I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this novel, and I was pleasantly surprised when it was so captivating and I loved it! This was a well-written Regency romance that fans of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer are sure to enjoy.

Letty Burton becomes a widow left with her husband's debts resulting in her loss of home and assets. She becomes the companion of her mother-in-law in London and is introduced to London Society, catching the eye of an arrogant bachelor. She is not impressed with him and wishes to keep her past a secret trying to remain invisible to the ton with her quiet but firm demeanour. But instead she becomes the talk of town because of certain events and family circumstances.

This is a character-driven novel loosely based on the Biblical story of Ruth and Naomi but I wouldn't consider it Christian fiction. It is very much a Regency novel with great characters and dilemmas. I really liked Letty, who was loyal, kind, smart, level-headed, and classy and graceful despite her lower class upbringing. The best part of this book though is the witty word-sparring and the Regency setting of propriety and London Society. The characters are well-developed and have distinctive traits. I could easily see this as a movie.

This was a good squeaky-clean story with a plot that flowed smoothly and kept me turning the pages to see how it would all work out for Letty. I can't wait to see what else Philippa Jane Keyworth comes up with next!

This was a fun, sweet and cute story. I wanted to read something light to end my month of January and this was perfect. Addie Preston is going through many changes in her life. Her father died in a car accident three months ago, handsome but arrogant Blake Hansen has just been hired as the new assistant librarian (a position she was aiming for) and the city counsel has decided to tear down her beloved library to build a newer and bigger one.

Addie isn't happy about this and protests in all the ways she knows how, but as she and Blake work long hours together, things begin to change. The story is predictable with some minor similarities to Pride and Prejudice, but I thought it also funny and lighthearted. I loved the fact that Addie worked in the library, of course, and her joy in all things books. Apart from the fact that her Dad died, her family seemed a little too perfect with never any arguments or bad feeling, except for grief.

If you need a sweet story that moves along at a good pace, Turning Pages will not disappoint. It's a squeaky clean romance with good elements of friendship and family values.

Going Up! Elisha Otis's Trip to the Top by Monica Kulling, illustrated by David Parkins

This is the fourth book in Tundra's Great Idea Series of biographies for young readers. The story behind the invention of the elevator is one that all young children can relate to! The previous books in the series have been well reviewed, and this new book will be equally compelling.

A short, fully illustrated biography in the award-winning GREAT IDEA SERIES, about the man who invented the elevator - Elijah Otis. The man who enabled the hi-rise, and other feats of modern architecture.

Free on Kindle:

The Dreamer (The Fall Series) by May Nicole Abbey

A dream in the night. A leap of faith. A quest for truth and treasure.

From term papers and instant coffee to blood-thirsty pirates and buried treasure, Rachel Madera, a gifted university professor, finds herself travelling through time on a journey of discovery and danger, all because of a simple dream. Despite the threat, Rachel is undaunted, certain she holds the keys to unlock the mystery of a Pharaoh’s treasure … and alter the course of history.

The only thing that stands between her and peril is Captain Mallory Tucker, a man with a tragic past and intractable moral code. Born of the sea, he is among the leading mariners of 18th century Europe. But the derelicts who make up his crew and the capriciousness of the ocean have taken their toll, and Captain Tucker is tired and jaded. The last thing he needs is a precocious young woman dropping onto his ship and creating havoc. But he’ll fight to the death for her honor, her beliefs…and her love.

This touching book based on the true story of the Rogers family and a tiny teddy bear brought tears to my eyes and made my son sad for a family who lost a beloved member. Aileen Rogers, a 10 year old girl who lived on a farm in East Farnham, Quebec in 1915, owned a small stuffed bear named Teddy. When her father, Lawrence, enlisted to go fight in the war in Europe, and his letters reveal that he was cold and tired and missed them terribly while in the trenches, she decided to send him her teddy bear to remind him of home and to keep him safe.

The story is told from the point of view of the teddy bear, and I thought this was well done as a way to gently introduce the concept of war to the child reading it. Aileen's father dies as a medic at the battle of Passchendaele. Teddy was in his front pocket. Teddy was sent back to Canada with Lawrence's personal belongings. Today, Teddy sits in the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada.

This story opened up a conversation with my son about war. Along with beautiful earth-toned oil painting illustrations the book also includes archival photos and documents of the Rogers family. What's more, the author Stephanie Innes is actually the great-granddaughter of Lawrence, Aileen's father. These photos, along with the fact that the Rogers family lived not far from where we do in our province of Quebec, and the make-up of the family being so similar to ours (a father, mother, 10 year-old sister and 7 year-old brother) truly made this story all the more real. We could relate to this family and feel their sorrow at their loss.

