Flipped

Flipped
By Wendelin Van Draanen

Told through alternating chapters, Julianna and Bryce each give their perspective of each other, and their lives in and out of school...Julianna has had a major crush on Bryce ever since her family moved across the street from her in 2nd grade.  Bryce has always thought Julianna was a pain in the neck, and he's tried to avoid her for years.  Now, in 8th grade, the situation has flipped.  Bryce realizes how great Julianna is, and Julianna discovers that Bryce may be nothing more than a guy with beautiful eyes.  The two of them have some serious communication problems to figure out and some important realizations about each other, their families, and what it means to look beneath the surface.  
(ISBN: 0-375-82544-4)

The Harvey Milk Story

The Harvey Milk Story
By Kari Krakow
Illustrated by David Gardner

The inspiring story of our country's first openly gay elected city official, right here in San Francisco.  Everyone should know this story.  Every kid and adult should read this book.
(ISBN: 0-9674468-3-x-51795)

Calamity Jack

Calamity Jack
By Shannon and Dean Hale
Illustrated by Nathan Hale

Have fun with this rollicking graphic novel adventure containing "familiar" fairy tale characters reinvented, and much more interesting than you ever imagined!
(ISBN: 978-1-59990-076-6)

Seedfolks

Seedfolks
By Paul Fleischman

Told through short chapters and many different perspectives, this is a sweet story of a diverse group of Cleveland neighbors coming together to build an urban community garden.  Thirteen different voices include a pregnant teenager, an old man, recent immigrants with tough stories, and a young girl trying to connect with her deceased father.
(ISBN: 978-0-06-027471-9)

Kindred

Kindred
By Octavia E. Butler

This sci-fi novel is a chilling tale of a modern African American woman newly married in California who is transported back in time--unwillingly--to the South, where she is suddenly plunged into a life of slavery.  The white plantation owner's young son somehow calls out to Dana through time during times of danger, and she learns it is her job to protect him because he is one of her ancestors.  Her life is more and more threatened, however, and it is unclear whether she can survive the experience...
(ISBN: 0-8070-8369-0)

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

 The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
By Jacqueline Kelly

Calpurnia Virginia Tate ("Callie Vee") is growing up with 6 brothers in a wealthy Texas family.  It's 1899, and there aren't too many options for ambitious, intelligent girls.  Callie wants to be a scientist, but her family expects her to learn to be a passive housewife...
This is a delightful story that will make you feel lucky to be born in the 20th (or 21st) century, especially if you are female!
(ISBN:  978-0-8050-8841-0)

Parrot in the Oven

Parrot in the Oven;  Mi Vida
By Victor Martinez

For Manny Hernandez, life is no walk in the park.  He lives in the projects with his family, including his unemployed, often drunk dad.  His bitter but resigned mom spends all of her time cleaning their apartment, his older brother loafs around drinking and not holding jobs.  Manny also has two sisters--a toddler who he accidentally almost shoots with his dad's rifle, and an older sister who gets pregnant but loses her baby in their bathroom.
Somehow Manny's family sticks it out and sticks together, despite hard times.  Manny is beginning to learn about racism in his small town, growing up in a mixed-race community in the 1950's.  He tries to find friends but struggles with self-confidence and fitting in.  He loves his family and tries to understand the battles he witnesses between his mom and dad, and between his mom and older sister.  And Manny sometimes gets bullied, even though his brother is tough and protective. 
Desperate to meet girls and fit in, Manny decides to join a gang in a neighboring community and go through their initiation rites--getting beat up by the other gang members.  Then he must face decisions about breaking the law to keep his new "friends".   Ultimately Manny has to figure out if that's the kind of life or friends he really wants to have. 
Victor Martinez, the author, grew up in Fresno but until recently lived in the Mission District in San Francisco.  He died earlier this year.  His novel about a Chicano boy's coming-of-age is a serious but sometimes funny fictional account of his own life experience.
(ISBN:  0-06-026704-6)

