Trackers by Patrick Carman

Trackers by Patrick Carman is about Adam Henderson, a self-proclaimed tracker (NOT a hacker). Adam and his gang, Emily, Finn, and Lewis, are all experts with technology. They work together, developing high-tech gadgets, computer programming, and running special operations to test their skills. Adam works in his dad's computer repair shop and has built his own space where he can command the team - the Vault. During the day Adam reprograms and fixes computers for his dad, but during his free time, Adam is busy perfecting his gadgets, running training exercises with his crew, and developing and coding computer programs. Unfortunately, someone outsmarts Adam and blindsides him, infiltrating the Vault and stealing all of his designs and plans. Now it is up to Adam and his friends to find out who stole their hard work and what they have to do to get it back. The adventure takes them places they never thought they'd go - putting them all into very real danger.

This is the first book of Patrick Carman's new series, and it's AWESOME! The book is told through a series of interview questions with a police detective and Adam. The interview is supplemented with videos for the reader to watch on iTunes or on the Trackers web interface: http://www.trackersinterface.com/. You'll need the passwords to watch the videos and see the supplemental materials on the sight. I can't wait to find out what happens to Adam and his crew in the second book!

Saraswati's Way by Monika Schroder

Saraswati's Way by Monika Schroder is about Akash, a twelve year old boy living in a small rural village in India. His family is deeply in debt and struggling to earn money through farming their small plot of land. Unfortunately, even their crops are in danger due to a drought which hasn't brought rain for many months. When Akash's father suddenly dies of the yearly fever, their family is thrown into turmoil. Left without a strong man to tend the crops and earn money, Akash's grandmother sends him with Kumar, the man to whom they owe rent, to work in the rock quarry to pay off their family's debt. Akash has been working hard to learn math skills, hoping to score well on his final exams so that he can earn a scholarship to attend a middle school in the city the following year. Once he sees how unfairly Kumar runs his busniess, Akash realizes that he will never be able to pay off his family's debt. So, he runs away and begins a life of his own, living on the streets in Delhi, India. Akash's only goal is to earn enough money to pay a tutor to help him in math so he can do well on his test. He meets Rohit, another boy living on the streets, and with him, tries various ways of earning money, including scavenging trash from trains and even selling drugs. Akash's hope of hiring a tutor and going to school begins to wane as he loses most of his money and Rohit goes back to his own village to care for his sick mother. Akash even begins to think the gods (Saraswati, goddess of wisdom and knowledge, and Ganesha, god of good luck and remover of obstacles) may not be willing to help him. However, Akash's unfailing integrity help him do the right thing when Ramesh, the newspaper stand owner he's been working for, gets hurt and needs immediate medical attention. Akash's quick decisions ultimately lead to securing a safe place to live, a generous benefactor, two honest well-paying jobs, and hope for his future.

I was so excited to read Saraswati's Way. I was honored when the author, Monika Schroder sent me an advance copy! And, I absolutely loved the story. I learned so much about the lives of people in India, especially the difficulties many poverty-stricken children face. Akash is an inspiration in his determination and integrity. This will be an eye-opening read for many children who have never and will never have to face the challenges and difficult decisions Akash (and others like him) face on a daily basis. Akash's sole goal, to attend middle school, is something many of my students take for granted. My favorite quote from Saraswati's Way was on page 63, when a new friend who is illiterate asks Akash what it's like to be able to read:

"It's like going to different places without leaving where you are."

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle is about Daniel, a young Jewish boy sent alone by his family on a ship to Cuba to escape the Nazis. Daniel finds that Cuba is not very welcoming to the refugees. In fact, the only two people who seem to be kind to him are David, an old man, and Paloma, the daughter of one of the richest and most powerful men in Cuba. Paloma's father is the one who decides how much to charge in "fees" for refugees to be able to enter Cuba. It's his decisions that determine whether the refugees will be allowed to leave the ships and live in Cuba, or will be turned away and have to go back to Europe. Cuba was the last hope for many of these refugees. Paloma is determined to help them, however, by offering them kindness, food, and even a safe place to hide up in her dovecote ( a tower where she keeps doves). Daniel struggles with the realization that his family is probably never going to join him in Cuba, but overcomes his sadness when he finds a young boy named Daniel, his namesake, to take under his wing.

This was an interesting story. I didn't realize that so many Holocaust refugees ended up in Cuba. I also had no idea that Cuba was the last stop (after other North American countries) for the refugees and that they were sent back to Europe if Cuba wouldn't accept them. This story is told in free verse through the eyes of Daniel, David, Paloma, and sometimes even Paloma's cruel father. I really enjoyed this story and learned a lot about a part of history I didn't know much about before. I recommended this book to a student immediately after finishing it, and she's really enjoying it, too!

