Double Eagle by Sneed B. Collard III

April 24, 1862


The Skink (a confederate ship) is asked to carry a very important cargo. Things are dangerous though because the Union has just taken over New Orleans. Under a new moon, the Skink sets out, delivers the box with unknown contents and then heads toward Havana where it encounters a Union warship and is sunk.

Summer 1973

Mike, 13, reluctantly boards a plane from California to Florida to spend the summer with his divorced father, who is a marine biologist. He is told after he lands that they will not be in Pensacola but on Shipwreck Island off the coast of Alabama while his father teaches an invertebrate zoology course. He feels stranded and neglected, thinking that the weeks will drag with little to keep him occupied. After a slow beginning, Mike's summer of 1973 becomes more and more exciting when he and a new friend begin to explore an old fort on the island. A salvage boat with a scary crew is lurking off shore looking for the Skink and her cargo. When the boys begin gathering information and asking questions, the crew becomes pushy, demanding and start making threats. Then the boys make an unexpected discovery, a Civil War gold coin, at the old Civil War fort. The boys are just beginning to unravel the mystery surrounding their find when a hurricane threatens and they discover that thieves are after their treasure. As the hurricane approaches and they strive to put all the clues in place, will they make it out alive and before the hurricane hits?

Invisible Lines-Amato

Trevor is of three children growing up in a poor, single-parent family.  Trevor and his younger brother just want to fit in among the students at their new school but their mother is currently unemployed and there is no money for anything new.  Trevor must rely on his intelligence, artistic ability, quick wit, and soccer skills to win friends.  Unfortunately, rich and popular Xander seems determined to cause him trouble.  When Trevor’s life starts to spiral out-of –control he manages to make things right with the support of a teacher, a couple of unexpected friends, and Charlie.  

This story is great for all of you interested in art.  Lots of Trevor's art is featured throughout the book.  It is also a great book for building tolerance and helping us to learn to judge the person not their situation.

Jane in Bloom-Lytton

Jane has always felt invisible in her family.  Her older sister, Lizzie seems to be the center of attention all the time.  Even on Jane's birthday, Lizzie got the extra attention because she was so fragile.  Lizzie suffers from anorexia, a horrible disease that impacts the whole family.  When something tragic happens to Lizzie, Jane realizes her family will never be the same again.  Will it be stronger or will it fall apart?  Jane is struggling as they try to work things out. 

Pop- Korman

Marcus Jordan had just moved to a new town and already he has been to the police station three times. His mother is not very happy with him. Well, what's a guy to do? He really hadn't done anything wrong except became friends with Charlie. Charlie was the prankster and only the best football player that Marcus had ever seen. Marcus learned more about taking a hit and making a tackle from Charlie then he had from any of his coaches.
Marcus shows up for high school football try-outs ready to play. He has been working on his passing game and thanks to Charlie he is no longer afraid of taking hits on the field. The only problem is that this high school team went undefeated and they have no intention of letting an outsider mess up their chance for a repeat this season. There is certainly no way that their number 1 quarterback is going to accept that Marcus wants to take his position away from him. When his girlfriend shows interest in Marcus the intensity grows and when he learns that Marcus knows Charlie...the war is on!