Reading Our Way Through the KBA's

Ways to Live Forever.

2009-10-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

KBA Kritic number 5 here.

I am the newest addition to the KBA Kritics I have been recently reading Ways to Live Forever.

My name is Sam.
I am eleven years old.
I collect stories and fantastic facts.
By the time you read this, I will probably be dead.

Sam has leukemia. He has afraid that he's not gonna make it. during this period he write a book about his life. Filled with comments and dreams for the future. One of his dreams is to be able to participate in normal kid activities. Him and his friend Felix try to find ways for Sam to live forever?

Is he going to live?

-♥-

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

2009-10-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

KBA Kritic Numeral Dos ( :

Homer P. Figg loves to tell stories , even though most of them aren't true . After his mother and father die in an accident , Homer and his older brother, Harold, are left living with their abusive uncle Squant . Forced to live in a cellar under his house and on days that he gets lucky , Squant feeds him .

One day Squant has Homer feed the pig and he find some stale bread . He was so hungry that he decided to eat that stale bread . While he was , Squant came out and saw him . He was FURIOUS ! When he went to strike Homer , Harold shoved Squant to the grounded . Squant was so embarrassed that he went and got a lawyer then illegaley drafted Harold into the Army .

Now , Homer is on his own . Left with no options he sneaks out of his uncles house , with a horse , and then goes on his own . His main goal : Find Harold and tell everyone that he was illegaley drafted into the army .

During Homer's adverntures he encounters two guys that are trying to find the runaway slaves , a man that believes everything happens because of god , another guy that trys to help him but falls in love with this women but turns out she just used him for the money .

HOMER HAS NO MONEY OR ANYONE TO BE WITH ..

Is he going to survive ?
Will he find his brother ?

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My opninon:

Marvelous ( :

Thanks for reading ! Tee' Amo♥

~SCAT~

2009-10-05T15:47:00.001-07:00

Why hello there lovely readers!!! Kba Kritic #3 here, ready to tell you about my latest adventure!

Do you have a lot of different things happening in your life? Ever feel like there's no time to just sit back and relax? Well, your not alone…So does Nick Waters!!! in the book Scat by Carl Hiaasen.

Nick Waters is in high school at Truman private academy. His father, Capt. Gregory Waters, is currently stationed in Iraq. The only way to communicate is by e-mail, so everyday when Nick gets home from school he checks his messages! One day Nick returns home from school only to realize there's no new message from his father. Nick automatically assumes the worst but since there’s no word that something has happened to him, he thinks nothing of it.

At school everything is pretty much normal. Oh, except for his teacher Mrs. Starch is missing, everyone thinks the schools scariest student, Duane Scrod Jr. [aka Smoke] has something to do with it, and they also think Smoke is the arsonist who set fire to the swamp. But besides that, yep everything is perfectly normal!!

During a school field trip to the swamp it catches on fire. A student forgets there inhaler so Mrs. Starch goes back to look for it but never comes back!!!!
The day before Smoke and her had a disagreement so every one thinks he has something to do with her disappearance.

During a school field trip to the swamp it catches on fire. A student forgets there inhaler so Mrs. Starch goes back to look for it but never comes back!!!! The day before Smoke and her had a disagreement so every one thinks he has something to do with her disappearance.

Is Smoke the arsonist? Does he have something to do with Mrs. Starch disappearance?
Is everything okay with Capt. Gregory Waters? [[Nicks dad]] Well you can find out by reading SCAT by Carl Hiaasen! Its one of the most suspenseful books I have ever read. It captured my attention, and I bet it could capture yours to!!!

2009-09-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

Horse of Her Own

KBA Kritic #1 again :)

I've just decided to read Horse of Her Own, I have a feeling that this book will interest me.

So far I'm on page 11. But, I haven't had it that long.

For as much as I have read, I discovered that it's about a girl named Jane.

--Jane has always dreamed of owning a horse. Her horse.

She rides at Sunny Acres farm, on a horse named Beau.

Only a few friends is all Jane has at Sunny Acres. The rest are pretty much stuck up.