This is a beautiful story and a beautifully illustrated book, with heartwarming moments of family time and love. It made me and my children want to pray all the more that soon all wars all over the earth come to an everlasting end.

Published May 29, 2012
Trade Paperback, 337 pages

I thoroughly enjoyed this don’t-take-yourself-too-seriously murder mystery. It’s a light, witty novel with just the right amount of humor.

Amy and her mother, Fanny, run a travel agency specializing in adventures. The Monte Carlo to Rome Mystery Road Rally is a travel adventure/murder mystery game offered to well-heeled tourists, “people pampering themselves to the tune of two weeks and many thousands of dollars”. Actors provide clues to the mystery that the vacationers use to solve the puzzle (it reminded me a bit of The Amazing Race). 

It’s all great fun until the eccentric creator of the puzzle, the only one who knows the solution to the game, is murdered. “Murder most foul” takes place a second time – Georgina who is both a traveler and a key player in the story is found dead. Amy gradually realizes that the fictional mystery game is based on an actual unsolved murder! As in all murder mysteries, the guilty finger points to a variety of culprits. The reader is completely surprised when the real murderer is revealed. Throw in a love angle and the reader is set for an engaging read.

There are some funny descriptions, such as. “her lilac perfume seemed strong enough to stir the flag into a flutter”; “Amy thought of her double bottom drawer as a black hole, sucking in anything and everything….it was an informal storage system, but it filled the gap between the formality of her files and the abyss of the wastebasket.” An NYPD cop who is also a traveler says things like, “what the Hector?” instead of the usual expletive.

This quick-read novel is an excellent choice for mystery fans!

Note: This book is rated P (mild) for a few mild expletives. 

Reviewed by Sandra 

Disclosure: Thanks to Hy Conrad for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Or not.

The Mermish Council has just declared that all land-dwelling mers but return to the ocean. Pronto. But there's no way Jade is going to let her mom, or Luke, her...boyfriend? mer-guy-friend?, disappear into the deep, dark ocean. Again. After all, a girl's got to have a date to her first dance.

If Jade can stop mer-mageddon, finding a plus-size dress that doesn't look like a shower curtain should be a piece of cake.


Unspoken: A Story From the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole

A young girl's courage is tested in this haunting, wordless story.

When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the barn, she is at once startled and frightened. But the stranger's fearful eyes weigh upon her conscience, and she must make a difficult choice. Will she have the courage to help him?

Unspoken gifts of humanity unite the girl and the runaway as they each face a journey:  one following the North Star, the other following her heart.

Henry Cole's unusual and original rendering of the Underground Railroad speaks directly to our deepest sense of compassion.


The Granddaughter Necklace by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and Bagram Ibatoulline

An uplifting tale of love, kinship, and gifts, passed down through generations.

There are moments in each person's life that we take great care to remember: the pride of a young girl standing up for herself for the first time; the heartbreak of leaving one's country and family for a new beginning; the thrill of getting ready for the piano recital of a lifetime.

In Sharon Dennis Wyeth's family these moments were marked with the passing on of the Granddaughter Necklace: not a fancy piece of jewelry, but a precious one, worn smooth by the touch of mothers and grandmothers, each with her own story to tell.

With a historical sweep that reaches back to Ireland and to Africa, and an intimacy that resides in every family's treasured stories, Wyeth tells the tale of one family's journey from the old world to the new, from the past to the present, and from mother to daughter.

Here's a book that we feel will be passed on from generation to generation too, read in laps and in groups, opening conversations about our own necklaces of memory.


Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (NetGalley)

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A Love Story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

After enjoying the first book Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings, my daughter and I were anxious to read the the second book in this series. This book continues where the first one left off. It's the same summer and Jade is working at Bridget's Ice Cream Parlor. Her best friend Cori still doesn't know that Jade is part mermaid, and that she holds another secret regarding her mom whom everyone thinks is dead, but who is actually a mermaid. Jade has to come up with a plan to once again help her mom who may be stuck in a tidal pool that is now in danger of being destroyed by a construction company expanding the local mall.

