ONLY ONE YEAR by Andrea Cheng

In ONLY ONE YEAR, Sharon and Mary's parents decide to send their 2 year-old brother to China for a year. Instead of child care they feel he will be better off with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins while both parents work full time. They can teach him Chinese and spend lots of time with him. Sharon and Mary miss him although they are embarrassed to tell their friends what their parents have done. When Di Di returns Sharon is afraid he doesn't love her or even remember her anymore. A short glimpse into a family's experience in the U.S.

DREAM OF NIGHT by Heather Henson

Shiloh is a 12 year-old girl who moves from foster home to foster home. Dream of Night is a retired racehorse who has been starved and abused. Jess is a woman who rescues horses and takes in foster children. Night doesn't respond to anyone but slowly begins to trust Shiloh. Shiloh resists Jess's warmth and caring but begins to respond to Night. I truly loved this book. It was written with 3 points of view including Night's and I could not put it down.

AFTER EVER AFTER by Jordan Sonneblick

When I saw this book on the shelf I knew I had to read DRUMS GIRLS AND DANGEROUS PIE first. And so after that book I read this one on a long plane ride and again needed tissues. This time Jeffrey is in 8th grade and Steven is in Africa "finding himself." Jeffrey and his best friend are survivors and are going through a lot of the same stuff Steven did in 8th grade. Jeffrey misses Steven terribly and writes him letters that he never mails. Another great Jordan Sonneblick book.

DRUMS GIRLS & DANGEROUS PIE by Jordan Sonnenblick

While an 8th grader Steven's little brother is diagnosed with leukemia. Steven's mom spends all her time caring for Jeffrey at the hospital where he is being treated. The dad is lost in his own world and Steven stops doing his homework but is always there when Jeffrey needs him. Funny moments mixed in with sickness and heartbreak made this a one sitting read for me. I dare you to read it without a box of tissues.

LITTLE BLOG ON THE PRAIRIE by Cathleen Davitt Bell

Gen and her family will be spending the entire summer in a camp for families somewhere in Wyoming where you live like it's 1890. No electricity (so, no ipods, phones, etc.) However, Gen manages to sneak in her cell phone and texts her friends about her experiences. They turn her texts into a blog. Meanwhile at camp Gen develops a crush on a boy who has also caught the attention of the daughter of the owners of the camp. This was a fun book to read crossing historical fiction with humor and romance.

Mockingjay Countdown

FLIPPED by Wendelin Van Draanen

Want to win a poster for the movie FLIPPED (I do!)? Enter here.

http://www.randombuzzers.com/blog/view/the-buzz/win-a-flipped-movie-poster/2010/08/06/