Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle

Black Duck is set both in the present and 1929. David has just finished 8th grade. There is a long-standing rumor around town that a rumrunner from the prohibition years of the 1920s was from his town. David thinks he's found the man, so he asks to interview him. The book surrounds the discussions between David and Ruben, the alleged liquor smuggler. Part of the time you experience the story through the eyes of Ruben back in the 1920s. The other part is set in the present. The book starts slowly, but picks up with plenty of adventure part way through.

Genre: historical fiction, mystery, adventure

Topics: prohibition; smuggling; dirty cops; gangsters; Newport, Rhode Island, misunderstandings, growing up

Note: contains occasional harsh language

Mrs. Beckwith's rating: 4 of 5

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Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick

Alex gets sentenced to 100 hours of community service after getting mad at his dad, driving drunk, and running over a neighbor's lawn gnome. Alex serves his time by helping Sol, a grumpy resident of a nursing home. Alex and Sol discover they have something in common, a love of jazz music. Alex's parents are divorced and are working through issues. It's a great story of life's lessons.

Genre: realistic fiction

Topics: drunk driving, community service, old people, nursing home, grumpy old man, jazz band, guitar, divorce, Jewish, musicians, family conflict, dating, emphysema, Fiddler on the Roof

Note: occasional swearing, would recommend to grade 8+

Mrs. Beckwith's rating: 5 of 5

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