One Night - Margaret Wild This is a novel in verse about a young woman who has a one night stand with a boy and then decides she wants to raise the baby. This book portrays a lot of heartache as she lives with her decision but ultimately has many moments of hope as well. Alternating voices make this a unique book.
Rubber Houses - Ellen Yoemans A novel in verse about a young girl, Kit, whose brother Buddy is diagnosed with cancer. She and he both love baseball, so Kit thinks about their relationship in those terms. Powerful and emotional.
Alibi Junior High - Greg Logsted IF you're a fan of Alex Rider, Artemis Fowl, Cammie Gallagher and the like, this is a great book for you. 13 year old Cody has lived with his CIA operative dad all his life, basically in deep cover, and he's suddenly sent to live with his aunt. this means regular school, regular clothes, regular friends. Not that he knows anything about how to do that. what he knows about is secret surveillance, beating up 7 guys in five minutes, identifying weapons, etc. A 13 year old James Bond is alive and well in Connecticut. Also requires some suspension of disbelief, but there is good action and suspense that middle school students especially will love.
I So Don't Do Mysteries - Barrie Summy Sherry's just 13 and her mother just recently died in a police operation that went bad. Sherry does NOT do mysteries. But what's a girl to do when her ghost mother who smells like coffee and her ghost grandfather in the form of a backyard bird basically beg her to help them? Go to San Diego and figure out who's trying to poach the rhino, that's what. And maybe even get a cute boyfriend in the process. Fun little mystery with an interesting plot twist and some good moments of suspense.
Into the Wild Nerd Yonder - Julie Halpern Jess has known for a long time that she was a nerd, but she still had some friends. Now she's realizing those friends aren't really who she wants to hang around with, but who's left? Band geeks and Dungeons and Dragons players, that's who. but is she really ready to be THAT geeky? Fun book that high schoolers will probably "get" more than middle schoolers will.
The Juvie Three - Gordon Korman. Gecko, Arjay, and Terence are three juveniles in prison, and they're given one last chance to live in halfway house as part of a very special program. There are LOTS of rules with this program, and if they break any of them, that's the end of them. They're off to the big house for good.
The social worker who has set up this whole program is Doug Healy, and the man has the patience of a saint. He's got a little personal stake in this as well, since he was sort of like these guys when he was young. Unfortunately, Mr. Healy is involved in a little "accident" and develops amnesia. Will the boys be able to keep the secret that he's not at the house with him? Will he ever recover his mind? What if he doesn't? Requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, but it's such a good story, you really don't mind.
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