I thought this was a good book because it taught people history, while telling a fictional story.  I would recommend it for ages 8-12.

The most distinguished qualities of the book are:

Plot/style- The author took a little chip of history and made it into a whole story with a very exciting plot. How he wove history together with the fictional part of the story is the best quality of this book

Characterization- The author combined the characters in the story so well you could not tell the difference between the fictional characters and historical figures

Setting-I felt like I was a little fly on Nathan’s shoulder and could see all that was around him.

This book would be an especially good choice for anybody who is interested in or studying the American Revolution or likes machines and inventions.

- Scott

Bird Springs
by Carol Marsden

This book is about a 5th grade boy named Gregory who moved from a Navajo
reservation called Bird Springs to Tucson, Arizona.  Gregory and his mom and baby
sister moved because there wasn’t any water at Bird Springs due to a 2 year long
drought.  His father sold his sheep and went away and hasn’t returned.  Now
Gregory is trying to make new friends at a new school and to deal with his
feelings and problems created by his situation at home.

The characterization, setting and theme made this a distinguished book,

 The characters are all believable and likable, even Gregory's imaginary
friend Joey. I wanted to be Gregory’s friend. I felt sorry for him and wanted to
help him, but I also admired him because he was strong, brave and good. Ms.
Madsen based Gregory and his new friend Matt on two of her students. She must
have really liked them.

The description of the setting was excellent.  I could see every little
detail, for instance when the boys went into the sewers and the description of
Bird Springs made me wish I could take Gregory back there after the rains
returned, It also increased my desire to visit and explore Arizona where some of
my family live.

The themes of friendship, poverty, cultural identity, abandonment and abuse
are addressed in this short novel but in a way that that is understandable to a
young reader. the story also ends on a hopeful note.

I would recommend this book for 5th grade and up. It would also be a great
book to read in the classroom because of its short length and themes.

-Scott

The Daring Adventures of Penhaligon Brush
by S.Jones Rogan
This animal fairytale is about an orphaned fox, who along with his foster brother Bancroft, an intelligent badger, (his family had adopted Penhaligon) and other assorted animals band together to save a princess cat from Sir Derek.  But, Sir Derek and his evil Ferret mercenaries think otherwise.
       
I would recommend this book to 8-10 year old readers who like this genre.  It
also teaches ethics in a creative way.
-Scott


Edward's Eyes
by Patricia MacLachlan.

This book is distinguished because it describes the characters so well
that I was able to put people I know in my life into their places. It also
tells the setting very well.
-Kelsie

The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary
by Candace Fleming
It has a lot of detail and had a lot of things you should do and not do. I
liked this book. Mostly this book is set in school. This book is kind of
like Wayside School.
-Hannah

Ferret Island
by Richard Jennings

        14 year old William runs away to his grandmother’s house but instead ends up on an island inhabited by giant ferrets.  It takes a wild twist when he meets the
author Daschell Potts.  If you read this you should be prepared for a wild ride.
 The best features of this book are the unusual plot!
 I would recommend this book to 5th graders and up.
-Scott

Finding Stinko
by  Michael de Guzman

This book is about a 12 year boy whose Mom left him in a hotel on purpose
when he was a baby because she lived on the streets.  He gets sent to multiple
foster homes. He always gets sent to a different one because he always tries to
escape.  The final one he lands at is more like a military school or prison.
While he is there though, he for some reason, which even he does not know, he
stops talking.  One day he escapes and heads for the streets.  That night he
sleeps in a dumpster for shelter. He finds a mangled doll, actually a
ventriloquist’s dummy with no hands and discovers that it can talk but only when
Newboy ( that’s what he is called) moves the doll’s mouth.  He names the doll
Stinko. So he gets out of the dumpster and gets some food and starts trying to
live on his own.  The foster parents are outraged and they immediately start out
after him.  Will he ever be found? Who besides Stinko will he meet along the way
to help him to survive?
 This is one of the best books I have read this year and I would highly
recommend it to club members 5th grade and up. (Note: the subject matter, kids
living on the streets because they have been abused, might disturbing to some
readers, so check with your parents first).It is distinguished because of its
unique plot, wonderful characters and theme.
 When Newboy couldn’t talk, I felt as if I was in his head. Other times I felt
I was on the streets watching him, because the setting is so vividly described,
but the author never actually says exactly were they were.  He also never
describes what the characters look like and left you to imagine what they looked
like.  The only characteristics the author did describe were what would be an
advantage or disadvantage to them on the streets such as being a fast runner.
Newboy was fast, but pigeon toed, so he tripped a lot..  Mr. de Guzman didn’t
describe their race or color of their hair or eyes because that wasn’t very
important. We don’t really notice what homeless people look like and they life in
every city.
-Scott

First Light
by Rebecca Stead
The setting and characters were distinguished because they described everything. Every little move the characters made or every little detail in their faces…it was all there.
-Fiona

