Somebody on this Bus is Going to be Famous by J. B. Cheaney

If you ride a bus, you know that each kid has his own story and dreams. Some live in the subdivision, others down the road. Life on it is ruled by the bus driver who is either nice or evil. On this bus, she leaves the students a mystery -- why does she makes a stop at the end of a road where no one is waiting? That is not the only mystery. Doing a report, Miranda learns about a mystery involving the class of 1985, which is the grad class of some of their parents, but NO ONE WANTS to talk about. The only thing about these mysteries is that they will affect everyone's future, either positively or negatively. It takes a tragedy to finally be able to solve both. Are you just like one of the kids? To find that out and see who and how they become famous, read the book.

Far North by Will Hobbs

If you love the Hatchet series, try this and you will find a new author who you will love. Gabe is in boarding school in Northwest Territories of Canada to be closer to his only parent, his dad. His roommate Raymond is one of the First Nation people but comes to school with an electric guitar and a hockey stick.  When Raymond's great uncle Johnny Ravin leaves the hospital to go home, the boys join him on the plane. When the pilot decides to show the boys some of the beauty of the wild country without letting air traffic controllers know, the trouble begins. It will be up to the boys to get themselves and the other survivor out, but being modern teens do they even know how? Johnny Ravin's worries about how the old ways are being lost may be right - how do you survive if you have lived your life dependent on others to supply all your needs? How many ways are there to die in the wilderness of Canada? Read this and you will learn about too many.

Julia's Kitchen by Brenda Ferber

Why do I include sad books? Maybe it is because some of the best books are mostly sad, but help you learn how to handle the same problem if it ever happens to you. Or sometimes when you are junior high age, you enjoy sad books because you are glad it will never happen to you. I would not wish what happens to Cara even on my worst enemy. How can you go from being happy having a sleepover with your friend one minute to having the worst thing that could ever happen in the same night? Do you get mad at God, walk around too stunned to continue to live, or do you look for a lifeline from anywhere? Cara's Dad is no help and will not answer her questions. But finding something that makes you feel better is a start and Cara learns that doing something is better than sleepwalking through life which is her dad's choice -- or is it really her dad's choice? All I have left to say is why does the cat always get the blame when it was the human's choice?

Crunch by Leslie Conner

What would happen if our country really does run out of gas? How would you get around? What about getting food? Going to work or school? While others worry about these things, Dewey has bigger problems. Even though he is only 14, he told his dad that he would take care of the bike shop his family runs on the side. His parents went up north for their anniversary in his father's semi as he makes a run. The crunch stops their plans and strands them.  Could you as teenager find a way to help everyone who now needs bikes? Dewey does have help but the overwhelming need keeps growing. As the days pass, his older sister and younger twin siblings find what others will do to each other when society starts to come apart. But the worst happens when his dad is attacked far from home. All he wants is to see his parents again, but can that happen when there is no gas left in the United States? When things look the worst, some will rise to help, some will sink to hurt. What would you do? Let's hope you never have to find out, but until you do, enjoy this story about what we hope is not our future.

California Blue by David Klass

John doesn't seem to fit any where, not his family or his school or even his town. He is a runner. His father and older brothers were all football stars in a town that football is the only sport that matters. Only one teacher at school does understand him, but she is an outsider herself. During one of his runs, trespassing on timber company land, he finds a new type of butterfly. His town depends on timber and many jobs have been lost due to forest protection. If he lets the EPA know, more jobs will be gone. If he doesn't, this butterfly may be lost forever. He has to decide whether to go against his father, his school, and his town or save and name a new species for the rest of the world. But what do you owe people who never accepted you in the first place? This book is for those who find themselves not fiting in and need hope to do the right thing, even if it means your life will change forever. John's life sure does by the end of the book, but is it for the good or the bad?

