A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga This is the same author who wrote A Rover’s Story! I loved that book! Rami’s mom works at the museum, so he spends a lot of time there when he is not in school. One of the paintings goes missing, and soon after, Rami starts … More A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall
Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai This one is sort of a graphic novel. If you have ever read Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, it’s like that but spooky instead of funny. The book features numerous drawings throughout, but not enough to truly qualify as a graphic novel. This is the journal … More Read at Your Own Risk
Mine by Delilah S. Dawson Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups Spooky book! Lily and her family have moved from Colorado to Florida for her dad’s new job. There is hinting at the fact that Lily did something and that is why the family decided to move and give her a fresh start. Lily … More Mine
A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1) by Lisa Yee Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups Another Caudill nominee. Already getting ready for next school year. I like to do quick little booktalks at the end of the year on the award nominees so that students have something to read over the summer. Olive is … More A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1)
Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups Graphic Novel Maya loves cooking. Her dad just told her that his girlfriend is about to move in with them, but as a treat, they are sending her to summer culinary camp! She is thrilled! They bring her to the spot where … More Summer Vamp
The Road to After by Rebekah Lowell Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups Book in verse I know by now that these books are always going to be emotional. This book starts with her grandparents showing up at her house with police to help them escape their home. Lacey, her little sister, and her … More The Road to After
Ghost Book by Remy Lai Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups Fun graphic novel. This is also a Caudill nominee. Caudill is an Illinois book award that is voted on by kids and only kids. I like to read these each year to be ready to book talk to my students at the start … More Ghost Book
Stay Dead by April Henry Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups Action from the start! Milan is getting kicked out of her third boarding school. She is waiting to be picked up by her mother in their private plane. Milan’s mother is a senator. She became a senator after her husband, Milan’s father, was … More Stay Dead
A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups A novel in verse. Will was called fat in 4th grade. That moment has stayed with him for years. He is now in middle school (I think 7th grade), and he is still dealing with that one moment. He spends most … More A Work in Progress
Weird Kid by Greg Van Eekhout Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups This one had me at the dedication “To all the weird kids. Stay weird.” I was a weird kid, I feel like I am still weird. Jake is ‘fell to Earth in a flaming blob of space goo, sprouting feathers in class … More Weird Kid
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