Tess Brooks is a carefree eleven year old that loves her life on Bethsaida Island. But that all may change if the island can't get enough students to support the school staying open. The residents come up with the answer. Several families foster children and Tess's family does its part by bringing 13 year old Aaron into their home. Nothing makes Aaron happy. All that he wants is to be with his mother. He and Tess scheme a plan for him to see his mother while he is performing at a community concert and the results are disastrous. Can Aaron find his place in the family and make the island his home?

Awards nominated: 2013 Bluestem Nominee

Reviewed by: rn

Date read: 5/23/2012

ISBN-10: 0545035325

ISBN-13: 9780545035323

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Fifteen-year-old Cole Matthews has been angry his whole life, and he takes his anger out on everyone around him. When he faces prison time for beating up a fellow student, he sees 'Circle Justice' as a way to beat the system. A Native American tradition, 'Circle Justice' attempts to heal the offender, the victim, and the community. When the Circle decides Cole's punishment will be one year alone on a remote Alaskan island, Cole figures he will simply swim away. He burns his shelter and supplies, is mauled by a large white 'spirit bear', and is nearly killed. When he is finally rescued, he spends 6 months in the hospital. Upon his release, Cole must convince the court and the 'Circle' that he has truly repented. Will Cole take responsibility for his actions? Will he ever return to the island? Can he help the student he beat up?

Similar authors: Gary Paulsen, Will Hobbs

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Nominee 2004

Reviewed by: donna

Date read: 6/28/2011

ISBN-10: 0380977443

ISBN-13: 9780380977444

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Jazz loves to run. It makes her feel free. She is excited to start on the track team with her friends except for one thing: her dad. He is a wonderful, kind father in many ways, like bringing Jazz her favorite ice cream when she's upset. However, when it comes to track, his intensity is overwhelming. When he's there, Jazz feels so tense about running that she makes mistakes at meets. Will Jazz find a way to talk to her father about track without hurting his feelings?

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 12/30/2010

ISBN-10: 1596434880

ISBN-13: 9781596434882

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Danny Walker loves basketball, and the fact that he's always been small for his age doesn't faze him as much as it could. After all, his dad is short for a basketball player, and he went all the way to the NBA. So when Danny doesn't make the seventh grade travel basketball team, the team that started his own father's career as a player, Danny is crushed. Then, Danny's father decides to create a rival travel basketball team, the Warriors. Can a team of players deemed second-rate show the world that they can triumph?

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 12/3/2009

ISBN-10: 0142404624

ISBN-13: 9780142404621

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Henry Smith's father told him that if you build your house far away from Trouble then Trouble will never find you. But that wasn't true. Henry's older brother, Franklin, was hit and seriously injured, by a truck driven by a Cambodian boy, Chay Chouan. Racial tensions at school and in the town flared. Henry's sister, Louisa, hardly ever comes out of her room. His parents and his world are falling apart. Henry does the only thing he can think of, climb Mt. Katahdin, which he and Franklin had been planning to do. So begins an incredible journey of danger, adventure, self-discovery and grace.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award 2011

Reviewed by: hap

Date read: 5/12/2010

ISBN-10: 0618927662

ISBN-13: 9780618927661

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