More book recommendations

I just two more books I HIGHLY recommend to all readers!

Heather Henson's Here's How I See It, Here's How It Is is narrated by a 12 year old girl named Junebug. Just like the title, she first tells you how things should be in her life, then continues with how things really are. Her family owns and runs a summer theatre program, and she dreams of being an actress on stage. Her sister is a drama queen---literally. Junebug can't seem to get much attention with her sister around. Her parents are separated, and her father seems to be VERY interested in another actress, who Junebug wants to hate, but really can't. There is a fun cast of characters, including the strange and interesting character Trace, a teen intern who is an expert on theatre, but has an annoying habit of talking too much (which doesn't help, since he has a stutter). The characters really come alive and you feel like you are on the stage with Junebug every step of the way.

The second book I recommend is Eve Yohalem's Escape Under the Forever Sky. The story is set in Africa and centers on Lucy, a young teen and only child who has accompanied her mother, a U.S. ambassador, to Ethiopia. Her mother seems very over-protective and won't even let Lucy out of the American compound to hang out with the local kids she's made friends with in school. The story takes a very sudden turn when Lucy is kidnapped by some very tough guys who act like they will kill her if they don't get their ransom money. Lucy plots an escape in this page-turner. If you like adventure stories, you will definitely like this novel!