Well, it starts with Maine Coon Cats, which are clearly the best kind of cat, and then goes on from there. Quiet haiku with a sure-to-please topic.

Lily has had to take care of her brother, Adam, for much of the time since her mother died. Her stepfather seems unable to fully deal with the fact that his son needs help: he has signs of severe autism and is currently nonverbal. Adam does seem to respond positively to dolphins though. Can Lily convince him to get Adam help beyond dolphin therapy, especially when it means the dolphins are trapped in tiny pools?

Perhaps my synopsis is not the most tidy, but I do think that this was a good story, it tugged at my heartstrings, and kids will enjoy.

Well, I already love Emily Carroll, so this was an easy sell for me. I like that it introduces you to many aspects of Baba Yaga myths while also creating a new one.

Kara lives a secluded existence in China. Her mother rarely goes outside, and when she does, she's always covered up. When an accident exposes their secret life, Kara and her mother are separated, perhaps forever.

I don't want to give away too much of the book, because part of the thrill for me was figuring out why Kara and her mother lived under-the-radar. Why is her dad back in Montana? Why doesn't he visit? I will warn you that this is another story that will tug at your heart, as Sonnichsen does a fantastic job of illustrating all of Kara's many mixed emotions. I am not sure if the ending is the one I wanted or not. It's a complicated book.

I definitely needed to read this one twice. It wasn't the type of book that was meant for me to be reading when I'm tired, because it addresses a part of my brain that I'm not really used to using. I definitely asked for help on how the systems work, because I was trying to understand the book. I think kids might figure it out more readily than I would, and most likely they would be building models to figure it out, rather than trying to visualize in their head. The idea of a sloth escaping was continually funny to me (so much effort!).

Mark is sick. He decides to run away to deal with it on his own terms, to not have to watch his family and friends deal with his sickness again. It's a decision I would respect from a grown-up, but not from a kid. Maybe I'm too judgmental, I don't know. The story alternates between his perspective and his friend Jessie, who knows what he has done and has to decide whether or not to tell. I definitely felt for Mark, but perhaps since I'm an adult, I felt way more for his parents.

Another cute one!

I know I've read it and I don't remember anything about it. So, eh.