The last thing I can tell you is that a competition is coming up, on who will be in each Advanced Class.. and I keep questioning to myself..

--Will Jane get in the Advanced I Class?

--Will Jane make any new friends?

--Will she finally get a horse of her own?

I am gonna keep reading, so maybe I can find the answers to my questions.

I suggest that you start reading this book, it's an adventure.

-KBA Kritic #1-

2009-09-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

Waiting for Normal

KBA Kritic #1 :)

&& I'm gonna tell you about the KBA nominee, Waiting for Normal.

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This book is about a young girl named, Addie, who is pretty much waiting for normal.

Addie's mom, or Mommers, is an all or nothing type of person.
--A food fiesta or an empty pantry.
--Happiness or sadness.
--Her way or no way.

Addie finally realizes that Mommers all or nothing attitude doesn't really add up to normal.

All or nothing doesn't really bring Addie all to home, where she longs to be, with her half sisters, everyday.

In spite of everything Addie goes through, she still remains optimistic. She know that one day her normal will come.

..and she will NO longer be, waiting for normal.
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This book, out of all the KBA's, would definitely be my favorite!
It gave me life long lessons. That to never give up, and never keep your head down. Because, eventually, everything will go your way. Waiting for Normal opened up my eyes, to see that not everyone has a perfect life. To just live life while you can, and take risks and chances. Just like Addie does in the book.
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So, before your library runs out, you should go check it out now! Because, you don't wanna wait to see, just how normal, normal can be.

--KBA Kritic #1 :)

Game

2009-09-23T13:44:00.001-07:00

Why hello, there lovely!!! Kba kritic #3 back again to tell you about my latest book!!! Its called Game by Walter Dean.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

High school senior Drew Lawson has dreams, But to him its difficult to have dreams in a place like harlem, his home town! Almost every day Drew witnesses, crime, drug and alcohol abuse, gangs and despair right outside his own home. Inside, he has loving and concerned parents, and a smart, supportive younger sister. Drew is a huge sports fanatic. He loves all kinds of sports...But he has one major dream. His dream is to become a pro-basketball player. Drew plays the positon of gaurd at James Baldwin Academy. During Drew's junior year there team almost made it to regionals. Drew really hopes their team is able to finally make it to the top this year.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

When the team meets for practice to start the second half of the season, they are in for a surprise. Two new players have joined. They are both white, neither appeared to have to try out for the team, and one of them --- Tomas from the Czech Republic in Europe --- is pretty good. The coach seems to think so as well, and starts paying a lot of attention to him. This annoys Drew alot!

Drew can’t afford to start too much, with practice every day, school work (including the challenging Othello) and basketball games. Drew also can’t help contemplating life in his neighborhood, how there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of difference between him and the guy selling drugs on the corner (maybe just a few damaging choices and the lack of a dream)

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Walter Dean Myers has created a high-excitement basketball thrill ride. His knowledge and obvious love of the sport, insightful look into inner city life and superb writing talents all join together to make a memorable reading experience that is also a lot of fun.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Okay, listen. I'm not going to sit here and tell you this was a book i really enjoyed....and i'm not saying its not a good book, its just it was all about basketball!! I'm just not a sporty type of person!!!! Soooo.......What I'm trying to say is If you like basketball then this is sooo the book for you!!
~Gots to go so LATER HOMIE!!!~

-Kba kritic #3
[[Rox your Sox]]

Great Wide Sea

2009-09-23T13:41:00.001-07:00

Hey readers! KBA Kritic #4 here. I am reading The Great Wide Sea by: Madaline Herlong. I am not quite through it yet but I'm close and thought I should post something.

