Ninth Ward by Jewell Rhodes

Rhodes, J. (2010). Ninth Ward. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 

Summary

12-year-old Lanesha is an avid student who dreams of becoming an engineer and building bridges for those who need them. Lanesha can also communicate with the dead, including the spirit of her mother who died after giving birth to Lanesha. Lanesha's caretaker, Mama Ya-Ya is a healer and can predict the future. When Mama Ya-Ya senses a large storm coming towards their city of New Orleans, both Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya must trust their gifts and close bond in order to survive Hurricane Katrina. 

Review

Wow! The dynamics of the characters, settings, magical elements, and foreboding disaster will capture even the most reluctant readers! Readers already know the terrible outcome of Hurricane Katrina but with the clever and honest writing, readers will truly believe this story of magic and heart. Readers who only saw the disastrous Hurricane Katrina on television will be able to live through this disaster in a suspenseful and haunting way. 

Genre

Fiction

Readers Age/Interest Level

9-13 years/ Tween

Similar Books

Moon over Manifest- Clare Vanderpool

One Crazy Summer Day- Rita Williams Garcia

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005- Lauren Tarshis
Awards

2010 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award

Selected as one of the best books of 2010 by School Library Journal

2010 Parents Choice Foundation Gold Award

2010 Al Roker “Today Show” Book Club Selection

2011 Brown Bookshelf 28 Days Later selection

Readers Annotation

Lanesha can see spirits and Mama Ya-Ya can predict the future and together they must trust their special gifts and incredible bond to survive the nearing disaster of Hurricane Katrina. 

The Wonder of Charlie Anne by Kimberly Fusco

Fusco, K. (2010). The wonder of charlie anne. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. 

Summary

When Charlie Anne's mother dies, her older cousin Mirabel arrives to take care of her and her siblings. Unfortunately, Charlie Anne's life is turned upside down with chores, reading assignments about charm and grace, and she finds any place to escape. When the family splits up in order to make ends meet, Charlie Anne is forced to make friends with the eccentric lady next door and her African American ward, Phoebe. During this growing friendship, Charlie Anne begins to understand that the world around her is not always fair and pleasant for all. 

Review

Readers will read about the impact that poverty and bigotry has on families during the Depression and Charlie Anne gives a perfect tween reaction to this unfairness. When Charlie Anne stands up and confronts this unfairness, tweens will cheer between the pages!

Genre

Historical Fiction

Reading Age/Interest Level

9-12 years/ Tween

Similar Books

Moon over Manifest- Clare Vanderpool

Bud, Not Buddy- Christopher Curtis

Readers Annotation

It is up to Charlie Anne to prove to the town that hearts are always able to change and grow. 

Smile (graphic novel)- by Raina Telgemeier

Telgemeier, R. (2010). Smile. California: Scolastic/Graphix
Summary
This graphic novel covers the first five years following the author's accident that resulted in the loss of her two front teeth. She has to go through tortuous oral surgeries, embarrassing implants, false teeth, and headgear. To make matters worse, Raina is going through the equally painful adolescence full of body changes, first crushes, and major awkwardness.
Review
Never before have I read such an eerily similar version of my tween years! I was awkward, needed braces and headgear and middle school was horrible! It wasn't until I grew out of the awkward phase did I realize that I was actually not that cool, which could have fooled me because I had great friends who treated me the way I treated them! This book is a great graphic novel that sums up the painful adolescent stage perfectly.
Genre
Graphic Novel
Reading Age/Interest Level
9-13 years/Tween
Similar Books
Amelia Rules series- Jeff Gownley
Dork Diaries- Rachel Renee Russel
The Popularity Papers- Amy Ignatow
Awards
Nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Published Books for Tweens- 2011
Boston Globe Horn Book Awards for Excellence in Children's Literature- 2011
Author Information
Raina Telgemeier grew up in San Francisco, and moved to New York City to study illustration at the School of Visual Arts. Her comics have been nominated for the Ignatz, Cybil, and Eisner Awards, and have appeared on the web, in magazines, and in various anthologies. She is the adaptor and illustrator of the Baby-sitters Club graphic novels, which were selected by YALSA for their Great Graphic Novels for Teens list in 2006, as well as ALA's Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth list.
Readers Annotation
Middle School is already full of changing bodies, first crushes, and major awkwardness, add embarrassing head gear and false teeth and you have a story that beats all.

