Breaking Stalin's nose by Eugene Yelchin — a gripping story about a seldom covered historical era — Russia, or the then Soviet Union, under Stalin's rule. Ten-year-old Sasha begins a 24 hour period in a state of utter elation, the day has finally arrived for him to join the Young Pioneers. At last he will be able to serve the Communist Party and Comrade Stalin, just as his father does who works for the secret police in State Security. But poor, niave Sasha soon finds his whole world spiraling into an abyssmal black hole. His father is arrested in the middle of the night leaving him homeless. He accidentally breaks the nose off of a bust of Stalin at school and knows he could be arrested, too, if anyone reports him and he will never be able to join the Young Pioneers.

Dead end in Norvelt by Jack Gantos — justly deserved winning the Newbery. It is an entertaining as well enriching read set in 1962 Norvelt, Pennsylvania — a real place. Indeed, the story is partly autobiographical which is why the main character's name is Jackie Gantos. Jackie is grounded for the summer for doing a couple dumb things. He ends up having to be the "hired hands" for an arthritic elderly neighbor, Miss Volker. As he transcribes the obituaries for the local paper, a sinister pattern begins to emerge — far too many of the town's elderly are dying in rapid succession by bizarre causes. Zany characters and wild escapades are intermixed with fascinating historical facts about not only Norvelt, but renowned figures in world history.

This episodic story was originally published online and was a collaboration between the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and the Library of Congress's Center for the Book. It began as a national literacy project for young people to help launch the READ.gov website. Nineteen celebrated children's book authors and illustrators have joined together to write a fun, humorous, adventure tale like no other:

Inside out & back again by Thanhha Lai — Do you enjoy reading diaries? Do you like historical fiction? A wonderful adventure is in store for you then. This book justly deserved winning The National Book Award for Young People's Literature, as well as two other awards. Meet Ha, a bright, feisty 10-year-old girl, who must flee her home in Vietnam along with her mother and three older brothers. When they arrive in Florida they must stay at a refugeee camp until a family is found to sponsor them. "Cowboy" and his wife in Alabama agree to do so and yet another chapter begins in a very challenging year for Ha.

A murder of crows flew off to the forbidden Impassable Wilderness with the baby brother you were supposed to be watching? This is just the first difficult quandary that Prue is forced to deal with in Wildwood by Colin Meloy (lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists). Well, as you might guess, Prue does elect to sneak into the wilds, followed by a nosy classmate, Curtis. This intrepid duo soon learn they have entered a realm in the midst of violent upheaval. One part of the dark and magical wood is warring with at least one other section. A simple rescue mission explodes into mortal battles featuring incredible creatures and humans as various factions vie for power and control. Honeyed deceit, brutal honesty, and difficult choices force Prue and Curtis to mature quickly.

You will enter a world of breath-taking beauty and spellbinding mystery when you open Wonderstruck, a world so rich and captivating that you won't want to leave it even when you come to the last page. Two stories revolving around hearing-impaired characters are artfully intertwined. One is set in 1977, is told in text and follows Ben, who suddenly loses his mother and never knew his father. The second, depicted richly in shaded pencil drawings that act like a camera, opens in 1927 as young Rose plans to run away from her stifling father and find her glamorous mother in Manhattan. Ben soon flees his aunt's house in Gunflint Lake, Minn. in a attempt to find his father in New York City.

Are you in the mood for an awesome time-travel triology that promises to have a Twilight-ish romance flavor to it too? Then you'd better get started with book #1, Ruby Red by Kirstin Gier now. Gwen lives in London with her mother's rather eccentric family. For years all the attention has been focused on her cousin Charlotte who is supposed to be carrying the family time-travel gene and preparing her for life in the past. However, when Gwen turns 16, she is the one who suddenly starts disappearing into the past.

Looking for a good, and not-too-long, book for that historical fiction assignment? Then pick up Gretchen Woefle's All the World's a Stage: a Novel in Five Acts. As you might guess, it is set in England during Shakespeare's time, but it is also a coming-of-age story that revolves around a very interesting event. Twelve-year-old orphan Kit messes up big time as a cutpurse at the Theatre playhouse, but is lucky enough to be offered a chance to work off his offense instead of going to jail. Although Kit is plagued with a volitile temper that often trips him up, he begins to enjoy the on- and offstage dramas of theater life and the work involved in stage productions.

Uma Krishnaswami has created a true summer delight: The Grand Plan to Fix Everything. Dini and Maddie are best friends who love the fabulous Bollywood movies, especially the 'filmis' featuring the beautiful singer/actress Dolly Singh. The BFFs are all excited about attending a summer Bollywood dance camp together when Dini's physician-mother bursts their dream bubble: she finally got the grant to open a clinic and they are moving to India for two years in two weeks! After the shock has passed, the girls console themselves with the hope that Dini might be able to meet Dolly and find out what seems to be troubling her.

The Warlock, in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott is part of an awesome, intricate fantasy series. You will be shocked and amazed at what unfolds in this book. If you love multi-layered fantasies, and have not yet delved into the worlds, shadow-worlds, and complex characters created by Scott, you must! In this latest installment you will not believe how gullible Josh is. Has Dr. Dee altered his mind somehow? His sister Sophie has no clue whom she can trust anymore. Ancient civilizations and shadowlands, such as Atlantis, are on the brink of chaos and collapse, which would prevent our known world from ever coming into existance.

