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TimestampBook TitleBook AuthorSummaryCurriculum connections?Any other fun stuff we should know?Your name (optional)Recommended Grade Levels?Your email address (optional)
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2/5/2015 11:39:37Hope is a Ferris WheelRobin HerreraFrom the Publisher:
Ten-year-old Star Mackie lives in a trailer park with her flaky mom and her melancholy older sister, Winter, whom Star idolizes. Moving to a new town has made it difficult for Star to make friends, when her classmates tease her because of where she lives and because of her layered blue hair. But when Star starts a poetry club, she develops a love of Emily Dickinson and, through Dickinson's poetry, learns some important lessons about herself and comes to terms with her hopes for the future.
With an unforgettable voice with a lot of heart, Hope Is a Ferris Wheel is the story of a young girl who learns to accept her family and herself while trying to make sense of the world around her.		Poetry
Emily Dickinson
Langston Hughes
Acceptance
Sisters
School		There are sections in the book where Star's spelling assignments (use the word in a sentence) appear. Star refuses to turn them in - as she uses them as a sort of journal - they are wonderfully funny and also poignant in their description of her wacko home life.Lisa AppleGrades 4-6, Grades 6-8lapple@forsythonline.com
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2/6/2015 14:58:28A Dark InheritanceChris D'LaceyMichael Malone's father disappeared three years ago. Michael has started having bouts of a mysterious malady which can't be explained. He is discovering that he can also do things other people can't. He has powers that can alter reality. Do any of these events connect? Why is he being followed? And what is UNICORNE and what do they know about the disappearance of his dad?

This is the first in a series. It is a great adventure book for boys and girls will also enjoy it. It reads like an action movie. 		Similar to the Michael Vey books.Laura MathenyGrades 6-8lmatheny@micds.org
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2/6/2015 15:19:54The Last Thing I RememberAndrew KlavanCharlie West is a typical teenager enjoying high school. He IMs, while working on homework and watches re-runs of Star Trek all at the same time. He's a black belt in Karate, but his tongue turns to cotton and sticks to the top of his mouth when around girls he likes. He wants to do well so he studies hard, trains hard, and always tries to do the right thing. He’s a genuinely good kid. So how did he end up strapped in a chair being tortured by international terrorists with someone ordering his death? How can he get away before they kill him?
This is more like a movie than a book. It’s a high paced action adventure suspense thriller with car chases, bullets ripping through the air, and the good guys and bad guys both hunting him and trying kill him. Charlie realizes he doesn’t know where he is, what day it is, and he can’t figure out why people are trying to kill him. He panics as he continues to ask himself, "WHAT IS THE LAST THING I REMEMBER?"..... Read Andrew Klavan’s The Last Thing I Remember and see why he is being hunted.
This is the first in a series. The boys LOVE it. It has car chases, bullets, mystery and intrigue. What's not to love?Laura MathenyGrades 6-8lmatheny@micds.org
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2/18/2015 10:25:03Everything I Never Told YouCeleste Ng"Lydia is dead. But they don't know this yet." So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia's body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos. A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another. (Publisher description from Mackin website.)Language Arts (great novel for lit circles or for independent reading)

Multicultural Literature

Psychology

Sociology		2015 Alex Award winner

One of the best books I've read in a long time!		Margaret SullivanGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12sullivanmargaret@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/18/2015 10:38:39I Was HereGayle FormanBest friends Cody and Meg have always planned to escape their small hometown in Washington and move to Seattle to start a new life, but when Meg receives a full scholarship to an elite private college in Tacoma, Cody is left behind cleaning houses to earn a living. Cody envies Meg's new circumstances—that is, until she learns that Meg has committed suicide in a motel room by drinking cleaning fluid. Distraught and unable to accept that her vibrant friend has killed herself, Cody begins investigating Meg's death—and the more she discovers, the more she wonders if she even knew her best friend at all. (Mackin annotation.)Language Arts - great novel of choice selectionAny book by Gayle Forman is bound to be popular with students. While I don't think this one is as good as If I Stay, it is an intriguing mystery that students will enjoy.Margaret SullivanGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12sullivanmargaret@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/18/2015 11:06:40Buzz KillBeth FantaskeyFrom Amazon.com:

Putting the dead in deadline
To Bee or not to Bee? When the widely disliked Honeywell Stingers football coach is found murdered, 17-year-old Millie is determined to investigate. She is chasing a lead for the school newspaper – and looking to clear her father, the assistant coach, and prime suspect.



