Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch

Myklusch, M. (2011). Jack blank and the imagine nation. New York: Aladdin. 

Plot

Jack's life is as blank as an unwritten book. He is an orphan living at St. Barnaby's Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost and he has no memory of his past or how he ended up there. Just when he has lost all of finding who he is, he ends up destroying a giant mechanical monster and is then taken by the mysterious Jazon Knight to a floating island called, Imagine Nation, which is his where he is from. Imagine Nation is a place where ninjas, familiar superheros, and aliens coexist in a world that is under threat of zombie mutants and robot viruses. Jack must step out of his normal life and enter the life that includes hidden powers and moral obligations.

Review

I am starting to venture outside my fiction box and read books that I used to judge by their genre labels. Jack Blank is a mix between Percy Jackson, Harry Potter and all of the ordinary boys turned superhero. Like Harry Potter, Jack too has had an unhappy childhood and now is forced into a world where he must take on challenges for the greater good. Fans of superheros and science fiction will clamor for these books and the future series to come. 

Genre

Science Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level

5th-8th grade/Tween

Similar Books

Harry Potter series- J.K Rowling

Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians- Brandon Sanderson

The Lost Hero- Rick Riordian

Readers Annotation

Just like Harry Potter, Jack Blank is trying to figure out where he came from. He is mistreated where he lives, always wrong when he thinks he is right, and hasn't got a friend in the world. Everything changes when his life and future is turned upside down by zombie monsters, alien invasions, and hidden superpowers. In order to find out who he truly is, he must survive first. 

Scumble by Ingrid Law

Law, I. (2010). Scumble. New York: Dial Publishing. 

Summary

This story continues the tradition of savvy gifts to those of the Beaumont family who turn 13. Now, Ledger Kale's 13th birthday arrives and it seems his savvy gift  is a knack for destruction. He can dismantle and destroy stuff without touching them and he is having a hard time controlling it until he visits his Uncle Autry's ranch in Wyoming. While there, he learns to tame and control his gift in order to do good instead of bad. In Scumble, Ledger must struggle with budding reporter Sarah Jean Cabot as she looks to expose the family's secrets and her father who is trying to foreclose on the family's ranch. 

Review

Again, author Ingrid Law writes a fast paced fantasy story for tweens. This book is a great story about growing up, honesty, friendship. and doing good for those around us. Fans of other fantasy books will not be disappointed. The descriptions of the savvy gifts of family members are hilarious, especially Ledge's levitating cousins. 

Genre

Fantasy

Reading Age/Interest Level

9-12 years/Tween

Similar Books

Cosmic- Frank Cottrell Boyce

(PREQUEL) Savvy- Ingrid Law

Readers Annotation

You thought you had a strange family! The Beaumonts have the ability to levitate, travel in time, create weather from their emotions, but their hardest feat is trying to fit in the normal world that surrounds them. 

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Law, I. (2010). Savvy. New York: Puffin Publishing.

Summary

The Beaumonts are a unique family. When a family member turns 13 they inherit a special gift, a savvy gift. Great Aunt Jules can go back 20 minutes in time whenever she sneezes, 14 year old Fish can create storms from his emotions, and oldest child Rocket can create electricity and illuminate a dark room just by entering it. He can also shock his siblings, which is something he loves. Now Mibs (short for Mississippi) is about to turn 13 and everyone is excited to see what savvy she will inherit...but then, something bad happens, real bad. Her father was involved in a very bad car accident which turns everything upside down and forces the family to take matters and fate into their own hands in order to save the Beaumont family. 

Review

What a great book! Yet another reason to stop judging books by their genre labels! This is a great book for tweens because it talks about following your heart and to stop depending on others for all the answers. The ending of this book is believable, not at all sappy, and is great for both boys and girls. 

Genre

Fantasy

Reading Level/Interest Level

9-12 years/Tween

Similar Books

(SEQUEL) Scumble- Ingrid Law

Waiting for Normal- Leslie Connor

The Search for WondLa- Tony DiTerlizzi

Readers Annotation

Most kids who turn 13 want CD's or a new video game, but not the Beaumont family. 

The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez

Gonzalez, C. (2010). The red umbrella. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. 