This book follows two characters, named Thea and Peter. Peter lives
in New York with his Mom and Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Solemn. Mr Solemn is a
Glaciologist, (someone who studies glaciers), and while usually he is a teacher at a university in New York, sometimes he goes off to the Arctic Circle for field work. One day, Peters Dad comes home from work and anounces that he is bringing the family with him on his next trip. The other main character, Thea, lives iin Greeland, but she lives under ground. Her people came from England, fleeing"witch-hunters" (some of them had speciall powers) They escaped under the ice in a cavern caused by a huge underground lake, and built a self-sustaning civilization. Thea lives weth her Aunt, Lana, (her mother,Mai, died) and her dog, Peg (everyone in Gracehope, the town Thea lives in, has a dog companion). Gracehope is running low on food and supplies, and Thea proposes to the town leaders to resurface and cross the lake overland, and thenmake another settlement underground, across the lake from the original. Her idea is rejected, so she decides to go to the surface by herself. There she meets
Peter.
First of all, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the plot, espesially the Global Warming awareness intertwined with it. It was totally original and unexpected I was under the impression that it was going in a totally different direction than it did. I thought the characters were beliveable, but not the underground village part of the setting. Besides beliveable, I also thought that the characters were likable. I thought that there was enough humor, but not enough to place it under comedy. I also liked how the book resolved itself. I feel that it was one of the most
distinguished books of the year, because of not one, but all of the different elements together.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a very enjoyable, if not quick, story.
-Brian

First Light is about two kids, Peter and Thea. Peter is a 12-year-old boy who's Mom is a genetic scientist and his Dad studies glaciers.Thea is a 14-year-old girl who lives in an underground civilization under Greenland called Gracehope.Her mother died when Thea was very young.Thea bravely ventures into the outside world with her cousin,Mattias,who falls into
the ice and becomes trapped.Peter's father takes his family to Greenland with himas he studies the  glaciers.Peter was on a hike when he finds Thea and the now-unconcious Mattias. He helps Thea rescue Mattias,and returns with Thea to Gracehope. The two become friends and discover many secrets about their pasts.
- MaryKate

First Light is a great book. It is about a girl named Thea who lived underground and a boy named Peter who lives in New York City. His dad studies global warming. The dad gets an invitation and takes the whole family to Greenland for his job.     First Light is a great book. The idea of someone living underground is very common, but the author makes everything seem origianl. A funny thing about the weather is that(at least aboveground) changes with the mood.The characters are well-developed, as is the setting and plot. First Light is very distinguised.
-Marisa

Greetings from Planet Earth
By Barbara Kerley

Greetings from Planet Earth is a book about a boy named Theodore. His father is MIA soldier in the Vietnam War. Theo’s science teacher assigns a project where each student makes a one minute recording and takes a picture symbolizing what they think is the best thing about Earth (this project was assigned because the Voyager spacecraft with the golden records were taking off soon). As Theo begins his search for the best thing on Earth, he learns more about his father from his Grandmother. His sister, Janet, brings him downtown (to Washington D.C.) to follow his Grandmother’s mysterious trips there every weekend (supposedly to get her hair cut) and they learn what she is doing. Will Theo ever find what it means to be human?

I would recommend this book for kids 11-14. The best thing about this book is how it follows Theo’s journey from his perspective and doesn’t reveal any clues to keep you at the edge of your seat!
-David

Houdini : the handcuff king
by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertuzzi

This book is a comic book about Harry Houdini. The writer does an excellent job
writing the introduction and explaining how much of a success story Harry Houdini
was. This was a great quick-read for ages 8-12. You can envision Houdini’s life
in the way the pictures are drawn and the sequence they are in.
- Scott

The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick

This story was very original. I would recommend it for ages 8 and up. I love the way the author used illustrations and writing to tell the story. It was exciting and very complicated. It was  great and I definetly recommend it for the Newbery award.

- Myles

I liked this book because it was a book that made you pay attention
to pictures. Usually a book might have a picture about the words, This one had
pictures instead of words. I also liked it because the characters were great.
Overall it a great written book. I highly recommend it.

- Lilah

This book is about a 12 year old boy whose father worked for a
museum in Paris in 1931.  His father found an amazing machine, automation.   For Hugo’s birthday he gave him a notebook with drawings of the machine, how it worked and the pieces you would need.  One night mysteriously there was a fire and Hugo’s father died.    Hugo went to live with his uncle who treated him very badly. His uncle worked in the train station and wound the clocks and was very poor.  He taught Hugo how to steal, which Hugo did not like to do, but had to sometimes, because they needed food.  One night Hugo’s uncle disappeared.  Hugo stayed in the house for three days winding the clocks, for fear the station master would put him in an orphanage, if the clocks were not wound.  Then he decided to run away. He just walked randomly in the city ending up at the remains of the museum. He decided take the automation machine, which was still intact. Then he realized he had no where to go, so he went back to the station with the machine.  Before Hugo’s father died, he also explained that the machine could write by itself. Hugo decided to put it back together, because he thinks it will answer all his problems and questions.  To do this he has to steal pieces from a toy booth.  One day he was caught and his notebook was taken away….

This is a truly distinguished book, better than anything I read last year for
Newbery Club. It is a very quick read. I couldn’t put down. I would recommend it for for 8 and up including adults.

Plot: Extremely complex, but not difficult to understand and follow. Not
predictable, I could not tell what was going to happen next.

Characterization: Every character had a distinct, well developed personality,
even the stationmaster.

Setting: Very easy to visualize in your head and I could tell were everything
was even though I have never been to Paris!

Style: Beyond unique!! The style will be a problem for the Newbery Committee,
because of the drawings. This is a 500 page long book with 284 amazing black and white drawings. You need the drawing to understand the story, as they are in place of words.