Millie's partner is gorgeous, smart—and keeping secrets
Millie joins forces with her mysterious classmate Chase who seems to want to help her even while covering up secrets of his own.



She’s starting to get a reputation…without any of the benefits.
Drama—and bodies—pile up around Millie and she chases clues, snuggles Baxter the so-ugly-he’s-adorable bassett hound, and storms out of the world’s most awkward school dance/memorial mash-up. At least she gets to eat a lot of pie.



Best-selling author Beth Fantaskey’s funny, fast-paced blend of Clueless and Nancy Drew is a suspenseful page-turner that is the best time a reader can have with buried weapons, chicken clocks, and a boy who only watches gloomy movies…but somehow makes Millie smile. Bee-lieve it.		This book is a contender for the Truman Award - or could be a great Gateway selection, as well! It was a fun mystery/love story/friendship story that will appeal to lots of readers. Carol BauerGrades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12bauercarol@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/18/2015 11:17:20Loot: How to Steal a FortuneJude WatsonFrom Amazon.com:

On a foggy night in Amsterdam, a man falls from a rooftop to the wet pavement below. It's Alfie McQuinn, the notorious cat burglar, and he's dying. As sirens wail in the distance, Alfie manages to get out two last words to his young son, March: "Find jewels."

But March learns that his father is not talking about a stash of loot. He's talking about Jules, the twin sister March never knew he had. No sooner than the two find each other, they're picked up by the police and sent to the world's worst orphanage. It's not prison, but it feels like it.

March and Jules have no intention of staying put. They know their father's business inside and out, and they're tired of being pushed around. Just one good heist, and they'll live the life of riches and freedom most kids only dream about.

Watch out! There are wild kids on the loose and a crime spree coming . . .		This was just another fun, action-packed read similar to Sidekicked in tone. It may be another contender for the Truman Award!Carol BauerGrades 6-8bauercarol@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/18/2015 14:11:42I'll Give You the SunJandy NelsonFraternal twins Noah and Jude are devastated by the tragic death of their mother, but their long broken relationship leaves each twin to grieve alone. Their pain is compounded by the dark secrets they keep from each other and their father. Their happiness hinges on their ability to forgive themselves and tell the truth, as horrible as it may be. References to various art forms and art history
Poetry

This book won the Printz award this year!Kelly OlivaGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12kellyoliva@wentzville.k12.mo.us
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2/18/2015 15:35:49Sea of DreamsDennis NolanA girl builds a sandcastle and walks away as the sun sets. The waves get closer and closer, and suddenly a light comes on in one of the castle windows! What happens next is a big surprise. This is a wordless fantasy picture book, beautifully illustrated, and so fun to read.I read it to a first grade class who thought it was hilarious! I saw almost nothing funny in it, but enjoyed it equally as well. I can't wait to "read" it to another class to see their reaction. I paired it with The book with no pictures for a fun discussion about storytelling.Mary Ellen KopsasGrades 1-3mkopsas@mehlvilleschooldistrict.net
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2/19/2015 9:48:21Hidden: a child's story of the HolocaustDauvillier, LoicThe book opens with a little girl awaken due to a nightmare. She walks into the living room and sees her grandma sitting on the couch with a sad face. Elsa, the little girl, tells grandma that she always tells Mommy when she is sad and it might make you feel better if you tell me about what is making you so sad. Surprisingly enough, grandma begins the story of when she was a child and her daddy told her that they were going to become the family of sheriffs and sews a star on her coat. From that point on, Elsa is set apart from her classmates and does not understand why. Her parents are taken away but Elsa has hidden well enough that she is not found. Will she ever find her mother and father? Who will help her survive? Elsa's grandma has not even told her son this story. Why?Common CORE - Missouri Learning Standard - Reading Standards for Literature - Grade 2 - Integration of Knowledge and Ideas - Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
Grade 5 - Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

This book lends itself to a multiple curriculum connections, my opinion.		Graphic Novel
Translated from French
Kirkus Best of 2014		Yvonne GibbsGrades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10ygibbs@lindenwood.edu
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2/19/2015 11:42:59Shadow and BoneBardugo, LeighFantasy, fiction.
An orphan girl grows up to discover she has an extraordinary power that has been dormant. Now she has to figure out if the royal court is going to use it for good or evil. Who can she trust?		Character analysis

The Darkling is a complex character, is he a hero or a villain? Supply evidence to support your claim.

