"Independent Study" - Joelle Charbonneau

Okay. So... This author knows how to write! Engaging. Plausible (to a certain extent). Proper cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. Honest! I had to stop mid-chapter because I knew I wouldn't stop at the end. A real study in government, societies, people, communication, and all through the eyes of young adult girl, Malencia.

It's like a Civics lesson cleverly disguised as a novel for teens.

Also, Charbonneau manages to avoid the problem of first-person novels -the reader remaining ignorant- by having the character actually go out in search of answers. Malencia is rather superhuman in her memory and reasoning skills; but you forgive that in order to know what is going on.

Book 2 in "The Testing" trilogy, this book escapes the pitfalls of many trilogies. It is not book 1 again. It is not a filler book, situations progress and you can't skip it.

Malencia has now entered the University in her respective field of study. She meets her classmates, her country's leaders, and learns of a rebellion. There's another boy-interest (it is a YA novel).

Read Also:

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins of course. All these "test" trilogies came out after its success.

The Legend series by Marie Lu. (Have not read but is on the "To Read" list).

Eh, any dystopian Young Adult trilogy out there.

And because I haven't said enough about this book, Thomas Paine's Common Sense.

"Leo the Late Bloomer" -Robert Kraus

On recommendation...

Leo is a tiger who can't do everything all the other kids can do. Is there something wrong with him? As we find out, he's only a later bloomer. And when he does bloom, as with many children, he surpasses expectations.

Cute book. Gives perspective to children who feel or have been told they're late bloomers.Read Also:

Read Also:

Lucy's Picture by Nicola Moon is a sweet story about a girl who makes a picture for her grandfather. It keeps you in suspense until you see the reason she does it.

Bethanie Deeney Murguia writes a couple books Snippet: the early riser and Buglette: the messy sleeper who learn as they grow, though a little behind their species and families in development.

"In the Tree House" -Andrew Larsen

I judge books by their covers, I openly admit it. In the Tree House is not a book I would pick up for the bland title or hem-haw artwork. However, the cover caught my attention and the story taught a wonderful lesson about community and sibling friendship.

A boy and his brother move into a new house and they build a tree house. As the brother hangs out with his friends, the boy entertains himself. When the power goes out, the brother returns to the tree house to rediscover the fun he had hanging out with his brother.

Read Also:

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, a tale of 2 brothers who become friends again after a change in their lives.

"Twelve Kinds of Ice" -Ellen Bryan Obed

Almost poetry, slightly biographical, Twelve Kinds of Ice presents winter in what may be the best possible light without referencing Christmas. Each ice is described in composition and uses.

Obed is so joyful and detailed in her text that the reader can feel, yet not despise, the biting cold. And still a hint of longing for the next winter.

Read Also:

Douglas Florian's Winter eyes, one of a set of seasonal poetry books.

Charlotte Otten's January Rides the Wind is another book of poems about the months and what a child looks forward to in each.

I've only just discovered Tasha Tudor! Her picture book Around the Year covers the joys of each month.

"OH NO, Little Dragon" -Jim Averback

A fun book about a dragon practicing his fire-breathing. The best parts of many picture books are the details in the background. The dragon's viking boat in the tub is a nice touch.

Read Also:

"How to Train Your Dragon" based on the books by Cressida Cowell, was an awesome movie! Great soundtrack! And I thought a better story.

Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" - fantasy series of dragons during the Napoleonic war, which includes a lot of training techniques.

"The Shadows of Ghadames" -Joelle Stolz

And to make myself feel better about taking so long with that last book, I read this one in less than 3 hours!

This was a short tale about a girl learning about becoming a woman in a Muslim city. The "shadows" are the women who live in their world, separate from the men. The story covers a brief period of time when a wounded man is taken into the world of the women. It's a beautiful story.

Read Also:

An out-of-print book by Madys Lee Chastain, Emmy Keeps a Promise is also a story of a girl who learns about her world. I love this book and have read it at least 3 times.

"Nightsong" -Ari Berk (Illustrated by Loren Long)

Love me some picture books! And because I do, I included the illustrator of the book Nightsong by Ari Berk because the artistry is why I picked it up in the first place. It's a simple story of a young bat's first flight and using his radar to fly in the dark. As cute as the story is, the illustrations were gorgeous!!! They were soft and deep with contrasts between light and dark. Just beautiful! (My vote for the 2013 Caldecott award.)

Read Also:
For various reasons, try Bats at the Library by Brian Lies
Akiak: a tale from the Iditarod by Robert Blake
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (a Caldecott winner).