Just a Dream by Chris Van Allsburg

Beautifully illustrated by Mr. Van Allsburg, this story from 1990 still speaks today of the need to recycle and save the planet. We each can do our part to reduce -- trash, electrical usage, and more. The author is a great story teller. This picture book is for all ages.

-Deena

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

Ancient China -- a grown up story similar to Mulan, but so much more to this story, including ancient powers. Strong female character, battles, quest for good, twists - its a great book. Perfect for middle school and high school.

-Deena

Surf Angel by Terry & Heather Kraszewski

This mother-daughter team co-authored a beautiful bedtime story. The illustrations are peaceful and show ocean mamas and babies bedding down for the night. The story is rhyming and makes for a soothing night time.

-Deena

A Flight of Greed and Glory by Marjorie Krausz and Toni Hood

Seven children meet up at a military base as a 'race to space' contest is held. The two competitors it seems have different motives for being here. The kids tour the base, meet the teams and see the behind-the-scenes of this event. Well it doesn't take long before our kids realize something is going wrong, and they work together to make it right.

-Deena

Conor and the Crossworlds: Breaking the Barrier by Kevin Gerard

This series is going strong, with 5 books and more to come. A young man, saddened by the death of his dear uncle is thrust into a world of large, super-natural cats - pumas, tigers, etc. these cats serve as his guardians, and guides as Conor is deemed to be the only one who can save the world. Conor trains as a warrior to defend and maintain the world as we know it.

-Deena

Dragon Boy by Donald Samson

This is the first of a triology. A young boy orphaned wanders around, drawn to a compound with a dragon...the dragon that protects the village. The adventure continues as his hidden talents help him grow into what he was meant to do. It's not your usual dragon story. Fun, fun, fun!

-Deena

Grandma's Pear Tree by Suzanne Santillan

This is a cute bilingual picture book. A young boy playing ball on a farm accidentally gets his ball (la pelota) stuck in his Grandma's favorite tree, a Pear Tree. Fearing she will be very upset with him he seeks the help of family members on the farm. The story continues with repeated lines adding to it with each attempt to resolve the problem, all the while making the Spanish vocabulary words more familiar. It's a cute way to teach children some basic Spanish words. The illustrations are warm and welcoming.

-Deena

Return to Treasure Island by John Woods

Feel the sea mist in your face as you take off from a small village to the high seas in the (return) adventure of the life time. 1890s, old friends and new friends. Each time I picked up the book I was excited to meet up with my friends again - friends you like but would you trust them? Probably not all of them. The story line was so gripping...what would I do in this situation? I hadn't read Treasure Island prior to this book, ok, so I stopped reading this book and read the original story, and then finished this book. I'm not a pirate type person, this being my first pirate book, I was surprised by how tough this life style was. Who is the bigger liar? Who can be trusted? So many questions I had. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. What a great story teller is John O'Melveny Wood. 'And you can lay to that., as Long John Silver would say.

-Deena

The Unbreakable Code by Sara Hunter

This historical story has been written in novel and now in picture book. A story from WWII about how the Navajo people helped save the US and end the war by communicating in their ancient language over radios so the enemy couldn't understand. Since the last Code Talker has now passed away, it is important to remember what took place, and that the "Love of our country" made one goal clear to all. It is interesting to see how it came about.

-Deena

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley

Firstly, to honor the illustrator of this book, Brian Selznick...he is an amazing artist with many books to his credit, and this book has recieved the Caldecott Honor Award.

In 1853 London, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins was an artist who was intrigued by the dinosaur. He made drawings, clay models and life-sized models of these creatures...using science he drew conclusions as to how big they were and how they stood, ate, etc. He made a museum for the public. He then came to America to help make our dinosaurs 'life-like'. Sadly he met opposition in New York and was unable to achieve his goals. This book and drawings bring his struggles to life. Although picture books are generally for all ages, this book would be of interest to older readers.

-Deena

Queen Geek Social Club by Laura Preble

A fun, high school story about the pressures placed on girls to be thin, pretty and popular. A couple girls - not of that mind-set, go about creating a club for 'all' girls. They discover at their first meeting that this idea is a hit. They are empowered to change the world - a little at a time. This quirky, funny tale is the work of a San Diego high school teacher, living the high school life.

