Audio Reivew: The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

Title: The Tail of Emily Windsnap

Author: Liz Kessler

Narrator: Finty Williams

Publisher: Listening Library

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 4 hrs 38 mins

Publication: August 25, 2004

Source: Library

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade

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Synopsis: 
For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep her away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery - about her own identity, the mysterious father she's never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water's surface. With a sure sense of suspense and richly imaginative details, first-time author Liz Kessler lures us into a glorious undersea world where mermaids study shipwrecks at school and Neptune rules with an iron trident - an enchanting fantasy about family secrets, loyal friendship, and the convention-defying power of love.

My Thoughts: This story is both about Emily's tale and her tail. Emily has been begging her mother for years to let her have swimming lessons. They do live on a boat after all. Emily is drawn to the water and is a natural in the pool. But something happens to her legs after a time in the pool. This is the story of discovery, challenges, and love. Middle Graders will love this heart warming story. 

Audio Review: Mirage by Jen Reese

Title: Mirage

Author: Jen Reese

Narrator: Kate Rudd

Publisher: Candlewick on Brilliance Audio

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 8 hrs 2 mins

Publication: March 12, 2013

Source: Library

Genre: Middle Grade

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Synopsis: The desert is no place for ocean-dwelling Kampii like Aluna and Hoku, especially now that Aluna has secretly started growing her tail. But the maniacal Karl Strand is out to conquer the Above World, and the horselike Equians are next on his list. Aluna, Hoku, and their friends — winged Calli and Equian exile Dash — race to the desert city of Mirage, intent on warning the Equians. When they arrive, Strand’s clone, Scorch, has gotten there first. Now the Equian leader has vowed to take all his people to war as part of Strand’s army. Any herd that refuses to join him by the time of the desert-wide competition known as the Thunder Trials will be destroyed. To have any chance of defeating Scorch and convincing the Equians to switch sides, the four friends must find a way to win the Trials. The challenge seems impossible. But if they fail, the desert — and possibly all of the Above World — will be lost to Karl Strand forever. Here is the action-packed follow-up to Above World, which Kirkus Reviews called "a thrilling sci-fi adventure. Imaginative and riveting.

My Thoughts: Aluna sets out on her mission to warn all everyone about Karl Strand and his plan to take over. Aluna's stubbornness again lands her and her friends in big trouble. She must find away to save the lives of herself and her friend all the while keeping a big secret from everyone. Will Aluna put her turst in others or continue to put on the face of strength? This is a wonderful read about friendship, courage, and determination. There is a lot of action that will keep the reader turning the pages and wanting more. Great read over all and perfect for middle graders. 

Review: Above World by Jenn Reese

Title: Above World
Author: Jenn Reese

Publication: Feburary 12, 2012 

Publisher: Candlewick

Source: Library

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy

Audience: 10+

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Synopsis: 
Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony’s survival is in doubt. The Kampii’s breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people. 

But can Aluna’s warrior spirit and Hoku’s tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt—growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains—here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true.

My Thoughts: Aluna is a determined girl. She trains in secret and loves to swim for hours. When the necklaces Aluna's people use to breathe begin to fail and no one provides answers Aluna sets out to find a solution. On her journey Aluna makes unlikely friends and ruthless enemies. Untold truths about her society and it's origins are revealed. Aluna must decide what actions need to be take to save her people. 

This is a super cute read that Middle Graders will love. Each character is easy to identify with. The world Jenn Reese has created shows how our society can be in the future and problems that could be faced.

Audiobook Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book One: The Lightning Thief

Author: Rick Riordan
Narrator: Jesse Bernstein

Title:Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book One: The Lightning Thief

Publication: June 28, 2005

Publisher: Listening Library

Genre: Middle-Grade, Mythology

Pages: 416
Length: 10 hours and 1 minute

Audience: 10 and up

Rating: 3 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to stay out of trouble. But can he really be expected to stand by and watch while a bully picks on his scrawny best friend? Or not defend himself against his pre-algebra teacher when she turns into a monster and tries to kill him? Of course, no one believes Percy about the monster incident; he's not even sure he believes himself. Until the Minotaur chases him to summer camp. Suddenly, mythical creatures seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. The gods of Mount Olympus, he's coming to realize, are very much alive in the twenty-first century. And worse, he's angered a few of them: Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy has just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property, and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. On a daring road trip from their summer camp in New York to the gates of the Underworld in Los Angeles, Percy and his friends-one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena-will face a host of enemies determined to stop them. To succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of failure and betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

My thoughts:

