The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki

Eddie is excited about moving to the town in which his favorite author, Nathaniel Olmstead, lived before he disappeared. But Eddie discovers that many of the people in town do not approve of the author and his books. Things begin to get strange when his mother gives him a book written in code by Olmstead and he begins to encounter creatures straight from the author’s books. He and his friends must figure out the code in order to banish the monsters and keep them from overrunning the town. This is a page-turner with a fast moving plot. The monsters are scary but the actual violence is kept to a minimum. The font used for the author’s handwritten entries is small and difficult to read, but the story makes it worth the effort.

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs

In this sequel to Oh. My. Gods., Phoebe is having trouble controlling her powers. The gods have decided that she is to be tested and she is afraid that any missteps may result in her being smoted, as her father was. To help, her stepfather enrolls her in a remedial training camp populated by 10-year-olds and organized by her evil step-sister. Meanwhile, she is training for the Pythian Games and dealing with feelings of betrayal when she discovers that her boyfriend is secretly spending time with his ex. As in the first book, the plot moves quickly and Phoebe’s feelings and insecurities ring true. Secondary characters are not as well developed. This is a fun read that will appeal to tween and teen girls.

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

Nina, a fifteen-year-old vampire, belongs to a vampire support group run by a local priest. The members are weak and sickly and work hard to avoid fanging humans. Their lives are confined to sleeping, fanging guinea pigs, trying not to expend too much energy, and avoiding unwanted attention. Nina is not very fond of her fellow vampires and deals with her lack of a life by writing stories about brave, adventurous vampires. But when one of their group is murdered, they are all pulled into a real-life adventure and must work together find the killer before he can strike again. This tale is full of quirky humor and plot twists. The vampires couldn’t be farther from the Cullens and will definitely appeal to readers tired of the typical vampire stories.

Tell Me Who by Jessica Wollman

12-year-old Molly is navigating the mine field of middle school and is feeling like a total loser. On top of that, her father is planning on marrying a woman that Molly really dislikes and has nicknamed “The Claw.” While rummaging through her basement, Molly and her best friend discover a machine that tells them the names of their future spouses. This springboards Molly into a plan to get rid of “The Claw” and also makes Molly a much sought-after person when word of the machine leaks out to her classmates, who want a turn with it. Not all of the matches are positive (one boy has no match and the most popular girl in Molly’s class has 7 matches) and Molly decides to shut down the machine. This story speaks to the ups and downs of middle school and the changes that occur both within individuals and between friends. While this is a fun read, the plot is predictable and the ending a little too neat.

Ellis Island: Coming to the Land of Liberty by Raymond Bial

Since its opening in 1892, Ellis Island has become one of the most famous locations for immigration. Between 1892 and 1924, half of all immigrants came through Ellis Island. This book explains the history of the island and describes the role it played in immigration and the experiences that many immigrants encountered there. This story of the island and the immigrants is enriched with photographs and illustrations, many of them primary sources, as well as quotes from immigrants and those who worked on the island. Sources are not cited and the lack of an index or table of contents may limit its appeal to readers who are willing to read the whole book. A list of books for “further reading” is included.

Lucy Long Ago: Uncovering the Mystery of Where We Came From by Catherine Thimmesh

This well written book details the discovery of Lucy, a prehistoric hominid. Her discovery surprised scientists and forced them to reconsider certain theories pertaining to the timeline of hominid evolution. The painstaking process of excavating and analyzing the bones is detailed along with other interesting concepts relating to other hominid discoveries. The author uses scientific terminology throughout and discusses the scientific method. The approachable text, illustrations, and striking photographs make this a good choice for both research and recreational reading. Readers will definitely enjoy getting to know Lucy. Includes a glossary, bibliography, and index.

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

Ida Mae Jones was born to fly, just like her father. But two things stand in her way: she’s female and African American. When she learns that she might be able to fly through the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) program, her excitement rises until she realizes that they won’t take her because of her race. so she takes advantage of her light skin to pass as white. Throughout her training and assignments, she makes friends and loves flying but is tormented by the lie she is living. Smith does and outstanding job of telling Ida Mae’s story, from the sheer joy of flying, the fear of discovery, and the shame of denying her family and who she is. Overall, this provides an excellent picture of Jim Crow and women during World War II. An Author’s Note provides additional details of this little known WASP.