Fish in a Tree

By: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Ally hates school.  She is always in trouble, the kids don't like her, and she can't read.  But, 

not being able to read is a secret Ally hides very well.  Her mother and teachers keep telling her to try harder, but when Ally tries, the words seem to move around the page and it causes her terrible headaches.  After another trip to the principal, Ally is moved to a different classroom.  She is surprised when her new teacher, Mr. Daniels, doesn't force her to read or write the way other teachers have.  Instead, he give her choices and support and begins to earn her trust.

Mrs. Senechal says:
The author does an amazing job of describing what a struggling student can be thinking and feeling.  The author also creates a great group of classmates with many different strengths, weaknesses, and personalities - just like in a real classroom.  As a teacher, I loved reading this book - Mr. Daniels is my hero!  I think this is a book all students should read!

Schooled

By: Gordon Korman

Capricorn "Cap" Anderson has lived with his grandmother, Rain, on a community farm.

 But, when Rain falls, breaking her hip, Cap is forced to live with a foster family during her recovery.  This also requires him to attend the public middle school - up until this point, Cap had been homeschooled.  It is not the academics that cause him trouble, it's the students.  Cap doesn't know anything about football, dances, or popularity.  His fellow 8th grade classmates think Cap will make the perfect, ridiculous class president, and they are completely surprised how it turns out.

Mrs. Senechal says:

I have attended private and public schools and was even homeschooled for one year.  All forms of education have their advantages, but the transition between them can be challenging.  I loved seeing Cap's innocence in so many areas - it makes me wish that no student would have to worry about popularity or bullies.  I also appreciate how Cap sticks to his beliefs and shows how honesty, patience, and kindness can change the culture around you! 

Loot

By: Jude Watson

March was raised by his father, Alfie, a master thief.  While trying to complete a heist his

dad falls to his death.  He has a few words for March, and it's over.  March is amazed to find out he has a twin sister!  Even more amazing, they realize their dad has left them clues to a treasure worth millions.  But, they quickly find that Alfie's former partner, their mom's sister, and a TV reporter are all after the treasure as well!


Mrs. Senechal says:
I love a story where the usual bad guys, in this case thieves, are actually the good guys!  The author creates unique and interesting characters and keeps the suspense high.  There were many unexpected twists and turns throughout the story.  Watson is one of the authors of The 39 Clues series, and this book was just as exciting!

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis

By: Barbara O'Connor

Popeye lives in a small town in South Carolina, and it is boring.  But after a long rain,

Popeye finds an RV stuck in the mud on the street by his house.  He meets Elvis who lives in the RV with his family - finally something interesting!  But, when the two boys go on a "small adventure" and find someone floating boats down the river, then they have a mystery to solve!

Mrs. Senechal says:
Every single character in this book is very unique.  The author does a great job of creating a whole story full of unexpected characters.  This is a fun summer story and may even give you a few ideas on having a "small adventure" of your own.

About Average

By: Andrew Clements

Jordan feels average in everything - not tallest or shortest, not fastest or slowest, not the

best or worst student - she usually gets C's on her report card.  But, Jordan wants to be great at something that matters!  When a girl at school picks on Jordan, it actually helps Jordan realize that she is a pretty good problem-solver.

Mrs. Senechal says:
This book is just over 100 pages, so it is a great book if you're looking for something shorter and easier to read.  The whole book actually tells the story of one day in Jordan's life, but the author uses her memories to help you get to know her and learn more about how she feels.  This story reminds us that God has given each of us special talents - even when we don't notice them ourselves!

Serafina's Promise

By: Ann E. Burg

Living a simple life in Haiti, Serafina dreams of becoming a doctor.  But she knows that she must first be able to go to school.  Her family does not have enough money to buy the school uniform, so Serafina decides to start a garden and sell the vegetables.  However, their home is swept away in a terrible flood.  The family relocates, starts again, and then an earthquake rocks the land.  Will Serafina's dream ever come true?

Mrs. Senechal says:
After two mission trips to Haiti, this book really touched my heart.  The author does an excellent job of describing the life that most people in Haiti must live - working hard just to survive.  However, the people of Haiti are also full of hope!  This book is written in verse which make it easy to read.  It also has words from Haitian Creole woven throughout the story.  This is a wonderful book - you will enjoy reading about life in another country.

The Lemonade War

By: Jacqueline Davies

Evan and his sister Jessie are only one year apart, and they usually enjoy doing things together over summer vacation. But this summer is different, Evan will be a fourth grader in August, and he just found out that the school has approved Jessie skipping third grade - so they'll be in the same class! Evan and Jessie are both nervous about this unusual situation. In the midst of an argument, the two decide to settle their differences by seeing who can earn the most money running a lemonade stand - the "lemonade war" begins.

Mrs. Senechal says:

The author did a terrific job of writing from both Jessie and Evan's point of view. Both kids certainly had things to be nervous about as they looked ahead to fourth grade. I also love all the creative thinking Jessie and Evan do to try to outsell the other. In the end, the kids both learn a lot about themselves and how important they are to each other - and how to sell a lot of lemonade! This is a very enjoyable book!