Summary

When Castro comes to power in 1961 Cuba, 14 year old Lucia is too busy thinking about clothes, boys, and dances to worry about the Revolution. Then, her world crashes down around her when she is forced to flee to American with her youngest brother. She now live in Nebraska and must come to terms with her identity as she tries to assimilate into the American way at the same time of holding on to her Cuban family and way of life through censored letters and shortened phone calls. 

Review

Actual newspaper clippings that are at the start of each chapter brings to light that this book is based on the authors personal family drama. Tweens will be able to relate to the first person narrative and understand Lucia's rebellion, selfishness, heart and passion that are prevalent throughout this book. This is a great way to introduce this crucial time in American/Cuban history. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level

10-13 years/Tween

Similar Books

Bamboo People- Mitali Perkins

One Crazy Summer- Rita Williams'Garcia

Cuba 15- Nancy Osa

Readers Annotation

The most important thing Lucia thought about was boys and who she would go to the upcoming dance with, then the Revolution began, and she must grow up fast in order to survive. 

Finding My Place by Traci Jones

Jones, T. (2011). My place. New York: Farrar, Straus and Girox. 

Plot

The year 1975 is a year full of bell bottoms, flower power, and shag carpet, but to African American Tiphanie Jayne Baker her tween life has flipped upside down as her Civil Rights activists parents transplant her directly into the front line of white ritzy suburbia. Tiphanie is the only black girl in her high school and is trying to be one step up from the "Barbies" at her school. When she finally meets a friend who is a loner like herself, Tiphanie begins to feel comfortable and accepting of her new life, which in turns, makes her feel like she is giving up a piece of herself. 

Review

This is a powerful and truthful story about a tween girl growing up during a time where race is still an issue. Despite the fact that her parents are well educated, have well paying jobs, and have experience in fighting the big fight, Tiphanie is simply a girl trying to fit into a world that doesn't want her. This book had a great twist when readers are introduced to Jackie who is a hippy and self proclaimed " white trash" girl who becomes close to Tiphanie but is hiding a secret and past of her own and with the help of Tiphanie, Jackie can also start to feel comfortable in her own skin. 

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction/Historical Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level

5ht-8th grade/Tween

Similar Books

One Crazy Summer- Williams-Garcia, Rita

Small Steps- Louis Sachar

Readers Annotation

When Tiphanie is plucked out of her comfort zone she must fit herself into a world that doesn't accept her and when she finally starts to feel accepted, she feels like she is losing part of herself. Will she ever find a happy medium?

Here's to you Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume

Blume, J. (1993). Here's to you rachel robinson. New York: Delacourt Books.

Plot

This is the sequel to Blume's book, Just as Long as We're Together, and it features the same trio of friends, Stephanie, Rachel, and Alison as they try and make heads and tales of their changing world. In this book, Rachel's perfect world is thrown upside down as her brother is kicked out of boarding school forces his volatile behavior on his sister and parents. During this time, Rachel is also trying to balance the pressure of school, awakening sexuality, and changing personalities.

Review

This is a simple and direct way of telling the story of a tween growing up in a world that throws curve ball after curve ball. Although the character of Rachel is far from ordinary, middle school girls will be able to relate to the common obstacles teen girls go through. I remember reading this book thinking that their had never been a character that I could relate to, until I found Rachele Robinson. We had the same name, we both played the flute, we were both over achievers, and we both were going through so much at such a young age. Even though this book has been challenged for its references to sexuality and topics that some think too risque for tweens, I think that tweens are already made aware of them and need to read about others going through the same thing. 

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

5th-8th grade/ Tween

Similar Books

Forever- Judy Blume

P.S Longer Letter Later- Paula Dazinger

Someone Like You- Sarah Dessen

Characters

Rachel Robinson- Female protagonist who is a perfectionist and overachiever. Her life is turned upside down when her brother is forced to come after being kicked out from his boarding school.

Stephanie Hirsch- Rachel's best friend since the third grade. 

Charles Robinson- Rachel's brother who is a problem maker and takes the attention away from Rachel. 

Paul Mediros- Rachel brother's older tutor who Rachel develops a crush on. 

