Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library  lived up to my son’s lofty reviews. I ripped through this quirky, extremely readable book on the way to and from delivering my daughter, Cady, to summer camp.  With puzzling twists and winning turns, this fun-to-read novel dips into Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s world of naughty, have-it-alls who refuse to play fair against the rule-abiding nerds and regular Joes.  You’ll find yourself rooting for reluctant reader, Kyle,  and his unlikely team of clue-busting cohorts (and wishing brown-nosing Charles takes a royal nose dive). As an added bonus, I loved author Chris Grabenstein’s playful word references to so many other equally awesome YA books. Get thyself to a library and escape in a good book!

Speaking of good books, it’s time to vote for the second book of summer. I’m not sure how many bloggers are in town, but if the votes don’t come in, don’t worry. I’ll roll the dice and pick one to read. I’ve already started A Snicker of Magic and am loving the down-home storytelling that’s floating like Felicity’s words into my brain.

Which of these four books looks like the next Blogtastic Book Club winner? Click on the book cover to connect to a book or movie trailer! I’ve borrowed summaries from others who’ve already read these tantalizing titles. Check them out. Cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this post. 🙂

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia is a very gifted cellist. She has everything she could ever want, a loving family, an adoring boyfriend, an amazing best friend, and an amazing career ahead of her in music. All of that changes suddenly. Mia and her family have a terrible car accident and Mia is rushed to the ICU. Mia is caught between life and death, and watches as family and friends come to visit her at the hospital she is in. Soon Mia realizes that she must make the most critical decision of her life – wake up to live a life more difficult than she ever could have imagined, or slip away and die. (credit: http://colleenworger.weebly.com)

Photo Credit: GoodReads.com

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

Introducing an extraordinary new voice—a magical debut that will make your skin tingle, your eyes glisten . . .and your heart sing.

Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart.

But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck’s about to change. A “word collector,” Felicity sees words everywhere—shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog’s floppy ears—but Midnight Gulch is the first place she’s ever seen the word “home.” And then there’s Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity’s never seen before, words that make Felicity’s heart beat a little faster.

Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she’ll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that’s been cast over the town . . . and her mother’s broken heart. (www.goodreads.com)

Photo Credit: Barnes and Noble

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind. (credit: www.jamesdashner.com)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie Sherman

Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Native American is the school mascot. (How timely and topical, given our community’s discussions about the Washington Redskins decision to change or keep their team name.)

Cast your vote for the second book of summer:

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Searching for more ideas for year-round middle school readers? Check out this site.  100 Books to Read in Middle School by the AMHS Library.