Comments:  The main character begins by telling  his story of running away with circus during the Depression Era through flashbacks while living out his days in a nursing home. Gruen has definitely done her research on the traveling circus and sometimes uses very graphic details. Some disturbing passages on animal cruelty but a nicely done book.

Comments: This is about a high school boy who receives a box of 13 cassette tapes from a fellow classmate and friend who has committed suicide.  In the tapes the girl relates events that led up to her suicide.  She has compiled a list of students that are to receive the tapes and who are mentioned in the tapes.  Very thought provoking!  YALSA 2008 Best Book for YA's.

Comments: A meteor has hit the moon altering it's orbit and affecting the gravitational forces, etc.  This causes many disasters such as tidal waves, earthquakes, changes in the weather and many other catastrophies.  Is this the end of the world?  This is a story of survival told through journal entries of a teenage girl who relates the struggles of her and her family as they face an unknown future and end of life as they knew it!

Comments: Paint by Magic combines family life and time travel in an exciting adventure for young Connor.  The experience they share bring Connor and his mother closer together.  Paint By Magic examines a time of less electronics and more family activities with an exciting mystery thrown in for fun.

Comments: lison and Iguana are best friends.  But something is missing.  Iguana takes off on a vacation that includes some good times and some bad times.  Megan McDonald has done a great job of capturing the attitude and attributes of a pet iguana right down to their fear of dogs!  Iguana reminds me of my son's pet iguana, Fido.

Comments: Still reeling from his drug-dealing father's murder, moving in with the wealthy mother he never knew, and transferring to a private school, fifteen-year-old Jude is tricked into pleading guilty to a crime he did not commit.

Comments: A fun and exciting Limba tale, from West Africa, gives us advice on how to hone our senses so we may survive in this scary world, especially if you are a very small mouse. A sneaky cat invites the mice to experience a special ceremony so they can join a secret cat club and as they march to the spot the cat removes them one by one. Mabela saves the day by using the advice her father gave her to keep her safe in the world. A wonderful rhythmic singalong to build the suspense and a great story to tell with lots of exuberance.

Comments: Posthumously published novel from Alexander who died this spring has ended his career with a delightful story of how the journey may be better than the treasure at the end. It is reminiscent of the stories from The Arabian Nights with scary villains and a beautiful heroine, Shira. Carlo joins up with a shady camel puller, Baksheesh, a wise and happy traveller, Salamon and beautiful Shira looking for a treasure on the Road of Golden Dreams and finds adventure and war on the road to Cathai.