Colibri. Ann Cameron, 2003.

Set in Guatemala, 12-year-old Rosa is forced to beg for food and money by a man she knows is not her real uncle, but a con artist. Rosa’s “uncle” obsessively searches for treasure while Rosa searches for her real parents and seeks her true identity in this suspenseful tale.

Crispin: The Cross Of Lead. Avi, 2002.

Growing up a peasant in medieval England, Crispen is 13-years old before he learns his real name from his dying mother. Falsely accused of murder by the Lord of Stromford Village, Crispin flees for his life. Befriended by a mysterious traveling juggler named Bear, Crispen is swept into a whirlpool of intrigue and treachery—all because of a name.

The Thief Lord. Cornelia Funke, 2002.

Orphans Prosper and Bo run away from their cruel aunt and uncle and join a gang of street children in Venice, Italy. Their adventures lead them to the mysterious Thief Lord who includes them in his plans to find a magical carousel that can turn children into adults.

Midnight for Charlie Bone. Jenny Nimmo, 2002.

Ten-year-old Charlie Bone realizes he’s inherited the family’s magical powers one day when he finds that he’s able to hear the conversations of people in photographs. When his nasty Grandma Bone discovers Charlie’s gift, she eagerly packs him off to Bloor's Academy - a school of magic. A mysterious box, a missing girl, a strange man who comes and goes in the company of three amazing cats and various villains all play a part in this first adventure in the Children of the Red King series.

My Dog is a Carrot. John Hegley, 2003.

What do eyeglasses, carrots, cornflakes, kissing, and dogs have in common? They are all subjects of poems in this wacky, wonderful, collection of off-the-wall poetry.

Olive’s Ocean. Kevin Henkes, 2003.

Twelve year old Martha spends summer vacation at her grandmother’s oceanside cottage examining intense emotions over the death of a classmate, her first kiss, her quest to be a writer, and her relationship with her grandmother.

A Pelican Swallowed My Head And Other Zoo Stories. Edward R. Ricciuti, 2002.

For over a century, the Bronx Zoo, run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, has been one of the greatest zoos in the world. Learn about the role zoos play in wildlife preservation from this engaging series of behind-the-scenes stories of zoo animals, as related by their keepers who care for and love them.

The Princess Tales Series. Gail Carson Levine, 1999-2003.

Take several favorite fairy tales. Add some interesting plot twists and a couple of unique characters. Sprinkle generously with humor and wit. You get – The Princess Tales – a six book series including hilarious re-tellings of such classic tales as “Cinderella,” “The Princess and the Pea,” “The Frog Prince,” and others.

Red Rose Box . Brenda Woods, 2002.

In 1953, ten-year-old Leah Hopper lives in the tiny town of Sulphur, Louisiana. When her estranged Aunt Olivia sends train tickets to glamorous Los Angeles, Leah escapes poverty and Jim Crow laws and gets her first taste of freedom. Thus begin events that will change Leah’s life forever.

Rowan of Rin Series. Emily Rodda, 2001.

In this fantasy-adventure series, first published in Australia, the people of Rin live in the shadow of a mountain ruled by fierce unseen creatures. Because only Rowan has the ability to read the maps and solve the riddles, he must lead the villagers through horrific adventures to keep their village safe.

Shipwrecked! The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy. Rhoda Blumberg, 2001.

In the 1800s, Japan's strict isolation laws prohibited foreigners from visiting or those who left Japan from returning. So when fourteen-year-old Manjiro and four other fishermen were shipwrecked on an island far from shore, they wondered if they would ever be allowed to return home. Through a series of incredible events, Manjiro became the first Japanese person to set foot in the United States.

Skeleton Man. Joseph Bruchac, 2001.

A mysterious and spooky great-uncle takes control of 6^th grader Molly’s life after her parents disappear. Who is he? Where are her parents? What’s a girl to do? This book draws on the folklore of the author’s Native American heritage.

Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems. Kristine O’Connell George, 2002.

What does middle school really feel like? This collection of short poems captures the experience with honesty and humor, including friends, lockers, changing classes and wayward flutes.

The Tale of Despereaux: being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. Kate DiCamillo, 2003.

A fairytale adventure with three main ingredients: a smaller than average mouse who loves a princess, a dungeon rat who yearns for light and forbidden soup, and a kitchen maid sold by her father for a piece red cloth.