The Clique: Invasion of the Boy Snatchers

When Claire moves into Massie's room, Massie is peeved. It seems like everyone these days is moving into this queen bee's territory.......including Alicia's gorgeous Spanish cousin, Nina. She isn't so bad at first.....before she starts stealing all of the cute Briarwood boys, including the Clique's crushes! And right before the Valentine's Day Love Struck Dance, too! Meanwhile, Kristin's got an awful new haircut that has her looking like a boy, and Dylan's gained 6 pounds and a terribly cold. So how are they going to find dates for the dance? To top it off, the Clique decides to take revenge on Nina before she's brainwashed all of the Briarwood boys, and Alicia is caught between the opinions of her friends and her own kin. Can the girls of the Clique win back their crushes? Will Claire (finally) get her first kiss from Cam? And can the girls of Massie's clique band together to get Nina back to Spain before she's ruined all of their lives? This fourth installment of the bestselling Clique series by Lisi Harrison is just as delightful and witty as the first three! Keep 'em coming!

Twitches Too

Fabulous witch twins Alex and Camryn (Tia and Tamera Mowry) are back in this thrilling sequel to Disney's popular 2005 flick Twitches. In the former movie, the two girls, who had been separated at birth by forces of darkness, find that they are identical twins and begin their training to defeat the darkness, including their evil uncle, Thantos, from the Shadowlands, who had killed their father the day that these two girls were born. Now, the girls think that everything is A-OK in the land of Conventry. But, as their mother knows, the forces of darkness are gaining more and more power, and soon Thantos will be back. This time, the evil uncle only has one goal: to kill of Alex and Camryn once and for all!

   These two fab twitches will have to perform a spell to kill off all memories of Shadowland forever. But while Cam agrees, Alex refuses. Because if they kill all in Shadowlands, that includes their father, too......Can the girls defeat the darkness once and for all and find their father? This is a five star movie! RATED PG

To Dance

Siena dreams of becoming a real dancer when she is older. In fact, she dances everywhere. In the halls, on the beach, wherever there is space to twirl, spin, leap and free herself in her wonderful dancing hobby. So when Siena begins to take dance lessons at a young age, she is thrilled. Finally, she might achieve her real goal and be a famous ballerina! In this beautiful graphic novel, readers watch as this talented girl becomes better, better, and best at ballet. This true story is co-authored by Siena Cherson Siegel, and illustrated by husband Mark Siegel. To Dance is a wonderful (yet short) graphic novel that children of all ages will love and enjoy forever.

The Babysitters Club Graphix

Are you a fan of Ann M. Martin's popular series "The Babysitter's Club"? Well, in this wonderfful series of graphic novels beautifully illustrated by Raina Telgemeier, you can enjoy your favorite characters in their whole new 2007 look!

Book #1: Kristy's Great Idea

Kristy has a brand-new idea: she and her three friends Claudia, Mary-Anne, and new girl Stacey should form a babysitting club! But it's harder than it looks....

Book #2: The Truth About Stacey

Stacey's having a hard time. On top of moving all the way to Stoneybrook from NYC, her best New York friend is angry with her, and her diabetes are making life difficult as she     moves from doctor to doctor. But, luckily, she has her three friends, her fellow BSC members. They can do anything: even (hopefully) conquer a rival babysitting agency!

Book #3: Mary-Anne Saves the Day

After the BSC get in a HUGE fight, Mary-Anne Spier is all by herself: eating lunch, 

walking home, doing everything alone, including trying to avoid her overprotective, 

babying father. Then, Mary-Anne gets herself into a baby-sitting emergency, but she

has no friends to turn to for help! Can Mary-Anne save the day? And can she prevent the

BSC from permanently falling apart?

These wonderful graphic novels for older children are a real treat!