The technique of using drawings or illustrations instead of words, because
they tell the story better, is what makes the book so special and distinguished.

I hope the committee makes an exception and considers this book for the 2008
Newbery Metal.

- Scott

This book really is a unique experience to read. As Selznick intended, it comes across much like a movie, with the written words being the dialogue and the pictures the action sequences-- you just have to make the pictures change yourself. Also much like a good movie is how, once you start reading, it becomes difficult to tear your eyes away from this book. The mystery in the story, which could be called a "historical mystery" since it contains quite a lot of real history in it, is extremely well-crafted and is made all the more suspenseful by the pictures-- so beautiful that you want to spend five minutes studying each one, but so intriguing that you want to flip them as fast as you can!

If the Newbery committee will allow it, I believe this book should be eligible for the award. It is certainly unlike anything I've ever read, and everyone I've shown it to has agreed that is unique and distinguished.

- Darla

This book is about a 12 year old boy named Hugo Cabret who lives in a train station located in Paris. It takes place in 1931. His father used to work for a museum until he died in a fire.  Afterwards, Hugo was taken care of by his uncle who used to drink frequently and leave him alone to find his own food. Hugo’s uncle’s job was to take care of the clocks in the station.  After his uncle disappeared, Hugo continued to keep the clocks running using the knowledge his father had given him.  Nobody in the station knew his uncle was missing. Hugo lived off of what he could find or steal, because he did not know how to cash the checks that were left in the room, for his uncle by the Station Master.  One day, Hugo goes out to the old museum and looks at the remains.  He finds an amazing automaton that is designed to look like a miniature man sitting at a desk.  The automaton will write a message.  Hugo believes his father, who used to work on the automaton, has changed it to write a message to him.  Hugo believes this message will solve all his problems.  Hugo tries to fix the automaton by stealing parts from a toy maker who owns a shop in the station.  Hugo uses his father’s notebook which he had given to Hugo to fix the automaton.  In his quest to fix the automaton, Hugo is caught stealing by the shop owner and is forced to work for him.  The shop owner tells him that he won’t give the notebook back until he works off his dept.  Hugo becomes friends with the toy maker’s godchild and they try to fix the automation and discover the secrets that lie within.  I would recommend this book for children 8 and up.

Plot
The transitions from pictures to words are seamless.  This plot goes in chronological order and is somewhat suspenseful.  The book was so intriguing I couldn’t put it down and read it in two days.

Characterization
Great!  The author gives you an idea of Hugo’s appearance by the pictures.  The way his relationship with the shop owner changes is done very well.  At first Hugo hates the shop owner, but he soon becomes good friends with him.

Setting
This book is set in the train station in Paris, France and the surrounding area.  It is very easy to visualize.  The author shows you the setting in the pictures as well as words.

Style
Unique and amazing!  The author of this book replaced some of the words with  his own black and white drawings where he felt they could better describe the story.  The illustrations are highly detailed and the author does an exceptional  job of portraying the light in each drawing.  This allows the reader to easily find Hugo in an extremely crowded illustration.  The drawings are needed to understand the story so it may be difficult for this book to win the Newbery but, I hope the committee makes an exception for this unique book.

- David

Iron Thunder
Avi

Iron Thunder is about a family living in the Civil War times and they are very poor because Tom, the main character’s Dad was killed fighting for the Union.  Now Tom (age 13) has to take a role in helping his family along.  He used to run paper routes, but now he needs a bigger and better job.  His Mom folds clothes at the shipyard and the owner of the place tells Tom about a man who is planning to make an iron ship and that he would pay for small boys like Tom.  Tom is sent to Captain Ericsson who is building the ship to be the inventor’s personal messenger.  In his fourth day on the job, while he is going home, he meets a confederate spy.  Tom won’t tell him anything.  Everyday Tom puts him off and one day the spy’s henchman tries to force Tom to tell him about the iron ship. Tom’s friend who he met building the iron ship and Tom’s best friend who is his age’s uncle, and a police officer come out of nowhere and they take the spy’s henchman away.   On the launching day, Tom is faced with a choice, stay and probably have the spy try to kill him, or go on the ship called the Monitor and fight against the Merrimac and have his family be sad and maybe have the same fate as his father. Read this great book and find out what happens to Tom and learn about this fascinating part of history at the same time.
I would recommend this book to 5th graders and up, especially if they like historical fiction and are interested in the Civil War. It would also interest someone who likes machines, inventions and engineering.
This book is distinguished because the author does such a great job presenting the facts in such an accurate and interesting way. The way the fictional plot is blended with the historical facts is really excellent.  The point of view is first person, which makes the book seem even more realistic. The way Avi wrote and told the story of the Monitor and the Merrimac was so exciting, I couldn’t put the book down.  Also he succeeded in making a complicated event easy to understand.
- Scott

Lawn Boy
By Gary Paulsen
This book is about a 12 year old boy who needs money to fix his bike. His grandma gave him his grandfather’s old ride on lawnmower for his birthday, so he decides to start mowing lawns. One of his clients is a stockbroker named, Arnold, who helps to expand his business and invest his earnings in many things, even a prize fighter. This short, quick read is really humorous and a great summer book for 10 – 12 year olds. It is very different from the other Paulsen books I have read, most of which were historical fiction. I guess this shows what a talented writer Mr. Paulsen is.
-Scott

