“Shift,” by Jennifer Bradbury

“Shift,” by Jennifer Bradbury is a realistic fiction novel about two boys who embark on a cross country bike journey that will change both of their lives in ways they wouldn’t have imagined.

The main characters in “Shift” are two teenage boys named Christopher and Winston.  Chris and Win have been friends ever since elementary school but they have markedly different personalities and backgrounds.  Christopher’s dad works in a small business and lives a fairly ordinary life.  On the other hand, Winston’s father owns a huge company and uses his financial position to influence senators and get his son accepted by an Ivy League school.
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“The Schwa Was Here,” by Neal Shusterman

“The Schwa Was Here,” by Neal Shusterman is a fascinating novel about a boy who is “functionally invisible.”

The Schwa is a kid that most people overlook. It’s not that he’s physically invisible, but there’s something strange about him that makes people fail to see him. When Anthony Bonano discovers this unique characteristic he sees possibilities.

First he and The Schwa do a series of risky tests. Amazingly people fail to notice him, even if he is doing something ridiculous such as wearing an orange sombrero and a cat costume and singing “God Bless America” in the boy’s bathroom. Read the rest »

“Found,” by Margaret Peterson Haddix

“Found,” by Margaret Peterson Haddix is book one of “The Missing” series, a science fiction fantasy about a group of children who discover that they have been stolen from various time periods using advanced time travel technology.

Thirteen years ago a plane full of infants landed at jetway of Sky Trails Air. There was no pilot of flight crew on board, and after the babies were removed from the plane it disappeared. Careful scrutiny of the flight records indicated that the plane had never landed. Even the radar records show nothing at all. Read the rest »

“The Mystery of the Third Lucretia,” by Susan Runholt

“The Mystery of the Third Lucretia,” by Susan Runholt is an enjoyable mystery about two daring teenage girls who uncover a multi-million dollar international art crime.

Fourteen-year-old Kari and her best friend Lucas have been friends for years. When Kari and Lucas get a chance to go to London with Kari’s mom, who is an international writer and photographer for The Scene magazine, the two girls don’t realize that their trip is going to turn into a full scale mystery.

It begins at the London National Gallery when Kari and Lucas see a strange artist who is copying one of the paintings. Read the rest »

“Frannie in Pieces,” by Delia Ephron

“Frannie in Pieces,” by Delia Ephron is the story of a fifteen year old girl who is suffering from the loss of her father.

When fourteen year old Frannie finds her father’s dead body the shocking discovery changes her view of the world. Suddenly she fears death and feels that the world around her is full of danger. The first paragraph of the story introduces Frannie and one of her phobias:

“Do you know what it says on a tube of toothpaste? In small print? You have to read the small print because they never tell you anything scary in large print. Large print is what they want you to see. Read the rest »