 I know, I know. This book has been out for almost 10 years. It was something I always meant to pick up, but I always had something else to read. So now I'm making up for lost time. My husband and I went on a road trip a couple of weeks ago, and we now have a tradition of having an audiobook to listen to on the trip. He had tried to read The Lightning Thief a couple of times, but he always turned it off. I thought, AH HA! We are stuck in a car and I will not allow him to turn it off. The book started out slow for me, and I was able to figure every single thing out a chapter or in some cases many chapters ahead. However, the audience for this book isn't adult it is for middle-school aged kids. I think this book is perfect for middle schoolers and they might learn something in the process. I learned a few things even!
The characters were straight out of mythology, so nothing too new. Annabeth is the annoying little sister type character. Grover was the traditional best friend. Percy was the confused, main hero. It is like Harry Potter, but he isn't orphaned and it is mythology not magic. 
I listened to the audiobook and Jesse Bernstein did a great job. He did different voices for every single character. He is a talented narrator, and if you have a middle schooler, you should make them listen to this book. He only had one tic that kind of annoyed me. Every time he said "Grover" it was more like, "Grover?", but in a mom type voice. You know, when you get into trouble and your mom says, "Susie? What did you do?" He seemed to do that a lot, but it is nothing major, just something I noticed.
So if you're bored, this is a great listen. I'm not sure I'll listen to the others because I'm older, but if I had read them when they came out, I probably would have loved them more.

Audio Review: Deenie by Judy Blume

Title: Deenie

Author: Judy Blume

Narrator: Kim Mai Guest

Publisher: Listening Library

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 3 hrs 31 mins

Publication: January 11, 2011

Source: Library

Genre: Middle Grade

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Synopsis: 
When Deenie finds out that she has scoliosis, she’s scared. When she sees the brace for the first time, she wants to scream.

But the words won’t come out. And Deenie, beautiful Deenie, who everyone says should be a model, is stuck wearing a brace from her neck to her hips. For four years—or longer. She never worried about how she looked before—how will she ever face the hard times ahead? 

My Thoughts: I have always loved Judy Blume books and this one was no different. Somehow I managed to miss this one when I was going threw my Judy Blume phase as a child. I don't think the story would have affected me as much then as it has now. 

Deenie is like many young girls and wants be like and spend time with her friends. Deenie's mother is like many mothers and is living vicariously through her child. I really enjoyed this story. At times I was very sad for Deenie and found myself on the verge of tears several times. Deenie is like a precious flower she wilts under pressure but given time and tender loving care she blossoms again. 

This book, as with all Judy Blume's middle grade books, is great for reluctant readers. Children will also be introduced to challenging situations and get to experience how someone there age deals with it. Even though Deenie was written over forty years ago the themes and messages still apply today. 

Audio Review: The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

Title: The Spindlers

Author: Lauren Oliver

Narrator: Simon Vance

Publisher: Listening library
Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 4 hrs: 50 mins

Publication: October 2, 2012

Source: Library

Genre: Middle Grade

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Synopsis: Evocative of Alice in Wonderland, this novel from New York Timesbestselling author Lauren Oliver is a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty and the enduring power of hope.

Looking across the breakfast table one morning, twelve-year-old Liza feels dread wash over her. Although her younger brother, Patrick, appears the same, Liza knows that he is actually quite different. She is certain that the spindlers—evil, spiderlike beings—came during the night and stole his soul. And Liza is also certain that she is the only one who can rescue him.

Armed with little more than her wits and a huge talking rat for a guide, Liza descends into the dark and ominous underground to save Patrick's soul. Her quest is far from easy: she must brave tree-snakes, the Court of Stones, and shape-shifting scawgs before facing her greatest challenge in the spindlers' lair, where more than just Patrick's soul is at stake.

My Thoughts: This is the incredibly cute story of Liza's journey to save her brother's soul. The spider like spindler creatures have captured Patrick soul and replaced him with a changeling. Liza faces some big challenges including navigating the underground realm and a toxic river. This is a great read for middle grade readers. It is full of adventure and mystery. 

Liza is strong willed and determined. These characteristics bode well in helping her complete the task she has set out on. Liza's judge of character may be questioned during the story, however, she must work with what she is given. 

This is an unabridged single voiced audio. The original work is appropriate for audio adaption. Simon Vance did a wonderful job with the narration. It was not difficult to identify the various characters during the production. His performance brought each character to life. Pacing was well maintained throughout the production and the plot flows without interruption.

Review: Wish by Beth Bracken & Kay Fraser

Title: Wish (Faerieground #1)

Author: Beth Bracken & Kay Fraser

Illustrator: Odessa Sawyer

Publication: May 2013

Publisher: Stone Arch Book

Source: Author/Publisher

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade

Audience: 9+

Website|Amazon

Synopsis: Two friends, torn apart. Soli and Lucy argue, and then Lucy disappears, taken by the faeries who live in the forest near their homes. Can Soli save her friend, even if it means facing the biggest dangers she's ever experienced?

