The debut of a phenomenal new middle-grade talent.In all the ways that matter, Mark is a normal kid. He's got a dog named Beau and a best friend, Jessie. He likes to take photos and write haiku poems in his notebook. He dreams of climbing a mountain one day.But in one important way, Mark is not like other kids at all. Mark is sick. The kind of sick that means hospitals. And treatments. The kind of sick some people never get better from.So Mark runs away. He leaves home with his camera, his notebook, his dog, and a plan to reach the top of Mount Rainier--even if it's the last thing he ever does.The Honest Truth is a rare and extraordinary novel about big questions, small moments, and the incredible journey of the human spirit.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545665735
|
Hardcover
Mockingbird
By Erskine, Kathryn
In Caitlin's world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That's the stuff Caitlin's older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon's dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger's, she doesn't know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white -- the world is full of colors -- messy and beautiful. Kathryn Erskine has written a must-read gem, one of the most moving novels of the year.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780399252648
|
Hardcover
Stella by starlight
By Draper, Sharon M
When the Ku Klux Klan's unwelcome reappearance rattles Stella's segregated southern town, bravery battles prejudice in this Depression-era tour de force from Sharon Draper, the New York Times bestselling author of Out of My Mind.Stella lives in the segregated South - in Bumblebee, North Carolina, to be exact about it. Some stores she can go into. Some stores she can't. Some folks are right pleasant. Others are a lot less so. To Stella, it sort of evens out, and heck, the Klan hasn't bothered them for years. But one late night, later than she should ever be up, much less wandering around outside, Stella and her little brother see something they're never supposed to see, something that is the first flicker of change to come, unwelcome change by any stretch of the imagination. As Stella's community - her world - is upended, she decides to fight fire with fire. And she learns that ashes don't necessarily signify an end.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781442494978
|
Hardcover
Somewhere There Is Still a Sun
By Gruenbaum, Michael
Michael "Misha" Gruenbaum enjoyed a carefree childhood playing games and taking walks through Prague with his beloved father. All of that changed forever when the Nazis invaded Prague. The Gruenbaum family was forced to move into the Jewish Ghetto in Prague. Then, after a devastating loss, Michael, his mother and sister were deported to the Terezin concentration camp.
At Terezin, Misha roomed with forty other boys who became like brothers to him. Life in Terezin was a bizarre, surreal balance - some days were filled with friendship and soccer matches, while others brought mortal terror as the boys waited to hear the names on each new list of who was being sent "to the East."
Those trains were going to Auschwitz. When the day came that his family's name appeared on a transport list, their survival called for a miracle - one that tied Michael's fate to a carefully sewn teddy bear, and to his mother's unshakeable determination to keep her children safe.
Collaborating with acclaimed author Todd Hasak-Lowy, Michael Gruenbaum shares his inspiring story of hope in an unforgettable memoir that recreates his experiences with stunning immediacy. Michael's story, and the many original documents and photos included alongside it, offer an essential contribution to Holocaust literature.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781442484863
|
Book
Paper Things
By Jacobson, Jennifer Richard
"Will engender empathy and understanding of a serious and all-too-real problem. Jacobsons story is poignant but never preachy." - School Library Journal (starred review) . When forced to choose between staying with her guardian and being with her big brother, Ari chose her big brother. Theres just one problem - Gage didnt actually have a place to live. How can Ari keep up with school, her best friend, and middle-school applications when shes "couch surfing" - a night here with Gages friend in a tiny apartment, a night there with Gages girlfriend and her two roommates - and even, when necessary, sneaking into a juvenile shelter? Told in an open, authentic voice, this nuanced story of hiding in plain sight may have readers thinking about homelessness in a whole new way.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780763663230
|
Hardcover
Fish in a Tree
By Hunt, Lynda Mullaly
A New York Times Bestseller!The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who's ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn't fit in. "Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid." Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there's a lot more to her - and to everyone - than a label, and that great minds don't always think alike.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780399162596
|
Hardcover
Waiting for Unicorns
By Hautala, Beth
