Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Young Minli and her parents work hard everyday harvesting rice in their village. Minli loves to listen to her father tell amazing stories of dragons and the Old Man of the Moon. When Minli decides to leave home and bring back the key to a happier life for her family, she begins an amazing quest of her own. Her adventures are interwoven with the tales of those she meets on her journey, making this book a rich tapestry of stories within stories that all ages can enjoy.

Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion by Loree Griffin Burns

Can you imagine hundreds of Nike gym shoes being washed up on the California coast? How about thousands of rubber duckies bobbing ashore? In this amazing book you can learn about cargo spills that helped scientists track ocean currents moving trash from place to place, and even where tons of plastic garbage collects around the globe. Scientists are using this information to help save the ocean environment, and there are ways all of us can help. Filled with interesting pictures and fascinating facts, Tracking Trash is an intriguing nonfiction book that will get you thinking about the things we use, and throw away, every day.

NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley

When cool guy Jackson Jones gets demoted to the bottom of the heap in school because of his braces, he learns that the “nerds” he's been hassling all year are some of the most amazing people ever. He joins the NERDS (National Espionage, Rescue and Defense Society), an unusual group of fifth grade students with secret identities and incredible abilities, to fight against an evil scientist trying to destroy the planet. This is a very funny book, a great spy story, and a rousing adventure. You'll want to joins the NERDS too!

Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer

If you are looking for poetry with a twist, this is it. Author Marilyn Singer and illustrator Josee Masse have created a wonderful book of fairy tale verse that is turned on its head - literally. Free verse poems tell familiar fairy tales, but then the poems are flipped to read bottom to top, with amazingly fun results. Each poem is a treat, both backwards and forwards. Enjoy this collection, then make up your own reversible poetry!

Series Books to See You Through the Summer

Our last "Lunch in the Library" for this year featured student reviews of books in series. We had many participants who were excited to talk about their favorite series. Diving into a new book series is a great way to keep reading all summer long. Here are some of the series recommended by our "Lunch in the Library" students:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
The misadventures of Greg Heffley and his friends and family fill Greg's journals in words and pictures. Recommended for grades 3 – 6.

Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Jack and Annie share magical time travel adventures in this fabulous fantasy series. Recommended for grades 2 – 5.

Babymouse by Jennifer Holmes
Sassy, fun, and full of imagination, this illustrated novel series features the adventures of loveable Babymouse. Recommended for grades 2 – 5.

Puppy Place by Ellen Miles
Each book in this series for dog lovers spotlights one dog's adventures. Recommended for grades 3 – 5.

Bionicles by C. A. Hapka
Based on Legos characters, 6 heroes fight the forces of evil in this series. Recommended for grades 3 – 6.

Extreme Pets
From piranhas to spiders, you'll learn all you need to know about some very unusual pets. Recommended for grades 2 – 6.

My weird School by Dan Gutman
The students of Ella Mentry School tell about their wild teachers and outrageous adventures. Recommended for grades 2 – 4.

Encyclopedia Brown by Donald Sobol
Kid detective Brown can solve any mystery - can you find the clues that lead to the answers? Recommended for grades 3 – 6.

Dripping Fang by Dan Greenberg
Full of comedy, horror, and adventure, this series follows the Shluffmuffin twins through Dripping Fang Forest. Recommended for grades 3 – 6.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Percy and his friends battle mythological creatures to save themselves and the world as we know it. Recommended ofr grades 4 – 8.

The Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbott
Eric, Julie, and Neal stumble upon a magical world of sorcerers, strange creatures, and invisible cities at the end of a hidden staircase. Recommended for grades 4 – 8.

Bone by Jeff Smith
Bone and his crazy friends get themselves into dangerous situations in this funny and adventurous illustrated novel series. Recommended for grades 4 – 8.

39 Clues
Clues to a mysterious fortune are scattered around the globe, taking members of the Cahill family on searches of suspense and adventure. Recommended for grades 4 – 8.

Star Wars
Based on the movies, this science fiction galaxy of good and evil holds many adventures for the Jedi knights. Recommended for grades 3 – 6.

Regarding the … by Suzy Klise
Wacky mysteries abound at Geyser Creek School, with letters and memos included for fun reading. Recommended for grades 4 – 6.

Septimus Heap by Angie Sage
For fans of magical fantasy, this world of quirky characters, intriguing spells and bizarre contraptions is sure to please. Recommended for grades 4 – 8.

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

This zany sci-fi story is definitely going on my best reads of the year list! After Earth is invaded by the Boov, 11-year-old Gratuity Tucci grudgingly writes an assigned essay about the takeover for a contest to celebrate the event. Smekday, once known as Christmas, has become known as the day Captain Smek and the Boov moved in. But Gratuity's essay does not stop there. She recounts her incredible and hilarious adventures after Smekday, as she befriends a renegade alien and together they journey across the country in a flying car to find her mother. When a second alien race decides they want earth, things get even nuttier. Gratuity is full of spunk and sass, and along with her alien sidekick and pet cat (named Pig), readers are in for a riotous adventure to save the planet!

Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman

If you're a fan of Superman or any other superhero, this is a book you've got to read. In words and pictures, this slim picture book tells the amazing history of two shy teenagers who changed the face of comics forever. Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster were two boys whose lives were as tough as everyone else during the Great Depression. But they had big dreams. They gobbled up stories about heroes like Tarzan and Flash Gordon, and they used their imaginations to bring to life a different kind of hero – one disguised as an average citizen but endowed with amazing powers from his home planet – Superman! Read this true story of how these two young men persevered to make their creative dream come true.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Mibs Beaumont is about to turn 13 and discover her own personal “savvy” like her brothers before her. Of course, her brother Fish caused a hurricane with his savvy, and her brother Rocket's savvy caused power outages across the county. Beaumont savvy is hard to control. Then, on the eve of her birthday, Mibs' father is in a car accident far away, and getting to see him becomes one wacky and complicated adventure just bursting with family savvy. Written with wonderful homespun flair, this rollicking story reads like an old fashioned tall tale set smack in the present day. Go along for the ride and enjoy!

To the Top: The Story of Everest by Stephen Venables

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to climb a mountain? To the Top: The Story of Everest gives you an insider's view into the trials of tackling the highest mountain on Earth. Written by a man who took the Everest challenge, Stephen Venables, this book tells the history of the daring climbers who braved the mountain, and some of the tragic failed attempts. Author Venables also recounts his own Everest climb in gripping detail. Filled with marvelous photographs of real climbs, this nonfiction book is an exciting journey for anyone who is fascinated by the dangers and triumphs of mountain climbing.