Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool J Van

I truly loved this book and highly recommend it. Navigating Early is an adventure book set at the end of WWII in the Maine wilderness. Jack suddenly is uprooted from his Kansas home after his mother’s death and placed in a boarding school in Maine. There he meets Early Auden, who today would be identified as having autism, but then was just considered different. Early, who refuses to believe his brother Fisher has been killed in the war, reads the number pi as a story and collects clippings about sightings of a great black bear on the Appalachian Trail.  When the boys find themselves alone during school break, they head out on a quest to find the bear. The events that occur and the characters they meet, all figure into the Pi story Early tells as they travel. Jack and Early encounter “pirates, a volcano, a great white-whale, a hundred-year-old woman, a lost hero, a huge bear, and a timber rattler” as they navigate their way through the woods and their lives which had so unexpectedly been changed.

Loaded with rich characters and vivid language, Navigating Early pulls you in at a slow pace to a breath-taking finish. Middle grade readers through one-hundred-year olds would enjoy this book. It’s a winner!

 by Hunter,  seventh-grade reader

AR Level: 5.2

AR Points: 11 

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate J App

  I really liked the book The One And Only Ivan.

     The One and Only Ivan is about a gorilla  and his name is Ivan. He lives at a zoo place that is kinda like a mall. His best friend is a homeless dog named Bob. He has another really good friend too. She is an elephant whose name is Stella. One day the owner of the zoo got really mad because the zoo was not making enough money and Ivan's paintings were getting old. So the zoo decided to get another animal. They got a baby elephant named Ruby. When she arrived she would not come out of the truck so Stella had to help them get her out. Stella hurt her foot a long time ago doing the shows that the zoo put on. One day Stella's foot hurt really bad, so the zoo called the vet to come take a look at it. Later that night Stella made a promise with Ivan, that if she died he would take care of  Ruby and let her go free somewhere and not be stuck in her cage forever. Stella died the next day. Ruby was very sad. Ivan kept his promise and he painted a picture that only the manager's daughter could understand. So she started getting people all over to say that they demand that the animals be free. One day a truck pulled up and took the animals away. When they got to their destination Ivan and Ruby were separated but when Ivan climbed up the tree like a free gorilla should he saw Ruby free and with the other elephants and at that moment Ivan knew that if Stella were here she would be proud.

By Karley, fourth-grade reader

AR Level: 3.6

AR Points: 4

Note: The One and Only Ivan is the recipient of the 2013 Newbery Medal for Most Distinguished American children's book.

I Funny: A Middle School Story by James Patterson J Pat

I Funny is a book about a boy named Jamie. Jamie loves telling jokes; he is pretty much a comedian. He is adopted by these people he calls “The Smileys.” He calls them this because they have never smiled, as far as he knows. His adopted brother is one of the meanest bullies at school, so school isn’t too good, except for his two best friends, Gaynor and Pierce. After school he always goes to his uncle’s diner, and he tells jokes while working the cash register. One of the customers tells Jamie he saw a sign for a “World’s Funniest Kid Contest” and thinks Jamie should enter the contest. Will he do it or not? Read the book to find out!

by Nick. fourth-grade reader 

AR Level: 3.9
AR Points: 4

Capture the Flag by Kate Messner J Mes

The months-long restoration project for the Star Spangled Banner flag was completed, and the Smithsonian was throwing an extravagant party to celebrate. Anna, Henry, and Jose, all strangers to one another, end up sitting on the same bench at the museum waiting for their responsible adult to drag them out of there.
The next morning they find themselves together again, thanks to a freak snowstorm that has shut down the Washington D. C. airport and stranded thousands of travelers. Then the news reports that the Star Spangled Banner was stolen sometime after the gala at the museum, and there appear to be no suspects.
Anna, who writes for her school newspaper and whose mother is a news reporter, begins to think like an investigative journalist and figures the stolen artifact must also be snowed in at the airport. What follows is some pretty zany and dangerous adventures by the three youngsters, who discover they are all part of a secret society charged with protecting valuable works of art.
Bad guys posing as good guys, good guys assumed to be bad guys, and bunch of innocent people wrongly accused keep this mystery moving at a good clip. You'll have to read the book yourself to find out if these three unlikely youngsters do indeed Capture the Flag.

