The Storied Life of A. J. Vikrey / Gabrielle Zevin / 260 p.

"Sometimes books don't find us until the right time." A.J. Fikry -- One of several lovely quotes in this sweet (mostly) novel about love, loss, hope and human connection. It is set in a bookstore so, not surprisingly, books and reading are integral to the story.  A. J. is still mourning the loss of his wife when the theft of an expensive book causes him even more upset.  But it is offset by an "addition" that brings A. J. back to living a full life.  It contains several plot elements that will be familiar to those who have read Silas Marner--but don't be put off by that. This books is much more enjoyable. It is one of those rare books that I carved out extra time to read and had it done in two days.

Stones for my Father / Trilby Kent 170 p.

Corlie Rous is still mourning the loss of her beloved father as the British troops move in with their scorched earth policy for Boer families who continue to support the commandos fighting for independence. Corlie's mother seems harsh in her dealings with her. As the story unfolds, the reader learns why. Her friend is Sipho, an African native. The family joins a wagon train of other Boer families as they evade British 'khakis'. Soon, they are captured and sent to a concentration camp. There British try to force the commandos to give up by starving their families. Corlie's mother explodes the home truth about her when she loses of her beloved son. Cast out without a ration book and ostracized by the camp inmates, Corlie faces near death until the soldiers step in. A telling novel of the Boer War. A war observed by Winston S. Churchill.

Flyaway / Lucy Christopher 328 p.

Thirteen year old Isla and her father have a deep bond with wild swans that migrate from Iceland each year. On the trip to see them returning, her father collapses with a heart attack. Isla is plunged into dealing with her father's health crisis, his estranged crusty grandfather, and social isolation when her best friend moves away. At the hospital she finds solace in a friendship with an optimistic leukemia victim of her own age. Helping her develop swan wings for a school art project so engages her grandfather that she sees an entirely different side of him. She vows to help her father, Harry, and a lone swan. Christopher wonderfully weaves this story about nature, coming of age, family in crisis, and friendship.

2012 Notable Children's Books