This is a diary-style book recounting the events of the Massachusetts witch hunts through the eyes of 13 year old Maggie Bradstreet.  Maggie deals with the witch hunts through fresh eyes.  She asks important questions such as: If someone is different, does that mean they are a witch?  How do we know the accusers are telling the truth? When people close to Maggie and her family are accused of witchcraft, Maggie and her family must make some difficult decisions.  As Andover's Justice of the Peace, Maggie's father tries to see the truth in the accusations while still fulfilling his job. 

I know I loved reading diary-style books when I was younger, so this is sure to be a winner with the Middle-School age group.  The writing is appropriate for younger readers as well as enjoyable.  Maggie's thoughts and actions surrounding the witch trials are sure to resonate with readers.   Maggie's diary will tell of other events in the daily life of a teenager in the New World in the 1690's.  Also, the characters and some of their roles within the trials are based on the author's ancestors and factual people of the town of Andover at the time; this was a bonus for me.

This book was provided for free in return for an honest review. 

"Offers a wake-up call for the way we leave our footprint even on remote places of the Earth."

Join a scientific expedition in the Pacific Ocean!  Follow scientists on a three week journey to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; a gyre in the in Pacific Ocean where a lot of human waste especially plastics have gathered.
The scientific method will guide kids through the process of asking questions, forming a hypothesis, experimenting and processing data to form conclusions. 

Plastic, Ahoy! researchers ask questions about how all the plastic in the ocean is affecting marine ecology, habitat, food chains and marine life.  We get to see exactly how their research is carried out, along with tools they use and experiments that they carried out.  All of this is documented with great photography.  A good addition for any science classroom  or any child interested in science.  This book offers a good way to explore a current environmental issue that they can follow along with and affect with their actions in real life.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

What would happen if everyone planted just a little patch of prairie?  Could we gain back an entire ecosystem?  Phyllis Root and Betsy Bowen ask children these questions with lyrically written prose and charming pictures that children will love.

Plant a Pocket of Prairie introduces children to many native plant and animal species.  They also introduces food chains in a simple way. 

An inspiring way to promote environmental stewardship through wonder and creativity. 

Plant a Pocket of Prairie creates a magical environment that is possible for children to grow their own environment.

This book was provided for free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.