Once again, Boudreau tackles, in a fun way, all the different teen issues in this sequel: parental relationships, friends, boy crushes, dating, tackling one's fears and accepting responsibility for one's actions. Jade is still the same strong character: impulsive, independent, loyal and not afraid to stand up for what is right. She's still getting used to the fact that she's part mermaid and has to overcome her fear of the ocean to help those she cares about. She's also dealing with being a teen who has a crush on a boy and wishing her mom was there to guide her.

We get an introduction to the corrupt Mermish Council, and I have a feeling more of this will be explored in the next book. The mystery surrounding the dealings of the mermaid world kept us intrigued. Jade's being different because she is part-mermaid is a good metaphor for kids who are navigating the difficult teen years with their own set of issues because of feeling different from their schoolmates for whatever reason.

This was a fun book to read with small bursts of humour. It wraps up nicely at the end, and we are excited to read the third book, Real Mermaids Don't Wear High Heels coming out in February 2013.

From the publisher:

Lumpito and the Painter from Spain is inspired by the true story of Picasso's love affair with a dachshund named Lump, who came for a visit, refused to leave, and became immortalized in a number of the artist's paintings and drawings.

Our Thoughts:

My son and I enjoyed this story of Pablo Picasso and his beloved dachshund, Lumpito. It's an adventurous story as we follow Lump who lived with a photographer in Italy and travelled with him to a villa in France to visit the famous painter, Picasso. Once there, the dog bonded with the artist who renamed him Lumpito and spent many hours playing together.

My son knows about Pablo Picasso, having studying his art in school. Picasso is portrayed here as a man who loved the antics, the shape and the character of this little dog. One of our favorite illustrations in the book is a two page spread of Picasso lying down on the grass next to Lumpito and stroking the dog's long body.

The author makes good use of similes in her text, conjuring images with few words. The watercolour illustrations bring out Lumpito's character through his facial expressions as well as the delight in Picasso's. And of course, I loved the beautiful European countryside depicted as they travelled. Children who love dogs will especially love Lumpito and his story of how he met Picasso and warmed his way into the Spanish painter's heart and paintings.

Refreshing, heartbreaking, intelligent, funny, tragic...This novel is all this and more. After waiting so long to read this book that caused quite a stir last year, I finally made myself a promise to read more of the books that make my heart beat faster when I see them on other blogs. This was one of them.

Seventeen year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster has thyroid cancer that spread to her lungs. She's hooked up to an oxygen tank and carries it with her wherever she goes. Battling cancer since she was thirteen, Hazel has few friends, rarely leaves the house and reads the same book over and over, idealizing the author's ability to know what it feels like for a kid to suffer cancer. Everything changes when she joins a support group and meets gorgeous and charismatic Augustus Waters who describes himself as having “had a touch of osteosarcoma a year and a half ago”.

One of the things that impressed me the most about Green's novel is that the story seems deceptively simple—boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, both are dying, now what? But this book is far from simple, starting with the vocabulary these kids spoke, which sometimes was over the topic, but honestly I didn't care. Hazel's story really kept me going. They were bright and not your typical teens, yet teens nonetheless with their need for normalcy (because it didn't exist) and for their parents who were very present and supportive throughout. Yay, for a teen book that doesn't kill parental authority and wisdom!

Green does a great job of taking us on a special journey through Hazel's point-of-view. We get to see what it's like to face death on a daily basis both for a young person who has barely begun to live and for parents who know that eventually their child will succumb to death. Hazel is a smart and wise kid who wants to protect her parents from the pain her illness is inflicting on them. This weighs heavily on her tiny shoulders and the friendship she develops with Augustus and also Isaac, another teen who eventually goes blind from his cancer, helps her to be a kid again. Although she and Augustus fall in love, this is not a romance novel.

The prose is refreshing, the storyline reflective, and the characters unique, especially Peter Van Houten, the washed-up author, whose speech was mostly incomprehensible, as he hid his pain behind long and complicated words. Augustus and Hazel learn from each other. Their friendship is beautiful. I read and reread the last few paragraphs in the book because they summed up the depth of what that friendship accomplished. A truly anomalous and exceptional book that made me shed quite a few tears.

Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill (Audiobook)

In most fairy tales, princesses are beautiful, dragons are terrifying, and stories are harmless. This isn't most fairy tales. Princess Violet is plain, reckless, and quite possibly too clever for her own good. Particularly when it comes to telling stories. One day she and her best friend, Demetrius, stumble upon a hidden room and find a peculiar book. A forbidden book. It tells a story of an evil being--called the Nybbas--imprisoned in their world. The story cannot be true--not really. But then the whispers start. Violet and Demetrius, along with an ancient, scarred dragon, may hold the key to the Nybbas's triumphÉor its demise. It all depends on how they tell the story. After all, stories make their own rules.