Lawn Boy is a book about a 12 year old boy’s summer. His grandmother gives him a lawn mower for his birthday. He begins mowing lawns, and soon he has a business going. He meats a young hippy named Arnold who is a stock broker. Soon Arnold is buying him stocks with his new found wealth. I would recommend this book for kids 10-12. The best part of this quick read is that the characters are well developed in an 84 page book! I also think that the fact that the book is written in first person really adds to the reading experience. Finally, it is extremely funny!!
-David

This book was a great showing of how to make a lot of money! Sure you start out small but you may wind up really, really big!! I loved all of the wonderful chapters in this book. I hope not only all of the members of the Newberry Club will read it but all of the children in our great town. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!!
-Jenn

Letters from a slave boy: The story of Joseph Jacobs
by Mary E. Lyons textarea:

This book is about a runaway slave, Joseph Jacobs, and his search for true freedom and his own identity.  What makes Letters…unique is the style. The story is told through letters, created and imagined by the author, after researching Joseph and his mother’s lives.  In this exciting historical fiction, through reading the “letters” you  travel with Joseph to Boston, California during the gold rush and lastly to Australia on a whaling ship and find that no place does he truly feel free. The author includes photos, further suggested reading and her thoughts on what might have happened to Joseph after her biographical research ends.  The book explores issues of race and prejudice and although it is set in the Civil War era, encompasses a much greater geographical area than just the North and South. Through Joseph’s travels he comes into contact with people of other races in different parts of the United States and beyond. Another interesting style technique Ms. Lyons uses is misspelling and pronunciation, vocabulary and grammatical errors of unschooled North Carolinians at the time, to make the letters seem realistic. She is a teacher and librarian. I would recommend for 5th grade and up.
-Scott


Loiusiana's Song
by Kerry Madden

In this sequel to Gentle’s Holler (2005), Livy 2, the narrator, and her 9 brothers and sisters, mother and grandmother are trying to deal financially and emotionally with the aftermath of their father’s terrible car crash, which has left him recovering from serious head injury and unable to work. Set in Appalachia in 1963, this second book, along with several other subplots, tells the story of Louise, the shy artistic sister, who turns out to be stronger than she appears. Although this book stands alone, it will be best appreciated by readers who already have grown to know and love Livy and her family. I found it not to be as complex and moving as Gentle’s Holler, but still very much enjoyed it. Although it doesn’t have the intensity of the first book, it has the same wonderful characters I have missed and the same great story telling. I would recommend this book for middle schoolers or as a special read aloud.
-Ellen

This book had a lot of family drama. It’s funny and an all out good book
-Caroline

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff
by Jason Lethcoe  

This book is about Benjamin, a miserable boy whose parents have died in an airplane crash and Ben was sent to an orphanage, whose owners make the children miserable.  When it is his birthday Benjamin wishes for unlimited wishes and follows all the correct rules.  Wishing with his eyes closed, every candle must be blown out in one breath (coughing, sputtering, or spitting the candles out doesn’t count).  The wish must never, ever be spoken out loud.   Wishworks is a company in a fairy world which makes the wishes. The wish is in a small globe that explodes if one of the rules is broken.  There is another factory like this except is the exact opposite it is the curseworks factory.  All curses usually don’t happen because there is a good wish to cancel them out.  With every wish Ben makes, it takes away one other person’s wish that has already come true.  The leader of curseworks captures the globe with Ben’s wish in it.  The leader wishes for curses to be stronger than anything wish.  This starts a war.  Will wishworks stop them or will the earth be overpowered with curses?  

These are some distinguished qualities of the book:  

Setting-You could picture how disgusting it was to clean the giant pots which Ben had to actually stand in to clean all the horrible food out.  

Plot- The battle didn’t happen too suddenly.  There was a big buildup and it didn’t proceed so fast that you couldn’t understand it.  

Characterization-Ben had a such a realistic personality, it was as he was one of my friends in real life.  

I would highly recommend this fantasy for boys and girls 8-11.  

- Scott

Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission
by Christopher Paul Curtis

Mr.Chickee’s Messy Mission is about three kids who are in a club called the Flint Future Detectives. When Russell’s (one of the kids) dog leaps through a mural into a world unknown, they discover a wall they can go through into a different world. Mr.Chickee is a man who travels back and forth between the two sides and knows the Flint Future Detectives. In the other world, he is their guide and tells the detectives what to do and why they are there. They have to save the world inside the picture because it is slowly dying. This book is for ages 9-12. I t is a great fun read if you like mysteries. Its main strength is the exciting plot. It is very sophisticated, but the reader can follow it and it really keeps you guessing! ease describe what makes this book distinguished.

- Scott

The Mysterious Benedict Society
by Trent Lee Stewart

This book is about a boy named Reynie, who is an orphan and sees an ad in the  newspaper for a test for gifted children looking for special opportunities.  He and three other children made it into the society.  The society was created an old gentleman, Mr. Benedict, who is a genius.  He has a twin brother who is an evil genius and wants to have global domination.   The evil twin, Mr. Curtain, is sending messages through peoples’ heads, so they think they are in danger.  Mr. Curtain set up a school, were he brainwashes grownups to fulfill certain jobs. The children are being brainwashed to help him with his scheme to take over the world.    The children selected for Mr. Benedict‘s society are set on a secret mission to spy on Mr. Curtain so his brother can figure out how to stop his evil brother. Will they succeed?
These are some of the distinguished qualities of the book:
Plot- The plot was very smooth flowing, yet at the same time it was intricate and complicated.
Characterization-Each character had a distinct and in depth personality, including the secondary characters.
Setting- As big as the school was you had basically a layout of the land in your head

This fantasy inspired by a chess riddle, would be enjoyed by girls and boys ages 10-13. I would highly recommend this to club members.

