Summer Wrap Up

So that was my summer guys! I blogged everyday from when I got out of school in June to the end of August! Now, with school starting, and homework picking up, I can only do so much. I think I will just post books as I finish them, and an occasional book I've read in the past. I'd like to shout out to anyone that was here all summer with me, and read all my posts. Thanks again!

-Cait

My Summer Book Trek Winnings part 2

     Since childhood, scientist Talia Zaryn has been haunted by recurring dreams, visions of an alien attack on her planet Sendek. Each time it ends abruptly with Talia’s death in the capital city Joharadin, a city that she has spent her life desperately avoiding. Talia keeps these dreams a secret, hoping they are nothing more than childish nightmares. But when she is unexpectedly transferred to Joharadin she is convinced that the conflict, and her own death, is at hand.
     As Talia’s nightmares occur with increasing frequency, they reveal the imminent invasion of a half-dragon, half-human race called Dragumon, bent on the annihilation of her world.
     In Sendek, magic is dead and science rules, forcing Talia to keep another secret, one that could cost her everything if it were known. Now, in order to save her planet, Talia must awaken the powers within her and rely at last on the magic that is her true inheritance. (goodreads.com)

It is the last days of the great Nephite nation and their civilization teeters on the brink of devastating war. Their blood-enemies and rival nation, the Lamanites, have sworn their destruction. As the conflict unfolds upon this ancient American landscape, courageous heroes fight to defend their people against ruthless forces of evil.

Amaron and his Ten Scouts, Zelph the White Lamanite, and Anathoth the Lamanite general—all must face the Gadianton Master Akish-Antum, as he orchestrates the greatest terror the land has ever known.

In a world at war, who will rise to become the heroes of the fallen?

(Goodreads.com)

My Summer Book Trek Winnings part 1

    .                         Detective Carl Hamilton is called out on a homicide case, where the partially decayed body of an unidentified teenage girl is found along a remote highway...

Weeks before, Jacinta Rivera joined her best friends Callie, Sara and Amanda for a night of pizza and shopping. But an evening at the mall turned into a terrifying twist of events that drove Jaci and her friends 2000 miles across the Canadian border. The girls escaped the kidnapper’s lair only to find that he has spies and agents working on both sides. 

They are being hunted, and not even the police can be trusted….And Detective Hamilton is in a life and death race to find the three remaining girls before the kidnapper does. (Tamara Hart Heiner's blog)

                                                                                 

 The FBI promises Jacinta Rivera and her friends that they are safe. Jaci wants desperately to believe them but weeks of hiding from their kidnapper, alias "The Hand", have left her wary. Hidden from the public eye in an FBI safe house, Jaci must reconcile both her father's mysterious disappearance and the murder of her best friend.

A betrayal lands Jaci back in the grasp of The Hand, shattering her ability to trust and leaving her to wonder if she will ever piece together her broken life. (Tamara Hart Heiner's blog)

Mikayla: Cute Canadian college girl turned world-famous, super- sexy pop-star practically overnight. And still figuring out if she belongs in this celebrity wonderland.
Jordan: The only genuine guy in all of L.A. Law student, and extremely attractive. Also happens to hate the Hollywood celebrity scene.

Matt: Stupid, lying, money-loving ex-boyfriend trying to get back into Mikayla’s life and ruin every hope she has with Jordan.

Kurt: Personal trainer, confidant and only true friend Mikayla has in her new life. Questionable fashion sense included.

Cheryl: Completely psychotic manager.

The next three months? Happily ever after with Jordan. Or social and career ruin with no hope of ever finding true love…
(Goodreads.com)

2013 Summer LDS Book Trek

     I've been thinking, and I decided that my Summer Book Trek ended to abruptly. So I decided that I wound post  the next few days about the books I won and express my gratitude yet again for how I was able to participate in, (and win,) the program. Check back soon!