A novel about one girl's journey to the arctic, where she discovers the power of letting go of pain and opening up to second chancesWhen twelve-year-old Talia - still reeling from the recent death of her mother - is forced to travel with her emotionally and physically distant whale-researcher father to the Arctic for the summer, she begins to wonder if the broken pieces inside of her will ever begin to heal. Like her jar of wishes, Talia feels bottled up and torn. Everything about life in Churchill feels foreign, including Sura, the traditional Inuit woman whom Talia must live with. But when Sura exposes her to the tradition of storytelling, she unlocks something within Talia that has long since been buried: her ability to hope, to believe again in making wishes come true.A rich and poignant story about opening up - to new people, to second chances, to moving forward with life. Praise for Waiting for Unicorns:"Debut author Hautala's writing in this first-person narrative is lyrical and evocative; her descriptions of the landscape are vivid. Written by an author to watch, this quiet story of loss and healing will appeal to thoughtful readers." --Kirkus Reviews"This poignant story demonstrates that opening up to new experiences, places, and people can enrich life even in the aftermath of tragedy."--School Library Journal"[An] affecting exploration of grief and the hope that can come through the love of good friends. With spellbinding descriptions ... this story will stay with readers."--Publishers Weekly"Contemplative writing ... a thoughtful examination of loss and hope."--BOOKLIST "Hautala mines the frigid setting for some exquisitely wrought metaphors of sadness and grief, and Tal's reflections on her situation are lyrical and yet still appropriate, given her age. Readers who were touched by Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting by 7s will find this to be a similarly moving tale."--BCCB Reviews"Middle school readers will embrace Talia and her new family in the Arctic and perhaps receive the message about the power of stories to heal."--VOYA Reviews"This is a well-written tween novel that deals with growing pains, grief, and loneliness."--School Library Connection
Publisher: n/a
|
9780525426318
|
Hardcover
A Night Divided
By Nielsen, Jennifer A.
With the rise of the Berlin Wall, twelve-year-old Gerta finds her family suddenly divided. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, to think forbidden thoughts of freedom, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city.
But one day, while on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Then, when she receives a mysterious drawing, Gerta puts two and two together and concludes that her father wants Gerta and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545682428
|
Book
Wish Girl
By Loftin, Nikki
A dying girl gives a boy the strength to live in this lyrical novel that will break your heart and lift your spirit Peter Stone's parents and siblings are extroverts, musicians, and yellers - and the louder they get, the less Peter talks, or even moves, until he practically fits his last name. When his family moves to the Texas Hill Country, though, Peter finds a tranquil, natural valley where he can, at last, hear himself think.There, he meets a girl his age: Annie Blythe. Annie tells Peter she's a "wish girl." But Annie isn't just any wish girl; she's a "Make-A-Wish Girl." And in two weeks she will begin a dangerous treatment to try and stop her cancer from spreading. Left alone, the disease will kill her. But the treatment may cause serious, lasting damage to her brain. Annie and Peter hatch a plan to escape into the valley, which they begin to think is magical. But the pair soon discovers that the valley - and life - may have other plans for them. And sometimes wishes come true in ways they would never expect.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781595146861
|
Hardcover
Finding Someplace
By Patrick, Denise Lewis
Reesie Boone just knows that thirteen is going to be her best year yet-this will be the year she makes her very first fashion design on her Ma Maw's sewing machine. She'll skip down the streets of New Orleans with her best friends, Ayanna and Orlando, and everyone will look at her in admiration.But on Reesie's birthday, everything changes. Hurricane Katrina hits her city. Stranded at home alone, Reesie takes refuge with her elderly neighbor, Miss Martine. The waters rise. They escape in a boat. And soon Reesie is reunited with her family. But her journey back home has only begun.This is a story of a family putting itself back together, and a young girl learning to find herself.A Christy Ottaviano Book
Publisher: n/a
|
9780805047165
|
Hardcover
George
By Gino, Alex
When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545812542
|
Hardcover
The turn of the tide
By Parry, Rosanne
In Japan, you're always prepared for an earthquake. That's why Kai knows just what to do when the first rumbles shake the earth. But he does the exact opposite of what you're supposed to do: He runs. And then the tsunami hits.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pacific, Kai's cousin Jet sets sail off the coast of Astoria, Oregon. She knows she should have checked the tide - she always checks the tide. Except this time she didn't.