Brenda KukayGrades 6-8, Grades 9-10
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2/19/2015 12:37:53InjusticeTom TaylorThe Joker messes with Superman. Superman ends up taking over the world. Batman stands against him. ethics
artwork
graphic novels
literary elements		It is based on the video game Injustice. It is dark, but amazing! I have a huge wait list for all three and I have the fourth one pre-ordered. kelly werthmullerGrades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12mrsw80@gmail.com
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2/20/2015 10:09:54House of SecretsChris ColumbusThis book is packed with mystery and adventure when the Walker family is forced to move to an incredible old house. The father, a Dr.,is involved in some type of questionable behavior and is forced to give up his practice and relocate. There are supernatural undertones when the house appears too good to be true.
Review from Goodreads
"The Walker kids had it all: loving parents, a big house in San Francisco, all the latest video games . . . but everything changed when their father lost his job as a result of an inexplicable transgression. Now the family is moving into Kristoff House, a mysterious place built nearly a century earlier by Denver Kristoff, a troubled writer with a penchant for the occult."
A winner for your avid and reluctant readers!
Not sure.There is a sequel.Lin EdmonstonGrades 4-6ledmonston@rossmanschool.org
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2/20/2015 13:27:50The Nuts: Bedtime at the Nut HouseEric LitwinThis is the story of two Nuts who won't go to bed and how Momma Nut handles that.This is by the same author as Pete the Cat, so it will appeal to that age kiddos. There is a great live storytelling version with Eric Litwin singing the song while reading. (I found it on YouTube.) There is also a song version on the book website that the kids loved listening to while watching the book.Carolyn ScaiaGrades 1-3carolynscaia@yahoo.com
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2/20/2015 13:32:25OneKathryn OtoshiRed is being a bully color towards Blue. None of the other colors are standing up to Red even though they know he is being mean. Until 1 comes along and shows them that you should stand up to someone being mean.PBIS, bullying, working togetherCarolyn ScaiaGrades 1-3carolynscaia@yahoo.com
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2/20/2015 14:38:34Greenglass HouseKate MilfordSeveral guests arrive unexpectedly at the Greenglass House during the Christmas vacation and strange things begin to happen. Milo, the son of the innkeepers, works to solve the many mysteries that pop up in the house and in the process learns a great deal about the house as well as himself. Character traits, history - smuggling eraThis would be perfect for students who enjoyed Trenton Lee Stewart's "The Mysterious Benedict Society." Carolyn ScaiaGrades 4-6carolynscaia@yahoo.com
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2/22/2015 10:09:56A Thousand Pieces of YouClaudia GrayMarguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.

*taken from Goodreads		Nina O'DanielsGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12nodaniels@fz.k12.mo.us
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2/22/2015 10:11:56The Sea of TranquilityKatja MillayFormer piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

*taken from Goodreads		A School Library Journal Best Book of 2013
An ALA/YALSA Alex Award Winner		Nina O'DanielsGrades 11-12nodaniels@fz.k12.mo.us
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2/22/2015 10:13:47The Winner's CurseMarie RutkoskiAs a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

*taken from Goodreads		Nina O'DanielsGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12nodaniels@fz.k12.mo.us
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2/23/2015 13:16:35Red Rising (and Golden Son)Pierce BrownMy goodreads review:

I bloodydamn, er, gorydamn loved this book and so will any sci-fi fan who picks it up. Darrow is a Red, the lowest of Mars' caste system. He and his people believe it is their lot in life to mine in order to make Mars completely hospitable someday. After his beloved wife, Eo, martyrs herself, Darrow discovers that his life has been a lie. Mars has been colonized for hundreds of years. The lie is told to the Reds in order to enslave them. When Darrow is smuggled into the resistance, he is recreated into a superhuman, a Gold, and is trained to attend the Golds' command school. Except it's not a command school. It's a cruel battlefield - think the Hunger Games meets Ender's Battle School meets Capture the Flag. Darrow must find a way to lead and win and avenge Eo and his people. Hardcore, exciting, violent, suspenseful, strategic, character driven, surprising, I could go on and on. Red Rising is the next big thing! An absolute no brainer for Gateway.		The author is hot and the movie is in development!Shannon GrieshaberGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12sgrieshaber@fz.k12.mo.us
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2/23/2015 13:26:08Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern GeekMaya Van WagenenMy goodreads review:

