Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

If you could, would you choose to live forever? It could mean spending all of eternity with one person that you love, but never being able to see your family again, or being able to make friendships with other people. What if you chose to live forever but had to live in secret? That is the choice facing Winnie Foster after she meets to Tuck family.

This is an amazing book, and one that I have loved for years. It will make you think, so be prepared to spend a lot of time daydreaming.

The Nine Lives of Aristotle by Dick King-Smith

This was such a super-cute book. Young Aristotle is chosen as a kitten by a very nice witch to be her pet. Aristotle loves his new home and sets about exploring. The only problem is that Aristotle only has nine lives and he is going through them very quickly. He can’t help it. He is very curious and a little forgetful. Will he be able to hold on to his lives and grow old with the witch? Read all about Aristotle’s adventures to find out!

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

This is probably one of my favorite books by Avi, and one that I have enjoyed many times. This last read was no exception.

Charlotte Doyle is a well brought up proper young lady living in 1832. That all changes when she embarks upon the Seahawk alone for a return voyage from her boarding school in England to her home in Providence, Rhode Island. She doesn’t know who to trust, the crew or the captain until it is too late. Now she is struggling to survive the voyage, to right wrongs, and to clear her name of a murder charge.

This is fast paced excitement from a very talented writer.

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

I was trying to think how many times I have read this book. It must be at least six. And I still like it.

It is set during World War II and Phillip and his family are living on an island off the coast of Venezuela. As German submarines become more of a threat, Phillip’s mother decides they should sail back to Virginia where they will be safe. However, their ship is attacked, and Phillip becomes injured and falls into the water. When he wakes up again, he is on a raft with Timothy and Stew Cat. They are separated from the other rescue boats. Drifting alone on the open sea.

Phillip loses his sight from the injury and he must learn to trust Timothy and learn how to fend for himself when they finally become stranded on a deserted island. As far as survival stories go this is one of the best. A tropical setting, a hurricane and great characters.

The Secret School by Avi

Ida Bidson wants to be a teacher more than anything. In order for that to happen, she needs to pass the exit exams for the 8th grade this year, and somehow find a way to pay for room and board for high school. Now, her teacher has to leave suddenly to care for an ill family member. And the school board decided not to replace the teacher since there was only a month left in the school year. However, if Ida doesn’t graduate, she’ll never become a teacher. And then her friend suggests that she take over the school and teach everyone secretly. Will it work? Will they get found out? Will Ida be able to continue her own education. Find out by reading this historical novel set in Elk Valley, Colorado 1925.

Semiprecious by D. Anne Love

Garnet and Opal’s mother has always been a little hard to navigate. Say the wrong thing and it’ll put her in a bad mood for days. But neither one of them was prepared for the morning that she decided her dreams of being a singer needed to come true. Garnet and Opal are dropped off at an aunt’s house in Willow Flats Oklahoma. Opal is pretty and makes friends easily, but things have always been a little harder for Garnet.

Garnet still keeps hoping that her mother will come back and make things right. And until then she’s unwilling to make the best of Willow Flats. However, it might just become a home of sorts after all.

If you like The Same Stuff as Stars or A Corner of the Universe, try this one.

Notes From the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick

I had to read more Jordan Sonnenblick. He has become one of my favorite writers. This tells the story of Alex, who while he had somewhat good intentions had a drunk-driving incident in which he crashed into a lawn gnome. His sentence is 100 hours of community service in which he is assigned to a rather cantakerous man in a nursing home. Though he may be old, Solomon can certainly give Alex a run for his money. He’s also probably the only one who can see that Alex is in love with his best friend, a girl, and that she’s in love with him. There are also a few things about Solomon that have been kept secret for a while too. Not to mention that there was a reason they were assigned to each other.

A great book, laugh out loud funny as well as sweet. Highly recommended.

Being Bindy By Alyssa Brugman

Bindy is Australian and is starting the 7th grade. Her best friend is starting to hang out with another group leaving Bindy by herself. Bindy’s mom is putting pressure on her to move in with her and not her dad. And now it looks like her dad is dating her ex-best friend’s mom. What happens if they get married?

Bindy has a lot to worry about. Including a very embarrassing scene in which her underwear is tossed around the stadium at school. With all that to worry about, will she ever be able to just be Bindy?

