Three Bird Summer

Summer will be different this year for twelve year old Adam.  Since his parents divorced, he will spend the summer at Three Bird Lake in northern Minnesota with just his mother and grandmother.  He's not even interested in Alice, the girl next door, at first, but she will become his ally in solving a mystery. 

Grandmother's memory problems are getting worse as she starts leaving strange notes for Adam to find.  One day Adam finds a very unusual treasure map, and he and Alice work together to solve a family mystery.  The setting, characters, and activities are nicely described by author Sara St. Antoine, in this gentle well-written first novel.  A good summer read for junior high/middle school readers.

Sex and Violence

Now there's a title to get your attention!

This young adult novel for mature readers is the story of 17 year old Evan.  His mother has died, and Evan and his father move around a lot, so he is always the "new kid" in school.  His interest in sex has grown as he has, and he has figured out a way to identify the "easy" girls in each new school, and arrange hook-ups with them.  All without consequences, until he hooks up with the wrong girl at a very wrong time.  After a vicious assault that leaves Evan scarred physically and emotionally, he and his dad move to a lake cottage in northern Minnesota; and Evan begins the slow process of healing.

A well-written first novel by Minnesotan, Carrie Mesrobian, this was a finalist for the William Morris Award (for debut novels), and won the Minnesota Book Award in 2014.

Grasshopper Magic

The third entry in the Magical Mixups series by Lynne Jonell has the Willow children getting ready for the town festival.  Abner has been chosen to dress up and represent his great uncle General Abner Willow.  Abner is worried about how things will go--will he forget his speech?, or fall off his horse?  The other Willow children decide he needs some bravery practice.  One day the children are challenged to eat some baked grasshoppers, made by Mrs. Delgado, the seamstress who is making Abner's costume.  Abner bravely tries a few, and soon he is leaping 20 feet in the air.  How to stop the grasshopper magic?  Read the story to see if the children solve this dilemma in time for the festival.

Lawn Mower Magic

Continuing the group of stories that began with Hamster Magic; in this installment, the Willow family faces the necessity of getting a new lawn mower because the old one has died.  That is until Abner finds an old fashioned push mower in the shed.  The kids pull it out, sprinkle some handfuls of grass on it -- and -- just like magic, the lawnmower takes off to mow the huge lawn.  There are several unexpected adventures along the way, but the lawn is mowed, and Mr. and Mrs. Willow are very proud of the kids in the end.  Written by Lynne Jonell, the illustrations by Brandon Dorman add to the humor of the story; and the book will be enjoyed by readers in grades 2-4.  Just perfect for the start of summer!

Peep Leap

It's Spring and soon birds will start nesting and raising their young.  Wood ducks often nest in trees near a pond or swamp. On the day after they hatch, the baby ducklings must jump from the nest to the water, where they will live with their parents until they are able to fly and fend for themselves.

In this rhyming counting story by Minnesotan Elizabeth Verdick, a group of ten baby ducklings must make the big leap.  All jump bravely except number ten who is afraid of such a big leap.  Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations by John Bendall-Brunello add a realistic touch to the story.  A nice resource for "Spring" units with young children.

Spike; Ugliest Dog in the Universe

Spike is one ugly dog!--and he's got the award to prove it (Ugliest Dog in the Universe, that is).  But Spike's life turns bad the next day when his owner abandons him.  Joe, the boy next door, takes Spike home with him; but Joe's mom doesn't want to keep Spike either.  Poor Spike -- looks like he's headed for the dog pound.  That is, until he rescues Evangeline, the beautiful award-winning white cat from a kidnapping (catnapping might be more like it). Now Spike is the local hero and has a real home with Joe and his mom.  Minnesota author and illustrator Debra Frasier has found a new way to tell a story; this time using old worn blue jeans to create collage pictures of Spike and Joe.  Evangeline--well she's too beautiful for blue jeans--she's made from a lace wedding gown.  You really have to see the illustrations to believe them; and don't miss this positive story about friends and pet ownership.

A Dog is a Dog

We all know what a dog is, right?  Well,---not so fast---things are different in this lively picture book.  A dog is a dog----unless it's a cat!, or maybe a ______, or maybe a ______.  I won't give all the animals away--you have to read it for yourself.  This is a first book by Minnesota author and illustrator Stephen Shaskan; and the lively colorful story will have young children chuckling as they read.  It is great fun!