When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Miranda lives in New York City with her mom, a paralegal in 1979. She is in the 6th grade and working on various school projects, and her mother is rehearsing to be a contestant on a game show, The $20,000 Pyramid, a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" type show of the time. Then one day her best friend, Sal, who lives in her apartment building is hit on the street by another boy. He isolates himself from her, forcing her to make new friends and solve the mystery of why Sal was hit. She takes solace in her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, reading it to friends, discussing it and rereading it regularly. Then she starts receiving small, mysterious notes that hinting that one of her friends is in danger and that someone is coming to help save him. The mystery is slowly revealed. An enjoyable story, well read by Cynthia Holloway in the audiobook version. Winner of the 2010 Newbery Award. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. Random House, Listening Library, 2009.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

Henry loves to eat books. An interesting premise for a fun picture book. Irish author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers uses found objects in his art like old catalog cards, notes, and lists from old books as background to the story of Henry who starts eating books and then discovers he absorbs the information from them as he digests them. This helps make him one of the smartest kids around until things start to go "terribly wrong." Lighthearted and witty, the book comes around to the logical conclusion that it is better to read books than eat them. It's a fun journey. The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers. Philomel Books, 2007.