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This is where we keep track of what we are currently reading and plan to read.

Read and reviewed:
Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi (Great sequel)
Finished reading:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (upcoming review)

Currently reading:
The Widow's Redeemer by Philippa Jane Keyworth

Hope you all have a great reading week!

A simple but powerful story on the value of a gift. I read this book with my son and we had a wonderful discussion on the lives of other children in distant lands and the value we place on material objects. I could see it made him reflect deeply.

Kato is a boy who lives in a small Ugandan village. He is a poor but happy boy who wakes at dawn to get the family their supply of daily water. When he returns to the village square he stops to peek in the aid-worker's truck where he sees something amazing—brand-new pairs of shoes! Kato does not own any shoes, but this young boy does not take things for granted and manages to find something beautiful to trade for them.

With few words and illustrations that use earth tone colors with splashes of bright, patterned ones, this book conveys a heartwarming story about a boy who, despite living in a country ravaged by a generation of civil war and drought, can find joy in the gift of shoes and likewise show gratitude. This story opened up many questions for my eight-year old son. Where does the aid-worker get the things to give to the village? Can we also send shoes to children in Africa who are barefoot?

The best discussion we had though was about materialism and appreciating what we already have without always wanting more. It's a good lesson from the book that isn't forced or thrown at the child reading it, but beautifully illustrated by Kato and his simple and touching actions. A truly beautiful book!

I fell in love with the story of Les Misérables when I first read it in high school in my French class. Since then I've seen a theatre production of it and I now want to see the latest movie version. When I saw this audio drama from Focus on the Family Radio Theatre I knew I wanted to listen to it. Oh my goodness! What an amazing production! I LOVED it so much as it made me rediscover what I knew all along—that Victor Hugo wrote a masterpiece, a moving tale of redemption, forgiveness, love and the power of the human conscience.

This audio production is different from an audiobook because it is not a reading of the novel but an adapted version of it with cinema sound effects, orchestrated music, and British actors playing the role of the various characters much as in a movie. Each actor's voice suited the character he played. There is a full cast with 37 people, 8 starring in the main roles. Brian Blessed was perfect in the role of Jean Valjean, as was Geoffrey as Inspector Javert. Tony Robinson's sly weaselly voice suited the despicable Thenardier. They were easy to tell apart and I followed this professional production very well.

This audio drama is 3 hours in length (I could have listened to more!) and was true to Victor Hugo's original novel about Jean Valjean, a man who spent 19 years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread and was then pursued by the law when he disappeared during his parole. He became a reformed man when he was shown mercy and in turn spent his life greatly helping others and clearing his conscience. Listening to this on audio was so touching, and it moved me to tears quite often. By the end, as I was listening to the last of it driving home from work on the highway, I was bawling my eyes out.

This is a great audio to listen to with your family, especially older middle-grade children, but not under the age of 8 as stated on the CD case. It will keep them captivated I'm sure, on long drives or trips. There is not one dull moment and the sound effects and music score are fantastic. My husband happened to listen to a half hour or so of it and has been asking me ever since when I would finish with it so he could listen to it on his drive to work.

This audio drama is a great way to be introduced to Victor Hugo's touching masterpiece. After listening to it, I am interested in other productions from Focus on the Family Radio Theatre.  Highly recommended!

I was so excited to get this book, the sequel to one of my best reads of 2012, Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky. I'm happy to say I really enjoyed this one too! This is not a stand-alone book, however, and you would need to read the first book to know what is going on. If you like YA dystopian novels, don't hesitate to read the first book. For more on this trilogy, you can read my review of Under the Never Sky.

The story starts where it ended in the first book. Aria and Perry meet again and must uncover where the Still Blue is situated so they can relocate his tribe who are struggling to survive even as the Aether storms are devastating the land. Circumstances force them apart and test their love as they put their skills to use against their enemies.

Once again, Rossi swept me away into the world of Perry and Aria. Perry has become Blood Lord and must guide his people, who are wary of him and his ways, some even rebelling as he struggles to find solutions to feed them and keep the compound functioning. They will not accept Aria who is a former Dweller. The plot thickens as she communicates with people from her past to save Perry's family and get them the location of the Still Blue, their only hope for survival.

