LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY by Young

Here's a fun, colorful book of odd facts that is sure to stimulate discussion.

LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY is a collection of interesting, although fairly useless facts.  It is the type of book that could be picked up casually and read in a random fashion, however, once a reader gets a peek at just a few of the unique facts it will be difficult to put this one down.

Here are a few samples to whet your appetite:
"Staying awake for two weeks can kill you."
"Ferrets can suffer from depression."
"Originally brides carried flowers to mask body odor."
"The longest carrot was nearly 20 feet long."

The facts are printed on lively colored pages and include simple but appropriate illustrations.  This book is perfect to motivate reluctant readers.  Simply hand them this book and you'll "catch" them reading before they realize what they're doing.  LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY is also a great gift for the trivia buff who already has one of everything.

HOME INVASION by Monique Polak

Police are working diligently to catch the person guilty of numerous home invasions in Josh's city.  There have been a rash of break-ins made all the more frightening because the victims are in their homes at the time of the break-ins. 

Josh's mother will be gone on a weeklong business trip which means Josh will be spending the time alone with his step-father.  His mother hopes the time will give the two a chance to bond, but Josh knows that's not going to happen.

Supposedly, Clay is a painter who works at home.  As far as Josh can determine, Clay spends more time watching TV and drinking beer than painting.  Josh's main goal is to get out of the house as much as possible.

The first time Josh entered someone's house uninvited it was an accident, but the attraction of surreptitiously watching a "regular" family drew Josh like a magnet.  There was something calming yet exhilarating that had Josh repeating the act of trespassing on several more occasions.  Then Josh witnesses a real home invasion, and he realizes that what he thought of as a harmless activity is a truly threatening crime.

HOME INVASION by Monique Polak is quick read perfect for the reluctant reader.  Polak draws in readers quickly and keeps the action coming.  The suspense of the break-ins combined with Josh's emotional struggle with his step-father will appeal to a variety of readers.

REVOLVER by Marcus Sedgwick

It's 1910 in the frozen land of the Arctic Circle.  Sig has never known any other life.  His father came here to get rich finding gold, but that never happened.  Now it is just Sig, his sister Anna, and their step-mother Nadya because Sig's father is dead.

It happened as he returned from town.  He foolishly cut across the lake on the dogsled.  He always told Sig it was not the safest route, but for some reason he didn't heed his own advice. 

When Sig discovered his father's frozen body, he was able to piece together what probably happened.  The lower portion of his father's body fell through the ice, and using his remaining strength, he was able to pull himself from the frigid water.  Scattered papers from his pack and jumbled stick matches were evidence that he had tried to start a fire in hopes of warming himself, but the sub-zero temperature worked faster than his ungloved hands could manage to generate heat.

With the help of Nadya and Anna, Sig brings the body back to their tiny cabin, and the two women head back to town for help.  Sig waits uncomfortably with his father's remains until he hears a knock at the door.  Instead of the help he anticipates, it is a huge man who identifies himself as Gunther Wolff, and he demands his share of the gold he says Sig's father owes him.

What follows is a day and night of terror for Sig and soon his sister as well.  Sig learns secrets about his dead father's past and his connection to this frightening man.  The siblings also discover that lessons learned in childhood do provide answers even in the toughest of situations.

Author Marcus Sedgwick tells an amazing story of survival in one of the most inhospitable environments on earth.  He takes readers into a tiny, isolated cabin and keeps them on the edge of their seat until the last page.  Adventure fans are sure to love this one.

BEST OF THE BEST by Tim Green

Baseball at its best, the World Series, the Little League World Series that is.  Josh LeBlanc and his friends have a chance to make it to the big time.  It is the goal Josh and his dad have been dreaming of since Josh was old enough to grip a baseball.

As exciting as the thought of playing with the best of the best from around the world seems, there is a dark cloud over Josh's field of dreams.  His parents are probably going to be divorcing soon.  His father recently won a coaching contract with Nike and along with it a new girl friend.  While looking for a new house, Josh's dad met an attractive realtor named Diane Cross.  Now Josh is trying to play his best on the baseball diamond, while at the same time he is watching his mother's life crumble.

To make matters worse, the new girl friend comes complete with an annoying kid named Zamboni, and he also plays on the Josh's team.  How is he supposed to concentrate on the game, be there to support his mother, and keep a smile on his face for his father?