The Gold-Threaded Dress

Oy, a Thai girl who immigrated with her family to America at an early age, is having trouble fitting in at her new school. Everyone is making fun of her Thai background, and she has no friends whatsoever. But then Oy gets her key to becoming friends with Liliandra and her friends, who have their own private clubhouse and club at recess, "members only". Liliandra and her friends agree that Oy may join their club-but only if she brings in her most prized possession for them all to try-a beautiful, gold-threaded and pink dress that her grandmother back in Thailand had created for her. Oy must risk giving up the values and ethics of her family in order to make some friends in this strange new country, but will she make her decision based on the family she has known, loved, and lived with for her whole life, or possible friends whom she hardly knows?

Although this book is a sweet and cute book that teaches children ages 7-9 the importance of your background and family's culture, it is simple and short (at 73 pages long). But have a little brother or sister who wants to read just like you? Hand them this wonderful book by successful author Carolyn Marsden!

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady

Enola Holmes (younger sister of Sherlock Holmes) is back in this sequel to the first book by Nancy Springer: Enola Holmes and the Case of the Missing Marquess. This time, Enola is trying to hide from her brother Sherlock, who is hunting her down. Although Enola will be lonely, she will have freedom, the one thing this high-spirited girl detective needs most. Along the way, Enola picks up a new case: the mysterious disappearance of Lady Cecily, who seemed to be kidnapped from her home one night. Now Enola must conquer a weird sales clerk, a dangeorus villain, murderous garrotters, vicious mesmerizers (hypnotists) and more in the dangerous streets of Victorian (1889) London while she tries to unravel Lady Cecily's disappearance and find her-hopefully, alive. This book was a major disappointment after the action-packed first book. The plot in confusing and the author uses old words from England that nobody recognizes or knows of anymore. To tell the truth, I couldn't wait to put down The Case of the Left-Handed Lady. Dull and without a climax, don't bother to pick up this book!

High School Musical 2

It's summertime, and the Wildcats are back, this time for their first summer jobs! This year, the crazy crew from High School Musical is working at the ritzy Lava Springs country club, which is owned by the infamous family of snobby Ryan and Sharpay Evans! And the club's talent show is coming up. This time, Sharpay wants it to be about her, and her only. And she plans to steal Troy from his singing buddy Gabriella, who is less than thrilled that Sharpay is stealing her crush. Things are really heating up....Is this the last of Gabriella and Troy together? And will Sharpay ruin their bond forever? A fun summer flick for fans of all ages! Rated PG.

High School Musical

It's spring musical time at East High, and the Wildcats are anything but pumped for auditions. After all, who can beat the snotty Sharpay Evans and her perfect brother, Ryan? But then Gabriella Montez steps up to the plate. If only she had a singing partner to audition with.....And then she meets the charming Troy Bolton, who is the star of the school's basketball team, and they form a strong bond. Can Gabriella convince Troy that they can perform in the musical together, no matter what their peers think, before Sharpay steals the show? This is a fun movie by Disney that will make you want to get up and dance! Rated PG.

SUBMITTED BY KATIE PERCY

The Poison Apples

What do Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel all have in common with Alice Bingley-Beckerman, Reena Paruchuri, and Molly Miller? One thing: they all have a very evil stepmother. Fate brings them together at Mount McKinsey, a fancy boarding school in the hills of rural Massachusetts. After their first introduction, the girls begin to plot revenge on their unknowing stepmothers. And before their evil plans can take action, they must decide, is this what they really want to do? Author Lily Archer has created a teen fiction masterpiece that fans of modern fairytales and stories of family and friendship will cherish forever!

Harriet the Spy

Harriet is a spy. A real one, complete with a true spy route and a notebook where she records EVERYTHING she sees, even cruel descriptions of her classmates. But then the notebook falls into the wrong hands......can Harriet get her friends, life and notebook back? Discover this wonderful children's classic by Louise Fitzhugh before it was made into a hit movie....and loved by children across the nation.

The Secret Apartment

The Secret Apartment by Natalie Fast is a funny story of mystery and intrigue that girls ages 9-12 will adore. 