Jeremy "The Dragon" Kravitz- Rachel, Alison, and Stephanie's crush of middle school. To the surprise of the girls, he develops his own crush on Rachel. 

Readers Annotation

Rachel Robinson has everything that she has worked so hard for, a great family, true friends, and her middle school crush is crushing back, but despite all of this, Rachel is as lost as ever. Will she be able to achieve her goals without losing herself?

Just as Long as We are Together by Judy Blume

Blume, J. (1991). Just as long as we're together. New York: Laurel Leaf.

Plot

Stephanie has always had Rachel as her best friend and she was someone she told everything to and did everything with, that was until Alison moves in. Now, secrets are kept from another during a time when Stephanie needs her best friend the most. This book touches on middle school angst such as, divorce, friendships, first crushes, and body changes such as weight gain and menstration. Stephanie and her friends are trying to keep with the never ending changes of their bodies, minds, and hearts and they know they will be fine as long as they are together.

Review

Awww..memories. This has to be one of my favorite books of all my tween years (and a guilty pleasure now). This book taught me and will teach other tweens all about body image, friendship, crushes, drama, and sexuality in a tween friendsly type of way. This book is poignant, hilarious, and truthful. Let's face it, drama always happens with friends and this is a great book that tweens can relate to and learn from. There are true friends out there and this books proves just that. There have been challenges to this book because of the references to sex and kissing, but I truly believe that this is an appropriate book for tweens.

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

5th-8th grade/ Tweens

Similar Books

Are You There God, It's Me Maragret- Judy Blume

Here's to you Rachel Robinson- Judy Blume

Beacon Street Girls series- Annie Bryant

Characters

Stephanie Hirsch- The protagonist who is best friends with Rachel Robsinon. She finds out that her parents are separating and her father has a girlfriend, she is starting middle school, has put on ten pounds and started menstruating.

Rachel Robinson- Stephanie's best friend who is great at anything. She is an overachiever who like Stephanie, has started changing in more ways than one and she is hoping their friendship can last through it all.

Alison Monceau- The new girl who moves into the condos where both Rachel and Stephanie live. She is a free spirit who attracts both boys and girls. She doesn't mean to get in the middle of their friendship and will try anything to save it.

Readers Annotation

This book will tug at your heart strings as it teaches you about love and loss and the way that true friendship mends all holes.

There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar

Sachar, L. (1987). There's a boy in the girl's bathroom. New York: Yearling Books.  

Plot

Fifth grader Bradley Chalkers is the class clown, bully, friendless and antisocial. He finds solace and friendship with cracked and chipped pottery animals who motivate him to be brave and hides his sadness in their broken pieces. The new kid in school tries and befriends Bradley but backs off when he realizes he is too hard to like. Feeling like even more of a failure and acting out even more than ever, Bradley's life is turned upside down when the school counselor arrives. She truly cares about him and works with Bradley in helping him to gain his confidence and respect for himself and others.

Review

Author Sachar creates middle school angst in such a dramatic and realistic way that readers will cringe at his setbacks and applaud at his milestones. There is a Bradley in every school and rather than turn him away and label him, this book teachers kids to look deeper and to not give up on one another. This book was one of my favorite books when I was in junior high and I never hesitate to recommend it or booktalk it to tweens now. Although the cover has been updated, the content is still as important and dedicated to changing bad behavior that tween today can still relate.

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

4th-8th grade/ Tween

Similar Books

Small Steps- Louis Sachar

How to Be a Perfect Person in Three Days- Stephen Manes

Frindle- Andrew Clements

Characters

Bradley Chalkers - Is the main antagonist in the beginning, but gradually becomes the main protagonist in the middle and end. He has "serious behavior issues," causing Ms. Ebbel (his teacher) to send him to Carla, the new school counselor.

Jeff Fishkin - Is the main protagonist in the beginning, then switches to the main antagonist in the beginning of the middle section, but quickly transfers back to the co-protagonist. Has a crush on Colleen, who likes him back. Bradley's best friend.

Colleen Verigold -She has a crush on Jeff. She has a birthday at the end of the story and invites all her friends, as well as Jeff and Bradley.