Author Tim Green once again takes readers on a baseball adventure with non-stop game action on the field and intrigue off the field.  Even readers without an interest in baseball will find this a satisfying read.

HUNGER by Jackie Morse Kessler

A teenager is on the brink.  She has swallowed several antidepressants and has the remaining pills clutched in her hand.  Her decision to end it all is interrupted by the delivery of a mysterious package.  The package contains a set of scales and an invitation to join the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as the rider known as Famine.

Lisabeth "Lisa" isn't sure what to make of the black steed hanging around the backyard munching on her mother's flowering shrubs.  How does disappearing into the night to faraway places where people are suffering fit into Lisa's own chaotic life?  

Fighting her own personal battle with anorexia, Lisa must deal with what she has come to know as the Thin voice constantly echoing in her mind whenever food is near.  As she begins to face the reality that friends and family suspect her condition, she uses her Famine persona to attempt to regain control of her physical and emotional balance.

Author Jackie Morse Kessler pairs the shame and pain of aneroxia with the unlikely plot partner of the Four Horsemen.  The story that results from this pairing packs a punch.  Readers will experience the emotional upheaval of a dangerous condition without the "preachy" tone of most similar novels about anorexia.  HUNGER is an excellent addition to any teen collection.  Kessler has a second novel, RAGE, that explores another sensitive topic - cutting.

YES, SHE CAN by Glenn Stout

Author Glenn Stout's latest book titled YES, SHE CAN features five female athletes who have paved the way for girls interested in the world of sports.

The five record-breaking females are swimmer Trudy Ederle, track stars Louise Stokes and Tidye Pickett, jockey Julie Krone, and Indy car racer Danica Patrick.

Trudy Ederle learned to swim at an early age and only truly felt at home while swimming and floating in sea water.  Encouraged by family, friends, and coaches, she challenged herself to be the first female to swim the English Channel.  After one failed attempt, she succeeded and even broke the record set by an earlier male swimmer.

In the 1930's two female track runners broke the racial barriers in their sport.  Louise Stokes from Massachusetts and Tidye Pickett of Chicago became well-known in the sport of track and field and went on to qualify for two Olympic teams.  They faced hard times and unexplained prejudice, but their courage and determination to compete just like everyone else made them instrumental in opening track to not only women but more importantly, African-American women.

Julie Krone was two years old when she rode her first horse and just a teen when she announced that she was going to be a woman jockey.  With the support of her mother, Julie searched until she found a job at a race track.  Her hard work and toughness helped her prove to trainers and owners that she could compete with the best male jockeys and win.

Finally, Danica Patrick represents women in the sport of Indy car racing.  YES, SHE CAN tells of her first scary ride in a go-cart and how even a crash that threw her from the cart didn't stop her from getting behind the wheel to race again.  Many called her too pretty to race and claimed that her actress good looks are what actually made her popular, but Patrick's performance on the race track tells a different story.

YES, SHE CAN is the second book in a new series, Good Sports, by Glenn Stout.  He specializes in sports biographies for both kids and adults.  Sports fans of all ages are sure to enjoy reading about these pioneers in sports history.  Coming next in the series is SOLDIER ATHLETES.

STORM RUNNERS by Roland Smith

John Masters was struck by lightning and it changed his life.  After having lost his wife and daughter in a tragic accident, John was living his life for his son Chase.  He made a good living as a building contractor, but after a near death experience, his life turned in a different direction.

John started studying the weather, and he and his son began to chase storms.  They would arrive before predicted storms would hit, help area residents prepare for the expected tornado, hurricane, or other natural disaster, and then they would haul in the cash making repairs after the weather event had passed.  Chase sort of enjoyed the travel adventures with his father, but constantly changing schools and making new friends was sometimes difficult.

Father and son are now headed to Florida and hurricane Emily.  They find a place to park their rigs, and as John and his partner head for the area where forecasters predict the hurricane will make landfall, Chase heads off to enroll himself in school.  Then the real adventure begins...

Roland Smith is the author of more than a dozen adventure books.  His stories are fast-paced and action-packed.  They are perfect books for middle grade readers.  A sequel to STORM RUNNERS is scheduled for release in the fall.