Book Review: Home Front Girl by Joan Wehlen Morrison

Pages: 272

Pub. Date: November 1, 2012

Genre: YA Non-fiction

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "This diary of a smart, astute, and funny teenager provides a fascinating record of what an everyday American girl felt and thought during the Depression and the lead-up to World War II. Young Chicagoan Joan Wehlen describes her daily life growing up in the city and ruminates about the impending war, daily headlines, and major touchstones of the era—FDR’s radio addresses, the Lindbergh kidnapping, Goodbye Mr. Chipsand Citizen Kane, Churchill and Hitler, war work and Red Cross meetings. Included are Joan’s charming doodles of her latest dress or haircut reflective of the era. Home Front Girl is not only an entertaining and delightful read but an important primary source—a vivid account of a real American girl’s lived experiences."

Joan Wehlen is your average girl living through the Depression and the beginnings of World War II.  She lives with her family in Chicago, goes to school, gets good grades, enjoys writing, and has many friends.  However, Joan's diary is anything but average.  Yes, it includes everyday observations and beautiful prose, but also reflections of life leading up to World War II.  She discusses events such as FDR's radio address, Hitler, Pearl Harbor, and other important moments of the time.  Readers interested in history, especially World War II, will love Home Front Girl as it is a glimpse into Joan's seemingly average life during an extraordinary time. 

I love the background of Home Front Girl.  Her daughter found her mother's diary amongst her personal belongings after she died and decided to publish it.  The idea that we can live on through our writing is inspirational; in fact, it makes me want to keep a journal, something I have failed miserably at in the past.  It's interesting to think about what insight you gain into a time period when you read their diary; one thing is for sure....it's much more captivating than reading a history textbook.

Although Joan does talk a lot about what you would expect a teenager to talk about in Home Front Girl, such as boys, school, teachers, movies, etc, she makes even the mundane and everyday occurrences seem interesting.  Simply put, Joan is an incredible writer and extremely smart.  As I was reading it, I couldn't help but be reminded of Anne Frank's diary, The Diary of a Young Girl.  There's no doubt that this book would make an excellent companion to an Anne Frank/WWII unit, as it truly gives readers an idea of what life was like for a girl living on the home front during a tumultuous time not only in the United States, but the world.  Students can make many connections between the girls as well as their similarities regarding their reflections and thoughts on life.  Sadly, Anne never did become that writer she dreamed of; however, Joan ended up becoming a writer amongst other things.  I was glad to hear this as it was definitely an innate talent of hers.

Joan started her diary, Home Front Girl, at age fourteen and it continued till she was twenty years old. Whether she was discussing FDR or the beautiful blue-eyed boy in her class, I was captivated.  There's something special about this time period that America has lost and we will probably never get back.  A time before computers, texting, the Internet and reality television--it was quite refreshing to be transported into Joan's world.  It was nice to hear about her choir practice, the everyday events at school, her adventures at camp, going to movies with her parents, etc.  As I was reading it, I couldn't help but feel a little sad because that innocence is so hard to achieve this day in age; nonetheless, I loved learning more about what life was like for a young girl living then.

I recommend Home Front Girl by Joan Whelen Morrison to fans of young adult non-fiction, WWII, and those that are curious as to what life was like during a time that is gone forever.

NaNoWriMo 2011

I signed up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, again, despite the fact that I am 100% sure I won't meet the goal of 50,000 words as November for a teacher is a hectic time of year with conferences, report cards, and the end of the first quarter.  


I signed up again because I am a glutton for punishment! I have many students who want to try their hand at it.  In fact, they have already signed up through the Young Writer's program and I created a virtual classroom. I have many students that are already planning and getting excited about it.  They have set some ambitious goals!


But with regards to me, this year I am going into it with a plan. Hopefully I will have better results.  I may even cut back on blogging the month of November so I can really focus on NaNoWriMo. We shall see!


So with that said, did anyone else sign up? Let me know your user name and we can be writing buddies. My user name is Chris327; come find me and we can commiserate.

Happy Writing,

New Books For My Classroom (2)

Check out the new books in my classroom library and tell me what you think!

