The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Winner of the Newbery, the heart warming tale of a girl who finds a home, an occupation, some food, and her own name. Nameless until the midwife starts calling her Beetle because of where she found her (think of the grossest place in the world) , Beetle never remembers anyone who cared for her, not even in toddlerhood. Life is tough in the 14th century. Midwifery is looked down about even if they are the only ones who can help bring a new life in the world. What would you do to keep the only safe place you have ever know and what name would you give yourself if you could? This character in this very quick read has more in common with todays students than you think possible. Hope, dreams and needs don't change, just the ablity to fill them.

Wolf by the Ears by Ann Rinaldi

Based on historical people and maybe actual facts, this story is about the tough choice that Thomas Jefferson's bi-racial daughter has to make. She is a slave like her mother, but at 21 she can get her freedom. If she does take her freedom, will she pass as white, or stay true to those who raised her. But who is Harriet, if she has both black and white parents. At a time when you had to choose and could not be both, passing will open up a better world but you would lose your past forever. You either will love or hate Ann Rinaldi's work . Filled with strong teenage women characters, the stories are true to their settings in history. Being bi-racial, EML also had to make the choice of who I am. Once you make it, it is who you are for the rest of your life, even if you don't look like the choice you made when you get older.

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.

Alone in the World; Orphans and Orphanages in America by Catherine Reef

It is hard to image how different children without parents or who could not keep them were treated in the past compared today. Was it a better way or was it worst than today? With all the stories in the news, would it be better to bring back orphanages as safe places to grow up? Why do senior citizens who grew up in them talk so loving about them? Are they just remembering the good and not the bad? Do the fiction books you read tell the real story? Find out in this book. EML started life out in an orphanage so I had to read this book when I got it. Maybe I should have been left there? What do you think?

Into the Wild by Erin Hunter (Warriors series)

This is the book that has started 3 different series about 4 clans of wild cats trying to survive in an unforgiving world and the fights with each other. Rusty is just a kittypet (house cat) who takes off to wild, but he might be the answer that the leader of ThunderClan's saw as she dreamt. Does he have what it takes to help the clan when other clan breaks tradition and tries to take all the clans land for itself? Can he be a warrior or is he just a soft pet of Two legs? You need to read the books in order so you won't get lost, but each series has its own story line. Reading this one first, you will learn how one cat can make a difference to a whole world of cats. Not only for cat lovers, if you enjoy battles between warriors, you will love the action in the fights between the clans. Warriors are not made, they are born, but training will keep warriors from dying before their time. But remember, the worst enemies can be the closest friends if they choose to be.

The Forest of Silence by Emily Rodda (Deltora Quest series)

First book of a series that EML was told by too many students she had to get for the library, it is a great adventure filled with many dangers that the characters barely survive. When a king lets down his people by not doing his duties, evil overruns the kingdom. His main duty was to wear a magical belt that kept the evil powers at bay. After many years of war, 2 brave young men set out to find the stones from that belt that have been hidden across the kingdom. If those stones can be found and the belt put back together, the heir to the throne will be able drive the evil powers out. While both think it won't be that difficult, it takes a surprise creature's help to keep both of them from dying before the adventure even starts. If you read this one, plan on reading all 8 to see how this quest will end.

Gameprey by Mel Odom (Tom Clancey' Net Force series)

While this type of book isn't normally EML's cup of tea, I did enjoy it but if you are a gamer or a person who dreams of creating your own games, you will enjoy it more. Set the near future where the internet will be a huge part of our lives, Net Force is like a FBI or a CIA organization that keep the bad guys from using it for crime. One of the junior members is a game designer and while at computer gamers' convention in Los Angeles, she and another junior member are sucked into solving the disappearance of the creator the latest, greatest game. When they realize that someone will kill to keep the game out, they call on the rest of Net Force to help before they are next victims. Once you learn the rest of the story, you may never play online games again without worrying about if this story is based on truth or it could really happen.

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.

How to Raise and Keep a Dragon by John Topsell

If dragons were really real, this would be the book for the would be owner. It has everything from the different types of dragons to care, housing, and feeding of your pet. A chapter on training is a must read since you need to keep him/her under control and if it is a flying dragon, being able to go out for a ride. Also included is instructions on how to show your dragon at the dragon show and what the judges look for to have Best-in-Show. It is found in the 398 section in the library with the rest of the dragon information books. If you love that Disney movie that came out in March 2010, you will love this book.

Babe Ruth (Up Close M.V.P) by Wilborn Hampton

You never know what book will change your life. While this Babe Ruth biography was not the one, another one was for EML. I was 10 years old when I read it and didn't have a great home life. But reading what the Babe went through, I know I could make it through mine with ease. It gave me an anchor when I needed it. He lived his life his way, looked out for the kids, and enjoyed getting paid for playing a game. He set his records not using steriods, but eating and drinking too much. My big questions have always been, was he a better pitcher or a better hitter. This is for the reader who loves baseball and the reader who's life is not easy. Both will find a hero they need.