When the biggest mistakes of their lives bring them together, Jet and Kai spend the summer regretting that one moment when they made the wrong decision. But there's something about friendship that heals all wounds, and together, Jet and Kai find the one thing they never thought they'd have again - hope.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780375869723
|
Book
Some Kind of Courage
By Gemeinhart, Dan
Joseph Johnson has lost just about everyone he's ever loved. He lost his pa in an accident. He lost his ma and his little sister to sickness. And now, he's lost his pony-fast, fierce, beautiful Sarah, taken away by a man who had no right to take her.Joseph can sure enough get her back, though. The odds are stacked against him, but he isn't about to give up. He will face down deadly animals, dangerous men, and the fury of nature itself on his quest to be reunited with the only family he has left.Because Joseph Johnson may have lost just about everything. But he hasn't lost hope. And he hasn't lost the fire in his belly that says he's getting his Sarah back-no matter what.The critically acclaimed author of The Honest Truth returns with a poignant, hopeful, and action-packed story about hearts that won't be tamed... and spirits that refuse to be broken.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545665773
|
Hardcover
Pax
By Pennypacker, Sara
Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day, the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild.
At his grandfather's house, three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he isn't where he should be - with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox.
Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own. . . .
Publisher: n/a
|
9780062377012
|
Book
Going Where It's Dark
By Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds
Buck Anderson's life seems to be changing completely. His best friend, David, has moved away; his anxious parents are hounding him more than ever; he has reluctantly agreed to fill in for his uncle and do odd jobs for a grumpy old veteran in town; and his twin sister has a new boyfriend and is never around anymore. To top it all off, Buck is bullied by a group of boys at school - mainly because he stutters.
There is one thing that frees Buck from his worries. It is the heart-pounding exhilaration he feels when exploring underground caves in and around his hometown. He used to go caving with David, but he's determined to continue on his own now. He doesn't know that more changes are headed his way - changes that just might make him rethink his view of the world and his place in it.
Praise for GOING WHERE IT'S DARK
"A well-constructed and well-paced story that will be appreciated by anyone who has ever felt out of place or bullied." - School Library Journal
"Buck's strength is inspirational, and his family's love and respect are heartwarming." - Kirkus Reviews
"With characteristic sensitivity, Naylor delivers an engrossing account of a boy's interior and exterior struggles." - Publishers Weekly
Publisher: n/a
|
9780553512427
|
Book
This Kid Can Fly
By Philip, Aaron
In this heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting memoir, Aaron Philip, a fourteen-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, shows how he isn't defined so much by his disability as he is by his abilities.
Written with award-winning author Tonya Bolden, This Kid Can Fly chronicles Aaron's extraordinary journey from happy baby in Antigua to confident teen artist in New York City. His honest, often funny stories of triumph - despite physical difficulties, poverty, and other challenges - are as inspiring as they are eye-opening.
