Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor

I was sure what to expect when I first started reading the book.  Will it be good? Will it be cheesy?  Turns out I enjoyed the story line and stayed up late to finish reading the book.  It was a fun read.  Good story line.  It's a fun read.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

With strange vintage photos to inspire a story, let your imagination take you on this story to enjoy and cherish.

Wonder Struck by Brian Selznick

If you've read The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick,  you'll be happy to know that this book is equally crafted.  It's smart with two compelling stories blended together it's a great book to behold.

Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

I loved Touching Spirit Bear and was happy to see that the story continued.  I was lucky enough to hear Ben Mikaelsen speak at the California School Library Association and he was a dynamic speaker. Sharing stories about raising orphan bears and Fluffy, his bear that he had.  Please read Touching Spirit Bear.  And then read Ghost of Spirit Bear.  Its maybe a bit idealistic but we can all dream the dream.  If more people read this story, maybe bully behavior would decrease.  I think that both these books should be in every classroom and school library.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Oh, the adventure of a lifetime in a world that lives on scraps and metals and the quality of life is excellent for those who can afford it otherwise, you get by on what ever you can.  Nailer has to survive.  He's lucky but how long can that luck last, when you're own father is hunting you and a rich girl who's never worked hard a day in her life down and will probably kill you.  This is a survivor story.  Read it.
You'll thank me later.

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

I was touched by this story.  Walking in other's shoes threads through out the story, to see in fresh eyes what people are going through.  To have a better understanding of what life has to offer. To see why people make the choices that they do.  Sal needs to go see her mother who left her and is a few states away.  Her grandparents driver he across the states and seeing sights that her mother had sent postcards to her on her travels.  Go on the trip and meet Sal and her grandparents, Mrs. Cadaver and Phoebe.
You'll thank me later.

Beautiful Creatures by Garcia & Stohl

This was a well crafted book.  I enjoy every word and was surprised at some of the events in the story.  The story takes place in modern times.  Ethan keeps having these odd dreams about a girl that smells of lemons and rosemary.  The new girl lives with her uncle that no one in the very small town has ever seen. And she drives the family hearse.  When they find a locket that sends them visions of the past of a tragic and doomed love story that may be connected to their own story, things really get interesting.  Meanwhile, this new girl is dreading her sixteenth birthday.  What girl dreads her sixteenth birthday?
Great read and couldn't wait to leave work to finish the story.  It's up for 2012 CYRM award.

Woodsong by Gary Paulsen

If you loved Jack London books such as Call of the Wild and White Fang.  Short stories such as To Build A Fire, or if you ever read Hatched, read this book.  Are you a dog person?  Read this book.
This brings insight into what it is like to be in the wilderness and running with the dogs.

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E Pearson

The author did a great job in this sequel.  An enjoyable read.  Great drama, mystery and use of technology.  Perhaps a look into the future after all.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

This is a great story.  Makes you think.   Jenna must handle many events new in her life.  The death of her two best friends in an accident all three were in.  Her waking up from a comma.  The move from Boston to California.  Why is her grandmother so different to her.  And why does she keep having these strange memories.

Well written and an enjoyable read.

The Things A Brother knows by Dana Reinhardt

This book is up for the California Young Readers Medal.  I can see why.  Levi's older brother enlisted about three years ago into the Marines.  Now his brother has come home but basically holes himself in his old bedroom.  Levi can hear him at night.  The whole family does what they can to connect with Boaz.  Read the book, it's good. Dana Reinhardt captures the voice of a older teen boy's perspective.
She did good.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Very smart book!  Nobody, nicknamed Bod, wandered away when he was about two years old into a cemetery on the night his family was murdered.  An old caretaker, who is not a ghost nor is he human is co-guardian of Bod, making sure he has food and clothing.

Bod has many friends in the ghostly world and learns some pretty cool tricks.  However he is lonely and wants to meet with people also.

But, someone is out there looking for him.  Someone who wants to kill him.

A fun  read to enjoy with a mystery to solve.    Enjoy!

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter

I grew to enjoy this story.  I was worried about about the content of the Luce's uncle groping her at the beginning of the story, but that was the catalyst of her transformation.  Sarah Porter masterfully introduces the characters as they join the pod of mermaids.  Her main characters are strong, when you get to know them, you can a sense of their backstories.  Luce is a talented singer who balks at luring ships to their doom.  The last character of this book that we meet is a masterful manipulator.  I'm looking forward to reading the next installment of this series.

The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence

This book has some wink-wink moments when reading this story.  One must suspend their belief of believing some of the circumstances involved in the events.  I continued to reading this story because the PK has the symptoms of a person with autism or Asperger's Syndrome and a friend of mine has a child that has Aspergers.  Different people of the history pop up conveniently at helpful times.  So the story is a bit contrived.  Also you get to visit an opium den and meet a soiled dove.  Again some more wink-wink reading.  It's an okay story.

Taliesin by Stephen Lawhead

If you are a fan of Merlin, Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, then this gives you the backstory of how it all came to be.  It is a great read to enjoy with some well research historical elements to bring authority to the story as well as many dreamy fantasy bits as well.  Also, if you enjoy Christian reading, then add this to your reading list.

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

I read this in an hour or less.  This ties in well with Soviet History.  The author/illustrator has at the end of the story a personal notation about an experience he had with the secret police when he lived in the Soviet Union.
Very good book and I hope this will be up for an award.  It takes us into the world of a 10 year old living in a communal apartment building and how quickly people can turn on you.  The illustrations are perfect for this story.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Orson Scott Card creates masterful characters: Ender who is isolated and outsmarting battle strategies while he is dealing with Bullies.  His older brother, Peter who tortures small animals and plans to take over the world all before reaching the age of 18.  His sister who is equally smart but with a kind heart.  This is quite the story of mind games and beating the dreaded "Buggers" of space.  Excellent book.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

The characters are well developed in this story with the exception of Grace's parents.  They for the last two books have been pretty much absent or brief visits in the story of this teen age girl's life.  Finally towards the end of the story, Grace gives them a lecture when the parents finally do take over.  If you enjoy this series, you won't be disappointed.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

I was able to hear this story in audio.  This is an amazing story.  Full of insight.  I only wish I could write like this.  Our hero is named September, her father is a coder for WWII and her mother works in a factory.  The Green Wind invites her to go into fairyland.  This is a richly written work and I will look forward to more writings of this author.

Faery tales & Nightmares by Melissa Marr

I was able to read an advanced copy, and this is my first time reading something from this author.  It is not your typical easy to read book.  There are several different short stories threaded with this secret violent fairy world set in modern times.  The nature of the book is a bit on the dark side.