Amelia Rules (graphic novel) - Jimmy Gownley

Gownley, J. (2010). Amelia Rules: Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular. New York: Athenum Publishing.
Summary
Amelia McBride returns in this all new hilarious adventure to stay above being a social outcast that stems from her best friend Rhonda's try at being popular. Amelia and Rhonda consult the "Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular" in their quest to stay "normal". She tries everything, new hairstyles, attitudes and friends with determination and humor, but realizes that she is happy with the way that she is.
Review
I am a bit partial to this graphic novel series because my tween is also names Amelia and her and Amelia McBride are exactly alike in their mishaps and adventure. This volume shows the importance of being popular in middle school but the even more important discovery of being true to oneself. Whether Amelia and her best friend Rhonda are trying out for the cheerleading squad or running away from an angry mob, readers will laugh out loud and relate in more ways then they think.
Genre
Graphic Novel
Reading Age/Interest Level
9-12 years/Tween
Similar Books
Amelia Rules series by Jimmy Gownley
Babymouse series by Jennifer Holm
Babysitter's Club series by Ann. M. Martin
Readers Annotation
Amelia is just trying to stay below the radar in middle school but then disaster strikes and she must prove to her peers that she is not unpopular, but just being herself. 

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Spinelli, J. (2002). Stargirl. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Summary
Susan is an eccentric and bizarre new classmate at Area High School, a school that prides itself on popularity and conformity. She wears costumes to school, drops change on the sidewalk for those who need it more than her, and she cheers for both teams because she doesn't like winning. Nicknamed Stargirl, she is nothing like anyone has ever experienced and everything that Leo has ever wanted. Throughout the school year Leo tries to get others to accept Stargirl for who she is but when that fails, he begins to look at her the same way others do and finds himself trying to change her, and himself.
Review
I love anything by Spinelli and this book does not disappoint. Tweens need books like this that show them that being different is ok. This book shows that individuality is a hard thing to hold onto during a time where everyone wants to be like everyone else and Stargirl shows them that middle school is a great place to express themselves.
Genre
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Reading Age/Interest Level
9-12 years/Tween
Similar  Books
Love, Stargirl- Jerry Spinelli
The Great Gilly Hopkins- Katherine Paterson
Loser- Jerry Spinelli
Awards
New York Time Bestseller
Parents Choice Gold Award Winner
ALA Top 10 Books Award
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Characters
Leo Borlock- The narrator of the book. Fell in love with Stargirl.
Susan "Stargirl" Caraway - a new face to Mica Area High School. Stargirl is different from everyone else at MAHS. She captures Leo Borlock's heart by just one smile. She brings the idea of individuality to MAHS, something that the school has never encountered before, and the student body is not always sure how to grasp it.
Cinnamon- a friendly rat that is Stargirl's most cherished companion and sidekick. He listens to Stargirl and does what she says.
Barney - an ancient, 60 million year-old, Paleocene era rodent skull that Archie keeps around to prove a point throughout the book, until the end, when Barney is buried.
Mr. McShane - Mica High's faculty representative to the state contest. He drives Stargirl and Leo to Phoenix, Arizona where the state competition is held.
Hillari Kimble - the girlfriend of Wayne Parr. She cannot stand Stargirl, hating her for the attention she gets .
Dori Dilson - the best friend of Stargirl Caraway. At first, she is very shy, but Stargirl helps her to open up more towards others.
Wayne Parr - the boyfriend of Hillari Kimble. In terms of achievement, he is a nobody. When asked by Kevin on Hot Seat what his inspiration is, Wayne answers that it is the magazine GQ.
Archie Brubaker - a teacher who works on Saturdays. He is a retired paleontology professor whose home, full of bones, is open to the students each Saturday. An old man who knows his stuff. Archie can be confusing since he is a man of riddles.
Kevin Quinlan - the best friend of Leo Borlock. He is the host of Hot Seat. Kevin is one of the few who continue to acknowledge Leo while he is dating Stargirl.
Peter Sinkowitz - the boy who lives across the street from Stargirl. Peter is a little boy that Stargirl keeps an eye on. She takes random pictures and notes about him for a scrapbook she will give him when he comes to an age at which he can appreciate it.
Señor Saguaro - the giant cactus that grows in Archie's backyard. When Leo and Kevin go to Archie for answers to their problems, Archie turns to Senor Saguaro for help and advice.
Mallory Stillwell - the captain of the MAHS cheerleading squad. She invites Stargirl to be a cheerleader after Stargirl wows her classmates with stunts at football games.
Readers Annotation
Would you change who you are in order to fit it? Even if that meant losing everything you believed in, including yourself?

Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Vanderpool. C. (2010). Moon over manifest. New York: Delacourt Books Publishing.
Summary
12 year old Abilene has always ridden the rails with her father until one day he sends Abilene away to live in the Depression era town of Manifest, Missouri, alone. She lives with Pastor Shady Howard and in a town that her father left mysteriously ten years earlier. Abilene is determines to piece together the reason why her father left Manifest and the local mystery of the "Rattler" all at the same time of trying to fit in with the closed knit townspeople.
Review
This is a great debut novel for Vanderpool and it has believable and at times humorous dialogue, beautiful imagery, and great characters that grow on you. Set in 1936, this book follows the first person narrative of 12 year old Abilene and her determination to save the old town of Manifest, her father, and the goodwill of the Town. Intertwined newspaper columns are shared throughout the book which gives readers a true look at the times.
Genre
Historical Fiction
Reading Age/ Interest Level
10-13 years/ Tween
Similar Books
One Crazy Summer- Rita Williams-Garcia
Heart of a Samurai- Margi Preus
Evolution of Calpurnia Tate- Jacqueline Kelly
Awards
Newberry Medal winner 2011
Readers Annotation
Abilene Tucker has always drifted from one place to another with her dad, now she is sent away, alone, to a place where outsiders are not welcomed and a deep mystery is ready to be solved.

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Hahn

Hahn, M. (2010). The ghost of crutchfield hall. New York: Clarion Books.

Plot

Twelve year old Florence Crutchfield figured that her life at her uncles manor in the English countryside would have to better than Miss Medleycoates's Home for Orphan Girls. She would finally have family, a place to call home, and a cousin who she would call friend. Instead, she arrived to a crumbling old manor with acres of empty space and hallways that are both empty and cold. She will live there with her uncle, her mean and nasty aunt, her invalid cousin and a few servants, and the ghost of Sophie, her cousin who died mysteriously on the grounds of the manor. When things start to get worse as the anniversary of Sophie's death draws near, it is up to Florence and James to send Sophie back where she belongs, or they will be next.

Review

What a bummer! This cover had me at hello and I could not wait to dive into it. Well I dove headfirst into an empty pool. Hahn seemed to take the good parts of the Secret Garden, added a bratty ghost, and ended with little hope for any of the characters. There were too many references or inside jokes that would go completely over the heads of tweens and the writing style was boring and lacked depth. Although Hahn is a great writer and throughout the book she would make me pause with her brilliant sentences, the story needed more work.

Genre

Horror

Reading Level/Interest Level

9-12 years/Tween

Similar Books

Coraline- Neil Gaiman

The Dollhouse Murders- Betty Wright

The Haunting- Joan Nixon

Readers Annotation

Florence was expecting a new home, a new family, and a place to call her own. What she wasn't expecting is to be possessed and haunted by her deceased cousin and in a race to save herself from trading positions. Florence's uncle said that the dead don't return, he was wrong.

The Boneshaker by Kate Milford

Milford, K. (2010). The boneshaker. New York: Clarion Books.

Plot

 At the crossroads lies a ghost town that was abandoned years ago under mysterious circumstances. When the town of Arcane was founded, its founders decided to move it up the road to keep it from falling under the same fate. Growing up in such a place, Natalie is fascinated with anything mechanical and is mesmerized when Dr. Jake Limberleg's Nostrum Fair and Technological Medicine Show stops in her fathers bicycle repair shop and asks to fix a broken wagon wheel to their caravan. Knowing that Dr. Jake is more sinister than he leads on, she is the only one who can save the town after everyone has fallen for his miracle cures and snake oil remedies.

Review

A new twist on Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes" Boneshaker is as creepy as it is good. Milford's writing is incredibly detailed and you can smell the gears as they start to turn and you can feel the tickle in your nose as the dust is lifted off the single road leading into town. There are going to be characters that seem to weave in and out of the story, some serve a lot and some are there solely to fill up pages. Whichever the case, this is a fantastic novel about the strength of family, community and bravery. 

Genre

Fantasy

Reading Level/Interest Level

10-12 years/Tween

Similar Books

A Tale Dark and Grimm- Adam Gidwitz

Revolver- Marcus Sedgwick

The Carnivorous Carnival- Lemony Snicket

Readers Annotation

13 year old Natalie loves anything with gears and wheels, until her small town, family and herself are thrust into a gear like story that will force Natalie to face down with the devil himself.

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?

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?

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.