Includes photos and original illustrations from Aaron's personal collection.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780062403544
|
Book
A Storm Too Soon
By Tougias, Michael J
When a forty-seven-foot sailboat disappears in the Gulf Stream in the throes of a disastrous storm, it leaves behind three weary passengers struggling to stay alive. This middle-grade adaptation of an adult nonfiction book tells the story of the four intrepid Coast Guardsmen who braved this ruthless storm in the hopes of saving them. A spellbinding tale of courage and survival from the author of The Finest Hours, now a major motion picture.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781627792813
|
Hardcover
Rising Above
By Zuckerman, Gregory
Discover inspirational real-life stories of superstar athletes in this collection of sports biographies featuring LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Tim Howard, and more! Team USA goalkeeper Tim Howard was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in 6th grade. He went on to become a national treasure after single-handedly keeping America competitive in the 2014 World Cup. Stephen Curry was told he was too small, too weak, and too slow to even receive a scholarship to play college basketball. He outworked everyone and went on to become MVP of the National Basketball Association. Jim Abbott was born without his right hand, yet he refused to be defined by what he lacked. He went on to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues.Athlete after athlete in this book found discipline, hope, and inspiration on the playing field, rising above their circumstances. Filled with first-hand accounts from stars who exemplify the idea of enduring at all costs, this collection of sports biographies will serve as a must-read source of inspiration for kids and sports fans of all ages.Praise for Rising AboveA Scholastic Teacher magazine Summer Reading List selectionA Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Summer Reading List selection"An easy pitch for middle school sports lovers."--School Library Journal"This collection of mini-bios about athletes who overcame major obstacles packs a powerful message - perseverance and passion pay off. Even non-sports fans will cheer for superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry."--Scholastic Teacher"So many of the obstacles that these athletes share are retold using personal interviews and primary source material that young readers will find very relatable. [T]heir stories have morals that are easily transferred to life off the court or the field. The highly relevant message is that no situation is too dire or insurmountable with the right attitude and that young people shouldn't allow setbacks to define them."--BOOKLIST "[O]ften inspiring . . . The underdog stories reveal that dedication and perseverance pay off, as well as that sports can serve as needed outlets and refuges."--Publishers Weekly"I would rate this a 9 1/2 . . . it touch[es] your heart very often with the ways these athletes turn[ed] their lives around."--Colorado Kids
Publisher: n/a
|
9780399173820
|
Hardcover
One True Way
By Hitchcock, Shannon
Welcome to Daniel Boone Middle School in the 1970s, where teachers and coaches must hide who they are, and girls who like girls are forced to question their own choices. Presented in the voice of a premier storyteller, One True Way sheds exquisite light on what it means to be different, while at the same time being wholly true to oneself. Through the lives and influences of two girls, readers come to see that love is love is love. Set against the backdrop of history and politics that surrounded gay rights in the 1970s South, this novel is a thoughtful, eye-opening look at tolerance, acceptance, and change, and will widen the hearts of all readers.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781338181722
|
Hardcover
The Someday Birds
By Pla, Sally J
Charlie's perfectly ordinary life has been unraveling ever since his war journalist father was injured in Afghanistan.
When his father heads from California to Virginia for medical treatment, Charlie reluctantly travels cross-country with his boy-crazy sister, unruly brothers, and a mysterious new family friend. He decides that if he can spot all the birds that he and his father were hoping to see someday along the way, then everything might just turn out okay.
Debut author Sally J. Pla has written a tale that is equal parts madcap road trip, coming-of-age story for an autistic boy who feels he doesn't understand the world, and an uplifting portrait of a family overcoming a crisis.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780062445766
|
Book
The End of the Wild
By Helget, Nicole
A modern, beautifully written story set against the backdrop of the controversial issue of fracking that explores the timely themes of poverty, environmental protection, what makes a family, and finding your place in the world.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780316245111
|
Hardcover
Nightingale's Nest
By Loftin, Nikki
Twelve-year-old John Fischer Jr., or "Little John" as he's always been known, is spending his summer helping his father with his tree removal business, clearing brush for Mr. King, the wealthy owner of a chain of Texas dollar stores, when he hears a beautiful song that transfixes him. He follows the melody and finds, not a bird, but a young girl sitting in the branches of a tall sycamore tree.
There's something magical about this girl, Gayle, especially her soaring singing voice, and Little John's friendship with Gayle quickly becomes the one bright spot in his life, for his home is dominated by sorrow over his sister's death and his parents' ever-tightening financial difficulties.
But then Mr. King draws Little John into an impossible choice - forced to choose between his family's survival and a betrayal of Gayle that puts her future in jeopardy.