This book was absolutely adorable. When Maya's dad buys and brings home a copy of Betty Cornell's Teenage Popularity Guide (copyright 1951), he has no idea it will change his daughter's life forever. With her mother's encouragement, Maya decides to undertake a challenge her 8th grade year: she will follow Betty Cornell's advice for becoming popular and write about the experience. This book is the result of that experiment. Maya's voice as she chronicles her experience is sweet, funny, and sarcastic. And her experience is one that everyone can relate to - even if they're not wearing pearls and a girdle! As for Gateway, it's a nope. But it definitely has potential for Truman. Popular will make a very nice addition to my high school library's memoir section, though.		Memoir, writingSixteen year old Maya just won YALSA's Excellence in Non-Fiction Award. It was announced during the school day. She had to wait until after school got out to tweet about it.Shannon GrieshaberGrades 6-8, Grades 9-10sgrieshaber@fz.k12.mo.us
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2/23/2015 13:37:20Divided We FallTrent Reedymy goodreads review:

Danny's father was killed in action during one of the many wars that have taken place since 2014. Danny has always known that he, too, would join the service and fight for his country. He didn't plan on enlisting at the age of 17, the summer before his senior year, but duty called so he joined the National Guard. As a star football player, he was a bit concerned about the guard taking him away from home a weekend every month, but figured he'd be able to make it work okay. When he gets the "rattlesnake" call weeks before he's supposed to be on duty again, he knows there is big trouble. But he has no idea that an action he will take while trying to keep the peace during a protest will start a nationwide controversy that could lead to a civil war.

I had so many thoughts while reading this book - from thoughts about our country, the media, gun control, and Ferguson to thoughts about the story and the wide appeal it will have with teens. And then there are my thoughts about the audio. This audiobook was absolutely MIND BLOWING. It will be a "gateway drug" ushering teens into the power of the audiobook world. I realize that sounds overly dramatic, but I'm serious! This was one of those audios that was so good that I wonder if the experience of reading the book will be as good as listening to it. Much of this story is told in radio broadcasts. The production of the audiobook includes these broadcasts in a variety of voices with appropriate sound effects, music, etc. It is really, really well done. I will absolutely purchase it for my library.

