Summer is just around the corner and there's finally more time to relax and read.  Here are my favorite books from this past school year to put you into that perfect past-time reading mode under the cool shade of a tree.  

The Winter Room, by Gary Paulsen, is so beautifully written that the images portrayed of the season and of living in an era a century ago is both stimulating and enlightening. "When the snow play is done and the barn and animals are settled in...father pushes his chair away from the table...and moves into the winter room."   This story is full of life and introspection and is a perfect read-aloud to wrap your voice around.

The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues #1), by Rick Riordan, and One False Note (The 39 Clues #2), by Gordon Korman, is an exciting new series written by two outstanding authors. Two siblings are part of a quest to locate a treasure hunt that involves some exciting adventures.   As the adventure unfolds, they become embroiled in a mystery. Book Two continues as the siblings search for more clues.  Two more books in this series have just been published: The Sword Thief, by Peter Lerangis and Beyond the Grave, by Jude Watson.

Adventurers Wanted: Slathbog's Gold, by M. L. Forman, is as good as the Brandon Mull fantasies and it's the author's first novel. Once you begin reading, the adventure takes you on a most thrilling experience!   When 15-year-old Alex enters a bookstore, he notices an unusual sign in the window:   "Adventurers Wanted".   And so he is about to enter into an adventure guaranteed as he and his new found friends seek the treasure of a dragon.

Science Fair, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, has eighth-grader Toby, and his geeky friends, about to uncover a plot involving the science fair that goes way beyond the deceitful student competitors. A fictitious country is planning on taking over the USA by infiltrating the school's science fair and by having the students build their projects. The underlying humor throughout the book, along with the inventive and well conceived plot, makes this a definite page-turner.

Ruby's Imagine, by Kim Antieau, takes us to a modern day catastrophe: Hurricane Katrina. Ruby lives with her grandmother in New Orleans and has a premonition that a hurricane is brewing.   Her grandmother, Mammaloose, doesn't believe her, but the winds begin to blow and the water on the levees begin to rise.   Mammaloose is keeping a secret from Ruby that will become unleashed just as the rains lash out from the skies.   The author has effectively managed to capture the Cajun tongue that is sprinkled throughout the book.   This riveting and realistic story will open many eyes and hearts!

Savvy, by Ingrid Law, is this year's Newbery Honor book and draws you in like a thick blanket on a stormy night. Mibs is about to have her 13 th birthday, which by all accounts for the Beaumont family, is a special one. She's anticipating what her magical ability might be as she prepares for her special day. The alliteration of beautiful language fills each page like a loquacious well of water, buoyant with similes and metaphors that seem to slip off the tongue. Savvy is a book to savor!

The Boy Who Dared: A Novel Based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, is based on a true account of Helmuth Hubner who is a 16-year-old Mormon boy who listens to the BBC news on an illegal short-wave radio and soon discovers that Germany is lying to the people. He tries to expose the truth with leaflets, but is caught and is tried for treason.   This inspirational story showcases a brave hero from World War II.

Burn My Heart, by Beverley Naidoo, is a historical fiction set in Kenya in the early 1950's. This difficult era brings to light British families that settled on land originally owned by the Kikuyus. But the real story showcases a friendship that crosses over color of skin and bigotry. An 11-year-old son of a white landowner enjoys the companionship of a 13-year-old Kikuyus whose family, until the British came, owned the land. The story is very powerful as both boy's lives are about to change forever.

Lucky Breaks, by Susan Patron, continues her Newbery Award story, “The Higher Power of Lucky” and once again demonstrates life in a small California desert town where 10-year-old Lucky is about to learn the importance of family and friends. Ms. Patron writes with unabashed humor and style that picks up the scent of the desert.

The fourth book in the "Fablehaven" series, The Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, by Brandon Mull, picks up where book three left off and is every bit as good as his other outstanding books. All four books are all about mythical beasts that live on the property of Kendra and Seth's grandparents. The advanced plot, the sibling protagonists and the evil adversary are all well-defined, well written and thrilling, making book four a terrific read-aloud.

The last two books have all of the great elements that make kids want to read. Unfortunately, there is a warning to readers and a plea to publishers and authors. There is NO need to include any foul language no matter how mild the words are. Scat, by Carl Hiaasen, is a mesmerizing mystery filled with lessons to be learned, as Nick and Marta head out on a field trip with a much disliked science teacher who suddenly goes missing. Except for the aforementioned unnecessary few words sprinkled throughout, this cautionary tale is extraordinary with much to learn about our precious environment. Steel Trapp: The Challenge, by Ridley Pearson, is a page-turner from the start. This espionage story is a thriller about a boy who's on his way to a National Science competition when he helps a woman with her bag and unwittingly becomes involved in an international plot. Once again, the few unnecessary words add NOTHING to the storyline.