Island of Doom

By Arthur Slade

263 pages

In this conclusion to the four volume series, Modo is forced to trace his own tragic personal history.  The Clockwork Guild schemes to capture the parents who abandoned him and harvest their genes to create a supercreature which, like Modo, can rejuvenate itself.  All the star characters - Octavia Milkweed, Collette Brunet, Tharpa and Mr. Socrates must work together to bring down the Guild Master, with Modo's identity struggle at the centre. Grade 6.

Wonder

By R.J. Palacio

315 pages

August Pullman was born with a facial deformity which prevented him from attending regular school, until now.Grade 5 at Beecher Prep promises to be difficult in many ways - but first and foremost because people view him as shocking, different, even frightening.The story is narrated by August and several of his peers; the various perspectives combine to tell a story both challenging and enlarging. Grade 5.