have an Olympic and professional skating career. When their parents can't take the driving anymore, they uproot the whole family and move to Lost Lake, where the training center is. Fiona couldn't be less interested in Arden's skating, and is righteously indignant that she has to leave her present (friends, school) for Arden's future.

While the rest of the family goes to skate practice their first summer in Lost Lake, Fiona goes to the library. She finds a book with an enticing green cover, and gets involved in the story. One of the things I love about this book is that we (the readers) get to read the book as Fiona reads it, and we can see why she becomes so obsessed with it. When she realizes she can't take it home because she doesn't have  a library card yet, she hides it, but the next day the book is gone. The librarian is all shifty when she asks about it, and the creepy little blond boy who's always in the library too seems to know something. 

Where is the book? What's it really about? Will we, the readers, ever get to finish it along with Fiona?

Ms. Hill read "Flawed" by Cecila Ahern

 

I randomly picked this up because of the big "F" on the cover. I was hooked! This is such a fast read. Sort of like "Hunger Games" but more mature! I do not like series; however, I read this and sped through the second book in no time!

Mrs. Laferriere read Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

This is a beautifully written novel in verse about a girl, Moth, and a boy, Sani, who find each other in a very trying time in each of their lives. Moth has just lost her entire family in a terrible car accident where she is the only survivor. Sani is a musician who wants to go to Juilliard. He has the talent, but not the confidence. The two end up on an emotional road trip, both trying to find themselves. My only complaint about this novel is that is bogs down in the middle a little. The writing is lovely, but it's a bit too frilly for my liking, so much so that I almost quit. Something compelled me to keep reading, though, and I'm glad that I did. The ending gave me about three rounds of goosebumps, and was really satisfying. This is a book lovers book, and I'm glad I gave it a chance. 
 

Mrs. Scalf Read "Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales" by Soman Chainani

A prince has a surprising awakening...

A beauty fights like a beast...

A boy refuses to become prey...

A path to happiness is lost...then found again.

Be wary now, dear reader. These stories are not for the faint of heart. 

Chainani's Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales is exactly as it is named. The classic Western fairytales we all know and love are reimagined with new dark and dangerous twists. Each tale is written in a new light and looked at through a new lens. Some even change the ending completely and send the protagonist on a different journey, or let the villain become the victor. 

These stories share more in common with their original Grimm's tales than their Disney counterparts. However, like any worthwhile story, they all have lessons to be learned. Even if that lesson makes the reader's skin crawl and sweat drip down their temple. 

Why Read: If you are a fan of the classic Grimm fairytales, this will be right up your alley. 

Why Not Read: If you're not a fan of the hero becoming the villain, or the princess not ending up with her prince, I would recommend you leave this one on the shelf.

Pages: 336
Age Range: 12 to 15
Grade Level: 6 - 9

Miss Reed Read Spy School at Sea by Stuart Gibbs

 

There's nothing I like more than a cruise to see different parts of the world.  Combine that with one of my favorite middle school series, and I can't be disappointed.  

Spy School at Sea is the 9th book in the Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs.  I was introduced to this series in my 1st year teaching when a student bought one of the books for me.  Since then, I've been sharing this series with all my students, and I can't keep the books on my shelf.  

This book continues Ben Ripley's fight against his former friend and forever foe, Murray Hill.  This time Ben, his best friend, Mike, and his crush, Erica, must go undercover with Erica's spy parents to try to thwart Murray's evil plan.  

The spies face obstacles that keep them on their toes as they are reunited with friends and foes while trying to pass as a normal family on vacation.  They even meet some new characters that I'm sure (or at least hope) will appear in future books.  

Spy School at Sea was full of the usual humor and mystery that Stuart Gibbs is known for.  This book kept me wanting to read more to find out what would happen next.  For those who've read the whole series, the ending doesn't disappoint! :)  I'm ready for the next one!

Ms. Madden Read "Sweet" by Emmy Laybourne

 

Ms. Madden Read "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

 

Scythe by Neal Shusterman is one of the Lone Star novels that my students have most enjoyed in the last few years.  The novel was originally published in 2016 and adopted into the Lone Star novel list in 2018 by the Texas Library Association.  My students ask me to read this novel to them each year. Many of them continue reading the trilogy including The Thunderhead and The Toll on their own.

This dystopian novel is set in the future when death and mortality are no longer a concern for humanity.  Mankind has solved all illnesses and eradicated violence.  Politicians no longer rule the world, and everyone can live a happy life eternally.  Mankind has even instituted a way for people to turn back their age clocks and restart their lives at an earlier age.  Some take advantage of this by turning the corner to look and feel younger, some even turn the corner to start another life with a new family and circumstances.  

 Because mankind no longer has to worry about death or illness, the population has the potential to overrun the world and its resources.  Scythedom was created as a way to manage the human population. Each ordained Scythe has the task of gleaning or killing, a certain number of humans each year.  The world is broken down into regions, and each region has its own set of Scythes.  

This novel includes a male and a female Scythe apprentice, Citra and Rowan, who have been invited to study for a qualification to become Scythes under their master or sponsor Scythe, Faraday.  Neither Citra nor Rowan really wants to be a Scythe due to their moral compass, and their local Scythe conclave has stipulated that only one of them will earn the Scythe ring and honor.  

Although governments have been abolished, the MidMerica Scythedom has cliques of Scythes with different beliefs on who and how to glean.  Some Scythes have more power and prestige than others, and Citra and Rowan find themselves in the middle of both camps after losing their sponsor Scythe.  

At one of his author visits to Frisco, I learned that the author, Neal Shusterman, came up with the idea for the novel while he was helping his mother during her last days in hospice.  He began to wonder what the world would be like without death. He pondered the impact on society if there was only one way to die, or be gleaned, where illness and tragedy did not plague people or tear families apart. 

Ms. Hill read "Outliers" by Malcom Gladwell

 This was such a fast read! So interesting about the world's most successful people and what played into their success. Yes, Elon Musk and the Beatles are fascinating; however, this book unpacks WHY they are so successful.