Jillian has to move with her mom to New York City so they can live with Jillian's new stepdad and evil stepsister. On top of that, Jillian's forced to attend a stupid day camp full of hippie counselors, and she has no friends whatsoever. While cat-sitting for her exotic and fun new neighbor with her brand-new friend Emily, she notices something queer going on in the apartment across the street from her new building. And does it have to do with a creepy cheese man from the chic grocery store Kaputsa's? But more importantly, can Jillian and Emily save the day before it's too late? This is a five star, must-read novel!

Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls

When someone snatches the ultra-chic and sassy Lulu Dark's favorite purse, Lulu goes after the thief, but soon realizes there's more to the story than just a missing purse. Instead, it involves a murderer, a mysterious body found on the beach, a stalker, a rock star, and a case of stolen identity. This is a five star mystery for the adventure-loving teen by Bennett Madison.

My 13th Season

Fran Cullers, a baseball-loving girl, is out to seek revenge on her all-boys Little League team. This is because of their taunting. But when she decides to give up baseball once and for all, will she ruin herself by giving up the thing she loves best? Written by Kristi Roberts, My 13th Season is an amazing sports story for girls who love to get out there and play!

Wind Rider

Fern, a hunter-gatherer girl in prehistoric Asia rescues a horse from a bog near her tribe' s campgrounds, names her Thunder, and introduces the people of her tribe with horses and riding. A fulfilling story by Susan Williams, and exciting, too!

POSTED BY ANNIE LEVENGER

Defiance

Toby, a cancer-stricken boy, is moving into the country with his family so he can "rest and relax". There, he befriends a cranky old lady named Pearl and her cow, Blossom, while trying to recuperate from various rounds of testing and chemotherapy. Defiance,  by Valerie Hobbs, is a sweet tale about friendship that will make you laugh and cry.

Bully-Be-Gone

Millicent Madding, a twelve year old girl inventor, has made up a potion called Bully-Be-Gone to keep those pesky harrassers away for good! But little does Millicent know, something goes wrong during her experiment and the results are a flop, and Millicent just might lose some friends with her new, supposedly "helpful" invention, if she doesn't save the day.....Brian Tacang has invented a wonderfully creative and hilarious story that young readers will pleasurably devour!

Half Moon Ranch

Kirstie lives on a horse farm in the beautiful hills of the Colorado Rockies. Here, on her parent's farm, called Half Moon Ranch, danger, excitement, and adventure away! (Written by Jenny Oldfield).

SUBMITTED BY MICHAELA WALTON

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Edward, a special china rabbit, travels from owner to owner as he gets lost, sold, given away, and dumped. But will he ever see his first owner, the lovely young Abilene, again? Kate DiCamillo has written a sweet book that will be close to many children's hearts.

SUBMITTED BY TOMMY LOVETTE

There's An Owl in the Shower!

When Borden's dad loses his job as a logger for the protection of saving the endangered species of spotted owls, Borden intends to kill any spotted owl that he meets. But then a young, orphaned owlet falls into Borden and his father's hands, and they find themselves growing to love and take care of this wonderful animal. Jean Craighead George, author of the award-winning novel for older readers, Julie of the Wolves, has created a sweet and funny story for younger readers that is sure to be a favorite of the whole family!

Girl Reporter

Welcome to middle schooler Casey's world. Casey is a spunky, lively, seventh grader who loves to write. And when a space is offered on her school newspaper staff, Casey jumps right at the ability to nag it. After all, Casey's always wanted to be a reporter! But who knew that along with deadlines, Casey would have to face a preppy editor-in-chief, sassy photographers, scoops that she'll have to get in a lot of trouble to uncover, a cheerleading scandal, digging up the dead, middle school conspiricies, and more--as well as the unthinkable for a busy girl reporter: friends and boys! This series, also called "Get Real!" by famed reporter Linda Ellerbee, is sure to be a favorite for girls who love to write!

Book #1: Girl Reporter Blows Lid Off Town!

Book #2: Girl Reporter Sinks School!

Book #3: Girl Reporter Stuck in Jam!

Book #4: Girl Reporter Snags Crush!

