Can he keep his illiteracy a secret?

If you're looking for a thought-provoking title for a middle or high school book club, this it is: Bluefish by Pat Schmatz.  Travis's parents are dead, and he's being raised by his grandfather, a recovering alcoholic. When they move to a tiny house in a small town, Travis not only has the typical new-student issues to deal with, but he has an additional problem - he can't read, and he doesn't want anyone to know.  He's quickly noticed by Velveeta, a funky, outgoing student who's hiding secrets of her own, and Mr. McQueen, a very cool teacher who's figured out Travis's reading difficulty and wants to help. The story alternates between chapters told by a narrator and short blurbs that Velveeta is writing to Calvin, someone (a friend? relative? you'll figure it out) who has recently passed away.  The feelings of the characters are impressively real and poignant and raw...and sometimes funny.  Although the ending is satisfying, by no means does it tie up all the loose ends, so the reader is empowered to imagine what happens next.

Stunning portrayal of autism

I was absolutely mesmerized by Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin.  The story is told from the point of view of Jason, a 12-year-old boy who is autistic.  He struggles with social interactions and making friends, but he's an excellent writer.  Through Storyboard, the online forum where he posts his creative writing, he makes a connection with another writer named Rebecca.  When he learns that he may actually meet her in person at a Storyboard convention, he starts to panic: he's terrified that she'll only "see" his autism and not who he really is.  Reading how one autistic child views the world, his family, and even himself was both fascinating and enlightening, and his self-acceptance at the end of the book (hinted at in the story he's been writing) was beautiful.  An excellent book, especially for anyone affected by or interested in autism.

World War I from a different point of view

Interesting that the book War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is aimed at younger (3rd to 6th grade) readers, but the recently released movie is for viewers who are older.  The book is told from the point of view of Joey, a beautiful red bay horse.  Joey is sold at a young age to a farmer who has little use for him. Fortunately, the farmer's son Albert is a sensitive young boy who takes wonderful care of Joey, and the two become very close.  But they wonder if they'll ever meet again, when World War I breaks out and Albert's father sells Joey to the army.  Soon Joey is in the trenches in France: pulling guns, hauling ambulance wagons, and witnessing the horrors of war.  Soldiers from both sides share their thoughts with Joey; not too surprisingly, these thoughts are quite similar and express the anti-war message the book is designed to deliver.  There are some sad parts, but overall the book is a good choice for fans of horses or historical fiction.  

Magic in the '50s

It's impossible to pick one genre description for The Apothecary by Maile Meloy.  The story includes bits of historical fiction, adventure, mystery, and even fantasy, which makes for an interesting (but sometimes confusing) read.  The time is 1952, and Janie and her family have just moved from the U.S. to London.  Janie becomes friends with Benjamin Burrows, whose father is an apothecary (a British term for pharmacist).  After Benjamin's father is apparently kidnapped, the two friends are not only left with a 700-year-old book of magic potions. but they learn that Mr. Burrows is actually part of an international group of scientists that are trying to contain the destructive power of a bomb being developed by the Soviets.  They also contend with a mysterious garden, a teacher who may be a double agent, and Pip, a friendly and mischievous pickpocket.  If you prefer a logical and consistent plot, you may want to pass this one up, but if you enjoy adventure, check it out.