The Adventure of Captain Underpants

by Dav Pilkey

ages- 8+

George and Harold are best friends and trouble makers.  They have created their own comic superhero, Captain Underpants and sell them to their friends at school.  Their principal, Mr. Krupp, catches them during one of their practical jokes and blackmails them into doing good.  The boys decide to hypnotize him to get out of being blackmailed.  Quickly, they decide to make Mr. Krupp, their comic superhero, Captain Underpants.  Then, he escapes before they are able to turn him back into Mr. Krupp.  Mr. Krupp tries to save the world as the boys try to find him to un-hypnotize him.  

This is the first book a a great popular series.  It is funny and hilarious that a grown man is running around in his underwear believing he is a super hero.    

Bigger

by Patricia Calvert

ages 12 +

Tyler is glad the Civil War is over and his father will come home after fighting for the South.  Tyler learns that his father's regiment has refused to surrender and is headed for Mexico, he decides to find his father and bring him home.  Along his way, a strange dog, named Bigger joins him.  As the two journey south, Tyler is forced to confront his feelings and let go of his most cherished dream.  Bigger becomes his best friend when Tyler has to face the truth about his father. 

This is a great historical fiction and teen coming of age book.  Tyler is a great character and you fall in love with him.  You are able to connect with him as he faces growing up after the Civil War.  The country has changed and so has his family.

Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Series #1)

written by Anthony Horowitz

ages: Young adult

When 14 year-old Alex Rider's uncle in unexpectedly killed in a car accident, he knows that something is amiss. When he discovers his uncle's car riddled with bullets, it confirms suspicions that his uncle was murdered. Alex soon finds out that his uncle was a spy for the British Secret Service. He is recruited to complete the mission that his uncle began and save Great Britain from a mad man. Alex must impersonate a boy who has won a trip to the facility where Stormbreaker computers are being made. Stormbreaker is a revolutionary new computer created and donated by a multimillionaire to all of the schools in Great Britain. Now it's up to Alex to avenge his uncle's murder and save a nation.

I first heard about these books through an interview with the author, Anthony Horowitz, on NPR and couldn't wait to get my hands on one. Think James Bond in his earlier years-complete with gadgets, quirky characters, and near death experiences. This is truly an on the edge of your seat read-I can't wait to jump into the next book in the series.