Beastologist: The Flight of the Phoenix by R.L. LaFevers

Nate Fludd is a 10-year-old orphan whose parents perished in an airship accident in the Arctic. Sent to live with his adventurous Aunt Phil, Nate learns that he comes from a line of beastologists. His family has studied supposedly mythical creatues such as basilisks and gremlins for generations. Shortly after arriving he and Aunt Phil embark on a trip to Arabia to witness the birth of a new Phoenix. Featuring strong character development and high adventure this new series would be perfect for third and fourth graders who like fantasy mixed with danger. Book two is The Basilisk's Lair.

It’s THE UGLY TRUTH

It’s THE UGLY TRUTH

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper 304 pgs.

Wonderful first person narrative about Melody Brooks, an 11 year old wheelchair-bound girl, who hasn’t spoken or walked due to cerebral palsy, yet tells the reader about her full life in school: best friend Rose, new little sister, Penny, and dear Mrs. Valencia who cares enough to help Melody learn how to communicate with others. Excellent character development, realistic daily care of special needs children and the prejudices society has toward disabled people. I LOVE that you never feel sorry for Melody and readers can “hear” Melody’s smart and confident voice through her own words.

A Ratings Website

I just discovered this website that rates adult fiction, non-fiction and young adult novels. The administrator of the site is a book reviewer for a newspaper. There aren't a ton of ratings so far, but there are quite a few young adult novels listed. It might be a good resource to use when a parent (or kid) is looking for clean reads.

Amazon's Best Books of 2010... So Far

Here is the list of Amazon's Best Children's Books.

Intriguing Discussion

Shannon Hale invited several young adult authors to discuss the topic of how sex is portrayed in young adult novels. What do you think?

Gay young adult fiction hits the mainstream

Gay young adult fiction hits the mainstream