The Emperor's Code (The 39 Clues Series #8) by Gordon Korman

The Emperor's Code (The 39 Clues Series #8) is about Amy and Dan Cahill's continual search for the 39 clues that will lead them to fame, riches, and power. In this book, they head to China to find the Janus Clue. Unfortunately, Amy and Dan are struggling with the realization that they come from the Madrigal branch of the Cahill Family, and get in a fight that ultimately leads to them becoming separated. Dan ends up tagging along with Jonah Wizard, a famous pop singer/actor from the Janus clan, while Amy and their au pair, Nellie, go off in their own direction. Amy and Dan are still searching for one another, but realize that continuing their search for the next clue will lead them closer to each other, somewhere along the trail. They end up in a variety of famous landmarks in and around China, including the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and even Mt. Everest, where they finally meet up again!

Another entertaining and adventurous installment in the 39 Clues Series! It was fun to read about Jonah Wizard again - he's been absent from the last couple of books. I also really enjoyed coming closer to solving the mystery of exactly who Nellie is and who she works for. It's amazing how many facts from history are woven into these stories!!

The Last Invisible Boy by Evan Kuhlman

The Last Invisible Boy, written by Evan Kuhlman and illustrated by J. P. Coovert, is Finn Garrett's story - literally. Finn has written down and illustrated all of his thoughts about himself, his brother, his mother and father, his best friend Melanie, Henry the cat, and "The Terrible Day That Changed Everything." You see, Finn is disappearing. His black hair is turning white, his pink skin is turning white... Finn is sure he's turning invisible. This all started the day after The Terrible Day That Changed Everything. Finn isn't quite ready to share much about The Terrible Day That Changed Everything until the middle of the story or so, and even then, it's hard for him. It has to do with his dad and why he's not around anymore. It takes a while for Finn to recover, but when he does he slowly begins to turn visible again.

This was an awesome story. It was really sad, but also funny, charming, sweet, and thoughtful. I really liked getting inside Finn's mind and seeing the world through his eyes. I loved Finn, but I think my favorite character was Derek, Finn's younger brother. He was NOT the typical "annoying" younger brother, he was more like a trusty sidekick you could always count on - almost like a best friend, but one who looks up to you. My favorite part of the story was a sort of funny, but not funny, mistake Derek makes when he accidentally says "Dad" instead of "Henry" (the cat) and what happened as a result. I also really liked the way the author had me guessing about what really happened to the boys' dad - I wasn't really sure until the middle of the book, and even when I finally figured it out, the author still didn't come right out and describe it for several more chapters!

Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper

Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper is about Melody, an 11 year old girl with cerebral palsy. She is brilliantly smart, but has almost no way to communicate all she knows. Melody is confined to a wheelchair, unable to walk, talk, or feed herself (among other things). In this story, she leaves the special ed. classroom she's always known and enters the world of "inclusion" where she, and her special classmates, are included in the "regular" classrooms with the other students at school. Melody makes a friend in her new music class, but is also subject to snide remarks and ridicule by some really mean "mean girls". Eventually, Melody is given an assistant who helps her get to classes and works with her on her assignments. Melody and Catherine find information about a new system for communication - a computer that sits on Melody's wheelchair that is programmable with words, phrases, sentences - literally 1000s of words and combinations! Melody is finally able to get her thoughts out into the open. She even earns a spot on the prestigious Quiz Whiz team, astounding most of her classmates and teachers! Things aren't as great as they seem as Melody continues to be subjected to the quiet nastiness of the mean girls, but she plows through, seemingly overcoming all obstacles thrown her way. However, with everything going smoothly, there's bound to be some unexpected turns of events...

This is literally my favorite book of the school year. I experienced every single emotion imaginable as I experienced Melody's world - I laughed right out loud, I cried, I got angry, I was sad, I felt excited and triumphant, on and on. This book is told in 1st person through Melody's voice - the one she has never been able to accurately express. It goes through all of her personal thoughts, emotions, struggles, you name it. I wish I knew Melody. Wow, what a powerful story.

The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson

Disney After Dark (The Kingdom Keepers Series #1) by Ridley Pearson is about Finn, a teen with a special job - he is a DHI, or Disney Host Interactive. Basically, a holographic image of Finn leads guests on tours of Disney World! Things are going well for Finn until one night he had a strange dream and "woke up" in the Magic Kingdom. Wayne, the old guy who was in Finn's "dream" explained that the characters from the theme park were trying to take over. Each night characters that were supposed to be simple costumes and even automated creatures were "coming to life" and working for the Overtakers to break out of Disney and gain power over the world! Finn and the other four DHIs were the only people who could solve Walt Disney's original riddle and stop the Overtakers' evil plot. The only catch is, the DHIs don't know each other and convincing them that their strange dreams were actually reality was harder than it seemed. Helped by Finn's friend Amanda, the five DHIs entered the dream world every night, stalked by one of the most evil of Disney's witch queens, chased by the Pirates of the Caribbean, and even attacked by the dolls of It's a Small World, the teens battled the forces of evil to solve the riddle and save the park.

What a great adventure! I've wondered what it might be like in the Disney parks after dark, but I would never have imagined it would be like this! I liked all of the elements Ridley Pearson added - the riddle, riding the rides to find clues, the Disney characters, and then the actual characters of the DHI kids themselves. It was fun mix!