What a cruel and unhappy life 11 year old Min has led. Her earliest memories are of being abused, then abandoned in a fair washroom. She 'hasn't worked out' with four different foster families and is again returned to Children's Aid the week before Christmas. Enter Dr. Jess Hart, who because of her own tragic childhood may have what Min needs to turn her life around and her own in the process. Add a badly mistreated dog, a loving puppy and a resourceful and enthusiastic 12 year old boy and you have all the ingredients you need for a happy ending..or do you?

Reviewed by: ewl

Date read: 1/15/2010

ISBN-10: 1935279157

ISBN-13: 9781935279150

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Jessica's seventh grade teacher pairs her with the class outcast, Daphne, to work on a school project of writing, and illustrating, a book to be submitted in a city-wide contest. Jessica is horrified at the prospect of having to spend so much time with Daphne, not that she doesn't like her, but because she fears the 'popular' girls will tease her. When Jessica appeals to her teacher to let her change partners, he tells her he wants her to work with Daphne because she is the best writer in the class, and Daphne, the best artist. Together, they have a real chance at winning. Jessica is very surprised when, after working many afternoons together, they develop a great friendship. Daphne is hiding a tragic secret, and when Jessica finds out, she swears her to secrecy. When the secret becomes a real threat, Jessica is torn between protecting their friendship, or doing what she knows she must.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 0547016417

ISBN-13: 9780547016412

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Cesa is a 13-year-old Californian, who lived during the time of the gold rush, after the Mexican-American war. Her family has always owned the massive Rancho de la Valle de la Madrugada, the ranch of the valley of the dawn. Cesa can mean Princess in Spanish, which is what her father calls her. Cesa leads her five brothers in games of war, and rides her horse all over the ranch, believing herself to be like a queen. When Americans arrive, searching for gold, and insisting that all of the land now belongs to America, Cesa's way of life is threatened. Will good come of the changes, the way flowers spring up after the rains, which follow the yearly drought? This is the story of the birth of California as it is known today.

Similar books: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 0786261420

ISBN-13: 9780786261420

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Cimorene is not your ordinary princess. She is a rebel by princess standards. Instead of being happy with her etiquette and embroidery courses, she wants to learn fencing, Latin, and magic. When Cimorene's parents discourage her from taking these lessons, their best argument is that, 'It's simply not done.' Cimorene finds herself extremely restless, and bored, after her parents end lesson after lesson. Finally, Cimorene meets an enchanted frog that claims to be able to help her. He directs her to a cave which turns out to be filled with dragons. Just before she is eaten, Cimorene asks to be one of the dragon's princess. The kind dragon, Kazul, takes Cimorene in. In exchange for cooking, cleaning, and doing other bits of housework, or perhaps cave work, Cimorene gets the opportunity to practice Latin, learn magic, and interact with all sorts of new, interesting creatures. Cimorene couldn't be happier, until the Society of Wizards begins to create trouble for the dragons. Cimorene, and several friends, are swept into a grand adventure to protect the dragon kingdom, but will they find themselves in over their heads in magic, and monsters?

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 015204566X

ISBN-13: 9780152045661

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Commenter: St. Charles Reader, grade 0

Commenter: St. Charles Reader, grade 0

Claire is fair and kind, unlike her older sister and mother, who are sour-faced and cheerless. When a fairy decides to put Claire to a secret test, she passes, and jewels and flowers fall from her lips. When her sister is put to a similar test, the results are awful. What will Claire do when she is blamed for her sister's misfortune?

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 7/26/2010

ISBN-10: 0836817818

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