- Scott

The  book The Mysterious Benedict Society began with a very gifted orphan named Renard Muldoon (but everyone called him Reynie). He had found an ad in the newspaper that said “Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?” To access these opportunities he had to take a series of three tests. Reynie did excellently on all of them and in the end he met three other  children who also passed. The four children were introduced to the organizer of the tests, a genius named Mr. Benedict. He sent Reynie and his new friends on an adventure to stop an evil genius from taking over the world.

I greatly enjoyed this book and would give it a Four and three quarters out of five. One of the reasons I think this book is distinguished is that it is filled with solvable mysteries and problems.  I  like how the mysteries and problems are solved very cleverly. Another reason I think this book is  distinguished is that unlike other books I have read which only have one moral, this book has one for every main character, such as belive in yourself, find  another way, and be brave. Even though I like the book, I couldn’t really tell where the overall seting was. I personally have never read a book like this before and I really think it is very distinguished.

- Brian

This book definitely keeps you reading until the last page! The book has many surprises that are not revealed until the end. I liked that there was alot of adventure in the story and the author did a great job of mixing science fiction with reality. I often wondered if what was happening in the book could happen in real life.

The story involves four gifted children who are chosen for a secret mission to save the world. The author makes the children go through a deadly line of obstacles which makes the reader wonder if the children will really be able to complete their mission.
I think this will be a great book for kids who are thirsty for adventure books! We should definitely put this on our Newbery Award ballot!!

- Cameron

This is a book about a boy named Renie Muldon. He is about 12 years old and lives in an orphanage. He is extremely smart so, he has his own tutor. One day, Renie sees a newspaper advertisement asking gifted children to take a test. Renie takes multiple tests before passing. He makes friends with three other kids that took the tests, Kate Weatherhall, George Washington (Sticky for short), and Constance Contraire. All of them are orphans. They soon discover that they are on a mission to stop messages that are traveling into people’s heads unnoticed via TVs. This book is extremely suspenseful so make sure you have lots of time to read it! The author also did a great job describing the setting as well as the characters. I would recommend it for kids 10-14.
-David

This book is about four kids who are given a very special opportunity. They go on a very exciting journey filled with puzzles and adventure. Each character has a very distinct personality. This is a very complicated book that I would suggest for kids 8 and over. In terms of the Newbery, I would highly recommend this book for the award.
-Myles

This book was prodigious; I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. The character development was sublime. It brought me into a rich world of vivid detail. I have never heard of or read anything this stupendous and original. I would recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in discrete novels . If I had to describe this book in one word I would say...enthralling!!! This book was one of the most distinguished that I have ever
read. That is why I love this book.
-Anna

It shows a lot of insight and teaching. It is funny and very, very lively. I think it will win the Newbery.
-Kyle

The Night Tourist
by Katherine Marsh

I have just finished the book “The Night Tourist”. It is about a boy
named Jack Perdu who has an adventure in the New York version of the Greek
underworld.

Jack lives on the Yale University campus with his father William. Jack gets hit by a car (he was busy translating the Metamorphoses, a Latin book about Orpheus and Euridice) and is sent to see a doctor in New York City. On the way back home he meets his first friend, a girl named Euri, who wants to show him a secret door in Grand Central Station that was used by Teddy Roosevelt. He finds the door but also discovers that he’s wound up in the land of the dead!

This book is a serious page turner and I would recommend it for anyone who likes Greek myths and Sci-Fi.  Jack is exceedingly smart, and that kind of reminded me of Reinie in the Mysterious Benedict Society. However, unlike Reinie, at the beginning Jack is a very unemotional and unsocial character, but when he gets to know Euri he kind of opens up. This book has some really funny parts and like another book we’ve read, the Lightning Thief, it puts Greek myths into a modern environment. However, unlike the Lightning Thief where the characters actually encounter the myths, this book is more of a new spin on an old myth. It keeps you going with lots of twists and I really think that it deserves a sequel.
-Brian

The Night Tourist takes place in Manhatten.  It is about a boy named Jack who almost gets
killed in an accident and starts seeing people who don't appear alive.  His father sends him to a doctor and Jack discovers a golden subway token on a shelf in the office.  He then meets a girl who tells him to follow her and they go to the ninth floor of Grand Central Station.  There, he sees a person to whom he gives the subway token and then a bridge appears.  He crosses the bridge and begins his long adventure in the New York underworld with a new found friend
named Euri.  They encounter ghosts and many laws about a human visiting the underworld.
 I liked this book alot because of the way the author describes the adventures of Jack.  It kept my interest throughout the book until the last page.  I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book of adventure which also involves fantasy and a little mythology.
-Cameron

This is a great book.It's characters (Jack and a ghost named Euri) are people you get to know very well,like you've been with them as long as you could remember.It's setting is cyrstal clear and the plot is amazing.there are many twists and turns so you never know what is going to happen next.It is unlike any book I have ever read. It is very origanl and a spine tingiling
ending.It keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.Keep reading!
-Bailey

