Bad Girls Don't Die

by Katie Alender

Summary: Alexis's younger sister Kasey is kind of a weird girl. She acts more like an elementary school kid than a middle-schooler, and she has a strange attachment to her doll collection. But soon Alexis starts to notice Kasey's behavior getting more and more bizarre. And did her blue eyes just turn green? When Kasey asks Alexis to tell her a story, why does the tale of a young girl being tortured and bullied suddenly spring into her mind? As weeks pass, it becomes increasingly clear that Kasey is not altogether herself, and who she is becoming is a danger to not just Alexis, but to many people in town.

My thoughts: This is not only a great ghost story, but a good story about fitting in, school, and figuring out who you are. Alexis is an interesting character, one you can relate to. She's not the character in the scary book or movie who makes dumb decisions and gets herself in trouble. She's smart and makes good choices, which makes this story all that much scarier.

Kaleidoscope Eyes

by Jen Bryant

Summary: Lyza was always close to her grandfather, and when he passes away in 1968, she has to go with her father and older sister to help clean out his house. In the attic she finds a note with some maps and a key that are marked for her eyes only. Her grandfather has left her documents that lead Lyza and her two best friends on an exciting search for Captain Kidd's pirate treasure.

My thoughts: The Vietnam War-era setting gives this book a different feel--it's interesting to read Lyza's reaction to the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy, and to watch her see her friend's older brother get drafted. This is a novel written in verse. Jen Bryant takes full advantage of this format, using very few words to make a very powerful statement.

Prophecy of the Sisters

by Michelle Zink

Summary: Twins Lia and Alice Milthorpe couldn't be more different. When their father dies suddenly and mysteriously, the girls and their younger brother are left orphans. Lia's friend and long-time love James is working on organizing the Milthorpe family library, when he comes across a strange book with only one page. The cryptic message it reveals kicks off a deadly chain of events that pits the two sisters against one another, fulfilling an ancient prophecy, and leaving the fate of the world in their hands. One sister is good, and the other is evil beyond imagining. Who will win?

My thoughts: This is the first in a planned series, so be prepared for the cliffhanger ending! I think that the sequel will be well worth the wait, though. This book is exciting, suspenseful, and has some truly shocking moments. It would be creepy enough if set in modern times, but the late 19th century setting makes it even creepier.

The Sweetheart of Prosper County

by Jill S. Alexander

Summary: Ninth grader Austin Gray wants to be FFA (Future Farmers of America) Sweetheart, so she can ride on the hood of the car in the Christmas parade. In order to do that, she's got to first join FFA! She asks for a chicken for Christmas, and her mom lets her go pick one out from Lafitte Boudreaux, a local Cajun man rumored to involved in cock fighting. She picks a beautiful rooster and names him Charles Dickens. Her path to the parade is full of obstacles, though, including a boy who has been bullying her her whole life, a new friend, a new crush, and dealing with the death of her father three years earlier.

My thoughts: This book reminded me of my own childhood in so many ways, and anyone who is growing up in the south (especially Texas!) will be able to relate to Austin. She's awkward and funny and believable and sweet. You'll cringe at her mistakes, and cheer at her victories!

Box Out Book Trailer

If the video doesn't play, try this link.

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=140846&title=Box_Out__by_John_Coy

Jade Green

by Phillis Reynolds Naylor

Summary: After Judith's mother dies, her uncle agrees to take her in, on the condition that she never, ever brings anything green into her uncle's home. Unfortunately, the only item she has left from her mother is a photo in a green picture frame. Since no one ever told her why there is no green allowed, she figures her uncle just doesn't like the color, and that the frame would do no harm buried at the bottom of her suitcase. Boy, was she wrong!

My thoughts: While the ending was no real surprise, I still really enjoyed figuring it out, and all the creepy events leading up to the resolution. Just a good old fashioned ghost story!

The Magician's Elephant

by Kate DiCamillo

Summary: Peter, an orphan being raised by an old soldier who fought with Peter's father in wartime, is sent one day to the market with a single coin. He is meant to purchase bread with it, but instead spends it on a fortune-teller, in an attempt to get any information he can about his long-lost sister. He has been told his whole life that she died at birth, along with his mother. When the fortune teller tells him that he will find his sister if he follows the elephant, he is overjoyed that she might be alive, but can't figure out where he would possibly come across an elephant. Low and behold, a local magician conjures an elephant during a show, and crushes the legs of an audience member. The magician is imprisoned, and the poor elephant is tied up, far from home, with no idea how she got to this strange place. Peter must figure out how to help the elephant, the magician, and himself. It's an interesting, sweet, and magical journey.

My thoughts: This is classic DiCamillo. Something about the way she writes just makes you want to curl up and read through the night. Her stories are so comforting--the literary equivalent of mashed potatoes!