Beginning: There are three boys, Ben, Dylan and Gerry. They live with their father and their mother died. They love to sail and go out on the lake. Their dad had always talked about going on a trip to the Bahamas.Well one day he did just that, he told Ben, Dylan and Gerry to pack up their necessary items the were buying a boat and sailing away for one year. None of them liked this, why now they just started the school year. Dad sold the house and bought a boat and supplies. The boys had to go along with it what more could they do? Dylan was like a astronomer. He loved the stars and to study them, he could tell you anything and everything about the stars. Gerry was only five he didn't do much but carry around a blanket all the time. Ben well he is a typical teenager.When everything was set they set sell out of the Florida Keys,where they lived. They sailed to the first island and stopped for a few days. This is what they did for a long time, stopping and going. They got to one island and stayed a week or two, they played in the water and shopped all except Gerry he did not want to learn to swim then Dad decided they were leaving but Ben did not want to leave. So they argued. OK I'll admit the beginning was boring but the middle....

Middle:When they left they went to a few more islands and at the last one Dad decided they wouldn't go to the rest they were going to sail to the Bermuda then on to Europe. Dad was excited but the boys...not so much. Ben and Dad fought again and then it started raining and another boat started crashing into their boat. Gerry thought they were going to sink,they didn't but, their GPS was messed up. Dad got really upset and said they were leaving in the morning. Ben was really mad but in the morning they took off with only some radio connection and a compass. They went for three days and the third morning Ben woke up and it was 8 in the morning. That was weird because Dad didn't wake Ben up for his watch shift. Ben went got up and looked everywhere for Dad but couldn't find him. He woke Dylan up and they looked and looked but no Dad. In his Poems and books was a poem to their mom. It was about their mom catching Dad because she was the sea. A suicide note. They were devastated and turned the boat around to look for him but nothing. So they headed back to any island but they were lost. Dad hadn't kept any time so they had no idea where they were. Exciting huh? I thought so, but this is as far as i got.

I am ready to get home and start reading, I have to finish this book! When I finish I will let you know how the rest was, well have a great day!

--KBA Kritic #4

Trouble by:Gary D. Schmidt

2009-09-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

KBA Kritic Numeral Dos(:

Henry Smith's father told him that if you build your house far enough away from trouble, then trouble will never find you.

That's exactly what happened to the Smith's family. they find trouble. It all started when Henry's older brother was hit by a truck. He lost his left arm and has very little brain activity. He was so mad and devastated that the only thing he can think to do is climb Katahdin, this mountain Franklin and him were suppose to climb together. Instead of climbing it with franklin, he climbs it with his bestfriend, Sanborn. On there way they hitch a ride with a stranger that turnt out to be his brothers killer!

If you like warm Heart felt, thriller, surprising type of stories then Trouble is the book for!

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My opinion

This was my favorite book of all three! Don't get me wrong the others were really good to but there was just something about this book that makes me love it! I bet you would to. So read Trouble by:Gary D. Schmidt.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! TE AMO' XOXO

Savvy By: Ingrid Law

2009-09-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

KBA Kritic Numeral Dos Here,

I decided to read the book Savvy! it was extremely interesting but like most books kinda had a boring beginning. After you get past that though it gets hard to put down. Its about this girl named Mississippi, that has a very unique family. Her brothers can make electricity, the other hurricanes, her mother does everything perfect, and her grandfather gets emotional,lets just say everything shakes. Now Mississippi's 13th birthdays coming up and its time for her to receive her Savvy. It's suppose to a big event but when they're dad gets in a car accident everything changes. Her mom and rocket,her oldest brother, rush off to the hospital and totally forget about her. but when she wakes up with her new Savvy she knows that she has to get down to the hospital and save her dad. but how?

So if you like funny, courageous, books then this is the book for you!

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My Opinion
This book was definitely different. It made me think of all the people that everyone thinks is different and doesn't really fit in, but i mean if your brother produces electricity, the other one creates electricity, and your grandpa makes earthquakes.. I'd be different too. I think that's what makes it worth reading. I really liked it and i bet you will to! so read Savvy by: Ingrid Law.

