Holes by Louis Sachar

Overweight and unlucky Stanley Yelnats IV is on his way to a juvenile detention camp for a crime he didn't even commit! As always, Stanley blames his "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather" who placed a curse on the family generations ago in their homeland of Latvia. Mr. Sir, a cantankerous camp counselor, promises life at Camp Green Lake is no Girl Scout camp and he is true to his word. Despite the name, Camp Green Lake is situated in a dry and inhospitable desert with no moisture for miles around. The campers are forced to do only one activity from morning to night: dig holes. Supposedly the task is set to build character. The reader may find that hard to believe as the book delves into the tale of Kissin' Kate Barlow, an outlaw from the 1800s who's buried treasure has yet to be discovered. None of this matters to Stanley when he arrives, he simply wants to make it through his sixteen month sentence. It matters much more when Stanley secretly uncovers the mystery of the treasure while he and his friend, Zero, fight for survival in the desert.

Holes ingeniously intertwines three stories. In addition to the story of Stanley and Kissin' Kate Barlow readers learn the secret of the Yelnats family curse from the story of Elya Yelnats, the"no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather". This book provides a splendid mixture of irony, humor, adventure, and wisdom that is sure to appeal to readers of varied ages and interests. I would recommend this book for readers 10 and over. It will especially appeal to people who enjoyed The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, Hoot by Carl Hiaasen, or Freak the Mighty by Rodman R. Philbrick. I would also heartily recommend seeing the movie after reading the book. Very few movies stay true to the content and mood of the books they're based on, but Holes is definitely an exception. With summer camp just around the corner, kids are sure to enjoy Holes. Stanley's adventures at Camp Green Lake are sure to make readers truly appreciate their own camp experiences!

Click here if you would like to place a hold on this book.

Click here if you would like to place a hold on the movie.

Miss Mollie

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is the winner of the 2010 Newbery Award. Set in New York in the late 1970s from the point of view of Miranda, a classic latchkey kid. When Miranda’s best friend, Sal, is beaten up by a strange boy on their walk home from school their friendship is destroyed for what seems like no good reason. Miranda is forced to widen her circle of friends and face all the usual complications involved in being a sixth grader. As if this weren't enough to deal with Miranda starts to receive a series unsettling and mysterious notes. Notes that only an omnipotent observer could write. The anonymous author promises "I am coming to save your friend's life and my own". Miranda must unravel the mystery of the penman, prepare for the impending danger, and help her mother prepare for a long-awaited stint on $20,000 Pyramid. Miranda’s fixation on Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time causes her to think about this problem in a whole new way as she ponders the possibility of time travel. At the end of the book Miranda comes away with a new empathy for others, a supportive group of friends, and a mind that is wide open to the most unlikely of possibilities.
This book will give children a feel for a different, more independent way of life in the big city. It's a gripping tale that is difficult to place in any particular genre. It’s a coming-of-age story with compelling elements of historical science fiction all wrapped around an overarching mystery. Because of the complex plot and themes it would be best appreciated by readers over 10 years of age. If you enjoy books like Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle, or From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg you are sure to love this award-winning novel.

Click here if you would like to place a hold on this book.

Miss Mollie