Dying to meet you by Kate Klise and illustrated by M. Sarah Klise

A children's author I.B. Grumply, who hasn’t written a book in many years, moves into a Victorian mansion in Ghastly, IL, to write the latest installment in his "Ghost Tamer" series, he is hindered by more than just his overwhelming case of writer's block. He is dismayed to find the mansion already occupied by an 11-year-old boy named Seymour Hope, his cat, and Olive C. Spence, a ghost living in the cupola who is unhappy because she never managed to publish her books in her lifetime.

Grumply  does not believe in ghost but writes  has written ghost tales. Olive and Seymour attempt to convince him. They then all work together on a book about their own experiences, including the possibility of the demolition of the mansion, a ghost who falls in love with the occupant of her house, and Seymour's parents-who left him alone!

This book is for the reader who wants a spooky and funny tale. Good news—this is the first book in the series

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

It isn’t that Abby Carson can’t do her schoolwork. She just doesn’t like doing it. And in February a warning letter arrives at her home. Abby will have to repeat sixth grade—unless she meets some specific conditions, including taking on an extra-credit project to find a pen pal in a distant country. Seems simple enough. But when Abby’s first letter arrives at a small school in Afghanistan, the village elders agree that any letters going back to America must be written well. In English. And the only qualified student is a boy, Sadeed Bayat. Except in this village, it is not proper for a boy to correspond with a girl. So Sadeed’s younger sister will write the letters, except she knows hardly any English. So Sadeed must write the letters. For his sister to sign. But what about the other  villagers who believe that girls should not be anywhere near a school? And what about those who believe that any contact with Americans is . . . unhealthy?

But as letters flow back and forth—between the prairies of Illinois and the mountains of central Afghanistan,—a small group of children begin to speak and listen to one another. And in just a few short weeks, they make important discoveries about their communities, about their world, and most of all, about themselves.

If you enjoy learning about faraway places and different cultures,  and how you will love Extra Credit.

11 Birthdays written by Wendy Mass

It's Amanda's 11th birthday and she is super excited---after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong. The worst part of it all is that she and her best friend, Leo, with whom she's shared every birthday, are on the outs and this will be the first birthday they haven't shared together. When Amanda turns in for the night, glad to have her birthday behind her, she wakes up happy for a new day. Or is it? Her birthday seems to be repeating itself. 

What is going on?! And how can she fix it? 

 Read the book to find the answers

If you like a mystery and strange happenings you will love 11 birthdays!

Diamond Willow written by Helen Forest

Set in a remote part of Alaska, this story in easy-to-read verse blends exciting survival adventure with a contemporary girl’s discovery of family roots and secrets. The title is taken from a beautiful quirk of nature. When a diamond willow's bark is removed, sanded, and polished, it reveals reddish brown diamonds, the dark center of which are the scars of missing branches. Frost has used this image to craft an intricate family story in diamond-shaped verse. Words in bold reveal a secret message!

Willow Diamond

12-year-old Diamond Willow, named for the tree, prefers to be just "Willow". She is part-Athabascan girl with one good friend, who finds herself more comfortable around her family's sled dogs than with people. Her story takes a heartrending turn on a solo dogsled trip to visit her grandparents, and Willow is soon caught up in an intense adventure that leads to the discovery of a family secret. As she unravels the truth, Willow comes to understand the diamonds and scars that bind her family together.

This is a book that may be best for mature readers.

A Dog on his Own written by Mary Jane Auch

After six names and six owners, canine K-10 doesn’t trust humans. Back in the animal shelter again, he insists he’s no stray, just independent. Along with two other shelter dogs, Pearl and Peppy, K-10 escapes.  He finds that freedom  isn’t as that easy. K-10 has a tough time finding food and a safe place to sleep.

When Peppy is returned to his owner and Pearl leaves, K-10 falls in with the tough street duo Adolph, a brutish Doberman, and his Rottweiler sidekick, Rotter.  It is good to be in a pack but are these dogs really friends?  K-10 is forced to prove his loyalty, which leads to injury and a heartbreaking series of events.

This is a fun story with dangers, adventure and suspense.  Told from K-10's point of view (POV) readers will learn more about dogs, loyalty and true friendship!  If you are a dog lover or an adventure lover you will like this book!   

This one of the 12 Maud Hart Nominees for 2013  Click here to view them all

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