*Middle-grade novel, contemporary fiction *Eleven-year-old girl as main character Rating: I fell in love with Eleven by Lauren Myracle when I listened to the audio book. All 11-year-old girls (or anyone who was ever 11) will be able to relate! Short, short summary: Winnie is 11. The book starts with her birthday party and how [...]

Florida Swamp photo by Peter Long www.flickr.com *Middle-grade to tween (there’s some language in here–FYI ) contemporary fiction novel *Middle-grade students Nick and Marta as main characters *Rating: A good eco-mystery for kids with a quirky cast of characters, similar to Hoot and Flush by Carl Hiaasen. Short, short summary: Scat has a main plot [...]

I am sharing my pets with you today (Chester the boxer and Hush Puppy the basset hound) because I am an animal lover. And because I am an animal lover, I also want us to take a trip back and remember the book The Incredible Journey by Shelia Burnford. Many of you have probably seen [...]

photo by Paul Mannix www.flickr.com *Middle-grade contemporary novel *Fourth-grade boy as main character *Rating: Two hysterical authors, Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, write a truly funny novel that boys (and girls, too) will love! Short, short summary: The first book in the Hank Zipzer series, Niagara Falls or Does It? introduces us to underachiever Hank [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Middle grade novel, fantasy Momma mouse and her rat friends as main characters Rating: Robert C. O’Brien’s book is captivating, and a true classic that children will love for years! Short, short summary: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a Newberry Medal winner, and once you start [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, margodll@aol.com, www.margodill.com Middle grade novel, realistic fiction 13-year-old boy as main character Rating: Gary Paulsen tells a captivating story of Brian and his plight in Hatchet, a Newberry Honor Book. Short, short summary: In Hatchet, Gary Paulsen tells the story of Brian Robeson, who is taking a single engine plane to [...]

Thank you again, everyone, for making Under the Night Sky part of a successful blog tour on “Read These Books and Use Them.” I am happy to announce that Claudia is the winner of the copy of the book. If you are curious, how I pick the winner so scientifically. . .I put all the [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Middle-grade fantasy novel High school girl and five-year-old boy as main characters Rating: A classic book (a Newberry Award Winner even) that can STILL relate to children today and get them excited about reading! Short, short summary: Meg Murray and her brother, Charles Wallace, are a little different than [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Middle-grade novel, historical fiction 1859 United States Twelve-year-old girl as main character Rating: A great story told in the voice of a slave girl with some very heartwrenching parts. Short, short summary: Clotee is an orphan slave girl, who is owned by Master Henley and Miss Lilly. Because she [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com Middle-grade novel, contemporary 10-year-old girl as main character Rating: It won the Newberry–Lucky’s story is perfectly endearing, and I can’t wait for the sequel. Short, short summary: Lucky’s life is extremely interesting even though her hometown of Hard Pan, CA is in the desert with a population of 43. [...]