Horton Halfpott

Angleberger, T. (2011). Horton Halfpott, or, The fiendish mystery of Smugwick Manor, or, The loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's corset. New York: Amulet Books.

This book is a witty look at life in the Smugwick manor. One event, the loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's corset, sets off a string of unprecedented events. The slight loosening of the corset allows everyone in the house to relax slightly. It allows M'Lady to accept a guest and agree to host a ball and which in turn causes the Lump, the family's priceless jewel, to be stolen.
Horton Halfpott, the kitchen boy, gets mixed into this silly series of events and in the end helps solve the mystery with his friends Bump, Blight and Blemish. It turns out that M'Lady's nasty and spoiled son stole the Lump to pay kidnappers to kidnap the girl that his cousin desires. In the end, all is set right as the son ends up in the bog, the jewel is found worthless, Halfpott is taken away from Smugwick Manor, and the corset is tightened. 

This book was comical, light and easy to read. It would be a great read aloud or is an easy enough read that it would be good for reluctant readers in the middle grades. I loved the voice in this book. Tom Angleberger uses the rare 2nd person point of view to address the reader through the story telling, which as the reader, I really like.  

Woods Runner

Paulsen, G. (2010). Woods runner. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

Set in 1776, in western Pennsylvania, one day Samuel Smith is in the woods hunting when his small settlement is attacked and burned and his parents are taken hostage by British soldiers. He tracks his parents to New York City. Along the way he finds a young girl named Annie, who's parents were killed by soldiers. He and Annie meet a Patriot spy named Abner. Abner helps Samuel and Annie get into New York. In New York, Samuel rescues his parents and gets them and Annie out of New York City. At this point, the family begins their journey back to Pennsylvania. The family makes it safely to Philadelphia where they decide to live, fearful of the woods. At 16, Samuel leaves his family and returns to the war. 

I love Gary Paulsen's books of survival and I love that this one took survival and interwove it with the American Revolution. Students will like this book, particularly students studying the American Revolution. It is an interesting take not he war since we never hear about the civilians, just those actively involved int he fight. 

Deadline

Crutcher, C. (2007). Deadline. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Ben Wolf discovers at the beginning of his senior year, that he has a rare blood disease that he will most likely die from. He is given a year to live, so he declines all treatment and embraces that year, while telling no one. He joins the football team, dates the beautiful Dallas Suzuki, and follows his heart. He challenges his teachers, reads and learns, and follows his passions. Ben does end up dying at the end of his senior year. He leaves a note to his town saying good bye and explaining how he chose to live his life. He has one regret and that is not being honest with those that he loved about his illness. 

Tear Jerker. Ugh. I cried and cried at the end of this book, but I guess that stirring emotion is part of what makes young adult literature popular and moving. This was a great book about embracing and truly living your life. I think this book would appeal to young adults of both genders. 

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation

Anderson, M. (2006). The astonishing life of Octavian Nothing, traitor to the nation (Vol. 1: The Pox Party). Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

The story of Octavian Nothing is told through many different mediums- 1st person by Octavian, through letters, and articles. It is set in Colonial America at the beginning of the American Revolution. Octavian and his mother are wards of a college, although at the beginning they don't really understand what this means. They are part of an experiment being performed on the intelligence and ability of slaves. As funding changes at the university, and as the British soldiers are moving in, life changes for Octavian and his mother. The nature of their experiment changes and they become more slave like than before. Through experimentation, Octavian's mother dies and he runs away. At this point he becomes a full on slave. He is hunted and retrieved as a slave, and once caught, shackled. 

This story is a unique and disturbing take on slavery. When we think about slavery, we don't think about experimentation, we think about physical labor. The story is also told in a unique way through 1st person accounts, letters, articles, and biblical and educational references. The content of this book is definitely more appropriate for upper grade teens. 

Please Ignore Vera Dietz

King, A., & Knopf, I. (2010). Please ignore Vera Dietz. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

This is a story of Vera and Charlie's (now deceased) friendship and the deterioration of that friendship. The story is told through flashbacks. We learn about Vera and Charlie's home lives and how that impacts their friendship. As they get older, they begin to go their separate ways. Charlie's new girlfriend is jealous of Vera and tells him lies that lead to him acting out against Vera. Right before his death, Charlie reaches out to Vera, giving her information about his new girl friend. She plans on killing him and burning down the pet store. Vera is hurt by Charlie's behavior and doesn't know what to do with this information. In the end, friendship prevails, and Vera goes to the police with everything that she knows. 

This story explores a childhood friendship between a boy and a girl, which is a little different from the other books I've read. Deterioration of childhood friendships are common and can lead to a lot of hurt and angst to those involved. Anybody who has lost their childhood friend, will be able to relate to this story. 

Shiver

Stiefvater, M., & Stengel, C. (2009). Shiver. New York: Scholastic Press.

Shiver is a love story between Grace and Sam. Sam is a wolf who has watched and been watched by Grace for years from the woods behind her house. Sam is able to take on a human form for a brief time each year. As the town is hunting the wolves, Sam gets shot. He arrives at Grace's house in human form where they fall in love.

This story is told from both the point of views of Grace and Sam. Each chapter tells who is the narrator and what the temperature outside is. To me, this is a fairly stereotypical, human/ creature love story, but I think that is exactly why this book would appeal to teens. There is comfort to be found in a book that plays out the way you would expect.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Saenz, B., & Foglia, C. (2012). Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe. New York: Simon & Schuster BFYR.

Aristotle and Dante is about two boys, seemingly very different, who become friends one summer. The boys rely on each other and need each other in their journey between boyhood and manhood. We go through their struggles with relationships with others and with each other. In the end, they both realize what they have been looking for all along is right in front of them, each other.

As silly as it may seem, I chose this book because of the title and the art work on the cover. I did not realize that the book was about two boys struggling with their homosexuality, both in different ways. The book is warm and touching and would help teens struggling and conflicted with these same feelings. It loops back in the familiar theme of acceptance of oneself and of others different from us, which most teens can relate to.