Book #5: Girl Reporter Digs Up Zombies!

Book #6: Girl Reporter Rocks Polls!

Book #7: Girl Reporter Gets the Skinny!

Book #8: Girl Reporter Bytes Back!

The Steps

The Steps by Rachel Cohn is about a girl named Annabel who has a huge family. And, this Christmas vacation, Annabel is leaving her mother behind in Manhatten, New York City, to visit her father's huge stepfamily in Australia. Can Annabel survive the steps to make this vacation-gasp?-worthwhile? And will she actually form some friendships along the way? A great book for middle school readers!

SUBMITTED BY JESSICA QUARTER

The Royal Diaries

Travel back in time and experience life through the world's greatest royal females of all time. This wonderful collection of historical books (written in a first person narrative) includes the life story of various well-known royals such as Queen Mary of Scotland, Queen Elizabeth I of England, Queen Catherine of Russia, Queen Jahanara of India, Princess Anastasia of Russia, Princess Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Marie Antoinette, along with many more. Readers will love these gorgeous books, especially girls ages 9-13.

Dish

Meet Shawn, Peichi, Amanda, Molly, and Natasha. Although they are all very different, the girls are best friends and all have the same love for one thing: cooking. After their local cooking class ends, the young entrepreneurs have a mastermind idea: they should have their own cooking business! They can have fun and make some money! And so they start their business, naming it Dish. But little do they know, having a business is harder than it looks.....Read along with these five friends as they encounter fun as well as problems along the way! A series of 12.

Dish by Diane Muldrow is imaginative and fun. Girls ages 9-12 will love these awesome books!

SUBMITTED BY EVELYN WALSH

Time to Smell the Roses

Ready for a quick weekend read? Then Michael Hoeye's "Time to Smell the Roses" is perfect for you. In the fourth book of the wildly popular Hermux Tantamoq Adventures series, Hermux is encountering a missing heir to a rose dynasty, a sassy runaway, and an ultra-dangerous business tycoon named Tucka Mertslin (readers will recognize this infamous character from previous adventures). What do all of these different characters have in common? Hermux has a hunch: could they all be related to the body that has washed up recently on the beach in the ultra-chic seaside community of Thorny End? Hermux sets out to uncover this mystery. Somebody's poisoned the fields of a famous perfume-maker who creates delicious aromas out of premium rose oil, only to be found in a special type of rose. And now they're all gone! To find out who did it, Hermux will have to battle evilly mad scientists and killer insects that include gigantic bees ad freakishly large black widow spiders. As Hermux, fiancee Linka, and pet ladybug Terfle try to figure out the who-done-it (and stay out of danger--which is very hard), they must all come to the conclusion that it's finally time to smell the roses. This book is an extremely quick read (Bookworm devoured its 273 pages in one day), but it is worth it. Michael Hoeye has created a novel that is more satisfying than the sweetest smelling rose.

Happy Holidays!

Bookworm and company would like to wish all of our readers a fabulous holiday season. Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas, and a very happy New Year of 2008! And keep on reading!

The Clique: Revenge of the Wannabes

Massie Block's clique of A-List girls is slowly falling apart. While Alicia Rivera (formerly one of Massie's girls) is starting to form a clique of her own after a fight with Massie, Massie is growing less and less powerful. Will Alicia take over her throne? Claire is finally in Massie's clique-but after Massie messes with Claire's crush, will Claire decide to stay or leave for good? Kristen and Dylan are caught in between both cliques. They've been friends with Massie for ages, but Alicia's bribing them with the latest fashions..... What ensues is a big fight. Each girl is talking about the other behind their backs, and there's confusion and anger everywhere between the two new cliques. This isn't the holiday spirit that people are used to! Will the original clique stay together? Or is it too late? Here comes the third book of the bestselling "Clique" series by Lisi Harrison.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Claudia and her brother Jamie are deciding to run away. And not just anywhere-why, if they ran away anywhere they'd be discovered and sent back home! So Claudia has a plan: they'll run off to where no one could guess that they were there. They'd be just two of the millions of people who walked through this place every day.  That's right: the Metropolitan Museum of Art smack-dab in the center of New York City. But the Met isn't as sheltered and safe as Claudia thinks it is: as soon as she and Jamie settle down, she realizes that they are smack-dab in a mystery that makes the front page of all of the newspapers worldwide. E.L. Konigsburg's fabulous novel will be loved and treasured as a family classic by kids AND adults for centuries to come.