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Forgotton by Cat Patrick

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Physik by Angie Sage

Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

The Sorceress by Michael Scott

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky A. Shecter

Matched by Ally Condie

If you've noticed, I bought a few books from different series, because my students love these particular series and have been dying to find out what happens.  I am so grateful to the PTO for allowing me the opportunity to add some great books to my classroom library. I'm definitely looking forward to sharing them with my students tomorrow!

Happy Friday,

Book Review: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Pages: 493

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction/Classic

Pub. Date: 1943

Source: Personal copy

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience."

Francie Nolan is a young girl that lives in Brooklyn at the turn of the century.  Her Irish father, Johnny, is an aspiring singer and waits tables while dreaming of a better life.  Her mother, Katie, finds herself supporting the family more than Johnny, as he is an alcoholic.  Francie is an admirable girl living in poverty and wants a good education; she has a true love for learning.  Francie and her family live a hard life, but just like the tree that grows in her neighborhood despite a lack of soil, sun, and water, her family will find a way to survive.  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith really captures the American Dream at the turn of the century.  Fans of coming of tales must read this literary gem.


Francie is one of my favorite literary protagonists.  What is not to love? Despite growing up in a rough neighborhood, she loves books, libraries, and wants better for herself.  Her mother is also strong as she has been dealt a tough hand in life.  She could easily give up, but is an honorable character and a role model for her family.  On the other hand, Johnny, although a sweet romantic, is unpractical and brings his family down.  It was hard to watch his slow spiral into alcoholism and its impact on the Nolans.


Smith is a brilliant writer. Her use of flashback takes us back to when Katie and Johnny first met, which was one of my favorite parts of the novel.  Also, there were parts of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn that stopped me in my tracks and there were lines that were simply beautiful.   Here are two of my favorite lines:

"People always think that happiness is a faraway thing," thought Francie, "something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up; a place of shelter when it rains - a cup of strong hot coffee when you're blue; for a man, a cigarette for contentment; a book to read when you're alone - just to be with someone you love. Those things make happiness." 

"From that time on, the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again, never miss the lack intimate friends. Books became her friends and there was one for every mood. There was poetry for quiet companionship. There was adventure when she tired of quiet hours. There would be love stories when she came into adolescence and when she wanted to feel a closeness to someone she could read a biography. On that day when she first knew she could read, she made a vow to read one book a day as long as she lived."  

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn's theme is a powerful one and will always be one of my favorite classics.  It teaches us so much about perseverance, love, family, survival, and the American Dream.  I display this classic proudly in my classroom library.

*Buy A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

*Reading Group Guide

My Classroom Library 2010-2011

This time last year, I posted about my classroom library and books that received a lot of attention from my students and others that, unfortunately, gathered dust.  This year, I am going to share with you the most popular books from my classroom library.  Be sure to check out Becky at The Bookette's post on this very topic; it's interesting to see what is popular over in the UK!

1.  Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins- It's no surprise that this series was popular again.


2.  Fallen by Lauren Kate- The girls loved this book!


3.  Mike Lupica books- I have a bunch of his books on my shelf and they are always a sure hit with the boys.


4.  Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler - This is one that surprised me, but my 6th grade girls loved this book.


5.  Last Survivor series by Susan Beth Pfeffer- Both boys and girls alike loved this series; in fact, one of my student's parents even got sucked into this series.


6.  Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson- I pushed this book a bit more this year and a lot of my students enjoyed it.  Many decided to focus their research papers on yellow fever and Philadelphia after reading it!


7.  Graceling by Kristin Cashore- This one was so beat up by the end of the year and now I can't even find it in my library. I think someone stole it; I'm not surprised -- Cashore is that good!


8.  If I Stay by Gayle Forman- The girls also enjoyed this one.


9.  Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson- Many boys passed this one along to each other this year.


10.  Wings series by Aprilynne Pike- A group of girls kept signing this series out. I couldn't keep it on my shelf.


11. Maze Runner by James Dashner- I saw a ton of my students reading this book and many went to the library to get Scorch Trials.


12.  Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick- Many of my older girls were devouring this series.


13.  Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card- I'm glad I added this one to my library this year; it was very popular amongst some of the boys.


