The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

If you enjoy steampunk stories involving brave, intelligent kids, you will enjoy The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson. Joel wants to be a Rithmatist, the chalk weilding people who have special powers with the circles they draw, and are able to fight the wild chalklings in Nebrask who threaten the livelihoods of the citizens living in the American isles.

But as skilled as he is with drawing circles, he doesn't have the same powers that Rithmatists have. So how can he help when a mysterious figure starts kidnapping kids who are Rithmatists, spiriting them away unseen and unheard in the night? Can he and his friend Melody who is a Rithmatist, and kindly Professor Fitch find out what's happening before their entire school, Armedius Academy is attacked?

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis is a delightful story about Polly Plummer and Diggory Kirk, two friends who find themselves tricked by Diggory's dastardly uncle into going on an unexpected magical adventure which takes them on twists and turns, coming into contact with the evil queen Jadis.

Once in her company, they find their way back to Diggory's idiot uncle, then come into contact with an unsuspecting cab man and his horse. Then they find themselves, with the use of Uncle Andrew's magical rings, in the brand new world of Narnia. There, they meet Aslan, the lion. And what does Aslan ask Diggory to do, to help counter the presence of the evil Jadis in Aslan's new world? Read the lovely book to find out! It is a fun book for both children and adults who enjoy magical adventures!

Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary

in Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary Ramona Quimby is just starting 1st grade, and finds that it's very different than Kindergarten.

The teacher, Mrs. Griggs is nice, but not as understanding as Miss Binney, Ramona's old Kindergarten teacher. And what is Ramona to do when Susan is copying her artwork but Mrs. Griggs doesn't seem to notice. Also, what happens when Ramona is walking to school and a strange dog starts to chase her? This is a fun book for children, giving them someone to relate to in spunky little Ramona. It's also a good book for older folks who enjoy remembering what it was like to be a kid.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (full name Susan Eloise Hinton) is a wonderfully written coming of age story about a boy named Ponyboy (yes, that's his real name) his brothers, and his friends, including his best friend, Johnny.

They belong to a social class called the Greasers, the poor class in town which is often picked on by the Socs (pronounced Soshes, which is short for Social). They get by until one fateful night when a group of Socs chase down Ponyboy and Johnny and try to drown Ponyboy in a fountain. When Johnny kills one of them defending Ponyboy, what are the two friends going to do? The book is amazing, and a great read for teens as well as adults.

Escape from Chernobyl by Andy Marino

Escape from Chernobyl by Andy Marino is an exciting middle grade story about the terrible accident that happened in Prypyat in Ukraine on April 26, 1986.

The story follows several fictional characters as they struggle to help their friends, family, and others to escape and contain the terrible explosion that happened there. But with rising levels of radiation is there any hope? Despite having fictional characters, the story is still exciting and interesting, and helps readers, old and young, learn more about what happened at Chernobyl.

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer is an entertaining story for young adults about Jack Faber, one of the assistants on HMS Dolphin. Jack participates in the duties of a ship's boy, and even kills a pirate to save a shipmate!

The one problem with all of this, is that Jack's real name is actually Mary. And Jack is actually a girl. Will she be a successful sailor, and will she keep her real identity secret from her friends and shipmates? The story is exciting and plausible. There are some PG-13 moments, and the story isn't something that parents would want their kids reading without previewing the book first. But it is exciting for adults and older kids. Readers will find themselves cheering for Jackie, her friends, and the rest of their shipmates as they go from adventure to adventure, with Jackie all the time keeping her real identity hidden from everyone! (Almost.)

The Candy Shop War Series by Brandon Mull

The first Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull introduces the reader to friends Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon as they meet Mrs. White, a magician who comes to their town and sets up what at first seems like a harmless candy shop. But soon the kids realize that Mrs. White has a sinister plan. Finding friends in Mr. Stott, a good magician, and Mr. Dart, a magical law enforcement officer, the kids set out to stop Mrs. White from succeeding in her evil scheme to take over their town. But will they be able to stop her?

In the second book, Arcade Catastrophy, the same friends are facing off with Mr. White, Mrs. White's dastardly brother before he can follow through on his own underhanded scheme to take control of their town, and ultimately the world. What has happened to Mr. Dart and Mozag, the head of magical law enforcement? Will the kids be able to find out what happened to them, let alone rescue them? In the third book Carnival Quest, the kids, Mr. Dart, and Mr. Stott are suspicious of a carnival that has come to town. There was one sibling to Mr. and Mrs. White left, Camilla White. Is it possible she's the one controlling this carnvial? And what has happened to Mozag and the Battiato brothers? How can the kids help Mr. Stott rescue them? The carnival that has come to town most certainly has something to do with it, but can the kids compete when people keep mysteriously disappearing in the carnival?