Our Eleanor by Candance Fleming

Written in a scrapbook format, this book brings to life a lady who did change the world by just trying to be herself. An unhappy childhood lead to a not-that-happy adulthood that would have brought most of us to being a drain on society, not a person who sets out to make the world a better place. If she was alive today, talk show hosts who be doing anything to get her on their show, if she would spill her guts. She wouldn't and didn't, but after her death, we now get the read the juicy parts. She was once the most powerful woman in this country and how she got to that point did make a few enemies but most strong indepent women usually do. Would you be willing to do the same?

Chidren of the Great Depression by Russell Freedman

Any book by Russell Freedman I have read has been interesting, educational, but most of all a quick read. Filled with pictures from the time and stories of how children and young adults survived, both the good and bad sides of the worst economic crisis are included. (Yes, dear readers what is happening now is not the worst economic crisis ever.) While most of the time the struggle to survive kept families busy, there was still time for play and entertainment. Some of the entertainment was different from today - only radio and movies, but some of our favorite pastimes are still the same. If you don't believe me, read the book to find out.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Mysterious Mr. Benedict is looking for children, orphans in fact, to send undercover to the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, a school that the only rule is there is NO rules. Ads placed in papers for gifted students bring many, but only a few finally pass the tests he gave. It seems that the whole world is in the middle of terrible problems and upsets, and some how the institute is involved. If his spies fail, no one will miss them if they are orphans will they? You get to take the tests along with the characters. See if you can pass them. EML didn't and we all know how smart librarians are. Dangers are every where and the upsets are too close to what is happening in our world now. Maybe this is not that fictional? What if.....

This Place has no Atmosphere, by Paula Danziger

Set in 2057, Aurora's parents just found a new way to ruin her life, they are going to the moon to be part of colony of 750 people who hope to make the moon a new home. She is a freshman and has finally got into the "in" crowd. She decides that if she ruins their life, maybe she can stay with her grandmother. Please don't do to your parents what Aurora tries on hers. Finally, it is agreed if she doesn't like it, she can come back to live with her grandmother, who talks about the olden days of the early 2000. How long can she make a year last and who will give up first, her or her parents? If you have ever had to move, you will relate to all the problems that Aurora has, even those she has caused herself. Are we really going to live in shopping malls and have classes in ESP?

The Night Room by E.M. Goldman

What high schooler wouldn't want to go forward in time to see what his/her 10 year reunion is like? Who makes good and who gets what is coming to them? But when someone is not at the reunion, could this computer simulation really be a cover for an upcoming murder? Can it be stopped or is the future set in stone? Almost every type of student at your school will have someone just like them in the night room - whether you are the jock, brain, popular, or out cast. Who has it in them to survive when survivial is all you can do.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Please, please, please don't judge this book by the movie. Movies are always never as good as the book and that movie version was one of the worst ever. From the 1970's, this book has been loved by readers who like weird humor, sick jokes, and adventure. Even my teenage brothers couldn't stop reading it. Earth has been destroyed to make way for a by-pass and Arthur Dent is saved by his space alien friend. When they hook up with the ex-president of the Universe who has a stolen space ship, life will never be the same. This is the first book of a trilogy, which has 5 books in it, go figure. If you like British humor, all the better.

Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Why does Jamie's brother send letters to her parents, but rolls of film to her to develop? Doesn't he know she wants to know what is really going on in Vietnam? Both have grown up in the army since their father is a Colonel. But as she developes the films, it is clear that the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words has new meaning. What is her brother trying to tell her that even soldiers can't really put in words? How will that help her when his tour of duty is cut short by the worst news a family can hear? Can she help another soldier from ending up like her brother?

It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville

I finally read this to find out why it kept getting stolen from the libraries I worked at. What I found was one of the best Newbery Award winners I have ever read. It was ground breaking in 1963 to have a real life teen that thought his dad didn't know everything and got involved with a "criminal". While it was realistic when it was written, it is a wonderful trip through a New York City that doesn't exist anymore. Written in a boy's point of view, the adventures of getting a cat, a girlfriend, and enjoying the freedom of wandering a city will relate to any reader who wished for a time where parents knew that kids just needed to get away and live their lives without adult supervision.

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

Sometimes a little confusing at first, this is a story of interconnections we make with others and those that are just missed that would have been life changing. A group of small town teens live their normal lives that end up effecting each other in both small and big ways. Set in the 1960's, many of the events could happen in any small town, not just northern Michigan, today. From the dreamer of big dreams ,to the slacker trying to find the easy way out, to old person whose life is saved and changed, almost every reader will find a character who is just like them.

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.