Reading In Action Bookcasts

The Wicked Big Toddlah Goes to New York

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:20:00 +0000

Toddie’s parents decide to take a trip to New York City. His Pa says that they should try to blend in. But how does a wicked big toddlah blend in when he towers over everyone? While they are sightseeing, he gets separated from his parents; a frightening experience for him, Ma and Pa. Like any young child he gets scared. Will his parents ever find him and be able to return to their home in Maine?

Zeitoun

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:56:08 +0000

Abdulrahman Zeitoun was a painting contractor in New Orleans at the time of hurricane Katrina. He had several jobs going at different houses and the opportunity to make some extra money boarding up houses against the storm when he sent his wife and children to higher ground to wait out the storm. Customers and family kept constant phone contact with him as he checked on houses and gathered up materials until the full impact of Katrina hit eliminating power to his house and sending him scurrying to plug up holes in the windows and the roof of his own house.

One Day and an Amazing Morning on Orange Street

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:49:56 +0000

Orange Street is named after the Valencia orange orchards that used to be grown in the area before houses and people came to live there. All that remains of the Valencia oranges is one lone tree in a vacant lot in the neighborhood. It’s sweet, tart fruit are a local treasure to the families in the neighborhood, especially Ali, Robert, Leandra, and Bunny who are planning to dream and play away their summer vacation under the tree until a mysterious stranger arrives. Old Ms. Snoops knows all about change, she has lived there almost as long as the orange tree.

Esparanza Rising

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:43:11 +0000

Esparanza is the cherished only child of a wealthy Mexican land owner. She is excitedly anticipating a lavish birthday party and serenade by her father when tragedy strikes and her father is killed by bandits while traveling. Greedy uncles steal away all of her father’s riches, leaving Esparanza and her mother no choice but to escape in the night, cross the border of Mexico into California, and work as migrant laborers in the fields. It is the Great Depression and opportunities are scarce. The work is hard and unfamiliar to Esparanza.

Karma

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:49:47 +0000

It’s 1984 and Jiva’s mother has just died. It is then that Jiva and her father, Bapu, travel to India, from their home in Canada, with Mata’s ashes. What they didn’t know was that their trip will coincide with one of the most catastrophic events in India’s history. Indira Ghandi is killed and riots abound New Delhi. Bapu is forced to leave and find help, leaving Jiva in the hotel to hide. She is safe until rioters set the hotel ablaze and she is forced to make decisions that will forever alter her life. Where will she go? How will she survive? Will she ever see Bapu again?

The Small Adventure of Popeye & Elvis

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:02:42 +0000

Nothing ever happens in Fayette, South Carolina. Poor Popeye is bored beyond being bored. All he hears is Velma listing the kings and queens of England and all he sees is the heart-shaped stain in the ceiling. That is until the Jewell family gets their shiny motor home stuck in the mud. Now, Popeye has a friend. His name is Elvis. Together they decide that they need an adventure; but not too big an adventure, just a small one. Thanks to an unlikely stranger, they find one. What is their adventure you ask? Well, you’ll just have to read the story to find out!

Huck Runs Amuck

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:55:21 +0000

For a mountain goat named Huck, nothing is better than eating flowers. Other stuff just doesn’t cut it! When all the flowers are gone, Huck runs around in a frenzy searching for flowers to eat. Without hesitation he is a climbing sensation and nothing can stop him. But – OH NO! Just when he is about to get a bite, something happens. Will he ever get his teeth on some flowers to eat or will he just have to settle for boring cardboard?

The Fourth Stall

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:27:52 +0000

Mac and his best friend Vince are the “go to guys” at their school. Kids from grades k-8 visit them in the East Wing boy’s bathroom. In the fourth stall, Mac and Vince solve problems. Usually for a small fee and a future favor, they will help with a bully or get you into a “R” rated movie. Their business is booming; however, business starts to suffer, when a third grade comes in asking for protection from a legendary high school crime boss. The boss, Staples, is trying to run Mac and Vince out of the business and start a gambling ring at their school.

The Trouble with Chickens: A J.J. Tully Mystery

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:12:24 +0000

J.J. Tully was a famous search and rescue dog who performed many heroic acts. Now he is retired on a ranch trying to enjoy his life of ease. When Moosh, the chicken, and her chicks, Dirt and Sugar, come to him with a problem involving their missing chicks, J.J. is not happy. But with the promise of a cheeseburger, J.J. takes the case. He starts to smell out some clues, but it’s not making sense. Why do the clues lead him to the Barb’s house? And how does Vince the Funnel fit into this case? Are the answers right under his nose?

Monkey and Elephant’s Worst Fight Ever

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:09:25 +0000

Monkey and Elephant were best friends until a misunderstanding causes them to get into a big fight. After that, no one on the island is safe because Monkey and Elephant start to commit pranks against each other. As their war escalates, they leave destruction in their wake. The islanders realize that it will be up to them to stop the madness. They come up with a plan that will stop the war and make Monkey and Elephant friends again. But will their plan work? Will their island ever be safe again?

City of Fallen Angels

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:03:24 +0000

In book four of The Mortal Instruments series, Clary Fray is back in New York City. She is training to be a true Shadowhunter and preparing for her mother’s wedding to Luke. More importantly, she and Jace are now openly together. It’s not long before nefarious forces begin to try and destroy the fragile peace between the Shadowhunters and Downworlders. Shadowhunters are being killed. As the mystery deepens, Jace starts to distance himself from Clary and all those that love him. Has Valentine returned seeking vengeance? Or is there something even more evil stirring?

Every Soul a Star

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:03:45 +0000

Ally lives in the middle of nowhere at a campground her parents run. She is happy-go-lucky and completely in love with star exploration. She is determined to find a comet of her own.

Bree lives in the suburbs with her scientist parents and super smart little sister. She is more concerned with the latest fashions and becoming a model than anything else. After all, looks are important. Aren’t they?

Jack is sort of chubby, likes to draw aliens and isn’t really great at anything. He’s terrible at math and even worse at science. He can fly though.

I Need My Monster

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:52:05 +0000

Poor Ethan! His monster has left to go fishing. How will he ever get to sleep now? Guess he’ll just have to get a substitute monster until his returns. However, all the sub’s that show up are not nearly scary enough to make him stay in bed and one just makes him laugh. So just how will he manage? Check out the book to find out…if you dare!

CYRM Nominee 2011-2012

The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had to

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:47:13 +0000

Darren & Eric are typical 15 year old nerds. Well, one of them is anyway. Working hard on their design for a sci-fi movie trilogy, complete with a series of novels to fill in the blanks, they become best friends. Then Eric tells Darren about his “thing.” He doesn’t sleep, can’t sleep, ever. If that information got into the wrong hands, it could be dangerous. So what happens to someone that can never reach a state of unconsciousness? All the stuff that gets worked out when people sleep never gets worked out for Eric. What DOES happen, is beyond anything you could possibly imagine.

Dear Primo

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:28:39 +0000

Charlie and Carlitos are cousins or primos. They like to write letters to each other because Charlie lives in America and his cousin lives in Mexico. Their lives are very different and they each share their daily experiences; from riding a bicicleta (bicycle) and playing futbol (soccer) to watching break dancers and playing basketball. As they both come to the end of their letters, they each have a great idea.
All pages have fantastic illustrations that incorporate real images as textures and demonstrate the Spanish language used in the story.

Graceling

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:23:19 +0000

In the land of seven kingdoms there are those who possess special qualities, heightened human powers. They appear normal but are exceptional in some way, perhaps it is their ability to heal or their understanding of animals. Regardless of their gift they have one thing in common, they possess one green eye, and one blue eye. Their powers are known as graces, and they are known as gracelings. Katsa is a graceling. Her grace is a very powerful one that her uncle Randa is happy to exploit. He grace is killing.

A Conspiracy of Kings

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:15:34 +0000

In the fourth book of the series which started with The Thief, Sophos is brutally beaten and captured in an attack on his father’s villa. Sold into slavery, Sophos learns about hard work and loyalty from his slave master Ochto. He also learns that the affairs between Kingdoms have little impact on the slaves and peasant people. They simply pledge their loyalty to their new leader and continue on.

Heat

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:11:35 +0000

Michael Arroyo is about to embark on his father’s greatest dream for him, his Bronx team is in playoffs for the Little League World Series. He is their ace pitcher, so good that the other coaches are questioning his age. Michael lives for the competition, to face-off with his fastball against the best batters in his league. Now all that is threatened when the league commissioner asks him to provide a birth certificate to prove his age. His birth certificate was left behind when they fled Cuba and no one, not even his father can help him.

Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:16:41 +0000

Ultra glamorous and slightly rich Melissa from Detroit has moved into the small town of Mitchell Hammock Florida and has destroyed Violet Raines’ world as if it got struck by lightning. Her very best friend Lottie has changed her name to Char, is wearing makeup just like Melissa, and is acting like she’s more Melissa’s best friend every day. Her other buddy from birth, Eddie is acting weird around Violet now that Melissa has accused him of being Violet’s boyfriend, and that leaves no one for Violet. All this change is wrecking her last summer before middle school.

Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:53:32 +0000

Princess Hyacinth was one sad little girl. She was a normal, pretty princess except for one thing: she floats. Yes, Princess Hyacinth floats like a balloon. Her parents, the King and Queen, were so worried she would float away. They made her wear clothes that had golden weights and diamond pebbles sown into the hems. She also wore a very heavy crown. Because her clothes and crown were so heavy, Princess Hyacinth was never able to run and play with the other kids. So there she sat in her window everyday sadly looking upon the children of the kingdom playing.

Jersey Tomatoes are the Best

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:48:48 +0000

Henry and Eva are Jersey girls with a lot of potential for stardom. Henry is a gorgeous, smart girl with a killer serve. She is the number one teen tennis player in Jersey. Eva is a prima ballerina. They have been best friends since grade school. They have been closer than sisters for years. But their best friend status may change when they decide to spend their summer far apart. Henry is going to an elite tennis camp in Florida and Eva will spend her summer in New York City at an ultra competitive ballet camp.

The Ivy

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:44:34 +0000

Callie Andrews has been accepted to Harvard University. She thought her whole focus there would be her classes and trying to be accepted as a writer for the Harvard newspaper. Wrong! Since the first day she arrived, her life at Harvard has been complicated. There are three new roommates who may be her new best friends or worst enemies, three boys who are all boyfriend material, and one upperclassman that holds her writing ambitions in the palm of her hand. Wholesome Callie Andrews is smart and beautiful, but will that be enough to survive her freshman year?

Interrupting Chicken

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:43:42 +0000

So, how DO you get a young chicken to go to sleep? You read her a story of course! Well, that is just what Papa tries to do. But the little chicken interrupts every time.
This is a really funny story of a father trying to get his little one to bed by reading classic stories. Every time he starts one, the little red chicken chimes in with her version of the end. She just can’t help it! Will she ever go to sleep?

Randolph Caldecott Medal 2011 honor

Revolver

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:09:51 +0000

It’s wash day. Young Sig , his sister Anna and step-mother Nadya are home waiting for Einar to return home after attending to business in town. When he doesn’t return , the three of them find Einar frozen on the lake. While Nadya and Anna head into town to fetch help, Sig is forced to sit alone in the small, remote, cabin with his dead, thawing father.

Efrain's Secret

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:46:48 +0000

Sofia Quintero weaves a story of a teen battling every day temptations all the while keeping it real. Although some of the wording is in Spanish or slang, it is easy to understand and really adds to the realism of the story.

Goal!

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:43:52 +0000

In South Africa, the streets are not safe. Ajani has won a federation –size soccer ball at school and decides to share his new prize with his friends. But playing in South Africa is not like playing in America. One friend must keep watch for bullies and danger while the other five play. Looking left and looking right, the boys find joy in just being boys. Until, the inevitable happens and they are met by some rowdy kids who wouldn’t hesitate to take their ball and ruin their game. Will Ajani and his friends be able to keep playing with their new federation-sized soccer ball?

