Swindle by Gordon Korman

Very good book! "Griffin is a Man with a plan" (front jacket). Very true. Griffin Bing always has a plan and plenty of back up plans. Some of his plans are better than others. One of his grand plans in this book is to break into an antique store. You'll have to read the book to find out why and if his plan worked. It's filled with humor and adventure.

Topics: dogs, robbery, swindle, baseball card, best friends, secrecy, school, acting, backgammon, deception, money problems, inventions

Genre: realistic fiction (appeal to boys and girls, but especially boys)

Mrs. Beckwith's rating: 5 of 5

Amazon Reviews

Moving Day (bk 1 in Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls) by Meg Cabot

Allie is a feisty fourth grader who is having friend trouble which is exacerbated (made worse) by the fact that her family has decided to move to a different house in the middle of the school year. Because the house is on the other side of town, she'll have to go to a new school. Allie is a junior animal rights activist of sorts. She gets into lots of mischief. This would be a fun book for an upper elementary age girl, and maybe some sixth grade girls would enjoy it.

Genre: realistic fiction

Topics: moving, new school, friend problems, siblings, animal lover, parents

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 3 of 5

Amazon Reviews

The Big Field by Mike Lupica

If you like baseball, including lots of play-by-play action, you'll love this book. Hutch and Cody are best friends who are part of an American Legion baseball team hoping to make it to the state tournament. There is tension between Hutch and Darryl, another member of the team who is a natural at baseball. There is also tension between Hutch and his dad, a former pro baseball player who seems to have lost his love of the game.

Genre: realistic fiction (sports)

Topics: baseball, championship game, team work, rivalry, father/son conflict

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 3.5 of 5 (if I were a baseball fan, it'd probably be higher)

Amazon Reviews

The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by e. l. konigsburg

I read this book because it was on a list of books I was supposed to read. I found aspects of the book very interesting and other aspects disturbing. I enjoyed learning about the art information and the surrounding mystery. However, the old lady in the book was a little more risque than I prefer. The primary setting is two boys who are helping get an old woman's home furnishings ready for auction. An old painting is discovered in the process. I can't say I'd recommend this book for people to read...wasn't that good of a tale from my point of view.

Topics: mystery, famous artists, Hitler, degenerate art, museum curator, Nazis, stolen art, treatment of homosexuals during WWII

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 2.5 of 5

Amazon reviews

How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor

Along with their mother, Georgina and Toby become homeless after their father abandons them. They are kicked out of their apartment when they can't pay the rent. This story describes some of the situations people who are homeless may find themselves in.

To try to help get money so they can rent somewhere to live, Georgina decides to steal a dog for the reward money and enlists the help of her younger brother. It's not a "happy, feel good" kind of book. It may, however, help kids empathize with others who have come upon tough times financially. It's hard for everyone in the family, some of which is depicted in this book.

Genre: realistic fiction

Topics: homeless persons, brother/sister, school, dog

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 3 of 5

Amazon Reviews

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

This book was a fun, quick read. Zoe really wants to play the piano, but instead, her father gets her a Perfectone organ. Turns out Zoe has aptitude for keyboard playing. Zoe's dad is a stay at home dad. It never said why in the book, but he doesn't seem to cope well with life outside of their house. Zoe also makes some new friends at school, but they aren't who you'd expect. This book should appeal to both girls and boys, despite the cover.

Genre: realistic fiction, humor

Topics: piano lessons, organ, music, family life, school life, friendship, baking, humor

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 5 of 5

Amazon Reviews

Harry Sue by Sue Stauffacher

Harry Sue is the daughter of two convicts serving out their prison terms. She lives with her grandmother who runs a day care. As you read, you're going to want to yell (and do other things) at the grandmother, or offer advice to Harry Sue, but you are restricted to reading her story. Harry Sue has a good heart and often tries to make good out of very unpleasant circumstances. Thankfully she's surrounded by non-family members who truly care about her.

There were parts of Harry Sue that I really liked, but there were parts I struggled with. I got bogged down with some of the lingo and writing style, but I kept at it. I'm really glad I did, because the story was really good. I did get confused at times, but eventually I think I got it figured out :-)

Genre: Realistic fiction

Topics: child abuse, Wizard of Oz, parents in prison, living with grandmother, prison speak/lingo/jargon, day care, doing the right thing, story telling, paralysis, family, friends, having a heart

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 3 of 5

Amazon Reviews