Meet Leo, a Young Republican on tour with a rock band, Steven, wondering if good friend can equal girl friend, occasionally hapless Sumerian inventor Hubert, and Janet, nonplussed by the amount of work expected from a summer waitress. Light weight reading fun!

Born to Rock by Gordon Korman

Leo Caraway has his life figured out - he's got a 4.0 grade average, is president of his high school's Young Republicans, was accepted early entrance to Harvard and has the scholarship to pay for it. Leo has known since fourth grade that the man he calls Dad isn't the name on his birth certificate, but it's not until senior year that he discovers who does belong to that name - King Maggot, the lead singer for Purge, a punk band that was world famous in the 80s. Purge is best buddy Melinda's obsession and when she finds out they're planning a reunion tour, she drags Leo to a news conference where the band is set to appear and announce it. Leo has been falsely accused of cheating and has lost his scholarship, so he goes along, hoping to meet King Maggot, and eventually to convince him to provide the money for Harvard. After Leo confronts his dad with evidence of his paternity, he is invited along on the summer reunion tour as a roadie - a life that is full of surprises for a Young Republican. In some amazingly unconventional settings, Leo does get to know his dad and by the time the time is right for the Harvard request, both father and son have made some significant changes in their points of view. I predict that few will be able to resist the very excellent cover art featuring a toddler in a Mohawk!

Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pies by Jordan Sonnenblick,

Big brother Steven is a pretty normal thirteen year old - his passion is drumming in the All-Star band and he does pretty well in school. He can't keep his eyes off Renee, the cutest girl in the 8th grade who dresses to keep all eyes on her, and he can't seem to figure out that good buddy Annette has way more romantic potential. When Steven's five year old brother Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia (he's been complaining that his "parts" have been hurting, but who knew what that meant) Steven's world is turned upside down - mom quits her job, dad is overwhelmed with the financial implications of Jeffrey's medical needs, and Steven melts down trying to be the responsible kids who copes with it all. Steven must figure out how to talk with Jeffrey about being sick, how to get his mom's attention although she is constantly on the road taking Jeffrey to treatment, and how to move his dad beyond emotional numbness expressed by his refusal to talk to Steven and his reliance on microwave entrees. Although the subject is serious, the author has a light touch and there are plenty of humorous moments as well. Well written and ultimately hopeful - even self-absorbed Renee manages to be more than one-dimensional.

Hubert Invents the Wheel by Clare and Monte Montgomery

Sixth grade social studies or seventh grade science teachers might consider this for a read aloud - it's a funny look at life in ancient Sumeria. Imagine the tone of A Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy written for younger readers. Fifteen-year-old Hubert is consumed by the desire to invent and improve, but his initial applications of the wheel are sore trials for his father, who supports the family with his sledge business. Hubert sees a chance to improve life wherever he looks, from attempting to pipe water into his house to learning the hard way that any system using forward motion also requires a way to brake. Plenty of science and technology is described as Hubert experiments with irrigation, putting wheels on the sledge, and convincing the Queen that the Ziggurat could go up much faster with a little help from simple machines.

Planet Janet in Orbit by Dyan Sheldon

It's summer, and Janet cannot believe her completely unreasonable mother expects her to get a job and to pay for her own clothes. Waiting tables is unexpectedly tough on the feet, and it's hard to believe how cranky her boss gets when Janet takes time for just a little flirtation with hunky co-worker Ethan. Janet's hopes for romance are dashed when Ethan falls for Janet's best friend Disha. There's more drama when Janet's parents separate and when school starts up, Janet's writing career as the school advice columnist can't shake Disha away from her ill-starred romance. Janet manages to right herself after Disha's defection by her all-too-true observations that having a boyfriend can be more trauma than joy during the teen years, but she can't seem to catch on to the romantic possibilities offered by a guy she thinks of as just a friend. Laugh out loud funny, Janet's voice will be familiar to anyone who has spent any time with teen girls.

Chris Gustafson is the library teacher at Whitman Middle School. Do you have a question for Chris? Email her at cgustafson@seatleschools.org.