Tall Story

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:58:09 +0000

Bernardo is tall. Not just tall, he is a giant! When Bernardo’s mom leaves the Philippines to work as a nurse in Britain, he is left with his aunt and uncle until his visa can come through. He wishes to be united again with his mother, stepfather and little sister Andi. But his village thinks that Bernardo is the reason the earthquakes have stopped. If he leaves, what will happen to them?

Goldie and the Three Hares

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:13:23 +0000

Do you ever wonder what happened to Goldilocks after she ran out of the bear’s house? Well, she falls down the rabbit hole of course. She trips over a “lulu of a first step” straight down the Hare’s family home. With her ankle sprained, Goldilocks takes over the couch and drives the Hares insane with her outrageous demands. They try to get rid of her by feeding her veggies, which she loves. They try to squeeze her out with company. Nothing is working! What are three Hares to do? Will Goldie ever leave?

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:10:32 +0000

Pia remembers her life changing after her grandmother ignited from the flame of an Advent candle. Overnight, Pia becomes the girl “ whose grandmother exploded.” All her friends and classmates shun her except for another outsider, StinkStefan. Then Katharina vanishes, and the whole village is on edge. How did a little girl dressed as Snow White just disappear without a trace? Pia and Stefan believe it had to be “Spirits” who took Katharina away.

Stolen

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:05:24 +0000

Gemma is at the airport with her parents on her way to Vietnam for a vacation. Her parents are on her last nerve so she decides to get a coffee when she first notices Ty. He is handsome in a rugged, cowboy way and also strangely familiar. He smiles at her and offers to buy her a coffee. They sit and talk…then Gemma begins feels sick and sleepy. When she wakes up, she is in a strange place. All Gemma can see all around her for miles is sand. Ty has stolen her. He wants her to love him. Will Emma be able to escape? Or will Ty steal her heart too?

Wabi Sabi

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:25:13 +0000

Wabi Sabi cat
Sets out on a journey to
Find meaning of name

Wabi Sabi is a cat living in Kyoto, Japan. When friends come to visit, they ask her master what is the meaning of her cat’s name. The answer: “That’s hard to explain.” This get’s Wabi Sabi also wondering the about the meaning of her name and she sets out on a journey to find out. Along the way she sees many things and meets many different animals. In the end, she comes to the only conclusion that she had to see for herself.

Foxy & Egg

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:18:22 +0000

Charming Foxy Du Bois is pleasantly surprised when Egg rolls up to her doorstep. After inviting Egg in, she begins working on her devious plan of fattening up Egg to eat him. Little does she know that Egg has a plan all his own. A great lesson is learned that kindness shouldn’t come from selfishness or it will come and bite you! This story has a surprise beginning, with twists and turns along the way, finally ending with an even bigger surprise.

Revolution is Not a Dinner Party

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:55:03 +0000

9 year-old Ling lives in Wuhan, China with her loving parents who are both doctors. Her life becomes a nightmare after Comrade Li, a political officer for Mao, moves into the building and begins the Cultural Revolution in earnest. Soon, Ling is living in constant fear that her father and mother will be sent to a work camp or worse. She witnesses beloved neighbors and friends being beaten or sent away never to be seen again. Ling and her parents do not know who to trust or turn to for help as there are spies everywhere.

The Radleys

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:03:08 +0000

Of all the vampire books out there and there are a lot, The Radleys is the most entertaining and well-written. Peter, Helen, Rowan, and Clara Radley look like the average family next door. They are suffering through many of the same problems as other families. Peter is an overworked and unsatisfied doctor in their suburban town. He and Helen are growing more and more estranged. Son Rowan is friendless and bullied mercilessly. Sister Clara is enduring her own teen angst. Yes, your typical family except this is a family of vampires.

Ben Franklin: His Wit and Wisdom from A-Z

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:57:54 +0000

I can’t believe Ben Franklin was never president! This book does an outstanding job of recounting the inventions, discoveries and cleverness of one of our greatest Founding Fathers. Ben Franklin invented bifocals, the Franklin stove, helped write the Constitution, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a printer…the list goes on and on. This book is informative, well illustrated, and funny as heck. Check it today!

I Like You the Best

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:46:42 +0000

Sometimes playing all alone is fine. Sometimes, playing with a friend is even better. Dolly & Jack Rabbit have a great time together. But just like all friends, they have a fight and end up hurting each other's feelings. See if they can ever get past their silly argument to happy togetherness again.

Waiting for Normal

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:12:29 +0000

All her life, Addison “Addie” Schmeeter had been waiting for her life to be normal. But with all the ups and downs in her family, normal seems impossible. From the beginning of the story you get a very positive outlook` from Addie as she deals with unpredictable Mommers in their little trailer. Gone for days at a time, Addie learns how to persevere and survive. As time goes on, she gets wiser and wiser to her mother’s actions and realizes that keeping up appearances isn’t as easy as it used to be. Just how long can she keep up the charade of normal before it completely falls apart?

On Meadowview Street

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:41:50 +0000

Caroline’s family just moved to Meadowview Street. So, she decides to find out if there really is a meadow on Meadowview. She starts out to search and gets distracted when she finds a wildflower in her yard and builds an enclosure so her dad won’t run over it with the lawnmower. Soon, more flowers pop up and her enclosure has to get larger and larger. See all the critters and plant life that start making Caroline’s yard home and find out how she encourages them to do so.
Nominated for the California Young Reader Medal 2011-2012

If I Stay

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:50:31 +0000

Mia was on her way to the bookstore with her parents and little brother when they are involved in a catastrophic accident. Immediately after the accident, Mia has an out-of-body experience and witnesses her parents death and she and her brother being transported to the hospital. While she lies in a coma, Mia considers her past, her present circumstances, and her possible future. She reflects upon her relationships with her parents, friends, and especially her boyfriend, Adam. Mia wants to go to Julliard but that would mean leaving Adam in Portland.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:37:31 +0000

In 1994, an 11 year old boy, called Yummy, shot and killed an innocent 14 year old girl, Shevon. He was trying to kill a rival gang member and the girl got in the way. He was featured on the cover of Time magazine with the headline "So young to kill, so young to die.” The story is told through the eyes of a fictional boy from the neighborhood that depicts Yummy as killer and victim. His father is in jail, his mother is a drug addict that abused him, and his overwhelmed grandmother was unable to give him a proper home.

Sisters Red

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:30:27 +0000

In a modern retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood, Sisters Red is the story of Scarlett and Rosie March. They have not lived a normal life since a fenris (werewolf) killed their grandmother and nearly killed Scarlett as she protected Rosie from harm. Now years later, the girls are grown up and are hunters of the fenris. Scarlett feels it is her duty to protect other young girls from the vicious predators.

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:46:16 +0000

Henry is a slave in Virginia. When his master is about to die, he is given to the master’s son to work in a tobacco factory. Henry eventually marries and has a family. Upon the sale of his wife and children, he knows, more than ever before, that he must be free. Through the help of a kind doctor, he embarks on his journey to freedom in the most unusual way. It is in this unusual way that he earns the nickname, Henry “Box” Brown.

Nominated for the California Young Reader Medal 2011-2012
Caldecott Honor Book

Cosmic

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:38:30 +0000

This tale is one that has you laughing with ever turn of the page. Liam is twelve years old, gifted and talented (officially) and usually tall with a beard. He’s so tall and stubbly in fact, that he is often mistaken for an adult and sometimes a dad. With the advantage of looking like a grown-up, shenanigans ensue. So when he wins an opportunity to ride The Rocket, the “biggest thrill ride in the history of the world”, he makes use of his extraordinary height and dad status. Little did he know, the opportunity of a lifetime would land him lost in space.

Moon Over Manifest

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:45:24 +0000

Abilene Tucker has been sent away. Her father has taken a job with the railroad and become fearful of raising a 12 year old on the road. So he has sent her to his hometown of Manifest to stay with longtime friend Pastor Shady. Broken hearted at being sent away, and unsure of exactly how long she will be staying in Manifest, Abilene decides to learn something about her father’s past. But no one seems to know her father, and the only one willing to share any stories with her is the crazy gypsy fortuneteller Miss Sadie.

Beastly

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:35:39 +0000

Beastly is a modern day version of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. Kyle Kingsbury is the most handsome, rich, and popular guy at the exclusive private school, Tuttle. And Kyle knows it. He openly feels that his good looks and money give him the freedom to say and do whatever he wants regardless of who gets hurt. All that changes when a mysterious girl, Kendra, from his English class dares question his name on a ballot for prince. Kendra’s audacity is the reason Kyle comes up with his most cruel prank.

Clever Jack Takes the Cake

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:59:02 +0000

Jack was just invited to the Princess’s birthday party in the castle courtyard. But poor Jack and his mother have no money for a gift. So Jack, being a clever boy, decides to trade in some of his belongings for ingredients to bake a cake. Little did he know how difficult it would be to get that cake from his home to the party. While on his way, he encounters all sorts of troubles. What will the Princess think of his gift after all?

Crow Call

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:43:22 +0000

Lizzie sits in the truck next to her father, who isn’t a father to her, shy and a little scared. He really is her father, but he has been away at war for so long that he doesn’t feel like a member of her family. They are up early on a cold November morning to go crow hunting. Hunting, its the scary part for Lizzie. Who is this hunter called Daddy? And what about the baby crows? Who will take care of them, when their parents are gone? This touching story is based on the life experience of its author Lois Lowry. It is a Newberry Medal Winner.

The Mockingbirds

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:56:59 +0000

Themis Academy is a private high school where everyone is smart, athletic and talented. It is a school of future leaders. This is what the administrators and faculty think and they find it impossible to believe that their student's are capable of hurting each other or committing crimes. It is for that reason Alex Patrick feels she has no recourse when she wakes up naked in a strange dorm room and remembering very little of the night before; however, she does realize she has been date-raped by water polo, all-around popular Carter.

Where's My Wand? One Boy's Magical Triumph over Alienation and Shag Carpeting

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:50:46 +0000

The Midwest of the 1970’s is not the best place for a 12 year-old boy whose best friend is an armless bully. Eric believes strongly that if can learn magical incantations like his idol Endora of Bewitched, his life would be less rocky. He has always loved Endora because she had a “flair for the dramatic.” When he finds a white chenille bedspread “The Endora of St. Louis” is born.

Heart of a Samurai

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:40:24 +0000

All of a sudden, five Japanese fishermen are surrounded by a pool of mackerel and don’t notice the storm that is brewing up around them. As luck would have it the fishermen become stranded in the ocean until they finally land on an remote island. At first, there are plenty of birds to eat and rain to collect. But as the seasons change, their situation becomes bleak.

The Moon Over Star

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:50:27 +0000

In 1969 men landed and walked on the moon. The entire world watched as liftoff, the landing and live feed from the moon flashed on television sets everywhere. For Mae, it is the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread; for gramps, not so much. The storyline, coupled with amazing watercolor pictures, weaves a wonderful story from the insight of a young girl in awe of such an unfathomable feat.
Nominated for a California Young Reader Medal 2010-2011.
Coretta Scott King Award

Operation Mincemeat

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:11:05 +0000

During World War II in addition to the heroic battles and maneuvers carried out by the Allied Forces in Europe, an equally daring battle of strategy and deception was undertaken by British Intelligence. Their role was to infiltrate the German Adwehr and misinform them about the Allied troop’s war plans. Admiral Godffrey and his famous assistant, Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond Novels, oversaw British Intelligence’s spy operations from Room 13. One such operation was Operation Mincemeat which purposely misinformed the German military command about the war effort in the Mediterranean.

