small as an elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Jack must survive after his mother abandoned him at a camp ground. Apparently, she leaves him often enough that Jack is not worried--at first. As days go by and the school year begins he becomes more and more concerned. His hunger and efforts to survive cold nights and being a child on the run lead to an intreguing story.
It reminded me of Stephen King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, but less terrifying. The trials of Jack are certainly gripping, but not so haunting as King's novel.
This novel would be good for 5th and 6th graders. I had a difficult time putting it down all weekend.
UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1) by Chanda Hahn
I recently read this book on my Kindle. It was an interesting story that kept me rooting for the main character and intrigued as to what would happen next.
I did find that the story would be better suited for middle schoolers because it dealt with some mature themes. However, the book was not difficult to read (when you learned to get past the type-os).
In this story, a 16-year-old unlucky girl finds out a mysterious secret about her family and the reason for her unluckiness. By embracing her family history she would face many hardships, all that could kill her, but if she survives she could save her brother. Her choice is a difficult one and keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
A fast page-turner. And the beginning of a promising series.