This book was one of my favorites.It pulls you in and won't let you out.It made me feel for the characters, It even made me cry once.I loved it! She should write a sequal.I never wanted to stop reading, Jack and Euri stay with you till the end.It also teaches you about New York City.I loved it!
-Shaw

This book is about a 14 year old boy named Jack. He lives with his dad at Yale, who is an archeology professor there. His Mom died 8 years ago when they were living in New York City. Jack is a classics student and very smart.  One day he is crossing the street while reading his book and he gets hit by a car.  He would’ve died but he was very lucky and wasn’t injured, however he starts seeing odd things, so his dad sends him to New York City to see a doctor.  When he returns to Grand Central Terminal, he joins a tour there, because he has some
extra time. He meets a kind of mysterious girl named Euri there, who offers to give him a tour of the 9th floor, and they end up in New York City’s underworld! This event changes his whole life.
            This book is distinguished because of its style, plot, setting, and theme. The story is a modern version of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice set entirely in New York City. The style combines mythology, fantasy, adventure as well including actual facts about New York City and its famous dead residents.  It is also a coming of age novel as Jack resolves a lot of issues in his life. The plot is fast moving, and suspenseful.  I could not stop reading it.  The setting is
fantastic.  Even though Jack visits many places the author describes all of them in depth.  It would be especially interesting if you lived or have been to New York. It would be very fun to go see some of the places Jack visited. The Night Tourist would appeal most to middle schoolers and young high schoolers because it deals with some high school issues.  4th and 5th graders who enjoy mythology or fantasy could also read this book but might not relate to some of the issues Jack and Euri have.
I can’t wait for a sequel.
-Scott

I have never read any book quite like this before. Although I was slightly depressed by the ending, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot
-Anna

No Talking
by Andrew Clements
I like this book because it is a very expressive book.
-Branden

On the Wings of Heroes
by Richard Peck

This historical fiction is by an award winning author, who won the Newbery for A Year Down Yonder. It is about a few years in the life of Davy Bowman during World War II. His brother Bill is in the Air Force flying B-17s. His dad fought and was injured in World War I. They are Davy’s heroes and he tries to be like them. It is also about how Davy had to live while the war was going on and how it causes him to grow up in a hurry. Additionally, it is about hope and family love.

In the beginning of the story, Davy is 11. I would recommend this book for 5th graders and up.

Plot- There is one main plot and several sub plots. The book is very well written because the author connects everything.

Characterization-Very realistic I felt like Davy could be my own friend in real life, because of his personality. I admired his bravery and kindness.

Setting-Extremely well done. I could visualize where he lived and how difficult it was for people on the home front during the War.

Point of View – First person. Davy is the narrator. This is successful, because the reader can sense his emotions.

- Scott

I must say that Richard Peck's On The Wings of Heroes took me by surprise by how good it was. The story begins as America entered WWII, and follows the young Davy Bowman as his world is turned upside-down by rations, bomb drills, and his brother joining the war. Peck went beyond historical fiction with this story; it is a coming-of-age story, as Davy is forced to grow up while the world of his childhood is warped by the war. It is also something of a study on family and society; the reader meets diverse families and learns how they live and why they live that way, whether it be Davy's happy, somewhat typical family, Miss Titus' unconventional set-up with her ancient mother, or the lonely Mr. Stonecypher and the losses he suffered. This book, particularly poignant given the fact that we are once again a country at war, is touching in so many ways that cannot be described accurately-- you must experience it for yourself. This book, for all of these reasons and many more, can definitely be called distinguished and is quite eligible for the Newbery Award.

- Darla

Once Upon a Crime
by Michael Buckley
It was so creative with all of the amazing characterization and the wicked
play. The whole book turns into a mystery beyond your wildest dreams.
-Anna





Raleigh's Page
By  Alan Armstrong

Raleigh’s Page is about a boy named Andrew who lives out in the country in England in the late fifteen hundreds.  The queen then was Queen Elizabeth the 1st.  Even though Andrew was a country boy, his dad grew up with Sir Walter Raleigh.  His dad and Walter Raleigh were great friends, until he went off to court and Andrew’s dad went to the country, then they did not see each other very much.  Andrew’s dad arranged for Andrew to become a page of Sir Walter Raleigh’s.  Andrew was delighted and they set off for Durham House the very next day.  Andrew hoped to go to America, but first he had to pass some very difficult tests and win Sir Raleigh’s favor. If he did not he would just be sent back home. Will he reach America and help start a colony or he will he not come up to the standards and be sent back home like many before him? This book is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. Three aspects which make this book distinguished are:

Characterization- There were many, many different characters, so many that at times I couldn’t remember all of them, but the author did a great job handling that many and making sure each character was well developed and unique.

Theme- The author did a wonderful job combining history with fiction. It seemed as if it could be real all throughout the book. The writing was also very creative while being realistic.

Setting-There were also many settings and they changed very rapidly. The author did a great job transitioning from place to place, so the reader could understand and follow the plot easily.   Mr. Armstrong didn’t just rush through developing the settings. He took his time and carefully developed each place, so you could see it in your head, for example, the transition from the ship to Roanoke.

I would recommend this book to for kids ages 10-12, especially if you like historical fiction.

