Snap--Alison McGhee

Eddie and Sally have been best friends since second grade. Eddie makes lists and wears different colored rubber bands on her wrist to remind her to do or not to do certain things (don't store food in her cheeks; don't tip back in her chair). Sally lives with her grandmother Willie because Sally's mom Jill was too young to take care of her.

Things go okay until Willie gets a "blood disease" and the girls realize she's dying. Sally withdraws into herself and Eddie doesn't know how to deal with the sadness or help her friend.

This is a beautifully written novel. Although 5th graders would be capable of reading it, I think and older reader would appreciate it more.

If the kids like it, it's a YES. Strong MAYBE, until we get kid feedback.

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Reading: Don't know yet
On My Nightstand: Plenty to choose from

Worlds Afire--Paul B. Janeczko

Collection of poems about a circus fire in 1944. The poems are all by eyewitnesses--some of them survivors, some of them not. Very quick read, only 92 pages of individual poems, but very disturbing. The writing is good, the voices are haunting. I would not give this to a young reader. Novels in verse are not for everyone--they have a limited audience--and with this subject matter I don't feel comfortable putting it on a list for all middle schoolers. It has limited readership.

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Reading: Snap--Alison McGhee
On My Nightstand: Loads more

Brother Hood--Janet McDonald

This is a good book, well-written with good characters, but it's not middle school. The main character is an 11th grader who has sex within the first 3 chapters, he routinely interacts with drug dealers in the hood and at his private school. I just don't think it's middle school. Junior High, yes, High School, yes. Not middle school.

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Reading: Worlds Afire--Paul B. Janeczko
On My Nightstand: Lots

Really, Truly Everything's Fine--Linda Leopold Strauss

I couldn't even finish this one. It was so slow and it was hard to read with my eyes rolling constantly. Same old "my life is falling apart" story but it's so slow I got bored in the first few chapters.

Some kids like it. Some don't. I really don't think it's Top Shelf. We've given in on the Supernaturalist and other books, I don't think we have to keep this one too.

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Reading: Brother Hood--Janet McDonald
On My Nightstand: More more more