Initially, I went back and read the last chapter of Under the Never Sky to refresh my memory of what happened last. As I began to read this book, the secondary characters came back to mind. The first half of the book is very much about how Perry and Aria become comfortable in their respective roles and grow as individuals. The second half is more action-packed and I raced through it to see how it would all end. It's a satisfactory ending, of course, with the promise that the last book in this trilogy should deliver a good conclusion to this hopeful union between two people from vastly different worlds.

Once again, the way Rossi blends fantasy, sci-fi and dystopian elements is really what makes this trilogy so unique. The story flows smoothly and I liked the way it focused more on Perry this time. Although this is YA fiction, I had no problems relating to the characters who were young but intelligent, strong, sometimes vulnerable and wonderfully flawed, finding their way in a world falling apart.

What's more, there is no bad language, no sex scenes and little violence. I really can't wait to read the last installment in this trilogy, and any other book Rossi decides to write.

Sneak by Evan Angler (through Netgalley)

Logan arrives only to find that Acheron holds more secrets than anyone could have guessed and that all his careful planning is worthless against a government that will do anything to gain absolute control. It seems there is only one place to turn. But can a banned book with whisper-this pages and warnings about the real meaning of the Mark really hold the Answer?

Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown (Through Netgalley)

After reading the 39 Clues series I was really excited about this new one (patterned after the former) that also dealt with history but with a time travel element. Perhaps I had too high expectations for this book, though, because it was not as exciting as my daughter and I expected.

Nerdy history lover Dak Smyth and science geek Sera Froste stumble upon a time travel device called the Infinity Ring. These ten year-olds are the only ones who can use it and end up being recruited by a secret society named the Hystorians who tell them that history is broken and they need their help to fix it. With the help of Riq, another young Hystorian they travel back to Spain when Christopher Columbus was about to set sail and a mutiny plot on his ship was going to change history.

Although the characters eventually grew on us, we didn't much care for any of them and I think this wasn't a good start for us. Unlike the brother and sister team of the 39 Clues whom I loved, Dak and Sera were just okay, annoying and rude sometimes and not characters my daughter could relate to. The beginning of the plot was slow (even though there seems to be plenty of action) and the real exciting action happened toward the end of the book, but by that time my daughter had abandoned the book as boring. I was sorry she lost all interest because it did get better. As a matter of fact, my favorite character in the book showed up—a gruff-looking scar-faced seaman named Eyeball with a colorful dialogue that made me chuckle.

Overall, the premise of this series is interesting and fun with visits to the past that will teach youngsters some bits of history. I'm curious to find out more about the Remnants, what happened to Dak's parents, and how the trio will outwit the SQ evil organization. I have the second book in this series and will read it to see how the story continues since the ending is a cliffhanger one. Like the 39 Clues, this is the first title in a multiplatform series that includes a guide and code to unlock an online game.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

The writing is so witty and insightful that the reader almost forgets that it isn’t J.A. herself. She certainly writes in the style of Jane Austen, using the flowery language of the time, that makes the story that much more believable. Whereas you or I might say, “I’m crabby because I didn’t sleep last night;” the author says “one consequence of broken sleep is assuredly diminished civility.” To add to the “feel” of authenticity is the use of lines straight out of some of Austen’s own novels. For instance, in reply to a dashing, mysterious Lord Harold, Jane says “your lack of finer feeling, of scruple and honour – of everything, in truth, that turns a man a gentleman – makes you the very last person I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.” (Pride and Prejudice)

This is a historical mystery novel complete with murder, high treason, political intrigue as Bonaparte threatens England, a beautiful, young heiress, eligible young men and two love interests for Jane. 

I think Jane Austen fans will enjoy the book. Who better than Jane, with her keen understanding of human nature, to solve a mystery! 

This book is the first of nine novels with J.A. as heroine. I’m already a fan.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read. 

Reviewed by Sandra 

Disclosure: I bought this at a second-hand bookstore in Burlington, Vt. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Ever since I read The Little House on the Prairie as a child, I have enjoyed stories of men and women who have braved the Western untouched territories of North America. The Doctor's Lady is about such pioneers whose mission was to bring the Christian faith to the American Indians.

Priscilla White wanted to be a missionary in India but the Missionary Board stated she needed to be married. This upset Priscilla who had no intention of marrying until she met Dr. Eli Ernest, a missionary who'd returned from the wilds of the Oregon Country to raise funds for the clinic he was to build to help the Nez Perce Indians. Again, the board stated he was to be married , so he and Priscilla marry in name only so that they both can fulfil their dreams. As they make the rough and perilous journey of seven months from New York to Waiilatpu, Priscilla and Eli discover more than just respect for one another.

