Notes from an Accidental Band Geek

by Erin Dionne

Summary:  French horn virtuoso Elsie Wyatt resents having to join her high school's marching band playing a melliphone, but finally finds a sense of belonging that transcends the pressure she has always felt to be as good as her father, principal french horn player in the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Mrs. Turner's BookTweet:  This brought me back to my band days, where I was a not so accidental band geek.  Elsie's adventure as she navigates high school, band, and everything in between is not to be missed!

Little Blog on the Prairie

by Cathleen Davitt Bell

Summary:  Thirteen-year-old Genevieve's summer at a frontier family history camp in Laramie, Wyoming, with her parents and brother is filled with surprises, which she reports to friends back home on the cell phone she sneaked in, and which they turn into a blog.

Mrs. Turner's BookTweet:  Gen's voice and smart and sassy and her take on the world at Camp Frontier is laugh out loud funny!

A Girl Named Mister

by Nikki Grimes

Summary:  A pregnant teenager finds support and forgiveness from God through a book of poetry presented from the Virgin Mary's perspective.

Mrs. Turner's BookTweet:  This book in verse was a quick read but extremely poignant.  I was moved by Mister's voice and struggles.  I couldn't put it down, and at the end I wanted to know more about this young woman.

The Magic Thief

by Sarah Prineas

Summary:  Conn's life is forever changed when he tries to pick the pocket of the wizard Nevery and instead gets a strong jolt of magic, but, instead of punishing the boy, Nevery takes Conn under his wing, teaches him magic, and enlists his help in finding the person responsible for stealing the city's dwindling magic supply.

Mrs. Turner's BookTweet:  A light fantasy read with enough quirky characters to keep you interested.  For even more fun, you can go on Sarah Prineas' website at http://www.magicthief.com/ to do activities related to the book!

Crossed


by Allie Condie


Summary:  Cassia, having arrived in the Outer Provinces in search of Ky, learns he has escaped from the Society and follows a series of clues he left, which result in rebellion, betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander.


Mrs. Turner's BookTweet:  Rarely do I think a sequel is as good as the original book, but this is an exception!  Condie once again entrances her audience in this sequel to Matched.  If you liked the Hunger Games trilogy, don't pass this one up!

What's Bugging Bailey Blecker

by Gail Donovan

Summary: When fifth-grader Bailey, who lives on an island off the coast of Maine, suffers a series of setbacks, including a lice outbreak at school, it will take every ounce of her determination and the help of new school friends to get everything back together.

Mrs. Turner's BookTweet: A sweet story about Bailey Blecker whose year is not going the way she planned. This is a quick, feel-good read.

Rosebush

by Michele Jaffe

Summary: Jane wakes up in the hospital after being the victim of a hit-and-run, and, as people come to visit her, she begins to piece together facts about the accident, which she believes was an attack, as well as the death of her best friend, and grows suspicious of everyone she encounters.

Mrs. Turner's BookTweet: I love a good mystery, and this was no expection! I couldn't decide who did it and was surprised in the end!