RETURN TO SENDER by Julia Alvarez

Tyler's family runs a dairy farm. Up until the sudden death of his grandfather and then his father's farming accident, things had been going well. Now that his older brother is leaving for college, there isn't enough help around to do all that needs doing on the farm.

Tyler returns from a visit to his aunt and uncle's to learn that some new folks have moved into the trailer next door. The new people include a Mexican man, his two brothers, and his three daughters. There seems to be some secret about their presence on the farm that Tyler doesn't understand. They have started helping with the milking and other chores and seem to be a big help for his father, however, his mother seems hesitant to reveal too much information about the family.

From comments around town and the little bit Tyler overhears from his parents' discussions, he finally realizes that they might actually be breaking the law. The new workers are in the US illegally. According to the information Tyler has gathered, not only could these new workers be arrested, but his parents could also be found guilty because they've hired the undocumented workers. Even though they seem to be saving the farm, they could bring more trouble than they are worth.

When school begins in September, Tyler learns that Mari the oldest daughter will be in his class. They begin talking and Tyler discovers that Mari is shy but friendly. As their friendship grows, he finds himself not thinking about her questionable status in his country; that is until she becomes the victim of several cruel bullies in his class. In his attempt to defend Mari, he and his family also become a target. Tyler experiences some difficult times as he struggles to understand loyalty to friends, family, and country.

RETURN TO SENDER presents a sympathetic view of the plight of illegal immigrants. It portrays their desire for a better life as well as the help they provide for struggling small farm owners. Though the issue is much more complicated, perhaps this book's message could give today's politicians something to think about.

BROKEN WINGS by V.C. Andrews

One V.C. Andrews down and 10 to go. My first choice for the VCA Challenge (cheating a little because it really wasn't on the list) was BROKEN WINGS. It is a recent publication, so therefore, not a classic VCA. It wasn't bad though so I'll probably take the time to read the second book at some point.

There are three girls, Robin, Teal, and Phoebe, each living their own complicated lives, but destined to meet in book two.

First, there is Robin. She doesn't have a clue who her father might have been, and all she knows about her mother is that her future country singer music career is way more important than Robin. Her mother's decision to leave the family farm, the only place Robin has ever called home, and move to Nashville to find fame and fortune has Robin furious. Her grandparents have never been exactly kind to Robin since she was the product of her mother's wild sexual adventures, but at least there was some stability and three meals a day. Several brushes with the law and sneaking out to hook up with a young mechanic get Robin into some serious trouble leading her mother and her mother's current boyfriend to decide they've had enough.

Next is Teal's story. She's a little rich girl. Living in an elegant house with anything you could ask for seems like the ideal situation, but Teal longs for more. The part she feels is missing in her otherwise rich life is the love of two parents who care about her and not just about her making them look good. Her mother is busy with her charities and planning her older son's perfect wedding, and her father is busy with business and never pleased by anything Teal does. She tries to find satisfaction in rebellion - shoplifting for the fun of it, getting in trouble at the expensive private school her parents had hoped would straighten her out, and now getting involved with the hot guy she meets at the mall's pizza place. How many times can Teal sneak out, "borrow" the family SUV, and steal money from her mother's purse before her parents decide she needs more discipline than they can provide?

Last is Phoebe. Her wild mother has run off, and her father's busy travel schedule does not leave him time to properly supervise her teenage years. His answer is to ship her off to live with her mother's straitlaced sister. Now Phoebe is doing chores, going to church, and riding the school bus with whiny little brats. She would do just about anything to get some excitement back into her life. When rich boy Ashley Porter begins to show a special interest in Phoebe, she believes he might be her path to a better life. Instead he manages to ruin her reputation and make her a disgrace to the only family willing to take her in.

All three girls find themselves on their way to an isolated school designed to take bad girls and turn them into respectable members of society. The adventures will continue in MIDNIGHT FLIGHT. I will continue the VCA Challenge by beginning the Casteel series next month.

"WAITING ON WEDNESDAY"

Just happened across this neat idea over on Steph's blog Reveiwer X. She gives credit to Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Here's this week's "Waiting on Wednesday." (A soon-to-be available book that I can't wait to read.)

SCAT by Carl Hiaasen

"Mrs. Bunny Starch, the most feared biology teacher ever, was last seen during a field trip to Black Vine Swamp. The school’s headmaster and the police seem to have accepted the sketchy, unsigned note explaining that her absence is due to a “family emergency.” There’s no real evidence of foul play. But still, Nick and Marta don’t buy it. Something weird is definitely going on." (Summary from B & N)

V.C. ANDREWS is making a comeback!