Inspired by a Hans Christian Andersen story, Nightingale's Nest is an unforgettable novel about a boy with the weight of the world on his shoulders and a girl with the gift of healing in her voice.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781595145468
|
Book
One-Handed Catch
By Auch, Mj
Not even losing his hand can keep Norm from trying out for the baseball team What would life be like with only one hand? That's exactly what eleven-year-old Norm finds out when he loses his left hand in an accident at his family's store. It's July 4, 1946. World War II has ended, and life is getting back to normal. But for Norm, the pressing question now is whether he will ever be able to play baseball again, or be an artist. It's up to Norm to find the strength to get beyond this roadblock and move on with his life.
The Honest Truth
By Gemeinhart, Dan
The debut of a phenomenal new middle-grade talent.In all the ways that matter, Mark is a normal kid. He's got a dog named Beau and a best friend, Jessie. He likes to take photos and write haiku poems in his notebook. He dreams of climbing a mountain one day.But in one important way, Mark is not like other kids at all. Mark is sick. The kind of sick that means hospitals. And treatments. The kind of sick some people never get better from.So Mark runs away. He leaves home with his camera, his notebook, his dog, and a plan to reach the top of Mount Rainier--even if it's the last thing he ever does.The Honest Truth is a rare and extraordinary novel about big questions, small moments, and the incredible journey of the human spirit.
Mockingbird
By Erskine, Kathryn
In Caitlin's world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That's the stuff Caitlin's older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon's dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger's, she doesn't know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white -- the world is full of colors -- messy and beautiful. Kathryn Erskine has written a must-read gem, one of the most moving novels of the year.
Stella by starlight
By Draper, Sharon M
When the Ku Klux Klan's unwelcome reappearance rattles Stella's segregated southern town, bravery battles prejudice in this Depression-era tour de force from Sharon Draper, the New York Times bestselling author of Out of My Mind.Stella lives in the segregated South - in Bumblebee, North Carolina, to be exact about it. Some stores she can go into. Some stores she can't. Some folks are right pleasant. Others are a lot less so. To Stella, it sort of evens out, and heck, the Klan hasn't bothered them for years. But one late night, later than she should ever be up, much less wandering around outside, Stella and her little brother see something they're never supposed to see, something that is the first flicker of change to come, unwelcome change by any stretch of the imagination. As Stella's community - her world - is upended, she decides to fight fire with fire. And she learns that ashes don't necessarily signify an end.
Somewhere There Is Still a Sun
By Gruenbaum, Michael
Michael "Misha" Gruenbaum enjoyed a carefree childhood playing games and taking walks through Prague with his beloved father. All of that changed forever when the Nazis invaded Prague. The Gruenbaum family was forced to move into the Jewish Ghetto in Prague. Then, after a devastating loss, Michael, his mother and sister were deported to the Terezin concentration camp.
At Terezin, Misha roomed with forty other boys who became like brothers to him. Life in Terezin was a bizarre, surreal balance - some days were filled with friendship and soccer matches, while others brought mortal terror as the boys waited to hear the names on each new list of who was being sent "to the East."
Those trains were going to Auschwitz. When the day came that his family's name appeared on a transport list, their survival called for a miracle - one that tied Michael's fate to a carefully sewn teddy bear, and to his mother's unshakeable determination to keep her children safe.
Collaborating with acclaimed author Todd Hasak-Lowy, Michael Gruenbaum shares his inspiring story of hope in an unforgettable memoir that recreates his experiences with stunning immediacy. Michael's story, and the many original documents and photos included alongside it, offer an essential contribution to Holocaust literature.
Paper Things
By Jacobson, Jennifer Richard
"Will engender empathy and understanding of a serious and all-too-real problem. Jacobsons story is poignant but never preachy." - School Library Journal (starred review) . When forced to choose between staying with her guardian and being with her big brother, Ari chose her big brother. Theres just one problem - Gage didnt actually have a place to live. How can Ari keep up with school, her best friend, and middle-school applications when shes "couch surfing" - a night here with Gages friend in a tiny apartment, a night there with Gages girlfriend and her two roommates - and even, when necessary, sneaking into a juvenile shelter? Told in an open, authentic voice, this nuanced story of hiding in plain sight may have readers thinking about homelessness in a whole new way.