Easy as Falling off the Face of the Earth

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:50:56 +0000

The perfect storm of communications mixups and personal disasters has left fifteen year old Ry sitting on some old tires under a street light at nightfall, bloody, dirty, hungry, and wearing only one shoe. There he meets Del, champion of lost causes. Ry quickly becomes Del’s latest lost cause. Together they set out on a car, plane, and boat adventure that will lead them from Montana to the San Juan Islands in search of Ry’s family. Success is dependent on a bit of luck and having the courage to tackle a near impossible set of obstacles.

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:47:58 +0000

Miss Penelope Lumley, a recent graduate from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Girls, needs a job. The Headmistress has notified her that she needs to make room for future Swanburne girls, and so she helps Miss Lumley get a job as a governess at the estate of the very wealthy Lord Ashton. Lord Ashton an obsessed hunter, has recently captured three children raised by wolves in the woods. He puts Miss Lumley in charge of the children’s domestication.

Igraine the Brave

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:06:24 +0000

Igraine is twelve years old, and dreams of being a knight and protecting her parent’s castle from attack like her great-grandfather, Pelleas of Pimpernel, but Igraine’s parents embrace a more peaceful existence. They are magicians who have enchanted the castle so that it protects itself, leaving Igraine little opportunity to practice her chivalry. Dressed in her great-grandfather’s chainmail Igraine has only her cat Sisyphus for company until the Baroness of Darkrock mysteriously disappears and her nephew, Osmund the Greedy shows up.

Thelonius Monster’s Sky-High Fly Pie

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:01:28 +0000

Just what does a monster like to eat? Why, flies of course! The tastiness of flies is what inspires Thelonius Monster to make a huge pie full of flies. After getting advice from a spider, he sets out collecting flies from the grossest of gross places and gets started on his pie. But when he invites his family and friends to share it, something perfectly terrible goes wrong. Can his revolting dinner party be saved? Written in rhyme and simply illustrated with black drawings, this story is sure to have you laughing and cringing as Thelonius builds the pie of flies.

Pete & Pickles

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:01:27 +0000

Ever had a friend that you can't live with or live without? That's the case for Pete, a sensible and conventional pig. However, upon his first encounter with Pickles, a runaway elephant from the circus, his life is turned upside down. Can Pickles help Pete get out of his hum-drum life of routine and predictability? The bigger question: Can Pete embrace the change?
Nominated for the California Young Reader Medal 2010-2011

They called themselves the K.K.K. : The birth of an American Terrorist Group

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:42:22 +0000

It begins with a loss. The South was economically, emotionally, and psychology broken after they lost the Civil War. Their way of life was over forever. Reconstruction was enacted by the federal government. In the eyes of the white southerners it was put in place to punish them for their part in the war and to give more power to all the freed slaves. It was in this climate that six educated but restless men in Pulaski, Tennessee began the KKK or Ku Klux Klan. Although it started as a social club, it quickly became a terrorist group who targeted recently freed slaves.

Before I Fall

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:37:53 +0000

Before I Fall is a cross between Mean Girls and Groundhog Day but with more emotional depth. Samantha is part of a popular, sometimes cruel, foursome. Imagine her surprise when after a house party she dies in a car accident. This should be the end but for Samantha it is just the beginning, as she relives her last day seven times trying to make amends to the family she has neglected and kids she tormented.

I’m Not.

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:35:08 +0000

The old cliche “opposites attract” seems to fit this book. Evelyn is outgoing, adventurous, and mysterious. Her friend is in awe of Evelyn’s quirky and imaginative way of playing; however, she does have talents that Evelyn does not. Both realize quickly, that despite their differences, they offer each other something very special and unique: love and friendship. This a funny book about friends.

Three Rivers Rising- A Novel of the Johnstown Flood

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:32:15 +0000

Have you ever seen or visited a dam? Don’t you just wonder how it is able to hold all that water? In Three Rivers Rising, that question is asked and answered. It is a fictional account of a true flooding that occurred in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1889. Written in free verse, it follows the lives of four families before and after the flood: Celestia and her wealthy family who vacation on the lake, Peter and his miner father from the Johnstown, Kate a nurse on a train to a new life and Maura a wife to a train conductor and mother of three young children.

Four Feet, Two Sandals

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:13:37 +0000

There are millions of refugees all over the world. In this story, we are transported into the Pakistani refugee camp of two girls from Afghanistan, Lina and Feroza. The two girls become bonded by a single pair of yellow sandals with a blue flower. How can two girls, with four feet, share a single pair of sandals? Managing to do so isn’t trouble-free. What will happen if one of the girl’s families gets to go to America? Who will get to keep the shoes they both love so much?
Nominated for a California Young Reader Medal 2010-2011.

Duck

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:11:39 +0000

Duck is a merry-go-round animal who dreams of flying like a real duck. One day, she meets a tiny duckling and they share all the same dreams and have lots of fun together. But when the duckling grows up, it’s to be expected that he will fly away. Duck tries to show her young friend how and realizes she can’t. Instinct kicks in and Duckling joins a flock. Duck waits and wonders if he’ll ever see his friend again.
Nominated for the California Young Reader Medal 2010-2011.

You

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:37:07 +0000

Something pivotal and tragic has just happened to Kyle Chase. He is known as a “hoodie” at school. He and his fellow slackers/burnouts commit small crimes, drink beer and practically live in detention. Now he is reflecting where it all went wrong for him. Was it when he let his grades tank and was sent to the regular high school instead of the one for gifted students where his friends went? Did he miss all the signs and clues? Or did it begin when he decided to trust Zack?

Things a Brother Knows

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:07:56 +0000

For three years, Boaz has been serving this country as a marine. For three years, life at home has been suspended, waiting for his return. “Mentally healthy” (as considered by military standards) is not something that accurately describes Boaz’s behavior after he arrives. His younger brother, Levi, is the only one that can see what is really going on, knows he needs help and decides to follow him on his secretive mission. A compelling and realistic story about a boy who leaves for and a man that returns from active military duty overseas.

Sir Charlie Chapman, the Funniest Man in the World

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:04:12 +0000

For funny man Charlie Chaplin, life wasn’t all roses and sunshine. He and his brother were abandoned by their drunk of a father. Only to be “rescued” and then abandoned again in later years. His mother, once a dancer and singer, teetered on the edge of sanity and frequently resided in the asylum. Where did this leave young Charlie? A swarthy, good-looking chap, he strives for a change of luck and discovers his talent for comedy as a teen. The man with the undersized coat, oversized shoes, bowler hat and tiny mustache comes along way from the streets of Kennington to Hollywood.

Nini Lost and Found

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Ever wonder what it is like to wander off into the unknown? Nini did. She sees an open door and it leads her to a world she didn’t know was out there. Enjoy the adventure of this curious little cat as she goes from sunshine and coziness to the dark and scary.
The illustrations are beautifully done and there are images within the pages to give the reader lots to look for as the story progresses. Wander off with Nini and see if she can find her way back home.

Turtle in Paradise

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 01:58:27 +0000

Back in New Jersey it was just Turtle and Mama. When Mama gets a housekeeping job with Mrs. Budnick, who hates kids, Turtle gets sent to Key West to live with her Aunt Minnie. On her arrival she meets the shoeless and free-spirited Diaper Gang boys: Kermit, Buddy, Beans, Pork Chop and Ira. Will they ever let her in the Diaper gang or even consider her a friend? And just what is in the secret diaper rash remedy anyway? Together they get into all sorts of trouble, fun and danger. Just when things are looking up, they come crashing down again.

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 01:50:39 +0000

After attending school for the hearing impaired for most of his life, Will Halpin decides it’s time for a change. So he enters into the life of Carbon High School. Reluctantly, he becomes friends with Devon Smiley, who is prone to being bullied and sort of a nerd. On a field trip to a coal mine, a terrible accident occurs that leaves the town and school in shock. Devon and Will decide to investigate the mystery surrounding the accident – Hardy Boys style. Who could the culprit be? Was it out of jealousy or drugs or anger? With any luck, the boys will unearth the truth before it’s too late.

Dog Loves Books

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 01:42:34 +0000

Dog loves books. He likes everything about them, so he decides to open a bookstore. But not everyone wants to buy a book from a dog. Find out what dog ends up doing while he waits for his first real customer. Be careful! Dog’s love of books is infectious.

The Other Half of My Heart

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:17:52 +0000

When twins Kiera and Minni King were born they were famous. Not only were they born in a plane, Kiera was black like her mother and Minni was white like her father. They may have different color skin but Kiera and Minni are not only sisters, they are best friends and are always there for each other. Their closeness is put to the test when they fly from the Pacific Northwest back South to stay with their stern Grandma Johnson who has entered them in Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America pageant. .

Here Comes the Garbage Barge!

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:09:27 +0000

The town of Islip in New York needed to get rid of its garbage. 32 TONs of it. The judge said they could not bury it, so some businessmen thought of a cheaper solution: send it to dumping grounds in the North Carolina. Enter the tugboat Break of Dawn and a large barge. The large barge was loaded up with garbage and Cap’m Duffy St. Pierre headed south. When two sisters spy the barge on the beach, they alert police.

The Dancing Pancake

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:57:50 +0000

Can pancakes make separation and change better? Sometimes they can, if it includes opening your own restaurant. In the wake of her parent’s separation, Bindi’s mom decides to open a restaurant with her sister, and so a host of new people and experiences help Bindi to learn one of life’s greatest lessons, forgiveness. Illustrated and told in verse, this novel is told through the eleven year old voice of Bindi as she grapples with “tough times.”

The War To End All Wars-World War I

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:10:26 +0000

Worldwide, 20 million people died in a war that “defied logic and common sense.” Award-winning author Russell Freedman has written a fantastic book that describes and analyzes the political climate in Europe that led to World War I, the accumulation of arms, the horrors of trench warfare, and the final peace treaty that would eventually lead another war: World War II. Included are archival photos and many first person quotes from soldiers and civilians. A must-read! This book garnered 6 starred reviews.

Hothouse

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:04:35 +0000

Firefighters are heroes. When they die in the line of fire, their status is bumped up to hero worship. This happens to Russell’s dad when he dies trying to save a beloved retired teacher. At first the town, can’t do enough for Russell and his mom. There are freebies and parties to honor the fallen firefighter. When an inquiry into the fire reveals his father may not be a hero after all, the town support turns to fury. Russell must come to terms with who his father really is, flaws and all.

My Garden

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:58:19 +0000

The little girl is her mom’s helper in the garden. She weeds, waters and chases rabbits. In her own garden, she would not waste time weeding or watering. She would have chocolate bunnies and jellybean bushes. Her flowers would change color and shape. And if she planted a seashell, it would grow more seashells. What would you grow in your garden?

Mockingbird

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:08:31 +0000

Caitlin Ann Smith doesn’t always “get it.” She has Asperger’s, a disorder that affects her ability to be social, emotional and forces her to say exactly what she is thinking. After, “The Day Our Life Fell Apart,” Caitlin & her dad must cope with the tragic death of her brother, Devon, a promising and gifted boy that was one step away from becoming an Eagle Scout. The author has done a beautiful job letting the reader get inside the head of our young champion. You not only hear what she is saying or thinking, but you really learn to understand why.

Bunny Days

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:46:52 +0000

Imagine six bunnies and all the trouble they get into, accidentally. Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Goat, they get muddy, they get dusty and some lose their tails! Just how do you get these bunnies clean? How do you re-attach a bunny tail? Looks like Mr. Bear may be able to help. But how?

Please Ignore Vera Dietz

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:40:29 +0000

Vera loved her best friend Charlie since they were four years old and kept his darkest secrets. So why did he betray her and wind up dead? A funny and clever look at the life and death of a teenage friendship as told in a realistic timeline, with flashbacks, to give the reader a broad sense of where each character is coming from. Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a story about a girl with a strange history and her best friend Charlie with an even stranger history. The circumstances surrounding his death are more than Vera can bear. Yet, she is the only one that can clear his name. Will she?

