Fortunata is helping her shoemaker father sell his wares on the road when they are captured and enslaved by bandits. Fortunata is taught the 'art' of fortune telling. When the evil leader learns of a prince who needs help seeing the future he volunteers Fortunata, not caring that the punishment will be death for her father if the foretold events don't happen. All she has to do to save him is help the prince find a magic sword, defeat a witch, secure a lost slipper and its princess owner after rescuing her from a locked tower! When she realizes she's fallen in love with the prince, events become even more complicated.

Reviewed by: ewl

Date read: 8/20/2009

ISBN-10: 0805087427

ISBN-13: 9780805087420

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It's summer and Franny Parker's animal hospital has been keeping her busy. With more patients by the day, Franny's summer 'job' becomes more and more rewarding. Humor breaks up the busyness as Franny's sister Sidda accidentally puts crickets into her blueberry pancakes. The new neighbor boy and his mother quickly become friends with Franny's family. What secrets have the new neighbors brought with them? What are they trying to cover up?

Reviewed by: jb

Date read: 8/24/2009

ISBN-10: 0374324697

ISBN-13: 9780374324698

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Some kids have two homes, one with Mom, and one with Dad. Sometimes a girl will have bunk beds at Mom's house, and a regular bed at Dad's house. But for the girl in this story one thing is constant, her dog Fred comes with her everywhere. What happens when Mom gets tired of Fred's barking, and Dad gets tired of Fred stealing his socks? Sometimes a girl has to put her foot down!

Awards nominated: Monarch Award Nominee 2011

Reviewed by: donna

Date read: 4/27/2010

ISBN-10: 0316882690

ISBN-13: 9780316882699

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It's scary enough to leave your old school and your old friends to begin sixth grade. But Rosemary will be one of just a few African American students at Robertson Elementary School, and when her best friend gets polio, she will be the only African American student in sixth grade. Her parent's troubled marriage is scary too, and now she has no one to talk to. Rosemary finds two new friends in very unexpected places, and she also learns to believe in herself. A very personal look into a troubled time in our history.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award 2011

Reviewed by: donna

Date read: 4/27/2010

ISBN-10: 043966098X

ISBN-13: 9780439660983

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DJ is a star basketball player starting her junior year at Red Bend high school. She was on the football team as well as the basketball team in junior high. In every group picture that is taken, she is in the back row, where she wants to be, because she is so tall. Front and Center is the third book in the Dairy Queen trilogy. Win, DJ's older brother, feels DJ has the ability to play Division I basketball (which she denies) and encourages (demands) her to apply to Big Ten schools. DJ rejects being a leader with her high school team and gets sick to her stomach when she thinks college scouts are watching her. There is also a love story within the basketball story. Two classmates, Brian and Beamer, are vying for her attention. Read this adorable story with its great and hilarious characters and easy to follow story line. Does Beamer or Brian win out? Does she choose to verbally accept a scholarship from a Big Ten school or a small school near home?

Similar books: The Off Season by Catherine Murdock Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock

Reviewed by: cj

Date read: 8/16/2010

ISBN-10: 0618959823

ISBN-13: 9780618959822

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