Scumble written by Ingrid Law

Things start to come apart for Ledger Kale on his thirteenth birthday. Literally. In Ledger's family, kids get a savvy, a special power, on their thirteenth birthday. Ledger had been hoping for super speed, but savvies don't work that way. They're unpredictable. And Ledger's savvy seems to be the power to destroy man-made objects. After he demolishes his uncle's barn at his cousin's wedding, Ledger's parents decide it'll be best for him to spend the summer at his uncle's ranch in Wyoming learning to scumble his savvy. But Ledger's afraid he'll never be able to control his new power. To make matters worse, Sarah Jane, a girl from the nearby town of Sundance, keeps following him everywhere, determined to uncover the secret of his strange family. What will happen if the world finds out about their savvies?


Ledger Kale is the most recent thirteen year old of the Beaumont clan. With high hopes that his "savvy" would give him a super wondrous athletic quality Ledger anticipates his birthday to be spectacular. Unfortunately his high hopes are diminished when his savvy is a sad ability to destroy everything technological. While he deals with his inner fears of disappointing his father, who wants him to be an award winning athlete, along with his concerns of destroying all the belongings his family treasures, and protecting the family secrets from the outside world, he tries to overcome his "savvy" by learning to “scumble” it.

After hopelessly failing he is left at the ranch for the summer in order to perfect his keep-it-together control of his savvy. In that time an adventure unfolds that is entertaining, enduring, and comical. This is a story about following your own dreams, being all that you can be, and learning to love the family you were given.

Love Bites written by Ellen Schreiber

I am a fan of Ellen Schreiber. I was given the opportunity to me her when she came to my school district on a authors visit. she was terrific with the students.

Raven a mortal girl is dating a vampire, she knows that love isn't easy. Alexandr's best friend Sebastian comes to visit. Raven is thrilled at first, hoping to learn more about Alexander. But Sebastian falls for Becky, Raven's best friend. Will Raven's friend get the first bite?

Loves bites, yes or no!

Loser written by Jerry Spinelli

Loser by Jerry Spinelli was very difficult for me to read. I read the entire book hoping by chance that in the end Zinkoff would not be known as a loser. What a terrible word or name for a child to be called. I am glad that none of my children had to read this book as a classroom novel or even found this book in the library. My heart broke over and over for this little boy. I am not certain if this book was read by middle schoolers that they would see a message in the book, this would be a book read by high school students or even adults hoping they would see themselves as they were in middle school or elementary school.

eat pray love written by Elizabeth Gilbert

eat pray love definitely a different for me to read. Elizabeth spent a year or so trying to find herself. going to Europe, India and Asia always seeking to find herself. I am not certain at the end of the book if she really ever found herself but she did find love. maybe that is what she was looking for all the time.

saving graces written by elizabeth edwards

saving graces is a autobiography written by elizabeth edwards herself. it is about the people who entered her life all those she considered family. the many many people from early childhood right up to her death. each person she cherished their friendship.

we get to know her children Wade and Cate, Wade's life cut short at 16 but her daughter Cate right up to the time of Mrs. Edwards death. The two youngest we get to know just alittle. Her husband John she loved so dearly, a soul mate.

I cried with her throughout the book. As a mom it was tough not to feel her pain and her joys. I can't imagine what it must feel like to know you are leaving behind children, knowing you will not know how their life will turn out. 'you know'

Ranger's Apprentice: The Burning Bridge

Book 2

With war threatening the borders of Araluen, apprentice ranger Will is sent on a diplomatic mission to Celtica. With him are Gilan, his master's first apprentice, and his friend Horace, a battle school apprentice. Expecting a routine journey, the three are unprepared for what they find. The villages of Celtica are deserted, and brigands wander the hills in search of abandoned treasure. The country is also crawling with Wargals, the fighting beasts that are under control of their enemy Morgorath. When a mysterious woman appears at their camp with the news that Morgorath has been abducting villagers, the three boys stumble across a plan that threatens their country and the lives of the people they love. What happens to Will ? Does Halt find Will and the King's daughter unharmed? Now to read Book 3 to find out.

Ranger's Apprentice Series written by John Flanagan

Book 1 The Ruins of Gorlan
Rangers have the power to become invisible at will. Will's heart had been set on Battleschool, on becoming a hero. Will is small for 15 years old. But he does possess other skills, A Ranger's skills. He can move quietly as a shadow, climb and he is brave.


Will is an orphan raised in the household of Baron Arald. It is Choosing Day, when each ward is apprenticed to a Craftmaster to learn a trade. Will wants to be accepted in Battleschool where the fief's knights are trained. Instead, he is chosen to become a Ranger's apprentice. Will is deeply disappointed, and a little scared. Rangers are shadowy characters, believed to practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. His master, Halt, is cranky and makes Will do all the housework.

What Will doesn't know is that Rangers are protectors of the kingdom. They are highly trained spies and agile fighters who warn the country of coming danger. With the exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, gathering his forces for an attack, Will's growing skills will be tested, immersing him in unexpected adventures.