AR Level 4.5
AR Points 6

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead J Ste

Seventh-grader Georges (the s is silent) is going through a difficult time in his life. He and his parents have had to sell their house and move into an apartment several blocks away. Dad lost his job, and Mom is working double shifts at the hospital to fill in the financial gap. The good thing is that Georges still lives in the same neighborhood so he doesn't have to start over making friends. But maybe that isn't such good news. He's still the target of the class bullies, Carter and Dallas, who call him Gorgeous, and he still has to watch as his former best friend Jason works his way into the circle of the cool kids.
The best part of the move proves to be Safer, a boy the same age who lives upstairs in the apartment building and heads up the Spy Club.
Stead, who won a Newbery Medal for When You Reach Me, has written an entertaining story with believable but quirky characters -- like Safer's older brother Pigeon, and Bob English Who Draws. There's so much going on in the story that I found myself turning page after page to keep moving through the plot and I slid right over some clues that should have prepared me for the ending. Just remember, the book is called Liar and Spy for a reason. But you'll have to read the whole thing to find out why. And read it you should, as Yoda would say.


AR Level 3.8
AR Points 5

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan J Rio

This is the third book in the Heroes of Olympus series, and, in my opinion, one of the best by Rick Riordan. This is a book with a lot of adventure.  It starts with Annabeth, Piper, Leo, and Jason going toward the Roman camp in the Argo II. When they get there Reyna (the Roman leader) pulls Annabeth aside and helps her figure out her quest.

Whoops, I forgot that I have not told you about Annabeth’s quest. Her mother, Athena, is acting weird and needs help. She gives Annabeth a coin and says, “Follow the mark of Athena, avenge me.” Annabeth must find an object taken by the Romans.

Anyways, where were we? Oh, yes, Reyna. Before Reyna can finish, the Romans attack and Leo appears to be firing at the Romans. Will they escape from Roman fire?

What do Percy’s dreams and Piper’s visions mean? The demigods set off for Rome not knowing what to expect.  Everybody has questions they want answered. They will face many things on their journey, good and evil.

This is a series with a lot of adventure and I highly recommend reading The Mark of Athena.

AR Level 4.8
AR Points 20

By Nick, fourth-grade reader

Nancy Clancy: Super Sleuth by Jan O'Connor J Oco

 Nancy Clancy: Super Sleuth

By: Jane O'Connor

Reading Level: 3.3/ 1pt. 128pgs

The girl you know as "Fancy Nancy" is growing up and moving on to bigger adventures in her first chapter novel. Nancy has decided to become a detective, just like her favorite crime solving fictional character Nancy Drew. But, it turns out she isn't the only one looking for a crime to solve, her best friend Bree has become a detective too! Together, with their matching trench coats, spy glass, disguise gear, and what they've learned from Nancy Drew novels, they are an unstoppable team! Or, at least they would be if the could find any crimes to solve. They sneak, spy, and snoop, but no mysteries are to be found.

Finally, one day Nancy and Bree overhear the twins, Wanda and Rhonda arguing over something that has to do with Nancy, but what? Nancy and Bree are thrilled to have at least something of a mystery to investigate. But all too soon this mystery is shadowed by and even bigger mystery: On Family Day everyone brought a special memento to share with the group, but the next day their teacher's special blue marble he brought to share is missing. All signs point to thief, and Nancy and Bree are on the case!

This is a more grown up version of "Fancy Nancy" young readers will love. She's spunky, fun, and still fancy as ever. This is a perfect book for readers who are transitioning to chapter books... whether you read chapter books or have them read to you!