So what do you think?  Are you surprised by any of these? I was a bit surprised that the Percy Jackson series wasn't popular this year, but I guess most of my students have already read it.


Based on the suggestions from last year's post, I did showcase books more often and discuss them, but not as often as I would like since I taught strictly English and not literacy. Literacy class focuses a lot more on independent reading. Next year I will have a section of literacy again, so I look forward to more book talks!  Let me know what you think!

Happy End of the School Year,

Classroom Book Review: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Pages: 139

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: 1975

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Imagine coming upon a fountain of youth in a forest. To live forever--isn't that everyone's ideal? For the Tuck family, eternal life is a reality, but their reaction to their fate is surprising. Award winner Natalie Babbitt (Knee-Knock Rise, The Search for Delicious) outdoes herself in this sensitive, moving adventure in which 10-year-old Winnie Foster is kidnapped, finds herself helping a murderer out of jail, and is eventually offered the ultimate gift--but doesn't know whether to accept it. Babbitt asks profound questions about the meaning of life and death, and leaves the reader with a greater appreciation for the perfect cycle of nature. Intense and powerful, exciting and poignant, Tuck Everlasting will last forever--in the reader's imagination."

The Tuck family encounters a spring in the woods when traveling.  They all drink from the spring and as the years go by, they realize some strange things; for example, they never age, never get hurt, or even sick. They realize that on that fateful day in the woods, they encountered  a "fountain of youth" unknowingly and in order to conceal their secret, they must travel the countryside, never staying at one place for too long.  Winnie Foster, a young girl from a wealthy family, wants her freedom desperately and ends up befriending the Tuck family.  Eventually, she learns their secret and like in any good book, there's also a villain and he wants to steal the Tuck's secret. Natalie Babbitt's classic, Tuck Everlasting, is a must read for all children and is an excellent addition to any classroom library.


Babbitt's writing style is beautiful.  There are passages that describe the weather and  it's almost like you are there experiencing the balmy and oppressive heat of summer with Winnie as well.  Her style includes a lot of figurative language that is so artistic; it's great if you are teaching similes, metaphors, etc.  


The characters are endearing, heartwarming and truly memorable.  There is a love connection in this book and it's not overdone; in fact, it progresses gracefully, much like Babbitt's writing style.  Also, there is a villain that readers love to hate, so even my male students could enjoy this book and the suspenseful action.


The most important aspect of this book is the fact that it includes serious themes and raises important questions, such as, the implication of living forever, change and its importance, doing the right thing even though its an unpopular choice and the importance of love.  The question of immortality became a heated discussion in my classroom, especially after the whole Twilight craze as the Cullen family and the Tuck family has some similarities, minus the whole vampire thing.  In sum, the themes of Tuck Everlasting raise important questions and discussions; this book definitely had my 6th graders thinking.


There are a ton of resources for teachers when teaching this book and there is even a recent movie (with Alexis Bledel) that the students love and is the perfect tie in.  Web English Teacher, my go-to-teaching website, includes some great links.  Scholastic also has some quality resources as well as Pro-Teacher, and the Glencoe Study Guide.  If you are looking for a book that will lead to a worthwhile discussion, whether it be for your classroom or for yourself, I highly recommend Tuck Everlasting.  It should not be missed!

*Buy Tuck Everlasting

*Watch the movie trailer

Classroom Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Pages: 179

Genre: YA Science-Fiction

Pub. Date: March 29, 1993

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy. With echoes of Brave New World, in this 1994 Newbery Medal winner, Lowry examines the idea that people might freely choose to give up their humanity in order to create a more stable society. Gradually Jonas learns just how costly this ordered and pain-free society can be, and boldly decides he cannot pay the price."

At the book club I run for middle school students, I was shocked to find out that many of them haven't read The Giver.  I explained to them that before our beloved Katniss in Hunger Games or Cassia in Matched, there was Jonas and The Giver.  Jonas lives in what seems to be a utopia at first. There is no crime, everyone has a job, there are no wars, etc. It sounds pretty much perfect....that is until Jonas finds out the truth about his society.  At twelve, he finds out that his job will be the Receiver of Memories, which means he will obtain all of the memories of life before his community ever began.  As Jonas goes through his job training, he learns the truth about his community, which quickly turns out to be a dystopia.  Jonas decides boldly that he needs to find a way out.  Lois Lowry's The Giver, which won the 1994 Newbery, is a modern classic that shouldn't be overlooked by adults and teenagers alike.   


