Hunky Dory is about to graduate from the Harbinger's Charm School of Witchcraft. During the last week of school, their teacher, Miss Fortune, asks her students their plans once they leave school, knowing that not everyone can afford an advanced degree from Hogwarts. Hunky's Auntie Malice comes for a visit, and ends up placing a curse upon the princess. The curse is that she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel, and die. Hunky decides to modify the curse- instead of dying, the princess will only go to sleep until she is awoken by the kiss of her true love. A strange thing happens to Hunky when she recites the incantation. Because of this, she now knows her true vocation is to be a Fairy Godmother, and grant wishes. She will leave Harbinger's Witch School and go to Fairy Godmother school. Just one problem, how will she talk her mother into this? Will it still be worth it to her when her Aunt and friends feel she's betrayed them? To find out if things are hunky dory, read Diary of a Fairy Godmother.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 0786809663

ISBN-13: 9780786809660

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Like a typical 16-year old, Amal has a crush on a cute boy, likes giggling and eating junk food with her friends, and fights with her parents. She is also an Australian-born Muslim Palestinian and has decided to wear the hijab, the Muslim head-scarf, full time. What will her classmates say? What color scarf best sets off her eyes? Both questions are equally important to Amal. Thought-provoking and funny at the same time, this first novel examines faith, culture, and serious teen issues with style and wit.

Reviewed by: donna

Date read: 10/26/2009

ISBN-10: 0439919479

ISBN-13: 9780439919470

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Some china dolls that are over 100 years old now have to live with a new family of plastic dolls. They search to find their aunt who has disappeared. Also read The Meanest Doll in the World and The Runaway Dolls.

Reviewed by: St. Charles Reader

Date read: 11/20/2009

ISBN-10: 0786803614

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Nikki's hoping the gift her mother gives her before she starts school at Westchester Country Day will be a brand new cell phone, so she can fit in with the CCP (Cute, Cool & Popular) group at her new school. Instead, it's a blank book. Nikki is crushed, because 'Absolutely no one writes their most intimate feelings and deep dark secrets in a diary anymore! WHY?! Because just one or two people knowing all your BIZ could completely ruin your reputation. You're supposed to post this kind of juicy stuff online in your BLOG so MILLIONS can read it!!!' Nikki writes (and draws) in the diary anyway. When the school year starts, Nikki's locker is next to MacKenzie the most popular (and meanest) girl in eighth grade. As Nikki says, 'To call MacKenzie a 'mean girl' would be an understatement. She's VICIOUS! She's a PIT BULL in glittery eye shadow and Jimmy Choo flip-flops!' Nikki may be the new girl at Westchester Country Day, but when she hears about the school's art show, Random Acts of Avant-Garde Art, she's determined to win the five hundred dollar prize. Then, it turns out MacKenzie plans to enter, too. Can Nikki make the transformation from 'social challenged ART DORK' to 'socially charmed ART DIVA?' Read her diary to find out.

Awards won: 2010 Children's Choice Book Award

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 6/4/2010

ISBN-10: 1416980067

ISBN-13: 9781416980063

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Zoe's devastated to be leaving her home and her best friend. A new family is moving into her house, and Zoe has to say goodbye to the place she calls her 'dreamroom,' the one place she can be alone to draw. Her family takes off on a trip in their van, traveling from town to town until her parents find work. When her parents find jobs, however, they won't have enough money for rent until they've been working for a while. So the family lives in the van, where Zoe has no privacy. Keeping the secret that her family is homeless isn't easy. A police car keeps following Zoe around, and Zoe's friend Aliya is getting upset that Zoe never invites Aliya to her house. Can Zoe keep her big secret until her family finds a place to live? Will Zoe ever find a place that feels like home again?

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 3/30/2010

ISBN-10: 0689856040

ISBN-13: 9780689856044

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