"Wonderstruck" by Brian Selznick

Even better than Hugo Cabret! Masterpiece work of art and story perfect for all generations. Two stories are told, one in print, the other in gorgeous black and white drawings. Ben lives with his aunt and uncle after his mom dies. They live on Gunflint Lake in Minnesota in 1977. Rose is obsessed with a famous actress. She lives with her dad in a beautiful mansion in Hoboken, New Jersey, overlooking the city skyline of New York City. Rose is living in 1927. Ben is determined to find the father he has never known. Rose is determined to find the actress who influences her life in powerful ways. Both Rose and Ben run away to New York City to look for missing clues, each trying to piece together their own puzzles. Selznick seamlessly intertwines their stories with compassion, curiosity and a sense of true wonder. I loved "The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" when I was young. This book almost made me cry with its references to this classic tale about running away, hiding out in your favorite museum, and trying to make sense of it all.

"From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg

Claudia is extremely bored with her normal routine. She wants to feel different and grown-up. She convinces her younger brother Jamie to run away with her. Claudia has the plan, and Jamie has the piggy bank, so together they should make a great team. They take the train from their small Connecticut town into New York City, where they take up residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Living at the museum is harder than you'd think. They have to hide from security guards, take baths in strange places, and they're on a fixed income. But they have plenty of time to admire and learn about art. Claudia becomes transfixed by one statue in particular, called Angel. Claudia suspects it was created by the famous artist Michelangelo, and she is determined to solve the mystery and find out the truth.

"When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead

Bad things keep happening to Miranda. Her friend Sal gets beat up on the street. The apartment she shares with her mom gets broken into. And her best girlfriends are being brats!

Someone, somewhere, knows when and where these bad things are going to happen. Miranda keeps receiving mysterious notes that give specific details on what's going to happen in Miranda's life. And they come true! How is this possible?

Miranda lives in New York City. She's street smart, curious and one sharp student. She doesn't necessarily believe in magic, but there has to be a reasonable explanation.

If you liked "A Wrinkle in Time", you will love, love, love this book!

"Alive and Well In Prague, New York" by Daphne Grab

Matisse misses life in New York City after she and her family move to Prague, a small town in upstate New York. Classmates at her new high school aren't cultured, don't appreciate the fine arts, and act like a bunch of hicks. Matisse's mother is a painter, and her father was a famous sculptor. They led successful careers in the big city, until Matisse's father was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and symptoms finally prevented him from working. Life in Prague is supposed to be easier on his disease and the family, but Matisse struggles with coming to terms with her dad's condition, and the effect on the family.