Imperfections: A Novel by Lynda Durrant

Rosemary Elizabeth is escaping with her mother, brother and baby sister from her abusive father in Kentucky in 1862. Her mother brings then to the Shaker Community of Pleasant Hill then leaves. Struggling to adjust to the stringent perfection and hard work demanded by the Shakers, she questions everything that is going on around her. Her brother is slowly withdrawing from her due to the enforced separation of the sexes the Shakers believe in, and her baby sister is being raised in the nursery. Then she finds herself being attracted to a young man in the community, who she is not allowed to speak to. As time goes on, she deals with Confederate and Union Soldiers passing through and is set upon by Morgan's Raiders while coming back from a trip to town to sell butter and cheese. The book vividly describes daily life in the Shaker Community and Shaker beliefs. An afterword gives additional background on Shaker history and Morgan's Raiders. Imperfections: A Novel by Lynda Durrant. Clarion Books, 2008.

Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka

Jon Scieszka grew up one of 6 brothers in Flint, Michigan and his tales of the mischief they got into are priceless. They spent summers at a lake in Michigan, tormented the nuns at his Catholic School, broke furniture, and generally got into all sorts of trouble. Many of the adventures seem to describe a bygone era. I don't know how many boys these days get into dirt fights at construction sites or can spend summer days just hanging out by the lake, but I think they would enjoy listening about them. The author narrates the audiobook, it would be a great family listen during a holiday car trip. I frequently was laughing out loud while listening. Knucklehead:tall tales & mostly true stories of growing up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka. Brilliance Audio, 2008.

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

Catherine lives in midieval England and at 14 is on the verge of becoming a woman. Her father, who is a local lord, is looking to wed her to a prosperous man to improve his situation. She, however, prefers escaping to the village, hanging out with the goat herder and generally doing anything to avoid embroidery, sewing and learning to be a lady. She writes a diary detailing her days, the many feast days, the harvest, the trevails of her mother, who is expecting another child, and, of course, her fears of being wed to an older, boorish man she calls "Shaggy Beard." The details about life in 13th century England are wonderful and Catherine's voice is authentic, if a bit ahead of her time. The audiobook narrator, Jenny Sterlin, does a great job of capturing the inflection, tone and rhythm of the style of speech of the time. A Newbery Honor Book. Fascinating. Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman. Recorded Books, 1994.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

This story creates a future where a disease has developed that brings the dead back to life and makes them crave human flesh. One bite from these "Unconsecrated" beings infects a live human and turns him/her into a similar zombie. Mary, a young girl, lives in a fenced village that is constantly under seige from the "Unconsecrated" living in the forest beyond. When the village's fences are breeched and the village is overrun, she escapes down a fenced path into the forest with a small group of others, including her brother and her fiance. What will they find? Reminiscent of Omega Man, the story is scary and intriguing. Sure to appeal to the horror fans out there in upper Middle School or High School. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Delacorte Press, 2009.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson feels frustrated and misunderstood. Suffering from dyslexia and ADHD, he has been kicked out of every school he has gone to at the end of the year. Now he faces another summer with his mother and abusive step-father. But strange things keep happening to him, like his math teacher attacking him during a field trip to a museum. When he and his mother go for a summer outing to a cottage on the beach, he learns that he is indeed not like other kids because his father is a god. A race ensues to get Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for the children of the Greek Gods, before he is attacked by a Minotaur. As Percy learns the truth about himself at camp, he comes to learn that he needs to go on a quest to prevent a war from breaking out between the gods, which would be disastrous for mankind. A rollicking read! Great fun. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Random House, 2005.