You Are SO Not Invited to my Bat Mitzvah!

Stacy Adelaide Friedman is preparing for the biggest event of her twelth year--that's right, she's having a bat mitzvah! Stacy's praying to God that she'll get everything she wants before the special day: the perfect, most beautiful BCBG dress, for her crush Andy Goldfarb to like her back, and to be able to complete her three mitzvahs on time! But she gets exactly the opposite. Instead, she receives an ugly dress, three unfinished mitzvahs, and her best friend's betrayal. She's also struggling with her home life: her parents have recently divorced, her mom is sad, and her little brother is an overweight geek who is getting bullied at school. Oy vey! Can Stacy sort things out before her big day? One thing's for sure--you are SO not invited to her bat mitzvah! Fiona Rosenbloom has created a lively and sincere tale of a girl coping with the hardships of growing up!

The Princess and the Pauper

Julia Johnson is just a normal girl living in  LA. She and her mother struggle to pay their cheap apartment's rents monthly, and both are afraid of eviction. So when Carina, Princess of Vineland, comes to Julia's school to make a speech, Julia couldn't care less. After all, she has bigger things to worry about. 

   Meanwhile, Carina is sick of being perfect. She wants to be a regular girl, just for one day. She wants to escape the cameras of the press, the watchful eyes of her advisor, and go and meet the rock star she's been corresponding with for a year. But how can she, with security guards buzzing around all the time? So when she meets Julia, she comes up with a master plan. The two look-alikes will switch places for one day. While Carina pays Julia ten thousand dollars (which could help out with the rent), Julia can't say no. So before she knows it, she's a princess! And Carina's a normal girl for one day. She'll finally be able to meet up with her favorite rock star! But will both girls blow their  covers? And what's Julia supposed to do when she falls in love with Carina's fiancee Markus? Kate Brian has woven a sweet tale about friendship and being proud of who you are.

Minutemen

Virgil (Jason Dolley) is a major geek, ever since freshman year of high school, when his best friend betrayed him for the popular crowd. So now, in senior year of high school, he spends his time with shrimpy Charlie, child genius, pretending that he doesn't miss his old (popular) friends. But that's before Charlie has a brilliant idea. At first, Virgil thinks it's just another one of Charlie's crazy mad scientist inventions--but that's before Charlie (with help from Virgil and unlikely new friend Zeke) invent the world's first time machine. Here, the boys can go back in time and fix situations that shouldn't have occurred (like bullies beating a kid up or the high school football team losing a game). Everyone knows that this trio in snowsuits who call themselves the Minutemen are true heroes! But then there's a glitch in the time machine that could affect the whole world. Yikes! The Minutemen are running out of time to save the day....Can they? Or will the whole world be doomed? This Disney flick is sure to be a favorite of fans of Cory In the House (with Jason Dolley as well) and Read It And Weep. Rated PG. 

Two Steps Forward

The Steps are back in this funny and sweet sequel to Rachel Cohn's previous novel, The Steps. This time, the whole (step) family is in LA for the summer. And while Annabel is less than thrilled about spending three months in smoggy, hot LA, her stepsister Lucy loves her new non-Australian home. And even though Annabel is moody as always, Lucy is thrilled at the idea of spending three whole months with her stepsister and best friend in her beautiful new American home: shopping, visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame, eating fab American cuisine, scouting out all of the Hollywood stars, and going to Catalina Island for a rainy weekend of camping and fun. But what she's not expecting is that Wheaties, Annabel's geeky new stepbrother, is following her around like a puppy! And Wheaties doesn't understand why Lucy's ignoring him. But Wheaties is not the only new guy in town -- Annabel's Australian crush (and Lucy's former stepbrother) is making a surprise visit to LA. Will it be totally awkward or awesome for Annabel? And can she figure out if her mother and her new stepdad are getting along? The one thing that everyone knows for sure is that it's going to be an exciting summer!

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

The fun cast of characters from Ann Brashares' popular YA novel The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is back for another summer in the sequel to this New York Times bestseller, this time titled The Second Summer of the Sisterhood. These four girls (Bridget, Carmen, Lena, and Tibby) are expecting an uneventful and quiet summer. But their dull plans might just change.... 

   Bridget's heading down to her late mother's hometown in Alabama and trying to uncover some of her past. But how will Bridget find anything about her mother-or herself-if she doesn't want to face the truth?

   Carmen's convinced that this summer the Traveling Pants will become the Love Pants. But not for her! Upset and angry when she finds out that her mother's worn the Pants on a date, she's sure that her mother will ditch her for her new man.

