Hazel's Theory of Evolution

Bigelow, Lisa Jenn.  Hazel's Theory of Evolution.  2020.  Harper.  New York, NY.

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Hazel's life has been turned upside down.  She was redistricted to a new school for 8th grade.  She is the only person from her old school who is going to her new school.  She vows that she will go through school as virtually invisible with the goal of getting to high school and her old friends as painlessly as possible.  But that doesn't quite go as planned.

On her first day, she meets Yosh, an obnoxious blue haired kid she has been assigned to sit next to and work with in H and HD.  They are partners in many projects, including raising a flour baby together.

She also befriends Carina within the first week.  Carina, who was known as Squishy the small boy who sat in the back of her classes.  Hazel doesn't realize that Squishy and Carina are the same person until Carina asks if Hazel recognizes her.

Top that off with one of Hazel's Moms expecting a baby.  Hazel's mom has been pregnant twice before, and both times, the pregnancies ended in miscarriage.  Hazel is afraid to let herself be excited about this baby for fear that her Mom will have another miscarriage.

But in the midst of all this chaos, some things remain the same.
The love of parents that support you no matter what.
Goats that don't judge you.
The Half Ton in the Goat Yard, where one can sit and think.
An older brother that worries no matter how much he harasses you.

While Hazel struggles to adapt to life in her new school, her worries spiral around her with these burning questions:
1) Will she (against her better judgement) make new friends at her new school?
2) Will Becca remain her friend even though they are no longer at the same school?
3) Can her mom carry this pregnancy to term and deliver a healthy baby?


The Publisher recommends this book for children ages 8-13.

Author's Web Site:  https://lisajennbigelow.com/

The Guardians of Ga-Hoole

 

Note - this is a repost. I originally published this on September 7, 2010. I understand that electronic hold lists are long right now, and it is difficult to get new releases right away. As a result, I am reposting older material in the hopes that these titles are more readily available electronically at your library!

 Lasky, Kathryn. The Guardians of Ga-Hoole, The Capture. 2003. Scholastic. New York, New York. ISBN 13: 978-0-439-40557-7. Softcover, $5.99.

 Soren, a young barn owl is kidnapped by the evil owls of St. Aggie's. If he is to survive with his mind intact, he must find a way to withstand the cruel treatment he is undergoing. With the help of a young pygmy owl named Gylfie, the two owls struggle to survive the nightmare that is St. Aggie's. Book Talk: The loving barn owl family in the kingdom of Tyto has just welcomed three new hatchlings into their family. Kludd, Soren, and Eglantine. Each of the nestlings was hatched a week or more apart from the others. Soren is the middle owl. Full of love for his young sister Eglantine, and curiosity over the beatiful world in which he lives, Soren rejoices in each new ceremony. First meat, first insect, first fur on meat, first meat on bones, branching....all of these ceremonies help a young owl grow up and prepare him for life in his own hollow. However, there is a mystery afoot. Hatchlings are disappearing out of the nests. Eggs are being taken. No owl family is safe. On the fateful day when Soren tumbles out of the hollow and to the ground far, far below, his quiet simple life is changed forever. Snatched by the owls from St. Aggies he is taken to an orphanage to be indoctrinated. Subjected to moon blinking, moon scalding, and other mind-washing techniques, Soren struggles to maintain his true identity. Soren is fortunate when he finds Gylfie, a pygmy owl who is able to withstand the mind control techniques. Together, Soren and Gylfie discover the horrible, terrible truth of what is going on in St. Aggies. They begin to plot a desperate plan of escape.

Author Web Site:https://www.kathrynlasky.com/

Podcast - The Fina Mendoza Mysteries

https://kittyfelde.com/

Fina Mendoza is the daughter of Congressman Mendoza from California.  When school lets out for the day, she is to report to her father's office to do her homework and stay out of trouble.  For the most part, nothing out of the ordinary happens to her.

Until the day when she crosses paths with the Demon Cat of Capital Hill.

Legend has it that whoever sees the Demon Cat will suffer a string of very bad luck.  Now that Fina has crossed paths with the cat, strange and unlucky things have begun to happen to her family.  Can she unravel the mystery of the demon cat before it destroys her family?

Find out in this wonderfully witty podcast series!

Two wonderful footnotes:

1)This podcast is based on the book - Welcome to Washington, Fina Mendoza by Kitty Felde.

2) Kitty Felde is the hostess of the Podcast Book Club for Kids, which has real children discuss the ins and outs of great children's literature.