Good Books Come in Threes!

I guess good books come in threes. Let's start with "Julia Gillian (And the Art of Knowing)" by Alison McGhee. Julia Gillian is an only child whose busy parents are both working on their degrees. Julia Gillian has started reading a green book about a dog but, with her "art of knowing" skills tingling, suspects something sad happens to the dog. With her parents too busy to notice her distress, Julia Gillian pulls on her favorite raccoon mask (it makes her feel strong) and relies on her network of protective friends to help her through her fear. Third through fifth graders will enjoy this book.
All you ghost lovers will enjoy "School Spirit", first in the Suddenly Supernatural series by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel. Kat's mom is a medium who helps others with their ghostly problems. Kat is freaking out because her psychic skills have suddenly appeared. How she and her best friend Jac, a wunderkind celloist, deal with the mean girls at middle school, the school ghost and the mysterious dark shadow in the library will have you laughing and wishing for a sequel. Fourth through sixth graders, line up for this one!
Another fantasy novel, "Puddlejumpers" by Mark Jean and Christopher C. Carlson, deals with the mystery of an orphan that no one wants. Ernie Banks was found on the doorstep of an orphanage as a baby, a baseball card and an acorn crystal the only clues to his identity. Now a thirteen-year-old, Ernie has become a troublemaker. Unfortunately, his latest pranks have brought him in front of a judge and he declares that Ernie must join a three week work program on a Farmer Russ's farm. Farmer Russ is kind and hardworking but hides a terrible truth--his only son was kidnapped as a baby. Ernie is determined to find out what happened to the baby and enlists the aid of Joey, a girl from a neighboring farm. With the help of the Puddlejumpers,
Ernie and Joey will have to face the most frightening creatures of the underworld to save the world as they know it. Adventure and ecology combine to create a story that will have you cheering the good guys and booing the bad guys! Anyone from fourth thru eighth grade will enjoy this adventuresome book.