Holes, by Louis Sachar

As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.

Activity: Guys were given all the tools necessary to make a homemade compass; water, plastic bottle lids, needles and magnets. Move over MacGyver!

Happy Holidays.

Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

On his eleventh birthday Will Stanton discovers that he is the last of the Old Ones, destined to seek the six magical Signs that will enable the Old Ones to triumph over the evil forces of the Dark.

Activity: The guys held a going away party for Guy leader Matt, who brought in his dog Jethrow, or Gulliver or something like that. Boys, Matt and multi-named mutt all had fun despite the sad goodbye.

Jimmy Coates Assasin? by Joe Craig

While escaping from the strange men that are after him in London, Jimmy discovers he possesses many unusual talents for an eleven-year-old boy.

Activity: The guys chatted online with the author, Joe Craig, from his home and studio in the UK. An incredible experience that had boys on the edge of their seats. Oh, and they loved the book, too!

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S Tolan

Jake, a budding juvenile delinquent, is sent for home schooling to the arty and eccentric Applewhite family's Creative Academy, where he discovers talents and interests he never knew he had.

Activity: Played a high energy game of Apples to Apples, taking the "bored" OUT OF board games!

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.

Activity: The GUYS played a Jeopardy game using questions based on the book. A simple game of trivia got heated as the boy guys gave it to their dads for failing to know anything about the book. The dad guys find out the hard way that it does pay to read the book.