“Code Orange,” by Caroline B. Cooney

“Code Orange,” by Caroline B. Cooney is a thrilling science fiction mystery about a boy whose science project on infectious disease takes a deadly turn.

Mitty Blake has always lived a rather carefree life. He is interested in just two things: listening to music and Olivia, a girl in his advanced science class. But listening to his iPod during science class won’t help Mitty to keep his science grade up. And if Mitty doesn’t get an upcoming term paper turned in he will be dropped from the class, which will undoubtedly derail his budding romance with Olivia.

Rather unwillingly Mitty decides to start working on his science term paper. Read the rest »

“Dark Water Rising,” by Marian Hale

“Dark Water Rising,” by Marian Hale is a historical fiction novel about the powerful hurricane that devastated Galveston Island in 1900.

Unlike the rest of his family, sixteen-year-old Seth Braeden is not at all thrilled to be moving to Galveston. Sure he enjoys the great weather and the swimming at the nearby beaches, but to Seth the move to Galveston thwarts one of his most important dreams. Seth wants to be a carpenter like his father, but the family moved to Galveston so that Seth could attend college there and become a doctor. Read the rest »

“Ruby Holler,” by Sharon Creech

“Ruby Holler,” by Sharon Creech is a novel about twin orphans who find a new home with an older couple at their beautiful country home.

Dallas and Florida have been the scourge of the Boxton Creek Home since the day they were found in a box on the front porch of the orphanage. Though the twins are sent to many different foster homes, each potential family sends them back in despair. No one wants to put up with their clumsiness and mistakes.

When an eccentric older couple agrees to accept these “trouble twins” into their home Dallas and Florida are mistrustful at first. Read the rest »