Tiger's Curse

Tiger's Curse

by Colleen Houck

Hi, it's Hannah here again as a guest blogger....

I'll start by saying that Tiger's Curse was an AMAZING book! It was one of the best books I've read in a long time. It is about seventeen (almost eighteen) year old Kelsey Hayes. She is looking for a summer job and ends up working at the circus that is in town. One of the main attractions is Ren, a white tiger from India. Kelsey soon finds out that Ren is more than just a white tiger. Together they travel to India to try to break a 300-year old curse.

The book sweeps you up in a world of Hindu myths and sweet romance. You get a bit of a crash course in Hindu religion and Indian culture. Every page is filled with suspense. It is both adventure and romance, a great read. The writing is unique and really likable. More of a girls' book, maybe 6th grade and up.

~Hannah (7th grade guest blogger)

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

"Moon Over Manifest"

2011 Newbery Medal Winner

"Leave well enough alone."

At least, that's what the note Abilene discovers tells her. The year is 1936 and Abilene Tucker is sent to Manifest, Kansas by her father. When she gets to Manifest, a town of immigrants, she is sure that her father will come to get her as soon as possible. But he doesn't. As Abilene waits for her father to come she explores the town of Manifest and all of its mysteries. Soon she finds herself visiting Miss Sadie's divining parlor. While helping Miss Sadie she slowly uncovers the truth about her father and his time in Manifest. Meanwhile, Abilene is involving herself in another mystery. She and her friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, investigate mysterious letters about a spy named The Rattler.

Moon Over Manifest is a story full of loss, discovery and secrets. I could barely put this book down! It switches back and forth between Manifest in 1936 and 1918 to weave an intricate story of mystery. There are times in this story when you will cry for Abilene and times when you will turn page after page, desperate to learn the secrets of Manifest.

All in all this was a powerful story that will appeal to many audiences. This book is for 6th to 8th grade (though even adults will enjoy it), and both boys and girls will love this thrilling novel.

-Hannah J., 7th Grade Guest Blogger

Introducing Hannah my Guest Book Reviewer

I would like to introduce you to my guest book reviewer Hannah. Hannah is a rising 8th grader and will be able to provide a teen readers perspective of the books she has read. I am looking forward to reading her reviews! Aloha

Virginia Readers Choice 2011-2012 - Middle School

Virginia Readers’ Choice

Middle School Annotations

Bystander. James Preller, Feiwel & Friends, 2009.

Eric is the new kid at school, and Griffith is the school bully who welcomes Eric

into his circle of friends. Initially Eric does not get involved, thankful that

Griffith’s bullying is directed at someone other than himself, but he soon

realizes that he must take a stand. Can he make a difference?

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer. James Swanson, Scholastic, Inc., 2009.

(Adapted from Swanson's Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's

Killer [HarperCollins, 2006]). Originally planning to kidnap Abraham Lincoln

and hold him hostage, John Wilkes Booth instead assassinated Lincoln. With

his co-conspirators, John Wilkes Booth leads investigators on a twelve-day

manhunt through Virginia, Maryland, and Washington before he is surrounded

by authorities and killed.

The Leanin’ Dog. K.A. Nuzum, HarperCollins, 2008.

11-year old Dessa Dean watched helplessly as her mother froze to death in a

Colorado winter storm. Now grieving, she and her father go through the

motions of living in their small, remote cabin. Remembering her mother’s

death, Dessa cannot make herself go outside. One day she spots an injured,

but untrusting dog wandering near the cabin. Can the pair help each other

overcome their fears?

Mockingbird. Kathryn Erskine, Penguin Young Readers Group, 2010.

Ten-year old Caitlin and her father are reeling over the sudden death of

Caitlin’s brother in a middle school shooting. Her guidance counselor tells her

she needs closure, but “closure” does not come easily to Caitlin, who suffers

from Asperger’s Syndrome.

Out of My Mind. Sharon Draper, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing,

2010.

Melody is a fifth grader with cerebral palsy. She cannot move her body

(except for her thumbs), or communicate in any way, but she remembers

every word anyone has ever said. Finally, with the help of technology, Melody

is able to communicate with her family and classmates. But are they really

interested in what she knows, and what she has to say?

Pop. Gordon Korman, HarperCollins, 2009.

Marcus, the new kid in the neighborhood and hopeful championship high

school team quarterback, practices football alone in the park. One day he is

joined by Pop, who turns out to be Charlie Popovich, a famous retired NFL

linebacker, who is both charismatic and erratic. What could explain Charlie’s

odd behavior? What is his family keeping from the community, and why don’t

they want Marcus to help him?

The Rock and the River. Kekla Magoon, Simon & Schuster Children’s

Publishing, 2009.

Chicago, 1968. Thirteen–year old Sam Childs is torn between loyalty to his

father, a well-known preacher who supports the non-violent teachings of Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and his older brother, Stick, who supports the new

Black Panther Party.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. Tom Angleberger, Abrams, Harry N.,

Inc., 2010.

6th grade Dwight is weird. He wears an origami finger puppet of Yoda. But

can Yoda foretell the future? Dwight undertakes a scientific investigation to

find out.

Ways to Live Forever. Sally Nicholls, Scholastic Inc., 2011.

Eleven-year old Sam is in the last months of his life, losing his battle with

leukemia. Sam, with the help of his chronically ill friend, Felix, writes a book

about his experiences with leukemia including questions to answer, and

interesting facts. They also create a “to do” list, making every effort to get

each item done before they die.

When the Whistle Blows. Fran Cannon Slayton, Penguin Group (USA),

2009.

Based on the author’s family stories, When the Whistle Blows portrays the life

of teenager Jimmy Cannon and his character-filled family through seven

consecutive Halloweens from 1943-1949 in their small railroad town in West

Virginia.

taken from the Virginia Readers Choice Website