All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by: Leslie Connor

Perry T. Cook and his mom Jessica are two heroes in my opinion.  After you read Leslie Connor's book All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook I think you will agree with me.

Perry was born and raised (for the past 11 years) in the Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility in Surprise, Nebraska.  This is a correctional facility for those that have not intentionally committed violent crimes.  Perry has attended local schools and considers his life to be very blessed.  He has one friend, Zoey, as they begin Jr. High.  This is when a new District Attorney (Tom VanLeer)  is assigned to the area that covers Blue River Facility and he hears about Perry's living situation he gets Perry moved out ASAP!  Perry is now living with the VanLeer family which happens to be Zoey's family.  Perry just wants to get back to living with his mom.  Jessica Cook is up for parole soon and Perry wants to make sure the parole happens so they can begin life outside the facility.  Jessica has worked hard to get her life back together, earning a degree while in the facility and having a plan for her and Perry once she is paroled.

Perry can now only see his mom once a week and that isn't enough for him or his mom.  When Perry and Zoey get the chance to volunteer at the community library and help deliver books to Blue River he is happy to see his mom, the other residents and to show Zoey his home.  While many are happy with this extra visit it is important to not let Mr. VanLeer find out.

When Perry is assigned a school project to write about how he came to live in Surprise, Nebraska he decides to write the stories of the residents in the facility.  Not all of them want to talk but some do and he finally learns the truth about how his mom ended up at Blue River.  Perry finds out that the parole hearing has been delayed and that Mr. VanLeer isn't doing what he promised to Perry.  It is up to Perry, Zoey and a very unlikely friend to help Jessica Cook get the parole she deserves.

I enjoyed hearing all the stories of the Blue River community.  The people who are involved with Perry are family to him and they truly are like any of our own families.  I learned that our past doesn't define our future we can work and change what our life situation is and make things better for ourselves and our families.  I highly recommend this book for all readers, grades 5 and higher.

Happy Daily Reading!
Deanna

the Misadventures of Max Crumbly Locker Hero by: Rachel Renee Russell

From the wonderfully creative author, Rachel Renee Russell we have the first book in her new series The Misadventures of Max Crumbly Locker hero.  Readers who enjoy Dork Diaries or Diary of a Wimpy Kid will love Max Crumbly!

Max is headed off to middle school after being home schooled by his grandmother for all of his life.  Life at the middle school isn't what he expected and even though he tries to be a super hero just like those he reads about in comic books he really isn't any kind of super hero.

The school bully keeps locking Max inside Max's school locker!  He is saved by Erin, the best looking girl in the school, early in the day but when he finds himself locked inside his locker after school nobody is there to save him.  It is a three day weekend and he begins to panic!

Amazingly he is able to break out of his locker finding himself in an old boiler room with no way out.  He finds the cover for the ventilation system and he is soon crawling all over the school through the vents.  He overhears three men who plan on stealing the school's new computers.  He is sure he can stop them, but soon they are chasing him!  As Max tries to get away from these not-so-smart thieves he finds himself in some crazy situations.  Can Max save the school computers?  Will he ever get out of the school?  Will he remain the superhero of the ventilation system?  You will be surprised how he finds a way to move about quickly in the vents.

I found myself giggling at Max and cheering for him all at the same time.  I know that kids of all ages will love Max Crumbly, Rachel Renee Russell is an author that seems to really get middle schoolers.

After reading this book make a commitment to never bully anyone!

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

The Astounding Broccoli Boy by: Frank Cottrell Boyce

This is a wonderful adventure with humor and a great lesson of friendship.  We all have talents and are here for a purpose we need to find out what that purpose is and use it to make the world a better place.  Even turning green, broccoli green, can have its purpose.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna