Grades 5-8
Garvey’s father has always wanted him to be athletic, but Garvey wants nothing to do with sports. He prefers studying astronomy and reading science fiction. Garvey turns to food for comfort, and is consequently overweight and lonely, often teased by bullies. Then he decides to join the school choir, and it is a choice that changes his life. He is recognized as a great soloist and his self-image changes for the better.
Grades 3-6
From the author who brought you The Fourteenth Goldfish comes this historical fiction story about a boy named Beans and his group of friends. It’s 1934 in Key West, Florida, and they’re living in the middle of the Great Depression. The adults in his life lie to survive, but Beans isn’t a fool. He has survival plans of his own.
Grades 3-5
Nikki is leaving Westchester Country Day School for a short time to attend the student exchange program at North Hampton Hills. Finally some time away from her arch-enemy MacKenzie! Or will she be so lucky? Find out when you read the 11th book in the Dork Diaries series!
Grades 3-6
Julia is short for her age, and she sees that as a negative thing until she gets cast as a munchkin in the local production of The Wizard of Oz. She is also inspired when her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Chang, gets involved with the play by making costumes for the cast, and even offers to play a flying monkey. Julia realizes that she should embrace her stature, and herself, the way she is, and begins to have a more positive outlook.
Thanks to Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this book.
Grades 3-6
The company Harmonicandy was chosen as the winner of the nationwide candy making contest. As soon as Logan, Miles, Philip, and Daisy have returned to their everyday lives, they find out that they have a chance to promote the candy and the company and go on tour. They each jump at the chance for different reasons, but not before a very old secret is revealed.
Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.
Grades 4-6
Theodora Tenpenny discovers a painting that is a Renaissance masterpiece when she spills a bottle of rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather’s painting. She knows that her grandfather worked in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and fears the painting may be stolen. She is on a mission to find out how the painting ended up there, and embarks on an adventure with some friends of hers. Will she be able to solve the mystery?
Grades 3-5
Gladys Gatsby is in 6th grade, and has been cooking since she was 7. It’s a passion of hers that her parents have no idea about. Then she accidentally starts a small fire after cooking creme brulee, and is banned from the kitchen. She is devastated. She decides to pay her parents back for the damage she did. She starts writing fake reviews on fake restaurants (she pretends that her parents and her friend’s parents own restaurants). She is mistakenly offered a real job, working for a real newspaper using her fake reviews. Read All Four Stars to find out how Gladys works her way out of this mess!
Grades 3-5
Rupert Campbell is a human boy who is enthralled with the witches who live near him, but he can’t ever seem to get too close, because his mother won’t allow him to interact with them. One day he meets Witchling Two, and she isn’t at all how he imagines witches to be. Can he help her pass the exams to become a real witch?
Grades 3-6
Audrey Rhodes lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. That’s right, she lives in the White House, and her dad is the president. That makes her the First Daughter. She’s all set to have a party on Friday night, when it gets cancelled because of a security breach. She is very upset and goes to her room to sulk forever, when she finds the diary of Alice Roosevelt, a former first daughter who lived in that very room! Armed with new information about how to deal with life as a tween, Audrey’s spirits lift as she immerses herself in the past.
Grades 3-6
Liesl’s evil stepmother makes her live alone, locked in the attic, with no friends. Until one day, she meets Po, a ghost who is also lonely and they become friends.
Then Will, the alchemist’s apprentice, makes a huge mistake when he switches two boxes: one has very powerful magic, and the other one is just a plain old box. This accidental switch brings consequences for Liesl and Po, and together they embark on an incredible journey.
Michelle’s Bookish Life 