There are 8 junior level reads vying for top prize when the voting opens in mid-March 2019.
Here are my thoughts on the books.
#8 - The Inn Between by Marina Cohen
Eleven-year-old Quinn has had some bad experiences lately. She was caught cheating in school, and then one day, her little sister Emma disappeared while walking home from school. She never returned
When Quinn's best friend Kara has to move away, she goes on one last trip with Kara and her family. They stop over at the first hotel they see, a Victorian inn that instantly gives Quinn the creeps, and she begins to notice strange things happening around them. When Kara's parents and then brother disappear without a trace, the girls are stranded in a hotel full of strange guests, hallways that twist back in on themselves, and a particularly nasty surprise lurking beneath the floorboards. Will the girls be able to solve the mystery of what happened to Kara's family before it's too late?
Of the eight, this was not my favourite, and in fact I found myself skimming over it just to get to the end. It was a little weird for my liking, and I could see some parts being a little scary for the sensitive reader. I'd classify it into the HORROR genre. The characters were okay, and it was well-written, just not my cup of tea.
#7 - It Ain’t so Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

I started off really enjoying this story, especially since it pre-dates cell phones and social media, it gives the young readers of today a view of the world their parents lived in. The characters were great and fleshed out, but when it got quite political, I lost interest. It was a little over the top in that respect, and I think if it were scaled back, it would be higher on my list. Otherwise, Cindy's going ons as the new kid were pretty funny.
#6 - Dog Man by Dav Pilkey

George and Harold have created a new hero who digs into deception, claws after crooks, and rolls over robbers. When Greg the police dog and his cop companion are injured on the job, a life-saving surgery changes the course of history, and Dog Man is born. With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound has a real nose for justice. But can he resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty?
I'm not a fan of comic book/graphic novels, but I can see the huge appeal. It was a cute story and easy to read. Having met Mr. Dav Pilkey, I know why he has the bad spelling and grammar, but it bugs me to the end of the earth to have it in a kids book, especially those learning to spell correctly. I wouldn't be surprised if this book was voted #1 by the kids at my school, and won the award.
#5 - Pax by Sara Pennypacker

I enjoyed this book right up to the ending. The ending tainted the whole story, although I had to suspend some reality (Peter runs away from home and is gone for so long and yet no one goes looking for him?) The alternating view points were cute, and I did enjoy reading from Pax's POV. Overall, it was cute, but not the heart-warming story I was expecting.
#4 - The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd

For Emma, her own dream can't come soon enough. Right before her mother died, Emma promised that she'd do whatever it took to fulfill her destiny, and she doesn't want to let her mother down.
But when Emma's dream finally arrives, it points her toward an impossible task--finding a legendary treasure hidden in her town's cemetery. If Emma fails, she'll let down generations of extraordinary ancestors . . . including her own mother. But how can she find something that's been missing for centuries and might be protected by a mysterious singing ghost?
With her signature blend of lyrical writing, quirky humor, and unforgettable characters, Natalie Lloyd's The Key to Extraordinarycements her status as one of the most original voices writing for children today.
It took me a bit to get into this, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. It was exceptionally engaging and I really enjoyed Emma and her quest. I loved the setting (a house that backs onto a cemetary) and the mysteries of the Deep South. It's not a scary read at all, but very magical.
#3 - The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

#1 - It's a TIE!
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule -- but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her -- even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.
The acclaimed author of The Witch’s Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic.
OMG - I just loved this book. It was a fantasy book that I became totally immersed in - the writing was so crisp and detailed, I could picture every scene with ease. The characters were amazing (I loved them all, but really liked Fyrain the Perfectly Tiny Dragon). I was rooting for the Xan and the ending was the best. Five stars all the way.
Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson

Topher, Brand, and Steve know this better than anyone. And so when Ms. Bixby unexpectedly announces that she is very sick and won’t be able to finish the school year, they come up with a plan. Through the three very different stories they tell, we begin to understand just what Ms. Bixby means to Topher, Brand, and Steve—and what they are willing to go to such great lengths to tell her.
John David Anderson, the acclaimed author of Sidekicked, returns with a story of three kids, a very special teacher, and one day that none of them will ever forget.
And now I'm off to tackle the Intermediate Division Reads... wish me luck!