I loved this story. It was very well-written, well-paced and kept my interest throughout. And I was simply amazed at what Priscilla and Eli had to go through on their journey. The author says that this story was inspired by the true story of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, a young missionary couple who travelled overland to Oregon in 1836 for the purpose of starting a mission among the Nez Perce Indians. The author did a lot of research and it showed. The characters were real to me, well developed and likable, and flawed. The story was realistic and at times suspenseful as they dealt with life and death situations.

I was touched by how far this missionary couple was willing to go to help others, and how their view of the American Indians changed as they entered into their territory. This was great historical fiction. I have another book by Jody Hedlund that I now really look forward to reading. This author has been added to my list of favourite authors.

1. A Good Trade by Alma Fullerton, illustrated by Karen Patkau
2. Lumpito and the Painter from Spain by Monica Kulling and Dean Griffiths
3. A Bear in War by Stephanie Innes & Harry Endrulat, illustrated by Brian Deines
4. Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole
5. The Granddaughter Necklace by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
6. March of the Ants (full-cast audiobook)
7. Nalah and the Pink Tiger by Anne Sawyer-Aitch
8. Bubble Tubbie by Epiphany Schwarz
9. Mister Dash and the Cupcake Calamity by Monica Culling
10. Tilda Pinkerton's Magical Hats: By the Red Tractor Mailbox by Angela Shelton 
11. Tinky's Magic Cookies by Susan Spira, illustrated by Julie Leiman Weaver 
12. Tinky and the Dragon by Susan Spira, illustrated by Julie Leiman Weaver
13. Tinky and the Baby Butterflies by Susan Spira, illustrated by Julie Leiman Weaver
14. Can't and Able by Cynthia Fabian
15. Miracle Miles by Brian J. Hunt, illustrated by Luke Flowers
16. Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear in the Refrigerator? by Max Wallack and Carolyn Given
17. Poppy and the Fat Puppy by Eli Jay
18. Mary Elizabeth The Spotless Cow by Salvatore Barbera
19. In the Hall of the Mountain King by Allison Flannery, illustrated by Vesper Stamper
20. Tweezle Into Everything by Stephanie McLellan, illustrated by Dean Griffiths

1. Going Up! Elisha Otis's Trip to the Top by Monica Kulling
2. Who Knows the Seasons? by Geoffrey Haas
3. Making Contact! Marconi Goes Wireless by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Richard Rudnicki
4. If You Were Me and Lived in...Norway by Carole P. Roman

Middle Grade Book Reviews
Fiction

1. Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner
2. Real Mermaids Don't Hold Their Breath by Hélène Boudreau
3. Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel
4. Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels by Hélène Boudreau
5. Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill (audiobook)
6. Sunwing by Kenneth Oppel
7. Days That End in Y by Vikki VanSickle
8. Cragbridge Hall Book #1: The Inventor's Secret by Chad Morris
9. Ida B by Katherine Hannigan
10. Mira's Diary: Home Sweet Rome by Marissa Moss
11. Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet
12. Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel
13. The Silver Six by AJ Lieberman and Darren Rawlings
14. Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Great Bear Rainforest by Patti Wheller and Keith Hemstreet
15. Family Tree Book 1: Better to Wish by Ann. M. Martin
16. Scare Scape by Sam Fisher
17. Danny's Doodles: The Jelly Bean Experiment by David A. Adler
18. The Last Ride of Caleb O'Toole by Eric Pierpoint
19. Will in Scarlet by Matthew Cody
20. Skellig by David Almond
21. Treasure Hunters by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
22. Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman
23. The Stowaways by Meghan Marentette

1. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi 
2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
3. Keeper of the Black Stones (Stone Ends: Book 1) by PT McHugh
4. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater
5. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
6. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (audiobook)
7. Face-Off by Stacy Juba (audiobook)
8. Namesake by Sue MacLeod
9. The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen
10. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (audiobook)
11. Torn from Troy: Odyssey of a Slave (Book 1) by (audiobook)
12. The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman
13. Swept Up by the Sea by Tracy and Laura Hickman
14. Shadows of Glass (Book 2) by Kassy Tayler (audiobook)
15. Tandem (A Many-Worlds Trilogy Book 1) by Anna Jarzab (audiobook)
16. Broken by C.J. Lyons
17. Trash by Andy Mulligan
18. The Riddle of Prague by Laura DeBruce