Fish in a Tree
By Hunt, Lynda Mullaly
A New York Times Bestseller!The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who's ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn't fit in. "Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid." Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there's a lot more to her - and to everyone - than a label, and that great minds don't always think alike.
Waiting for Unicorns
By Hautala, Beth
A novel about one girl's journey to the arctic, where she discovers the power of letting go of pain and opening up to second chancesWhen twelve-year-old Talia - still reeling from the recent death of her mother - is forced to travel with her emotionally and physically distant whale-researcher father to the Arctic for the summer, she begins to wonder if the broken pieces inside of her will ever begin to heal. Like her jar of wishes, Talia feels bottled up and torn. Everything about life in Churchill feels foreign, including Sura, the traditional Inuit woman whom Talia must live with. But when Sura exposes her to the tradition of storytelling, she unlocks something within Talia that has long since been buried: her ability to hope, to believe again in making wishes come true.A rich and poignant story about opening up - to new people, to second chances, to moving forward with life. Praise for Waiting for Unicorns:"Debut author Hautala's writing in this first-person narrative is lyrical and evocative; her descriptions of the landscape are vivid. Written by an author to watch, this quiet story of loss and healing will appeal to thoughtful readers." --Kirkus Reviews"This poignant story demonstrates that opening up to new experiences, places, and people can enrich life even in the aftermath of tragedy."--School Library Journal"[An] affecting exploration of grief and the hope that can come through the love of good friends. With spellbinding descriptions ... this story will stay with readers."--Publishers Weekly"Contemplative writing ... a thoughtful examination of loss and hope."--BOOKLIST "Hautala mines the frigid setting for some exquisitely wrought metaphors of sadness and grief, and Tal's reflections on her situation are lyrical and yet still appropriate, given her age. Readers who were touched by Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting by 7s will find this to be a similarly moving tale."--BCCB Reviews"Middle school readers will embrace Talia and her new family in the Arctic and perhaps receive the message about the power of stories to heal."--VOYA Reviews"This is a well-written tween novel that deals with growing pains, grief, and loneliness."--School Library Connection
A Night Divided
By Nielsen, Jennifer A.
With the rise of the Berlin Wall, twelve-year-old Gerta finds her family suddenly divided. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, to think forbidden thoughts of freedom, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city.
But one day, while on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Then, when she receives a mysterious drawing, Gerta puts two and two together and concludes that her father wants Gerta and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?
Wish Girl
By Loftin, Nikki
A dying girl gives a boy the strength to live in this lyrical novel that will break your heart and lift your spirit Peter Stone's parents and siblings are extroverts, musicians, and yellers - and the louder they get, the less Peter talks, or even moves, until he practically fits his last name. When his family moves to the Texas Hill Country, though, Peter finds a tranquil, natural valley where he can, at last, hear himself think.There, he meets a girl his age: Annie Blythe. Annie tells Peter she's a "wish girl." But Annie isn't just any wish girl; she's a "Make-A-Wish Girl." And in two weeks she will begin a dangerous treatment to try and stop her cancer from spreading. Left alone, the disease will kill her. But the treatment may cause serious, lasting damage to her brain. Annie and Peter hatch a plan to escape into the valley, which they begin to think is magical. But the pair soon discovers that the valley - and life - may have other plans for them. And sometimes wishes come true in ways they would never expect.
Finding Someplace
By Patrick, Denise Lewis
Reesie Boone just knows that thirteen is going to be her best year yet-this will be the year she makes her very first fashion design on her Ma Maw's sewing machine. She'll skip down the streets of New Orleans with her best friends, Ayanna and Orlando, and everyone will look at her in admiration.But on Reesie's birthday, everything changes. Hurricane Katrina hits her city. Stranded at home alone, Reesie takes refuge with her elderly neighbor, Miss Martine. The waters rise. They escape in a boat. And soon Reesie is reunited with her family. But her journey back home has only begun.This is a story of a family putting itself back together, and a young girl learning to find herself.A Christy Ottaviano Book
George
By Gino, Alex
When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.
