Goodbye Days By Jeff Zentner

This was a really depressing (but good and sometimes funny!) book about a boy- Carver-who lost his three best friends in a car crash triggered by a text message. And everyone thinks Carver is to blame. 
So does he. He sent the text message that probably triggered the event that killed them. So then a bunch of people want to ruin his life, some don't care, and then some just shake their heads. Starting school with no friends and a court case that could put him behind bars, Carver is lost, always remembering, trying to forget, and regretting what has been done.

- Emilia, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

American Street By Ibi Zoboi

Fabiola and her mom travel from Haiti to the USA, but midway to their destination of Detroit, her mom gets detained. Fabiola makes the rest of her journey alone, and meets her cousins and aunt. Starting school, she feels 100% unsure of what will happen to her mom. But school made one thing clear- her three cousins are The schools's Three Bees, the Beauty, the Brains, and the Brawl. No one messes with them. And everyone expects Fabiola (now called "Fabulous"), to be the Fourth Bee. Eventually Fabiola gets a chance to help her mom, yet the price is uncertain. 

I would highly recommend this book!

- Emilia, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

Holding Up the Universe By Jennifer Niven

This book pulled me in from the start and kept me flipping the pages. The thing I liked most about Holding Up The Universe is how the characters compliment each other so much. Libby can't control that people stare at her, and Jack chooses to have people stare at him even when he can't read their face. That way that they're kinda opposites but also need each other is a part of the book I love.

- Emilia, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

This is a book that is based on the pieces of a little black girl growing up, whos name is Jacqueline Woodson. Growing up as a person, in general, she had to deal with siblings, parents, equity, whoopens, and just life moving at its regular pace.

- Ella, 6th grade, Putnam Ave Upper School

The Stars Beneth Our Feet by David Barclay Moor

Nobody close to me has ever died before. But to everyone out there who has, had a special person who has passed on, I cant imagine the feeling. Neither can I imagine what "Lolly" must feel like, losing his only {sibling &} brother to a ruthless gang with a revolver. What it feels like to have your family be a jumbled up mess, and only be able to turn to building Lego's.

- Ella, 6th grade, Putnam Ave Upper School

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Describe a part of the book that made you feel something strongly (i.e. something that made you cry, laugh, get really angry, etc.).

When Alley gave her teacher a sympathy card without even knowing it, it made me feel really feel bad for her because she doesn’t want anyone to know her “secret”, but not everything stays secret for forever... (BTW, I’m not gonna spoil the book )

--Amy, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

The Baby-Sitter's Club #2, Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M. Martin

In The Baby-Sitter's Club #2, Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M. Martin, The Baby-sitter's club is doing just great. That is, until they hear about the "Phantom Caller", a jewlery thief so quiet that he can sneak into people's homes and steal their jewlery while they are still home! As his attacks get closer and closer to Stonebrook, The Baby-sitters start to panic, and when they start to get the mysterious silent calls themselves, the club realizes that they must take hold of the situation and be ready in case the houses that they are baby-sitting are next on the Phantom Caller's list. Follow their baby-sitting adventures again in The Baby-Sitter's Club #2, Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M. Martin!

--Lyra, 6th grade, Cambridge Street Upper School

Echo's Sister by Paul Mosier

El's sister, Echo, has a rare form of cancer, only 5 out of million kids has it. The doctors noticed it when it was the first day of school, so before El knew what was happened to Echo, she was like, OK, let’s do this! But when her dad told her her days were dark and sad. I’m not going to spoil this book for anyone, but this is a really good book and I recommend it.

- Amy, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Describe a part of the book that made you feel something strongly (i.e. something that made you cry, laugh, get really angry, etc.).

The Words in deep blue book by Cath Crowley is about a family who works in a book store called Howling books. The main characters' names are Rachel, Henry, Martin and George. So about the book, Rachel moves away with her mom and little brother Cal. They move out of the city to a house closer to the ocean. Rachel was best friends with Henry before she moved and liked him. The night before she moved she left a note in the letter library that is in the shop telling him that she liked him. Henry keeps contact with Rachel but she never responds. Several summers later Rachel visits the town for a distraction after her brother had drowned months before. She gets a job to work side by side with the boy she recently loved. The shop gets another new employee whose name is Martin, which George, Henry's sister isn't too thrilled about. The story continues in a dramatic way but you will have to read the book to find out all the details. 
There are several parts of the book where there are deep and bonding moments. These moments helped the characters interact with each other in a better and more kind way. There are two moments I will be sharing and describing about. Family dinners at the house of dumplings and an incident by the dock.
First the Jones family dinners are at the dumpling house every Friday night in their town. Henry's family talks about books they have recently read. This is like a bonding time for the family because typically they are all working and don't have time to have deep conversations, but sitting here each Friday gives them each that chance.
The second bonding experience is with the four friends Rachel, George, Henry and Martin. A bully tied Henry and Martin to polls by the docks. It all worked out though because Henry had time to send Rachel their destination. Rachel and George came to the rescue. After this they drove back to the book shop. This is a bonding moment because it showed that they really cared about Henry and Martin. That they still have the chance to be good friends to start over. This incident made them closer together more friendly to each other. After this they talked more and cared more for each other. These bonding times made family and friends closer together. They started to understand each other more and became better friends as a whole. 
If you like romance, drama and action packed adventure then this book is most definitely for you!!

- Nova, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephard

Would you recommend this book? If so, who would you recommend it to, and why? If not, why not?