Lowry is a masterful.  My review could never do her justice. She creates an unforgettable world that, to this day, is still very vivid in my mind.  I first read this book when I was in middle school and was completely blown away. I had never read anything like this and then many years later, I had the opportunity to student teach a unit focusing on this book to middle school students. I absolutely loved it; the book sparked such amazing discussions and lent itself to some interesting debates and activities.  If I were to teach the importance of setting and world building in a writing course, I would refer to Lowry and The Giver; she does this expertly. 


I mentioned previously that many of my avid readers, much to my surprise, haven't read The Giver. Therefore, this is a book that I'll be recommending to readers that are fans of The Hunger Games and dystopian literature, which seems to be all the trend lately.  


In sum, this book is outstanding! It's dystopian young adult literature, or should I say anti-uptopian, at its finest. If you haven't read The Giver,  you ABSOLUTELY must get your hands on a copy.

*Buy The Giver

*Read an excerpt

*Reading Group Guide

*Classroom Activities 

My "Must Read" Classics

Every year, right around the holiday season, my friends ask me, "What classics should I read that I haven't already read or pretended to read in high school?" I guess because I am an English teacher and a self-proclaimed book nerd, I always am being asked for book recommendations.  If people ask me about classics, I will respond with the following list. I'm sure some may think I am leaving out an essential book or two, but this is just my opinion. The following list is in random order.

1.  The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (or The Lord of the Rings series)- If you love fantasy, you must read this book.  Plus, there is a moving coming out in 2012 based on The Hobbit, which means it is going to gain even more popularity.


2.  The Aeneid by Virgil- Many claim that this epic poem is a masterpiece.  Even T.S. Eliot agreed by saying it is "the classic of all Europe."


3.  The Odyssey by Homer- I student taught this classic and would love to teach it again. Who doesn't love all the mythological creatures in it and Odysseus' incredible journey?


4.  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- This is a book that I would love to re-visit this holiday season.  One word that describes this book: heartwarming.


5.  Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare- I like most of Shakespeare's plays, but this tragedy is one is my favorites.  

6.  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- This timeless tale is still popular today.  It is hands down my favorite holiday story.


7.  The Awakening by Kate Chopin-  Many consider this controversial novel as a foundation for feminism.   Need I say more?


8.  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- Everyone knows my love for TKAM.


9.  Persuasion by Jane Austen- I feel like this novel gets overlooked a lot, but I think it is just as good as Pride and Prejudice, which leads me to number ten.


10.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen- If I could have a literary boyfriend, Mr. Darcy would be it. In fact, I have a shirt that says Mr. Darcy is my boyfriend. Nerd alert.

11.  The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway- This tale is one of my favorites and many say it truly captures the Lost Generation.  It's no secret that I adore Hemingway's writing style.


12.  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith- I read this book in high school and thought it was ok, but then revisited it as an adult and fell in love with it. I love this coming-of-age tale.


13.  The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas- Many say this tale is one of "obsession and revenge" and for me, it's the perfect story.


14.  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald- Who doesn't love the Jazz Age?  I believe there is a Great Gatsby movie coming out soon with a lot of great actors already signed up, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan. I'm happy, because a good movie always reignites an interest in old an classic.


15.  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- Jane is one of my favorite heroines and I think this book will become even more popular, because of the movie coming out in 2011.





Honorable Mentions:
1.  Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
2.  Emma by Jane Austen
3.  Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4.  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
5.  A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
6.  Middlemarch by George Eliot
7.  Hamlet by William Shakespeare

What are your "must read" classics? I hope you get to read or revisit some of these classics this holiday season!

Books That Have Changed My Life

No, this isn't going to be a list of cheesy self-help books, where I claim to be moved by The Secret, which was awful, by the way.  Rather, I'm going to focus on books that have really left an impression on me or ones that really spoke to me when I was younger.  I don't think I give these books enough credit as I tend to showcase a lot of newer books; so, I thought why not dedicate a post to my absolute favorites?


Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery 
I adored this entire series when I was growing up.  I could identify with Anne in so many ways.  Plus, I had a major literary crush on Gilbert.  This series got me to LOVE reading and when The Disney channel turned this series into a TV show, I became even more of a fan! To this day, I still want to travel to Prince Edward Island.


Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
I read this book in college and I thought it was so powerful.  There are some very important life lessons in this memoir and everyone can learn something from Morrie.


Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I read this book when it first came out and I was completely blown away. I love the idea of leaving it all behind, traveling, healing, figuring it all out, eating too many carbs, and learning about life along the way.  For me, this memoir was sensational.  In fact, I often quote it to this day. 


Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
I read this book when I was in middle school and I was extremely moved by Anne's story.  It really put things in perspective for me and I am so thankful that I get to teach it to my 8th grade students every year.  There's so much to learn from this diary.


A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
I read this book in my 7th grade English class with one of my favorite teachers of all time.  He was outstanding and one of the reasons I teach middle school English.  He made this story come to life and every year, I get to teach A Christmas Carol to my 7th grade students.  It's truly magical.


The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd lived not far from my house, which always captivated me as a kid.  I read this book when I was in elementary school and it's one of the reason why I have a love affair with the fantasy genre.  Back in the late eighties, my mom even purchased the computer game for me after I read this series.  Nerdy.....




To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I read this book for the first time in eighth grade and it opened my eyes to the world of classic literature.  I not only realized that classic literature is important and powerful, but it can also be a story that is compelling and not just something teachers assign.  I was obsessed with this novel. I even won tickets to revival showing of the original movie, which was in an old movie theater in Philadelphia. It was incredible!  My obsession continues to this very day; I even named my dog after my favorite character, Scout!




Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I didn't come to love Jane until college when I took a British Literature course. I then became a huge fan of Jane and all of her work.  Pride and Prejudice is my favorite with Persuasion running a close second.  Mr. Darcy was my deciding factor!  I must admit that I am a Jane Austen fanatic.

What books have changed your life or inspired you? I'd love to know!

 Happy Friday!

Classroom Book Review: The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

Pages: (It's a short story)

Genre: Gothic Fiction/Horror

Pub. Date: Originally published in 1843

My Rating: 4/5 stars

Goodreads says, "Suspense, fear and the supernatural provide the center for these tales by the master prose writer."

I always read this story around Halloween with my 8th graders and it is guaranteed to keep them on the edge of their seats.  Edgar Allan Poe's unnamed character insists that he is sane despite the fact that he killed an old man with what he believes is a "vulture" eye.  He swears that he likes the man, but it's the eye that drives him nuts. It's easy for readers to pick up that this is definitely an unreliable narrator.  The narrator dismembers the old man in true Dexter fashion and then hides his body under the floorboards.  Lets just say the cops get involved and the narrator's guilt starts to become evident, especially when he thinks he hears the old man's heart beating under the floorboard. Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart" is a must read for fans of Gothic fiction as this classic is one of the best examples of the genre.

My students LOVE this story.  One year we were reading it and we lost electricity in the building and my room that year didn't have windows. The room was pitch black! My students were so scared; it was hysterical. They thought I planned it, but my point is that Poe creates such a eerie atmosphere like no other.  It's the perfect read aloud for Halloween.  

Poe's writing style is very suspenseful and keeps even the most reluctant reader engaged.  It is written so well that it is extremely easy to visualize.  Also, this story, due to its incredible suspense, is great for having students make predictions and discuss whether they were accurate. Students love to predict where the story is going to go, but many will find their predictions are way off as they don't suspect the narrator will actually kill the old man!  My students also love to try and figure out the relationship between the old man and the narrator as well as the narrator's interest in the old man's "vulture" eye.  These debatable topics always lend themselves to interesting discussions.

If you haven't read "The Tell Tale Heart," consider picking it up this Halloween. I highly recommend it!  If you are a teacher, check out these resources for this short story.  I also use this fabulous website whenever I teach Poe.  The students love it and no one can deny Poe's ghostly bone-chilling style.

