Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard

After a freezing blizzard, Sheriff Nathan Shellenberger and his sons Rex and Pat find the body of a young girl frozen to death in their pasture. It's a girl that Rex and Pat both know as well as their friend Mitch. They hide her identity and she becomes known as the Virgin of Small Plains, the name of the town in Kansas where they live. The town develops a legend about her - that she can cure illnesses and grant wishes. Years later, some of the members of the community decide they want to find out who the girl really was and what happened to her. When they start stirring up old memories, other deaths begin to occur. Who was the Virgin of Small Plains and what really happened to her. Good adult mystery by a Kansas author.

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Capricorn (Cap) Anderson - 13 year old boy raised on a commune and home schooled who knows nothing about today's life
Rain - Cap's hippie grandmother who has lived on a commune for 40 years and breaks her hip
Garland - the hippie commune where Cap and Rain live
Claverage Middle School - nicknamed C Average - the public school where Cap is sent when his grandmother goes to the hospital
Zach Powers - the most popular boy at Claverage (C Average) Middle School, who always nominates the biggest nerd for class president
Hugh Winkleman - the nerdiest kid at Claverage Middle School and target of all of Zach's jokes until Cap shows up
Lena Young - cheerleader and Zach's girl friend
Mrs. Donnelly - the social worker who takes Zach in while Rain is in the hospital. She used to live at the commune herself
Sophie - Mrs. Donnelly's beautiful daughter who hates Cap until she finds out what he is really like
Mr. Kasigi - principal of Claverage Middle School who gives Cap the check book for the student activity fund without explaining to him how money works
Naomi Erlanger - a girl who likes Zach and is helping him with his pranks until she discovers that she likes Cap
Darryl Pennyfield - best tackler on the football team who creams Cap during one of Zach's pranks and sends Cap to the hospital
Halloween - the night of the dance Cap has planned that becomes his memorial service, even though he's not dead

A funny story about a young man who jumps from the 1960s life style into the 21st century. Because of his caring about others, the students learn to respect him.

The Sword Thief

This is the third book in the 39 Clues series. The books chronicle the adventures of two orphans who are searching the world for the clues that will lead to a Cahill family secret that could change the course of human history. They are battling mysterious forces, as well as their own relatives to reach the clues and solve the mystery. This particular book takes them from Italy to Japan after they discover ancient swords and their next clue. The series is being written by many authors; each of the first three books have had a different writer, but all of the books have flowed together perfectly. The books all read very fast too which makes them fun for all levels of readers.
Reviewed by Sarah Berblinger

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Getting the Girl by Susan Juby

What if everyone at your school suddenly stopped talking to you? That is a real threat for the students at Sherman Mack’s school - Harewood Tech. It’s called Defiling. Someone posts a girl’s picture on the bathroom mirror and writes a ‘D’ beside their name. In no time at all the word will spread through the school and it’s like the girl doesn’t even exist.

What if you start to think that your friend will be the next one who will be Defiled? What would you do?

Sherman Mack finds himself in just this situation in Susan Juby’s Getting the Girl. Check out this hilarious book to find out whether or not his undercover investigation stops the Defiling at his school.
by Kayla Sommerville
(from Nancy Keane's booktalking class)

Brett McCarthy: Work in Progress by Maria Padian

Who is Brett McCarthy?
Is Brett doomed to social failure?
Will she become an outcast after the “phone thing”?
Is it possible that Brett is now a juvenile delinquent?
How long will Brett have to eat lunch with No Hare?
Will the mean gossip girls ruin her life forever?
Find out in this hard to put down pageturner. You might find yourself laughing.
You might find yourself experiencing a whole range of emotions as Brett sorts out what has happened, deals with the changes in her life and her story unfolds in this fast read. I truly enjoyed this book and I recommend it highly.
by Ann Gilmartin
(from Nancy Keane's booktalking course)