Rain Reign By Ann M. Martin This is a heart wrenching story of love, friendship, family and courage. Rose Howard is a little different from the other grade 5 students at Hatford Elementary. For one thing, she loves homonyms. (Examples: isle and aisle, grown and groan.) She has a list that she uses to keep […]
#ScandalBy Sarah OcklerFrom the author who brought us Twenty Boy Summer and Bittersweet comes a story about what can happen when a picture goes viral, #Scandal. In this digital age a picture is worth more than a thousand words and many of those words will be negative ones. Author Sarah Ockler captures social media hazards […]
Rae CarsonLucero-Elisa de Riqueza, the younger princess of the kingdom of Orovalle, is wed in an arranged marriage to King Alejandro de Vega, of the neighbouring country of Joya d’Arena. Joya d’Arena is embroiled in a war with another country, Invierene, and their situation is precarious. Elisa has been marked by God with a blue […]
City On Fire By Garth Risk Hallberg Let me start by saying that City on Fire requires a bit of a commitment. At over 900 pages, some have argued that it’s far too long. But if you’re up to the task, this novel is worth it. Set in the crime-ridden, dirty and corrupt New York […]
Valentine’s Day Is…By Gail GibbonsI thought this would be a wonderful pick for this week. We are nearing Valentine’s Day and many children have begun to ask us what is Valentine’s day? Why do we celebrate it? Why do we give cards? This delightful book is filled with fun facts about this special day. Children […]
By Edwidge Danticat This novel grabs you right from the beginning. The story of twins who were connected right from birth, emerging into the world holding hands. They have not been separated since…until a tragedy rips them apart. As the red van comes hurtling towards the family car, identical twin Giselle slows the action in her mind, trying […]
We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist“When I was twenty-five years old, it came to my attention that I had never had a girlfriend”–the first line of this compelling and occasionally ridiculous true story.Josh Sundquist has written a funny, awkward memoir about his dating (or not-dating) foibles, and has done so with a good […]
By Nick Hornby This story is set in the 1960’s about a girl from Blackpool England who dreams about becoming a comedic actor. While I don’t think that this is one of Hornby’s best work – I felt disconnected from the protagonist, especially since the book jumps back and forth to different characters. I did […]
The Dark By Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon KlassenLike many children, Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in his basement, where Laszlo does not go. Every morning, Laszlo opens the basement door, peeks at the dark and says, “Hi, dark.” Maybe this way he can keep the dark at bay. But the […]
by Dr. Seuss,Dr. Seuss is a classic in any library and a must in any child’s literary repertoire. This adventure of the alphabet uses rhyme and alliteration to bring each letter to life. With whimsical illustrations Dr. Seuss makes learning your ABC’s really fun. You can find this and other wonderful ABC books in the […]