Hide and Seek by Katy Grant

230 pgs/2010
When Chase is out geocaching one day, he comes across a message in a cache-WE NEE. The next day it says more-WE NEED FOOD. Is it a prank? Or does someone need help? And can he believe their story?

This one is one the Mark Twain list for next year and I think adventure readers will enjoy it. It wasn't my favorite book on the list, but I think readers who like suspense, mystery and action will be picking this one up.

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

360 pgs/2010


About the Book: Aldywn is a typical ally cat-trying to find food and running away from the local animal bounty hunter. When Aldywn is running for his life, he ducks into a pet store to escape. But this isn't just any pet store-it's a pet store for familiars, animal companions to wizards. Aldywn doesn't know anything about the wizarding world or magic, so it's just his luck that a young wizard chooses him to be his familiar!

Aldwyn tries to fake his way in his new home and pretends to be a magical cat. When the familiars young wizards are kidnapped, Aldwyn and his new familiar friends must help them before it's too late-and Aldwyn has to decide if he should reveal the truth or not.

HermioneWeasley Says: I remember when this book first came out and it looked fun, but I'm not the biggest fan of animal fantasy, so I passed on it. I picked up it again for two reasons-1) it's nominated for our state book award and 2) a co-worker's third-grade son said it was the best book he ever read. So with those things pushing me to read The Familiars, I decided to give it a try.

The Familiars is very much The Warriors Series meets Harry Potter. (I was all excited to think of that "meets" line and than realized that Michael Buckley says the same thing on the back of the book-so much for being creative!:) It really is the best way to sell this book to tweens though and I think young fans of both series will enjoy The Familiars.

The Familiars has everything tweens will love-lots of adventure and excitement, humor, good guys versus bad guys, magic, danger, secrets and friendship. It's a non-stop adventure-filled ride and even though the book is long, it's easy to get caught up in the story and it ends up being a very fast paced read. Add in the fact that it's the start to a series, and I think this one will end up being very popular with tweens.

For adults, it's a bit predictable, but it's great for younger readers looking for excitement and adventure and a fun magical series. Since we put this out on our award shelf, it hasn't stayed long! Lots of fun for readers who enjoy magic and animals.

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

2010/288 pgs

Told in many alternating voices this is the story of one classroom and their teacher during a year of school. Who knew this year would change them all? This is a touching story with lots of plots going on-mean girls, grief, family feuds, bullies. I think there's something for wide range of readers and I can see this book being a popular Mark Twain read, especially for readers who like stories with a touch of make you cry moments.

Twenty Gold Falcons

Twenty Gold Falcons by Amy Gordon
216 pp                                                                                              
                                                                                                

From the author of Gorillas of Gill Park, here's another sort of mystery with many of the same characters from that first book.  Aiden and her mom have moved to Gloria, leaving behind their family farm after the death of Aiden's father.  Aiden has trouble settling in but through a crazy cast of characters, some of which turn out to be relatives, and a story about falcons and gold coins, she gradually finds a way to be comfortable in her new environment.  This is a Mark Twain Nominee for 2012-2013.
Kim F

Hide & Seek

Hide & Seek
by Katy Grant
230 pp                                                                             
                                                           

This is on the new list of Mark Twain nominees.  I can see why it made the list.  I think boys might enjoy the adventure part, the main character is a boy and in the end, he's sort of a hero.

Plot summary:  Chase lives at an Arizona resort with his mom, stepdad and two sisters.  The whole family has to help run the resort.  Chase is really into using his GPS that his dad gave him.  One day, while searching for a geocache, he finds a disturbing note, seemingly written in a child's hand, that seems to indicate someone is in trouble and needs help.  Eventually Chase meets the two young boys who wrote the note and he has to figure out if the boys are really just camping with their dad or is their something more going on.  Then the suspense and adventure begin.

For an adult reader, it's a pretty thin story but I think kids will like it and they'll learn a lot about geocaching, which is a feature in at least two of our library branches..could spark a kid's program, maybe.

Kim F

The Magic Half

by Annie Barrows.  211p.  

Miri is an only child stuck between two sets of twins.   While her dad says this is part of what makes her special, she feels left out and different.   But after discovering an old glasses lens that transports her to her home during the Great Depression, Miri discovers something wonderful - her very own twin!  Now that they've found each other Miri and Molly must figure out how to get back to the present with out getting hurt - and by bringing down Molly's evil cousin Horst.


Annie Barrows, co-author of the 'Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,' creates a wonderful, magic-filled world that any kid can get sucked into.  And who hasn't spent hours wishing they had a secret twin that they had to save?  

Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford

2009/195 pgs

About the Book: Newt Newman is overlooked at school and lives in the shadow of his big brother Chris, the football star. At the big game, Chris is knocked into a coma. To keep his mind of his brother, Newt's friends encourage him to find his "inner other" for their Halloween costumes. Newt throws something together and discovers Captain Nobody, defender of the little guy. Soon Captain Nobody is saving the day. Can he also save his brother?

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: Captain Nobody is on the 2011-2012 Mark Twain list and I think readers will love having a funny book on the list!

When I first picked this book up, I thought it was more a silly superhero story. At first I was a bit confused how the storylines worked together. I don't know if they really flowed together all that well, but it works and I think kids will love the humor.

While Newt is a great character and I liked Captain Nobody, for me the supporting characters were my favorites. JJ and Cecil are hilarious! Maybe they just stood out to me more because I listened to the book on audio and the voices the author uses to bring these characters to life is so much fun. JJ is obsessed with fantasy, she's an avid reader, and she's very smart. She also is very strict about grammar and the fact that signs are written incorrectly really bugs her. I loved Cecil. He's the motivator and very excitable. He's like an exuberant preacher always shouting about the next big thing.

Newt's story is a bit far fetched and his adventures too easily solved, but Captain Nobody is still a fun read. It's great for readers looking for adventure and humor. If you come across a reader who says they can't find any Mark Twain book they like or want to read, try Captain Nobody.

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

2009/262 pgs.

About the Book: Eleven-year-old Aubrey is barely surviving. Her younger sister and her father were killed in a car accident and her mother has left Aubrey-and hasn't come back. When Gram discovers that Aubrey is by herself, she brings Aubrey with her to Vermont. Aubrey writes letters to help deal with everything that is going on around her. Aubrey slowly makes friends and talks to the school counselor, but healing is a long process.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: I listened to Love, Aubrey on CD and I can't decide if I liked it on audio or not.

It's a very good book and very well written. The author tackles tough issues, especially for a tween novel, and handles them delicately. She's also never message heavy which I think readers will appreciate. Aubrey is a bit of a difficult narrator because her grief is so heavy and that takes a toll on the reader. This especially made listening to the book very hard. The narrator gives Aubrey a scratchy, sad voice, which makes listening to the book a bit depressing. I also wonder if readers will get tired of Aubrey and not stick with the book-it look me awhile to like her.

I love the character of Bridget and she is an incredible friend for Aubrey. She was my favorite character in the book and I wish the world had more people like Bridget who are caring and understanding-no matter what. She's a great character for young readers to meet!

Readers who stick with the book will be rewarded though. Readers go through the healing process with Aubrey and through this I felt I liked Aubrey more. I don't know that this will be a favorite on the Mark Twain list, but I think it will have a small select fan base.

Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret

A very quick read, this was my car book for the past few days.  It's the story of Sunny, who has been farmed out to a variety of foster homes but wants to find her twin sister, Starr.  When the story opens, Sunny is living with Rita, in another foster home, and for the first time, has found someone who seems genuinely kind and caring.  But she can't stop thinking of her sister.  In typical tween fashion, she sets out on her own instead of enlisting Rita's help and has several adventures on her way to find her sister. 
I think kids will like this story.  One, it's by Peg Kehret and she's very popular with the younger set, and two, it's a quick, fairly easy and pretty compelling story, even it it is sort of unrealistic.  Finally, there's a stray dog-a really sweet stray dog.  What's not to like?!
This is a Mark Twain Nominee for 2011-2012
Kim F

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

Hi everybody.  I just finished this one and it's not too bad.  Kind of like Groundhog Day for kids.  Leo and Amanda are reliving their 11th birthday, over and over again, and they don't know why until they talk to a mysterious little white-haired lady.  Find out if they ever live to see another Saturday in this 2011-2012 Mark Twain Nominee.  It's a quick read and a pretty good story.
Kim F

Runaway Twin

by Peg Kehret, 197 pages

Runaway Twin is a 2011-2012 Mark Twain Award Nominee. Sunny has spent most of her life in foster care. Although she has finally been placed in a home she likes, she is still unhappy. Sunny was separated from her twin sister, Starr, when they were three years old. She has no idea where Starr is now, but the thought of a twin sister somewhere in the world, the only person who can really understand her, haunts her thought and keeps her from being satisfied. She's always felt that something is missing, and she won't be complete until she's reunited with Starr.

When Sunny finds a mysterious sack of cash while on a hike, she decides the time has come to find her twin. She runs away from her foster home with only a vague idea of where to begin her search.

