For you puzzle lovers!

If you don't like deciphering codes, The Code Busters Club: The Secret of the Skeleton Key by Penny Warner will probably make you nuts.  But if you DO like codes, you might enjoy it!  Cody and her friends (Quinn, Luke, and M. E.) are seventh graders who love communicating in unusual ways: Morse code, Braille, American Sign Language, and all sorts of secret codes. One day Cody and Quinn see two odd people visiting their reclusive neighbor, who's drawing strange signs on his window; soon after, the house burns down and the neighbor is taken to a hospital.  Convinced that the two people have something to do with the fire, the Code Busters Club is determined to find out the connection.  Secret messages are used constantly, but don't worry - the codes (and answers) are given in the back of the book.  There were too many of these messages for me, but maybe it's the right amount for you!  If solving puzzles is your thing, be sure to check out http://www.codebustersclub.com/. 

Brought together by boxing and the radio

If you enjoy stories that are told in alternating voices, look for Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney.  This takes place in the 1930s, and the chapters are narrated by three 12-year-olds: Hibernia is a minister's daughter who longs to be a nightclub singer like her mother, who left years ago; Otis is now at the Mercy Home for Negro Orphans, since his parents were killed in an accident; Willie is an aspiring boxer and has run away to the Mercy Home, after his hands were injured by his abusive father.  Running throughout the story are radio broadcasts of famous boxer Joe Louis's matches, which have a different impact on each child.  The voices of the three youngsters are wonderful, and the reader feels the pain, pride, and hope of each one as they overcome pretty tough situations in their lives while maintaining their dignity and a sense of humor.  This would be great to read in a book club!

If dolls were alive...

I couldn't help but think of the movie Toy Story when I read The Doll People by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin. Remember how Buzz and Woody appeared to be lifeless around humans but led quite busy lives once the people were gone?  Same thing for Annabelle Doll and the rest of her family, who all live in a wonderful, old dollhouse in Kate's room.  When Kate's younger sister gets a dollhouse of her own, the Funcraft family moves in, and soon Annabelle and Tiffany Funcraft are BFFs.  When Annabelle discovers the journal of her Auntie Sarah, who disappeared 45 years ago, the two friends decide to go on a risky mission to try to find her.   This is an enchanting, lighthearted fantasy, and the illustrations by Brian Selznick (author and illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret) add a fun touch.

Life on this island isn't quite what you'd imagine

I didn't know what to expect when I saw the title of this book, Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.  Al Capone the gangster and laundry?? Well, yes.  The year is 1935, and Moose and his family have just moved to Alcatraz Island, where Al Capone is serving time.  Moose's dad took a job there so they could be close to San Francisco and a special school for Moose's sister Natalie, who's autistic.  Moose ends up meeting several other kids who live on the island, including Piper, the warden's cute but very scheming daughter (and the source of the Al Capone and laundry connection).  As Moose gets used to his unusual living arrangements, the story includes interesting facts about Alcatraz, Piper's crazy ideas for making money, and Moose's devotion to his sister.  It may sound like an odd combination of ideas, but it works!  A funny, touching, and fascinating story.

Who exactly IS Lemony Snicket?

I don't typically pick up biographies, but I couldn't resist when I saw Lemony Snicket (David Handler) by Dennis Abrams. Many of you probably know that Lemony Snicket is the author of A Series of Unfortunate Events, 13 novels about the sad, amazingly funny and awful lives of the three Baudelaire orphans. But you may not know that the author's real name is David Handler. Not too surprisingly, he's a pretty interesting guy, with interests ranging from humor to poetry to playing the accordion. That said, I had a hard time getting into the book. It felt like the author was trying to write like Lemony Snicket, whose style is so unique that imitation of it just doesn't work. I also thought there was a pretty weak connection between the text and the pictures. But maybe I'm not a good judge, since I don't read many biographies. What do YOU think?

A wonderful smile...FINALLY

I didn't know until I was finished that Smile by Raina Telgemeier is based on something that really happened to the author. Poor Raina had an accident as a 12-year-old that caused her to lose her two front teeth. She goes through years of surgery, braces, false teeth, and pain on her way to a beautiful smile. Doesn't quite sound like the basis of a graphic novel, does it? But it works! The story is told with humor, even as Raina is going through typical middle school situations of crushes, betrayal of frenemies, and changing family dynamics. The characters are simply drawn, but the emotions are definitely there, and you'll cheer for Raina as she finds a new group of friends. A great story that shows readers no matter how tough your situation, it will eventually get better....just maybe not in the way you think.

Have you ever wished you could fly?

If so, Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson will definitely get your attention. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel are six kids living on their own. Why? They started out living in cages in an evil laboratory called the School. They're part of an experiment - they're 98% human and 2% bird! So yes, they have wings and can fly. Sounds pretty cool, except for the fact that the nasty scientists want them back and are chasing them down with the Erasers, wicked mutants of humans and wolves. The adventure starts when the Erasers manage to kidnap Angel and the rest of the gang has to figure out how to get her back. And Max was told she has to save the world - no biggie, right? And what's up with the violent, bizarre headaches and the Voice in her head? There is SO much going on this book...no surprise that it's the first in the Maximum Ride series.