The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

The Underneath is a very touching, poetic story. When Calico Mama hears a song, a song that perfectly describes the way she is feeling, she follows it. The songs source, a bloodhound named Ranger, belongs to Gar-Face. Calico Mama is going to have kittens, so she must hide them from Gar-Face if she stays with Ranger. Gar-Face would use them as Alligator bait if he found them. He won't though, if they stay in the Underneath. One day, however, the temptation grows just a bit too great...

My Last Best Friend by Julie Bowe

This is a sweet little book. When Ida’s best friend, Elizabeth, moves away, Ida vows never to make another, and they promise to write to each other every week. However, when Stacey moves to town, Ida’s diligence is stretched to the limit. Stacey is smiley and so nice that Ida has to deliberately avoid her in order to keep from breaking her vow. Then, when Elizabeth stops writing back, Ida wonders if it would be so bad…

Paint The Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan

This is a stirring horse story, by the same author who wrote Esperanza Rising. Maya had previously been used to a life where her grandmother had fired housekeepers for not pointing the pitcher handle the correct way, and would make Maya switch schools for not getting one hundred percent on a spelling test. When Maya’s grandmother passes away, however, she is sent to live with family she did not even know existed and her story changes forever.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

This was a very well paced book, with great characters.  Eleven-year-old Reynie Muldoon is used to doing things by himself.  However, when he reads a mysterious advertisement in the newspaper, meets the only people who have ever come close to understanding him, and finds out about the notorious and ever occurring plot to take over the world, in less than three days, he and his new found friends must work together to protect themselves and each other, as well as a plethora of ignorant bystanders.