Love, Ruby Lavender

Ruby Lavender and her grandmother Miss Eula are the best of friends. That's before Miss Eula leaves for Hawaii to take care of her new (and yucky) grandbaby. It looks like Ruby will be stuck in boring Halleluia, Mississippi for the rest of the summer with only icky Melba Jane and her chickens to keep her company. But little does this spunky nine year old know, this summer has some surprises in store for her..... Deborah Wiles has produced a funny yet sweet read that is perfect for 8-11 year olds!

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess

When Enola Holmes (younger sister of Sherlock himself) discovers that her mother has disappeared on (on Enola's birthday, unfortunately), she knows she must find her mother by herself. So she disguises herself as a depressed widow and escapes from her shrewd older brother to a place where excitement begins-London. She suddenly finds herself smack-dab in the center of a mystery: the case of the kidnapping of the young Lord Tewksbury, Marquess of Basilwether. Now Enola has 2 cases on her hands: the disappearance of her mother, and the whereabouts of the Lord Tewksbury (which may very well put the lord and Enola's lives in danger). This thrilling mystery by Nancy Springer is hard to put down and is well worth the read. Welcome to Victorian London in 1888 where mystery, intrigue, and danger await!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Although Carmen, Lena, Tibby, and Bridget are all extremely different, they all fit into the same pair of magical pants that this spunky quartet calls the "Traveling Pants". And although the girls are apart all summer long for the first time in their lives, the pants that they pass from one girl to another keeps them strongly together. Journey with Bridget to soccer camp in Baja California, Mexico; with Carmen as she meets her father's new family in South Carolina; with Lena as she visits her grandparents and falls in love for the first time in Greece; and with Tibby as she makes a valuable new friendship back home in Bethseda, Maryland. Although they are far apart, the pants hold them together in this sweet novel about friendship by talented author Ann Brashares. Recommended for 7th-10th graders.

SUBMITTED BY REBECCA PLANTER

Castaways

It seems like the best class trip ever......a vacation to the tropical islands! But then EVERYTHING goes wrong: the kids' (including narrator Dani) boat shipwrecks on the journey to the islands, their teacher goes nuts, and now the class is stranded on a desolate island in the middle of nowhere! The kids have got to figure out where to get food, where to find shelter, where to shower.....all without a (sane) adult! Sound fun to you? And now Dani is stuck on an island with her annoying little brother (who just had to tag along), an evil popular girl, a bossy girl who thinks she knows everything, Dani's crush, and tons of biting bugs! Are the kids EVER going to get off of the island? Recommended for readers ages 9-12.

Trilogy of 3

Book #1: The Worst Class Trip Ever

Book #2: Weather's Here, Wish You Were Great

Book #3: Isle Be Seeing You

(Written by Cathy Hapka, under the pseudonym of Sandy Beech)

Freaky Friday

Annabel thinks her mom has a carefree, perfect life: after all, she IS an adult. She can do anything she pleases, all day long! Annabel and her mom don't really get along, either, so it makes Annabel feel even more jealous of her mother. But then, Annabel wakes up in the morning to find out that overnight, she and her mom have switches places....and she realizes that being her mother isn't as easy as it really seems! The book by Mary Rodgers that inspired the hit Disney movie Freaky Friday is a whimsical, funny, and sweet story about mothers and daughters.

 

SUBMITTED BY SHANNON GERBER

My Perfect Life

Here comes the sequel to the popular Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen by Dyan Sheldon that you'll love......

