Farmington, MA in the 1850's

Barker, M.P. (2008) A Difficult Boy.  (Gr. 5-8)

Children in the United States today aren't bound as servants when their parents owe too much money, but indentured servants were an important factor in how this country was colonized and developed.  In this fictional account of 19th century Massachusetts, Ethan's father, a farmer who is better at planting than at managing his finances, sends his 9-year-old son to work off their debts to the family's creditor, a local storeowner and respected business man. The other bound servant, an Irish boy several years older than Ethan, is a victim of the storekeeper's violent discipline. Ethan, who sees beyond the rude stereotypes that the other farm workers have against the Irish, befriends the older boy and slowly pieces together their master's unknown dark side.


This is a fine work of historical fiction with strong characters, a well developed setting, and a plot that reveals ethnic discrimation, struggles with poverty, and small-town social classes of rural Massachusetts more than a century ago.

Love and friendship in the Bayou

Appelt, Kathi (2008). The Underneath. 313 pages. Grades 4-8.


Deep in the Bayou, three very different characters are led down paths that bring them together. An abandoned cat about to have kittens is taken in by a neglected hound who lives in the Underneath, which is under his owner's home. His owner, Gar Face, fled from his abusive and alcholic father years ago and is now obsessed with capturing the largest alligator in the bayou. Then there is Grandmother Moccassin, a shape-shifting serpent who has been asleep in a jar for the last thousand years and is ready to seek her revenge. The turn of events in the characters' lives plays an important role in the underlying message--sometimes all you need is love and friendship.

Get into the Halloween Spirit...

Irving, Washington (2007). The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Grades 4-8.

Irving's story of Ichabod Crane, a schoolmaster who falls in love with the farmer's girl and has an encounter with the headless horseman is newly illustrated by Gris Grimly. This rendition of Sleepy Hollow will leave you feeling spooked! The story is presented in a graphic novel format, with the illustrations complementing the original text.

Creative look at book making for children

Pietromarchi, Sophie Benini (2007). The Book Book: A Journey into Bookmaking. 131 pages. Grades 4-8.


In this book, Pietromarchi takes the reader on a journey in book making. She provides tips on finding everyday materials for illustrations, such as pencil shavings, beginning a story, and making different types of books. In each chapter, readers will find quirky illustrations and simple, but creative, ideas about book making. Children who enjoy writing or illustrating will find this book inspiring and can use it as a springboard for their own creative outlets.

The Penderwicks are back!

Birdsall, Jeanne (2008). The Penderwicks on Gardam Street. 308 pages. Grades 4-8.

Jane, Skye, Rosalind, Batty, and hound, of course, are back in the sequel to The Penderwicks! When Aunt Claire arrives with a letter for their father written before their mother passed away, the girls are not happy to learn that their mother intended for their father to start dating.

They immediately hold an emergency meeting in which they plan to sabatoge the dating effort by finding the worst possible dates for their dad. But, when they meet their next door neighbor, Iantha, one of the Penderwicks imagines what it would be like to have her as a mother. In addition to the "Save the Daddy" plan, Skye and Jane switch homework assignments and suffer the consequences, albeit mostly humorous ones. Join the Penderwicks in this laugh out-loud sequel and find out if they manage to deter their father from dating or if they're in for a surprise.

Looking for a new adventure book?

Flanagan, John. The Ruins of Gorlan. (Ranger's Apprentice, bk. 1) 249 pages. (Grades 4-8)

Will has always wanted to be a knight, but when the time comes for him to be chosen as an apprentice, he is chosen by the Ranger instead of the Battleschool. At first Will is upset with this position, but overtime he realizes that this may be his true calling. Being a Ranger's apprentice is no easy task and when the kingdom is attacked by horrible beasts, Will and the Ranger work together to defeat them.

LaFevers, R.L. (2007). Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. 344 pages. Grades 4-8.

This is an exciting read for anyone who loves historical fiction, mystery, and adventure all rolled into one! Theodosia is a precocious and very intelligent young girl who lives in London at the turn of the 20th century. Her father is the head curator at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London and her mother is an archaeologist who travels the world looking for interesting artifacts. Theodosia practically lives at the museum and she is the only one who can sense the curses and black magic that are attached to the numerous artificats brought to the museum. She uses Egyptian magic, which she learned from ancient books, to remove the curses and to protect her parents.

When Theo's mother returns with her latest find, the Heart of Egypt, Theo discovers that this amulet has one of the worst curses that she has ever faced. It is so evil that it can destroy the entire British Empire! Follow Theo on her adventure through London and Egypt as she uses all of her knowledge and skills to prevent the amulet from releasing chaos into her world.