“Milicent Min - Girl Genius” by Lisa Yee

“Milicent Min - Girl Genius” by Lisa Yee is a humorous book about a young Asian girl who is a genius. But for some reason, when it comes to social interaction she’s a little bit ignorant.

Millicent’s parents are always worried that she hasn’t had a chance to enjoy a “normal childhood.” But Millicent doesn’t care. She would much rather be what she is: a child genius who has been featured in TV shows and Time magazine. Millicent has skipped so many grades that she is attending high school at age eleven. Unfortunately, this makes all the other kids her age hate her. Read the rest »

“Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls,” by Lynne Jonell

“Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls,” by Lynne Jonell is a delightful book about a young girl named Emmy and her adventures with a group of intelligent rats that have mysterious powers. This book is the second in a series that began with “Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat.”

When Emmy first met Raston, he was a sulky and obnoxious classroom pet that liked to bite. But the first time Emmy was bitten by Raston she discovered an amazing thing about Raston: people who are bit by the rat can understand Rat speech.

Emmy helped Raston to escape, and later the strange powers of Raston and other unusual rats helped Emmy to free her household from the sneaky influence of Miss Barmy, an evil nanny who had been poisoning Emmy’s parents so that she could get the family fortune and send Emmy off to the Home for Troubled Girls. Read the rest »

“The Beloved Dearly,” by Doug Cooney

“The Beloved Dearly,” by Doug Cooney is a heart-warming novel about a young boy who learns the true value of friends while trying to run a pet burial service.

Ernie may be only twelve years old, but he has plenty ideas about how to make money. When he gets in trouble for selling his own cheeseburgers in the cafeteria at school its the last straw, though. Ernie’s father tells him that if he finds out that Ernie is trying to make money off people again he will ground him.

But then Ernie finds an abandoned lot, and the perfect business: pet burials. Read the rest »

“Waiting for Normal”, by Leslie Connor

“Waiting for Normal”, by Leslie Connor is a touching novel about a young girl who must cope with her rather unreliable mother after being separated from her stepfather and half-sisters.

Addie loves her mother, but unfortunately Addie’s mom tends to take an all or nothing approach to life. One day she will work hard to clean up their small trailer near the railroad tracks, and then the next day she will lay around in bed all day and let the dirty dishes pile up. Some days she comes home with bags full of groceries and makes wonderful meals for Addie, but then she’ll be gone for weeks on a “business trip.” Just when the pantry is beginning to get empty, though, Addie’s mom will return again and Addie can’t really be mad at her then. Read the rest »

“Lawn Boy,” by Gary Paulson

“Lawn Boy,” by Gary Paulson is the story of how a young boy’s lawn business gets a little bit out of hand.

The story is told from the point of view of a young twelve-year-old boy. When his grandma gives him a riding lawn mower its the beginning of a business venture that will have surprising results. As the boy cuts lawns around the neighborhood he soon has more business than he can handle. That’s when he meets Arnold, a stockbroker with grand intentions. Soon the boy has fifteen employees and the company assets include, among other things, stock in a coffin company, and an investment in a prize fighter. Read the rest »