Muse

Muse;  The Magazine of Life, the Universe, and Pie Throwing
by Carus Publishing Company, Cricket Magazine Group

Muse is a funny, engaging, 9-times-a-year non-virtual glossy paper magazine for kids 9-14 years old.  Focused on science, history and the arts,  it's divided into two main parts, Regular Stuff and New Stuff.  The Regular Stuff includes letters from readers, Q&A ("Is it true that when you see someone you love or hate, your eyes dilate?" Yes!) , art/writing contests and winners, and comics.  And my personal favorite, Bo's Page, where you read several short "factual" articles and try to figure out which one is false.  They have titles like "DNA Makes the Best Genes", "Marathon Migration", and "Technology of the Future (Batteries Not Included)", so this page is hilarious and truly difficult to figure out! 
The New Stuff part of the magazine is made up of mostly non-fiction stories about interesting things, like how sewer workers get their jobs done, and what whale vomit is like...Sound intriguing?!
There are several strange "muses" you'll run into while you're reading--they are tiny drawn cartoon characters who appear throughout the magazine and make witty comments in comic-like format about the articles. 
I particularly enjoyed reading the special Last Page in one recent issue of Muse;  it described in detail an Italian delicacy that is actually illegal to sell.  It's called casu marzu.  It's, um, cheese with maggots in it.  And people eat it.  With the maggots.  Seriously gross!!
Perhaps you are the kind of person who enjoys learning crazy, obscure facts about our world, different animals, and peoples' lives...perhaps you don't mind some disgusting details, for example how things like casu marzu are made...perhaps you would enjoy the fun, silly, and definitely interesting stories in Muse!  It claims to be a magazine for kids "who want to know everything."  There are several other magazines published by the same folks at Carus Publishing, too.  You can read about them at http://www.cricketmag.com/

The Zombie Survival Guide

The Zombie Survival Guide;  Complete Protection from the Living Dead
By Max Brooks

This is funny in a serious way, and serious in a funny way...it seems real, but it's all about zombies.  A detailed guide to protection, ranging from slingshots to firearms.  And lots of background information on zombies.  Good luck...
(ISBN: 978-1-4000-4962-2)

Dragonology

Dragonology;  The Game
Templar Publishing

I had a great time playing this old-fashioned board game, based on a book called Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology;  The Complete Book of Dragons, edited by  Dugald A. Steer.  The game board is a world map with travel paths across land and sea;  each player can travel using tickets for a hot air balloon, train, stagecoach, steamboat, airplane, elephant or camel.  The object of the game is to conquer three dragons, thereby becoming the Master Dragonologist.  There are nine different dragons around the world map, each a tiny detailed, colorful figurine, and the game pieces are characters--figurines of different men and women.  Although it may seem simple at first, Dragonology involves some complex strategy and problem-solving skills.  As you roll the 12-sided die and move your character around the board, you draw from a deck of Bit of Knowledge cards.  A particular card may be a certain dragon (you must collect three of a kind to advance to the lair and conquer the dragon) with details about it's habitat, behavior, and mythology.  Or the card may be a sneaky trick or move you can make to thwart your opponents, like Hypnotise or Snatch.  On your turn you might steal a dragon from your fellow dragon-seekers (you can also trade), or you might do something like make everybody else throw in their cards, shuffle them, and re-deal...that messes up any progress anyone has made!  If you're lucky, you'll draw a Wild dragon card, or a Shield to block any tricks.
There are many opportunities to try out and use strategies in Dragonology.  Playing a board game with friends is definitely a fun way to spend an hour if it's cold or rainy outside, and it's a nice change from being on the computer!  The board, dragon and character pieces, and cards are all beautifully designed and fun to use.  It had been awhile since I'd played a board game and I really enjoyed the social and unpredictable interaction with my opponents.  This game allows anywhere between 2 and 6 players.
It is an exciting game especially if you are a fan of dragons, fantasy games, or geography. 
You also might want to check out the book on which it's based.  In the same series of books you can also read Spyology, Wizardology, and Egyptology.