Ella Gerard's life is perfect. She's got it all: perfect friends, perfect parents, perfect house......That's before her best friend (and ABSOLUTE drama queen) Lola Cep nominates Ella for the role of Dellwood High Class President against evil and popular Carla Santini (Ella's former best friend). Now Ella's life feels anything but perfect as she struggles with many tough things-in and outside of school. When all the votes are added up after the election, will Ella come out on top........or at the very bottom?

Enthusiasm

Julia Lefkowitz's best friend Ashleigh Rossi is an enthusiast. Ashleigh's always fascinated by a new trend-whether it be music or candy-making, medieval times or sailing. It's hard for Julie to keep up with Ashleigh's craze of the month! But, this time, Ashleigh has got her creative mind wrapped around something new-that is, Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. Now she's trying to find the perfect Mr. Darcy for herself and Ashleigh, and she's going all out-whether it's sneaking into a boy's prep school or staking their claim at the local coffee shop, Ashleigh's not going to give up. But then both girls fall for the same Mr. Darcy. Will this ruin their friendship? And who will end up with which Darcy? What follows is a bizarre array of events: mysterious poetry pinned to a tree, preparation for a musical, and a whole lot of hidden feelings....

 Enthusiasm is a beautifully written story by Polly Shulman that you'll never want to end.  It is a true masterpiece that teen readers in grades 7-10 will cherish and love.

Thanks, Carol!

We would like to thank Carol Weston, author of For Girls Only and (our personal favorites) the Melanie Martin series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her comment. Be sure to check it out this month!

Interview with Jennifer Allison

This month's feature is some questions and answers about the popular Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator series, courtesy of author Jennifer Allison. We hope you enjoy this information. Thanks, Jennifer! To read this great interview, click on "Gild Joyce, Psychic Investigator" under the list of November posts.

The Clique: Best Friends for Never

The Clique is back in this second book in the series by Lisi Harrison, and this time the Clique is B-U-S-Y. Massie, in order to stay at the top, is having a boy/girl Halloween party at her house just in time for the holiday. She must make it perfect, or else her status as Queen Bee might just slip! Dylan and Kristen and fighting over the same boy's attention, and Alicia is slowly (but surely) breaking off from Massie's group to form a clique of her own with Olivia, a fellow OCD student. And Claire Lyons, the outcast, is still fighting to be in the clique. This time, the Clique is breaking apart for a fashion show, a party, and boy issues.......will Claire finally get her chance to be "in" with the Clique? Readers will LOVE this second installment in the oh-so-popular and ah-mazing Clique series!

Close Up and Personal

In this second book of the Flirt series, it's time for Alexa Veron, the camerawoman and Argentine prankstress to get serious, both behind the camera and in real life. Always the wild child, Alexa must leave behind her crazy past and step up to the plate. If she pulls one silly move, Flirt's got her back on a plane to Argentina-for good, and she can kiss her internship good-bye. Will Alexa take control of her behavior while she prepares for a crazy photo shoot, a photo essay, and as she searches the city for her Prince Charming? Or will she be back in Argentina before she can click the shutter? Readers won't be disappointed with this second installment of the fun and funky Flirt series by Nicole Clarke!

Introducing......Trudi!

The crew here at Bookworm Readers would like to thank Trudi Trueit, author of the popular Julep O' Toole books for her wonderful comments under Julep's posts! Thank you for your inspiring advice!

--Bookworm

PS Review on Julep O' Toole #2 coming soon!!

Farewell to Manzanar

Farewell to Manzanar, by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston , is a touching and memorable story that kids-and adults-of all ages will love.

   In 1942, Jeanne Wakatsuki was seven years old. That was when Pearl Harbor was bombed, when Jeanne's father was taken away, when the Wakatsuki family was sent to Manzanar, California, to a Japanese internment camp. The government had sent them because of their Japanese last names, their Oriental eyes, their black hair, although some were American. Manzanar, in the middle of the California desert, is just like any other small town: it has a school, sock hops, choir, neighborhood gossip, a beauty parlor, and much more. But the only thing that the internees at Manzanar don't have is freedom. This a true story.

