“Welcome Home or Someplace Like It,” by Charlotte Agell

“Welcome Home or Someplace Like It,” by Charlotte Agell is a realistic fiction novel about a young girl who finds herself living with her grandfather in a small town in Maine.

Aggie B. Wing and her brother Thorne aren’t particularly excited about moving to Maine. After living in Port Chester, New York they are sure that Maine will be rather dull in comparison. But their famous mother, a writer of romance novels, is determined to drop them off for the summer to live with their ninety-one-year-old grandfather.

Ludwig, Maine has a population of 159 and one general store with a sign that says “Ardis’s Quikstop.” Read the rest »

“Mascot to the Rescue,” by Peter David

“Mascot to the Rescue,” by Peter David is a unique story about a boy whose real life appears to be linked to the escapades and adventures of a comic book character.

Josh Miller is an ordinary looking sixth grader who attends Demarest Elementary School.  Little do his schoolmates realize, but Josh has an important secret.  Not only is Josh a fan of the Captain Major comic books, but there is a strangely disturbing correlation between Josh’s life and the adventures of Mascot, Captain Major’s superhero sidekick. Read the rest »

“Seekers - Great Bear Lake” by Erin Hunter

“Seekers - Great Bear Lake” by Erin Hunter is the second book in a fascinating series about a group of bears who must face the results of climate change and human abuse of the environment.

In book one, “Seekers - The Quest Begins” readers were introduced to three young bear cubs, a polar bear named Kallik, a grizzly bear cub named Toklo, and a black bear cub named Lusa.

In a world under the control of humans the wild lands are shrinking as humans build more cities and roads where wilderness used to be. Read the rest »

“The True Adventures of Charley Darwin,” by Carolyn Meyer

“The True Adventures of Charley Darwin,” by Carolyn Meyer is a historical fiction novel about the life of Charles Darwin, the natural scientist who wrote “On the Origin of Species” and publicized the theory of evolution.

Carolyn Meyer studied Charles Darwin’s autobiography and correspondence to give readers a fascinating look at his early life and influences.  In “The True Adventures of Charley Darwin” readers are introduced to Charles when he was a young boy.

Charles Darwin loves nature.  He can spend hours outside hunting for bird’s eggs, feathers, rocks, and insects for his collections. Read the rest »

“Red Cap,” by G. Clifton Wisler

“Red Cap,” by G. Clifton Wisler is a historical fiction novel based on the life of a boy who lived during the American Civil War.

At the age of thirteen Ransom left home against his family’s wishes to join the Civil War. At first the Union Army wouldn’t accept him, but after lying about his age Ransom was finally accepted into the army as a drummer boy.

“Red Cap” does a good job of showing the reasons why most young boys left home to join the Civil War. Most of the youngsters around Ransom joined the army just to get away from home or to be with their friends. None of them are prepared for the reality of war. Read the rest »