January

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

I've only just finished this one, but it's impressive. It probably deserves a second reading. Will has his brother's gun and is following the rules. #3 Revenge. But the elevator ride down involves meeting important people who challenge Will. Written in poetry-form and language is spot on. This is deep and requires some emotional maturity. YA but OK for middle school.

G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton

Picked this out after hearing Grafton died last week. I have enjoyed the Kinsey Milhone mysteries (although not quite as much as Stephanie Plum). Here she is sent to find a probably senile mother in the desert, and also avoid being the target of a hitman. Lots of action and suspense right up to the end. Very very adult content.

The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman

Very much like Golden Compass. Lots of action intertwined with heavy duty new age philosophy. Malcolm, who is just a likable kid helping his pub keeper father, is pulled into murderous intrigue. Everything revolves around keeping baby Lyra safe. The church is the main evil character here. Yes, I have a problem with that. YA for sexual situations.

The Losers Club by Andrew Clements

As good as most of his school stories. ie Excellent. I liked this one better than Korman's Slacker. Alec gets in trouble for reading in class-all the time. There really are kids like this. His problem solving is pretty good and his internal conversations are realistic. He also has a problem with a bully who used to be a friend. Also realistic-the bully is not badly stereotyped here. The only problem I had was an incident where he prints a page for every book he's read. OK, that makes me cringe...HA. Good for 3rd up even though it takes place with 6th graders.

Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves

Another fantasy/British historical piece. The upperclass has all the magic, except Anna Arden who is Barren. The plot slowly progresses to the point where she must decide if she will break the Binding that has limited magic to the rich. Lots of kissy romance, but it's Society so nothing untoward. This is first in a series although the ending is satisfying enough to hold you until the next one comes out. YA for lust. and violence. icky violence.

J is for Judgement by Sue Grafton

After disappearing five years ago, William Jaffe has been spotted in Mexico. Kinsey is on his trail, working for the insurance company. But there are family members, a commonlaw wife, an ex-cop and so much going on. Then Kinsey finds out she has a grandmother and passel of cousins. This tied together really well at the very end. also Very Adult.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Since the movie came out and 6th grade reads novels, I thought I ought to refresh my reading of this. The audio book was terrific and kept me awake across Kansas. Wow. The ending was pretty unbelievable, but who cares. Poirot used his little gray cells. Good for middle school, although the French toss ins and the archaic references may put off some.

Bad Guys Intergalactic Gas (Book 5) by Aaron Blabey

Oh, those bad guys-I mean good guys. They have to go to the moon to save the earth.

Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson

Fantasy, with two kingdoms and something happening as meteors fall from the sky (I'm still not sure what.Piper is a rough and feisty scrapper who finds a mysterious girl with the mark of the dragonfly-guaranteed protection by the king. But someone else wants her Fleeing on an ancient railroad train, Piper and Anna create close ties with the crew. Excellent.

Spy School: Secret Service by Stuart Gibbs

I keep forgetting that these are scarier. Poor Ben seems to be used as bait again when there is a threat on the president's life. But using his wits and math skills he saves the western world again. Nice twists at the end. I really liked this one. Excellent 4th+

Sink or Swim by Steve Watkins

Danny and Colton are fishing off the Outer Banks of North Carolina when Danny is almost killed by a Nazi Uboat. Danny has already enlisted in the navy so Colton decides to take his place even though he is only twelve. The next few month are his story. It's very realistic and depressing in many ways. War is hell. Ok for 5th grade.

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust (Flavia de Luce, #7) by Alan Bradley

This might work for those kids who like Agatha Christie. It's in England and Canada in 1951. I think the appeal is the very intelligent and strong character of Flavia. in this one she has been banished to a girls' school in Toronto where on her first night a mummified body falls out of her chimney. It's on. Who to trust. I'm still a little confused at the end, but they do a nice summary. Classic. YA for difficulty of reading.

Still Life by Louise Penny

Did this as an audio book, so it was a bit slow, but the ending was particularly hair-raising. This is the first so we are just meeting all of the Surete as well as the residents of Three PInes. Lovely. Everyone loves Jane but she is found shot through with a hunting arrow one morning. Inspector Gamouche does his thing. Adult

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley

Flavia Du Luce is banished to a girls school in Canada. On her first day a mummified body drops out of her chimney. Flavia has to decipher the true intentions of students and teachers. It's hard to imagine any kids reading this though.OK for Middle School. Britishisms YA

Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld 1)

This was good and pretty much what I expected although not quite as funny. It was also a little headier than the YA stuff. Life on the disc on the back of a turtle walking through the universe is very much like we know it with classic human foibles. Just add a touch of magic. The main plot involves a tourist who just wants to literally see it all-from bar room fights to the edge of the world and more. I'll probably read more after I retire. ADULT

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (#7)

Lillian Dyson, a mean-spirited art critic is found dead in the garden of Clara Barton after her premier at the Musee in Montreal. Gamache and Bouvoir are still recovering from the fatal raid in book 6. I probably should have read these in order...

Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (#6)

Bouvoir has gone back informally to Three Pines to investigate the death of the hermit for which Oliver is in jail. Gamache is recovering in Quebec at the home of his early mentor and becomes embroiled in the search for Champlain's body. Great history and descriptions of Quebec.

Hardcore TwentyFour by Janet Evanovich

Look at me reading piles of adult books! Great fun in this one as usual. Someone is stealing brains. Zombies, of course. And Stephanie Plum is out to find a run-of-the-mill graverobber, and the underwear bandit whose wife paints hundreds of garden gnomes. Cars are totalled in new ways and Stephanie has to care for Ethel, a large boa constrictor. Yes these are not brain enhancing, but they are totally entertaining. ADULT

The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh

This one makes up for all of the fluff I've been reading. After a slow start I began to appreciate the complicated characters in this story of a middle schooler who just doesn't fit in. She befriend another kid who we recognize as having Asperger's but no "syndromes" are ever mentioned. It gets a tad scary near the end, but all's well etc. 4th +. Compares to Out of My Mind, or Wonder. excellent.

Posted by John David Anderson

Much like the Way to Bea, this is about friendship, bullying, and middle school. Differences-boy protagonist, more physical bullying, sexual bullying too. It reads with authentic voice (which the author validates at the end), and is not an easy wrap up. Cell phones are banned which leads to the PostIt wars. Along with a new girl who doesn't fit in easily, there are plenty of serious conflicts. Should appeal to older readers. 5th+

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

These are easy reads but have some serious depth to them. Roz has been repaired (because she hides her cognizance of her abilities) and been sold to a bucolic dairy farm where she becomes part of the family. The kids realize she can talk to the animals and come to understand she needs to return to her some and son (Brightbill). Sentiments of "Just because you're different doesn't mean you're defective." are the stop and think moments. I loved this one. 3rd+