Chicken Boy

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Chickens

Bird Brains

Self-Esteem

Juvenile Delinquincy

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7th grader Tobin has one normal relative - his grandmother. But she is almost arrested in the first paragraph of the book for driving on the sidewalk at school. No wonder his self esteem could use a boost. Can one great friend and some chickens change your life?

Dowell, Frances O'Rourke. Chicken Boy. Atheneum, ©2005

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie

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Leukemia
Jazz
Drums
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No doubt - this is a middle school kid! The main character has a crush on the hottest girl in school (not reciprocated :-) He is a talented drummer in the jazz band and has an annoying 5 year old brother. Pretty typical stuff. But life changes in an instant when his brother is diagnosed with leukemia. Warning - a box of tissues may be necessary.

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie. Scholastic, ©2004

Heat

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Some things you may want to know more about before you start the book:

Baseball

Cuba

Immigration

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Baseball and sports lovers - this is your read of the summer. This kid throws heat (80 mph for a 12 year old is amazing!) and this book is on fire! Will the powers that be learn his secret? Can he make it to the Little League finals on ESPN? Strong characters learn that not everyone is out to get them and that sometimes dreams come true.

Lupica, Mike. Heat. Philomel, ©2006

Gossamer

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Some things you may want to know more about before you start the book:

Foster children

Dreams

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Have you ever wondered where dreams come from? How about nightmares? A dreamgiver in training tells her story. John (a very real foster child), with every reason to have nightmares, becomes Littlest One's greatest triumph. A beautifully written story that will touch your heart. Lowry proves again that she is one of the best.

Lowry, Lois. Gossamer. Houghton Mifflin, ©2006

The Princess Academy

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Some things you may want to know more about before you start the book:

Minerals

Royalty

Customs

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NOT just another princess story. An entire group of young mountain girls are forced to train for a year to meet the prince. One "lucky"? girl will be chosen as his bride. Young love, the importance of family and heritage, bandits, strength and the importance of communication all play an important part in this great read.

Hale, Shannon. Princess Academy. Bloomsbury, ©2005.