The turn of the tide
By Parry, Rosanne
In Japan, you're always prepared for an earthquake. That's why Kai knows just what to do when the first rumbles shake the earth. But he does the exact opposite of what you're supposed to do: He runs. And then the tsunami hits.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pacific, Kai's cousin Jet sets sail off the coast of Astoria, Oregon. She knows she should have checked the tide - she always checks the tide. Except this time she didn't.
When the biggest mistakes of their lives bring them together, Jet and Kai spend the summer regretting that one moment when they made the wrong decision. But there's something about friendship that heals all wounds, and together, Jet and Kai find the one thing they never thought they'd have again - hope.
Some Kind of Courage
By Gemeinhart, Dan
Joseph Johnson has lost just about everyone he's ever loved. He lost his pa in an accident. He lost his ma and his little sister to sickness. And now, he's lost his pony-fast, fierce, beautiful Sarah, taken away by a man who had no right to take her.Joseph can sure enough get her back, though. The odds are stacked against him, but he isn't about to give up. He will face down deadly animals, dangerous men, and the fury of nature itself on his quest to be reunited with the only family he has left.Because Joseph Johnson may have lost just about everything. But he hasn't lost hope. And he hasn't lost the fire in his belly that says he's getting his Sarah back-no matter what.The critically acclaimed author of The Honest Truth returns with a poignant, hopeful, and action-packed story about hearts that won't be tamed... and spirits that refuse to be broken.
Pax
By Pennypacker, Sara
Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day, the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild. At his grandfather's house, three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he isn't where he should be - with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox. Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own. . . .
Going Where It's Dark
By Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds
Buck Anderson's life seems to be changing completely. His best friend, David, has moved away; his anxious parents are hounding him more than ever; he has reluctantly agreed to fill in for his uncle and do odd jobs for a grumpy old veteran in town; and his twin sister has a new boyfriend and is never around anymore. To top it all off, Buck is bullied by a group of boys at school - mainly because he stutters.
There is one thing that frees Buck from his worries. It is the heart-pounding exhilaration he feels when exploring underground caves in and around his hometown. He used to go caving with David, but he's determined to continue on his own now. He doesn't know that more changes are headed his way - changes that just might make him rethink his view of the world and his place in it.
Praise for GOING WHERE IT'S DARK
"A well-constructed and well-paced story that will be appreciated by anyone who has ever felt out of place or bullied." - School Library Journal
"Buck's strength is inspirational, and his family's love and respect are heartwarming." - Kirkus Reviews
"With characteristic sensitivity, Naylor delivers an engrossing account of a boy's interior and exterior struggles." - Publishers Weekly
This Kid Can Fly
By Philip, Aaron
In this heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting memoir, Aaron Philip, a fourteen-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, shows how he isn't defined so much by his disability as he is by his abilities. Written with award-winning author Tonya Bolden, This Kid Can Fly chronicles Aaron's extraordinary journey from happy baby in Antigua to confident teen artist in New York City. His honest, often funny stories of triumph - despite physical difficulties, poverty, and other challenges - are as inspiring as they are eye-opening. Includes photos and original illustrations from Aaron's personal collection.
A Storm Too Soon
By Tougias, Michael J
When a forty-seven-foot sailboat disappears in the Gulf Stream in the throes of a disastrous storm, it leaves behind three weary passengers struggling to stay alive. This middle-grade adaptation of an adult nonfiction book tells the story of the four intrepid Coast Guardsmen who braved this ruthless storm in the hopes of saving them. A spellbinding tale of courage and survival from the author of The Finest Hours, now a major motion picture.
