how i became a ghost by Tim Tingle

Isaac, a young Choctaw, "sees dead people".  After a Treaty Talk, Isaac knows something awful is going to happen, but he cannot comprehend how awful.  All of the Choctaw people's houses are burned to the ground and they are forced to leave their homes, on the long deadly walk referred to now as the Trail of Tears.  Isaac is able to see people's deaths before they die and talk to ghosts who appear to him.  The story is heartbreaking, but Isaac does not fear his own impending death, thanks in part to his Choctaw beliefs that no one ever really leaves the living.  Isaac and the other Choctaw are brave throughout the ordeal, persevering through smallpox, bleeding feet and countless deaths.  Isaac manages to help his people in life and death and his fearlessness makes the story more than just sad.

Cool outside library activity

Pictures can not show how cool this activity is!  I wanted a fun, but educational, lesson for after the NJASK for my 5th grade students.  The students researched inspirational quotes online then wrote them on the sidewalk in front of the school.  The kids loved it and it looked amazing.  Great end of year activity! (I have better pics but they have students in them!)

Nerd Camp by Elissa Brent Weissman

Gabe likes being a nerd.  He loves his friends at summer camp and is looking forward to another vacation filled with math equations and poetry.  Unfortunately all that changes when he meets his  new stepbrother, Zach, who is a cool kid.  Zach doesn't know Gabe is a nerd, a Gabe would like to keep it that way.  How is he going to get away with going to geek camp without Zach finding out?  Read all about Gabe's adventures at camp and his nerd research in Nerd Camp.

RUMP The True Story of Rumplestiltskin

This is the story of Rumpelstiltskin told from his point of view.  I don't know about you, but thanks to the usual fairy tale and Shrek, to me Rumpelstiltskin is an all around bad guy with no redeeming qualities.  I mean, who takes someone's baby?!  In this telling of the story, I felt sorry for Rump, the poor boy was starving, mother-less and relentlessly bullied.  When he discovered his talent for spinning straw into gold, that even turned out to be a curse!  Find out how Rump finds himself in a huge mess of bargains and evil magic.  Luckily he has his friend Red, as in Little Red Riding Hood, to help him out.  How is he going to get himself and keep himself out of trouble?  Can he ever be happy?  Find out in RUMP.

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

This is the real Grimm story of Hansel and Gretel like you've never seen them before.  Within the story there are beheadings, a dragon, a trip to Hell and back, and many other twists and turns.  The book is gruesome and sad and dark.  It is also funny (thanks to the narrator) and ironic.  Breadcrumbs and candy houses play a very small part in the true story of Hansel and Gretel.  As the narrator says, "make the little ones go away" if you are going to read this.

Treasure Hunters by James Patterson

Bick and his brothers and sisters have problems!  Their parents have disappeared under mysteries circumstances leaving the kids at sea.  Luckily, they have been treasure hunting with their parents for years and know the ins and outs of the business.  In order to stay together and keep the authorities away, they decide the follow through with their parents next planned dive, but things aren't that simple.  Other treasure hunters are following them, trying to steal their parents plans and secrets from the locked room on the boat, the kids are trying to find out what really happened to their parents, and someone is trying to kill them.  Using the clues their parents left behind, the kids must find the treasure and its rightful owner to unlock the mystery of their parents whereabouts.  Filled with kidnappings, surfers, arms dealers and submarines- this is a book any kid could get into!

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt

The true blue scouts happen to be a pair of raccoon brothers who are charged with keeping an eye on things in the Sugar Man Swamp.  The swamp has been filled with mysteries and legends for generations.  Pirates found a hiding place here, the ellusive ivory-billed woodpecker lives here, and it is home to the sweetest sugarcane on earth.  Chap and the scouts know how special their home is but the famous alligator wrestler, Jaegar Stitch and her investor Sonny Boy Beaucoup want to turn the Sugar Man Swamp into "The Gator World Wrestling Arena and Theme Park".  Find out if Chap can come up with a "boatload" of cash to save the swamp, or are the true blue scouts going to have to wake up the Sugar Man?

*to me- a slow read- not sure if kids could get into it