The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda is on several "Best Books of 2011" lists (including this one from the International Reading Association) for good reason - it is a very fun (and funny), enjoyable book. Tom Angleberger does a great job telling the story of "loser" Dwight and his finger-puppet Origami Yoda using various student's voices and cartoon-like drawings in the form of classmate Tommy's mystery casebook.

Description: Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda.

So, what happens with Dwight and Origami Yoda? Can Origami Yoda really foretell the future? You'll have to read this quirky, humorous book to find out.

You can see a video with author Tom Angleberger showing how to make your own Origami Yoda here.

A sequel, Darth Paper Strikes Back, is scheduled to be released later this month. I'm looking forward to it and will have it at the Parker Library this fall!

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

"Even before he got electrocuted, Jason was having a rotten day."

Wow! That is the first line of the book The Lost Hero. This book was one that grabbed my attention from that first line and kept it through the entire fast-paced, adventure. If you loved the Percy Jackson series, I think you will love this new Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. If you haven't read Percy Jackson - you should! (In any case, you don't have to read the Percy Jackson series to enjoy this new book).

Description: Jason, Piper, and Leo, three students from a school for "bad kids," find themselves at Camp Half-Blood, where they learn that they are demigods and begin a quest to free Hera, who has been imprisoned by Mother Earth herself.

Rick Riordan uses humor, a tone of urgency and imminent danger, great characters, action scenes with teenage heroes fighting monsters, and authentic classic mythology mixed with modern day life to create a great story! I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series, The Son of Neptune, which is expected to be released in October 2011. Look for it in the new Parker Middle School Library this fall!!

You can find out more about The Heroes of Olympus series and Rick Riordan at his website which you can find here.

One Crazy Summer by Rita William-Garcia

One Crazy Summer is the winner of the 2011 Coretta Scott King author award and the Scott O'Dell Prize for Historical Fiction, a Newbery Honor book, and a National Book Award finalist. Whew! That is a lot of praise ... and it is well deserved. I really enjoyed this powerful historical fiction novel with its vividly drawn characters and setting, wry wit, and memorable story.

Description: In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

Intelligent and ultra-responsible oldest sister Delphine narrates the story of her trip with her sisters: show-off, Vonetta, and stubborn, Fern in an unforgettable voice. The story of their relationship with their mother and their summer with the Black Panthers flows smoothly and poetically to its moving, satisfying conclusion. Whether you enjoy modern or historical novels, I believe that you'll really enjoy this book.

Listen to the author talk about the book and read a small section from One Crazy Summer here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

With the release of the last Harry Potter movie this Friday, I hurried to re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. It's hard to believe that I first read this pariticular book four years ago in July 2007, when this seventh and last book in the series was first released. I really enjoyed the Harry Potter series including the fantastical world of Hogwarts, the great characters including Harry himself, and the multi-layered good versus evil story.

Description: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows follows the journey of the series' protagonist Harry Potter as he attemps to bring an end to his archenemy, Lord Voldemort.

Although not my favorite book in the series (I probably enjoyed The Chamber of Secrets (#2) and The Prisoner of Azkaban (#3) the best), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was still a great read. Harry has really grown up through the series and has his final show down with Lord Voldemort which bring the series to a satisfying ending. If you have not yet read any of the Harry Potter series; I would definitely recommend reading this series and reading the books in order as follows:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Baseball Great by Tim Green

This is another book that I read based on the recommendation of a TFMS student. He had read all of Tim Green's novels and told me this was "the best!" I had to wait until the summer to read it because students at TFMS always had it checked out from the library. Well, I loved it! Baseball Great is a fast-paced story with great characters, lots of action, and mystery too! Tim Green is a former NFL player and shows us in this novel that he knows baseball as well as football.

Description: All twelve-year-old Josh wants to do is play baseball but when his father, a minor league pitcher, signs him up for a youth championship team, Josh finds himself embroiled in a situation with potentionally illegal consequences.

Find out how talented baseball player, Josh, and his friend, aspiring journalist, Jaden, solve a mystery about Josh's baseball travel team, the Titans and its sponsor Rocky Valentine by reading the inspiring action-packed novel, Baseball Great.

Other books about Josh and baseball by Tim Green include:
Rivals and Best of the Best.

Tim Green's novels about football include:
Football Genius, Football Hero, Football Champ, and The Big Time.

The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

I read The Tail of Emily Windsnap because of a recommendation by a TFMS student...and I'm grateful that I followed their recommendation. As another reviewer puts it: "Mystery, Magic, and Mermaids all in one book!"... how can you go wrong!

Description: After finally convincing her mother that she should take swimming lessons, twelve-year-old Emily discovers a terrible and wonderful secret about herself that opens up a whole new world.

This is a light, imaginative fantasy. Once Emily finds out that she is a mermaid, she along with her new mermaid friend, Shona, try to discover the mystery of Shona's father. Emily encounters fun, danger, and a trial before the Ruler of the Seas, Neptune, while searching. Why can't Emily's mother remember details of her marriage? Why did Emily's father leave when she was a baby? Will Emily find her father? You'll have to read The Tail of Emily Windsnap to find out.

Other books in the series include: Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep, Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist, and Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret.

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce was on many of the "Best Books" lists and after reading it, I know why: Cosmic is a zany adventure with lots of surprises and cosmic fun! It is a hilarious and heartfelt examination of what "dadliness" means.

Description: Twelve-year-old Liam, a typical kid who loves video games and theme-park rides, is often mistaken for an adult. He is tired of being treated older than he is; but, has some fun when he decides to pose as an adult with his daughter, Florida (who is really a classmate). However, things spin out of control when dad and daughter win a trip to a new theme park where the new thrill ride "The Rocket" turns out to be a real rocket heading to space.

Find out how Liam, as the "adult" chaperone, along with four other kids on "The Rocket" make their way back to earth by reading Cosmic.