Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective

by Donald J. Sobol.

Read this one for the first time since 1986. Ah, memories.

The Giver

by Lois Lowry.

This is such an amazing book.

Crash

by Jerry Spinelli.

Don't be different, kids. You'll be sorry.

Something Upstairs

by Avi.

True story, dude! No I swear! Slavery sucks.

Stargirl

by Jerry Spinelli.

You are different = we will ostracize. I just started a second Spinelli novel and I'm sensing a theme.

I Was a Sixth Grade Alien

by Bruce Coville.

If only I were a 10 year old boy, I might have found this a lot more enjoyable.

Each Little Bird That Sings

by Deborah Wiles

This was nice. That's all I can say.

Juliet Dove, Queen of Love

by Bruce Coville.

Another book tied heavily into Greek mythology. Dragged a bit in the middle, but it was pretty cute overall.

Time Train

by Paul Fleischman.

I refuse to believe that on a field trip back in time to see dinosaurs there wouldn't be at least one child eaten.

The Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan.

This REALLY made me want to re-read my books on Greek Mythology, and SORT OF made me want to track down the sequel.

Lunch Money

by Andrew Clements.

Why was this nominated for an award? Because it teaches a lesson about math?

Wing Nut

by MJ Auch.

This was pretty good, if somewhat distressing. It had a believably uplifting ending.

The Naked Mole Rat Letters

by Mary Amato.

I really enjoyed this combination of e-mails and diary entries, even though the diary included copious amounts of dialog which always annoys me because no one ACTUALLY writes dialog in their diaries.

First Boy

by Gary Schmidt.

One of my class mates thought this was just wonderful. I was bored, annoyed and disappointed.

Joey Pigza Loses Control

by Jack Gantos.

This was really hard for me to read, and really hard to separate myself from when I was done. I guess I can relate to severe ADD?

Suviving the Applewhites

by Stephanie S. Tolan.

I'd kind of like to live with this family for a while.

Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry.

This is a book about the Holocaust. Sort of. I'm supposed to like it for that reason. It was alright.

Saint George and the Dragon

Retold by Margaret Hodges, Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

Beautifully illustrated. I would have enjoyed this more had it been read TO me. Until it got to the gross part where the dragon's tail and arm are cut off. Because, yuck.

The Polar Express

by Chris Van Allsburg.

How have I not read this before? It is beautiful illustrated and just overall lovely.

Holes

by Louis Sachar

I'd heard this was good. And it was REALLY good. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it, and that never happens.