First Light written by Rebecca Stead

Peter is thrilled to join his parents on an expedition to Greenland, where his Dad will be studying global warming. Peter will get to skip school, drive a dog sled, and share in his dad's adventures. But Peter is having visions that both frighten and interest him. Peter and his mom suffer from terrible headaches.

Thea has never seen the sun. Her people have retreated to a secret world they've built deep inside the Arctic ice. Thea dreams of a path to Earth's surface, Peter searches for answers brings him to Thea's hidden home.

What is the first light?

A Virginia Readers Choice selection

Lawn Boy written by Gary Paulsen

I loved this book. It had me smiling and laughing. All he wanted to do was make enough money to purchase a new tire for his bicycle. Instead he made enough money to purchase a brand new 10 speed bicycle. One of his clients didn't have the money to pay for the lawn care, the client was a stockbroker, Arnold, he invested his payment into stocks. The more money he made cutting lawns the more money was invested. He owned a lawn care business with employees, stocks and a prize fighter. This is a great story for starting up your own business. Told in the first person 'I'.

This is a fun book, read and enjoy it. The parts of the book are on google books, read it online!

A Virginia Readers Choice selection

The Night Tourist written by Katherine Marsh

Jack spends alot of his time alone with books. He has a near fatal accident that changes Jack's life forever. Jack's dad sends him to NYC. to see a mysterious doctor. Jack hasn't been to NYC since his mother's accident. After seeing the doctor he is at Grand Central Terminal, he meets Euri. Euri offers to show him the stations secret hidden places. Jack with Euri's guidance stumbles upon NYC's ghostly underworld. Jack wants to find his Mom or has she moved on. What is the real reason for Euri for showing Jack the underworld? Jack's Mom has an * next to her name what does that mean? How can Jack help is Mom move on? Does Jack make it back to the real world before 3 nights has passed?

This book is the 2008 winner for Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery. I liked the book, enjoyed the mystery. I didn't figure out the ending until I got to the end. Enjoy the book.

The sequel to this book is The Twilight Prisoner, look for it at the bookstore.

Make Lemonade Trilogy- Virginia Wolff

Make Lemonade is the first book in the trilogy, I read the book a couple of years. When I finish True Believer, I will add my comments about Make Lemonade.

I haven't finished True Believer but I did find Make Lemonade in the library. The main character in the book is LaVaughn, she needs a part time job to help earn money for college. Jolly needed a babysitter. Someone she could trust with 2 kids while she worked the evening shift. LaVaughn is 14 just 3 years younger then Jolly. Jolly didn't have a husband or a mom or dad. Jolly has LaVaughn; she gives love to Jolly and the 2 kids because there isn't anyone else. This a book about Jolly who tries to attend high school and work at night to support her little family. Make Lemonade is written in free verse.

Make Lemonade, yes lemons are sour so can life be sour but add a little love and sugar and you have lemonade. Enjoy the first book in the trilogy. Click on the book cover read the book on google books.

The 2nd book in the trilogy is True Believer, I am reading this book at the moment. I'll return when I have finished reading the book. I have finished True Believer.

LaVaughn is 15, she faces obstacles that aren't going away. She has a fight with her best friends, her mom is distracted by a man, the boy she loves isn't in love with her, and she is reminded school could slip away from her easily.

The 3rd book in the trilogy is This Full House.

This Full House and was it a full house in the end. LaVaughn struggles through her last year of high school. She continues with her sciences studies. Her dream to be fulfilled, to go to college. She babysits for Jolly, goes to high school, works the laundry at the Children's hospital and attends WIMS. How does she keep up the pace? Its to fulfill her dream. Along the way she notices that Jolly and Dr. Moore have similar attributes. LaVaughn is studying DNA in her WIMS classes, she gathers hair from Jolly and Dr. Moore, why? Does Jolly complete her classes? Did Jolly and LaVaughn reach their goals? Read This Full House to find out.

This completes the trilogy of Make Lemonade.

The Emancipation Proclamation Abolishing Slavery in the South written by James Tackach

I am teaching Summer School,this summer. Yes the library is open for students to check out books and do research and of course use the computers. The U S History teacher asked if I could pull books on the Civil War. I did pull books for his class, and i came across this book. I love history. I live in a region of the USA rich in history, from the very beginnings of the Jamestown Settlement to the present. Virginia is probably the one state in the USA that has seen this great country become a country independent of Britain and then saw the country torn apart by slavery and reunited as one.

I'll be back when I finish reading the book, it is a non fiction book. Its okay to read non fiction for pleasure especially if it is a interest to your.

I have finished reading about Lincoln and the emancipation proclamation. It was quite interesting, I love American History but when I was in high school,I must have been in another time zone. I found this book on the shelf in the library. I am glad I took the time to read it, it is important to know and understand history, even after all these years. Reading this book I think I can understand why the president admires Lincoln.

London Calling written by Edward Bloor

I like reading historical novels. I have read many historical novels written about the civil war, some about the revolutionary war but very few about WWII. I read this novel in a few hours. The story line moved along quickly even though the story itself occurred in about a year and half. Martin is given a old radio from his grandmother's estate. He begins listening to the radio but the radio transports Martin to London 1940. In London 1940 Martin meets Jimmy. Jimmy asks Martin is he ready to help? Martin not having any idea how he was to help until one day, 291240.

You will need to read London Calling, to find out how Martin (Johnny) helped Jimmy. Enjoy the book, I did.

A Virginia Readers Choice selection

Monster written by Walter Dean Myers

I was curious about this book because it was brought up at a meeting that a parent had a problem with the book. I had to read it to find out what the concern was over the book. The book was published in 1999, it wasn't a newly published book.

Monster is about a young black teenager (16 yr old) named Steve. He is accused of participating in a 'get over' (a robbery of a drug store). Was Steve at the drugstore? Why did so many witnesses accuse him of participating in the robbery? Was Steve at the wrong place at the wrong time?

I liked the book, it had me scared for Steve? I can't imagine what it is like to be in a jail cell. I know from reading this book I don't want to be in a jail cell.

pg. 205 "I wish Jerry were here. Not in jail, but somehow with me. What would I say to him? Think about all the tomorrows of your life. Yes, that's what I would say. Think about all the tomorrows of your life.

When the lights went out, i think I heard someone crying in the darkness."

Jerry is Steve's younger brother.