Loki's Wolves by K. L. Armstrong

Looking for something to read that is similar to the Percy Jackson series?  Loki's Wolves may just be the right fit.  This first book of The Blackwell Pages series takes the reader on the beginning of a quest to save the world.  Ragnarok, the Norse end of days, is coming, and Matt Thorsen is named the champion who will save the world.  Unfortunately, if all legends hold true, he will die in the attempt.  What Matt does and who he gathers to help him save both the world and his own life is the heart of this fun and adventurous series. Based on Norse myths and gods, Loki's Wolves is a good read.  Watch for the second volume, Odin's Ravens.

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

"A girl lost.  A body found. The truth buried."  In a small Wisconsin town in 1871, the greatest recorded nesting of passenger pigeons occurred.  When the birds are gone, so is Agatha Burkhardt.  When the sheriff goes looking for her, all he finds is a nearly unidentifiable body wearing a dress that she owned.  Although the family believes Agatha is dead, her sister Georgie refuses to accept the body as evidence and goes in search of Agatha herself.  Where her quest leads her and what she finds at the end of it is the heart of this story.  An incredibly well-written novel worthy of the Newbery Honor award it received, One Came Home is not for the struggling reader but would make a great shared reader with those who are more advanced.

Doll Bones / by Holly Black

If you are like me, and you find dolls a little creepy, then this may not be the book for you!  Best friends Poppy, Zach, and Alice are all struggling with problems in their families, but using their imaginations to play "the game" brings them a lot of pleasure.  When Zach's dad ruins the game, Poppy reveals that the doll -- whom they call the Great Queen -- has been haunting her dreams.  Poppy is convinced this will continue until they travel to the birthplace of the doll and give her a proper burial.  So, the three set off on the quest to put the doll to rest.  What happens next makes a suspenseful, strange, and sometimes touching story.  This would be a great read-aloud before Halloween!

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

While this books looks intimidating, it is actually a quick read.  Ivan is a gorilla raised in captivity and living in a shopping mall that has seen better days.  His best friends are an old elephant named Stella and a stray dog named Bob.  Life in the mall is not ideal, but Ivan copes as well as he can.  Then, one day, a new baby elephant named Ruby is brought to the mall, and Ivan's friend, Stella, makes him promise to provide a better life for her.  How he keeps his promise is a touching and heartbreaking story, especially knowing that it is based on a true story.  This is truly a great read; no wonder it won the Newbery Award.

The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford

The story occurs during one summer in the life of Minty, a ten-year-old girl.  Someone has been hiding in the woods, watching the people in the neighborhood, and Minty chases the mystery watcher one day.  That is the day she discovers the secret tree, a spooky tree where people keep dropping their secrets.  Secrets like: I put a curse on my enemy, and it is working.  Determined to figure out who each secret belongs to, Minty and her new friend, Raymond, start watching.  As they get deeper glimpses of their neighbors' lives, they discover they have some secrets of their own...and they will change everything.  The Secret Tree is a satisfying read that may be a bit challenging for some younger readers.

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

     The author surprised me a little by setting her story the year after the Little Rock Nine were the first African American students in the segregated schools.  The history books make it seem that integration was accomplished in one year, but we learn from our main character, Marlee, that this was not the case.  As she struggles to overcome her own shyness and make new friends, she finds herself in the middle of the race crisis.  How she and her family cope gives the reader a realistic glimpse (including some name-calling)  into what life was like for those in Little Rock during that very difficult year.  This would be good to read aloud with students or for advanced readers.