Losing Joe's Place

Losing Joe's Place by Gordon Korman

I love so many of Gordon Korman's books that they're getting hard to list, and here's another one to add. Quirky characters, unbelievable events and laughs - what more could you ask for?

Summary:
"Whatever you do, DON'T lose me this lease. It's the best deal in town. Sell your friends, but hang onto the apartment."

Jason and his two best friends are about to have the ultimate summer experience in the big city. And they get to use Jason's brother's apartment for the summer. All they have to do is be sure to pay Joe's rent each month. No problem, right?
Wrong.
They didn't count on dealy with the sleazy landlord, or Joe's strange friend, Rootbeer. And they certainly weren't expecting Joe's Camaro to go missing. Keeping Joe's place turns out to be way harder than they'd expected.

Everything on it

Every thing on it by Shel Silverstein

Have you ever read a book with every thing on it?

Well, here it is, an amazing collection of never before published poems and drawings from the creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Falling UP. You will say Hi Ho for the tiolet troll, get tongue-tied with Stick-a-tongue-out-Sid, play a highly unusual horn, and experience the joys of growing down.

What's that? You have a case of the Lovetobutcans? impossible! Just come on in and let the magic of Shel Silverstein bend your brain and open you heart.

Although I cannot see your face

As you flip these poems awhile,

Somewhere from some far off place,

I hear you laughing -- and I smile.

Floors

Floors by Patrick Carman



Charlie had his chocolate factory. Stanley Yelnats had his holes. Leo has the wacky, amazing Whippet Hotel.
The Whippet Hotel is a strange place full of strange mysterious people. Each floor has its own quirks and secrets. Leo should know most of them - he is the maintenance man's son afterall. But a whole lot more mystery gets thrown his way when a series of cryptic boxes are left for him ... boxes that lead to hidden floors, strange puzzles, unexpected alliances. Leo had better be quick on his feet, because the fate of the building he loves is at stake... and so is Leo's own future.

Here's  the trailer

This Dark Endeavour

This Dark Endeavour : the apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel

Wow! just finished and yes WOW. From the opening chapter, I was hooked, dark, mysterious, historical, brothers, jealousy, love, action/adventure, magic, villans. Hooked yet? If not -here's the summary from the book jacket.

The purest intentions can stir up the darkest obsessions.
Sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein leads a charmed life. He and his twin brother, Konrad, and their beautiful cousin Elizabeth take lessons at home and spend their spare time fencing and horseback riding. Along with their friend Henry, they have explored all the hidden passageways and secret rooms of the palatial Frankenstein chateau. Except one.
The Dark Library contains anceint tomes written in strange languages and filled with forbidden knowledge. Their father makes them promise never to visit the library, but when Konrad becomes deathly ill, Victor know he must find the book that contains the recipe for the legendary Elixir of Life.
The elixir needs only three ingredients. But impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten the quest at every turn. Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science and love - and how much he is willing to sacrifice.

The Stone Child

The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki
This was a book that was recommended by one of our students, I can definately see why he thought it would be a good addition to our library. Scary. - You guys know I don't like scary books, so why did I take it home on a  gloomy, rainy, dark afternoon? Thanks for setting me up to jump at every little noise around me!
Here's the summary.
How cool! Eddie loves scary stories, and he is moving to the small town where his favourite author, Nathaniel Olmstead, used to live. The author vanished without a trace thirteen year ago, like something out of one of his own creepy novels.
But Eddie soon learns that life in Gatesweed isn't as idyllic as he hoped. He keeps seeing strange things, unreal things, horrible things that shoule only exist in Olmstead's books. How have they escaped the pages to terrorize the town?
Soon Eddie realizes that he and his new friends Harris and Maggie must solve the mystery of Olmstead's disappearance before Eddie's mom finishes writing her own scary tale, unleashing the most horrific creature of all.

Trash

Trash by Andy Mulligan

I was resisting this book, I though this book is gonna break my heart, this book is gonna depress me. Instead I got quite a surprize, I got a book so packed with mystery and suspense I could barely put it down. I got a book that is still with me a week after. I got a book that shows the hopeful side of the human condition in the dirtiest, smelliest, aweful settings I've ever read about. Resiliency, a powerful attribute, an excellent theme for a book if it can be done thoughtfully - Andy Mulligan succeeded in designing an amazing book about it.
Summary from the back cover:
Raphael is a dumpsite boy. He spends his days wading through mountains of steaming trash, sifting it, sorting it, breathing it, sleeping next to it. Then one lucky-unlucky day, Raphael's world turns upside down. A small leather bag falls into his hands. It's a bag of clues. It's a bag of hope. It's a bag that will change everything. Soon Raphael and his friends Gardo and Rat are running for their lives. Wanted by the police. It takes all their quick thinking, fast talking to stay ahead. As the net tightens, they uncover a dead mans mission to right a terrible wrong. And now it's three street boys against the world.

Here's the book trailer.

Lunch Lady series

This graphic novel series is clever and fun, perfect for a quick read during math.
Could our mild mannered Lunch Ladies actually be superheroes with a great disguise? According to Jarret Krosoczka the answer is definately YES.
Creative, clever, love Betty's kitchen spy gadgets, hilarious.

I So Don't Do Makeup

I So Don't Do Makeup by Barrie Summy
Summary:
This third mystery about fast thinking sleuth Sherry Holmes Baldwin is perfect for those that love investigating with heroines they can relate to.
What's better than a sleepover? A sleepover with makeovers! Sherry and her friends have an awesome time with eye shadow, glitter, and more hair products than a salon. But when the girls wake up the next morning with serious skin issues, Sherry is freaked. Someone must have tampered with her makeup. And if anyone can solve a mystery involving mascara, it's Sherry Holmes Baldwin.

Withering Tights

Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Confession of Georgia Nicholson is back with Georgia's younger cousin Tallulah Casey. Yes! more hilarity from Jolly Ole England.

Summary:

Picture the scene: Dother Hall preforming arts college somewhere Up North , surrounded by rolling dales, bearded cheesemaking villagers (male and female) and wildlife of the squirrely type. On the whole its not quite the showbiz experience Tallulah was expecting ... but once her mates show up and they start their FAME I'm gonnnna liiivvvve forevvvver, I'm gonna fill my tiggghts summer course things are bound to look up. Especially when the boys arrive (When DO the boys arrive?) Six weeks of parent-free freedom, BOY freedom, artistic freedom, cos it's the THEATRE dahling, theatre.

Here's the trailer.

Gimme a call

Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski

We've just recieved more books yeah!!!! So I want to give you a quick peek at some of them - unfortunately I haven't had a chance to read all these titles so I'm just going to give you the book jacket info and a trailer if there is one.

Summary:

A new life is just a phone call away!

Devis' life isn't turning out at all like she wanted. She wasted the past three years going out with Bryan - cute, adorable, break-your-heart Bryan. Devi let her friendships fade, blew off studying, didn't join any clubs ... and now that Bryan has broken up with her, she has nothing left.

Not even her stupid cell phone - she dropped it in the fountain at the mall. Now it only calls one number -- hers. At age fourteen, three years ago.

Once Devi gets over the shock - and convinces her younger self that she isn't some wacko - she realizes she's been given an awesome gift. She can tell herself all the right things to do ... because she's already done the wrong ones. Who better to take advise from? right?