Carla Davis - the school counselor. Unlike the teachers at the school, she prefers to persuade students to do the right thing instead of outright telling them what to do.

Readers Annotation

Just when he thought that the world has given up on him, Bradley Chalkers has been given another chance by someone he least expected.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Kelly, J. (2010). The evolution of calpurnia tate. New York: Henry Holt and Co. 

Plot

 In 1899, twelve year old Calpurnia Tate is doing everything wrong. She loves adventure, science, and the natural world, which are all things a girl should not be doing. Calpurnia, or Callie as her six brothers call her, takes solace in her Granddaddy's lessons and their many scientific discoveries. During a time when young ladies are tied up in corsets and cooking lessons, Calpurnia is discovering herself as she blossoms into a brilliant and intriguing young woman. Readers will love mentions of familiar discoveries such as the instillation of the town's first phone, and the beginning of the National Geographic Society. 

Review

After reading this book I immediately found author Jacqueline Kelly on Facebook and emailed her my thoughts on this book. I am a guilty of judging books by their genre and this book sat on my desk for almost a month. When I finally picked  it up again, I fell in love by the first page. This is not a boring historical fiction book (which I am not fond of), but a brilliant summary of a young girls' self discovery in such an interesting way. Readers will love the history and familiar mentions such as Darwin and moonshine. Parents need to know that there is mention of alcohol making and consumption as well as some mentions of animals mating and words like "hell" and "damn", other than that, it is a great history lesson and fun story all in one. 

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level

5th-8th grade/ Tweens

Similar Books

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple-Karen Cushman

Caddie Woodland- Carol Brink

Strawberry Girl- Lois Lenski

Awards

IRA Children's Book Award; IRA Teachers' Choices; Newbery Honor Book; CPL: Chicago Public Library Best of the Best; Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Choice Award Master List; North Carolina Young Adult Book Award; Texas Lone Star Reading List; TN YA Volunteer State Book Award ML; Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Master List

Readers Annotation

Calpurnia is a girl growing up during the turn of the century and while everyone has their own plans for her, she is fighting to create and control her own destiny.

The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee Frazier

Frazier, S. (2010). The Other Half of my Heart. New York: Delacorte Books for Young People.

Plot

  When twin sisters Minerva and Keira King were born news of their birth reached all corners of the Earth. Minerva was born white like their father and Keira was born black like their mother. Despite the way that they look and the way others look at them, the King family is closer than ever. Everything changes when their Grandmother Johnson calls and asks the girls to come and stay with her at her house in North Carolina. There, the girls will compete in the prestigious Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America pageant. Minerva is against it from the start but with a little push, Keira convinces her to go along. There roles are reversed and Minni is now the outcast in an all black town and Keira grows resentful for all the years she has had to endure in their all white suburb. Readers will follow the sisterhood and friendship of two girls who are simply just trying to find where they belong.

Review

  This book was a beautiful 360 example of modern day racial prejudice and the perceptions society has on color. Both girls twinkle in their own way and it is up to their bond to shine. Frazier reaches out and addresses issues that children of mixed races go through with grace and humour. She build her characters to mature young ladies and by the end of the book readers will have a better understanding of racial prejudices and how it affects everyone. Frazier took the color line even deeper when she developed twins born of different races. Sister against sister, black against white cannot separate the true bond of these sisters.

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level

9-12 years old/5th-8th grade/ Tween

Similar Books

One Crazy Summer- Rita Garcia

Because of Mr. Terupt- Rob Buyea

Characters

Minerva King- White, quite, studious and wants nothing to do with girly pageant stuff

Keira King- Black, outgoing, girly, and can't wait to be in the pageant because she loves being in the spotlight

Grandmother Johnson- A large woman who likes to throw her weight around.

Readers Annotation

Minerva and Keira have been together through everything. Now this one summer at Gramother Johnson's house threatens to tear them apart. Will their sisterly bond save them?

Nice and Mean by Jessica Leader

Leader, J. (2010). Nice and Mean. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Plot

  Sachi (the nice girl) and Marina (the mean girl) are forced to work together while taking the same Video Skills elective class in their middle school. Told by alternating "nice" and "mean" voices, author Jessica Leader takes what could have been a cliche middle school meltdown and turned it into something quite fascintaing. Readers get to know the backgrounds of each girl and find out that they are not too different from one another and they use their differences to help each other out in areas that they need to change. Sachi is of Indian decent and readers are introduced to Indian culture tween girls are raised in this homelife. We also get to see why Marina is the way that she is and it is proof that there is always two sides to every story.

