Life in 14th century England is not easy for Asta's 13-year-old son, Crispin. His mother has died, and he is alone. He is a serf bound to Lord Furnival and has no standing in society. But something is not right. He has been framed for stealing from Lord Furnival, accused of killing the village priest, and labeled a 'wolf's head,' meaning he can be killed on sight by anyone. He doesn't know why his enemies are pursuing him so relentlessly. He runs away, and meets Bear, a giant of a man, who makes his living juggling and entertaining people. Join Crispin on a race across England to discover who he is, and why someone wishes him dead! Crispin is the winner the 2003 Newbery Medal.

Similar books: Cold Tom: A Novel by Sally Prue; The Legend of Lady Ilena by Patricia; Dillon Dillon by Kate Banks

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0786808284

ISBN-13: 9780786808281

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Commenter: Mtk, grade 8

Debbie, Hector, Patty, Lenny and Phil were all friends. They had been friends for a very long time. Middle school brings changes, new talents and interests and maybe their friendship will grow into something more. Or then again, maybe their friendship is fine the way it is.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 1/31/2011

ISBN-10: 0060092734

ISBN-13: 9780060092733

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One day in April, 1812, 13-year-old Rebecca Carver returns to her home on Crooked River in Ohio, to discover that her father, mean 'Major' Carver, has captured an Indian and is holding him under arrest in the loft of their family cabin. The people of their settlement claim that the Indian is responsible for murdering a trapper. Rebecca and her sister Laura are terrified that they too will be murdered in their beds and go to sleep with what weapons they can devise. When they are told to feed the Indian the next morning they carry their weapons with them, but Rebecca sees that he is nothing to fear. Over the next few weeks, Rebecca makes a silent friendship with the Indian and comes to question whether he actually murdered anyone. When a young lawyer, who says he is the Indian's friend, comes to defend him in his trial, Rebecca and Laura hope that he will be successful. The story is told alternately by Rebecca and Amik, the Indian, and paints a realistic and gripping picture of life in the early years of our country's history.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0375823891

ISBN-13: 9780375823893

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Victor has lived in the small village of Los Arboles, Mexico for as long as he can remember. Every spring, many of the men in the village embark on the dangerous trip north trying to cross the border to help support their family as migrant workers for the summer. When Victor's father fails to return in the fall, Victor has to become the man of the house and try and support his family. Victor's best friend, Rico, decides that this is the year he will take the trip north and he is hoping that Victor will come with him. Victor doesn't want to go, until the corn crop his family has been raising fails to bring in enough money to support the family. Victor is faced with a decision that will change his life. Without the money to pay for a coyote to help him across the border into El Norte, he will have to try traveling north on his own. Will he be able to make the dangerous trip north and enter the United States illegally, or will he get caught by the border patrol? Read this great adventure and find out!

Similar authors: Gary Paulsen and Ben Mikaelsen

Reviewed by: BK

Date read: 6/23/2009

ISBN-10: 0060741406

ISBN-13: 9780060741402

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Things are looking up for Zack. With a new stepmother, a new house, and a new dog, Zack is hopeful that the sad and bad things in his life are now over. Except now there is this ghost that has unfinished business and Zack is right in his way. Little by little, Zack discovers that things are not what they seem to be - a tree, white roses, a new friend. And it all goes back fifty years, to a car accident and how the lives of several families, including Zack's, have been intertwined, like the branches of the creepy tree at the crossroads.

Reviewed by: adf

Date read: 6/18/2009

ISBN-10: 0375846972

ISBN-13: 9780375846977

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