#16-The Big Time by Tim Green

(288 pgs) I love most anything Tim Green writes about sports so I was excited to read this book, the third in the Football Genius, Football Hero series. This continues the story of Troy and his amazing ability to predict plays on the football field. The last book left off with Troy's missing father showing up in his life...just as Troy begins to make big money for his football gift. In The Big Time, Troy gets a chance to develop his reltationship with his father and see just what happens as a result. His best freinds Tate and Nathan are still in the story, for which I was glad. It's Troy's genius that moves this story though, where in the last one it was mostly about his little league football team. I still loved the story and will recommend it to sports lovers...who have read the other two first! This would be a spoiler if you haven't read the other two.

#15-Becca by the Book by Laura Jensen Walker

(300 pgs) This was on the SUPER BARGAIN shelf at Mardel, so was only $1.00. It is the first in the Getaway Girls series and after reading this one, I think I would like to find the others. In this novel, Becca - who works in a bookstore, is in a book club 'The Getaway Girls' whose members are all Christians except her. She thinks all that church stuff is strange, but makes a bet with the members of her book club that just might change her life...if she can win it. I really enjoyed this one and hope the others in the series are just as good.

#14-Heist Society by Ally Carter

(287 pgs) This is another title on the Lone Star List for '11-'12. I haven't read any other titles by Ally Carter but I know she is a popular author. This was an interesting read and one I enjoyed...once I started it I finished it the same day. Not that I couldn't put it down...but I did get into the story. I like Katarina and the people in her life are certainly interesting characters. Parts of the story did seem a little unrealistic to me (15 year old flying to Paris on her own?) but what do I know of the habits of millionaires? Seemed more like a 'girl' book to me, but probably enough action and suspense to entertain boys, if they can get past the cover! I just saw on her website that there will be a Heist Society 2 out on June 21, 2011 called Uncommon Criminals.

#13-How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart

(243 pgs) This is also on the Lone Star Reading list for 2011-2012. I enjoyed this book, but I don't think the title is accurate. It's about David Greenburg going from 5th grade at the elementary school to 6th grade at the middle school and all the changes that means for him. He and his best friend get in a fight and that sets the tone for the beginning of middle school for David. It seems to me he really has a tough time with school, but maybe that really is how middle school goes for some kids. Overall a good book, but not a favorite for me so far.

#12 - Lorna by Debra White Smith

(292 pages) This is #2 in The Debutantes series and another one I picked up from the bargain shelves at Mardel. Obviously this one is about Lorna and her possible romance with the new mayor of Houston, Michael. However, as the girls are investigating a Houston pastor that they feel was wrongly accused of a crime, Michael's name keeps coming up. Should Lorna investigate him further or follow her heart? Again, a great read. I looked for book #3 when I picked up these two and didn't see it. Now I have to find the last book in the series, Brittan, since I have enjoyed these others so much.

#11 - Heather by Debra White Smith

(350 pages) This is a new (to me) series by Debra White Smith that I picked up at Mardel. It was a good Christian mystery novel that I enjoyed. It reminded me of the Daughters novels in that there are 3 wealthy friends, only in this one the women like to solve mysteries as 'The Rose". This one obviously focuses on Heather as she determines how she feels about the reporter assigned to interview her for a Lifestylfe piece. Then she and her friends Lorna and Brittan also try and solve the mystery of who killed the mayor of Houston.

#10 - Who Do I Lean On? by Neta Jackson

(358 pgs) This was #3 in the House of Hope series where Gabrielle Fairbanks is the main character. I loved the other 2 books in this series and this one didn't disappoint either. These are just such good books about real people and how the struggle with real issues but continue to pray to God and praise God during it all. This book seemed especially relevant to me since Gabby is separated from her husband, but in her situation it looks like things might work out for them, where in my world, my divorce is about to be finalized. Maybe thats why I liked the book so much...it has the happy beginning to the end that I wish I had!

#9 - The Daughters Break the Rules by Joanna Philbin

(276 pgs) This was #2 in this series and I loved it. It picks up where book one, The Daughters, leaves off with Carina's father whisking her away because she leaked information about him to the papers. This book obviously focuses on Carina's story while Lizzie and Hudson are still included. I love this series. Fun, light-hearted reads. Book #3 is supposed to be out soon, and I can guarantee I will be looking for it when it is released! That one should be Hudson's story and I look forward to learning more about her and her recording career.