Indigo Star by Hilary McKay

The second book of a 4 book series about the Cassons, a British family whose parents are artists, it stands alone. Indigo is the only boy in a house full of females. His dad lives in London. While home is a happy chaotic place, school is something to be dreaded. It is so bad at school that Indigo is happy to get mononucleosis to miss an entire semester, but he must go back. When he gets back, the bullies have a new target, Tom, the American kid who does everything to make himself a target. Why is Tom so angry at everyone? How can the two of them get back at the bullies and teach a lesson at the same time? Behind this main plot are many subplots involving too many suiters for the oldest sister, why their father is not living with them, and will their mother ever remember to make dinner. One of the most popular series at EML's library. You will laugh out load about who really gets the best of the bullies.

No Place For Me by barthe DeClements

Probably out of print for years, this book has stood the test of time and will be remembered by readers who share some of the same feelings as Cooper, the 7th grade main character. Growing up in an unstable home with a high maintenance mom that is now drying out in rehab, Cooper feels no one wants her until she goes to live with her late father's sister. Aunt Maggie is different than most, she is a free spirit, practices the old religion of Wicca, but is understanding. Aunt Maggie seems to care about her, but after what happened to Copper at her other two aunts' home, can she let down her guard to find out what real families will do for each other. Trusting adults are hard if you never had an adult that didn't let you down.

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

While they don't put faces of missing children on school milk cartons anymore, just image if you saw a picture of yourself as a young child on one. When teenage Janie does, she starts down a path to find the truth, but can she handle the truth and where it leads. She has her whole world pulled apart. Can she put herself back together? Who are her "real" parents, those who raised her or the ones she share blood ties? Does she risk her world to find out? First of a series of 4 books. EML had to face a similar problem when her birth parents found her after 42 years and found someone will get hurt everytime, it is just the way these things work out.

Striking Out by Will Weaver (Billy Baggs Novel)

The first book of a 3 part series about a farm boy who can pitch, doesn't look like something non baseball lovers or farm kids could relate to very well. But if you don't get along with your parents, have dreams beyond your small world, or have that person who you want to get even with, this book is a great one for you. Billy's life is sad, hard, and limited. But does he give up or give in, when there are people who want to help him make his dreams come alive? Real world problems with no easy answers lurk in the corners of this young adult award winner.

Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos

What about the other side of the illegal immigrate problem in American? What is it like to live everyday wondering if this will be the day you are found out and taken from the only life you have ever known, even if the only thing you want to do is to be a good citizen? Nadira's family is torn apart when in panic her father, who has over stayed a visa, tries to go to Canada and is detained. Her and her older sister go back to Queens while her mother stays close to her imprisoned father. As their world falls apart, a little research finds the key that they need to clear their father, but will anyone listen to them. A must read for those who don't understand the human side of this question and need a reality check.

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Jeremy likes his world his way and small. When he gets a 13th birthday present from his late father, he has to go out into the larger world if he wants to open the mysterious box that needs 4 keys. He has to find the special keys that fit and with his friend Lizzy, the search is on. Inside the box is his father's answer to the question what is the meaning of life. How much trouble can you get in during this search and what causes the police to be called is only part of the problems that happen to Jeremy and Lizzie. What would you do to find out what your late father wanted you to know? I had to get 3 copies to keep up with demand for this book.

The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer

Gabe is 12 and has finally found a home with his Uncle Vernon, who is a gruff loner that takes in Gabe because he is family and that is what family does. After Gabe's first day in 6th grade, he comes home to find his uncle dead. Not knowing what to do and not wanting to go back into foster care, he goes to school the next day. When he returns, his uncle's body is gone and there is a note in the mailbox. Whoever took the body and is sending the notes, helps Gabe live alone, but how long can Gabe keep the nosey adults at bay? What happens when Gabe is found out? Flash backs tell how both Gabe and his Uncle change each other for the better. I can't keep this one in once the students at my junior high finds out about it.

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

Addie's life has never been easy. Her real dad died and her mom's behavior is not like most parents. When her mom and step-dad gets a divorce, she wants to live with him and her younger half- siblings, but goes to live with her mom. It is hard to be the only adult when you are 12. There will be a time in your life when you must answer this question: do try to save your parent or do you have to save yourself. For all those who have a hard home life, you will find hope in this story. For those who don't, you will love how Addie finds family is the strangest places.