Baseball is life! I feel inspired to go play catch after finishing this book. Jeremiah is in middle school, he was left in an IT office after hours and discovered by Walt who later adopted him. They have been inseparable and get along despite all their oddities. Their relationship is beautiful to see develop and grow. There are so many great relationships outside the father-son duo.

Not only was Jeremiah left as a baby he also had a heart transplant which makes him unable to do much physical activity. When they move to a new town that revolves around baseball it's difficult for him to not play, so instead he decided to coach. But it can't be that easy...a dark cloud rises over the town when they discover that the high school baseball coach has been accused of giving steroids to his players.

Even with all these difficult hurdles in front of Jeremiah he still keeps hope and joy in his life! This was a great read, another home run by Joan Bauer!

What is Mrs. Frisby to do when one of her children is sick and will not be better in time for the big move? Can the mysteriously smart rats that live under the rose bush help her solve the problem? These animals may seem simple and their problems may seem small, but this story packs big surprises and a fantastic story!

Overall enjoyed this book, but I'm still not sure if I'll continue to read the rest of the series and I can't put my finger on why. I did like the aspect of the characters not really being show as good or evil. I wasn't able to predict every twist and turn. The action was engaging, and the discussion of the society was very interesting. Definitely giving Hunger Games vibes for a slightly older audience.

Calli moves to a new school after her mom breaks up with a new boyfriend, and just as at her past schools she continues to keep her tourettes a secret and they cause her to be left out and made fun of. Other than the neighbor boy who will pay attention to her as long as no one else is around, but no one can know that he likes her.

I enjoyed the format of the story and the sometimes changing POV of the story. Would recommended for middle/high/adult readers.

Hope is starting middle school and for the first time ever won't be in every class with her best friend Sam. After day one they are have very different experiences and Hope isn't sure their friendship will last. A great story about adjusting to a 'new normal' and overcoming obstacles.

Stella loves ocean animals but she's not a huge fan of speaking in front of her classmates. She might mix together her English and Spanish or say something incorrectly. She'd also love to be friends with the new student from Texas, but it is hard to make friends when you're nervous to talk. Will Stella be able to make a new friend and get ready for her big 5 minute presentation?

Adventure, fantasy, and friendship all woven together. Love the inclusion of historical story telling passed down from generation to generation. Grace's relationship with her step dad and losing her father may be relatable to a lot of younger students.

Zoey has always been great at blending in with everyone else, but during her 7th grade year one teacher finally pulls her to the forefront to join debate club. How will this change Zoey's life? What will it make her realize about her life at home?

It isn't always easy to get along with your siblings, but sometimes it can seem impossible. This is a good story for bringing up discussion on how to deal with situations that might not always seem like they have a solution. The cultural differences between the family and the experiences they are currently having with birthday parties can also bring up a good discussion about the fact that we do not all have the same experience.

I think this just wasn't my cup of tea. Some of the language felt forced or maybe just foreign to me with the southern flare. It took me awhile to figure out what some of the repeated phrases meant, and it also felt like I should already understand them. That aside, the characters did have depth and their interactions rang true.

Sam's father has passed away and he must leave his home to live with his Aunt that he hasn't seen in years. There is a reason for that which we do learn. After the first day in his new school Sam discovers a way that he can still interact with his father, but we quickly learn that it is temporary, which Sam refuses to believe. Would recommend for someone interested in stories of traveling through grief or large fans of stories with a heavy southern leaning.

**Will note that I listened on audio, and the accent was just not my favorite, but the narrator did have talent!

This story about a boy get specific with Santa is adorable! He really wants Osbert, but once he is living with a penguin he starts to rethink his decision, it's not easy for a little boy to spend so much time outside in the cold.

Cute story about Marisol and her fear of climbing a wonderful and magnificent tree in her backyard.

Viji and her sister must run away from home a chance at a better life. Will they be able to survive on their own in the streets? Will they find anyone to help them? Viji feels responsible for her sister and that she must do all the work and make all the decisions, but Rukku may surprise her when given the chance.
I highly recommend this story, it will take you on an emotional journey and connect you to the many wonderful characters you meet.