I would definitely recommend this book!!!!!!! I haven't read many books like this one. It is more heartfelt and real than other books, even though Lily and Dunkin are fictional characters. The experiences that the kids go through are real and important. Both Lily and Dunkin struggle, although they are struggling with different things. I really related to them and I think other kids would, too.

--Lillian, 7th grade, Cambridge Street Upper School

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

This book is about this girl, Carley Connors, who has to stay with the Murphy (foster care) for a while. She thinks crying is weak, she hates how Julie Murphy, the mom, is really neat and kind to her, after a while she learns to love herself, the family and stuff. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but it’s a wicked good book!

--Amy, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

Ghost Boys By Jewell Parker Rhodes

Describe a part of the book that made you feel something strongly (i.e. something that made you cry, laugh, get really angry, etc.).

This book was very powerful to read. Jerome, the main character, is playing with a toy gun when he is shot by a police officer. I was upset by the police officer's racism toward Jerome and how the judge justified the police officer's actions. I hope that this book will inform more people about these tragedies so people can learn to not let them happen again.

-James, 7th Grade, VLUS

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Describe a part of the book that made you feel something strongly (i.e. something that made you cry, laugh, get really angry, etc.).

I was shocked at the part where Daisy was telling Aza that Russell Picket's entire fortune (which is billions of dollars) would go to the benefit of his pet tuatara and other tuataras (tuataras are like lizards, except they're not...look it up :D). I mean, why would someone choose to care more for their pet than their own kids?

8th grade

What the librarian is reading!

Hi US Readers!

Wow, you all are on fire! I'm loving reading all your posts and hearing about what you are reading and doing this summer.  Here are some of the books I've been enjoying recently - check them out at your local branch!

All We Can Do is Wait by Richard Lawson

Five teens meet in a hospital waiting room following a disaster in which their loved ones were involved. As you read more of each backstory, surprise twists are revealed! If you like suspenseful, riveting realistic fiction, this one is for you! A bonus is that it takes place in Boston.








Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Jerome is dead. He is a ghost, and the only person who can see him is the daughter of the person who shot him. As his story unfolds, so does the story of Emmett Till, a 14-year old boy who was killed in 1955 for the color of his skin. Will Jerome find peace? Will his family get justice?










The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

This dystopian book is unlike any other you've read. A teenage boy is near death as he attempts to survive alone in the Canadian wilderness. Then he finds a makeshift "family" of other First Nations people who are also fleeing from the government who would have their bodies harvested for their ability to dream. Super creepy and action-packed!








Clara - Librarian @ the O'Neill Branch in North Cambridge

American Panda by:Gloria Chao

Would you recommend this book? If so, who would you recommend it to, and why? If not, why not?

I would definitely recommend this book. It (the book) was amazing and it was very nice to see a book that features entirely Asian characters which is unfortunately uncommon (especially in the young adult section).

8th grade

The Hate U Give by:Angie Thomas

Describe a part of the book that made you feel something strongly (i.e. something that made you cry, laugh, get really angry, etc.).

Well in the end of the book (spoiler alert) Starr's friend ( I won't say which) who was murdered doesn't get the justice that they deserve and that part made me feel incredibly angry, especially since the only reason that they didn't get the justice they should have had was because of their skin color. Another part that made me feel strongly was when Starr speaks out near the end of the book except this time I felt pride at the fact that even though a lot of people pressured Starr to remain silent and keep her head down she still persevered through all of it (especially the racism) and still managed to stand up for her and her friends rights.

8th grade

Monday's Not Coming by:Tiffany D. Jackson

If you could ask the author/illustrator of this book one question, what would it be?

What was your inspiration for this book and what message did you want to deliver? Also, what was your favorite part of the book and which character did you connect to the most in this book?

8th grade

The First Rule of Punk By Celia C. Pérez

Read a book about a musician or with a story that involves music.

If you could be or had to become one character in the book, who would you choose to be and why?

I enjoyed The First Rule of Punk. It had a strong message that you should be true to yourself. The character that I related to the most supported that value. Mrs. Hidalgo was a Mexican American that loved punk rock like the main character (Malú). Mrs. Hidalgo was a mentor to Malú giving Malú bravery to push back on her mom. Her mom strongly wanted Malú to be more señorita like. Her mom disapproved of punk rock and not fancy clothes. If I had to choose a character to be in the  book I would choose Mrs. Hidalgo because she really let Malú be herself.

James, 7th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Katrina Yan Glaser

Read a book about a musician or with a story that involves music.

This is a really good book. It's about a family who's mean landlord is throwing them out, right around the holidays. The kids try to convince the landlord to let them stay, but their plans go horribly wrong. There are a few surprises and a deeper plot then I thought when I picked it up, but it's a really good book to read. I suggest you read it in a really comfortable spot, like a hammock.

Ava, 6th grade, Vassal Lane Upper School

Family Game Night By Mary E. Lambert

This is a book on a girl who's mom is typically a hoarder, and her dad just leaves, and just lets the crazy Grandma-Nora to take over the house.

Annabelle has a family. That's a thing. She is the middle child in between a older, moody, teenage brother and a shy & unsure, and afraid sister. Also a family that includes a doubtful Dad and Grandma, PLUS a mom who has everything in HHUUGGEE stakes in organized order.

Honestly, I wasn't even sure she'd make it to the end WITHOUT shouting at ANYONE or the house collapsing on them. 

Proved me wrong.

Ella, 6th grade, Putnam Ave Upper School