Honey by Sarah Weeks

This is another story about a girl and a dog. The difference this time is that the two don't even meet for most of the book.

For her whole life (all 10 years), it has just been Melody and her dad and Melody likes it that way. When her dad starts acting strangely, Melody gets suspicious. When she hears him call someone on the other end of a phone call "honey," she knows her life is about to change. Will it be for the better or the worse?

Mo is a little French Bulldog who lives with Bee Bee, the free-spirited owner of the town's new beauty salon, but he isn't hers. Mo is searching for a life he lost and a fate he knows is out there.

With Honey, Sarah Weeks creates a small town full of memorable characters and a sweet-as-honey story that will stay with you. If you liked Pie (which is on the Battle of the Books list this year), you'll love Honey.

Woof by Spencer Quinn

When a prize marlin is stolen from the store of Birdy's Granny, Birdie and her dog Bowser find themselves entangled in a mystery that includes a legendary treasure map, an old family rivalry, hungry gators, and a crime that was committed generations ago.

The book is told from Bowser's point of view and you'll laugh at his perspective on the world. He thinks of himself as a very tough hero, charged with protecting Birdie, but as a dog, he's often befuddled by the ways of humans. Why do people think that dogs should sit before they eat? And why do we say "eats like a bird" to mean someone eats very little? Bowser has seen a bird eat and he knows better.

Woof is a great mystery and a fun romp through the Louisiana swamps with a couple of great new characters.

Spooky Summer Reads by Mary Downing Hahn

Have you ever read a book that just stuck with you? Wait Till Helen Comes is one of those for me. I read it when I was in fifth grade and can remember staying up late to finish it. I just couldn't wait until morning to find out what would happen. Was spoiled little stepsister, Heather, really talking to a ghost, or was she just playing another game to get Molly in trouble? I kicked off my summer rereading this one and it is just as good as I remember. Maybe even better!

I also nabbed a copy of All the Lovely Bad Ones from the Wheaton Public Library. In this one, there are many ghosts -- several troublemaking young boys and one very sinister presence. As a brother and sister (lovely bad ones themselves) dig deeper into the mystery of what happened at their grandmother's inn, you'll be unable to stop reading until you find out if they will join the mischievous ghosts, or if they will triumph over the dark and evil Miss Ada.

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

Awesome!  I couldn't put this down.  Three seemingly disconnected characters experience the injustices of WWII (without the kind of violence that your parents won't let you read). What's it like for a German boy to not fit in with the Hitler Youth?  How do you stay connected with your brother when you're orphaned in America?  Can Mexican-Americans and Japanese-Americans help one another after Pearl Harbor?  Their stories are bound by their powerful love of music.  Love music?  Love historical fiction?  Love fairy tales? This is the book for you!