March Book Buzz

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories About Growing up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka
Stinky Cheese Man and Time Warp Trio fans rejoice! Ever want to know how Scieszka (rhymes with Fresca) comes up with all his zany ideas? It might have something to do with being one of six brothers! Knucklehead is filled with short (2-3 page) tales from his childhood and plenty of photos and illustrations to add to the hilarity. This combination is great for reluctant readers or young boys, who will also be interested in the stories of melting army men and dirt clod wars. The audio version is well read by the author himself. Meghan (J Biography)

The New Kid at School (Dragon Slayers’ Academy Series) by Kate McMullan
Wiglaf is the runt of his family, one of thirteen brothers and he wouldn’t hurt a fly. His family has no money and every meal has cabbage in it. His family sees a sign advertising the Dragon Slayers Academy. The sign boasts that if you slay a dragon you can get rich, but it costs 7 pennies to attend. He wants to be a hero but his family laughs at him for wanting to go. He finally convinces them and takes his pet pig Daisy (whom he would never sell) as the fee to the school. This is a fun book for young chapter book readers, the first in a series. Kristin (J fiction)

Breaking Up: A Fashion High Graphic Novel by Aimee Friedman
It’s junior year for Chloe Sacks and her friends (Mackenzie, Isabel, and Erika) at Georgia O’Keeffe School of the Arts, nicknamed “fashion high” for its trendy but stylish student body. The year starts just like all the school years prior, but things don’t go as planned. Mackenzie becomes obsessed with popularity, Erika and her boyfriend hit a bump in their relationship, Isabel struggles with her parents, and Chloe starts a romance with the biggest nerd in school! This graphic novel captures the reality of high school and friendships- it’s a great read, even for those who don’t read graphic novels. Jaclyn (YA graphic novel, 6th grade and up)

The Summer Before (The Baby-sitters Club) by Ann M. Martin
As the summer before seventh grade starts there is no baby-sitters club. There is just Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, and Stacey McGill, four girls all dealing with big changes in their lives. Kristy, Claudia, and Mary Anne are starting to drift apart while Stacy is dealing with leaving behind her life in New York for Stoneybrook, Connecticut. If you’ve already read the Baby-sitters club series you will want to stay tuned for The Summer Before, to be released in April 2010, a prequel to the long-time favorite series. Alia (J Fiction)