Victor has lived in the small village of Los Arboles, Mexico for as long as he can remember. Every spring, many of the men in the village embark on the dangerous trip north trying to cross the border to help support their family as migrant workers for the summer. When Victor's father fails to return in the fall, Victor has to become the man of the house and try and support his family. Victor's best friend, Rico, decides that this is the year he will take the trip north and he is hoping that Victor will come with him. Victor doesn't want to go, until the corn crop his family has been raising fails to bring in enough money to support the family. Victor is faced with a decision that will change his life. Without the money to pay for a coyote to help him across the border into El Norte, he will have to try traveling north on his own. Will he be able to make the dangerous trip north and enter the United States illegally, or will he get caught by the border patrol? Read this great adventure and find out!

Similar authors: Gary Paulsen and Ben Mikaelsen

Reviewed by: BK

Date read: 6/23/2009

ISBN-10: 0060741406

ISBN-13: 9780060741402

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Delia loves ballet and her sister Pearl is a goth. They try to get over their mother's death, but their dad doesn't talk about her. Delia has a strict dance teacher and becomes a star ballerina.

Reviewed by: St. Charles Reader

Date read: 11/24/2009

ISBN-10: 0064407519

ISBN-13: 9780064407519

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What a cruel and unhappy life 11 year old Min has led. Her earliest memories are of being abused, then abandoned in a fair washroom. She 'hasn't worked out' with four different foster families and is again returned to Children's Aid the week before Christmas. Enter Dr. Jess Hart, who because of her own tragic childhood may have what Min needs to turn her life around and her own in the process. Add a badly mistreated dog, a loving puppy and a resourceful and enthusiastic 12 year old boy and you have all the ingredients you need for a happy ending..or do you?

Reviewed by: ewl

Date read: 1/15/2010

ISBN-10: 1935279157

ISBN-13: 9781935279150

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Dear Mr. Henshaw is a series of letters written by Leigh Botts, from his home in California, to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. Through his letters, and the diary Mr. Henshaw encourages Leigh to keep, Leigh is able to work out some of the problems he's been dealing with since his parents got divorced. This is the winner of the 1984 Newbery Medal.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/12/2009

ISBN-10: 0688024068

ISBN-13: 9780688024062

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When Irene arrives at her first soccer practice in Italy, where her family is staying for the year, she is dismayed to discover she's the only girl on the team. Furthermore, some of the boys make it all too obvious that she is not welcome. Accustomed to being one of the stars, she is now relegated to the sidelines. Even her Italian grandmother tries to dissuade her from playing, telling her she cannot be respected as a woman if she plays such a masculine sport. Is it worth it to pursue the sport she loves in the face of all the obstacles? Soccer fans will appreciate this title for the strong focus on the sport, and those who have been outsiders will recognize the struggles Irene faces. Additionally, those who are interested in foreign languages or have studied them will find this story valuable for the introduction to the usage of the Italian language in the context of the culture.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 1/7/2010

ISBN-10: 1561453099

ISBN-13: 9781561453092

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