The Giver quartet by Lois Lowry

I read The Giver when it first came out and thought it was brilliant. (If you start to sense a theme, there are a lot of YA books on this list; Rose is my main source of books these days.) I reread it a few weeks ago and still really liked how the mystery and the stakes are slowly revealed. I read the second book in the series, Gathering Blue, and thought it was pretty good though I was having some trouble putting all the parts of this fantasy/science fiction world together. The next one, The Messenger, just isn't that well written. There is a lot of repetition, like the editor wasn't paying attention. I'll probably read the last one just to find out what happens in the end.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

It's about a boy with severe facial deformities. He's been home schooled, but he starts private school in fifth grade. I loved this book. The point-of-view keeps changing, so you get to see the world through his eyes, the older sister's eyes, the friend's, etc. I really believed the voices in this book.

out of my mind by Sharon Draper

Rose read me the first few chapters out loud to get me intrigued, which worked. But then I kept avoiding the book. I don't know why. It's told in the first person, and the voice of the main character is great, but maybe I didn't feel like reading about yet another child with a major physical problem (cerebral palsy) and the struggles she faces. But Rose kept nagging me, so I finally started the book, and then I couldn't put it down.

Melody, the main character, may not be able to move or speak, but she has great insights and observations. I loved the insider's look at the special needs classroom. I had no trouble believing how brilliant she was; I had trouble believing how mean some of her classmates were. The end was a shocker. Really? They would be that mean? Really? I can't decide if the author overstretched reality or I just don't know how bad fifth grade can be.

Patricia Polacco

Rose is bringing all the Polacco books home from the library, so we are reading them all. They are picture books for 3rd graders, so they have lovely pictures, but quite a bit of depth and nuance to the stories. Many of them deal with students with a difference--learning disability, racist parents, perceived as dumb--and how a loving adult in their life helps them find acceptance, ability, and joy. They inevitably make me cry--in a good way.

The Star Wars Lego Encyclopedia

Please make this book go away, please please. This is David's current bedtime book. You know how kids used to obsess about baseball statistics? This book tries to make Lego Star Wars mini-figures just as obsession worthy. But, really, who cares whether the model that came out in 2004 had blue hips or gray hips? It's a huge marketing device (stat: this figure is part of the 2009 set!) masquerading as scintillating factoids.

Star Wars: Decide Your Destiny

Now these books were good, and I don't usually say that about the churned out Star Wars materials. They are written in the second person, and you get to choose which type of character you want to be and then make decisions along the way. Choose your own adventure Star Wars style.

Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson

Yes, I am reading an adult book. I started reading it while the kids are at the dentist. I try to use time like that to read duty books, like poetry, as opposed to being lured into People magazine. The book jacket describes this as a novel in verse. Carson takes a Greek myth and sets it in modern times. Sort of. It's poetic and lyrical and amazing, but if you are looking for a straight narrative line or for line breaks and extended metaphors, no.