The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis

Dan and Amy are still on chase for the 39 clues! The pressure and interest has not decreased one bit.  This book starts with Amy and Dan at the Venice airport. There, Ian and Natalie Kabra steal their tickets to board the plane with the Cahill's caretaker Nellie. That is only the begininng, what other drama will the Kabras stir up? 

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

     Miri is named after the flower that "Conquered the rock and climbed to the sun."  Up on one of the tall mountains of  Mount Eskel the green and lush side of the mountain, Miri and her family live together in harmony. Every now and then the "lowlanders" will come up the mountain to trade with the villagers. Unlike some girls Mir's age, Miri's one dream is to work in the quarry with the other villagers, as she loves the beautiful mountain. 

     One day a messenger from the king rides into town. He announces that their will be a school for  all the girls close to the age of the prince. The reason being is that Eskel will be the place that the bride-to-be will come from, so says the king down in the "lowlands." As most of the village girls leave, all starts well. Until one after noon, a band of robbers hold the school hostage. How can Miri get herself and her friends free?

Kane Chronicles: The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

     Another mythology series by Rick Riordan, the popular YA writer of the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians and also the Hero's of Olympus. Only the major difference is the mythology. In the Kane Chronicles, Rick follows the Egyptian Gods instead of the Greek Gods in the Percy Jackson books. 

     Our two main characters, Sadie and Carter Kane, are the children of two Egyptologists. Their father Dr. Julius Kane finally brings the two siblings together one Christmas Eve night. As the siblings have been separated for many years, since their mother's disappearance. Very soon after Julius picks up the kids, they go sight seeing together at the British Museum. Suddenly, Dr.Kane is taken under the floor, for what the siblings believe might be the end of their father. What will they do?

Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket

Book three in Series of Unfortunate Events. The Baudelaire orphans are forced to live with another relative. After living with two other distant family members, the Baudelaire's have been through a crazy maniac and a kind scientist with a fatal ending. The crazy, money greedy, actor is still after them. And he would do anything to get the fortune from some unsuspecting kids. The wits and other various skills that these children have learned are starting to add up, and their not quite as unsuspecting as they may appear. But what will  the kids do when their grammer loving caretaker leaves a suicide letter next t a now broken window? May the nasty Count Olaf have something to do with this? 

Emily Windsnap: the Monster in the Deep by Liz Kessler

This magical tale of mermaids and humans mixing is a must read for 8-12. This book tells of how a girl goes from an average girl with a fear of water, to a mermaid! It is the sequel to The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler, that you can also find on my blog. 

Emily is switching from her old life to her new half human half mermaid life quite well. She has found her new house and is adjusting to the new life style. As the Kraken awakes from its sleep putting islanders in potential danger. Emily will need to use all her wits and new found skills to over come this challenge. 

Aphrodite the Diva by Suzanne Collins and Joan Holub

In another adventure the girls at MOA (Mount Olympus Academy) find themselves in another sticky situation.  Dealing with Medusa is not the worst of their problems. The bully herself is actually not as bad as their other problems. They revolve around another Goddess claiming to be the Goddess of Love! Aphrodite is very upset that someone could be trying to take her spot. Isis the Goddess of Love (to the Egyptians) is also as equally baffled to meet Aphrodite. Since Aphrodite is also the Goddess for the Greeks. Can the Girls of MOA conquer this situation?

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket

The Reptile Room picks up the story of the Baudelaire children where The Bad Beginning ends. The rich orphans have just been relocated to a new caretaker, as they soon find out he is working with one of the most evil people in the world! Count Olaf. The new caretaker, is not evil. Nor does he have evil intentions. So why, does he work with horrible Count Olaf? Simply because he does not know any better. The kids try to warn the poor scientist, yet nothing works. will Count Olaf make away with the Baudelaire's fortune?

Athena the Wise by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Another Greek Mythology book with a modern twist, this is also the fifth in the series! Dealing with bullies and Medusa, Athena must keep going and working her way through MOA (Mount Olympus Academy) Social skills can sometimes be tough for Athena, with her dad as principal and all. Yet her greatest challenge ever will be getting the courage to talk to (in complete sentences) a boy. Can Athena the Goddess of Wisdom puul it off? 