My Thoughts: Soli and Lucy have been best friends for as long as they can remember. One action changes everything and sends them to a forgotten land. This leaves Soli and Lucy in reversed roles. 

My 7 y/o loves what she has read of this book. I really like this story as well. It's a really quick read that is perfect for Middle Grade readers. My favorite part of the book is when Soli decides to do something brave. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and I'm sure my daughter will be too.     

Author Bio:

Beth Bracken is a children's book editor. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, Steve, and their son, Sam. When she's not reading, writing, or editing books, Beth spends most of her time knitting endlessly while watching reruns of old TV shows and drinking lots of tea. 

Kay Fraser is from Buenos Aires. She left home at eighteen and moved to North Dakota—basically the exact opposite of Argentina. These days, she designs books, writes, makes tea for her husband, and drives her daughters to their dance lessons.

About the Illustrator:
Odessa Sawyer is an illustrator from Santa Fe, New Mexico. She works mainly in digital mixed media, utilizing digital painting, photography, and traditional pen and ink. Odessa's work has graced book covers from many top publishing houses, and she has also done work for various film and television projects, posters, and album covers. Highly influenced by fantasy, fairy tales, fashion, and classic horror, Odessa's work celebrates a whimsical, dreamy, and vibrant quality.

Odd and the Frost Giants: Audiobook

Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrator: Brett Heliquist

Title: Odd and the Frost Giants

Publication: September 22, 2009

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Children's

Length: 1 and 1/2 hours
Pages: 128

Audience: 8 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Public Library

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):The winter isn't ending. Nobody knows why.
And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch.
Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - three creatures with a strange story to tell.
Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey than he had ever imagined.
A journey to save Asgard, City of the Norse Gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.
It's going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the Frost Giants and rescue the mighty Gods. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever.
Someone just like Odd.

My thoughts:
This book was adorable, and I believe young children in particular, boys would love this book.  Odd is a young boy who will not let his disabilities put a limit on what he can do. As he ventures off on his own he will discover the world is much bigger and larger than his village. He will face great dangers, but not back down without a fight. Of course, Odd also has the help of Thor, Loki, and Odin all of whom he meets on his adventure. I do not know much about Norse mythology (except from what I know from the Marvel movies), but I really enjoyed this audiobook.

Neil Gaiman often narrates his own books. If you have never heard Mr. Gaiman narrate a book, then you are in for a treat! I listened to The Graveyard Book, Neverwhere, and Odd and the Frost Giants, all narrated by Neil Gaiman. His English accent is not overwhelming. The voices he gives each character is distinct to the point you know which character is speaking. I really enjoy it when the author narrates because they are able to portray the characters as they see them.

Just a note about the book, I did not read the book, but I did notice that Brett Heliquist was the illustrator. He illustrated The Series of Unfortunate Events. He is a great artist and if you are not an audiobook person, then I suggest the book. The book is great and I know the art will be great too.

Audio Review: Spellbound by Jacqueline West

Title: Spellbound (The Books of Elsewhere Vol 2)
Author: Jacqueline West
Narrator: Lexy Fridell
Publication: July 12, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Source: Purchased
Genre: Children
Length: 6 Hours 57 minutes
Format: Unabridged Audio
Rating: 5 of 5

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Synopsis:
With no way into the house's magical paintings, and its three guardian cats reluctant to help, Olive's friend Morton is still trapped inside Elsewhere. So when Rutherford, the new oddball kid next door, mentions a grimoire - a spellbook - Olive feels a breathless tug of excitement. If she can find the McMartins' spellbook, maybe she can help Morton escape Elsewhere for good. Unless, that is, the book finds Olive first.

The house isn't the only one keeping secrets anymore. Mystery, magic, corruption, and betrayal abound (plus just enough laughs to take the edge off). You'll never guess what happens next in this thrilling, chilling second volume in the critically acclaimed series.

My Thoughts: In this second installment Olive finds herself alone. The only ones who can take her into the painting to see Morton are the cats and they are always busy. When Olive finds out that many witches keep a grimoire she begins a mission to find the McMartin grimoire. Again Olive is naive in her mission and doesn't listen to the advice the receives. Will Olive live to see the light of day?

Again Lexy Fridell does an amazing job with her narrations. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators.  This story is an excellent platform for an audio production.  As a single voiced production Lexy Fridell does an astonishing job of differentiating each character and their accents. Fridell makes each character their own through her narration. I was excited that the narrator did not change for this second installment. I like to keep the same voice in my head as I experience each installment of a series. As the next in the series does not yet have an audio I will be reading it. 