- Scott



Reality Leak
by Joni Sensel

Reality Leak is the twisted story of a boy, a man, fillings and a little too much imagination. The characteriztion was wonderful. I loved how you felt for the characters as they were dragged off by an ape wearing a baseball cap; or when they were coughing up feathers and moths. This is one of the most original books I have ever read. The plot is quirkey and sinister I enjoyed turning each page wondering what would happen next in the A.C.M.E. section of I.I.I.I.I. This was a great read, it definanitely meets Newbery standards in my book. I would have a lot of trouble finding a fault in it. I would recommend this book for ages 10-13.

- Anna

The Revenge of the Shadow King
by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis

The Revenge of Shadow King is about a middle aged boy who goes on a wild adventure after finding a magical book. This book is a great read and i would recommend to kids of all ages.
-Myles





The Rising Star of Rusty Nail
by Lesle M.M. Blume
            This historical fiction set in 1953 is about a ten year old girl named Franny.  She lives in Rusty Nail, a small town in Minnesota that nobody cares about.  Because of this Franny is afraid she will never amount to anything.  She is a wonderful piano player and that is her obsession.  A senator comes to her town and they are going to put on a show.  She and Nancy, her rival, are the town’s best piano players and they are going to put on a show for the senator. Franny thinks if she plays well enough she might be taken to play for the President.  After they both play, the senator leaves abruptly and goes on her way.  Franny thinks her life is over and she lost her piano teacher has said she has taught her everything that she knows.  Then Olga a mysterious Russian that everyone thinks is a commie, plays the piano amazingly…..

This book is distinguished because of its characters, plot and setting.

Characterization-The characters are wonderfully described and you can feel how Franny feels when she has the worst Halloween costume as a ghost.  You can also see who Madame Malenkov feels when she is excluded because the author drops little hints.
Plot- It is very suspenseful even though it is a historical fiction it has many twists and turns that are very emotional for Franny and the reader Setting-You could picture the street that she lived on and when she was dropping water balloons down onto people.  It is very believable that it is in the 1950’s.  You could also picture the miniscule town of Rusty Nail

I would recommend this book for grades-4th-7th ,boys too, especially interesting if you know someone who plays the piano or do play the piano.
-Scott


Schooled
by: Gordon Korman

This book is about a 12 year old boy named Capricorn (Cap) Anderson. He lives alone on an abandoned commune with his hippy grandmother Rain. Rain falls out of a tree while picking plums and Cap drives her to the hospital. It turns out Rain has to stay at the hospital for two months, forcing Cap to temporarily live with a social worker and her 16 year old daughter and attend the local middle school (Claverage, known by the students as C Average, Middle School). Cap is elected eighth grade president, by a long tradition to elect the most hopeless student. Cap needs to learn how to lead a middle school life after living isolated, knowing nothing about the real world. The most distinguished aspect of this book is the point of view. Each chapter is alternately narrated by a different main character. This unique point of view allows the reader to appreciate and understand the characters’ emotions and actions and therefore appreciate the two other most distinctive aspects, the humor and message. This book is extremely funny! Additionally it has a wonderful message. Cap and Rain learn an important lesson about life in the 21st century and all the students at C Average learn a most valuable lesson from Cap. We recommend you read and find what they are. This book is for 5th graders and up.
-David –Scott -Ellen

Slam Dunk
by Sharon Robinson

Slam Dunk is about a new kid named Elijah who moved from the suburbs in Connecticut to Harlem. He moved there because his father died in a car crash 6 months ago, and his Mom was offered a job as an art teacher. Things were going well so far for Elijah and in the first month he got a new nickname, Jumper. At baseball camp though there was a kid named Marcus. Marcus really pushed Jumper around a lot because he wasn’t good at baseball. At his school there was an election for 6th grade representative and Jumper signed up to run for it. But, his friend Naomi signed up too and all the girls helped Naomi and all the boys helped Jumper. Jumper had Kelvin his best friend be his campaign manager and had his two other friends do other things. When Marcus gets kicked out of the private catholic school he goes to, Jumper thinks it will be impossible to juggle everything, but with his friends help he just might be able to do it. This quick read is a great model of a middle schooler’s life. Ages 10-12.
-Scott

Spells and Sleeping Bags
by Sarah Mlynowski

This teen book is very mature. This is chick lit. I loved the narrative style and the wonderful characterization
-Anna

Summer Ball
By Mike Lupica

This book is about Danny Walker who is thirteen, and his dad was a superstar basketball player. Two years ago when Danny was 11, he was cut from the travel team because he was so short, only 4”4’. His dad made a new team made up of players who had been cut unfairly. Also he took them to the championships. Danny is going to a camp this summer for only the best basketball players. After the first few days he is not sure he’s good enough or going to be ever tall enough to continue basketball in college. He also gets paired up with a grumpy old coach to try to win the championship at camp. Additionally, he wasn’t even registered properly and is put with an 11 year old kid. The 11 year old is almost exactly like Danny was when he was that age. The kid, who’s name is Zach, parents forced him to go to camp and Danny is trying to make his camp experience better. I recommend this book for kids 11-13.

The three main strong points of the book are:

Characterization-Danny and all of his friends have distinct personalities. They are realistic kids.

Plot- This book has a very flowing main plot. The author does a good job on the sub plots, which are very interesting, for example, the interaction of the bully and Danny and Zach. Mr. Lupica also puts them in at the right time so it does not interrupt the flow of the main plot.