Dust Devil

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:26:36 +0000

There is nothing better than a tall tale, and Dust Devil serves up a heap of adventure featuring the Swamp Angel of Tennessee. Swamp Angel, also known as Angelica Longrider, has out grown Tennessee. She has moved out west to Montana where the land is good for growing things and there is plenty of sunshine, until a dust storm hits. That dust storm hits so hard that the wind sounds like thundering hooves across the prairie. Can Swamp Angel tame that wild prairie storm?

Med Head: My Knock-Down, Drag-Out, Drugged-Up Battle with My Brain

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:05:04 +0000

Cory Friedman is only five years old when he develops the neurological disorder Tourette's with OCD. Thus begins his harrowing medical journey of doctors and pills as he tries to find a way to control his disorder. Cory deals with severe tics and compulsions of which he has no control. Over the course of 13 years, he will be prescribed over 30 pills. The side-effects of the medications are sometimes worse than the disorder. The story tells of how Cory works to deal with his disorder, frustrations, increasing anger, and drug abuse.

Countdown

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:54:53 +0000

Franny Chapman lives with her family just outside of Andrews Air Force Base. Her father is a pilot. Franny’s life is in turmoil, personally and globally. She is feuding with her best friend, her older sister is being secretive about her college life and friends, and her uncle is losing his grip on reality as he relives an old war. Add to this turmoil, the Cuban nuclear missile crisis with Russia that has Franny, her neighbors and the whole country living fear. Franny doesn’t know how to deal with what’s going on but somehow she’s got to find the strength to make it through.

Marcelo in the Real World

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:07:11 +0000

Marcelo lives in a tree house next to his parent’s house with his dog Namu. He attends Patterson, a school for children with special needs, such as autism. Marcelo suffers from Aspergers disease, but unique only to Marcelo, he hears music in head. Or as he explains it, he feels the music that his head makes. Thanks to the tireless efforts of his mother and the staff at Patterson, Marcelo lives a contented life. He helps take care of the therapy horses at Patterson, and hopes one day to raise and train Haflinger ponies as therapy horses.

What Happened on Fox Street

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:58:04 +0000

Mo Wren lives on Fox Street with her dad and her wild child little sister Dottie. Since her mother died, it has been Mo’s job to take care of her sister, and help her father keep everything going. But Mo recognizes that she couldn't have done it without her neighbors, especially Da, who lives across the street, and Da’s granddaughter Mercedes. They have been like family. Everyone in her neighborhood with the exception of the evil Mrs. Steinbott has helped out a lot, giving her the feeling that they are all one big happy family.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, a Cuban Folktale

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:26:38 +0000

Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha is a beautiful young cockroach intent upon finding a husband, but not without heeding the advice of her Cuban grandmother, Abuela. Abuela insists that the way to see into a suitor’s heart is by using the "Coffee Test." Martina is unconvinced but accepts her grandmother’s wisdom, only to learn a great deal each time she pours another cup of coffee. This beautifully illustrated book was nominated for a California Young Reader Medal.

Stitches, a Memoir

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:22:53 +0000

Stitches is the autobiographical graphic novel of David Small’s childhood in Detroit. Through pictures and sparse text Small recreates the tortured household in which he was raised, filled the family secrets, and angst-ridden family members. In this loveless home David escapes through novels and drawing until at age sixteen he decides he can’t take it any more and runs away from home. With his departure the fragile family structure crumbles and ugly family truths are exposed. This novel is a National Book Award finalist and 2010 Alex Award winner.

Jake

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:20:08 +0000

Jake and his mom are a team. There is only the two of the them since his dad died, with the occasional assist from there friend Suzie, Aunt Ginny, or the next door neighbor Mrs. Buttermark. Christmas is close and the weather has turned icy cold in the Northeast. Thinking how much he would like a bike like Joey Ziglar’s, Jake is caught by surprise when his mom slips in the grocery store parking lot and is rushed to the emergency room in an ambulance.

La Noche Buena, A Christmas Story

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:14:32 +0000

When we think of Christmas we think of snow, sleigh bells, and forest trees, but what happens where the sun is hot and bright in December? Nina is a little concerned as she arrives from the cold north to celebrate Christmas with her father and grandma in Miami Florida. They live in a Cuban neighborhood known as “Little Havana.” What will Christmas be like without snow ball fights and Christmas carols, and how will Santa land his sleigh? But Nina’s Cuban family assures her that La Noche Buena, Christmas Eve is one of the best nights of they year.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:08:40 +0000

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is the story how the cells of a poor, African-American woman named Henrietta Lacks, became one of the most important medical tools ever used. Mrs. Lacks died in 1951 but her cells, called HeLa, have flourished by the trillions for over 50 years. HeLa has been vital to medical science and discovering the polio vaccine, chemotherapy, and HIV medications. The HeLa cells have been used in labs all over the world and have even been taken to space. But who was Henrietta Lacks?

The Eternal Ones

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:03:24 +0000

Do you ever have that feeling of Déjà vu? Well, that seems to happen to Haven Moore a lot. She has lived in Snope City, Tennesse all her life but has recurring of memories and visions of a girl named Constance who lived at the turn of the century. Constance has a passionate love for Ethan but their lives end in tragedy. Everyone in Snope City, including her ultra-religious grandmother, believes Haven has been possessed by a demon. If not for her friend Beau, Haven’s life would be downright unbearable.

Bright Young Things

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:57:17 +0000

Union, Ohio was just too conservative and small to hold friends Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey. They run away to the bright lights of New York City to fulfill their dreams. New York City, during the last summer of the Jazz age, is a thrilling place to be young. Cordelia wants to find her father. Her father is known for his legendary, wild parties and his notorious means of making money. Cordelia is welcomed into her father’s world and overnight becomes the toast of the town; however, she is learning that her new life is not just more exciting and alluring but also dangerous.

My Abandonment

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:05:31 +0000

Caroline is 13 years old and lives at the edge of the forest with her father. He has created a hut of sorts from a small cave using wire and brush from the forest. Inside there is a mattress and small bookshelves that hold portions of an encyclopedia set. Caroline hasn’t gotten past E yet, but she knows how to walk on stones so that she leaves no foot prints on the forest floor, and how to zigzag so quietly through the forest that she can be right next to you without you ever knowing of her presence.

Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:02:41 +0000

Sometimes fact can be stranger than fiction, real people can have greater imagination and gumption than fictional people. After all, those fictional people started out life in the minds of real people with a story to tell. John Drewe chose to create his story and live it. He wanted to be a member of the privileged English upper-class, a nuclear physicist doing consulting work for the Ministry of Defense developing new technologies for the military, and trading in art as a hobby.

Edgar Allan's Official Crime Investigation Notebook

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:47:39 +0000

Edgar is from a happy family; his parents are clowns who cheer up sick children at the Children’s Hospital. At his house people are always breaking out in music and song. His parents sing and his brother Henri plays the clarinet. Edgar doesn’t have such talent. He is interested in more serious things, such as investigating the recent theft in his classroom. He has devoted a notebook to his investigation, an official crime investigation notebook. He’s not the only one interested in sleuthing this crime.

Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:42:29 +0000

Fancy Nancy has found the most perfect lace fan at Belle’s Fabulous Fashion Boutique. It is pink and just the thing for someone like Nancy who has a faultless fashion sense, but Nancy simply doesn’t have the extra money after buying her little sister a birthday present. What to do? She decides to open a fabulous fashion boutique of her own and sell off some of her old gowns and accessories at a bargain to raise the money. Everyone will want to look fabulous just like Nancy, in this instance even her little pirate sister.

Let's Do Nothing

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:29:18 +0000

Frankie and Sal have absolutely nothing to do. They have played every game, read every comic, have painted enough pictures to wall paper a house, and have baked enough cookies to “feed a small nation.” But out of boredom comes a great idea: They will do nothing!!! Can Frankie and Sal do nothing?
Read this great laugh-out loud to your students. They will love the pictures and want you to read it again and again.

City of Bones

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:18:58 +0000

Clary Fray is your average fifteen-year-old New Yorker out at a club when she witnesses three strange teenagers attack and murder a blue-haired kid. But Clary is at a loss for words when the body disappears and she is the only one who can see the teenagers. This is how Clary meets the Shadowhunters. Shadowhunters are demon warriors. One Shadowhunters in particular, Jace, has her feeling things she never felt before for another person. Within 24 hours of meeting the Shadowhunters, Clary’s life has been turned upside down.

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:08:20 +0000

Sol and Connie Blink are new to Grand Creek. They move to town with their father (who is acting very strange) and stepmother. They quickly meet their new neighbor, Faye Holaderry, and her dog. Science buff Sol notices that her dog has an unusual bone in its mouth. He discovers it is a human femur. After an internet search, library visit, and a daring incident at Faye’s house, Sol and Connie come to realize that they are in real danger. This is a modernized version of Hansel and Gretel that is sure to please even the most reluctant reader.

Soulless

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:04:07 +0000

Alexia Tarabotti doesn’t fit in polite Victorian society. Maybe it’s because of her Italian father, her swarthy looks, or her spinster status. In addition, Alexia is soulless, a rare, secret even in 19th-century London where werewolves, vampire hives, and ghosts are accepted in society and government. The Scottish Alpha werewolf, Lord Conall Macon, is the only person that notices and appreciates Alexia’s looks and intelligence. Of course this puts them at odds as Lord Macon finds her both exasperating and enticing.

I am Number Four

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:46:09 +0000

They live among us in small communities all over the world. They look just like us but have powers beyond our imaginations. Nine Lorien children and their guardians arrived 10 years ago. Escaping a war with Mogadorians that destroyed their planet, the “Nine” came to earth to train and grow strong until they are able to return to their planet. But the Mogadorians know they are here and have started to hunt the “Nine” down. A charm requires that the “Nine” be killed in order. The first three have been killed. This is bad news for John Smith, aka Number 4.

Flipped

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:40:28 +0000

From the moment Juli met Bryce, she loved him. Unfortunately, Bryce did not feel the same way. From second to seventh grade, Juli has pursued Bryce. Her feelings can be summed by her comment “My Bryce. Still walking around with my first kiss.” His response to that is, “It’s been six years of strategic avoidance and social discomfort.” In eighth grade, there is a shift in feelings as Juli begins to see that Bryce might not be worthy of her feelings. As for Bryce, he can’t stop thinking about her and thinks he may have judged her too harshly.

Clockwork Angel

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:37:57 +0000

Sixteen year-old Tessa Gray moves from America to London to live with her brother after her aunt and guardian dies. At the dock, Tessa is not met by her brother but by the Dark Sisters. The Dark Sisters kidnap Tessa and force her to recognize her unknown ability to transform into other people. The Sisters threaten the life of her brother Nate unless she marries a shadowy figure, the Magister, who wants to exploit her abilities. Tessa escapes with the help of Shadowhunters, demon killers, who try to keep order in the Downworld.

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:31:49 +0000

Author Joyce Sidman and illustrator Pamela Zagarenski make the seasons come alive in this book. A Caldecott Honor book, Red Sings from the Treetops reveals the magic of the seasons using color. From the blue that dances on the summer lakes, to the purple on old leaves of fall, on to the white dazzle of winter, and back to the green tips of leaves in spring. Students will be captivated by the words and beauty of each page.

Peace, Locomotion

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:21:39 +0000

"I'm gonnna hold on to all these letters, and when we're living together again, they're gonna be the first present I give you."

Lonnie, a twelve-year-old boy, is still adjusting to his new foster home while dealing with the loss of both parents and and his separation from his younger sister who was placed in a different foster home.

Lonnie is the oldest and feels that it is his duty to keep all of the memories alive for him and his sister. Each day he writes a letter that hold memories of their past, present and future plans.

Tell the Truth BB Wolf

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:37:17 +0000

I am sure you have heard the story of the three little pigs, well the big bad wolf has been thinking that he would like to change history a bit. So when Miss Wonderly from the public library invites him to tell how he met the three little pigs, he retells the story in a manner more to his liking these days. The problem is, his story simply isn’t true. Much like Mind Your Manner B.B. Wolf, the wolf has a lesson to be learned.

