The Buddy Files: The Case of the Lost Boy by Dori Hillestad Butler

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  K-3rd grade

This is an entertaining chapter book for students in the lower elementary grades.  The Buddy Files are a series of books about a special golden retriever named, Buddy.  The book begins with King (Buddy) at the pound.  His previous family went away and after being taken care of by many different people, King ends up at the pound.  He is very upset and wants to find his former family, Kayla and her dad.  A mom and her son, Connor, have just moved into town and they come to the pound and adopt King.  They don't know he already has a name and they name him Buddy.  Buddy is excited because Connor and his mom live in the same neighborhood that Kayla did.  Connor is very homesick and decides to run away from home.  Buddy, being the smart dog that he is, helps in the search for Connor.

Matched by Ally Condie

The New York Times 2011 Best Children's Chapter Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

Below is a book trailer from "Book Trailers For All" created by Alicia Vandenbrook.

In Cassia's society, everything is chosen and decided for them. They are told what they can read, what songs they can listen to, and what they can eat.  She decided that she wants to be "Matched" and gets to wear a beautiful green dress to her match banquet.  At the banquet, she finds out that she is matched to her best friend, Xander.  They are both very excited and happy and find it a little strange that they can think differently about each other now.  The next morning, Cassia inserts her match card into the computer to find out the "official" details about her match.  After Xander's information comes up, a picture of Ky appears.  Cassia is soon contacted by an official who tells her it was all a mistake.  Cassia begins to question her match and decides to get to know Ky better.  Will she choose the safer, Xander, or will she follow her heart and choose Ky? 

This was my favorite book of the semester.  It is part of a trilogy.  The second book, Crossed, will be released on November 1st, 2011.  I can't wait! Here is a link to Ally Condie's website:  http://www.allysoncondie.com/. 

The Extraordinary Mark Twain by Barbara Kerley

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  3rd-6th grades

We all know who the famous author, Mark Twain was.  This book tells us about the biography that his daughter, Susy, wrote about him.  She wanted the world to really know who her father was.  Through her journal, she lets the reader see the different sides of Mark Twain.  One feature that this book has is that on many of the pages, there is a mini journal that is attached to the page with words from Susy's real journal.  When Mark Twain wrote his own autobiography, he included some of his favorite passages from Susy's journal.  The last page of the book gives kids a step-by-step guide on how to write a biography. 

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Please listen to my Voicethread above about this book.

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range:  5th-8th grade

Imogene's Last Stand by Candance Fleming

Please listen to Imogene above tell you about the book.

Texas Bluebonnet 2011-2012 Book

Age Range: K-3rd grade

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

2011 TAYSHAS Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

Once Was Lost is broken down into 16 days, each of them being a chapter in this book.  The main character, Sam, opens the book and is depressed and upset about how her life has ended up.  Her mother, after a DUI accident, is off in a rehab program.  Her father, is a pastor of a church, and tends to place the church and the congregation first.  His family comes in last place and he never seems to have time for them.  One afternoon, a young girl (Jody Shaw) from church is kidnapped.  The remainder of the book focuses on the community pulling together to help in the search for Jody.  Throughout this time, Sam questions her relationship with God, her parent's, and her friends.  She also hopes for a happy ending for her parents and desperately wants her mother to come home again.  This is a wonderful book about finding yourself.  Another great book by Sara Zarr is Sweethearts.

Here is a book trailer that I made about this book:

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

The New York Times 2011 Children's Series Book

Age Range:  Young Adult

This was a very entertaining book that I couldn't put down!  The book begins with five best friends the summer after 7th grade.  Unexpectedly, one of them, Alison, disappears and her body is never found.  The disappearance really gets to the four remaining girls and they grow apart.  They all go their separate ways and the book picks up three years later.  Spencer, is expected to be perfect by her parents and is an overachiever and on the field hockey team.  Aria has recently moved back and falls in love with her high school English teacher.  Hanna is now beautiful and popular, but has an eating disorder to stay thin.  Emily is on the swim team and has a new best friend, Maya, who makes her question her relationship with her boyfriend.  All four of the girls have buried secrets that only Ali knew.  They begin getting text messages and emails from a mysterious "A" that mentions their secrets.  The ending of this book was a shock and not what I expected.  It does a great job of setting it up for the next book, Flawless.  Great book!