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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Toby's family rented a house for the summer. All Toby wanted to do was ride his bike down big hills and have fun outside. Toby's mom is always worrying about him, and she does not want Toby doing anything that might cause him to get hurt. Toby has cancer. During the summer, Toby meets an elderly lady named Pearl, who once wrote poetry. She is 90 years old, nearly blind, and she won't leave her house even though that's what her family wants. Pearl has an old cow named Blossom. Toby enjoys spending time with the cow, just like Pearl. Pearl and Toby develop a close friendship. One day Toby finds a lump on his body. His cancer has recurred. He doesn't tell anyone because he does not want to go back to the hospital and endure additional painful treatments. He's also having fun for the first time in a long time. When Blossom the Cow dies from old age, it serves as a wake up call to Toby. He decides he needs to fight his cancer again.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0312535813

ISBN-13: 9780312535810

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Antonia can't believe she agreed to be a peer counselor, especially when she finds out who she's counseling: Jazz Luther, with her purple hair and black lipstick. She tells Dr. DiLeo that she could never counsel someone like Jazz, but he urges her to continue. As she does, Antonia finds her own life starting to unravel, and she finds it harder and harder to keep it a secret. How can Antonia possibly help someone like Jazz when she can barely hold her own life together?

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 4/30/2010

ISBN-10: 0316706310

ISBN-13: 9780316706315

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In this first installment of the Nancy Drew graphic novels, Nancy, Bess, George, and Ned are helping Bess's two friends make a movie - 'The Demon of River Heights.' When the boys disappear, Nancy can't convince the local police chief that they aren't just building publicity for the film. So, Nancy takes it upon herself to find them. In doing so, she stumbles upon an even bigger crime.

Similar books: Others in this series; Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/25/2009

ISBN-10: 1597070009

ISBN-13: 9781597070003

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Twins Grace and Connor are separated from each other in a storm that destroys their father's boat. They try to find each other and Connor must save Grace from her terrible fate aboard the vampirate ship. Despite it's title, this book is very enjoyable for older kids, especially if you love pirates and the Pirates of the Caribbean. This is the first in the Vampirates series. Look for Tide of Terror, Blood Captain, and Black Heart.

Reviewed by: St. Charles Reader

Date read: 11/20/2009

ISBN-10: 0316013730

ISBN-13: 9780316013734

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