Ana Shen, half chinese and half black, cringes when people say that she has a marvelously biracial, multicultural family. At her graduation ceremony from junior high, just as she is about to give her salutatorian address, the water main of the school bursts filling the football field with water. And if that isn't bad enough, the principal has to cancel the dance scheduled for later that evening. Ana is devastated. She's dreamed of dancing with her crush, Jamie for such a long time. When Ana sees Jamie after the ceremony, she impulsivly invites Jamie and his dad over to dinner with her family. Ana can't believe she actually asked both her grandmothers to cook. They've only cooked a meal together a few times, all with disasterous results. So it's off to a Chinese grocery store with her mom and grandma to get ingredients for her grandma's Chinese food. Her dad takes her other grandma to a store for her gumbo ingredients. Being in the house and helping both grandmas cook is beyond stressful for Ana! Her grandmas collide with their different bags of rice leaving Ana to pick it up off the floor so they don't waste good rice. The food ends up turning out well but Ana is shocked when she sees an uninvited guest at her door, Amanda, her classmate who also likes Jamie. However will Ana deal with a whole dinner of Amanda making her moves on Jamie? And what embarrassing things will her grandparents say? This book successfully portrays a biracial family with just the right combination of humor and matter-of-factness.

Reviewed by: jb

Date read: 8/7/2012

ISBN-13: 9780385734172

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Many of the celebrities that we know from history- King Tut, Beethoven, Charles Darwin- had awfully gruesome ends. This fascinating book tells in gruesome detail of the deaths of 19 important figures from the past, not leaving out any of the blood, pus, stabbings, or organ removal. Full of information but never boring, this book will have you riveted. For an extra gross and exciting experience, listen to it on audio!

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award

Awards nominated: http://www.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780805089455/mc.gif&upc=&oclc=&client=linct

Reviewed by: lauraf

Date read: 10/18/2012

ISBN-10: 0802798179

ISBN-13: 9780802798176

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Miguel's move to a farmhouse in Vermont from New York City is complicated by a visit from his Tia Lola from the Dominican Republic. Already, kids in school call him 'Gooseman,' a deliberate mispronunciation of his last name, Guzman. Tia Lola speaks only Spanish, dresses in bright floral prints and insists on kissing him at every opportunity. Miguel is sure that, when the other kids meet her, he will be a laughing stock. Tia Lola wants to learn everything about his new life and even gets involved in his baseball team, designing uniforms and making the Dominican version of a frozen fruit drink. All Miguel wants is to return to New York City and for his parents to get back together, or at least to be considered a regular guy.

Similar books: Heat by Mike Lupica

Awards nominated: 2013 Bluestem Nominee

Reviewed by: vfv

Date read: 5/19/2012

ISBN-13: 9780440418702

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This funny take on the difference between being a baby and being an older sibling features a big sister who lists all the things her baby sibling cannot do that she can do. 'When you're a baby, you don't read books. You eat them.' This very silly book points out lots of things that are great about being the older sibling, but also ends on a note of affection between the baby and the older sister.

Similar books: How to Get Married...By Me, The Bride by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Sue Heap

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 6/17/2010

ISBN-10: 0375838430

ISBN-13: 9780375838439

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Due to a bet, Billy finds himself faced with having to eat 15 worms in fifteen days. With his family's support, he has to figure out how to make them palatable- boiled, stewed, fried, or with anything from peanut butter to horseradish. Has Billy bitten off more than he can chew?

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/29/2009

ISBN-10: 0440421853

ISBN-13: 9780440421856

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