THANKS FOR READING! TE AMO' XOXO

Knucklehead

2009-09-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, Its KBA Kritic #3!! Woot Woot =P
Im back, once again to tell you about the book I just finished! Its called Knucklehead! Okay, I know your thinking "Knucklehead? What kind of name is that for a book?" Ha, or at least i was when i first heard of it!! Knucklehead is a biography on the childhood of Jon Scieszka! Its not just about one thing its about lots of diffrent things. It goes from talking about school to toy soilders!! I think one of the main reasons i really enjoyed this book is because it made me think about all the stories my parents use to tell me when i was younger.
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Jon grew up in Flint, Michigan, with 5 brothers. Jim, Tom, Gregg, Brian, and Jeff. He was the second oldest and nicest and the smartest and the best looking and the most humble, accordinding to him!!:) His family was a house hold full of boys.[[except for his mother of course]] His father was principle and his mother was a nurse. Jon thought it was very helpful that thier mom was a nurse because it came in handy when someone got hurt from wrestling,acting like they could fly or just being plan silly!!! There are so many adventures Jon explains in this wonderful biography,about his life growing up!! I'm going to tell you about the top 3 adventures i enjoyed the most though out the story!!
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Chapter 16: Brother-sitting, was probably my favorite chapter in the whole book!! Its about when Jon and his older brother Jim was left in charge of there younger brothers! Jon and Jim saw this as a chance to make a little extra money. They would charge Gregg twenty five cents to have a cookie after bed time, Brian ten cents to let the dog sleep in his room, and Tom fifty cents to stay up an hour later but he never paid it. Tom keep geting out of bed one night so Jon and Jim tied him up, in his bed, with there dads ties! When their parents found out about this they were not to thrilled. "What if there had been a fire?" they would ask. "It would have burned off the ties." Jim said. "And then Tom would have escaped!" i would add. Well that ended the brother sitting buiness for them!! Haha, thats so hilarous! Sounds like somthing i would do!!
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Chapter 35 would have to be my next favorite! Happy Birthday to you...Or us!! Jon always thought he got lame gifts for his birthday because it was so close to when school started back. So for his birthday he would get pencials, paper, markers, and other school stuff for his birthday! But when Jon actually thought about it he discovered his parents got even lamer gifts fo their birthdays! Their father's birthday was on christmas eve so they always thought it was funny to get him a salt shaker for his birthday and the pepper shaker for christmas! But they really reached new lows when it came to their moms birthday. They were all boys so they had no idea on what to get a woman. They usally just bought her cheap perfume every year. One year mothers birthday cane around and they decide they were goin to get her somthing totally useless like baseballs, pro-volley ball net, fishing lures and so much more,that way they could use it! But all in all it worked well because mother was finally happy that they stoped buying her cheap stuff!
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Last but not least, chapter 14, Halloween!![[My favorite holiday if you were wondering :)]] Dressing up all 6 boys for halloween became very expensive over time. So mother developed a system. There was 6 different costumes. Each year everyone would pick out there costume and when the next year came around you would pick somthing eles out. So everyone wore the same costume atleast 3 times! The costumes were: China man, The bunny, The bum, Ghost, Ho-bo, and a boy scout. The boys eventually out grew these costumes and decide to just sit on there porch and scary the trick ou treaters who came to get cany at there house!!
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Soooooo....I've told you three chapters i enjoyed the most. Know it is your turn to read the book and discover what you like the most about it. There are so many diffrent things about Jon's life in this biography. I really hope you lose you self in this book when you read it...Just like i did!!! :)

♥Peace Out♥
-Kba Kritic #3

Every Soul A Star

2009-09-11T16:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am KBA Kritic #1. Reading seriously isn't my favorite thing to do. Right when I read the first page, I figured it would be a stupid book about random things. Well, IT'S NOT! This book is filled with adventure, and life changing experiences. As you read it, it'll teach you some life lessons to live by. This book, is one of those books that it doesn't matter what is your favorite genre, you'll still love it!
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In this book there are three teenagers, Jack, Ally, and Bree.
They all live in totally different lifestyles and really have nothing in common.

--Ally: This girl, who lives in the middle of nowhere. Has lived out on a campground, "Moon Shadow" for all her life pretty much. She has one brother and both her mom and dad. She isn't the usual kind of girl, doesn't really care what she looks like. Only because she hasn't had anyone to impress. Ally loves to be outdoors and just explore.