Sunny is a quick-witted and engaging main character. Her intelligence and intuition keep what could be a pretty implausible plot from seeming unbelievable. While this wasn't my favorite Mark Twain Award Nominee, this book could have a lot of appeal for older kids/YA (Sunny is 13, and there are some scary parts), and boys, if they don't mind a female main character.

Heart of a Shepherd

By Rosanne Parry, 161 pages.

OK, so before I said I hoped The Secret of Zoom would win the 2011-2012 Mark Twain Award. Scratch that, I spoke too soon! Stop what you're doing, put down what you're reading, and go get a copy of Heart of a Shepherd. I have not been this moved by a children's book since Walk Two Moons. I cried and cried. Man. Oof. Wow.

Heart of a Shepherd is about a boy everyone calls Brother. He lives on a ranch in Oregon with his grandparents. His father is serving in Iraq, and his mother is out of the picture. He has some sheep he tends, some older brothers, and some friends at school. And that's basically the book right there. Although things happen in the book, the story is mainly about Brother's thoughts and feelings as he deals with life, death, growing up. I can't explain the alchemy that good writing brings to a simple story to make it moving and important. All I know is I was reading a story about a boy, and then the magic of literature happened and I was crying my eyes out.

Heart of a Shepherd is a simple and thoughtful portrait of a boy on the cusp of adulthood. Even though it's categorized as J Fiction, I think YA readers might get more out of it. But who knows. I remember reading Walk Two Moons in fifth grade and loving it, and when I read it again last year I loved it for different reasons. Heart of a Shepherd is probably the same-- people of all ages will find something of value.

The Secret of Zoom

by Lynn Jonell, 291 pages

The Secret of Zoom is a 2011-2012 Mark Twain Award Nominee, and of the nominated books I've read so far (um...I've read 2), I think this one should win! It reminded me of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unforunate Events or Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. Children are called upon to perform heroic and dangerous feats while figuring out a sinister mystery concocted by evil grownups. Man, I hate evil grownups!

Christina comes from a very scientific family. But ever since her scientist mother died under mysterious circumstances (her lab exploded and she was never seen again), Christina has been a virtual prisoner in her family's amazing mansion, kept away from other children and the outside world by her overprotective but well-meaning father. When Christina accidentally comes in contact with an orphan from the outside world, she gets inspired to break free. She discovers a secret passageway that leads out of the mansion. She meets up with her orphan friend, Taft, but soon finds herself embroiled in mystery involving orphan abuse, mining violations, a mysterious substance called zoom, and a corrupt relative she had never met. There's also an airplane controlled by singing and the power of thought. Amazing!

For me, the coolest part of this book was that so much of the plot hinges on characters' abilities to sing on pitch (I don't want to spoil anything, but it has to do with how zoom works). I kept having to get up and try notes and chords on the piano to understand how things worked. Of course, the book makes sense and would be a great read even if you don't have a piano handy, but for me, it was fun to play and sing the notes along with Christina. It turns out the chord needed to start the airplane is very beautiful and kind of mournful sounding. Cool!

11 Birthdays

by Wendy Mass, 267 pages

11 Birthdays is a 2011-2012 Mark Twain Award Nominee. The plot is ripped off from Groundhog Day, the 1993 movie starring Bill Murray, but I'm not complaining. In fact, I'd like to see that plot ripped off as much as possible because that movie is awesome and I like thinking about Bill Murray.

Amanda and Leo are best friends born on the same day. They've celebrated all 10 of their birthdays together, but on their tenth birthday, they had a falling out. Now their eleventh birthday is approaching, and for the first time, they'll have separate parties. Amanda is upset about their fight, the fact that Leo will probably have a cooler party than her, and her fear that she isn't as popular as her friends. Her fears are confirmed on her birthday-- she and Leo don't talk, she messes up her audition for the gymnastics team, her party is sparsely attended, and to top it off, her mom gets fired.

The next morning, Amanda wakes up to find it's her birthday again. And again. And again. She discovers the same thing is happening to Leo-- they're living their birthday over and over. They realize they have to team up to find a way to get unstuck in time. They explore town legends, family history, and their friendship to find the anwer.

One interesting thing about this book is that although Wendy Mass doesn't mention Groundhog Day, it's clear the book was written in a post-Groundhog Day world. When Amanda and Leo realize they're stuck, their first instinct is to try to be better people, because come on, everyone knows if you get stuck in time you have to be nicer. They help strangers, they're extra pleasant to their parents, they turn their homework in on time, and in the morning, they're dismayed to discover that none of it worked. It took Bill Murray 3/4 of the movie to figure out he had to be nice, but Amanda and Leo think of it immediately. Actually, their solution is a lot more complicated than Bill Murray's. If Bill Murray had to go through everything Leo and Amanda did, he'd still be stuck in Punxatawney.