Girl Scouts Maha Zahid and Christina Christianson need your help to restock Detroit's Bennet Elementary School library, which was destroyed by fire. Bring in your new or gently-used books (for ages preschool through grade 5) to the Canton Public Library through this Sunday (July 17). Chapter books, accelerated reader books and reference books (dictionaries, thesauruses and encyclopedias) are needed the most. The pair organized the book drive as a community project to demonstrate the leadership skills necessary to achieve the Girl Scout Cadette's Silver Award.

The Memory Bank by Carolyn Coman and Rob Shepperson is an enjoyable, but puzzling story. Soft black&white pictures tell some of the story, as with Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It has the dark, mysterious aura of Gaiman's Coraline. Parental figures are rather horrific, as one might find in Roald Dahl's creations. Hope Scroggins becomes entangled in the WWMB (World Wide Memory Bank) and a dream realm in a desperate search for her younger sister whom her parents told her to forget about after dumping Honey out of the car for misbehavior. But the whole book has a very surrealistic quality to it and I am wondering what is real, what is dreamed, what is the intent of the authors. As Keats might say, "Gone is the vision. Do I wake, or do I sleep?" So I am asking all readers to please post your thoughts/feelings/reactions to this awesome, but mysterious story.

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier — is another must-read for all tween/teen fantasy fans. Fourteen-year-old Trei lost his family to a volcanic explosion and seeks refuge with his aunt, uncle, and cousin in the neighboring, airborn kingdom of the Floating Islands. Upon arriving he sees men soaring in the skies with wings and dragon magic and is consumed with the desire to also be a kajurai. Soon after his arrival his aunt and uncle become victims of a horrid epidemic. Now is cousin Araene is also an orphan and must decide what she will do with her life. The constraints on woman in her kingdom are unbearable, but she is clever and soon finds a way to pursue her love of the culinary arts, as well as to use her gifts in the art of magic - as long as no one discovers her sexual disguise that is.

Ready for another fantastic fantasy series? The Books of Beginning is here, beginning with The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens. Meet Kate, Michael, and Emma — siblings who have been ousted from many orphanages ever since the disappearance of their parents 10 years ago. They finally wind up in a very strange home in Cambridge Falls run by a Dr. Pym that has no other children at all. While exploring this run-down mansion, they happen upon a mysterious emerald atlas that has the power to transport them in time. From this point on their lives are filled with fast-paced magical adventures in that age-old struggle between good and evil.

Are you in the mood for a pun-a-page mystery featuring adorable chickens, a feather-brained hen (their mom), and a daring, deadpan-humored dog? Then get on the wait list for The Trouble with Chickens — a J.J. Tully Mystery by Doreen Cronin. Tully is a former search-and-rescue dog that is trying to enjoy his retirement years, when two puffy chicks (Dirt and Sugar) and their mom (Moosh) appear peeping for his help. Poppy and Sweetie are missing! Tully won't work for chicken feed, but he will take the case for a cheeseburger. Snooping for clues along twisting trails, under sagging couches, and down slippery hallways, Tully wonders if he is on a wild chick chase.

Are you in the mood for a simple, sweet dog story? Then Saving Zasha by Randi Barrow is just for you. It takes place in the Soviet Union right after World War II and is based on the real situation of canines in Russia at this time. Two brothers are determined to save a beautiful German Shepherd from certain death, since anything 'German' should be destroyed. Service in the military, starvation, abandonment, illness, and injury had all but eliminated the entire dog population in the Soviet Union. Finally realizing the value of dogs the Soviet government decided to create a new breed of dog — a "superdog" — to be used for work and military purposes. What few dogs remained were being kidnapped and sold for large sums of money.

This year's Newbery Award winning book, Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, presents a story within a story and is totally captivating. Historical fiction should always be this compelling. But you can read the rave reviews and plot summaries by clicking on the link to this item in our catalog. What I want to relate is why this superb novel touched me personally. One story take place in 1936, during The Great Depression. I grew up hearing stories and accounts of what it was like to live during this trying time from my parents and grandparents. My mother told about searching for stray pennies in couch cushions to buy a loaf a bread. She had to sleep on the floor so boarders could have the beds in the bedrooms.

Follow Hansel and Gretel on their exciting, but bloody and gruesome, adventures in A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. This book makes no bones about keeping to the original shock and horror of some of the Brothers Grimm's tales. It is not for the faint of heart or those looking for 'nice' endings. It is for readers who like humorous adaptations of old tales. Wit and suspense combine to make this a real page-turner. I can't give the ending away, but you won't be disappointed. If you can't get your hands on this book yet, try the Sisters Grimm series or some of the library's other fairy tale adaptations.

Meet Turtle, a charming eleven-year-old who is in under no illusions about the ways of the world. It is 1935 and her "starry-eyed," romantic mother (who is always falling in and out of love with total losers) ships Turtle off to relatives in Key West, Florida because her latest housekeeping job does not allow children. Turtle is thrown into a radically different way of life amid boisterous cousins, eccentric adults, hurricanes, scorpions, and windfall fruit. She isn't allowed into her cousins' Diaper Gang (no girls allowed) to earn spending money, but has high hopes she'll soon be on Easy Street like Little Orphan Annie when she discovers a pirate treasure map.

Check out the blog I posted on this super historical fiction book a couple months ago. It has been named a Newbery Honor Book. I know a winner when I read it! (Well… usually!)