In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Set during the great influenza outbreak in 1918, Mary Shelley finds herself separated from her family and arriving in the bustling seaport of San Diego.  She begins to settle into her life and then receives word that the boy she is secretly in love with has been killed at war.  When a man takes her picture and insists a ghost is in the photograph with her, Mary Shelley sets about to prove the science from the fiction.  But is the fiction real?

Content Notes:                       

There is a scene discussed where someone walks in on Mary Shelley and her “boyfriend” and it looks compromising from the door (it wasn’t, but that didn’t stop the person from spreading rumors about what he saw). 

Teacher Notes:

I thought this book was odd.  It reads a lot like a historical fiction book with the ghost story part being thrown in almost as an afterthought.  While I wouldn’t discourage kids from reading it, I don’t know that they would enjoy it or get into it.

Book Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph31JdCvMIQ

From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos

In this hilarious sequel to Dead End in Norvelt, Jack is once again pitted with Miss Volker, this time on a road trip!  After several old ladies pass away under suspicious circumstances, Miss Volker finds herself the oldest resident of Norvelt, and thereby must honor her promise of marrying old Mr. Spizz.  When Mr. Spizz admits to killing all the old ladies so that Miss Volker must marry him, Miss Volker decides that he must pay for his crimes.  Miss Volker then receives word that her sister has died and this provides Miss Volker with the perfect opportunity to take Jack across the country for a history lesson as he helps Miss Volker make funeral arrangements.  Or is he along to help her destroy Mr. Spizz?  Find out in this action-packed, belly-laughing adventure!

Content Notes:                       

None J

Teacher Notes:

While not as good as the first book, this sequel still provided plenty of belly laughing moments as well as an unusual twist at the end!  I teach an excerpt from Dead End in Norvelt to my 6^th grade students and they BEG to read the rest of the book.  I’m excited to recommend this to my kids to read when they finish the first one!

Excerpt read by Jack Gantos! J

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0phLhFwu0wU

The Book of Bad Things by Dan Poblocki

Cassidy Bean is looking forward to her last summer being a part of an exchange program that places students who live in the city with a family in the country during the summer.  Cassidy can’t wait!  The family she’s lived with for the past 2 summers has invited her back.  Upon her arrival, however, things aren’t all that they seem and not every member of the family is glad to have her back.  As strange things begin to occur in this sleepy town, Cassidy begins to wonder what exactly is going on and if she’ll ever get back to the city life again.

Content Notes:                       

None J

Teacher Notes:

Nail biting and suspenseful!  This book is an excellent age-appropriate ghost story book that completely creeped me out.  I highly recommend it to all my students wanting a good scare.

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

With her king father caught in a deadly war, Solveig along with her siblings are sent to a hidden fortress to wait out the war.  Once the ice freezes, the royal siblings along with the soldiers sent to protect them are separated from the rest of the world by a frozen sea of ice.  Treacherous acts begin to take place with every person suspecting the other.  No one realizes who is responsible or how deep the treachery goes.

Content Notes:                       

None J

Teacher Notes:

Great book!  I highly recommend to any student who loves a good fantasy or a book about kings and queens set in the medieval period.