Cashay by Margaret McMullan. Houghton Mifflin, April, 2009. $15.00. Ages 12 and up.

“I wore these shoes when Cashay got shot, I say, and the both of them shut up. “The soles soaked up her blood. That’s why they’re brown. You could see my footprints walking all
around her body, then the footprints walked away from her. I know because I looked back and saw.”
This compelling book portrays life for many young people who spent their lives in the infamous public housing project Cabrini Green in Chicago. Cashy, Sashay and their mom were getting along even though live was difficult. Mom, a former addict got clean and became a hairdresser. The girls had a home, food on the table and school was important. Their neighborhood was tough, but the girls were street smart. One day their lives were shattered by a bullet from a drive-by shooting. Sashay lay dead on the sidewalk, an innocent victim, gunned down in her youth. Mom consoles herself by going back to the crack pipe. Cashay becomes the responsible person and tried to cook, clean and take care of her mom who quickly loses her job. The school guidance counselor signs Cashay up for an afterschool program at a church because she knows the girl is bright and has remarkable potential. Sashay is less than thrilled, but then she meets her mentor, Allison, who is a stockbroker. She teaches Cashay about the stock market and investments and to believe in herself. It is a realistic, tough story that is played out everyday in many cities in our country. This would be a good addition to any middle school or high school library.

We have added several new books to our collection. One of them is:

42 Miles by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer; illustrated by Elaine Clayton.
Clarion, 2008. 978-0-618-61867-5

JoEllen has two names, two identities, and two parents in two
separate homes. She's a hip downtown 'tween during the week with Mom
and a country hick farm girl on the weekends with Dad. 42 miles and
one divorce separate her two selves and her two lives as her
thirteenth birthday approaches. Zimmer admirably creates a nuanced
picture of Ellen/Joey's two lives in free verse poems that capture
both the challenges and the fun of each life. Laced with authentic
emotion, this verse novel paints a picture of a girl coming into her
own strength, who will find the courage to combine her two lives, her
two families, and her two selves. Illustrated with appealing
scrapbook style black-and-white illustrations, this book will appeal
to poetry lovers, to challenged readers (for its slim size), to
children of divorce, and to teachers, who will use it as a model for
writing from their students. Strongly recommended. Suggested grades: 4-8

Review courtesy of Toni Buzzeo.

Some great new titles for 7th and 8th graders are now on the shelves. There is romance, mystery, science fiction, manga, graphic novels, fantasy and some great new series.
One of the most popular series right now are the Alex Rider Adventure novels by Anthony Horowitz. These include:
Storm Breaker
Point Blank
Skeleton Key
Eagle Strike
Scorpia
Ark Angel
Snakehead (the most recent book)
These books are packed full of adventure, mystery and suspense. It is hard to keep them on the shelves.

Author Scott Westerfields, Uglies series is as popular as last year. Imagine being able to have plastic surgery when you turn 16 that makes everyone beautiful. That is what happens to teens in this science fiction thriller series.
Also in this series:
Pretties
Specials
Extras

The hottest books at TMS right now are the Stephanie Meyer Twilight series. These books are more popular than ever due to the recent movie from the first book, Twilight. Vampire love, is all the rage in this series that also includes:
Eclipse
New Moon
Breaking Dawn (the most recent book)

My favorite series is Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Imagine a meteor striking the moon. This pushes the moon very close to the earth. Life for everyone on earth changes. The book describes how one teen and her family, who live in Reading, Pennsylvania deal with the awful changes that take place. It is a great, page turner you will not be able to put down. The sequel, The Dead and the Gone, is equally gripping and describes how life changes for a teens family in New York City after the same cosmic accident. These are two really great reads.

There are plenty of books for every reader in our great library.

Students,
We have had many new books added to our fiction section since the beginning of the school year. For Rick Riordan fans, his latest in the Percy Jackson is here. Please check out: The Battle of the Labyrinth.

For older students interested in knowing what happened on September 11, 2001, there is a graphic version of the 9/11 report. It is interesting reading. 5th and 6th will enjoy Andrew Clements lastest books, Nightmare at the Bookfair and Room One, A Mystery for Two.

Twilight will not want to miss Breaking Dawn. Make sure to read it before the movie comes out!

For those getting ready for a spooky story, be sure to read Mary Downing Hahn's new book, All the Lovely Bones.

Make sure to visit the Book Fair. It will be here from October 6 through the 10th. Hope to see you there.

The library has several new books that have been added to the collection.

Fish is a first novel for author L. S. Matthews. Tiger and her family thought they had more time to leave. They knew the soldiers were coming but there were last minute details that needed to be taken care of. As relief workers, they felt an obligation to stay as long as they could. But then the soldiers came and they are forced to flee on foot with the help of a local guide. Facing treacherous mud flats, wild animals, steep trails and fearing soldiers who would kill them, Tiger and her family set off on a journey of survival. Before they leave, Tiger spots a fish in a puddle that is quickly drying out. She doesn't know why, but she knows that she must bring the fish with them. Join the family as they face incredible obstacles on their trek to freedom.

For humor please check out popular author Richard Peck's latest book, Here Lies the Librarian. Full of unique characters like Pee Wee and his older brother Jake. Jake dreams of being an auto mechanic in his small hometown in Indiana during the mid-twentieth century. Who would guess a librarian whose car breaks down would change their lives.

For Brian Jacques lovers, his new book Ribbajack and Other Curious Yarns will not disappoint lovers of horror and suspense.

Swimming Upstream, Middle School Poems, by Kristine O'Connell George will enjoy these poems that bring real middle school emotions and problems to the reader.

