Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter is the second Gallagher Girls novel. It is second semester of sophomore year of spy school for Cameron, Liz, Macey and Bex. The girls overhear Cammie's mom, the headmistress of Gallagher Academy, talking about "Blackthorne" and instantly go into covert operations mode, trying to figure out what Blackthorne is and why no one is allowed in the East Wing of the mansion. It turns out that Gallagher Academy has opened its doors to a secret spy school for BOYS! Fifteen boys from Blackthorne Institute begin taking classes with the girls. Cammie and her suitemates believe something must be wrong, and spend most of the semester spying on their new classmates, trying to uncover some evil plot against Gallagher Academy.

I actually began reading this book before realizing it was the second in the series. I had read to chapter 5 when I figured out that I should have read I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You first. So, I read that one and returned to this one later! It was just as fun as the first. I liked that the story took place immediately after the first book ended - the same semester in high school. It didn't take any time to get right back into the story.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter is about Cameron Morgan, a sophomore at the Gallagher Academy - a school for spies. Cameron meets her very first boyfriend while on a mission for one of her classes at the local carnival. Just to rule out Josh being a spy himself, Cameron and her suitemates decide to spy on him. This leads to some dumpster diving at his house and some recon missions where one of the girls ends up hanging from his roof! It also leads to Cameron dating Josh. She has to do this secretly, as it is against the rules to leave the school grounds and Cameron's mother just happens to be the headmistress of Gallagher. Everything comes to a crashing halt, however, when it comes time for the girls' final exam in their covert operations class. Unfortunately, Josh doesn't realize the truth and believes he needs to rescue Cameron!

I liked this book a lot. It was a really fun read. The author uses a lot of cute "side notes" to explain some of the spy lingo. I think this is a book all teenage girls will like. It's nice to see girls in a tough and smart role! This is one of the 2009-2010 Maud Hart Lovelace Nominees.

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman is about Green, a 15 year old girl whose family was killed by a terrible fire that raged through the nearby town where they had gone to sell their vegetables. Green finds herself living alone, trying to survive her guilt over being the only survivor in her family, trying to fend off looters, and dealing with her grief at the loss of her sister.

I really liked this book. It was short and a quick read, but one that was extraordinarily through provoking. It reminded me a little bit of The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It was easy to understand the changes Green went through during her experiences after losing her family.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen is about Ruby, a seventeen year old girl who lives alone with her mother. Ruby is left to fend for herself when her mother unexpectedly leaves and doesn't return. After months of living with no heat, water, and little money, child services places Ruby with her older sister, who Ruby and her mother hadn't heard from since she went off to college ten years prior. Cora is now married and lives in an enormous house. She and her husband take Ruby out of the huge public school she'd been attending and put her in a small private school. Everything changes for Ruby.

I really liked this book. Ruby changes so much from the beginning of the story where she is angry and isolated to the end of the story where she is starting to allow people in to her world. This is the third book I've read by Sarah Dessen, and I've liked them all!

A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound by John Irving

A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound by John Irving is a horror story about Tom and Tim, brothers who are awakened in the middle of the night by a strange sound. Their father assures them that it is just a mouse crawling around inside the walls. Tim, who is only two, doesn't know what a mouse is and continues to believe there is a monster in the walls long after Tom goes back to sleep.

I have read several of John Irving's novels written for adults, and really enjoyed them. This book was given to us as a gift, and our whole family enjoys it. The idea that poor Tim is lying in bed terrified of something he doesn't understand makes this book one of the scariest stories I've ever read!

Jungle Gym Jitters by Chuck Richards

Jungle Gym Jitters by Chuck Richards is about a boy named Jerry whose father creates a jungle gym in their backyard. George, Jerry's father, keeps building and adding until it is enormous, complete with roller coasters and zoo animals! Jerry is terrified of this monstrosity until he overcomes his fear in order to save his sister when the structure catches fire during their backyard celebration.

This was written and illustrated by my parents' neighbor in Ames, Iowa. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to see the illustrations before the book was ever published! The story is clever and the pictures are phenomenal. I find something new in every one each time I read the book!

The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman

The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman is about Lucy, the only one in her family that actually believes that there are wolves in the walls of her family's home. But, one night, the wolves come out of the walls, forcing her mother, father, brother and Lucy to sleep outside the house. The wolves eat the family's food, watch their tv and play their video games! Eventually, the family decides to move back into their house - in the walls! When they've had enough of living in the walls, they hatch a plan to drive the wolves out. It works, but soon Lucy realizes that something else (and much larger) is inhabiting their walls.

I bought this book for my son and husband to read together. My husband is a big fan of Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean (the illustrator), having read their graphic novels. We all enjoy this book. The illustrations are very cool, and the story is totally engaging, for all ages!

