Read the notes that Lonnie Collins Motion, aka Locomotion, writes to his sister, who’s in a different New York foster home. Meet his friends, his teachers, and his foster family. Learn how Lonnie and Lili lost their parents, and how they stay together, even when they’re living apart. And, hold your breath as Lonnie’s foster brother, a soldier overseas in a war zone, goes missing.   posted Nov 3, 2009 at 9:27AM

If you shared an email account with your widowed dad, and noticed an email thanking him for dinner and a kiss, would you be able stop yourself from reading more? Frankie can’t! She starts writing to the mystery woman, pretending to be her father. She also skips school, gets to know the local “bad boy”, loses her younger brother and almost burns down the house, but that all comes later.   posted Nov 3, 2009 at 9:26AM

When old Sam Westing dies he calls together his 16 heirs, all of which happen to live or work in the same building just down the road from his mansion. Coincidence? Instead of simply inheriting his millions, the heirs must pair off and solve the mystery of who killed him. Who had the best motive? Who’s hiding something? Who can be trusted? You will have all the clues, but can you solve the Westing Game?   posted Oct 5, 2009 at 10:24AM

A mysterious plane appears out of nowhere. There are no pilots or flight attendents on board, just a baby in every seat. As soon as the babies are safely off the plane, it vanishes! Thirteen years later friends Jonah and Chip, both adopted, start getting mysterious notes. The first states,   posted Oct 5, 2009 at 10:23AM

Emiline lives in a world where mousehunters search the world for special mice. Messenger Mice can fly, Magnetical Mouse has a nose that always points north, and Elephant Mice are huge and make wonderful pets. An opportunity presents itself to track down the most feared of all pirates, Mousebeard. Fighting deadly sea creatures, getting marooned on a volcano island, and surviving Mousebeard himself are only part of this exciting story. We’ll see more of Emiline in future books.   posted Sep 2, 2009 at 10:30AM

When a child in the Beaumont family turns 13, they discover their savvy, a special talent or power other people do not possess. Mibs has two older brothers who can control electricity and can create thunderstorms and hurricanes. Just before her 13th birthday, Mibs’ Dad is in a terrible accident leaving him unconscious. What will her savvy be? Mibs takes an adventurous bus ride across Kansas and Nebraska to get the hospital. Will her savvy be enough to save her dad?   posted Sep 2, 2009 at 10:29AM

Emmaline is a lively young girl who love to say words like   posted Jul 30, 2009 at 11:32AM

Catherine is eager to be friends with Kristi who happens to move in next door. But Catherine’s life is full of complicated relationships. Her younger brother David has autism and needs lots of reminders (rules) about how to behave. Catherine’s new friend Jason uses a wheelchair and cards to communicate. Catherine is a good artist and becomes a wizard at making new communication cards for Jason. How does Catherine balance the needs of all her friends, and herself? The 2009 summer online book club really liked this book.   posted Jul 30, 2009 at 11:31AM

The excitement begins in 1845 with Felix, a ten-year-old German immigrant. Felix is the fastest kid in New York and dreams of playing baseball for the New York Knickerbockers. His hopes are dashed when an act of heroism during a devastating fire leaves him paralyzed. Felix vows that he will play baseball again someday, “Even if it takes him a lifetime… Even if it takes him nine lifetimes.” This book hits a grand slam of sports, history, danger, and adventure! Follow the history of America’s favorite pastime with the Brooklyn Dodgers and one family over nine generations.   posted Jul 1, 2009 at 10:40AM

Molly played catch with her dad every night in their backyard since she was a toddler. Molly’s dad was always real with her. He didn’t give her false hope when she asked if she could ever make it to the Big Leagues. He knew her only chance would be as a pitcher, and she would need a trick pitch. So they worked on her pitching, “You don’t aim a butterfly,” her father used to say. “You release it.” Molly’s knuckleball was magic; she was on the way to being a Big League pitcher until her dad died. After that Molly’s mom thinks she should play softball. Molly is caught between doing the expected to appease her mom and following her heart. She knows the only way she will ever get into the Big Leagues is if she makes the boys baseball team. Does she dare try out?   posted Jul 1, 2009 at 10:39AM