--Jack: He is a teenage boy living in a little city. He doesn't really have any friends, and keeps to himself. This boys dad left him when he was a little kid and all he has as a memory is a stuffed bunny. When his dad left, he still had his mom and older brother. He doesn't really do well in school, but loves to draw aliens and different creatures. The odd thing about Jack, is when he is asleep, he can fly.

--Bree: She is one that most teenagers would call a prep. In charge of Clique A and has only one best friend, Claire. Only worried about one thing HER LOOKS! She doesn't really associate with her family. Her parents are two scientists and only worry about experiments. Claire has one little sister who is a handful. All in all, Bree is just a girl who loves to look CUTE!
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Ally is very excited about everyone coming in to see the Eclipse. The most beautiful, natural thing in the universe.

Bree's school just let out for summer and she found out that her and her family will have to move to Moon Shadow for three years. She thinks her life is coming to an end.

Jack on the other hand is failing school, and his science teacher Mr. Silver has offered him to come on a science trip with him. Which takes you to Moon Shadow to look for "exoplanets" and see the famous Eclipse.
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Once all the kids come to the same place they don't really get along. They eventually find out some important news and work together as a group to change things around. They learn some life lessons and experience alot of things that can change their personality.

--What happens during the Eclipse?
--Do the kids end up staying together and getting along?
--What happens when their life changes for good?

All these questions can be answered once you read Every Soul A Star. It taught me a few lessons on how to live. The book makes you think twice about life and everyone in it, and to learn to make the best of everything.

So, how about you go to your nearest library and check this book out. ;)

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-KBA Kritic #1-

The Trials of Kate Hope

2009-09-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

Do you like informational books? Books that tell you a story but also teach you something? Well then this is the book for you!

It's about a 14 year old girl who lost both her father and brother in a tragic accident and wants to become a lawyer like her father. "Judge" Hope,which is Kate's grandfather, had opened a lawfirm with Kate's dad but after his death he was so devasted that he closed it and didn't want to anything to do with the justice system. But, one day this lady asked him to help her because the city wasn't being fair but her turned her down and in the next five days that women died. So, determined, him and Kate found an old Colorado Law and Kate took a bar examination test. Then became a lawyer. She honestly had no clue what she was doing. After Kate and "Judge" got settled in the cases started. There was a wide variety. Things such as people getting envicted, divorces, and even people accusing people of stealing things!

But there was this one case that really caught my attention..

"The Willow Case or Herman's"
Ms. Willow was at the park having a picnik with her dog herman like she always does in the afternoons. She put a spike in the ground to keep Herman from going anywhere while she went and got some popcorn to feed the ducks. While on her way these two boys ran into her and knocked her down. When she got back up, she noticed that Herman was gone! He was no where to be seen. Then everything got out of hands.The dog pound had taken her Herman away. Ms. Willow had came to Kate with her case as soon as it happened. She told her that the city wanted to destroy Herman because he had bitten a baby!

As if that wasnt a big enough problem "Judge" Hope while in the courtroom passed out and was now in the hospital very ill. So Kate was on her own.

Can Kate be a good lawyer and help Ms. Willow? Will Herman get destoryed? Is "Judge" Hope okay?

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I personally really enjoyed reading this book. In the beginning i thought it'd be some boring law story but it was actually very interesting. I couldn't set it down! I'd find myself thinking about it at random times. Wondering how everything would turn out. So if you like books that hold your attention, make you think and wonder, then this is the book for you!

-KBA Kritic #2-

The Graveyard Book

2009-09-10T15:56:00.001-07:00

"There was a hand in the darkness,and it held a knife. The knife had a handle of polished black bone,and a blade finer and sharper than any razor. If it sliced you, you might not even know you had been cut, not immediately.The knife had done almost everything it was brought to the house to do and both the blade and the handle were wet." The Grave Yard Book by Neil Gaiman

This book is about the story of Nobody Owens.[aka Bod] When he was just a baby he witnessed the murder of his family by a man named Jack. Bod crawles his way out of the house into a near by graveyard before the murderer has a chance at taking his life too. In the graveyard Bod is adopted by the ghost and other supernatural creatures.