   Lena's been hiding from love for a year, but when a lover from the past shows up on Lena's doorstep with surprising news, Lena's got to face the music--even if it means heartbreak.

   Tibby's enrolled in a summer film camp at a local college. Can she make the perfect movie? Can she stop hiding from the memories of a special friend who Tibby had lost?

   And through heartbreak, sorrow, joy, and love, can the sisters of the Traveling Pants make this summer as special as any other?

Chew On This

Eric Schlosser, author of the bestselling adult's book Fast Food Nation has produced an interesting yet real nonfiction book for children warning them about the real stuff that's in fast food. The title of this story is Chew On This. Schlosser's story will tell you everything you need to know about the fast food meal that's sitting on your tray-from what's coloring your candy and soda that bright pink or what's really in that juicy hamburger and soft white bun. Schlosser colorfully describes the dangers of eating unhealthily in descriptive and enticing words. Chew On This has collected rave reviews from many well-known newspapers, magazines, and fellow authors. Chew On This is a nonfiction must-read for kids filled with things you want to-and don't want to-know about that meal sitting on your tray in McDonald's. 

SUBMITTED BY ANGELA RAMSEY

LBD: Live and Fabulous!

The LBD (Les Bambinos Dangereuses, or Ronnie Ripperton, Claude Cassiera, and Fleur Swan) can't believe their luck. They were planning on having just an ordinary summer -- but that was before ultra-famous rock star & music god Spike Saunders sent this terrific trio (free!) tickets to the hottest event of the summer-the Astlebury Music Festival. That's right. A whole 3 days of partying, sleeping in cozy tents under the stars with your best friends, guys, fab music from all the greatest bands, funky shops, henna tattoos, and much, much more. But what the LBD didn't expect was getting their well-planned attire ruined by mud and rain galore, gross bathrooms and showers, having the chance to help the best-known rock star ever, and having one of the LBD herself get lost.....for good? Can the LBD manage to make their latest adventure as fab as ever? This second book in the LBD series by Grace Dent is fantastic. You'll want to keep reading Live and Fabulous until the very last page!

Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior

Wendy Wu (Brenda Song) is a normal California girl with a strong desire to be her school's Homecoming Queen. What Wendy doesn't know is that she's chosen to be a Yen warrior-protecting destiny from a strong evil force. Wendy is shocked when the news arrives by Shen, a supposed Chinese monk come to protect and train her for battle against the evil. But Wendy is doubtful the whole time. Why her? Why couldn't somebody else do it? But evil is rising, and before she knows it, it might take everything Wendy knows and loves....Can Wendy become a strong warrior to defeat the evil forces? Or will the evil take over? And can Wendy defeat her nemesis Jessica on Homecoming and become even more popular? This sweet and exciting Disney film is great for those who enjoy Disney's High School Musical and hit TV series Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. 

Rated PG

The Wish

Gail Carson Levine, award-winning author of Ella Enchanted has also written a fabulously fun book for middle-grade readers, titled The Wish. In this sweet story, an ordinary subway ride is turned into a fabulous beginning for Wilma. When she gives up her seat for an elderly lady, the woman supposedly promises to grant Wilma a wish--any wish/ So Wilma wishes to have her lifelong dream-to be the most popular kid at her school, Claverford Junior High. But Wilma forgets that she's graduating in 3 weeks-and by then her wish--and popularity- will be worn off.  And Wilma's already made great friends in Nina, Daphne, Ardis and BeeBee-the most popular girls at school! Can Wilma save her popularity? Or will she have ti give up her fabulous new reputation? Although this is a great novel about being happy who you ready are, Bookworm found that the author was trying to hard to appeal to girls who are worried about their popularity. There are already enough books about this! 

Fairest

Fairest, by Gail Carson Levine, is a fabulous fantasy story that takes place in the time period of Carson Levine's first book, Ella Enchanted. Aza, an Ayorthaian maiden is chosen to be the vain and evil Queen Ivi's lady-in-waiting. This fair mistress soon becomes involved in a web of lies which include a beauty potion and a magical but very scary mirror. Will Aza's mysteriously beautiful gift of song be used against her in this thrilling fairy tale? Fans of the very successful Ella Enchanted will adore Gail Carson Levine's most recent book.

An Insanely Awesome Interview With Barbara Dee

Hey, readers!