#8-Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson

(416 pages) This is #2 in the House of Hope series by Neta Jackson and I couldn't wait to read it when I finished book #1. It picked up right where book 1 left off with Gabrielle in quite a mess trying to figure out how to take care of her mom, where to go since her husband kicked her out and how to get her boys back to Chicago. I really enjoyed this novel as well and can't wait to get #3 from my mom at dinner tonight! I love these books. The way the author mixes in prayer and scripture makes while characters deal with real life circumstances make them very helpful and inspiring. Just my opinion!

#7 Where Do I Go? by Neta Jackson

(370 pgs) I loved the Yada Yada Prayer Group novels by this same author, and when I finished all 7 of those books I was sad to see the series end. This is another series and includes some of the familiar characters from the Yada Yada books, so it almost feels like the series continues. This book is about Gabrielle Fairbanks and her struggles as she and her husband have just moved to Chicago for him to start a new business. Their sons are in boarding school in Virginia finishing out the semester and so Gabrielle has time on her hands and a hole in her heart she doesn't even realize is there. I appreciate the honesty in the situations and the emotions that the characters display. I REALLY enjoy these books...so off to start the second one in this series....

#6-Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

(196 pages in EPUB format) I also read this book on my eReader from the MISD digital library. Interesting concept...4 people meet at a Caribbean Island resort and the story is broken into 4 sections to tell about each person. However, this story really didn't seem to go anywhere. There were some good leads that I would have liked to see develop further. Plus, the language and sexual situations were bad. After reading this, I will move the hard copy Agnew has to the highschool library. Didn't think it was great for the middle school library.

#5 - Fat Cat by Robin Brande

(282 pages) This is also on the Lone Star List for next year and I checked out the EPUB version from the Mesquite Digital Library. Still not a fan of the digital book format or the eReader, but really liked the book. It is a good self discovery book about Catherine Locke as she progresses through her senior year in high school. Her live revolves around her science project and the author does a good job of making the story stick to her project while still sharing about her life. There were a few 'bad' words in the book, and definately more a girls book than one I see boys really liking, but a good book none the less. I enjoyed this one and could safely suggest it to certain students.

#4 - Stuck on Earth by David Klass

(227 pgs) This is on the Lone Star List for 2011 so I thought I would get a start on reading it. While not my favorite type of book, I did enjoy the humor of an 'alien' attempting to make sense of life on Earth, especially the life of a 14 year old boy. The alien takes over the body of Tom Filber and lives his life for a few days on Earth. It was a good read and very funny at parts. There were a few bad words, but not often throughout the book.

# 3 Somebody's Hero by Annie Jones

This is part of the Love Inspired series of books. That just means it is a clean, Christian romance novel. It was only 203 pages so didn't take long to read and was just a sweet story where 'shockingly' the two main characters fall in love and live happily ever after. Just a pleasurable read that wasn't a young adult novel for a change. Nothing heavy or difficult about it.

#2-the Daughters by Joanna Philbin

( 304 pages)This book was one I really enjoyed. Its about 3 girls whose parents are famous for one reason or another (one is a supermodel, one is a BILLIONAIRE from a media empire, and one is a pop-star) and what thier lives are like dealing with thier famous parents. From the outside sometimes it seems the money and parties and connections would make life a breeze, but from thier points of view, it's not so easy. I like reading about Lizzie and her struggles due to her beauftiful mother; Carina and her life with the father whom she is so different from; Hudson who wants to record her own album with her taste in music but whose mom thinks she knows what is best. First book by talk show host Regis Philbin's daughter and I'm anxiously trying to get my hands on the sequel, the Daughters Break the Rules. A great, fun, easy read - in my opinion.

# 1 -One Good Punch by Rich Wallace

(128 pages)This was a short chapter book given to me by our Perma-Bound rep as part of a Christmas gift. I love sports books so was excited to read it. However, the language was a turn off to me and would make me hesitant to put it in my middle school library. The story itself seemed unresolved. The main character Mike gets busted for having pot in his locker which ruins his chances of getting to state in track and his senior year. I can say at least he is honest that the pot was his, but I really felt like the story had no conclusion. Just my thoughts...others may really like it.

What is this?

I am a middle school librarian who loves to read (duh!) and was inspired to attempt to count how many books I read in one year. I've encouraged my 12 year old daughter to do the same. So, to keep up with all the books we read this year, we will attempt to blog about them when finished. Wonder how many I will have read by December 31st? 100? 200? Time will tell. I know I read a lot each year, I have just never counted. It will be crazy!