Setting- Even though the camp was very big and complicated I could picture the whole set up of where everything was located and how things looked. I could also visualize all the parents and instructors cheering at the championship game.
-Scott

Talented Clementine
by Sara Pennypacker

I thought that the book was very entertaining. It was funny and very well described. Even though Clementine is a cute character her personality and style of thinking was way under-aged. I thought the plot endured hilarious moments. Over all I would recommend this book to kids and grown-ups ages 6-99. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
- Zoe

The Talented Clementine has all the charm and innocent humor of the first book in Sara Pennypacker's series. In Clementine's repeated attempts to find something she is good at for her school's talent show readers get a second helping of Clementine's mixed-up schemes and overall silliness. They will also see her grow and develop as a character, an aspect that helps this book to become more than just an extended plotline from the first. While it is certainly a
pleasant book to read, I do not feel that The Talented Clementine could be eligible for the Newbery Award; the plot line may be able to stand on its own, but I feel that the characters lose most of what depth they have without the elements of the first book. There are also a few plot points mentioned that would confuse those who had not read Clementine -- Moisturizer perhaps being the most amusing, and confusing to those who do not know what it is.

- Darla

The Titan's Curse
By  Rick Riordian

This is the third book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians
series.  Percy and his friends, including demigods Annabeth and Thalia, continue their quest to free the god Artimis and their battle with Lord Kronos. Like the previous books in the series, The Titan’s Curse is thrilling,action- packed and definitely funny!  I found it to be more confusing than the first two books, but even more exciting . I basically read it straight through. I couldn’t put it down! I would recommend this book to anyone who read and enjoyed the previous books in the series.

- Scott

The True Meaning of Smekday
 by Adam Rex

This book is about a girl in the future named Gratuity (Her mom thought it sounded nice). Earth is being invaded by aliens called the Boov. The Boov are relocating all humans in the U.S. to Florida. Gratuity goes on a quest to save her mother and in her travels she encounters a Boov who wants to help her. After a series of obstacles(one of which is a second alien invasion) the
pair ends up saving the human race. In this book, I thought the author could leave out the entire first chapter. Other than that, I thought that it was the weirdest book I had ever read, but not in a bad way. It was cute, and very humorous. I would give it a 3 and 1/2 out of 5. This book was very distinguished and I think that it does deserve to be considered for the Newbery.

- Brian

The True Meaning of Smek Day is a Book about a girl named Gratuity. It takes place in the future where Earth is being invaded by the Boov. Gratuity’s mom is kidnapped by the Boov to teach them English. The Boov decide they want all of the US to themselves and relocate everyone to Florida. Gratuity decides to drive to Florida instead of the Boov rocket pods. She meets a Boov called J. Lo and he modifies her car so it floats. Gratuity continues her search to find her mom with J. Lo and her cat. On the way, she discovers that even the Boov can be nice. I would recommend this Book for kids ages 8-12. It’s a great Book with a unique plot. The style is also very interesting because Gratuity was entering a time capsule contest and the Book is her essay. This Book is definately one of the most distinguished I’ve read and more members should read it.
-David

The True Meaning of Smekday is about a girl named Gratuity in the year 2013. Her Mom got a strange pimple that would flash red for a moment and then go back to normal. It kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Until on Christmas Eve. it was really big. That night Gratuity’s Mom was abducted by aliens and went into their ship. She was brainwashed and she taught the aliens (Boov) to speak English so they could take over the Earth. Other people were abducted too from other countries, so they could teach the Boov other languages. The Boov wanted to take over Earth because they thought that we needed help moving our civilization along modernly, so they landed on Earth and started to take over. All the humans in the United States were sent to Florida in rocket pods. Since Christmas, Gratuity had learned how to drive and was really good at it. She decided not to go in a rocket pod and instead go in her mom’s car. She was driving on the highway when she spotted a Boov signaling for her to stop. She didn’t want to because the Boov were evil. She kept going and the Boov shot a gun at her. It took a whole chunk out of her car without even making a sound. She survived, but then the road was broken. She jumped off with her car and landed at a supermarket. Her car was trashed. Then she met a good Boov named J.Lo. He fixed her car so that it flew. He also was an outlaw to the Boov, so he made friends with Gratuity and they both tried to get the Boov off the planet. But then the Gorg, another alien race, show up and they fight with the Boov. Then the humans try to pick who will rule them and they pick the Gorg, who were only pretending to be nice to all the humans, so they could smash them and use them as furniture. All Gorgs are cloned from one Gorg who was super strong and killed all the other Gorg. J.Lo says that the Gorg do not have a weakness, but Gratuity is determined to find one and exploit it.
I recommend this book for ages 10-13.

This book is distinguished because:
Plot- As you can guess it has an incredibly intricate, unique plot. I could not put the book down and read it in a single day. Characterization- All the main characters and secondary characters, humans and aliens were all distinctive and believable, even the aliens. Setting- Locations switched frequently, but I wasn’t confused as I could clearly picture them in my mind.
-Scott

It has a great theme and amazingly developed characters. When you read this book it feels like you are right in the story itself. It has a great plot and an amazing ending!
-Bailey

The Wednesday Wars
by Gary Schmidt

It is very original. It is about a Presbyterian boy. Half of his school is Jewish, half is Catholic. He has a pretty weird school year (problems even with cram puffs). I like this book.
-Hannah