I'm accepting a challenge this year. I guess I'll count it as a "book resolution" of sorts. Steph over at Reviewer X and Taren at The Chick Manifesto have issued the challenge. They want readers to read 11 V.C. Andrews's novels over the next year. That's less than 1 per month. I think I'm up for that.

I'm actually bending the rules a bit and reading one not on the suggested list. Hey, it's the only one I could find in my little town and I wanted to start right away. BROKEN WINGS is my first pick. I'm sure it's not vintage VCA, but like I said the selection was limited.

I'll read and review them just like any other book here on my blog. Yes, students, some of them have AR tests, so I'll post the points with each review. I will reserve the right to decide whether they are placed on the middle school shelf or the high school shelf in my classroom. That means you 8th grade reading fiends may have to stop by next year to sink your teeth into some of them. *pout*

Last, but not least, I encourage others to accept the VCA Challenge. We can create a support group and swap books and everything.

SUNNY HOLIDAY by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

SUNNY HOLIDAY is a spunky little fourth grader. She may live on the "wrong side of the tracks" and get teased by the "bus girls", but she always looks at the bright side of everything. Her mother may work endless hours cleaning rooms at the hotel across the river, but Sunny keeps her chin up and carries on. Her father may have made a mistake that landed him in prison for the better part of another year, but Sunny puts a smile on her face and is thankful for the things in life that are free.

This is a fun book for the elementary crowd. They will easily relate to Sunny's desire to have a kid-friendly holiday in every month, and her disappointment that the mayor's promise of a new park in her neighborhood turned into a half dozen scraggly trees instead. The underlying theme of the need to pass the state's standarized test is an element of the story that might make it a worthwhile read-aloud for a fourth grade classroom.

This one is a bit young for my students so I'm planning to pass it along to the fourth grade teachers in our elementary building. I'm sure Sunny will make another appearance someday if author Coleen Murtagh Paratore has anything to do about it.

FAR FROM YOU by Lisa Schroeder

First of all, I don't know if this qualifies as a *spoiler alert*, but be sure to have tissues handy when you read this book. All I can say is I'm glad I didn't read during free reading time at school or my students would have been uncomfortable to say the least.

Alice is struggling with life. Things are piling up on her. It's been years since her mother's death, but the pain of her absence is just as sharp as ever. Her father and her stepmother are trying to make her feel a part of the birth of her half-sister, but it just doesn't feel right. She is deeply in love with her boyfriend Blaze, and even though he says he understands when she tells him she's not ready for sex, she wonders how he really feels. And then there's Claire. Her best friend doesn't seem to want to be the supportive friend she has always been in the past.

When Alice's father announces a little family trip to visit the new in-laws, there is no convincing him that she should be allowed to stay at home. Thanksgiving and the days that follow in the cramped home of her stepmother's family seem like torture, but Alice would gladly have those days back if she had only known what would happen next.

Her father is suddenly called away on business leaving Alice, her stepmother, and the new baby to return home on their own. An unexpected winter blizzard traps them in their on a wooded back road where their very survival is in question.

Lisa Schroeder has created a powerful story of one girl's journey to accept her new life and find the faith to carry on. The cover asks "Do you believe in angels?" You will when you finish this book.

TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT ME by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Jamilah "Jamie" is living a double life. She has dyed her dark hair blonde and wears contacts to hide her dark eyes. At home she is Lebanese-Muslim, but at school everyone thinks she is just a normal Sydney-born Australian like the majority of the students in the tenth grade. Unfortunately, things aren't going very well.

Jamilah loves her heritage - the music, the religious beliefs, the food, and the family, but she hates the rules that go along with all she loves. Her father believes in a strict curfew that requires her to be home by sunset. She dreams of having a boyfriend and going on a date, but that's totally out of the question. As a result, Jamilah finds herself trying to balance both lives. Her friends see one side of her and her family sees the other.

While at school Jamilah observes members of the popluar crowd viciously taunt any students from different ethnic backgrounds. To keep her own secret she shamefully watches silently, afraid the cruelty could be directed toward her if she speaks up to defend the others. With her double life threating to crumble around her, she attempts to convince her domineering father that she needs more freedom than he is willing to allow.

TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT ME gives readers a glimpse into the Lebanese-Muslim culture and at the same time demonstrates that the true and honest path is not always the easiest to travel, but perhaps the most satisfying in the end.