THE ALCHEMYST (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Mixhael Scott

Sophie and Josh, normal teenage twins, are spending the summer in California with their aunt while their archeologist parents are off on another dig in the desert. They have each found a job to keep them busy, Josh in a bookstore and Sophie in a coffee shop across the street. One day a couple of men in sunglasses show up at the bookstore and nothing is ever the same again. Sophie and Josh are drawn into an adventure with 600 year old people all of whom look under forty and must help them save a book, which in the wrong hands, could destroy the world. During their adventures, they discover some magical things about themselves as well.

DAY OF TEARS by Julius Lester

Pierce Butler is the owner of a grand plantation and many slaves in the South. He is a fair and just slave owner, although slavery itself was not fair or just. When his wife leaves him to raise his two daughters on his own he begins to gamble away his fortune. One day his slaves discover that he has decided to sell them off, one by one, to pay off his debts. The final indignity is when Butler decides to sell Emma, nurse maid to his girls after promising her mother this will never happen. Emma and many of the others tell the story of their sale and life in a very moving way ending with Emma's granddaughter questions about her. If you'd like to know more about how tough it was to survive as a slave read DAY OF TEARS.

PARK'S QUEST by Katherine Paterson

Park cannot understand why his mom will never speak about his dad who was killed in Viet Nam. Life is tough for the two who live outside of Washington, D.C. where money is always tough to find. To escape from his questions about his dad and his rough life, Park immerses himself in the life of a knight in shining armor. One day Park finds out about a grandfather he has never met and gets permission from his mom to spend some time visiting him. Park's trip brings many surprises and he returns home at the end, a changed boy. Read PARK'S QUEST to get the juicy details.

PROJECT MULBERRY by Linda Sue Park

Julia and Patrick are best friends and members of the Wiggle Club at school. 'Wiggle' stands for Work Grow Give Live and the student members are involved in all sorts of projects involving animals and plants. After a great deal of discussion and dread on the part of Julia the two friends decide to raise silkworms for their entry into the state fair. Julia isn't happy about this since she is Korean American and really wants to do an "American" project. The title of the story comes from the fact that silkworms eat only mulberry leaves, something difficult to find in America. Between each chapter telling the exciting story of all Julia and Patrick go through to finish their project, is a discussion between Julia the character and Linda Sue Park, the author of the book, which adds some insight into Julia's feelings. Read PROJECT MULBERRY for a great story of two friends who will be friends forever, despite occasional disagreements.

SHOOTER by Walter Dean Myers

The idea for SHOOTER came from the shootings at Clumbine High School although the story is pure fiction. Walter Dean Myers is a great author who really understands the problems children face growing up, a fact which is obvious when you read SHOOTER. The book is written in question and answer format in the form of interviews of some of the students who participated in or were friendly with those involved in a school shooting. We learn to understand the characters and the reasons for what they do. Although sad and somewhat frightening, SHOOTER holds the readers' interest throughout the book. The book also contains a fascinating interview with the author.

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

North America in the future is a scarey place to live. There are twelve districts, not 50 states. The government is very cruel and keeps the citizens obeying by forcing competition among the districts. Every year each district must send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a fight to the death which is broadcast live to the rest of the citizens on TV, sort of like SURVIVOR. Each participant must find food and shelter and destroy the others in order to 'win' the game. Katniss, a hardworking sixteen year old who has supported her family by hunting and gathering edible plants since her dad died in a mining accident, jumps up and volunteers to take her six year old sister's place when her name is selected to participate in the 'games.' She encounters monsters, almost dies of thirst and heat or cold and makes friends with some of the people she must destroy. Read THE HUNGER GAMES for a truly exciting adventure story.