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The thing about Jeanette Wallace was that, well, she was mean, that’s why they called her Jeanie the Meanie. The thing about Andy Moretti, was that he was the best soccer player in fourth-grade and Georgie’s best friend since kindergarten. The thing about Georgie’s parents was that they were real professional musicians. And the thing about Georgie was that…well, it was a lot of things. For starters, he couldn’t play an instrument like his parents. He couldn’t play video games like his friend. He couldn’t tie his shoelaces like any regular kid. He couldn’t even hold a pencil. But it wasn’t because he didn’t want to. He did. He just couldn’t.

While there were many physical things Georgie couldn’t do like his friends, the thing about Georgie was that he still had in common with them the same kinds of worries. He lost his best friend Andy to Russ, he was picked on by the class bully, and worst of all – he was about to become a big brother to Baby Godzilla. When his dad announces the horrible news, Georgie feels like his life is ruined.

The thing about Georgie is that he’s an inspiration to all by the way he accepts and overcomes his everyday physical challenges. Georgie learns in the end that whatever happens in your life you are ultimately going to be surprised, and you as a reader, by the end of this book – will definitely be surprised.

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Check out the Dr. Hardings Video
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“My name is Luther. Some call me Dr. Kincaid. I brought you here, Edgar. Of this I will tell you more if there is time – just know I did what I thought was best for you.”

Atherton is where Edgar had been taken, a mysterious world made up of three circular levels. Imagine if you will three circular planes each stacked upon the other, each level wider than the one above it and separated by steep cliffs. Edgar has been taken to the middle plane – Tabletop, where the workers live. Deep beneath him at the distant bottom lay the barren and ominous Flatlands where the “cleaners” live. And in the very center of Tabletop, there is a third plane held up high by daunting cliffs, like hands holding up something valuable and out-of-reach, these are the Highlands ruled by the House of Power who control the water supply and rule over all of Atherton. It is the most mystifying level of all.  Traveling between these three realms is not only unsafe and nearly impossible but also strictly forbidden. And one can only wonder what deep dark secrets these realms hold that traveling to them could be punishable by death.

Edgar, an orphan of eleven, all alone in the world also has a secret; he has spent his life scaling the cliffs and hunting for a thing left to him by the elusive Dr. Kincaid. Little does he know when he finally finds it he must risk life and limb to reveal its secrets and keep it out of the clutches of the House of Power. For you see, the world of Atherton is not what it appears to be. It is a perilous world, a world not yet fit for people to live on, and yet why are there are people living on it now? Edgar has made it his mission to find out. His tenaciousness to reveal its secrets will take him on a death defying quest to every dangerous forbidden territory of Atherton in the hopes of unlocking the secrets it holds and save his people, but is he ready for the truth? Carman has written the story you will want to devour as soon as you begin, and just when you think it’s over… well, you’ll just have to see for yourself. Are you ready for a cliffhanger?

(2008 Kids’ Wings Award, 2008 Junior Library Guild Selection, 2008 Texas Bluebonnet List)

If you love the book you will love the web site. Not just for kids. Teachers welcome. http://www.athertonseries.com/

 “Dad said this time the move would make things different.”  12-year-old Meg and her family have moved around a lot. Now they have just moved again to Indiana from Michigan and here was going to be her big opportunity to make a friend, but will she be able to chance it with her Dad around? When she meets Grace, one of the nicest and most popular girls in 6^th grade, Meg is put to the ultimate test – she has to decide whether having a friend is worth telling the truth. In Karen Day’s Tall Tales, Meg struggles with the shame of not only her father’s alcoholism and abuse but of the lies she must tell to prevent her classmates from finding out her family’s secret. Tall Tales is the story of Meg’s courage to be honest to her friends but more importantly to herself. (Texas Library Association’s Bluebonnet nominee for 2008-2009)

Would you like to ask Karen a question? You can contact her at karen@klday.com

What are the odds that the students at Centeno would pick not only the winner of this years Texas Bluebonnet Award, but also the winners in 2nd and 3rd place! So how did you all vote? At Centeno and in the great state of Texas the winner was…

http://txla.org/groups/tba/index.html

Tom is an only child, has normal loving parents, and attends Catholic school. He’s a fairly random kid, possessing no qualities to make him stand out, and he pretty much has only one friend – Jeff.  His daydreams are consumed with Cobra cars, Courtney and lame superhero powers, which he dreams of possessing and using to save Courtney’s life so that she may one day take notice of him. He’s comfortable with the status quo of his school life and is use to exerting no effort to change it. Tom appears to be your typical 7^th grader, but is he? When his teacher, Mrs. Tracy, announces the arrival of a new girl with obvious apprehension in her voice, no one expects what happens next. In the next moment, Tom and his classmates lives are up heaved, and it is then that Tom realizes that it is a persons human hero powers that gets one noticed. Firegirl by Tony Abbot touches on several issues that are important to today’s children. Tolerance, empathy, bullying, divorce, and difficult choices are all central themes. This is a sad story that cuts to the heart, but the choices that Tom makes, makes it an inspiration for readers of all ages. (The Golden Kite Award Book)

Want to know more about the books he writes? Visit his website

http://www.tonyabbottbooks.com/

Down Girl and Sit On the Road by Lucy Nolan illustrated by Mike Reed

“Some dogs feel the call of the sea, but not us. We felt the call of doughnuts.” From the moment you start reading this book, you’ll know you have something funny in your hands. Written from the perspective of a dog who thinks his name is Down Girl, On the Road reads like an autobiographical account of his life, capturing all his amusing exploits with his friend Sit. Lucy Nolan really zeroed in on the reasons why I dislike dogs, but I loved reading the book -twice – all the while thinking to myself “this is why I love cats and Here Kitty Kitty.” But whether you’re a dog lover or a cat lover you will be charmed silly with these whimsical characters. This book will sure to be one you will recommend to your friends and it’s no wonder it’s this years winner of the Texas Bluebonnet Award.