Vicky adores playing tennis. It's the only part of life where she has any talent. Still, she's not the best. So when Brenda, one of the best players on the 8th grade team, agrees to practice and play with her, it's a dream come true. This is Vicky's chance to make herself a winner. Then Reggie, Vicky's best friend, says she sees Brenda cheating during a game. Vicky is torn. Is Reggie just jealous? Or is there a darker side to Brenda?

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 12/3/2009

ISBN-10: 0395650178

ISBN-13: 9780395650172

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A first novel about a boy who enters school for the first time as a middle schooler. August was born with severe facial deformities, and has been home-schooled so far. Now his parents feel he needs to learn to interact with other students his age. August is scared, but he also wants to be treated as a normal kid. We hear this story from several different viewpoints; August himself, his older sister, and some other students in his school. A difficult, wonderful story about friendship, acceptance, and self-worth.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award

Awards nominated: 2014 Rebecca Caudill Nominee; 2014 Bluestem Nominee; Viking Book Award nominee, 2013

Reviewed by: donna

Date read: 10/29/2012

ISBN-10: 0375869026

ISBN-13: 9780375869020

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Dixon Woods knows he has no shot at making the Wolfbay Wings Squirt A Team, the best hockey team in the area. His mother is a classic overachiever, though, so that's the team where he must win a place. At tryouts, Dixon sees that this team is not last year's team, the team that won fifty-four games and lost only two: the star players and their coach have abandoned the Wolfbay Wings for another club. With the hardest competition gone, Dixon makes the team. Will Dixon and the others fall flat without the star players, or can they succeed on their own? Woodsie is the first in the series about the Wolfbay Wings.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 12/31/2009

ISBN-10: 0060273496

ISBN-13: 9780060273491

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While worrying that her mom is plotting to move the family from their Chicago home, 13-year-old Alexis also wonders about the mysterious young man, who seems to be shadowing her, and her friend.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 0395730821

ISBN-13: 9780395730829

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Geordie finds lots of time to write in his journal when he is grounded for breaking a window. He writes about his likes and dislikes, his trumpet, and the garden he will plant with his Dad in the spring. Many different poetry forms are used, as well as different typefaces, word puzzles, and good use of white space.

Similar books: Shakespeare Bats Clean-up by Ron Koertge; Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Reviewed by: Donna

Date read: 8/1/2011

ISBN-10: 1896580351

ISBN-13: 9781896580357

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