Totally Joe by James Howe

This book is about a gay boy named Joe Bunch. Joe's Aunt Pam lives with him and she knows that Joe is gay, so she helps him with his problem. She tells him to be who he is and not anyone else. Joe has a group of friends and they call themselves the Gang of Five because they all get teased at school. Their names are Bobby Goodspeed, Addie Carle, and Skeezie Tookis. Joe has a crush on a boy named Colin, but Joe knows that Colin isn't gay like Joe so it would never happen, but as the book goes on you will learn something about Colin that you would'nt suspect.
I loved this book because it shows what good friends do for eachother and i like the author because he writes about the gay people and what they go through because James Howe is gay. i recomend everybody to read it. It's an easy read and really good!

Kailyn V. - 7th grader

SweetHearts by Sara Zarr

It all started out in lower elementary school. Jennifer Harris had no friends, everyone makes fun of her, her parents are divorce, she lives with her mom who is never home, and she is overweight. One day at school Jennifer finally got the courage to go up to a boy, Cameron Quick, and ask him to join her club. Cameron also has no friends and his family is a little messed up too. They instantly became best friends. One day it was Jennifer’s birthday and Cameron told her to come over because he made her something. Jennifer wasn’t allowed over his house and she didn’t like going there anyway. When she got there she didn’t feel comfortable being there so she tried to get away. But just when she tried to leave Cameron’s dad was right behind her. Something happened that day that she could never forget. The next day at school Cameron wasn’t there and the other kids told Jennifer that he died. She hasn’t seen him since. Years past she is now a senior at high school and she lost weight, got a boy friend, and became popular. Her mom got remarried, they had more money, and her name changed to Jenna Vaugh. It was her birthday again and she got a letter in the mail from Cameron Quick.

This realistic-fiction book is now one of my favorite books! I think mostly girls would like this book. Once you start reading this book you won’t want to put it down.

Andrea P.- 7th grade