A Murder for Her Majesty

     A Murder for Her Majesty was written by Beth Hilgartner. It was published in 1986 and is found at Barnes and Noble.
     Alice Tuckfield has just witnessed her father's murder. She must now go to Lady Jenny's. On her way, she is knocked down by some choir boys who wish to play a prank and see if she can pass unnoticed in the choir. Disguised as a boy, she gets along fairly well as Alister Tucker (a.k.a. Pup), until Father Cooper kidnaps
 her! This is her story of how she manages disguise, murder, and friendship.
      A few days after Christmas, Father Cooper kidnaps Alice. Locked in a bell tower high above the ground, their is no hope for rescue-or is their? Will her new-found friends find her? Will her friends comrades believe them? Will Father Cooper receive his rightful judgment? Find out in A Murder for Her Majesty!

James and the Giant Peach

     James and the Giant Peach was written by Roald Dahl and was illustrated by Lane Smith. It was first published in 1961.You can find this book in any library that offers books by Roald Dahl.
     James Henry Trotter lived a peaceful life until he was four years old. His parents were killed and poor James went to live with two cruel aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. At age 7, James finds magic crystals. These crystals create a giant peach as big as a house! The two greedy aunts charge people to see the peach. James was locked in his room.
     After the day's commotion, James got locked out of his own home. He finds a hole in the giant peach with a door at the end. Upon opening the door, James meets many wonderful creatures. The peach stem snaps;  and with his new-found friends, James set off on an adventure! What happens next you will have to find out yourselves in Roald Dahl's classic James and the Giant Peach !

Across Five Aprils

     Across Five Aprils was written by Irene Hunt and won the Newbery Honor. It has no illustrations and was first published in 1964. You can get this book in the CAFE library system.
     Jethro Creighton lives in the midst of the Civil War. Over the span of five years, he learns what it is like to have the family farm rest on his shoulders, have his brother killed, have his sister married, and protect a deserter. This is the story of his adventures.
     During the Civil War, the Creighton family has to stay strong to manage the difficult times ahead. how do they manage this? Does Jethro ever leave his home to fight? Find out in Irene Hunt's unforgettable book, Across Five Aprils!

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

                From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was written and illustrated by E. L. Koningsburg. It was published in 1979 and won the Newbery Medal. You can get this book in the CAFE library system.
                Claudia Kincaid has decided to run away from home. But she will not just run away - she will run to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her brother Jamie because 1) he keeps quiet 2) he's richer than she is and 3) he has a transistor radio. Once there, the two establish a secret life, one that's like no other. Then they find Angel. Claudia feels she cannot go home until she finds out the secrets of Angel - and that is harder than it looks. Going for Angel's previous owner, the two hope to uncover the secrets they wish to find.
                  The hardest part for the Kincaid siblings was to live in secret. How did they manage this? Where did they get their income? Did they ever come home? Find out in Koningsburg's award winning classic, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler!

A Wrinkle in Time

              A Wrinkle in Time was written by Madeline L'engle. There is no illustrator for this book, but it won a Newbery medal.  It was published in 1962. It uses math and science concepts, but you don't need to be a math whiz to enjoy it.
             
               A Wrinkle in Time has a very interesting plot. Meg Murry, Charles Wallace Murry, and Calvin O'Keefe are told by three mysterious ladies, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, to go to the strange planet Camazotz to rescue Meg's father. Along the way, Charles Wallace falls into IT, a large disembodied brain. Meg and Calvin not only have to save Mr. Murry, but now they have to save Charles Wallace.
                  
                 My favorite part of A Wrinkle in Time  is when Meg Murry sets out to save her brother. Mrs. Whatsit gave Meg her love, and Mrs. Who gave something to Meg that IT didn't have. Meg arrives where Charles Wallace is and Charles immediately tells Meg that she has nothing IT doesn't have. Meg contradicts. What will happen? Will Meg succeed in saving Charles Wallace? Find out in A Wrinkle in Time!

The Trumpet of the Swan

            The Trumpet of the Swan was written by E. B. White and was illustrated by Edward Frascino. It was published in 1970. This book is a classic and I really enjoyed it.
            The Trumpet of the Swan is about a young cygnet (a baby swan) who was mute. He learned to read and write, but he couldn't communicate with other swans. His father stole a trumpet from a music store so his son could be like the other swans. This book is about how the swan (named Louis) learned to play the trumpet and pay his father's debt.
            My favorite part of The Trumpet of the Swan is when Louis gets to stay at the Ritz Hotel. It is very funny how the clerk finally consents to give him a room only after Louis writes on his slate, plays his trumpet, and three girls want his autograph. I think this book is a wonderful book of love and adventure.

Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service

              Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service was written by Keith Robertson and was illustrated by Robert McCloskey, who, if you haven't read my other Henry Reed post, won a Caldecott Medal for Make Way for Ducklings. It was published 1966.
               Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service is about a boy named Henry who wants to earn money during the summer while staying at his aunt and uncle's house. He decides to do baby-sitting. At first, he just goes to other people's houses to baby-sit. Then, he and his friend Midge open up a child-care. It's a read for you if you like lots of excitement.
                My favorite part of Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service is when Henry and Midge are taking care of the children in their child-care. All the kids seem to be afraid of the barn, which where the kids hang out when they are not outside. Someone seems to be moaning up in the rafters. Henry checks it out, and sure enough, there is a speaker in the rafters. Henry, Midge, an the kids all follow the cords to Johnny Sebastian's house when he was joking about scaring the little kids and said that Midge was not smart, Midge took her hatchet and cut the rope of the hammock he was lying in. He did not play any more tricks after that.

George Washington's Socks

          George Washington's Socks was written by Elvira Woodruff, and was published in 1991. It has no illustrator, but is very cleverly written.
           George Washington's Socks is about a boy named Matt and his friends Quentin, Hooter, Tony, and Matt's little sister Katie as they get transported in a boat back in time to the Revolutionary War. Katie is missing, and when they find her, Matt gets separated from his friends! From making friends with patriots and with the enemy, meeting Indians, reuniting with his friends, and  figuring how to get back home, this is a definite read.
              My favorite part of George Washington's Socks is when they find the boat to take them home. They do not know how to get it to work at first. Then Katie said that she wanted to go home. the boat started to vibrate, and they all scramble in. They find themselves sitting on a lake... in the 20th century! They all sit and reflect on what they were just through and then go to their separate homes. Matt realizes what a blessing it is that he lives in a time with no war, a warm place to go, and electronics.