If you just LOVED Barbara Dee's fabulous book "Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life", you'll absolutely love our new Feature of the Week: an exclusive interview with the author herself! She'd love to hear from all of her readers, so be sure to check out the email adress she's provided you with. Our interview's got all the juicy stuff: new books sneak peeks, suggestions, and a bunch of the inside scoop behind the novel! Just simply click on "JANDIMIRL"'s post--and then you're exposed to all the inside details! Enjoy!

~~BOOKWORM~~

Just Another Day In My Insanely Real Life

With Cassie Baldwin's father "out of the picture", and her mother constantly working, Cassie feels like she's responsible for her little brother's needs. On top of that, Cassie's bossy older sister is constantly forgetting to go grocery shopping, instead hanging out with friends after school. Plus, Cassie's grouchy, evil English teacher hates her, and a boy from school is sending her mixed signals. And, finally, Cassie's writing her own novel! Can sassy, spunky, and funny Cassie sort out her totally insane life before she goes nuts? Barbara Dee has created a fun and quirky novel that readers ages 9-12 will love!

The Bridesmaid

After years of watching mothers-of-the-brides throw temper tantrums, seeing brides have freakouts over mini-quiches, and viewing rowdy wedding guests throw plates at each other, Abigail Lynn Beaumont wants nothing to do with the family wedding-planning business at her home, the Dove's Roost Chateau. Besides, she'd rather be on the soccer field or goofing off with Noah, the cute and funny son of a well-known baker. But then Abby's normal sister Carol announces that she's getting married, and Abby is shocked. Carol's gone mad, especially since she and Abby swore that they'd never get caught up in wedding craziness. Will Abby go nuts too? Her parents already have....Will Carol turn into a Bridezilla? Will she really walk down the aisle? Can Abby figure out everything (including her relationship with Noah) so that Carol can have the wedding of her dreams? Or will it drive them all crazy in the process? Written by Hailey Abbott, The Bridesmaid is a fun and sweet story that girls in grades 7-9 will love!

Meet Heather Vogel Frederick!

Hello readers!

This month (January) we are blessed with a guest message from no other than....drumroll please.....Heather Vogel Frederick, author of the awesome book The Mother-Daughter Book Club. Please check out this wonderful author's comment under TMDBC's post-- it's in the November of 2007 section! There's a sneak peek of her sequel to TMDBC, "Chapter Two",  and a whole bunch of other cool info. Happy reading!

~~Bookworm~~

Interview with Lesley MM Blume

Hi readers! This month I have conducted a short interview with Lesley MM Blume, author of Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters, The Rising Star of Rusty Nail, and the brand-new release Tennyson (review coming soon!). To view this interview, simply click on "Rusty Nail" or "Cornelia"'s posts and the interview will pop up under "comments". We hope you enjoy it! Thanks, Lesley!

Happy Reading,

Bookworm

13 Going on 30

13 year old Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner) wishes she were popular and sophisticated. So on her 13th birthday, she wishes to be a fabulous, flirty, thirty years old. But the next morning she wakes up exactly that-30 years old and with a job and a futuristic life! Now she's gorgeous, famous, and the editor of a well-known fashion magazine! But soon Jenna discovers that sometimes being grown up isn't as fun and fabulous as it seems. For example, she learns that shortly after her 13th birthday, she ditched her best friend for the popular crowd, and no longer has his faithful shoulder to cry on. Can Jenna fix her future before it's too late to change her new 30-year-old ways forever? The wonderful 5 star movie appeals to the kid in everyone, and that it's never too late to fix a bad reputation and fix terrible mistakes from the past. Jennifer Garner is excellent in this sweet flick. Rated PG-13. 

Lucky T

Carrie Fitzgerald has it all: good grades, perfect friends, a cute boyfriend, and a rare spot on her high school's varsity basketball team. But then Carrie's luck (which there is a lot of) takes a change for the worse. Much worse. Carrie's boyfriend dumps her, her best friend Piper is mad at her, she flunks her biology test, her pet fish dies, and it seems like she's constantly grouchy these days. And Carrie knows why her luck is so rotten- her mother has donated Carrie's lucky T-shirt, the one from her divorced father, to Help India. And that one shirt that was her source of fortune is now across the world. So Carrie does the unthinkable. That's right. This once-lucky girl sets off for India to track down her lucky shirt and get her good fortune back once and for all. But Carrie will discover more than clothing in India: while working at a local children's shelter, this privileged American girl finds romance, adventure, and learns how lucky (T shirt or no T shirt) she truly is. 

   Kate Brian has created a beautiful and fun story that young readers will love forever and ever.

