(Ages 10-13) Russell's summer seems doomed. He's stuck in small-town Oregon without a movie theater, a baseball park, or a pizza parlor. Then a legend about an old meteorite envelops him-and connects his grandfather's special rock and old map to a nearly blind ex-con who did time for manslaughter.


Eventually Russell, along with his new friends Phoebe and Isaac, makes a dangerous trip into the mountains to find the meteorite, rumored to be rare and valuable-and perhaps the same "piece of the sky" discovered by Russell's great-great-great-grandfather. When the dangerous Full Moon Mullins, also on the hunt for the meteorite, overtakes them, the expedition turns into a matter of life or death.


Best-selling author David Patneaude uses the Port Orford meteorite legend to connect themes of history, family love, and wonder in this action-driven page-turner. A Piece of the Sky is sure to appeal to Patneaude's large number of middle-grade fans.