Hate That Cat

From School Library Journal

Sharon Creech's free-verse novel (2008) continues the story of Jack, first introduced in Love That Dog (2001, both HarperCollins/Joanna Cotler Books). Jack is delighted that his teacher from the previous year, Miss Stretchberry, has also moved up a grade. For the second year in a row, Jack is encouraged to express his thoughts and feelings through a poetry journal. Miss Stretchberry introduces her class to the works of a variety of poets, and also introduces Jack to a kitten who captures his hear. As Jack explores rhythm and sound, he also wonders how poetry is experienced by those who cannot hear, such as his mother, who communicates her appreciation of Jack's poetry through sign language. The novel's combination of formats-journal and verse-is well narrated by Scott Wolf whose youthful diction captures the spirit of Jack's exuberant blank verse; his use of pauses and emphasis hints at the structure of the words on the page. The recording includes an appendix of some of the poems used in the class. This story will be enjoyed by reluctant readers for the accessible story line, and applauded by teachers for the embedded lessons in writing and poetry appreciation.-Misti Tidman, Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, KY

Adorable!  

The Deadly Sister

From Amazon.com

From the author of The School for Dangerous Girls, a suspenseful stunner about loyalty, sibling rivalry, and murder.

Abby Goodwin is sure her sister Maya isn't a murderer. But her parents don't agree. Her friends don't agree. And the cops definitely don't agree. Maya is a drop-out, a stoner, a girl who's obsessed with her tutor, Jefferson Andrews...until he ends up dead. Maya runs away, and leaves Abby following the trail of clues. Each piece of evidence points to Maya, but it also appears that Jefferson had secrets of his own. And enemies. Like his brother, who Abby becomes involved with...until he falls under suspicion.
Is Abby getting closer to finding the true murderer? Or is someone leading her down a twisted false path?

Good, interesting twist at the end!