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

The last book in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians. After this starts the next series, The Hero's of Olympus. Percy is yet again strapped for time trying to save the world. With the help of Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Percy finds out the details to an old prophecy regarding his 16th birthday. It is up to Percy and an army of deimgods to stop the lord of time.

OBOB 2014: Update #1

     Hello! I just wanted to let you know that the last 16 posts were all the titles for OBOB (Oregon Battle Of Books) 2014 middle grade level. Since I have not read these books yet, I borrowed the summaries from other sites. As I continue to read these books, I will post my own summaries to go with those posts! When school starts back up, and my team is formed, more action will be completed toward OBOB. Until then I'm sorry to say this is the end of my OBOB series of posts for a few weeks. Thanks for looking through them!

OBOB 2014: Wildwood by Colin Melody

The first book in the epic middle-grade fantasy series full of magic, wonder, and danger—nothing less than an American Narnia—from Colin Meloy, lead singer of the highly celebrated band the Decemberists, and Carson Ellis, the acclaimed illustrator of the New York Times bestselling The Mysterious Benedict Society

(http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10431447-wildwood)

OBOB 2014: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait for the operation that turns everyone from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to party. But new friend Shay would rather hoverboard to "the Smoke" and be free. Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The "Special Circumstances" authority Dr Cable offers Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

(http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24770.Uglies)

OBOB 2014: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Charlotte Doyle is on the docks of Liverpool, England to return home to her family in America. Mr. Grummage has been hired by Charlotte's father to see that Charlotte boards Captain Jaggery's ship the Seahawk safety and on time. Mr. Grummage learns that the other passengers on the Seahawk are no longer coming, making Charlotte the only non-crewmember aboard. Grummage refuses to let her take a different ship, insists that he must carry out his order and promptly walks off, leaving Charlotte by herself

(http://www.bookrags.com/The_True_Confessions_of_Charlotte_Doyle/)

OBOB 2014: Time Riders by Alex Scarrow

Summary from Amazon:
Liam O’Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026. Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, ‘Take my hand . . .’ But Liam, Maddy and Sal aren’t rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows exists, with only one purpose – to fix broken history. Because time travel is here, and there are those who would go back in time and change the past. That’s why the TimeRiders exist: to protect us. To stop time travel from destroying the world . . .

OBOB 2014: Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli

From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, hallways hum “Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. Until they are not. Leo urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her - normal.

(http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22232.Stargirl)

OBOB 2014: Second Fiddle by Rosanne Parry

When 13-year-old Jody and her friends save a badly beaten Russian soldier from drowning, they put into motion a chain of events that will take them from Berlin to Paris and straight into danger. Jody must quickly learn to trust herself, because in the time directly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the border between friend and enemy is not as clear as it once was.

(http://rosanneparry.com)

OBOB 2014: Operation Redwood by S.Terrell French

Clandestine e-mail exchanges, secret trips, fake press releases, and a tree-house standoff are among the clever stunts and pranks the kid heroes pull in this exciting ecological adventure. 

“Sibley Carter is a moron and a world-class jerk,” reads Julian Carter-Li in an angry e-mail message meant for his greedy, high-powered uncle. The fateful message sets him on the course to stop an environmental crime! His uncle's company plans to cut down some of the oldest California redwood trees, and it's up to Julian and a ragtag group of friends to figure out a way to stop them. This thrilling, thoughtful debut novel shows the power of determined individuals, no matter what their age, to stand up to wrongdoing. (http://www.barnesandnoble.com)

OBOB 2014: Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt

Midwesterner Gary D. Schmidt won Newbery Honor awards for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boys and The Wednesday Wars, two coming-of-age novels about unlikely friends finding a bond. Okay For Now, his latest novel, explores another seemingly improbable alliance, this one between new outsider in town Doug Swieteck and Lil Spicer, the savvy spitfire daughter of his deli owner boss. With her challenging assistance, Doug discovers new sides of himself. Along the way, he also readjusts his relationship with his abusive father, his school peers, and his older brother, a newly returned war victim of Vietnam.