Life As We Knew It by Beth Pfeffer

Miranda lives in Pennsylvania with her mom and brother. Their lives, and the lives of everyone on this planet change drastically when an asteroid hits our moon, and knocks it off its orbit and closer to earth. Since the moon controls the tides, instantly there are worldwide tsunamis and all coastal cities are wiped out. Communications are shut down, there is no food, no gas, and spotty electricity.

This is a survival story, but with no rescue team searching for the main character. They are completely alone, and everyone else is in the same situation. It was a little bleak, but ultimately there is the faintest glimmer of hope.

How to be Popular by Meg Cabot

Not quite as good as my beloved Princess Diaries series, but it had a good ending. Steph Landry has been unpopular since the 6th grade when she accidentally spilled a big red super gulp on another students skirt. Now, in her junior year of high school she’s decided she’s had enough, and she is going to become popular if it’s the last thing she does. And she has just the thing that will help her. A book titled How To Be Popular that she found in an attic.

I didn’t like this character as much as Mia (Princess diaries) but she has some really nice friends, and the book does have a good ending. Sometimes you just need a little space to see that the things you want the most are right in front of you.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

I re-read New Moon and Eclipse prior to the release of this. And having judged what I’ve heard from other people, I am among the few who liked it. At this risk of spoilers, I will save my full review for the comments section….

The Secret Language of Girls by Frances O’Roark Dowell

This was cute and sad and sweet all at the same time. Kate and Marylin have been best friends since they were little, but things are starting to change now that they are in 6th grade. Marylin thinks Kate is a little babyish at times, and starts to hang out with cooler, older Flannery. Kate still wants to be friends, and doesn’t understand what is happening with Marylin.

The story is told from the viewpoint of both girls, so you know what each is thinking. A great book about the ups and downs of friendships. If you liked Twelve, try this.

Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia by Barbara O’Connor

I just finished reading this book and it was wonderful! I love Barbara O’Connor’s writing. I’m quite sorry that I haven’t read it sooner. And the reason I didn’t was the cover. I don’t like it, and so for five years this book has sat on the shelf and I haven’t read it because of an ugly cover. So, if you looked at it and said, “No thanks”, try it. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Bird has decided that she is going to be friends with Harlem, the new boy at her school. The trouble is he doesn’t seem to want to be friends with anyone. But her neighbor and friend, Miss Delphine, can always find the good in people, and Bird is determined to do the same. When a spelling bee is announced at her school with prizes, Bird is all ears. She wants to win that spelling bee like nothing else. But you have to have a partner. This may be Bird’s chance to make a friend and get the “fame and glory” that she has always wanted.

For those of you who read How to Steal a Dog, you’ll already be familiar with Barbara O’Connor. Try this author if you like Sharon Creech, or Kimberly Willis Holt.

Ingo by Helen Dunmore

This was a very interesting tale of the Mer people. This is definitely more mysterious and eerie than the Emily Windsnap books. Here, Ingo is the world of the water, where the Mer people live. Air is where the humans live. Each is very strong place, and at time a very dangerous place.

Sapphy and Conor’s Dad has gone missing. Some people say he drowned. But the sea was so calm that night, and he knew the water better than anyone. And then there are the legends about the Mer blood that runs in their family. Could the legends be true? Conor and Sapphy believe that their father is in Ingo, especially after they meet Elvira and Faro, two Mer people. The pull to go into Ingo is very strong. Especially for Sapphy. She can hear the sea calling to her. It wants her. To go into Ingo is to forget about everything in Air–your family, your life. You only want to be in Ingo. The feeling she has when she is with Faro in Ingo is very powerful. She wants to stay there forever. But if she chooses to go, she needs to remember that she does have one purpose–to find her Dad and bring them back.

I could hardly put this book down. Set off the coast of Cornwall, it is a fantastic summer book, especially if anyone is heading to the beach. Great if you like a tinge of darkness and mystery with your mermaid books.

Seeing Sky Blue Pink by Candice Ransom

This is a very sweet story about 8 year-old Maddie who is starting a new life. Her mom just married Sam, so now Maddie has a new Dad, and they are moving to the country outside of the city they have been living in. So things are different, but not bad. Sam is great and has a bunch of things to show Maddie. Maddie is hoping for another perfect day in the city like she and her mom used to spend. Will Maddie like it in the country? Will Sam’s cat Abraham ever like Maddie? Read it to find out.

If you liked The Higher Power of Lucky you should try this.