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Numoz Ryan is a moving story of a family and how they adjust to changes. Naomi and her family are in turmoil. She is shy, has to wear polyester clothes that her grandmother sews, and has no talent other than carving soap. Nothing seems right anymore. Naomi’s mother returns after a seven-year absence and wants to reclaim Naomi and her brother. Naomi’s grandmother is determined to keep this from happening so the family quickly travels to Mexico to introduce Naomi to her relatives and to give her a feeling of family. When she meets her father, she understands why her grandmother tried so hard to teach her to be proud of herself.

Finally, students who live on farms and even those who do not will love Catherine Murdock's book Dairy Queen. DJ sometimes feels just like the cows she tends to every day. The cows just do what they are supposed to do and never question their lives. And DJ is not so different. With her older brothers away at college and her father unable to do the farm work, DJ takes on the responsibility of doing the work. She has no plans for college herself since there is no money to send her. But this summer may hold some surprises. The quarterback for the rival school's team is sent to help out on the farm to get into shape. Even though it is a rocky start to their relationship, Brian soon realizes that DJ knows football. And DJ has the knowledge to train Brian and help him win a football scholarship. But can a farm girl really help someone like Brian?

Come to the library and look for a good book!

Keane, Nancy. Booktalks. www.nancykeane.com

The library has several new books that have been added to the collection.

Fish is a first novel for author L. S. Matthews. Tiger and her family thought they had more time to leave. They knew the soldiers were coming but there were last minute details that needed to be taken care of. As relief workers, they felt an obligation to stay as long as they could. But then the soldiers came and they are forced to flee on foot with the help of a local guide. Facing treacherous mud flats, wild animals, steep trails and fearing soldiers who would kill them, Tiger and her family set off on a journey of survival. Before they leave, Tiger spots a fish in a puddle that is quickly drying out. She doesn't know why, but she knows that she must bring the fish with them. Join the family as they face incredible obstacles on their trek to freedom.

For humor please check out popular author Richard Peck's latest book, Here Lies the Librarian. Full of unique characters like Pee Wee and his older brother Jake. Jake dreams of being an auto mechanic in his small hometown in Indiana during the mid-twentieth century. Who would guess a librarian whose car breaks down would change their lives.

For Brian Jacques lovers, his new book Ribbajack and Other Curious Yarns will not disappoint lovers of horror and suspense.

Swimming Upstream, Middle School Poems, by Kristine O'Connell George will enjoy these poems that bring real middle school emotions and problems to the reader.

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Numoz Ryan is a moving story of a family and how they adjust to changes. Naomi and her family are in turmoil. She is shy, has to wear polyester clothes that her grandmother sews, and has no talent other than carving soap. Nothing seems right anymore. Naomi’s mother returns after a seven-year absence and wants to reclaim Naomi and her brother. Naomi’s grandmother is determined to keep this from happening so the family quickly travels to Mexico to introduce Naomi to her relatives and to give her a feeling of family. When she meets her father, she understands why her grandmother tried so hard to teach her to be proud of herself.

Finally, students who live on farms and even those who do not will love Catherine Murdock's book Dairy Queen. DJ sometimes feels just like the cows she tends to every day. The cows just do what they are supposed to do and never question their lives. And DJ is not so different. With her older brothers away at college and her father unable to do the farm work, DJ takes on the responsibility of doing the work. She has no plans for college herself since there is no money to send her. But this summer may hold some surprises. The quarterback for the rival school's team is sent to help out on the farm to get into shape. Even though it is a rocky start to their relationship, Brian soon realizes that DJ knows football. And DJ has the knowledge to train Brian and help him win a football scholarship. But can a farm girl really help someone like Brian?

Come to the library and look for a good book!

Keane, Nancy. Booktalks. www.nancykeane.com

One of the best books I have ever read is "The Book Thief" by Marcus Zusack. Is is one of the new books that have been added to the TMS middle school collection. If you like World War II historical fiction and very interesting characters, this is a book you should read. Some of the other new titles include:

"The Legend of Bass Reeves" a new book by favorite author Gary Paulsen. This book is a winner for Paulsen fans. It is the "true and fictional account of the most valiant marshal in the west."

For adventure and action lovers Will Hobbs books "Crossing the Wire" is the story of Victor Flores a boy from Mexico who must leave his home and family and "cross the wire" into the United States. This book is reveals the struggles and despair of those who live south of the United States.

Another great mystery full of action and adventure is the new books by best-selling author who wrote the Alex Rider series, Anthony Horowitz. "Raven's Gate" is the first book in the "Gatekeepers" series. Read this suspense-filled book to discover why Matt is given a choice to choose between jail and living with an old lady named Mrs. Deverill in the remote town of Lesser Malling.

Mystery lovers will also enjoy the new spine-tingling and nail-biting suspense-filled book "The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen" by thriller writer M. T. Anderson.

Fantasy lovers will not be disappointed by Eva Ibbostson's latest "The Beasts of Clawstone Castle". Discover what happens to Madlyn and Rollo when their parents go off on a trip to America and they are sent to live Great-aunt and great uncle at Clawstone Castle. The ancient and crumbling castle said to be haunted.

Skaters will enjoy the new Street Skateboarding: Endless Grinds and Slides. This is an instructional look at curb tricks by Evan Goodfellow.

Hope to see you soon!

There are so many great books published for young people today. There are books written about every teen issue one can imagine. I want to use this blog as a place where students can discuss the books they are reading, the issues and the characters. I also will try to write about the books I have read that I think the young people at Troy Middle School would enjoy. I might even have an interview with some very popular authors. So please feel free to share your insights, ideas and opinions about the books you are reading.