Poison by Chris Wooding

Poison by Chris Wooding is about a girl who named herself Poison as a teenager. She lives with her father, step-mother, and two year old sister in the Black Marshes. When her sister is stolen by the Phaerie Lord and replaced with a changling, Poison leaves the village she's always called home in an attempt to restore her family. Through a series of adventures, including nearly being eaten by the Bone Witch, escaping the spider lady, Asinastra, and outfoxing the Phaerie Lord in his attempt to trick her, Poison finds herself running out of time in her quest. All seems lost when she ends up at the Heirophant's Palace and realizes something about all of the worldly realms and her own humanity.

I really liked this book. It was a great fantasy adventure. I found myself easily relating to Poison. I read this book because of how much I loved The Storm Thief. Again, I am impressed with this author! I will be reading more books by Chris Wooding.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was written in the 1950s about the future. Guy Montag is a fireman, but rather than put out fires, he sets them. Montag's job is to burn books and the homes where they are found. In this distopian society, the government's will is for everyone to be and stay happy all the time. In order for this to happen, all books have been deemed illegal - they wouldn't want anyone getting any ideas or thinking for themselves! Montag's life is turned upside down after meeting a strange girl, Clarisse, who talks with him about things no one else has ever mentioned. His life is further changed when he ends up burning a woman along with her books and home. Things escalate for Montag when his employers find out that he's been hiding and reading books.

I read this book as a part of a book club set up for my daughter's Honors English summer reading. I really enjoyed it. The discussions prompted by the ideas of censorship, technology, conformity and ignorance were really interesting. I read The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury when I was in high school, but I don't think I got as much out of it as the girls reading Fahrenheit 451.

The Revenge of the Shadow King by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis

The Revenge of the Shadow King by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis is about the Grey Griffins (Max, Natalia, Ernie, and Harley), teens from Avalon, Minnesota who enjoy the mysterious card game Round Table. Little do they know that the cards they play their game with are actually meant to teach them the true history about the Knights Templar and the Shadow King's rise to power. Max finds out that he is a descendant of one of the knights and has been tasked with protecting their secrets from the Shadow King and the evil Morgan LaFey (King Arthur's immortal step sister and murderer). The Grey Griffins go through one adventure after another as they work to conceal the Codex Spiritus, an ancient book passed down amongst the knights, and retrieve the jewel of Titania in order to stop the Shadow King from returning.

This book was good. There was a lot of action and some really neat history about King Arthur and the Knights Templar. To me, it felt like the story just kept going and going and going. The teens made mistake after mistake, and had battle after battle with the evil forces bent on stealing the ancient book. This is the first book of the Grey Griffins series.

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding is about Moa and Rail, two ghetto thieves in the town of Orokos. Orokos is a strange land that is subject to 'probability storms' at any given moment. When a probability storm hits, things change. For instance, parts of town are flipped and moved and people develop serious illnesses, like Rail who must use a respirator to breathe now. Moa and Rail steal a device left over from hundreds of years ago, when people who lived on Orokos possessed technology that no one now understands. They are being hunted by the Secret Police, a shifty ghetto rat who works for the head thief, and scary energy beasts called revenants. Moa's life goal is to make it off of Orokos, sure that there is something more out there. Rail's life goal is to make a happy life for himself and Moa, sure there is nothing beyond Orokos.

I loved this book. Of all of the books I read this summer, this has been my favorite. I read it in one day because I just couldn't put it down! I will definitely be reading more books by Chris Wooding!

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan is about Henry, a typical boy who likes building cardboard models. He works for an old, crusty man named Mr. Fogarty. The two of them stumble upon an extraordinary discovery - a fairy has landed in Mr. Fogarty's garden. Pyrgus is the crown prince of the faerie realm, his father is the Purple Emperor. Pyrgus gets himself into a bit of trouble and has a price on his head. His family sends him to our world through a special portal. That's how he ends up in Mr. Fogarty's garden. Unfortunately, someone tampered with the portal and poisoned Pyrgus in a plot to overthrow the Purple Emperor. Now, Pyrgus is in a race for his life. With the help of Henry and Mr. Fogarty, Pyrgus tries desperately to solve the mystery and get back to his own world before it's too late.

I really liked this book! It was interesting to read about the different characters and get to know them through their interactions with their families and friends in their own worlds. This is the first book of four in the Faerie Wars Chronicles Series. I will definitely be reading the second book soon!

Heat by Mike Lupica

Heat by Mike Lupica is about brothers Michael and Carlos Arroyo. They are immigrants, having come to the United States from Cuba. Shortly after arriving, their father dies of a heart attack, leaving 17 year old Carlos the head of the family. They are terrified that if anyone learns the truth about their situation that they will be separated, placed into foster care, or even shipped back to Cuba. Michael is 12 and the best pitcher on his Little League team. Their team has a chance to make it to the big championship game! Unfortunately, some of the boys on the other teams begin making trouble for Michael. Because he is trying to "lay low," there is nothing he can do about it, and ends up not being able to play baseball for several games.