Audio Review: The Shadows by Jacqueline West

Title: The Shadows (The Books of Elsewhere Vol 1)
Author: Jacqueline West
Narrator: Lexy Fridell
Publication: June 15, 2010
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Source: Purchased
Genre: Children
Length: 5 Hours 26 minutes
Format: Unabridged Audio
Rating: 5 of 5

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Synopsis: 
When eleven-year-old Olive moves into a crumbling Victorian mansion with her parents, she knows there's something strange about the house - especially the odd antique paintings covering the walls. And when she puts on a pair of old spectacles, she discovers the strangest thing yet: She can travel inside the paintings, to a spooky world that's full of dark shadows. Add to that three talking cats, who live in the house and seem to be keeping secrets of their own, and Olive soon finds herself confronting a dark and dangerous power that wants to get rid of her by any means necessary. It's up to Olive to save the house from the dark shadows, before the lights go out for good.

My Thoughts: Jacqueline West does an amazing job of developing unique characters and bringing them to life. I absolutely love Olive she feisty, curious and brave. Moving into an old mansion does not scare Olive it's a new adventure. Olive knows something is different about her new home, and it's not just the talking cats, she is determined to find out what it is. Olive's curiosity sends on a wild ride of discovery and secrets. The cats give her cryptic clues and warnings that Olive fails to heed. She ends up putting her life and the lives of those she loves in danger. In the end new friendships and adversaries are forged.

This story is an excellent platform for an audio production. This is a single voiced production. Lexy Fridell does an astonishing job of differentiating each character and their accents. Fridell gives each character a little something extra that makes them memorable and fits each character perfectly. I was able to experience characters feelings during Fridell's  narration.

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Author: Simone Elkeles

Title: Chain Reaction
Publication: August 16th, 2011
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Purchased

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | BN

Synopsis: Like his brothers, Luis Fuentes is a risk taker; whether he's scaling the Rocky Mountains or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis is always looking for the next thrill. Nikki Cruz lives her life by certain rules -, don't trust a boy who says "I love you", boys lie to get their own way and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Then she meets Luis at his brother Alex's wedding and suddenly she's tempted to break all her rules. Getting Nikki to give him a chance is Luis's biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by the head of the gang that nearly destroyed his brothers' lives. Will Luis's feelings for Nikki be enough to stop him from entering a dark and violent world that could prove to be the ultimate risk?

Thoughts:  This book is the third and final installment of the Perfect Chemistry series. (I reviewed the first here) Luis is a bad boy just like his two brothers, but he's academically smarter than they were. He's on the swim team, gets A's in all his classes, and makes all the ladies swoon... all ladies but Nikki. No matter what Luis does, Nikki won't take a second glance. This isn't because she's a prude, it's because of what guys have done to her in the past. Will Luis be able to show her he's different?

What's nice about Chain Reaction is knowing what happens to all of the characters in the past two books. You'll get to see Brittany being pregnant, Carlos in the army, and other fun situations that will hold the first two books together. Luis is truly different than his brothers. He has his eye on being an astronaut and has to grades to prove it. There's one thing that I don't understand and believe is a cop out situation. Luis learns about a huge secret that changes his views on life. So much in fact, that he randomly throws out logic that was shown within the first half of the book. He does some stupid things based on this one secret, and the plot sort of falls apart. Don't fret! After this little bump in the road, everything turns out fine. The end is definitely sweet and keeps the readers satisfied. It's a to-read book if you're into the Perfect Chemistry series!

Audio Review: Above World by Jenn Reese

Author: Jenn Reese
Narrator: Kate Rudd

Title: Above World

Publisher: Candlewick on Brilliance Audio

Publication: 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Dystopia
Length: 7hrs:52mins
Format: Unabridged Audio CD

Source: Library

Rating: 4 out 5

Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony’s survival is in doubt. The Kampii’s breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people. But can Aluna’s warrior spirit and Hoku’s tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt—growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains—here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true.

Thoughts: This is an interesting read. The human race has had to evolve to survive and gets split up into these separate communities. Some people have wings and can fly, horse hooves, or they have tales like mermaids. Aluna is a spunky young lady and is of age to receive her tale but she knows something is not right and that her people are in danger. Infuriated by the council, she takes it upon herself to go on land to find a way to save her people. I liked Aluna, she is a strong character and it reminds me of the little mermaid but with a twist. Hoku, her young friend, is adorable. The audio production is well done. I think the narrator does a good job distinguishing between characters and balancing out the flow of the story.  Overall, this is a fresh take on mermaids that I think middle graders will like.

