THE SECRET OF THE SCARAB BEETLE by William Meyer

*Thank you to Sleeping Bear Press for the opportunity to read THE SECRET OF THE SCARAB BEETLE by William Meyer.

Horace j. Edwards isn't particularly thrilled to be moving to Niles, Michigan. He has always loved visiting his grandparents' farm, but now that his grandfather is dead it just won't be the same.

With his parents busy dealing with Grandma and the farm, Horace tries to make the best of things at his new school. A bully named Seth sure doesn't make it easy, and being assigned a school project with Seth as a partner really stinks. But thanks to a mysterious gift from his grandfather, Horace may have the best project ever.

The gift of an Egyptian scarab beetle, a secret doorway that leads to another time and place, and learning that he is part of a secret order known as the Time Keepers just might make Horace one of the popular kids. That is if he can stay alive and rescue his new friends.

THE SECRET OF THE SCARAB BEETLE is Book #1 in Horace j. Edwards and the Time Keepers series. Author William Meyer combines his love of Ancient Egypt with non-stop adventure. This series is a sure winner for ages 8-12, especially boys.

THE GIRL I USED TO BE by April Henry

Author April Henry is a master of YA mystery. The action begins on page one and the suspense never quits. THE GIRL I USED TO BE is her latest novel.

Seventeen year old Olivia had grown up under the impression that it was her father who stabbed her mother nineteen times. When she hears that evidence has surfaced revealing her father most likely died that same winter day years ago, she knows she must find out the truth.

Olivia spent several brief years living with her grandmother before the woman's death of a heart attack. After that Olivia was shuffled from one foster home to another. Now an emancipated minor with her GED, Olivia is free to travel to Medford to track down the killer who robbed her of her parents.

Having long ago changed her name, Olivia discovers that she has also changed enough physically that she is able to return to the small town to begin looking for answers without anyone recognizing her. She settles in and immediately clues begin to surface.

THE GIRL I USED TO BE is a thrilling page-turner. April Henry's painstaking research and actual reenactments make the details of the Olivia's story totally believable. Henry's fans will love it, and she will make many new ones when readers check out THE GIRL I USED TO BE.

THE TRAGIC AGE by Stephen Metcalfe

*Copy courtesy of my neighbor and her great ability to win books from Goodreads!

Billy Kinsey doesn't remember much about life before his father won 37 million dollars in the California lottery. The winnings paid for a luxurious house and all the trimmings in a gated community, but it didn't win Billy a new guilt-free life.

What Billy does remember is his failed attempt to save his twin sister's life. It didn't matter that he was a terrific bone marrow match, Dorie died anyway. Now despite the fancy neighborhood and plenty of money, Billy can't seem to sleep more than an hour or two at a time in the fancy house because Dorie is haunting his dreams.

Billy's grades show him to be an average student, but he makes it a point to fly under the radar. A loner, he doesn't attend high school parties and has little interest in sporting events. He has found life is easier if he doesn't get involved.

Things change the day Billy meets Twom Twomey, pronounced "Tomb." Twom is a bit of a rebel who challenges Billy to come out of his shell. Soon Billy finds himself involved with Twom and his sexy girl friend Deliza and another misfit named Ephraim. Billy also reconnects with Dorie's best friend, Gretchen Quinn. Will joining forces with this crazy group encourage Billy to rejoin the living and have some fun, or will that fun take a tragic turn and plunge him even more deeply into guilt and despair?

THE TRAGIC AGE is the YA debut for author Stephen Metcalfe. His fully developed characters, smooth style, and intense plot are all reasons to keep an eye on what he might have to offer next. I know teens that are going to love this one.

THE ENEMY ABOVE by Michael P. Spradlin

*Review copy courtesy of the author.

THE ENEMY ABOVE takes readers into WW II as the Nazis attempt to clear the Jews out of Ukraine. Their plan is to access the rich farm land in the area to use in supplying the German army.

Twelve year old Anton knows of the concentration camps and the mass execution of Jews, and he knows his father is off fighting with the Russians, but so far he and his grandmother and uncles have been safe. That is about to change.

Major Von Duesen is leading a group of gestapo soldiers through the area to capture and remove the remaining Jews. A vicious man, he is determined to make a name for himself by delivering all his prisoners to the General in hopes of earning a promotion.