This was a great story about baseball and family. It was interesting to see the sacrifices that both Carlos and Michael had to make in order to stay together. They were both so supportive of each other! There were some twists and turns along the way that made the ending that much more heartfelt. This is one of the 2008-2009 Maud Hart Lovelace Nominees.

I am a Taxi by Deborah Ellis

I am a Taxi by Deborah Ellis is about Diego, a boy who lives in a prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His parents were both arrested on false charges of drug trafficking and were imprisoned there. Diego is free, but must live with his mother in the women's prison because he has no where else to go. Diego helps his mother pay rent on their cramped cell by running errands for the prisoners. They pay him to leave the prison and go to the market or deliver things for them! One day Diego and his friend Mando are offered a job and promised lots of money by some shading looking men. They decide to go with them, and end up deep in the jungle working for drug smugglers without a hope of any payment or escape.

This book gave me a different take on drugs and smugglers. I felt so badly for Diego and Mando! They were trying to make things better for themselves and their families and ended up in a hopeless situation. The smugglers treated the boys as though they were expendable - to them, they were. They could easily find more boys in the city who could be tricked into hard labor for free.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong is a nonfiction account of what actually happened on Sir Ernest Shackleton's failed attempt at reading the south pole in 1914. Jennifer Armstrong used many resources as she compiled all of the information, including the personal diaries of the shipmates!

I read this book after reading the fiction story Shackleton's Stowaway by Victoria McKernan. I was so intrigued by the story that I wanted to find out more! Victoria McKernan's fictional novel closely follows the actual events on the Endurance, Shackleton's ship. It was really interesting learning more about this expedition and the men that survived. There are many pictures of the crew and the ship.

The Land of the Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer

The Land of the Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer is the sequel to The Sea of Trolls. This book follows Jack on another adventure as he attempts to save his sister, Lucy, and return the water to Bebba's Town. Jack has many hardships and meets many interesting creatures, including hobgobblins, yarthkins, elves, picts and an evil half-kelpie who has named himself king. Accompanied by a whiny slave from Bebba's Town and a recently freed slave named Pega, Jack encounters his old friend Thorgil, and they all continue the adventure together.

I really enjoyed this book! It took me a little while to get back into the story, as it's been over a year since I read The Sea of Trolls, but Nancy Farmer gives plenty of clues that help with that. There is a really interesting appendix at the end of this book that describes many of the interesting elements of this story, including the different religions present, symbols used by the picts and Thorgil's shipmates, and background information about St. Filian's Well and Din Guardi.

Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes

Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes is a historical fiction novel set during WWII. It tells the story of Dieter, a German teen who desperately wants to fight for his country, and Spence, an American teen who feels equally as passionate about defending Germany. Both boys sign up for the war before they are of age and have to justify their reasons to many family members and friends before joining. The story is told separately, through each boys' eyes until the end when they meet on the battle field.

I am not the biggest fan of war books, but this one was very well written. I really liked the way Dean Hughes showed how the boys, despite fighting on opposite sides of the war, were really very much alike. War, it turns out, is not what anyone expects once they're fully immersed in battle. It takes courage, heart, and dignity to make it through. This is one of the 2008-2009 Maud Hart Lovelace Nominees.

Shackleton's Stowaway by Victoria McKernan

Shackleton's Stowaway by Victoria McKernan is about Perce, a stowaway on Ernest Shackleton's ship, the Endurance, during the 1914-1916 antarctic expedition. Just one month after setting out on their expedition, the ship is enclosed in ice. Eventually, all 28 men have to abandon the ship to live on an ice floe. They watch the ship sink before their eyes. They use three life rafts to get to Elephant Island (barely). Shackleton decides that he needs to go for help if they will have any hope at all. He takes a team of 6 in the only remaining life raft and heads toward South Georgia Island, the place from which they left nearly two years before. Perce, through all of this, works hard at every job he's assigned. He chips ice away from the ship, works in the galley, tends to the sled dogs and even rows the life rafts. By the time they are rescued (after four failed attampts by Shackleton's team), all of the men are in tough shape. Every single one of them makes it home from Antarctica, however!

This book is based on a true story. All of the events in the story actually took place. Victoria McKernan made up some of the dialogue and moved time around a bit to make it a good novel. She used the sailors' journals and interviews with remaining family members to support her work of historical fiction. I loved this book. It was exciting, funny, heartbreaking, suspenseful, and touching. I found that I was really pulling for the men, but Perce especially, as they found ways to work through this disasterous experience. This is one of the 2008-2009 Maud Hart Lovelace Nominees.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros is about Esperanza, a young girl growing up in the Latino part of Chicago. The story is told through many short vignettes, seemingly unconnected, but all centering around the hopes and dreams of the people living in the neighborhood.

I read this book to support my daughter and her friends in their summer reading assignment for 9th grade honors English. It was a fun experience to talk with them about their views on families, discrimination, immigrants, poverty, and dreams. Overall, this was an excellent book. I can easily understand why the English teachers chose it for summer reading.