Currently a stand alone fantasy novel, which I found really refreshing. I wouldn't at all mind another story with the characters from this book, but it was a nice change to have the story from beginning to end in one installment. I love the author's writing style. The world pops off the page and is easy to understand, but the story still keeps you guessing and on your toes. The element of magic was very engaging and I loved how the different characters interacted with it in unique ways.

Having to leave your mother to live with an aunt and cousins you've never met before can't be easy, especially when they live hundreds of miles away. Turtle experiences this as she travels to Key West when her mother's new boss hates children and can't stand for them to live under the same roof. Once she arrives Turtle isn't too sure she wants to live with these newly discover cousins and the diaper gang antics. However, the opportunity to learn more about where her mom grew up is very exciting and it is a whole new culture to learn about. An engaging story that can help the reader travel both in time and place!

What a heartwarming story about two unlikely friends, Jack the goat, and Charlie the horse. It shows us the ups and downs of friendship from the point of view of two animals struggling with different problems while they are living at an animal sanctuary. Loved it, and highly recommend.

I did enjoy this book, but I also felt as if it was created because of the success of the first installment. Some of the plot felt too convenient into order to continue the story. However, I did enjoy the continued development of the characters within that plot. And you can't deny the joy of the cultural references that fit very nicely.

Charlie is a young genius that has used her smarts for criminal activities in the past, mostly just to get a bunch of money to set her up for life. But now the CIA needs her to help find Pandora before the rest of the world. She doesn't really want to help them, but when her options are help or go to jail...the decision is made for her. The adventure has lots of twists and turns that will keep you turning the page.

Cute and funny story of two kids and their dogs and a super high fence. How will they get over, what's on the other side? Love the mix in of some Spanish vocab.

Not my personal favorite style of book, but most kiddos will love it. Reads a lot like Elephant and Piggie. Silly characters caught in funny situations. Speech bubble text.

Super enjoy this series. Great mix of life lessons while remaining super entertaining and not throwing only the message in your face. Lovable characters and wonderful illustrations.

I can see why many of my students enjoy this book! I did not personally enjoy it as much. All I could keep thinking was Poor Peter! Good for him for sticking through tough times with Fudge as a little brother. I probably would have given up!

Regardless of my personal frustration with Fudge rather than seeing the comedy, this story is really quite timeless!

I enjoyed this book. I learned a lot. I also had to turn it off a lot (I listened to the audiobook). I'm a bit squeamish so while the information is just facts of life there where times when it was tough for me to hear. So be warned about that, but don't let it stop you! The way things were shared kept my interest and it was great to her from her personal opinion/experiences.

Having just finished this book I still can't tell you if it is a realistic fiction or a fantasy and I LOVE IT! The story is beautifully told and pulls on your heartstrings. Carol is in middle school and has to spend the summer on her grandfather's ranch as they prepare to put him in an assisted living facility because of his dementia. Most of the family members are dreading the situation, Carol included. However, once at the ranch things slowly start to shift as grandpa opens up to Carol and tells her the story of the tree. The book really is a thing of beauty with great lessons about living life instead of fearing death.

A helpful story for those of us that often forget things that seems like a problem, might actually be an opportunity in disguise. Great use for an SEL lesson.

Love the mix of humor and informational text. Great read aloud for space lovers.

Couldn't put this one down. Love the world building. Enjoyed the characters. Can't wait to hear more of the story.

Readers of Hunger Games, Harry Potter, or other epic fantasies will highly enjoy but have a refreshed and original story to follow. It doesn't feel like the same old same old, at least to me.

What a great story! A good shorter read. Loved the library element and getting to know Langston as a character! Some great relationship building and would start fantastic class discussions.


I feel many audiences could relate. Maybe more appropriate for 4th grade just because of some mature themes, but could be read with an adult present for younger students younger.

What a great story to help us remember the message of never giving up! It is funny, entertaining, and teachers us a little bit about the Sumo culture from Japan. I love how it breaks down the words and gives the meanings right on the pages. Yay for Sumo Kitty!

So I listened to the audio book, and I think I may reread at some point. The story was so interesting and thought provoking, but also a little confusing. Which I expected a detailed plot after Night Circus, but had trouble following at times. So overall, really enjoyed it, but I feel like I might have missed out on a lot due to the complexities. So make sure to give it your full focus, and while the audio version was beautiful maybe consider reading the text along side it. I'll update when/if I get around to a reread.