(http://thebooksmugglers.com)

OBOB 2014: The Notorious Benidict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin

Most people know that Benedict Arnold was America’s first, most notorious traitor. Few know that he was also one of its greatest war heroes. This accessible biography introduces young readers to the real Arnold: reckless, heroic, and driven. Packed with first-person accounts, astonishing battle scenes, and surprising twists, this is a gripping and true adventure tale.

(http://www.goodreads.com)

OBOB 2014: Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury

On the Big Island of Hawaii, Dylan’s Scout troop hikes down into the desolation of an ancient lava flow to camp on a small beach below the volcano. It’s beautiful. Peaceful. But there’s a problem: Louie Domingo. He and Dylan share a secret history, and it lies like a shark beneath the surface of everything they do. … Until the world comes apart. Foreshadowed by two mysterious howling dogs, a disaster of unearthly proportions strikes. No one is spared its horror. But over the next hours Dylan learns the true meaning of leadership and the will to survive. More amazing still is that this story actually happened. 

(http://grahamsalisbury.com)

OBOB 2014: The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill

Enter a world where magic bubbles just below the surface. . . .

When Jack is sent to Hazelwood, Iowa, to live with his strange aunt and uncle, he expects a summer of boredom. Little does he know that the people of Hazelwood have been waiting for him for quite a long time.

When he arrives, three astonishing things happen: First, he makes friends -- not imaginary friends but actual friends. Second, he is beaten up by the town bully; the bullies at home always ignored him. Third, the richest man in town begins to plot Jack's imminent, and hopefully painful, demise. It's up to Jack to figure out why suddenly everyone cares so much about him. Back home he was practically, well, invisible.

The Mostly True Story of Jack is an eerie tale of magic, friendship, and sacrifice. It's about things broken and things put back together. Above all, it's about finding a place to belong. (https://www.worldswithoutend.com)

OBOB 2014: Milo Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg

Milo Cruikshank is a 13 year-old new kid, who has to find a way to hit the "restart" button all over again.

The truth is, ever since Milo's mother died nothing has felt right. Now, instead of the kitchen being filled with music, the whole house is filled with Fog. Nothing's the same. Not his Dad. Not his sister. And definitely not him. In love with the girl he sneezed on the first day of school and best pals with Marshall, the "One-Eyed Jack" of friends, Milo struggles to survive a school year that is filled with reminders of what his life "used to be".

Brimming with heart, humor and ultimately hope, Milo: Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze is a powerhouse of a novel that will stay with you well after you've turned the last page. (http://www.silberbooks.com)

OBOB 2014: Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica

This was always the best of it for Nate Brodie, when he felt the slap of the ball in his hands and began to back away from the center, when he felt as if he could see the whole field, and football made perfect sense to him.

Sometimes when you were thirteen nothing seemed to make sense, and the world came at you faster and trickier than flying objects in a video game.

It was never like that for him in football.

Never. (First few paragraphs) 

OBOB 2014: Middle the Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he's got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off: With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class–5,000 points! Running in the hallway–10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm–50,000 points! But when Rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding. (http://jamespatterson.com)

OBOB 2014: Magyk by Angie Sage

The 7th son of the 7th son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a newborn girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son, Septimus? The first part of this enthralling new series leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters, clever charms, potions and spells, and a yearning to uncover the mystery at the heart of this story...who is Septimus Heap? Angie Sage writes in the tradition of great British storytellers. Her inventive fantasy is filled with humor and heart: Magyk will have readers laughing and begging for more. (www.bookbrowse.com)

