Ana Shen, half chinese and half black, cringes when people say that she has a marvelously biracial, multicultural family. At her graduation ceremony from junior high, just as she is about to give her salutatorian address, the water main of the school bursts filling the football field with water. And if that isn't bad enough, the principal has to cancel the dance scheduled for later that evening. Ana is devastated. She's dreamed of dancing with her crush, Jamie for such a long time. When Ana sees Jamie after the ceremony, she impulsivly invites Jamie and his dad over to dinner with her family. Ana can't believe she actually asked both her grandmothers to cook. They've only cooked a meal together a few times, all with disasterous results. So it's off to a Chinese grocery store with her mom and grandma to get ingredients for her grandma's Chinese food. Her dad takes her other grandma to a store for her gumbo ingredients. Being in the house and helping both grandmas cook is beyond stressful for Ana! Her grandmas collide with their different bags of rice leaving Ana to pick it up off the floor so they don't waste good rice. The food ends up turning out well but Ana is shocked when she sees an uninvited guest at her door, Amanda, her classmate who also likes Jamie. However will Ana deal with a whole dinner of Amanda making her moves on Jamie? And what embarrassing things will her grandparents say? This book successfully portrays a biracial family with just the right combination of humor and matter-of-factness.

Reviewed by: jb

Date read: 8/7/2012

ISBN-13: 9780385734172

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Victor is amazed at Houdini's ability to do almost anything: escape from a bolted metal box dropped in water, walk through brick walls, or hold his breath for five thousand seconds. When Victor tries to imitate these feats, he's stuck. Not only is he unable to escape even a simple locked trunk, he makes no progress whatsoever in walking through walls. Then, Victor meets Houdini himself, who promises to mail Victor a letter with secrets Houdini cannot tell him in a crowded train station. What secrets will Houdini reveal? This book will be great fun for readers who love the mysteries of magic and those who enjoy lots of pictures with their stories.

Awards nominated: Bluestem 2011

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 6/11/2010

ISBN-10: 0689844883

ISBN-13: 9780689844881

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One hundred years ago, two runaway slaves, and abolitionist, Dies Drear, were murdered in his home, an important station on the Underground Railroad. Legend has it that the ghost of Mr. Drear haunts the lonely old house. No one has lived in the house for decades, and everyone in town avoids it. But Thomas Small's dad, a Civil War history professor, doesn't believe in ghosts and legends. He buys the house and moves the family in. Thomas is fascinated by the secret passages, hidden doorways, and his imagination runs wild when odd things begin to happen- noises like someone crying or moaning; cold drafts of air when the windows are closed. What is causing these things? Is someone playing a prank? Are there really ghosts here? Hold on tight - the suspense is riveting. Sequel; The Mystery of Drear House.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 1416914056

ISBN-13: 9781416914051

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A boy is a clone of an old man who he believes loves him. When the old man is sick and needs his blood, he finds out the truth. Can he save himself as well as making things right again?

Awards won: Newbery Honor 2003

Reviewed by: St. Charles Reader

Date read: 11/12/2009

ISBN-10: 0689852223

ISBN-13: 9780689852220

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Everything seems to be going their way. Britt's brother got a job house sitting for an elderly couple and now Britt, Bran, and mom could live in the house without rent. This would give mom the chance to go back to school full time and possibly earn a scholarship. But something doesn't feel right. Britt is suspicious of Bran's actions. He is hiding boxes and acting very nervous. When the owner Mr. Marquis dies, the secret unfolds. Britt did not have permission to move in. He thought the owners were his mother's parents that had disowned her. He thought it would be a wonderful reconciliation but since they were not his grandparents it was a disaster. Luckily, the kind neighbor that Britt had come to know welcomes them in her home and each of them finds the feeling of family that they were missing.

Reviewed by: rn

Date read: 10/13/2011

ISBN-10: 0439699703

ISBN-13: 9780439699709

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