As for Gateway, it's a no brainer. Divided We Fall will appeal to teens that love Article 5 (on this year's Gateway list), Something Like Normal (also on this year's Gateway list), military stories and sports stories.		current events (Ferguson), war, mediaAs I said in my review, the audiobook is the best. Sequel is available now (but the audio for the sequel is not yet avail).Shannon GrieshaberGrades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12sgrieshaber@fz.k12.mo.us
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2/24/2015 8:45:40WingerAndrew Smith Ryan Dean is smart. He's so smart in fact that he's two years younger than the rest of his classmates. He's so smart that he hacked into the school's mainframe and his punishment is to now live in the "bad" dorm. His roommate is a fellow rugby player who he is pretty sure will murder him in his sleep. And of course there's a girl (there's always a girl isn't there). Well actually for Ryan Dean there are girls. He loves them all, but the one he loves the most is his best friend. This book is hilariously funny and devastatingly sad, and one I just absolutely fell in love with last year. Connection to theme and characterization
Fun graphics throughout the book as well. Lots of drawings by Ryan Dean. I give it to my 8th grade boys and they all love the book:)BrookeGrades 9-10brookebrockman@wentzville.k12.mo.us
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2/24/2015 12:38:32A Little Something DifferentSandy HallA mostly lighthearted love story told from fourteen viewpoints, including Squirrel! and a park bench. The big question? Will Lea and Gabe conquer their shyness enough to speak more than a couple of sentences to each other? Everyone else (the Chinese food delivery guy, their creative writing professor, the bus driver, etc. ) knows that Lea and Gabe make the perfect love match except for, well, uh, Lea and Gabe. A quick read!Laurie SeibelGrades 9-10laurie.seibel@kirkwoodschools.org
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2/25/2015 8:24:19All the Truth That's in MeJulie BerryIn the 1700's, Judy Finch is an outcast, viewed even by her mother a freak. After witnessing the murder of her best friend, Judy spent two terrifying years isolated in the woods with a kidnapper who returned her to her community but not before cutting out her tongue so she could never reveal his identity. Now age 18, Judy pines over her neighbor and longtime love, Lucas, who no longer returns her affections, and she wonders what joy the future can possibly hold for. When her town is threatened by outsiders and an unlikely friend encourages her to regain her voice, Judy is challenged to disobey her mother and find the strength to stand up for herself and the ones she loves. An original story with elements of love, action, history and horror, "All the Truth That's In Me" will keep readers on the edge of their seats. History-- research rural American life, weaponry in the 18th century
Science-- function of the tongue in speech; history of and need for amputation
It's a Gateway Nominee for next year!
Author is active on Twitter and will read/favorite/respond to tweets regarding this book		Kelly OlivaGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12kellyoliva@wentzville.k12.mo.us
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2/25/2015 8:53:13Bamboo PeopleMatali PerkinsFROM THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE: Chiko isn’t a fighter by nature. He’s a book-loving Burmese boy whose father, a doctor, is in prison for resisting the government. Tu Reh, on the other hand, wants to fight for freedom after watching Burmese soldiers destroy his Karenni family's home and bamboo fields.

Timidity becomes courage and anger becomes compassion as each boy is changed by unlikely friendships formed under extreme circumstances.

This coming-of-age novel takes place against the political and military backdrop of modern-day Burma. Narrated by two fifteen-year-old boys on opposing sides of the conflict between the Burmese government and the Karenni, one of the many ethnic minorities in Burma, Bamboo People explores the nature of violence, power, and prejudice.		Global literature
Exploring conflict
Coming of age
Southeast Asia
"With authenticity, insight, and compassion, Perkins delivers another culturally rich coming-of-age novel." —★ School Library Journal Starred Review

"A graceful exploration of the redemptive power of love, family, and friendship." —★ Publishers Weekly Starred Review 		Victoria JonesGrades 6-8victoriajones@claytonschools.net
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2/25/2015 9:24:11Stuck in NeutralTerry TruemanShawn McDaniel's life is not what it may seem to anyone looking at him. He is glued to his wheelchair, unable to voluntarily move a muscle-he can't even move his eyes. for all Shawn's father knows, his son may be suffering. Shawn may want a release, and as long as he is unable to communicate his true feelings to his father, Shawn's life is in danger.