*Buy The Tell Tale Heart

Newbery 2011 Recap

My students had such a great time at the presentation this week, especially learning about the frontrunners for the Newbery award.  It was fun to look back at some of the old winners and to simply talk about books!   Dr. Darigan, from West Chester University, is on the Newbery committee, which I mentioned in my first post.  My students were completely fascinated about the whole Newbery selection process and they couldn't get over how many books he has to read!


Of course during the presentation, I am feverishly writing down the titles of books that he mentions.  I thought I would share my list with you all.  And sadly, Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson wasn't mentioned! Looks like my Newbery draft is already doomed for failure!


Falling In by Frances O. Dowell 

Goodreads says, "B z z z z z z z The buzzing sound? Do you hear that? There it is again. B z z z z z z z No? Well, I really shouldn't have asked. Most people can't hear it, anyway. But, if you could, you'd think it sounds like you're teetering on the edge of the universe. That's what Isabelle Bean thinks...and she's not that far from the truth. B z z z z z z z You really don't hear that? Well, it's actually not that great to have a buzzing in your ear. It's distracting for one thing. And when Isabelle starts listening to the buzz instead of, say, her boring teacher, strange things happen. She gets sent to the principal's office (that's not so strange), but then while awaiting her punishment, she tumbles into an adventure—into another world that's a little bit different, a little bit Hansel & Gretel-y, a little bit like a fairy tale, which would be great, but...did I mention that Isabelle is an unusual dresser? When she shows up in fairy-tale land wearing her favorite high, pointy boots, the fairy-tale people start thinking that Isabelle is a witch -- and not just any witch, but the witch! From Edgar Award-winning author Frances O'Roark Dowell comes the unlikely story of Isabelle Bean—an ultimate misfit, an outsider extraordinaire, and not a witch!"

Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman

Goodreads says, "Fans of Karen Cushman's witty, satisfying novels will welcome Meggy Swann, newly come to London with her only friend, a goose named Louise. Meggy's mother was glad to be rid of her; her father, who sent for her, doesn't want her after all. Meggy is appalled by London, dirty and noisy, full of rogues and thieves, and difficult to get around in—not that getting around is ever easy for someone  who walks with the help of two sticks. Just as her alchemist father pursues his Great Work of transforming base metal into gold, Meggy finds herself pursuing her own transformation. Earthy and colorful, Elizabethan London has its dark side, but it also has gifts in store for Meggy Swann."

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

Goodreads says, "Samuel, 13, spends his days in the forest, hunting for food for his family. He has grown up on the frontier of a British colony, America. Far from any town, or news of the war against the King that American patriots have begun near Boston. But the war comes to them. British soldiers and Iroquois attack. Samuel’s parents are taken away, prisoners. Samuel follows, hiding, moving silently, determined to find a way to rescue them. Each day he confronts the enemy, and the tragedy and horror of this war. But he also discovers allies, men and women working secretly for the patriot cause. And he learns that he must go deep into enemy territory to find his parents: all the way to the British headquarters, New York City."

The Mysterious Howling (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place) by Maryrose Wood

Goodreads says, "Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children: Alexander, age ten or thereabouts, keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips; Cassiopeia, perhaps four or five, has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite; and Beowulf, age somewhere-in-the-middle, is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels.  Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Only fifteen years old and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position."

Sources of Light by Margaret McMullan

Goodreads says, "It's 1962, a year after the death of Sam's father--he was a war hero--and Sam and her mother must move, along with their very liberal views, to Jackson, Mississippi, her father's conservative hometown. Needless to say, they don't quite fit in.  People like the McLemores fear that Sam, her mother, and her mother's artist friend, Perry, are in the South to "agitate" and to shake up the dividing lines between black and white and blur it all to grey. As racial injustices ensue--sit-ins and run-ins with secret white supremacists--Sam learns to focus with her camera lens to bring forth the social injustice out of the darkness and into the light."

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Goodreads says, "The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby. I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I’d seen only in Gideon’s stories: Manifest—A Town with a rich past and a bright future. Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was."

*What do you guys think of these books?  Have you read any of them? Tell me what you think!  I definitely added a few to my over flowing TBR list.  I can't wait till they decide in January....I'm sure it will be here before they know it!