The Good Soldiers

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:34:22 +0000

The Good Soldiers is an in-depth account of the 2007 Iraq war effort known as “The Surge ” as told by Pulitzer Prize winning author, David Finkel. Finkel followed the Battalion 2-16 into Baghdad and chronicles their 15 month stay in a treacherous section of Baghdad known as Rustamiyah. “Everything in Rustamiyah was the color of dirt, and stank. If the wind came from the east, the smell was of raw garbage, and if the wind came from the west, the smell was of burning trash.

Lost Boy: The Story of the Man Who Created Peter Pan

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:28:42 +0000

Everyone knows the name Peter Pan. In this biography of James Matthew Barrie the twin stories of J.M. Barrie and the creation of Peter Pan are told in beautiful illustrations by Steve Adams, quotes from Peter Pan, and the narrative of Jane Yolen. James Barrie was always the adventurous child, and remained so into adulthood, befriending the five boys of the Llewelyn Davies family on his daily walks in the park with his Saint Bernard, Porthos. From the magic of play, he gained the inspiration for Peter Pan.

Secrets of the Cicada Summer

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:25:32 +0000

Lily glides through life silently. She hasn’t spoken since her brother Pete died a few years back. No one pays to much attention to her in school. She comes and goes as she pleases because her teacher, like all the adults in her life, isn’t too sure what Lily understands anymore. She has become practically invisible, allowing her to become the super sleuth that she admires most, Nancy Drew. Secretly, she has smuggled each of the Nancy Drew books out of the school library and read it more than once.

Born To Run

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:22:48 +0000

Was man born to run? Suffering from sore feet due to running, Christopher McDougall poses the question in a book that is part mystery, part adventure story, part runner’s manual, and part high-tech scientific discovery. “It all began with a simple question that no one could answer. It was a five word puzzle that led me to a photo of a very fast man in a very short skirt, and from there it only got stranger.

The Dork Diaries

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:12:19 +0000

Guest Bookcast - Lauren, a 4th grader at Fremont Elementary in Fowler,created this bookcast of her favorite summer read. She said it was a fun story and she "laughed a lot while reading it."

The Grimm Legacy

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:10:09 +0000

After Elizabeth writes a research paper on the Grimm Brothers, her social studies teacher helps her get a job at the New York City Circulating Repository. Elizabeth thinks this might be her chance to make friends and extra cash. She soon learns that the Repository is not a normal library as she first believed. It lends out objects-such as tea sets or wig worn by Marie Antoinette. The Repository also houses the Brothers Grimm collection in a secret room in the basement. Magical items- such as the mirror from the Snow White tale or the seven-league boots- are housed in that room.

Wicked Girls - A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:07:14 +0000

Wicked Girls is a fictional novel about the Salem witch trials of 1692. Based on true historical characters and events, it is told in verse from the perspective of three young ladies—Mercy Lewis, Margaret Walcott, and Ann Putnam Jr. It begins when two girls fall ill and begin to have fits and visions that are attributed to witchcraft. Soon Ann, Margaret and Mercy are afflicted with the ability to see who among them are truly witches and wizards.

Bruiser

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:04:27 +0000

The entire student body voted Brewster, aka Bruiser, “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty.” He has no friends and doesn’t talk to anyone. Rumors of his violent nature fall him everywhere. So when Tennyson, a lacrosse star, learns that his sister Bronte is dating Brewster, he decides to follow him home. Tennyson’s attitude softens as he sees the bruises on Brewster’s body and the abusive behavior of his uncle. Bronte and Tennyson befriend Brewster but soon discover that as their cuts, bruises and pains vanish, Brewster is incurring new injuries every day.

Elijah of Buxton

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:01:15 +0000

Elijah is the first child to be born free in Buxton. Buxton is a settlement of runaway slaves in Canada. Elijah has heard the stories of the significance of his birth. How Frederick Douglass came to town to celebrate the birth of the first free black man. But his “normal” life at school and at home still buggers him. There is the preacher who is always getting him in trouble even though he is supposed to be a man of God, and his best friend Cooter who has to be kept from doing stupid things.

The Red Pyramid

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:55:49 +0000

Rick Riordan, the author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has turned out another action, adventure series. The Red Pyramid is the first of the Kane Chronicles, which combine present day teenagers Carter and Sadie Kane with the mysteries of ancient Egypt. Carter and Sadie are the children of the famous Egyptologist Julius Carter who travels the world lecturing about ancient Egypt. But even his children think it is odd when he chooses to spend Christmas Eve with them at the British Museum.

Skulduggery Pleasant

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:52:01 +0000

Skeletal detective Skulduggery Pleasant is on a case. He believes Gordon Edgley was murdered by dark forces… Stephanie Edgley, Gordon’s niece, is also doing a little detective work as she tries to figure out why her uncle would leave all his possessions to her instead of the rest of her family… Nefarian Serpine wants something from the Edgley estate and he will do anything to get it. Fireballs, bullets, and black magic are the weapons used in this war between good and evil. Skulduggery Pleasant has been nominated for a California Young Ready Medal 2010-2011

Good Enough

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:47:16 +0000

Korean-American teen Patti knows pressure. In order to make her parents happy, Patti must:

1. Get a perfect score on her SATs,
2. Get into HarvardYalePrinceton, and
3. Don’t talk to boys (who distract you from studying.).

Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:44:39 +0000

Charlie Healey wants nothing more than to start high school drama free. Her middle school years were torture due to her mean girl frenemies. Charlie was on the verge of becoming a mean girl herself. Her new high school and its high academic standards, will give Charlie a new start. On her first day, she runs into her old neighbor and former best friend, Will. He moved away a few years ago but has returned hot and popular. Charlie also meets Sydney and Nidhi, who shared in her middle school misery.

For Keeps

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:41:38 +0000

It has always been Josie and her mother Kate against the world. They are a team and Josie wouldn’t have it any other way. Until she accidentally meets up with her grandparents…the parents of the father she never met. And if her grandparents are back in town, does that mean her father is too? Josie’s life is changing as her mother begins a new relationship, her best friend, Liv, begins a new fling, and she is on the verge of having a boyfriend of her own.

Sucks to be Me

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:38:06 +0000

You think you have problems? Mina is the daughter of two vampires, who kept her hidden from the Vampire Council. Unfortunately, the council has discovered her existence and has given Mina four weeks to decide if she wants to be a vampire. Although she grew up knowing her parents were vampires, Mina is not sure she wants to be one. Now Mina must take vampire classes, worry about getting a date to the prom, and figure out the rest of her life. Sucks to Be Me is an entertaining, quirky read that teens will devour, especially reluctant readers.

The Heist Society

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:34:17 +0000

When she was three, Katarina “Kat” Bishop visited the Louvre with her parents. Not to visit but to case the joint. Now fifteen, she has just pulled her best con: scamming her way into the finest boarding school. She was out of the family biz for good. But she is pulled back into her family’s world, when her father is accused of stealing a priceless art collection by a scary, powerful Italian mobster. Kat believes her father is innocent but he can’t prove it because Interpol has him under surveillance. Kat and her teenage crew have 14 days to return the artwork or her father will be killed.

The Afterlife

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:32:09 +0000

The Afterlife by local author Gary Soto begins with the main character, Chuy, being murdered at a dance. Chuy spends the next few days drifting over his home town of Fresno and visiting grieving family and friends. He sees his mom trying to convince a cousin to exact revenge against Chuy’s killer. At a basketball game, he witnesses his friend’s grief but realizes it won’t last too long. He tries, unsuccessfully, to save a homeless man. Then Chuy meets Crystal, a popular cheerleader, who has committed suicide rather than dealing with her fear of failure.

Closed for the Season

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:17:12 +0000

Thirteen year-old Logan Forbes and his family have just moved from Richmond to the small town of Bealesville, Virginia. He is greeted by his new neighbor, Arthur, who tells Logan right off that the previous owner, Mrs. Donaldson, had been murdered in his new house. Mrs. Donaldson was killed while under an umbrella of suspicion. She was rumored to have embezzled millions from The Magic Forest, a local amusement park, and she was murdered by people looking for the stolen money. Logan and his new friend make it their summer quest to solve the mystery of the murder and the missing funds.

The Carrie Diaries

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:14:40 +0000

Before Carrie met Mr. Big, she was a small-town girl in high school who was ready to begin her life. But first she has to navigate her way through her senior year, bad boyfriends, ugly break-ups, and a best friend’s betrayal. This coming of age novel shows how Carrie evolved into a strong, independent and insightful writer. We learn about her family background and early friendships and relationships that had a lasting influence on her life. Although teens that follow Sex in the City will love this book, it is a good stand alone novel as well.

Umbrella Summer

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:10:50 +0000

Annie Richards use to be the most adventurous girl in her neighborhood. Now she won’t get on her bike without a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and ace badges for her ankles. Annie will only ride her bike in “turtle races” where the winner is the slowest. Why is Annie so fearful and overly cautious? Her older brother, Jared, died from an undiagnosed heart ailment last year, and Annie and her parents have not been the same. Annie’s overly cautious behavior is beginning to cause problems with her friends.

All Unquiet Things

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:07:17 +0000

This great mystery begins with Neily standing on a bridge looking over the spot where he found his ex-girlfriend, Carly, dead a year ago. Neily feels a lot a guilt over her murder because he was the last person Carly called and he did not answer. Could he have saved her? Carly’s uncle was convicted of her murder, but his daughter Audrey is certain that he is innocent. Audrey convinces Neily to help her find the “real” murder. As they follow the clues, Audrey and Neily come to terms how Carly’s self-destructive behavior and death has affected them.

Bullet Point

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:05:06 +0000

Wyatt was doing well in school and exceptional in baseball. Except for his rocky relationship with his step-father, things were going pretty good. Then the economy tanked and the school cut the baseball program. His coach found a picture of Wyatt’s ball playing dad while cleaning out his office and gives it to Wyatt. This photograph causes Wyatt to start thinking about his father and his life as a criminal doing time for murder. A series of chance events and a strange girl, named Greer, brings Wyatt to the prison to meet his father for the first time. He is nothing like Wyatt imagined.

Greetings from Planet Earth

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 23:01:40 +0000

If you had one minute to describe life on Earth, what would you say? It is 1977 and that is exactly the assignment that Theo’s Science teacher has given him. What is most important? For Theo 's best friend Kenny, the most important thing about Earth is football, Redskins football. But for Theo, figuring out what is most important leads to a lot of unanswered questions, like where did his dad go? He knows his dad went away to fight during Vietnam, but what happened to him? Why won’t his mother talk about his dad?

Crazy Weekend

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:58:38 +0000

Hector and Mando jump at the idea of going on vacation when Hector's mom suggests it, until they find out their vacation is with Uncle Julio in Fresno. Uncle Julio is a photographer who makes a meager living photographing people’s property and pets, but he is happy to entertain the boys. Unfortunately the entertainment turns dangerous when they witness and photograph an armored car robbery. Now Julio and the boys are watching their backs.

Rikers High

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:56:25 +0000

Martin Stokes has been in Rikers jail for 5 months for a crime he did not commit. He thought his neighborhood was bad but it was nothing compared to living in Rikers. During a return trip from court, Martin gets caught between two warring prisoners and his face gets sliced. The good news is that while in the jail hospital he finds out that he has been transferred to a different section of Rikers where inmates are required to attend high school. At Rikers High, Martin meets a teacher who genuinely cares about his students and wants to help them turn their lives around.

The Rock and the River

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:53:35 +0000

Its 1968 in Chicago at the height of the civil rights movement and thirteen year old Sam is torn between two men and their beliefs. On one side is his father, Roland Childs, a civil rights activist, lawyer, and close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (he is a fictional character). His father believes you can effect change through nonviolence. On the other side is Sam’s older brother and best friend, Stick. Stick has been drifting away from his relationship with Sam due his increasing involvement with the Black Panthers. Sam does not know what to believe or what side to choose.

