Iowa Children’s Choice 210-2011

Avi. Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & The Merrimac

When his father is killed fighting the Civil War, Tom must take a job.  As assistant to the inventor of the Monitor, a ship designed to put an end to the war, Tom is a target of Confederate spies.

Barrett, Tracy. The 100-Year Old Secret

Xena and Xander Holmes discover that Sherlock Holmes was their great-great-great grandfather.  They are given his unsolved casebook and attempt to solve the case of a famous missing painting.

Bosch, Pseudonymous.  The Name of This Book is Secret

Two eleven year-old misfits try to solve the mystery of a dead magician and stop the evil Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais who are searching for the secret of immortality.

Butler, Dori Hillestad.  Yes, I Know the Monkey Man

When her father is seriously injured, T.J. must go to stay with the twin sister and mother she doesn't know.  T.J and her sister Sam work to unravel the mysteries surrounding their family.

Clements, Andrew.  Lost and Found

When a school error allows twins Jan and Ray to pretend to be one person, they enjoy a few days of being alone at school and learn what it means to be a twin-and what it means to be yourself.

Creech, Sharon.  Hate That Cat: A Novel

A compilation of free verse poems written by a young boy to his teacher.  The poems express his hate-turned-love for cats as well as his growth in understanding and writing poetry.

DeVillers, Julia & Jennifer Roy.  Trading Faces

When twins Payton and Emma trade places for one day, they learn that playing a different role can be a lot of fun-and no one is exactly the person the rest of the world thinks they are.

Frost, Helen.  Diamond Willow. 
In a remote area of Alaska, twelve year-old Willow helps her father with their sled dogs unaware that the animals surrounding her carry the spirits of dead ancestors and friends.

Grogan, John. Marely: A Dog Like No Other

Marley may have been an oafish, overgrown Labrador, but from him, his family saw the true meaning of loyalty and devotion.  Adapted for young readers from Marley & Me.

Gutman, Dan. Satch & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure

Many claim Satchel Paige was the fastest pitcher in the history of the game. With radar gun in tow, Stosh and his coach travel back to 1942 and watch Satch pitch is the Negro League World Series.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Found: The Missing: Book 1

When Jonah and Chip, both adopted, learn they were discovered on a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies and no adults, they realize they have uncovered a mystery involving time travel and two opposing forces.

Hahn, Mary Downing.  Deep, Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story

When thirteen-year-old Ali spend the summer with her aunt and cousin at the family's vacation home, she stumbles upon a secret her mother and aunt have been hiding for over 30 years.

Kehret, Peg. Stolen Children.

When Amy agreed to babysit, she had no idea she was stepping into a kidnapping plot.  Two men force the girls into a cabin where they create DVDs to send to the families in hopes of a large ransom.

Korman, Gordon.  Swindle.

After unscrupulous collector S. Wendell Palamino cons him out of a valuable baseball card, Griffin puts together a band of misfits to break into Palamino's heavily guarded store and steal the card back.

Lowry, Lois.  The Willoughbys

The Willoughby children set out to become "deserving orphans" after their neglectful parents embark on a treacherous around-the-world adventure, leaving then in the care of an odious nanny.

Lupica, Mike.  Two-Minute Drill.

When Scott, a sixth-grader, moves to a new town, he becomes a tutor for a new friend and tries to keep his football-kicking ability a secret.

Mass, Wendy. Every Soul a Star

Ally, Bree, and Jack meet at the one place the Great Eclipse can be seen in totality, each carrying the burden of different personal problems.

Miller, Sarah.  Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller

Annie Sullivan travels to Alabama to try and teach Helen Keller, deaf and blind since age two, self-discipline and communication skills.  Includes historical notes, photographs and a timeline.

O'Connor, Barbara.  How to Steal a Dog

When her family is forced to live in the car, Georgina things the only way to help is to steal a dog for the reward money.  She soon realizes her plan has some unexpected surprises and difficulties.

Rex, Adam. The True Meaning of Smekday

When her mother is abducted by aliens on Christmas, Gratuity heads south to find her and meets and alien mechanic who agrees to help her and save the planet from disaster.

Roy, Ron.  Detective Camp

Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose are off to a camp for detectives! The camp directors have set up a week of lessons in forensics and fun.  The kids are following the clues when they stumble on a real crime.

Ryan, Pam Munoz.  Paint the Wind

When her overprotective grandmother dies, Maya leaves California to stay with her mother's family on a remote Wyoming ranch, where she discovers a love of horses and encounters a wild mare that her mother once rode.

Stewart, Trenton Lee.  The Mysterious Benedict Society

After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is there are no rules.