Review

  Again, Jessica Leader surprised me by writing a book that from all inclinations felt like it would turn into a cliched tween drama novel. When I finished this book I was pleasently surprised at the depth of her characters and the back stories to each one. Too many times you hear about mean girls in middle school but you rarely figure out why they are the way that they are. Nice and Mean does just that. Readers see relationships grow, secrets revealed, and tweens mature. Leaders' writing style truly captures that perfect tween voice and captivates all.

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

Tween/9-12 years/5th-8th grade

Similar Books

Devon Delaney Should Totally Know Better- Lauren Barnhodlt

The Melting of Maggie Bean- Tricia Rayburn

This is Me From Now On- Barbara Dee

Personal Thoughts

  I am not a huge fan of mean girls novels but this one took me by surprise. Maybe it was the deep background of Sachi and her Indian culture or the fact that even that mean girls get picked on. This was an easy read and a perfect rendition of what tween culture is all about.

Characters

• Sachi Parikh- A nice smart middle schooler who tends to let others walk all ove her.
• Marina Glass- Outspoken mean girl who hangs with the popular kids and comes to the realization that popularity doesn't always bring happiness.
• Rachel Winter- Marinas' so called best friend. Complete mean girl and will do whatever it takes to get to the top, even if it means backstabing her best friend.
• Flora- Sachi's friend even though she too tends to take advantage of Sachi from time to time

Readers Annotation

Mean girls 2.0 ahead. Readers beware!

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

LaFleur, S. (2010). Love, Aubrey. New York: Random House. 

PLOT

  Aubrey is a girl who is overcoming the tragedy of the loss of her father and sister in a car accident and the loss of her mother who has abandoned her out of sheer sadness. Aubrey takes comfort in writing to Jilly, her sister's imaginary friend. After her grandmother finds out that Aubrey has been staying alone and caring for herself she brings her to her home in Vermont and into a world of baking pies and swinging from trees. Here she meets Bridget who is a strong and lonley girl and the two finally begin to break into each others shells. When Aubrey's mother comes back and wants to start new with Aubrey, she must make a tough decision that will affect the rest of her life.

Review

  I decided to not talk about this book in my genre project because I loved it too much to not include it in this assignment. Love, Aubrey was beautifully and truthfully written. You want to protect Aubrey from the moment you realize that she is alone and you cheer her on as she begins to blossom and realize things will never be the same and it is up to her to survive. You want to scream at her mother who left her and hold her tightley when she returns with an open heart and flowing tears. This is a wonderful tween book that shares with readers the sentiment that happens when someone close dies, and shows readers that they can take little baby steps to create their own destiny.

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

Tween/8-12 years old/4th-8th grade

Similar Books

Olive's Ocean- Kevin Henkes

Each Little Bird that Sings- Deborah Wiles

Walk Two Moons- Sharon Creech

Personal Thoughts

  I truly fell in love with this story. This story is told with such emotion that you laugh while you are crying. The copy of this book that I found at my library had no book jackey and the cover offered little for the imagination. I was hooked by the first sentence. A must read.

Characters

• Aubrey: 11-year-old protagonist, mourning the loss of her father and sister, abandoned by her mother, living with her grandmother.
• Gram: Aubrey's maternal grandmother, who provides the stability in the Aubrey's life necessary for her to come to terms with her loss.
• Savannah: Aubrey's 7-year-old sister, who died in a car accident.
• Bridget: Aubrey's best friend, who lives next door to Gram in Vermont.
• Marcus: A friend from school, whose emotional problems help Aubrey gain perspective.
• Jilly: Savannah's imaginary friend, to whom Aubrey began writing letters.

Readers Annotation

 Aubrey is alone. Her father and sister are dead and her mother has disappeared. Aubrey thinks that she can make it alone, but when her grandmother comes to rescue her, Aubrey realizes that she needs all the help that she can get.