KAREN’S BOOK PICKS

 FOR GREAT READING!

THE PRIVATE NOTEBOOKS OF KATIE ROBERTS by Amy Hest

            Katie Roberts is eleven years old and she is mad. She is mad that her father died in the war when Katie was seven. She is mad because now her mother decided to marry Sam Gold and move from New York City to hot, hot, hot Langley, Texas! At least her favorite neighbor, Mrs. Leitstein, gave her a beautiful red leather notebook to write in. And write, she did.

            Katie writes about her mom’s wedding, starting school where she doesn’t know anyone, and about her step-father – “I am TIRED of his face and I am TIRED of sharing my mother.”  She writes about boys – “What a bunch of babies!” – and her new baby calf, Miss Paulette, and many, many other things.

            You will laugh with Katie and get mad with Katie and get worried about Katie when she gets in BIG trouble. Don’t miss this book!

OUT OF ORDER by Betty Hicks

            Life used to be simple for Lily. Just Mom, Lily, and her little brother Parker. But when Lily’s mom marries Frank, all of a sudden Lily isn’t the oldest. She’s number three, stuck behind Eric, a silent teenager who reads a lot and writes in a diary, and V, his younger sister with the movie-star face who seems to hate Lily.

            Every one of the kids has a say about what’s going on in this mixed-up, battleground of a family. Tensions rise higher and higher until it looks like a major explosion is on the way. This book will keep you under the covers with a flashlight until the end!

MAKEOVERS BY MARCIA by Claudia Mills

            Marcia Faitak is one of the West Creek Middle School kids. She’s pretty and popular, but a broken ankle over the summer made her lie around and put on  pounds. Now she’s panicked that her heartthrob Alex won’t invite her to the eighth-grade dance.

            School isn’t so great either. Marcia’s art teacher challenges her to skip the "Barbie" stuff and bring out true beauty in her drawings. And Marcia has to complete a community service project at a local nursing home. She decides to do makeovers for the residents, but is petrified at having to talk to them. As Marcia gets to know them, though, she finds out what real beauty is. An entertaining and beautiful book!