When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Have you ever wanted to travel back in time so you could change something bad to good?

Miranda and Sal have been best friends since they were little, but everything changed when Sal got punched in the stomach. After that, Sal acted like he didn't want to be friends anymore, Miranda's extra house key goes missing, and her father's shoe disappears. Then a mysterious note comes for Miranda that says, "I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own. I ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter." The notes keep coming and they say things that no one else knows, events that happen in the future. Miranda does as the notes say and she begins writing the letter, but she doesn't know who the letter is for until the end.

When You Reach Me is also related to a book called A Wrinkle in Time. Miranda is reading A Wrinkle in Time, which is also about time traveling. A Wrinkle in Time is a book you can check out in the library.

Jason De Leon, 12 years old, 7th grade

The Misfits by James Howe

Bobby Goodspeed is a misfit at Paintbrush Falls Middle School. Not only is he a misfit but his friends are too. Skeezie is like a small version of Elvis Presley, Addie will do anything to stop injustice, and Joe is a gay boy who changes his name at least twice every week. The other kids call them names like marshmallow fluff, lardo, stupid, idiot, know-it-all, etc. In order to stop the name-calling, Bobby, Joe, Addie, and Skeezie start a new political party for the school student council elections. The election doesn't go as they planned, but they actually made an impact at school and no one is name calling anymore. But there is more to the ending and if you want to find out read the book. It really got my attention. The book relates to people at school right now.

Juan Garcia, 8th grade, 13 years old

Calvin Coconut: The Zippy Fix by Graham Salisbury

Stella is always teasing Calvin. She calls him names and makes fun of him. One day, Calvin decides to do something about it, but then the guilt is killing him. I loved Calvin Coconut. He teaches us that when you do something bad to someone it doesn't make you happy, I can't wait to read the next book coming out, Dog Heaven.

Xiomara Mijango, 7th grade, 12 years old

Basketball Bats By Betty Hicks

The Bats are an unbeatable basketball team. The Tigers are an unbeatable team, too. The Tigers challenge the Bats to play Around the World. The Bats are worried because the Tigers have a player that's older, faster, and better than them. Both teams are good, but who will win?

Jesse Alexander Polio, 13 years old

Rose by Jeff Smith

Rose is a story of a battle between good and evil. The good people and the good dragon battle bad rat creatures and the bad dragons.

I liked how the illustrator, Charles Vass, showed how the world started. Jeff Smith should write a sequel.

Carlos Ortiz Melendez, 11 years old