Witch & Wizard

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:50:46 +0000

Wisty and her older brother Whit were your average teens. They lived with their parents, went to school, and hung-out with friends. Then the New Order and its leader, The One Who Is The One, came into power and everything changed. Wisty and Whit are arrested in their home for reasons unknown to them. They are allowed to take one item each. Their parents thrust a drumstick and a book without words into their hands and off they go. After an unjust hearing, the teens are sentenced to death for being a witch and wizard.

The Body Finder

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:46:46 +0000

Violet Ambrose’s junior year of high school is not off to a good start. Her feelings for her best friend, Jay are changing. Jay and Violet have been best friends since first grade, but now Violet gets butterflies in her stomach when they are together. Those butterflies are nothing compared to the sensation she gets when she sense a dead body is near. Since she was a little girl, Violet can feel the “energy or sensory echo“ left by those murdered or by those who kill. Violet has never tried to control or direct her power until a serial killer arrives in her town targeting girls her age.

One Crazy Summer

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:39:39 +0000

Summer, 1968 and Delphine and her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, are taking a plane ride from Brooklyn to Oakland. Their father is sending them to visit their mother Cecile. Cecile, a poet, abandoned her daughters years ago and resents this forced visitation. She barely speaks to them, feeds them Chinese take-out every meal, and refuse to let them in her kitchen. There are no fun trips to the beach or Disneyland planned, instead Cecile sends them to the Black Panthers summer camp and they are told to stay out all day.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:30:05 +0000

50 years ago, many diseases such as cancer were an immediate death sentence and people were expected to live to about 65. Today, medical advances have made it possible to survive many afflictions and life expectancy has increased to 76.5. Things like cloning, genetic engineering and other biological advances sound like science fiction but are now a reality; however, just because we have these capabilities is it ethical to perform them on humans?

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:25:46 +0000

Calpurnia Tate is a daughter of scientific investigation thanks to her grandfather’s tutelage. Unfortunately, it is the summer of 1899 and Callie’s mother considers her scientific endeavors to be inappropriate for a well bred young lady from Texas. She must improve her stitchery and knitting, learn to cook, and practice the piano to satisfy her mother. She needs to be more like her best friend Lula who’s ultra feminine-beauty has not been lost on Callie’s six brothers. But Callie would rather be exploring the river with her bug net and notebook.

Going Bovine

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:23:01 +0000

You can’t have less going for you than Cameron Smith. He is sixteen, has no car, has poor grades, has a beautiful stuck up twin sister in stark contrast to himself, and no friends to speak of other than the stoners who hang out in the fourth floor bathroom. Things couldn’t get much worse, or could they? He has just been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s disease, also known as Mad Cow disease. It’s incurable and fatal. With death looming in his near future, Cameron sets out on a cross country adventure to find the meaning of what life he has left and maybe a cure.

Unwind

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:20:45 +0000

In the near future, the United States is torn apart in another civil war. This time the war is over abortion. After the war, a “Bill of Life” is created and a new way of defining life emerges. Abortions are no longer legal and a child’s life is protected until age 13. Then children between the ages of ages 13-18 can unwound or retroactively aborted. Unwinding is the process in which every body part is harvested and parceled out to those who need them. Technically, the person is not killed or aborted, but lives on in others.

The Morgue and Me

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:18:18 +0000

After his summer job at the university falls through, Chris finds another one at the morgue. As unexpected as working at the morgue is, it pales in comparison to the other summer events Chris encounters, such as murder cover-up that leads him to a full-blown blackmail ring. Chris’s career of choice is to be a spy, so he decides to investigate the cover-up. He and Tina, a young, sexy reporter looking for her big break, team up to discover that some pretty important citizens in their town are involved in blackmail, corruption, and murder.

The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:15:31 +0000

10 year old Liberty Aimes has never left her house at 33 Gooch Street. She is a virtual slave to her extremely overweight, spacey mother and her dreadful father, Mal, a self-described "friggin' genius.” And because Mal is a genius, only he is allowed to leave the house. Liberty’s search of the forbidden basement causes her to realize that Mal really is a genius, albeit an evil one. Mal has concocted talking animal potions and potions that allow one to float like a balloon.

Paper Towns

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:50:53 +0000

Quentin Jacobsen most well adjusted kid in America lives next door the to craziest most exotic teenager at his high school, Margo Roth Spiegelman. Her exploits are epic from sneaking into amusement parks at midnight to having drinks with the lead singer of an over the top rock and roll band. Quentin has been in love with her since grade school. So when Margo sneaks into Quentin’s bedroom window dressed as a ninja with black face paint and invites him on one of her adventures he can not resist her.

Wintergirls

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:45:59 +0000

This is an emotionally intense book in which the main character is drowning in a sea of anorexia and cutting, literally disappearing before our eyes. Lia and Cassie were best friends since the third grade until last year. That doesn’t stop Cassie from calling Lia 33 times before she died. Now Lia cannot stop the voice in her head blaming her, telling her to keep in control, stay strong, weigh less. Her dad is busy writing a book, her mom is busy saving other people, and her step-mother is clueless. But if she can reach her goal of 85 pounds then she will win.

The Giant Slayer

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:42:53 +0000

The Giant-Slayer is a wonderful, entertaining, and stirring story. It is set in the 1950’s when kids loved Davey Crockett and feared polio. Laurie, 11, knows a lot about polio from her dad, who everyday wages war against the disease through his job with the March of Dimes. Due to this war, Laurie is kept home and away from other children so as not to catch the disease. She is in good health but very lonely. Until her a new neighbor, Dickie, moves in down the street. Laurie is enjoying her first true friend when tragedy strikes: Dickie contracts polio.

Shiver

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:39:10 +0000

Grace, 17, has always been intrigued with the woods and wolves behind her house. One wolf, the one with yellow eyes, saved her when she was nine years old from an attack from other wolves. This wolf comes back every year and seems to have a connection with Grace. When a local teen is killed by wolves, hunters gather to find and kill the wolves responsible. Grace races through the woods looking for her wolf. She finds him injured and human on her back porch.

All the Broken Pieces

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:36:15 +0000

Two years later Matt Pin is still haunted by the mother, brother and grim secret he left behind in Vietnam. Matt was one of the lucky ones air lifted out after the fall of Saigon and was adopted by a caring family. He is bonding with his new parents and baby brother and has even become the star pitcher of his baseball team; however, there are those that resent him because he is a reminder of the Vietnam soldiers that did not make it home.

The Mysterious Case of the Allbright Academy

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:15:41 +0000

Franny knows she was accepted to the Allbright Academy because they were desperate to recruit her brilliant and talented younger sister, Zoe. Allbright accepts only the brightest students, the “leaders of tomorrow.” The campus, the teachers, and the food, especially the brownies, are all first rate and perfect. For Franny, it seems too perfect. The unspoken rule at Allbright is conformity and achievement above all else, even if it means breaking ties with the outside world.

When You Reach Me

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:12:12 +0000

Miranda and her best friend and neighbor Sal have been navigating their 1979 New York neighborhood since they were little kids. They know who is friendly, what parts are dangerous, and how to avoid the crazy guy on the corner. But things are changing in Miranda’s life, especially her relationship with Sal. After Sal get punched in the face for no reason, he starts to ignore Miranda. In addition, her well-hidden house key is stolen, the crazy guy on the corner gets crazier, and strange notes appear anonymously.

A Friendship for Today

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:08:14 +0000

This is the story of twelve year old Rosemary Patterson’s first year as the only African American student in the newly desegregated schools of Missouri. Rosemary must face the constant scrutiny of both members of her African American community, proud of the achievement, and the racial bias of her classmates. To make matters worse, her parent’s marriage is crumbling, and her closest friend is struggling for life with polio.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:02:34 +0000

Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, is a promising cartoonist growing up on a Spokane Indian reservation. Junior has had to face numerous problems: countless medical issues, bullies, an alcoholic father, and poverty so severe his family had to shoot their dog because there was no money for a vet. Junior is able to handle his misfortunes by having a fantastic sense of humor and a strong desire to be more than what is expected. His cartoon drawings are laugh-out-loud funny.

Blood on the River James Town 1607

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:52:23 +0000

After Samuel Collier is caught trying to steal the necklace that belonged to his dead mother, he is sent to Reverend Hunt’s orphanage. Reverend Hunt is going to the New World to convert the Natives and takes Samuel along to work as a page for Captain John Smith. Samuel cannot believe his good fortune. He has heard that gold washes up on the shore; however, he soon learns that this adventure will not be easy. From the stormy sea voyage to first contact with the Natives, Samuel learns that the New World is beautiful and frightening.

Alabama Moon

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:39:58 +0000

Moon is ten years old and has lived all his life in the forest with his father, a Vietnam veteran who hates the government. His only interaction with the outside world has been a few trips to a small grocery store just outside the forest boundary. His father has taught Moon the academic basics, but mainly he has taught him to survive. Those survival skills come in handy when Moon’s world is turned upside down with the death of his father.

Story of a Girl

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:37:04 +0000

Deanna is 13 when her father catches her having sex in a car with 17 year old Tommy Webber, her brother’s friend. Three years later, her father still can’t look her in the eye. At school, she is branded a slut and has to deal with the smirks and jokes from Tommy when she runs into him in their small town. She feels disconnected from her friends as they begin to date and from her brother, Darren,a struggling teenage parent. Deanna’s only outlet is writing in a journal about a girl in similar circumstances.

Saint Iggy

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:08:41 +0000

Iggy was thrown out of school and nobody cares. Not his mom, who is living in a meth house, or his dad stoned on the couch. The social worker can’t call because the phone has been disconnected again. The thing is Iggy is not a bad kid and does not want to be kicked out of school for good. His principal tells him that "You've had a lot to overcome...but....We can all...do something that contributes...." Iggy decides in that moment to find a way back into school. “Something to contribute” becomes Iggy’s mantra.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:04:47 +0000

Zoe Elias wants to be like the great pianists her mom listens to on public radio, but instead of a piano, her dad buys her an old player organ with faux wood and vinyl seating, the Perfectone D-60. It comes with a song book that features hits from the sixties and seventies and Ms. Person, a ginger ale drinking organ teacher. Zoe’s dreams of Carnegie Hall are dashed until Ms. Person enters her in the Perform-O-Rama organ competition. This is a California Young Reader Medal Nominee for 2009-10.

No Talking

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:59:23 +0000

Boys against the girls, it is a common theme at school, but at Laketon Elementary the fifth graders have taken things to an extreme, the boys and girls absolutely DON’T get along. In addition, they talk all the time. Their teachers call them the “unshushables” because they are so noisy. Their principal Mrs. Hiatt monitors lunch each day with a bright red bullhorn to maintain order. Imagine her reaction when she enters the cafeteria for fifth grade lunch one day and discovers complete silence. The fifth graders at Laketon Elementary have gone silent. It’s a girl/boy conspiracy and Mrs.

Boys are Dogs

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:56:11 +0000

Annabelle’s life totally changed while she was away at summer camp. Her Mom moved them across town to live with her new boyfriend. She was forced to change schools, separating her from all of her friends, and as a peace offering she was given a new puppy that is literally chewing through everything. But the worst thing yet has been the boys at her new school who push her around and call her names. This is her hilarious survival guide for making friends, understanding boys, and training a new puppy.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and other Scary Things

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:54:01 +0000

Alvin Ho needs help. He is afraid of EVERYTHING, well almost everything. The short list includes elevators, tunnels, bridges, airplanes, thunder, substitute teachers, kimchi, wasabi, the dark, heights, scary movies, scary dreams, shots, and school. His fear of school is the worst one by far because Alvin can’t talk when he’s afraid, making Alvin silent at school. Flea his desk partner says that he talks with his eyes at school and his mouth at home. Without a voice, it is hard to make friends. Alvin feels like he is really missing out. Maybe his PDK, Personal Disaster Kit, will help.

