Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Foer

Everything about this book was unique and special including the formatting and layout of the pages and chapters.  I love it when a book surprises me.  Blank pages, photos, even a short flip book at the end, all made me look forward to turning the next page.  Oskar Schell is a lovable boy who captivated my attention with his antics and ability to say things in a way that is both honest and thoughtful.  Oskar, in his own way, deals with life after losing his father in the September 11th attacks.  With the 10 year anniversary of that terrible day approaching, I would definitely recommend this story. 

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

Just like the first book in this series, Flavia de Luce embarks on an adventure to solve a mystery.  Everything about her delights me.  I think it has to do with her being a little sneaky while still maintaining her goody-girl image.  The mystery in this story unfolds at a good pace, keeping you interested till the end. 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Reading this book was a new take on an old topic. The story is told from Death’s perspective, with hand drawn pictures inserted throughout.  I enjoyed the non-traditional aspects of this novel.  The Book Thief is an intricately woven story of a German girl, an accordion player, and a hiding Jew during WWII all told from the memories of Death.  I highly recommend it. 

Elly My True Story of the Holocaust by Elly Berkovits Gross

Written as child's nonfiction, Elly tells her story in short segments. It reads like a book of memories, in short bursts. She tells her true story in an honest and open manner, exactly as it happened to her, but with language suitable for elementary students. I would suggest this book as a good introduction to WWII and the Holocaust. This book is written at a fifth grade reading level, and I wouldn’t suggest children below fourth grade reading the story because of it's nature.