As the story continues, Bod is faced with difficult choices in his life. Each chapter deals with these situations that occur.

The Graveyard Book has won numerous literary awards, including the prestigious Newbery Medal in 2009 for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature. In January 2009,a film version of The Graveyard Book was announced.

I really enjoyed this book because it kept me on the edge of my seat! I always wanted to know what was going to happen next in Bod. Was he going to live in the graveyard for the rest of his life? Or was he going to finally hunt down Jack, the mysterious man who killed his entire family so many years ago. If you like mysteries with a little bit of horror then I recommend this book for you, and even if your NOT that interested in those types of things, then I promise you, you will be after this book!

-KBA Kritic #3-

KBA 2010 6-8 Nominee's

2009-09-08T13:58:00.001-07:00

The Kentucky Bluegrass Award
2010 6-8 Master List

Every Soul a Star/By Wendy Mass
Little, Brown, 2008.
Ally, Bree, and Jack meet at the one place the Great Eclipse can be seen in totality, each carrying the burden of different personal problems, which become dim when compared to the task they embark upon and the friendship they find.

Game/By Walter Dean Myers
HarperCollins, 2009.
If Harlem high school senior Drew Lawson is going to realize his dream of playing college, then professional, basketball, he will have to improve at being coached and being a team player, especially after a new--white--student threatens to take the scouts' attention away from him.

The Graveyard Book/By Neil Gaiman
HarperCollins, 2008.
After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

The Great Wide Sea/By M. H. Herlong
Peguin, 2008.
Still mourning the death of their mother, three brothers go with their father on an extended sailing trip off the Florida Keys and have a harrowing adventure at sea.

Horse of her Own/By Annie Wedekind
Feiwal & Friends, 2008.
At summer camp Jane feels like an outsider among the cliquish rich girls who board their horses at Sunny Acres farm, and when the horse she has been riding is sold to another camper, she feels even worse until her teacher asks her to help train a beautiful but skittish new horse, and the experience brings out the best in her.

Knucklehead/By Jon Scieszka
Penguin, 2008.
How did Jon Scieszka get so funny? He grew up as one of six brothers with Catholic school, lots of comic books, lazy summers at the lake with time to kill, babysitting misadventures, TV shows, and jokes told at family dinner.

Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg/By Rodman Philbrick
Scholastic, 2009.
Twelve-year-old Homer, a poor but clever orphan, has extraordinary adventures after running away from his evil uncle to rescue his brother, who has been sold into service in the Civil War.

Savvy/By Ingrid Law
Penguin, 2008.
Recounts the adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday has revealed her "savvy"--A magical power unique to each member of her family--just as her father is injured in a terrible accident.

SCAT/By Carl Hiaasen
Random House, 2009.
Nick and his friend Marta decide to investigate when a mysterious fire starts near a Florida wildlife preserve and an unpopular teacher goes missing.

Trials of Kate Hope/By Wick Downing
Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
At the young age of fourteen, Kate Hope is licensed to practice law in the state of Colorado in 1973, and with the help of her lawyer grandfather, and memories of her dead father, also a lawyer, she tries the case of a dog that is slated to be destroyed for attacking a baby.

Trouble/By Gary D. Schmidt
Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
Fourteen-year-old Henry, wishing to honor his brother Franklin's dying wish, sets out to hike Maine's Mount Katahdin with his best friend and dog. But fate adds another companion--the Cambodian refugee accused of fatally injuring Franklin--and reveals troubles that predate the accident.

Waiting for Normal/By Leslie Connor
HarperCollins, 2008.
Twelve-year-old Addie tries to cope with her mother's erratic behavior and being separated from her beloved stepfather and half-sisters when she and her mother go to live in a small trailer by the railroad tracks on the outskirts of Schenectady, New York.

Ways to Live Forever/By Sally Nicholls
Scholastic, 2008.
Eleven-year-old Sam McQueen, who has leukemia, writes a book during the last three months of his life, in which he tells about what he would like to accomplish, how he feels, and things that have happened to him.