Flirt #1: Write Here, Write Now

Welcome to Flirt, the trendiest, hippest magazine around! This a creative new series that girls ages 10-13 will love! In the first book, Write Here, Write Now by Nicole Clarke, is about a spunky girl named Melanie ("Mel") Henderson who is traveling from Berkeley, CA to New York, NY for a writing internship at Flirt. Melanie instantly meets three other great interns and they immediately become close friends. Mel thinks that this summer will be a blast. But that's before she meets her evil boss, a competitive intern, and has to write a challenging article.....will Mel find herself on a plane back to Berkeley before she can say "pressure"? Or will Mel step up to the challenge and embark on her dream summer?

The Clique

The Clique is a fun and fast-paced novel by talented writer Lisi Harrison. Harrison writes with a distinct and fun style, which makes the Clique books so great! 

The first book is called The Clique. Massie Block, Dylan Marvil, Alicia Rivera, and Kristen Gregory rule the exclusive Octavian Country Day school. These elite seventh graders are the most popular, the prettiest, and the best. Everyone wants to be just like them! Enter Claire Lyons, the daughter of one of Massie's friends. She'll be staying at the Block's house while her family tries to relocate after a long move from Orlando, Florida, to where the Blocks live in the exclusive town of Westchester, New York. Claire is more "out" then last season's Marc Jacobs bag. But with a little luck and a lot of scheming, Claire might just stand a chance.

SUBMITTED BY SARAH WESTCOTT

Thank you, Angela!

Hello Readers!

For the fans of the creative "Horse Angel" series, we have news for you! The talented author of this wonderful series, Angela Dorsey, has posted a comment under our post of her previous series, Horse Angel. We hope you like her little sneak peek on her new series, Whinnies on the Wind! Thank you, Angela, for visiting our blog! Keep checking back for more posts!

Happy reading,

Bookworm

Julep O' Toole: What I Really Want to Do Is Direct

Here comes another spunky Julep O' Toole book from fresh and funky author Trudi Strain Trueit. This time, Julep's signed up for the Heatherwood Middle School Play in order for English extra-credit to bring up that C- (yikes!). But Julep bombs her audition, and finds herself at the bottom of the stage crew list. Just as Julep's about to quit the play once and for all, she is suddenly promoted to assistant director! Suddenly, she's copying scripts, prompting the actors, running lines with them, and shouting commands. Julep seems to know just what everyone needs, and has a feeling the school's production of The Princess and the Pea is going to be a big smash hit!

   But weeks before the play premieres, everything comes crashing down, in more ways than one. It looks like the play's ruined for good. Can Julep find a way to save the play with her newfound talent as director? Will this ignored middle child ever get her true chance to shine? It's sure going to take courage, determination.......and a whole lot of spunk!

   Readers will ADORE Julep and will be rooting for her to whole way, from Curtain Up to the Grand Finale!

The Last Girls of Pompeii

Julia and Sura are good friends, although completely different. Julia is the daughter of a wealthy shipbuilder, and Sura was taken away from her home when she was young. Julia bears a withered arm-the Curse of Venus, and Sura is utterly gorgeous. Julia has freedom, Sura is her slave. This summer has already been awful. Julia must endure both sister's weddings. And then she and Sura suspect that Julia's parents have an awful plan for them that will change both girl's lives forever. 

   Yet the one thing that is the most unpredictable at all is that, under lush green vineyards, the beastly volcano that slumbers in Mount Vesuvius close to Sura and Julia's small Italian town, Pompeii, is about to erupt. When it does, it forges a path of destruction, and it's up to Sura and Julia whether to stay behind with those they know and love to die under the poisonous ash, or save their own lives and futures. 

   Although this great book by Kathryn Lasky has a slow beginning, it's totally worth it to read all the way through. Kathryn Lasky, author of the successful Guardians of Ga'Hoole series and Camp Princess series, has a unique and flowing voice that readers will eat up with pleasure.