Anton's family and neighbors have enough warning to leave their homes and escape through the wheat fields and woods to a cave some of the men have discovered. Young Anton and his friend Daniel spend some of their time exploring the cave for a second exit and a water source so the men don't have to scout for water outside the cave at night.

Von Duesen and the soldiers almost capture the water scouts one night. The Jews return to the cave to warn the others. Everyone except Anton, his grandmother and two others escape through the emergency exit. As Anton watches his grandmother facing the gestapo soldiers, he realizes she has remained behind as a distraction so the others can run farther from the cave.

Finding himself and his grandmother in German hands, will they be able to survive or will they meet the fate of so many of their people in the camps?

Author Michael P. Spradlin tells the story of the Ukrainian Jews and the frightening treatment they suffered at the hands of evil Nazis. Readers will experience the intense emotions of Anton as he follows his grandmother into danger as well as the hateful actions and desires of men like Major Von Duesen. THE ENEMY ABOVE is a great example of historical fiction that will have readers on the edge of their seats as they learn more about the complex events of WW II.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR by Phil Bildner

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR by Phil Bildner is Book #2 in the Rip & Red series. Mr. Acevedo's students are at it again.

Rip and Red welcome a new classmate, Tiki. Red is impressed, but Rip wants to reserve judgement, especially when Tiki threatens to take his position on the Clifton United basketball team.

Mr. Acevedo is still popular as a teacher. His daily Community Circle and anti-worksheet approach may seem unproductive to other staff members, but his students continue to thrive and become independent thinkers.

Financial problems continue to plague the school. An area of great concern to the students is the dismissal of the Lunch Bunch cafeteria ladies since the school has switched to a new food service complete with lunches that most kids don't think includes actual food. Rip and Red and friends come up with a plan to expose the awful food and the unfriendly new lunch workers. Tiki suggests the plan's name should be Operation Food Fight. It's risky, but the end result should be worth it.

Basketball also plays an important role in ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. Clifton United is determined to win all their games this year, and Mr. Acevedo has a new game plan to help make that happen.

Author Phil Bildner has another hit on his hands. Combining fast-paced action for young readers and school problems teachers can relate to, make ROOKIE OF THE YEAR a sure winner for students and classroom libraries. Be sure to check it out along with Book #1, A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.

TROUBLE THE WATER by Frances O'Roark Dowell

TROUBLE THE WATER is set in Celeste, Kentucky, in 1953. The whites and the blacks get along as long as they know their place. Whites tolerate blacks using the front doors of town establishments, but the black children go to their own school and the town swimming pool is for whites only.

Eleven year old Callie doesn't think too much about the different treatment of blacks until the day she finds the old, yellow dog. That dog and an abandoned cabin in the woods bring her together with a white boy named Wendell. In an effort to find the owner of the dog and the rightful owner of the old cabin, the two become friends.

Callie writes stories for the black newspaper and is excited to do the detective work necessary to write a story about the dog and the cabin. Her curiosity and stubbornness lead her to better understand the separation that exists in her southern town. She vows to make a change, but will she be able to convince Wendell to see things her way?

Author Frances O'Roark Dowell has numerous books for middle grade readers, among them are DOVEY COE, THE SECOND LIFE OF ABIGAIL WALKER, and my favorite CHICKEN BOY.

THE SCULPTOR by Scott McCloud

Graphic novels have my attention this summer. I've been collecting them for my classroom over the past year, and now I'm trying to catch up on reading them.

THE SCULPTOR by Scott McCloud comes in at a hefty 488 pages, and due to the higher quality paper used for many graphic novels, it is definitely "hefty." I found it a quick read because McCloud grabbed my attention in the first handful of pages and kept things rolling at a perfect pace.

David Smith wants nothing more than to be a famous sculptor. Growing up around art and artistic people, he developed his talent but it seems his work in never in the right place at the right time. His obsession with being famous and remembered for years to come drives him to make a deal with Death. David is given 200 days to leave his mark on the art world. Death gives him the ability to form sculptures with his bare hands but tells him his life will end whether or not he achieves his goal in 200 days.

Down on his luck financially, things are difficult for David. Meeting a beautiful young woman named Meg takes David's focus away from his art. Although she encourages him in his goal, his love for her threatens to derail his plans for fame.

Author Scott McCloud's powerful artwork combined with imaginative dialogue making THE SCULPTOR a fascinating read. I would offer a bit of caution that this graphic novel is best suited for age 16 and up due to sexually suggestive content.