Cover:Beautiful! 

The Mediator series by Meg Cabot

Author: Meg Cabot

Title: The Mediator
Publication: December 28th, 2004
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5 out 5

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Synopsis: Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

Thoughts:  I love you Meg. Will you marry me?

Nah, just kidding (mostly). Everything she writes, I love. All of her adult and young adult books are addicting. I haven't read her kid/tween selections yet, but I'll get there sooner or later. For now, let's start on her series The Mediator. The main character Suze is a kick ass character that can see ghosts that need help passing over to the afterlife. She's strong willed, quick on her feet, street smart, real, and good with weapons. Not like swords or hammers will do anything to a ghost, but they'll for sure slow one down. On her first day in her moms new house, she finds a hot ghost named Jesse and tries to get him to leave. His argument? I was here first. Pretty legit reason, so Suze copes with a really attractive spanish speaking ghost that not only wont leave her alone, but protects her when other spirits try to harm her... which is so adorable. They become a really good team, and feelings start to grow.

Her mother remarried when her father died (a father she still sees from time to time *wink wink*) and now she's stuck with three brothers. Suze names them after Snow Whites dwarfs because their personality matches. There's Sleepy (the oldest and I believe to be written like he does marijuana), Dopey (same age as her and attractive but not too bright), and Doc (because he's really smart). Doc sometimes helps Suze on her adventures, and he figures out about Jesse pretty quickly. There's lots of humor in it as well, so you'll find yourself laughing in some of the situations she puts herself in.

The series is action packed and written very well. The character development progression is great, I didn't think there were any slow parts in any of the books, her friends are likable, and the cutesy romance doesn't disappoint. You'll get addicted fast, and you're welcome for recommending such a great book. *pats self on back*

Review: New Firsts by Diana Gallagher

Title: New Firsts
Author: Diana Gallagher

Publication: August 1, 2012

Publisher: Stone Arch Books

Source: Publisher via netgalley

Genre: Middle Grade

Audience: 9 and up

Amazon |Goodreads


Summary
Claudia and Monica are brand new freshmen at Pine Creek High, and they are finding that relationships sometimes change as you grow up--will high school pull them apart or will they remain best friends?

My Thoughts: This book is about Claudia and Monica's First week of High School. They are just starting 9th grade and nothing has prepared them for what's in store. Claudia and Monica have been best-friends for years. There are so many things that happen during this first week of school that will test their friendship. I could defiantly see myself reading this when i was younger. I put this right up there with the Babysitter's Club, I'm showing my age a little please forgive me. I think this is a fresh take on common issues kids face in high school. Claudia, Monica, and kids today face more challenges than I faced in High School. This new series gives them kids today a look at good solutions to the problems that they face. I'm going to pass this on to my niece, even though she thinks she is grown (13) to see what she thinks.

Review: Bluish By Virgina Hamilton

Title: Bluish

Author: Virginia Hamilton

Publication: February 14, 2012 (ebook release)

Publisher: Open Road Young Readers

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Genre: Middle Grade

Audience: 9 and up

Amazon|Goodreads|Website

Summary

In this powerful novel researched in NYC schools, Newbery Medalist Virginia Hamilton documents the struggle young people face as they simultaneously assert their independence and yearn for guidance.

Friendship isn't always easy. Natalie is different from the other girls in Dreenie's fifth-grade class. She comes to school in a wheelchair, always wearing a knitted hat. The kids call her "Bluish" because her skin is tinted blue from chemotherapy. Dreenie is fascinated by Bluish -- and a little scared of her, too. She watches Bluish and writes her observations in her journal. Slowly, the two girls become good friends. But Dreenie still struggles with with Bluish's illness. Bluish is weak and frail, but she also wants to be independent and respected. How do you act around a girl like that?

My Thoughts:  This is the story of overcoming differences and true friendship. The main character, Dreenie, is drawn to Natalie (aka. Bluish). At first it is because she gets to bring a puppy to school. Then Dreenie begins to keep a secret journal completely about her interactions with Bluish. It is heart warming to how Dreenie goes from simply being fascinated with Bluish to developing a deep friendship. Dreenie even promote change in her classmates feelings and ideas about Bluish. They all begin to see Bluish as a person and not the blue looking girl in the wheel chair. At the end Dreenie does the most selfless thing by giving Bluish her journal. I really like this book. It made me sad at times to think about a young child having to deal with leukemia while trying to have a normal life. Dreenie and Natalie are both strong girls and very much alike. It's easy for me to see how such a strong friendship developed.