Book Lists!

Summer is the perfect time to dive into a good book, and if you ask me, the spookier the better. Whether you’re reading by the pool, at the beach, or under the covers with a flashlight, these ghostly adventures and spine-tingling tales are sure to make your summer a bit more frightful. I’ve included some of my favorites, both old and new. These are books that have made me laugh and cry ( I’m looking at you, The Ghost Rules) sent shivers down my spine, and kept me turning pages long past my bedtime. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.  Don’t forget to leave the light on . . . You never know what’s lurking in the shadows.  The Ghost Rules by Adam Rosenbaum  Twelve-year-old Elwood McGee never asked to have “ghost-sight,” and it involves a lot more drool-dodging than he expected. Ghosts are the WORST—and they’re all over the place in this sharp-witted middle grade...

The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest By Nik Korpon and Jorge Enrique Paz A thirteen-year-old boy holds the fate of his family, his neighborhood, and the world in his hands when he discovers that his cat is from a secret realm of warrior cats facing a dangerous enemy. The walls between worlds are wearing...

Summer break is here! Welcome to sunshine, fireflies, and warm breezes. One of my favorite parts of summer break as a kid was reading underneath our big oak tree while lounging in a hammock. If your young reader is a seasonal reader, here are some sensational novels, novels in verse,...

Nowadays children are confronted with adult issues and decisions daily. Social media influences, families, schools and communities expect young people to grow up fast. For many kids this passage to adulthood is fragmented and difficult. Kids love graphic novels because of the vibrant illustrations, the spot-on humor and the space...

Hey, it’s May! And lots of shiny, new middle grade books are making their way into readers’ hands. Here are a few to check out! Two books in the new Scholastic series: Magic Gems, by Payal Doshi Journey Through the Waterfall (Magic Gems #1) Lily the Water Gem helps her...

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math! Today, we’re interviewing Annette Whipple, author of Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs. The book investigates some of the more than 7,000 frogs around the world and invites readers to take an active interest in...

Changing the clocks for Daylight Saving Time reminded me of how disruptive losing one hour can be, and had me imagining if I could travel through time. These seven spectacular books feature diverse characters, each with a definite reason for visiting another time. Some go to the past for a...