OBOB 2014: Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder

“Everything felt wrong, lopsided. I knew from the weird fuzzy humming inside my head,” thinks 12-year-old Rebecca Shapiro as her family ruptures before her eyes. Rebecca’s father has been out of work, and her mother is fed up; after a big fight with her husband, she packs up the children and drives from Baltimore to Atlanta to visit Rebecca and Lew’s grandmother. When Rebecca discovers this isn’t just a quick visit (her mother has a temp job for herself lined up and a new school picked out for Rebecca), she’s furious. One day while exploring her grandmother’s attic, Rebecca finds a magic breadbox that will grant any wish that fits inside it: a cookie, money, pens, lip-gloss, candy, or a diamond. But Rebecca comes to understand that the box won’t solve her problems (conversely, it creates some enormous ones); she has to do that on her own. Introspective and rich with delicate imagery, this coming-of-age tale shares themes with Snyder’s Penny Dreadful (2010). 

"The insightful, memorable, and complex characters that Snyder creates result in a story with the same qualities." (Publishers Weekly)

Oregon Battle Of Books (OBOB)

For the next few days, I will post the covers and summaries for the new OBOB 2013-2014 books. I will be posting the 6-8th grade books, all 16 books! Here is a list of them:

• Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder, 2011.

• Magyk by Angie Sage, 2005.

• Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson, 2011. 2014 ORCA

• Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica, 2009.

• Milo: Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg, 2011.

• The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Regan Barnhill, 2011. 2014 ORCA

• Night of the Howling Dogs      by Graham Salisbury, 2007.

• The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin, 2010.

• Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, 2011. 2014 ORCA

• Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French, 2009.

• Second Fiddle by Rosanne Parry, 2011.

• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, 2000.

• TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow, 2010.

• The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi, 1990.

• Uglies  by Scott Westerfeld, 2005

• Wildwood by Colin Meloy, 2011. 2014 ORCA

Princess Sisters by Stacy Lynn Carroll

The only thing she has to lose are her shoes.

Cinderella is a regular girl, with a crazy name. Yet at the same time it fits. Being as her cousins are Belle, Aurora, Areal, and Snow White. They all suffer much teasing and bullying from their peers. At high school, many new things arise, including one very important decision. After all these years is it finally time to stop fighting the fairy tale connections that hurt them so much? If the girls were to stop fighting their names, and rather embraced them to find inner strength. Maybe, just maybe, by putting everything they have on the line, they may experience a "happy ever after" after all. 

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulson

       

                                        

     I was twelve years old and broke, Grandma gave me Grandpa's old lawn mower, So I started to mow lawns. More and more people were asking to have their lawns moved. One client of Arnold's was a stock broker. He offered to teach me a little about supply and demand. And the money, was just amazing. 

     If Arnold would've known all the business he had coming his way, he might've just ran and hid. But since the business was growing so was the money. Arnold invested his profits in things like Joey. And Joey is how Arnold's summer got interesting...

Standford Wong Flunks Big Time by Lisa Yee

                                      

     "We interrupt your lives to announce Standford Wong has flunked sixth grade."

      -Lisa Yee

     Maybe that wasn't announced on the over head, but that's what Standford feels like. He's the hero on the basketball court, I mean he is the  first sixth grader to make it on the A-team. Although his grades arn't doing to same. When he flunks English, that's the last straw. Now instead of basketball camp, Standford must go to summer school. Standford is freaking out. This is not what he wanted this summer. Everything is falling apart for him, including the beautiful Emily Ebers, his friends, and now he has a tutor! Can Standford Wong tip urn things around?

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Chaldenko

                                          

     Moose Flanagn is twelve years old, He just moved to San Fransico Bay. The part of called Alcatraz, where your neighbors are murders, mob bosses, and convicts. This infamous island is home to men including the escapee Roy Gardner, and machine Gun Kelly. The Warner's daughter Piper Williams, has come up many scams, that she soon be know as one of the crooks on the island! All moose wants is to stay far away from trouble, but living on Alcatraz may be a problem.