-Deena

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

Why read this book? I know everyone is saying that, but it actually gives the reader a better understanding of the newborn vampire. Why are they so out of control? I had the pleasure of reading it before seeing the third movie in the Twilight series, "Eclipse" and was happy to have had the inside information about what had happened leading up to the newborn army attack. ...and Twilight fans...if you haven't visited Stephenie Meyer's website to read the unpublished book from Edward's point of view...you gotta do that, ok?

-Deena

Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes

Izzy is forced to spend the summer with a grandma she doesn't know very well, in a small village that is culturally different than her own - so she thinks. Slowly Izzy is reconnected to a rich heritage that was hidden from her -- in an effort to protect her from the sadness of her deceased father. That summer Izzy came to know her father well through all those who loved him and the village he loved so much. A great writing to make you feel connected, to be part of a community and culture that's isn't your own...just as Izzy found out. For ages 8 years and up. Oh, and find Grandma's Tortilla receipe in the back!

-Deena

Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth

Here is an ABC book for older kids! It has creepy illustrations, and a fun story as well to keep the older child's interest. ABCs don't have to be a baby board book!

-Deena

Gamadin (Series) by Tom Kirkbride

A perfect mixture of modern and futurisic science fiction, this book keeps the interest of a wide range of folks...the motto: "Finally the boys have a series the girls like to read" really sums it up. Lots of surfer-dude lingo (that us San Diegans can relate to), James Bond type action, and military technology to meet the invasion of alien type beings...wow, I was engrossed to the end. It is recommended for ages 12 and up -- I would recommend a little older as there are some references to girls that might be a little risque.

-Deena

City of Bones (Series) by Cassandra Clare

A mixture of powerful old magic runes, shadow hunters, vampire, werewolves, and beasts from the underworld -- and even a tragic love story with every twist and turn you can't imagine. This series is an intense read, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Who can you trust? What's really going on here? You won't know until the very end! This series of three books is great for high schoolers.

-Deena

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

As you can imagine, any book that has received this many awards is bound to be good. Taking place in the Revolutionary War, our heroin is a young slave striving to stay together with her mentally disabled younger sister. Daily life of a slave and the challenges of right and wrong make for an interesting, heart-wrenching story of what so many slaves endured.

Warning: For those of us who like to read a series only when the next one is already published, be warned - the next book Forge is due out in October.

-Deena

Zorgamazoo by Robert Weston

Poetry can be boring. It can be hard to read. If you are having negative feelings about poetry, try this book. The whole 281 pages is rhyming. Not a clumsy, awkward kind of rhyming, but a playful, stick-to-the-amazing-story rhyming. I was deeply impressed with the author's technique.

Beyond the poetry, what an amazing story. The orphaned girl is placed with a distant relative who has no desire for adventurous tendencies...so what better way to solve the problem than with a lobotomist? Don't worry this is such a playful story that even talk of brain surgery (or removal) can be something to laugh at! This book will pique the curiosity of 3rd graders and keep kids laughing in 6th grade. It's sure to be a favorite in your library.

-Deena

Maze Runner by James Dashner

One of the best books I've read. The story begins with a boy waking up in an elevator -- accending for a long period of time. The boy knows what an elevator is, but he doesn't have any memory of family, friends, schools, towns - nothing. He realizes that his memory has been altered, after all, how can he understand the basics of the world and yet not have any human contacts? He meets up with a group of boys and the game of survival begins. Trust, and talent bonds the boys together in an effort to break out of whatever type of prison they are in. A great adventure where you find yourself center stage -- how are you going to survive? A great read for ages 10 years and up.

-Deena

Gifted (Series) by Marilyn Kaye

This series for ages 10 years and up is every bit exciting as the older social-type books for high schoolers, yet this series is toned down for the younger crowd. It begins in a high school, in a special class for gifted students. This class is very secretive. The general public believes its for high achieving students, but once you're inside the class you realize real quick that these gifts are not academic...rather they are super-natural gifts -- that the students don't know how to control or properly use. While there is no commarderie in the class, the students slowly see how working together helps hone their skills. This series is high energy, action packed and full of everyday social issues students deal with--as well as situations that no one would ever deal with, unless of course you find yourself in a "GIFTED" class such as this. I highly recommend this page turning-thriller to middle schoolers, even avid readers in 4th and 5th grade.

-Deena