To the world, Shawn's senses seem dead. Within these pages, however, we meet a side of him that no one else has seen-a spirit that is rich beyond imagining, breathing life.		Disability awareness
Family relationships
2001 Michael L. Printz Honor Book
2000 Booklist Editors Choice Awards
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers		Victoria JonesGrades 6-8victoriajones@claytonschools.net
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2/25/2015 9:48:31Half a KingAbercrombie, JoeIn this high fantasy adventure, Heir to the throne, Yarvi, prompted by the murder of his father, embarks on a kingdom-transforming journey to regain the throne, even having only one good hand and cannot wield a weapon. Recommend to fans of Game of Thrones.Nichole Ballard-LongGrades 9-10ballardlongnichole@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/25/2015 9:50:00I'll Give You the SunNelson, JandyJude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . Great for John Green fans.Nichole Ballard-LongGrades 9-10ballardlongnichole@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/25/2015 9:52:45Made for YouMarr, MelissaSouthern small town darling Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital with the frightening ability to see through the eyes of the victims of a serial killer, and realizes that she, too, is a target of the depraved stalker. Part murder-mystery/suspense with a bit of paranormal and romance thrown in, a great pick for readers.Some violent murder scenes in the book, although not too very gory in detail. Nichole Ballard-LongGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12ballardlongnichole@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/25/2015 11:57:44Disgusting HagfishMeish GoldishWonderful photographs and well placed text features explain the feeding habits and life of these elusive and little known and eye-less sea creatures who produce slime as a defense aid.Wonderful and effective introduction to nonfiction for Kindergarten students. I've revisited the book with later grade levels when introducing various text features because the kids remember the book.This is part of the "Gross-Out Defenses" series from Bearport Publishing.Natalie OleshchukGrades 1-3noleshchuk@mehlvilleschooldistrict.net
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2/25/2015 12:03:11Disgusting HagfishMeish GoldishWonderful photographs and well placed text features explain the feeding habits and life of these elusive and little known and eye-less sea creatures who produce slime as a defense aid.Wonderful and effective introduction to nonfiction for Kindergarten students. I've revisited the book with later grade levels when introducing various text features because the kids remember the book.This is part of the "Gross-Out Defenses" series from Bearport Publishing.Natalie OleshchukGrades 1-3noleshchuk@mehlvilleschooldistrict.net
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2/25/2015 12:09:46A Very Witchy Spelling BeeGeorge ShannonCordelia loves to spell and her goal is to win the Witches' Double Spelling Bee. However, thirteen-time champion Beulah Divine is not going to let such a young witch take her title as spelling champion.It would be fun to divide the class into two groups and see which group can solve the spelling puzzles before they are revealed in the story.This would be fun to do around Halloween!Natalie OleshchukGrades 1-3, Grades 4-6noleshchuk@mehlvilleschooldistrict.net
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2/25/2015 12:14:16100 SnowmenJen ArenaWhimsical illustrations reveal all the fun snowmen can have. Each tableau is built around an addition problem culminating in 100 snowmen.Great to use for kids to read the emotions expressed on the snowmen's faces and to have kids try to solve the additional problems along the way.If students had individual dry-erase boards or pieces of paper they could work the addition problems as they appear in the story.Natalie OleshchukGrades 1-3noleshchuk@mehlvilleschooldistrict.net
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2/25/2015 12:17:23National Geographic Kids: Frogs! Elizabeth Carney Through the use of vibrant, “eye-popping” photographs and leveled text, the students are introduced to many characteristics of frogs in this nonfiction book. Science ( Life cycles, types of frogs, etc.)
ELA ( Text Features: Table of Contents, labels, headings, etc.)
* There is an entire series of these books on a variety of topics.
The levels range from 1-beginning reader to 3- fluent reader.

* There are common core resources on the National Geographic
website: www.natgeoed.org/commoncore , of which a
section of the website is designated for kids.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

* Students can earn prizes by becoming a National Geographic
Super Reader. http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/superreader
They can also print out posters as well as various activities.

Nedra L. DavisGrades 1-3nedra.davis@slps.org
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2/25/2015 12:20:31Sea Creatures KidsbooksThis book presents interesting facts about various “sea creatures” . Each page has two flaps that can be lifted to reveal more information .. Science
ELA ( Text Features: Glossary, captions, headings, etc.)
Math (Measurement/Size)
Writing (Questions)
* This is one book in a series of six titles.

* The binding is not very sturdy for circulation, but it would be
a good resource to share with the students.

*
The photographs are detailed and stunning.		Nedra L. DavisGrades 1-3nedra.davis@slps.org
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2/25/2015 12:21:46Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy ButtonsEric LitwinPete the Cat loses buttons from his favorite shirt in this fun counting (down) book.Math (Counting Down, Subtraction)* Download the companion story/song with music from
www.harpercollinschildrens.com/petethecat

* One fun activity is to have the students act out the story,
using giant paper buttons.

Nedra. L. DavisGrades 1-3nedra.davis@slps.org
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2/25/2015 12:24:20Skunks do more than Stink! D. M. Souza[From book]: Provides information about the physical characteristics and habits of the striped, spotted, and hog-nosed skunk. Science
ELA ( Text Features: Glossary, captions, headings, index, etc.)
Writing
* The book contains a “ Find out More” section in the back,
where the students can go to look for more information about
skunks in books, videos, or on websites.