Dear Know It All: Read All Bout It by Rachel Wise

                                             

      Samantha is a middle school reporter with all the news on the newest scoops. She will someday travel the world as a journalist, but until then she is siked to be the newspaper advisor. Mr.Trigg choose Sam for a very special job. She is the new writer for the anonymous advise colum. This is a large secret to keep, being the author of all the great advice offered in the ask know it all colum. Sam is crushed when she finds out that her best friend likes Sam's co-worker, (and pitcher for the baseball team) Michael, whom Sam also likes. Can Sam offer advice when her own crush is in the line?

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo

     Dogs can often be more best friend like then dog like. This is one of those times. She is like a friendly shadow that does not want to leave us. When you have a shadow like this, you must always hold on to it.

Swept Up by the Sea by Tracy & Laura Hickman

     Percival Taylor has set his mind to reach his fortune. And he is going to get it. With the dreams of becoming a famous pirate, he leaves his not-so-famous town for sea. There is one problem:no one at his port will let him anywhere near a ship! Taylor wants to win the heart of Margathia Paddlock. She would love to swoon into his arms, as long as she can accomplish this one task. Percival must prove his buccaneer soul to her. She is willing to arrange her own kidnapping to do so! Can Percival Taylor accomplish this one simple task? Or will he lose the love of his life forever in the process?

Cinderella Cleaners: Change of Dress by Maya Gold

     Diana works at Cinderella Cleaners. On the floor, she will happily fulfill all your dry cleaning needs. Behind the counter, is another story. As She watches all the different clothes that come and go from the store, she imagines the exciting events the people wearing them may be going to. One day while cleaning, Diana finds an invite to the Glittering Gala in New York City. Knowing that the Owner of the coat is out of town, Diana puts together a beautiful dress. With some improvising, Diana attempts to be someone she's not, and attend the party! Will she be unmasked? Or can her fun stay a secret?

One False Note by Gordon Korman

                                              

     The notorious Cahills are still on the great search for the 39 Clues. They will stop at nothing until they get the prize. Although no one knows what the prize is, everyone wants to win it. This book takes all the Cahills on a trip to Australia. Follow the Cahills in the second book in the series.

The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman

     Meet the "D" squad. Made up of Judy,Kelsey,Breton,and Sam. They are the "D" squad, not because they are friends, but because of their last names. They all have a last name that ends in an "D". Now these four kids would normally never mix. They are all from different backgrounds, and friend circles. What brings them together, is Brenton's homework machine. It can supposedly scan in your homework and complete it in your handwriting. After seeing this in action, all the other "D" squad members start using this marvelous device. Their little scheme works just fine until their caught. Read about their interrogation in the first of two books, in Dan Gutman's The Homework Machine.    

Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy

     All the evils of the world were in this box. Pandora shook it. It really didn't look all that terrifying. And then, the idea flew into her head. What if she took the box to school for the big project? Of course, she wouldn't open it. Duh. She looked at the box again. It was a neato example of the gods' enduring presence and nobody-nobody-would have anything else like it.   

Chrissa by Mary Casanova

     Chissa has just moved into her grandmother's home. Like it is for any new student, Chrissa

has troubles fitting in. She finds herself the target of the three meanest girls in school. After a major incident accusers, Chrissa finally turns to an adult for help. She learns the hard way, that bulling is a tpoic that should be brought up to an adult immediately.

The Avery Shaw Experiment by Kelly Oram

     Avery's heart has just been crushed by her long time best friend. She decides to take on the problem the simplest way, (in her idea,) scientifically. For the upcoming State Science Fair, Avery decides to use her broken heart as her topic. She is going to find a way to cure her broken heart, by putting herself through the seven stages of grief. Avery can't do this alone, she needs the help of Aiden Kennedy, her ex-partner. Avery decides to ask for help from Aiden's older brother, who is in a sad state, and desperately needs extra credit. Grayson is recruited to help as an observer, and is sure to fulfill his duties as he always lives life to the fullest.