The Facttracker

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:47:04 +0000

Traakerfaxx’s economy depends on facts. The mysterious Facttracker locates and collects facts from all over the world and gives them to the residents of Traakerfaxx to sell. He also gives everyone their personal facts, except for the “just small enough boy,” whose facts and parents were lost when he was just a baby. When an unfortunate explosion in the Fact factory causes the town to lose its facts, Ersatz, the Facttracker’s twin brother, comes to town seemly to save the day.

Bonechiller

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:42:12 +0000

Danny and his dad have been moving every few months ever since the death of Danny's mother. They are at the end of the line: Harvest Cove. Every year two-thirds of the population leaves for warmer climate, making Harvest Cove a ghost town in the middle of Canada's Big Empty. On his way home after hanging-out with his new friends, Howie, Pike, and Ash, Danny is chased by a large white man/animal monster. It corners Danny but instead of eating him, the monster stings him.

Tomorrow Code

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:03:06 +0000

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner was truly a roller coaster read. Tane and Rebecca are two friends just hanging out one night when the subject of time travel comes up. Rebecca is a true genius in science and math and attempts to explain time travel theories to Tane. They try to figure out time travel on their computer when they suddenly get a message that seems to be from the future. It has the winning numbers for the lottery the next day. They are rich!

The Dead and the Gone

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:00:15 +0000

The Dead and the Gone is a companion book to Pfeffer's Life As We Knew It, which looked at the apocalyptic event from the small-town perspective. The Dead and the Gone, tells the story from the big city perspective of New Yorker Alex Morales and his siblings. Alex works the counter at pizza joint and worries about getting about his grades high enough to attend a good college. That all changes one night when an asteroid hits the moon and knocks it closer to earth catastrophically changing the climate.

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:03:05 +0000

Informative and appealing, this biography of Amelia Earhart is a delightful read. An adult points out a plane in the sky to Amelia when she is 11, but the flying bug did not bite until Amelia was a nurseís aide during World War I. By the 1920's, Amelia was famous for setting many flying records, including being the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The story is told from her childhood to her disappearance in 1937. It includes many sidebars and historical photos as well as paintings that depict the beauty of flight.

Little Britches and the Rattlers

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:56:09 +0000

If you and your students are in need of a rootin-tootin good time, then read Little Britches and the Rattlers by Eric Kimmel. Little Britches is on her way to the rodeo to compete in the calf-roping contest. Along the way, she meets seven rattlesnakes who want to eat her up. Her only escape is to give each one a piece of her cowboy garb. With some quick-thinking, Little Britches might be able to get her clothes back and make it to the rodeo on time. Set in the desert of Texas, the illustrations are done in beautiful browns, reds and yellows. The snakes are hilarious in the cowboy garments.

Princess Peepers

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:52:11 +0000

Princess Peepers has a great collection of glasses and is proud to wear them but that all changes when the other princesses make fun of her and her glasses. She decides to pack away her glasses in order to fit in at the Royal Ball. This leads to all sorts of mistakes: thinking a horse is a princess, the kitchen is the dungeon, and mistaking the dog for the Grand Matron. Princess Peepers gets the last laugh and lives happily ever after when she meets Prince Peerless. He wears glasses, too! This is a sure fire hit for story time.

Gone

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:41:11 +0000

One day in the scenic town of Perdido Beach everyone over 13 years-old disappeared. They disappeared performing their everyday activities, such as the grandfather who disappears while driving, leaving his granddaughter severely injured or the mother who left the stove burners on that lead to a fire trapping her infant. Some of the kids try to create order as food and medical supplies diminish and bullies start to victimize the young and weak.

The Forest of Hands and teeth

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:27:46 +0000

Mary’s whole life has been dominated by fences and rules. The Sisterhood makes the rules and the Guardians make sure the rules are enforced. But the harshest rule is that the Unconsecrated will never give up. The fence that surrounds her village keeps the Unconsecrated, flesh eating zombies, out and protects the villagers from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Many of the Unconsecrated are relatives and friends of villagers. Mary life is simple but decided (she is marrying a man she does not love) and she dreams that one day she will see the mysterious ocean her mother told her of.

The One and Only Marigold

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:23:49 +0000

Marigold is a bold, brash monkey that definitely walks to the beat of a different drummer. Her story is told in four interconnected stories. In the first story, Marigold refuses to give up her best friend: her purple coat. She wears the coat everywhere even to bed. She and her best friend Maxine alternately bug and love each other. Heide has created a character full of self-confidence and fabulous attitude that leaves the reader chuckling out-loud. Jill McElmurry's winning illustrations only add more charm and personality to Marigold, a character we won’t soon forget.

Duel

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:04:16 +0000

“As the sun rises on a July morning in 1804, two men stand ten paces apart on a New Jersey clifside. One is Alexander Hamilton, signer of the Constitution. The other is Aaron Burr, the vice-president of the United States. They are risking arrest-and their lives-to fight an illegal pistol duel.”

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:29:35 +0000

Frankie Landau-Banks really changed during the summer of her freshman and sophomore year. She went from being a somewhat geeky girl that her father called “Bunny Rabbit” to a curvy and sharp tongued girl. When her sophomore year at the highly competitive Alabaster Preparatory Academy begins, Frankie catches the attention of popular senior Matthew. He finds her adorable and they begin dating. At first Frankie is happy for the attention from Matthew and his popular friends, but soon she realizes that Matthew and his crew think she is cute but brainless.

I Put a Spell on You

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:21:27 +0000

The annual spelling bee in the small town of Preston might have been fixed and there is a long list of suspects that includes parents, teachers, even the principal.

Reaching Out

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:15:49 +0000

Reaching Out is an autobiographical account of the hardships award-winning author Francisco Jimenez faced as a student at the University of Santa Clara.

The Trouble with Dragons

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:10:08 +0000

The Trouble with Dragons is an absolutely stunning story that is at once a fantastic rhyming ode to dragons and a warning to the hazards of being environmentally careless.

Hunger Games

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:04:47 +0000

In the ruins of what use to be the United States of America, is the country of Panem. Divided into 12 desperately poor districts and the capital where all the wealth is concentrated. Panem holds an annual ritual called the Hunger Games. Created as a reminder to the districts that rebelling against the Capital is useless, the Hunger Gamers require that every year each district must put the names of every boy and girl between ages of 12 and 18 into a bowl. A boy and girl are chosen and they will represent their district in the games.

Marco Polo

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:06:53 +0000

In a beautifully illustrated book, Demi has told the amazing story of Marco Polo. Born in 1254 to a wealthy merchant family in Venice, Italy, Marco Polo began his journey east with his father and uncle. Traveling by foot, camel, boat, and pack mule, they faced many challenges and dangers. They escaped bandits near Armenia, terrifying dust storms, bitter cold mountains, and more. The Polo saw amazing things, such as oil that sprang from the ground and was used for light, clothes made of gold, mines filled with rubies, and strange animals.

The Patron Saint of Butterflies

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:02:39 +0000

The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante is an intriguing story about friendship, finding one's voice, and the power of love. The timing for this book is great in light of the recent news about fundamental religious cults. Honey and Agnes have been friends since the crib. They live in a commune outside of Fairfield, Connecticut called Mount Blessing. Their lives are regulated with stringent rules. Agnes and Honey start to feel different about their lives and each other.

Daniel Half Human

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:53:40 +0000

Until 1933, Daniel lived a very privileged life in Germany. He lives in a beautiful home in the best neighborhood and attends one of the best schools in the city. His father is a war-hero and well-respected lawyer. His best friend is Armin, a scholarship student at his school. Daniel has been warned to stay away from Armin, especially after they get caught for painting a swastika on a building in the hated communist section of Hamburg. In their cell, Armin and Daniel cut their wrist and swear a blood oath of eternal brotherhood.

Hurricane Song

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:43:56 +0000

Hurricane Song by Paul Volponi is a very powerful novel about Hurricane Katrina and how one family survived not only Katrina but their stay in the Superdome.

The Wednesday Wars

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:40:30 +0000

It's 1967 and Holling Hoodhood is not having a good year. Not only is Vietnam and hippies on his mind, he has started the seventh grade and he knows his teacher, Mrs. Baker, is secretly out to get him. What other possible reason would she have to make him read Shakespeare outside of class? In addition, his father is pressuring him to be on his best behavior because the future of Hoodhood & Associates depends on it. But trouble from rats, cream puffs, bullies, and costumes with tights is making it very difficult.

Rumors: A Luxe Novel

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:37:44 +0000

With Elizabeth Holland presumed dead, it is now up to her sister Diana to find a rich and suitable husband to restore the family fortune. Diane can not let go of her love for Henry Schoonmaker nor can the scheming Penelope Hayes. In addition, former Holland maid Lina Broad is trying to penetrate the world of high society, where money and breeding count but gossip is her ticket in.

Friends will become enemies and lives will be destroyed by scandal, rumors, and secrets in the sequel to Luxe, Rumors by Anna Godbersen.

The Boxer and the Spy

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:35:26 +0000

Jason Green is dead, an apparent suicide. The police link it to steroid use but fifteen year-old boxer Terry does not believe it was suicide. Jason was a shy, reserved kid and steroids just wasn't his style, Terry recalls.Terry, with help from friends, decides to start his own investigation into the death. His questions place him and his friends in danger, but Terry refuses to give up the fight. Good thing he knows a little about fighting.

Frozen Fire

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:30:18 +0000

It all begins with a phone call to Dusty and a voice whispering "I'm dying." Dusty doesn't know how he got her number or why he called and tries to hang-up, but finds herself unable to disconnect. The boy seems to know a lot about her private life and thoughts, especially her feelings regarding her missing brother, Josh. He begins to draw Dusty in and Dusty wants to find and help him; however, this proves to be difficult as the boy seems to be part-human, part-specter and won't let himself be found. In addition, Dusty is not the only one looking for him.

The Missing Girl

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:25:48 +0000

The Missing Girl by Norma Fox Mazer is a psychological thriller that is hard to put down. A man, it could be any ordinary man walking down the street, has been watching with great interest and scrutiny the five Herbert girls-Beauty, Mim, Stevie,Fancy, and Autumn. The sisters are unaware of the man's disturbing fascination and have been carrying on as usual, completely unaware of the danger that lurks and waits.

Dragon Pizzaria

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:23:06 +0000

Dragons BeBop and Spike are two friends with special talents. BeBop is a great cook and Spike just likes to go fast! They decide to open a pizza shop. BeBop will cook great tasting pizzas and Spike will deliver them fast. Soon everyone in Fairy Tale Land is ordering up pizzas and Spike is delivering them on roller-skates, unicycles and even a hot-air balloon.

This book combines two things kids like: dragons and pizza. Kids will not be able to resist the funny dialogue that keeps them guessing the identity of different fairy tale characters.

Halloween Night

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:20:23 +0000

In the grand tradition of the poem "The Night Before Christmas," Murray has written a spooky, but fun book about Halloween night. The witch and the banshees are preparing for a Halloween party that will be the best ever. So get your students ready, because they have been invited.

Read this great read aloud to your students this October.

Gorganzola, A Very STINKYsaurus

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:14:36 +0000

When dinosaurs ruled the world, they were ferocious and scary and Gorgonzola was the most feared. Oh, not for his size, although he was large, he wasn't really that scary. No, Gorgonzola terrorized others with his DO...the feared dinosaur odor. A brave bird decides the madness must stop and shows Gorgonzola how to soap-up and practice good hygiene.

Readers will enjoy the tale of the smelliest dino in Jurassic history.

Gorgonzola will enhance any hygiene lesson.

The Luxe

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:09:42 +0000

"It was the old New York way...the way of people who dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than scenes, except the behaviour of those that gave rise to them."

-Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:01:30 +0000

Peter Sis uses drawings, personal memories, and historical facts to illustrate his childhood behind the Iron Curtain. Born at the start of the Cold War, Sis recounts his happy childhood to his adolescence when he begins to learn more about the West. As he discovers blue jeans, Coca-Cola, rock-in roll, beat poetry and more, we begin to feel his desire to be free.

Life as We Knew It

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:58:33 +0000

Imagine your life without electricity, heat, air conditioning, phones, and limited food and water. How would you survive? Would you survive? Miranda must face all these issues and more in Susan Beth Pfefferís Life As We Knew It.

Pop's Bridge

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:52:40 +0000

The bridge in Pop's Bridge is the famous Golden Gate. Some people said that it couldn't be built. Robert and Charlieís fathers are helping to prove them wrong. From Fort Point, Robert and Charlie can actually see it happening. Robert believes his father, a high-climbing ironworker, has the most important job on the project. Much more important the Charlie's dad, a mere painter. Robertís view is altered after a tragedy occurs on the bridge and he realizes that every worker is plays an important part.

Please Louise!

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:50:21 +0000

"Louise never left her brother Jake alone." So begins the charming, tender story Please, Louise! Vivacious and energetic Louise follows her brother everywhere, much to his dismay. He tries everything to get her to stay away. Finally, Jake escapes to the yard to read under a tree, and begins to wish that Louise would transform into a dog. Suddenly, he realizes that it is not Louise under the tree next to him but a dog. Is it possible his wish has come true and is that what he really wants?

The wonderful dialogue and illustrations make Please, Louise the perfect read-aloud!

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:47:36 +0000

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village depicts life in an English village during the Middle Ages. Each vignette, is written in verse. The characters come from all walks of life and most are young.
From the lord's daughter who feels her social status is based on "the Lord God who chose my father to rule/the same way he chose them to serve," down to the beggar, Giles, looking for his next meal. In addition, the book offers historical facts and definitions, written in the margins, and lovely illustrations by Robert Byrd.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:43:02 +0000

Winner of the 2008 Caldecott Award, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is an innovative, smart, and visually exciting new book. Hugo lives in the walls of the Paris train station. His father died in a museum fire and he was sent to live with his uncle, the clock caretaker for the train station. Not long after, Hugoís uncle walks out the door and never returns. Fearful of being sent to an orphanage, Hugo begins to service the clocks as not to arise any suspicion.

My Name is Gabito

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:40:03 +0000

My Name is Gabito is based on the life of Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Gabito grows up in a world of wonder and magic. He is raised by his grandparents and his home is filled with lots of family and a 100 year old parrot named Lorenzo. This environment and the people who inhabit his world will form the foundation for his stories. Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s tales are renowned throughout the world. The stories are mainly about people and places found in Columbia, both real and imagined. Read this inspiring book about an inspiring life.

Bear's Day Out

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:37:33 +0000

Bear spends his days wading and playing in the surf near his cave. One day the wind brings noises from the city. Bear decides to travel to the city and give life there a chance. In the beginning, Bear enjoys the sights, sounds and smell of the city, but the hustle and bustle becomes to much and he longs for home. With some assistance from his new friends, Bear returns to his peaceful cave by the sea.Written in rhyme, this book is great for story time. Check out Bear’s Day Out today!

Dussie

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:26:03 +0000

Dussie enters puberty in a very frightening way. She wakes up to find not only did she start her period but on her head are slithering snakes. Her mother, a Gorgon from Greek Mythology and sister to Medusa, had hoped that Dussie would be spared the snakes because she is half-mortal. No such luck! Dussie tries to deal with the snakes and with her growing crush on a boy at school. But when her snakes are discovered, she learns another family secret...she can turn people into stone.

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:22:34 +0000

Velma feels she does not belong in the first grade. Everyone has “magnificent memories of the older Gratch girls” but no one remembers Velma’s name. She even tries to misbehave in hopes of being notice; however, things begin to change with a science lesson about butterflies and a trip to the Butterfly Conservatory. Her sisters never went on a field trip there or learned about butterflies. At the Conservatory, a monarch roosts on Velma’s finger and refuses to budge. This event transforms Velma’s world.

Armando and the Tarp School

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:03:26 +0000

Armando and his family live in a colonia (neighborhood) near the Tijuana, Mexico’s city dump. During the day, he and his father search through the foul-smelling garbage for items they can sell or use. More than anything, Armando wants to attend Senor David’s school. The school is a blue tarp set up on the dirt. At first, Armando’s parents refuse to allow him to attend the school. His father tells Armando that he is “older now…I wish things could be different. But we are pepenadores, trash pickers.

You Never Heard of Sandi Koufax?

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:34:21 +0000

Winter begins this amazing book with an incredulous “you never heard of Sandy Koufax?!” Sandy Koufax is one of the best left-handed pitchers to have ever played the game. But he wasn’t always the best. The book tells of Koufax’s Jewish up bring in Brooklyn and how he excelled in sports. He was recruited by a major league scout in 1955 but he spent most of his time on the bench. His pitches were fast but wild.

John, Paul, George & Ben

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:30:13 +0000

John (Hancock), Paul (Revere), George (Washington), Ben (Franklin), and Tom (Jefferson) were once kids who were always getting into some kind of trouble for one reason or another. But their mischievous behavior will serve them well later on as Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Smith has done something amazing: made history fun. Kids will enjoy the Founding Father’s antics and the pen and ink cartoon illustrations, while the adults will enjoy the cleaver puns and sly humor.

A Visitor for Bear

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:24:13 +0000

Bear is quite sure he doesn’t like visitors. He even has a sign. So when a mouse taps on his door one day, Bear tells him to leave. But when Bear goes to the cupboard to get a bowl, there is the mouse — small and gray and bright-eyed. In this slapstick tale that begs to be read aloud, all Bear wants is to eat his breakfast in peace, but the mouse — who keeps popping up in the most unexpected places — just won’t go away! This is a California Young Reader Medal Nominee for 2010-2011.

I'd Really Like to Eat a Child

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:06:50 +0000

This is a retelling of I'd Really Like to Eat a Child by Suzie Dondlinger's 2nd grade class from Marshall Elementary in Fowler, Ca. The students created their own sentences to retell the entire story.

Egg Drop

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:38 +0000

This is a retelling of Egg Drop by the After School Program students at TL Reed Elementary in Reedley, Ca. Students created their own sentences to retell the story.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:53:36 +0000

Michael J. Fox, star of television and screen, dropped out of high school to pursue his acting career and went on to receive honorary degrees from prestigious colleges for acting and writing. He has now written a stirring and motivational book for graduates. Using his own life experiences and stories, he writes of coming to Los Angeles from Canada at age eighteen and attempting to make his way as an actor. Fox offers up a comically skewed take on how, in his own way, he fulfilled the requirements of a college syllabus.

A Frog Thing

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:50:48 +0000

Frank wasn't satisfied doing ordinary frog things. He wanted to fly, but he was a frog and frogs can't fly. Follow along as Frank jumps and runs and leaps and dives until he finally finds his place in the pond. The companion book on cd will transport you and your child into Frank's world with sound effects and wonderful performances by children and adults. This is a California Young Reader Medal Nominee for 2009-2010.

Addicted to Her

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:47:14 +0000

Local author Janet Nichols Lynch has written a very enjoyable story of young love and how easily it blinds us from the truth. Rafa is a junior in high school whose life has not always been easy but it has been planned: work to help his family, do well in school and win a wrestling scholarship. Beautiful Monique changes his life plan. She is the girl of his dreams and when she needs to be rescued from her racist boyfriend, Rafa steps in and gets the girl. He falls hard, his love boarding on obsession.

100 Cupboards

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:32:18 +0000

After his parents are kidnapped, Henry York moves from Boston to a small town in Kansas. He will be living with his Aunt, Uncle and three cousins. When a piece of plaster falls on him, Henry starts to poke at the exposed wall and finds 99 hidden cupboards. Each cupboard door is different in color, wood, and size. He and his adventurous cousin, Henrietta discover the 100th cupboard in their deceased grandfather’s mysterious bedroom. The cupboards are actually portals to different worlds.

Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:25:15 +0000

Twelve Rounds to Glory is a collection of twelve rap-inspired poems that give an in-depth look at the life and times of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Each of the poems depict an important event or episode from Ali’s life. Illustrator Bryan Collier’s water colored collages are fantastic and give more emotional depth to the book.

Charles R. Smith Jr. has created a knock-out book that celebrates the life a boxing champ that was a true fighter in and out of the ring.

Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:56:03 +0000

Cracker, short for Firecracker, didn’t start out life intending to be a war dog. She is from a fine line of German shepherds and as a puppy won Best Puppy in Match three times before getting her leg caught in the chain link of her dog kennel and breaking it. She feels she is meant to be the companion of Willie, the eleven year old boy she was given to after her leg healed. Unfortunately, Willie’s dad has lost his job and the apartment they must now live in doesn’t allow dogs, so Cracker has been donated to the military to serve in Vietnam.

Zorgamazoo

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:42:26 +0000

She nearly was ready to give up her search, when the subway arrived in a lumbering lurch. It showered the station in glimmering light, and that’s when she saw something scurry from sight!

“Hey Krabby!” she whispered. “There’s something I see.
It’s smaller than you, but bigger than me.
It’s loping around in the tunnel, I swear!
It looked like a warthog, or maybe...a bear!”

You see, my good reader, this had happened before,
since Katrina Katrell - well shoved to explore!

Do begins the story of Katrina Katrell, all told in verse,

Coretta Scott

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:59:33 +0000

Done in poetic verses, the story begins with images of a young Coretta and her siblings walking the 5 miles to the nearest colored school. It quickly moves into her late teens and early twenties as Coretta takes on a leadership role as wife and partner to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and life within the civil rights movement. Accompanied with paintings by Kadir Nelson, the imagery helps the reader to capture the spirit of her character, and her struggles as she fought peacefully for a free world.

The Secret Olivia Told Me

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:36:01 +0000

This is the story of two friends, who share a secret. It starts off small and grows as the secret is shared amongst classmates on the playground. Do you have a Secret? What would you do if your secret got out? To find out what these girls did, you have to read the book.

Do Unto Otters : a book about manners

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:56:29 +0000

When the Otters move in next door to Mr. Rabbit, he does not know how to act with them. This is the story that highlights how to be a good neighbor and friend - just simply follow the Golden Rule!

Millie Waits for the Mail

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:51:54 +0000

Millie is unlike most other cows. She chews her cud and grazes in the fields with the others, but she doesn’t enjoy that nearly as much as she loves scaring the mail carrier. It’s too bad the mail carrier doesn’t have as much fun each time Millie comes up with a new way to surprise him. Who knew delivering the mail was going to be such a difficult job?

My Life as a Chicken

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:50:20 +0000

After escaping the frying pan, Pauline the chicken has an adventure that includes pirates, a typhoon, and a balloon ride before landing happily in what is to be her new home.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:00:19 +0000

William is a fourteen year old boy living in Malawi Africa. His village is one of agriculture, with little or no running water, little or no electricity. When his region is struck by drought and famine, William is forced to quit school and assist his family on their farm. As the months pass their survival is in question without crops and little food. Always a tinkerer, first with battery operated radios and then with electricity, Williams decides to build his family a source of electricity using the plans for a windmill found in a school library book.

Wake

bradoicich@fcoe.org (Fresno County Office of Education Library Services) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:46:42 +0000

Janie Hannagan has never had a break. She has no dad and her mom is a hopeless alcoholic, leaving her to support herself working nights at a convalescent hospital. Even so, she works hard at high school hoping that getting into college will change things for her. She keeps to her self because she has to. Janie has dreams, other people’s dreams swimming in her head all the time. She has never gotten close to anyone for fear of them knowing to much. Yet some how someone else knows, someone has started entering her dreams.