* For schools that subscribe to TumbleBooks: There is a short video on their website called “ The Friendly Neighborhood Skunk”, by National Geographic. 		Nedra L. DavisGrades 1-3, Grades 4-6nedra.davis@slps.org
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2/25/2015 12:39:05The Conspiracy of UsMaggie HallFrom Barnes and Noble: A fast-paced international escapade, laced with adrenaline, glamour, and romance—perfect for fans of Ally Carter. Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war. Part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, they believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy. Some want to use her as a pawn. Some want her dead. To unravel the mystery putting her life in danger, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the monuments of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul with two boys who work for the Circle—beautiful, volatile Stellan and mysterious, magnetic Jack. But as the clues expose a stunning conspiracy that might plunge the world into World War 3, she discovers that both boys are hiding secrets of their own. Now she will have to choose not only between freedom and family—but between the boy who might help her save the world, and the one she's falling in love with. Her debut novel; pulled me in right away - easy read; author does nice job of describing surroundings etc. where you can actually imagine being there.Jennifer MillikanGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12jmillikan@stjosephacademy.org
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2/25/2015 13:09:15AlteredRush, JenniferSeventeen-year-old Anna finds herself on the run from her father's enigmatic Agency, along with the four teen boys the Agency had been experimenting on, as they try to make sense of erased memories, secret identities, and genetic alteration.Personal reading choice for Lang Arts; ethics discussion in science.Sequels are: Erased and Reborn. Good for those who want more dystopia and/or science fiction.Melissa TwomblyGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12twomblymelissa@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/25/2015 13:11:35Prisoner B-3087Gratz, AlanBased on the life of Jack Gruener, this book relates his story of survival from the Nazi occupation of Krakow, when he was eleven, through a succession of concentration camps, to the final liberation of Dachau.Holocaust - social studies; I think it is also appropriate for upper elementary. Very good example of excellent Historical Fiction.Melissa TwomblyGrades 6-8, Grades 9-10, Grades 11-12twomblymelissa@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/25/2015 13:16:58TeardropKate, LaurenSince Eureka's mother drowned, she wishes she were dead too, but after discovering that an ancient book is more than a story, Eureka begins to believe that Ander is right about her being involved in strange things--and in grave danger.
Language Arts - Personal Reading Choice		Fantasy Romance; Book 2 Waterfall; digital short story Last Day of Love.Melissa TwomblyGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12twomblymelissa@rockwood.k12.mo.us
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2/25/2015 14:14:52Bombs Over Bikini: the world's first nuclear disasterConnie GoldsmithFrom 1946 until 1958, as part of the Cold War arms race, the U.S. military detonated sixty-seven nuclear bombs over Bikini and Eniwetok Atolls in the Pacific Ocean. The twelfth bomb, called Bravo, became the world's first nuclear disaster. It sent a toxic cloud of radiation over Rongelap Atoll and other nearby inhabited islands.Great nonfiction book Book Trailer by Lerner on author website
https://vimeo.com/90992603

Janet GriffardGrades 6-8, Grades 9-10
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2/25/2015 14:22:46The HavenCarol Lynch WilliamsEstablished in the year 2020, The Haven is home to teens who are classed as Terminals, whose education, food, rest, and behavior are strictly monitored to save them from Disease, but Shiloh and Gabriel remember a different kind of life, and are on the verge of rebellion.

YA - Not finished, but so far, okay for middle school. 		Science Fiction
Janet GriffardGrades 6-8, Grades 9-10
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2/25/2015 14:53:48So Much for DemocracyKari JonesIt is 1979, and Astrid's family has relocated from Canada to Ghana so her father can help with the upcoming election. This is a tumultous time, and soldiers around town are on edge. Astrid's mother is not coping well and her paranoia is suffocating Astrid. Throughout the story, we learn more about the stressed relationship between mother and daugher. The politial backdrop and family dynamic add complexity to this short, seemingy simply novel.Geography, HistoryProbably most appealing to female readers. Offers substance, but nothing racey.

JLG selection - June 2014.		Jeff BargielskiGrades 6-8jeffrey.bargielski@fhsdschools.org
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2/25/2015 15:07:39Thousand WordsJennifer BrownSexting gone really, really wrong. Before reading, we already know what Asheigh did wrong. What we learn, though, is why she did it and what are the consequences.Digital CitizenshipGateway 15-16 Nominee
Racey language
Use caution with younger readers
I'll stil put this in my Middle School collection		Jeff BargielskiGrades 9-10, Grades 11-12jeffrey.bargielski@fhsdschools.org
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