Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Summary:  12-year-old Gladys Gatsby has recently launched her career as a restaurant reviewer by publishing a successful review in the New York Standard.  She’s deep into her second assignment when her friend Charissa surprises her with a birthday gift: a whole summer free at Charissa’s family’s day camp.  Gladys is crushed, having planned to spend her summer cooking and writing.  But her parents insist, and off Gladys goes to the unpleasant world of swimming, arts and crafts, and archery.  She fails her swimming test and has to put up with a snobby boy celebrity who’s also at camp against his will.  Things start to look up a bit when she is assigned the morning task of helping the camp cook, and inadvertently winds up remaking the menu.  Meanwhile, her editor has asked her to find the best hot dog in New York City.  The deadline is looming, and Gladys is stuck at camp every day.  Is her career as a restaurant reviewer doomed?  Grades 3-6.

Pros:  With its fun cast of characters and lighthearted but engaging plot, this is a perfect beach read for a hot summer’s day.

Cons:  There were quite a few references to the first book, All Four Stars, so it’s probably better to start with that one.

Published by Disney-Hyperion

Summary:  Wyatt’s on his way from Miami to Washington, DC for an eighth-grade-class trip when his friend Matt notices some strange behavior from a couple of guys on the plane.  Thinking he may be intercepting a terrorist attack, Matt grabs one of their backpacks and manages to steal a dangerous-looking device from it.  This gets both Matt and Wyatt in a heap of trouble from their teachers, and it also makes them the target of the two men who proceed to chase them through DC, trying to get their device back.  Before long, Victor, Cameron, and Wyatt’s crush, Suzana, have found out what’s going on.  When the two men take Matt hostage, the adventures really begin, and don’t end until Wyatt has flown into the White House on the inside of a dragon kite.  Grades 4-7.

Pros:  I knew this would be a light, funny story from humorist Dave Barry, but I didn’t expect it to actually have an exciting plot.  Wyatt’s voice is perfect for narrating this middle school tale, and readers will enjoy the humor and adventure.

Cons:  I found the humor more of a chuckle than laugh-out-loud.

Published by Philomel Books

Summary:  Trent is about to start sixth grade, but he can’t get past an event that happened to him six months previously: while playing hockey, he a puck off his stick hit a boy in the chest, killing him.  The boy had an undiagnosed heart condition, but Trent is burdened by the guilt that he killed someone.  His guilt manifests itself as anger, at his divorced parents, his new stepmother, his teachers, and his classmates.  His only friend is Fallon, a girl with a scar slashed across her entire face.  As the school year progresses, Trent grows increasingly convinced that he is unlovable and worthless, and his behavior starts to escalate out of control.  But Fallon and a few understanding adults in his life refuse to give up on him, and he begins to understand that others around him are dealing with difficult emotions as well. Grades 4-7

Pros:  Mature elementary school students will find Trent’s story compelling.  All the characters are realistically drawn and sympathetic in their own individual ways.  Discussing this book could help readers understand that behavior is not always an accurate reflection of a person’s character, and that sometimes those who seem most unlikeable are the ones who need the most compassion.

Cons:  There’s a little PG language.

Published by Scholastic Press

Summary:  Since her mother died suddenly two years ago, Lily has had far too much responsibility for her four-year-old autistic half-brother, Adam.  Her stepfather, Don, is a doctor and is overwhelmed by responsibility as well, causing him to make unreasonable demands upon Lily.  When the family discovers a dolphin at the local aquarium that seems to help Adam, Don is determined to keep the dolphin in captivity.  Lily and her new friend Zoe, who is blind, realize that the dolphin belongs in the wild.  Will Lily be able to speak up for what is right for the dolphin, even if it may mean hurting Adam?

Pros:  Fans of Cynthia Lord’s books, particularly Rules, will enjoy this book which looks at how a child with autism affects the whole family.  The dolphin story will appeal to animal lovers.

Cons:  The message that keeping dolphins in captivity is evil was hammered home a little too thoroughly.

 Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  12-year-old Sophie’s family has recently moved to the farm her father inherited from his Uncle Jim.  Her dad is recently unemployed and her mom is a freelance writer trying to pay the bills, so Sophie is left to her own devices to explore the farm.  She discovers a mysterious and unusual chicken named Henrietta living on the property, and soon a few more supernatural chickens show up, along with a potential chicken thief.  Sophie embarks on a correspondence with a mysterious woman named Agnes who supposedly runs Redwood Farm Supply, and who offers Sophie encouragement and chicken advice.  Told entirely in letters to Great Uncle Jim, Agnes,  and her deceased grandmother, the story follows Sophie as she figures out both the chickens and the humans in her new community.  Ages 8-12.

Pros:  Sophie is a likeable character, and the chickens with supernatural powers add an interesting element to the story.  The plentiful illustrations, quizzes, chicken manual excerpts, and other documents are a nice addition to Sophie’s letters.

Cons:  Although this book has gotten great reviews, I had a tough time getting through it. The story didn’t grab me, and I’m just not that into chickens.