Ella Enchanted

Ella of Frell (Anne Hathaway) was given a horrible gift when she was born by the fairy Lucinda: the gift of obedience. It might not sound bad, but if you give one command (such as, "Ella, eat your spinach"), she will do so until you tell her to stop. So when her two evil new stepsisters, Hattie and Olive, start using it to hurt her, Ella embarks on a quest to find Lucinda and free herself of this curse once and for all! But along the way, Ella encounters ogres, giants, dwarves, evil kings, and falls in love....Will it be a happily-ever-after for this adventurous princess? Although this fun-filled and vivacious movie will satisfy its viewers, Bookworm strongly recommends reading Gail Carson Levine's book Ella Enchanted before watching the movie that was inspired from it. Readers and fans of Ella will find that the movie hardly compares itself to the bestselling novel.

Rated PG.

The Clique: The Pretty Committee Strikes Back

Massie, Claire, Alicia, and Dylan (as well as the rest of their class at OCD) are headed to Lake Placid, NY, for three days filled with orienteering, surviving the wild, and....Briarwood boys? All of the girls are more than excited to spend quality time with their crushes. And then Massie sets up MUCK, or Massie's Underground Clinic for Kissing, even though she has no boy experience whatsoever! Will she lose her position as queen bee if the girls find out she's a fake? And will she get to kiss Derrington, finally? Meanwhile, Kristen is stuck at home because her parents refuse to pay the hefty amount for her to go on the trip. But she just might find a way to make it work..... And Dylan's sick to her stomach after seeing her mother flirt with their woodsy geography teacher. Plus, she's got the whole camera crew at the camping trip! Alicia and her new friend Olivia are trying to scout out who Josh, Alicia's crush, really likes, but if it's not her, will Alicia be heartbroken? Meanwhile, Claire has gotten an awful new bangs trim, but she doesn't care now. Cam seems to have dumped her, and Claire's afraid their done. And without a kiss, too! Can these girls make their weekend in the woods work out? Or will they b on a bus back to Westchester before they can say "pucker up"?

Recommended for grades 7-9.

SUBMITTED BY JESSICA PARKER

Mary Margaret Meets Her Match

Mary Margaret and her family are off for a fun-filled vacation of riding and relaxing at a dude ranch! Mary Margaret instantly loves horses, and spends the rest of her time at the ranch trying to prove to Kansas, the tough older girl who teaches, that she is a real rider and is ready to get out of the kiddie corral! Can Mary Margaret prove to Kansas that she can truly ride? Or will Mary Margaret just end up getting hurt-or worse, for this chatterbox-ignored? Author Christine Kole Maclean has created a funny and sweet story that will be favorites of kids ages 8-10!

Mary Margaret and the Perfect Pet Plan

Mary Margaret is desperate for a pet. But, unfortunate for her, her father is allergic to all types of furry creatures, and her pregnant mother just wants peace and quiet for once. But this creative girl might just come up with a brilliant scheme to get the pet that she wants.....It'll take a lot of determination, a good idea, and lots of Number Two Totes! Readers of Katy Kelly's "Lucy Rose" books will adore Mary Margaret's witty sense of humor. Recommended for 3-6 graders.

High Fashion

Olivia Bourne-Cecil, a British blueblood and society girl is used to living the high life. So when she moves to the Big Apple-yes, New York City itself-she has a lot to learn. First of all, she has to share a loft in SoHo with five other girls. And to top that off, she has to make her own bed, do her own laundry, cook her own food, and wash her own dishes. So it's time to get independent.  But then Liv's wealthy parents start intervening in her love life, and things get out of control..... It's time for Liv to be her own person, now. Can Liv work out her life before the end of the summer? Will she be flying home to England before she can say "No"? Will Liv reveal too much of her personal life to her crush? And, more importantly, can Liv come up with a brilliant article for Flirt in a short period of time?

This third book of the fabulous Flirt series is just as wonderful as the first two! 

Shrek the Third

Things are busy in Far, Far, Away in this third of the popular Shrek movies. This time, the animated ogre is out to find one thing: the second heir to the throne of Far, Far, Away after Shrek's ogre wife Fiona's king father dies. But the evil, scheming Charming has other plans: take over the kingdom forever and do away with Shrek once and for all! Plus, Shrek is going to be a father, and he's totally unprepared! Can Shrek, Fiona and their friends save the kingdom and have a happily-ever-after?

Rated PG.

SUBMITTED BY ROSIE HARTNETT