Rising Above
By Zuckerman, Gregory
Discover inspirational real-life stories of superstar athletes in this collection of sports biographies featuring LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Tim Howard, and more! Team USA goalkeeper Tim Howard was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in 6th grade. He went on to become a national treasure after single-handedly keeping America competitive in the 2014 World Cup. Stephen Curry was told he was too small, too weak, and too slow to even receive a scholarship to play college basketball. He outworked everyone and went on to become MVP of the National Basketball Association. Jim Abbott was born without his right hand, yet he refused to be defined by what he lacked. He went on to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues.Athlete after athlete in this book found discipline, hope, and inspiration on the playing field, rising above their circumstances. Filled with first-hand accounts from stars who exemplify the idea of enduring at all costs, this collection of sports biographies will serve as a must-read source of inspiration for kids and sports fans of all ages.Praise for Rising AboveA Scholastic Teacher magazine Summer Reading List selectionA Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Summer Reading List selection"An easy pitch for middle school sports lovers."--School Library Journal"This collection of mini-bios about athletes who overcame major obstacles packs a powerful message - perseverance and passion pay off. Even non-sports fans will cheer for superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry."--Scholastic Teacher"So many of the obstacles that these athletes share are retold using personal interviews and primary source material that young readers will find very relatable. [T]heir stories have morals that are easily transferred to life off the court or the field. The highly relevant message is that no situation is too dire or insurmountable with the right attitude and that young people shouldn't allow setbacks to define them."--BOOKLIST "[O]ften inspiring . . . The underdog stories reveal that dedication and perseverance pay off, as well as that sports can serve as needed outlets and refuges."--Publishers Weekly"I would rate this a 9 1/2 . . . it touch[es] your heart very often with the ways these athletes turn[ed] their lives around."--Colorado Kids
One True Way
By Hitchcock, Shannon
Welcome to Daniel Boone Middle School in the 1970s, where teachers and coaches must hide who they are, and girls who like girls are forced to question their own choices. Presented in the voice of a premier storyteller, One True Way sheds exquisite light on what it means to be different, while at the same time being wholly true to oneself. Through the lives and influences of two girls, readers come to see that love is love is love. Set against the backdrop of history and politics that surrounded gay rights in the 1970s South, this novel is a thoughtful, eye-opening look at tolerance, acceptance, and change, and will widen the hearts of all readers.
The Someday Birds
By Pla, Sally J
Charlie's perfectly ordinary life has been unraveling ever since his war journalist father was injured in Afghanistan. When his father heads from California to Virginia for medical treatment, Charlie reluctantly travels cross-country with his boy-crazy sister, unruly brothers, and a mysterious new family friend. He decides that if he can spot all the birds that he and his father were hoping to see someday along the way, then everything might just turn out okay. Debut author Sally J. Pla has written a tale that is equal parts madcap road trip, coming-of-age story for an autistic boy who feels he doesn't understand the world, and an uplifting portrait of a family overcoming a crisis.
The End of the Wild
By Helget, Nicole
A modern, beautifully written story set against the backdrop of the controversial issue of fracking that explores the timely themes of poverty, environmental protection, what makes a family, and finding your place in the world.
Nightingale's Nest
By Loftin, Nikki
Twelve-year-old John Fischer Jr., or "Little John" as he's always been known, is spending his summer helping his father with his tree removal business, clearing brush for Mr. King, the wealthy owner of a chain of Texas dollar stores, when he hears a beautiful song that transfixes him. He follows the melody and finds, not a bird, but a young girl sitting in the branches of a tall sycamore tree.
There's something magical about this girl, Gayle, especially her soaring singing voice, and Little John's friendship with Gayle quickly becomes the one bright spot in his life, for his home is dominated by sorrow over his sister's death and his parents' ever-tightening financial difficulties.
But then Mr. King draws Little John into an impossible choice - forced to choose between his family's survival and a betrayal of Gayle that puts her future in jeopardy.
Inspired by a Hans Christian Andersen story, Nightingale's Nest is an unforgettable novel about a boy with the weight of the world on his shoulders and a girl with the gift of healing in her voice.
One-Handed Catch
By Auch, Mj
Not even losing his hand can keep Norm from trying out for the baseball team What would life be like with only one hand? That's exactly what eleven-year-old Norm finds out when he loses his left hand in an accident at his family's store. It's July 4, 1946. World War II has ended, and life is getting back to normal. But for Norm, the pressing question now is whether he will ever be able to play baseball again, or be an artist. It's up to Norm to find the strength to get beyond this roadblock and move on with his life.