The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin
Genre: Realistic
Summary: Paulie Fink was a legend at the small rural school he attended in Vermont. Then, on the first day of 7th grade, he just isn't there. Who is? A new girl named Caitlyn who doesn't understand how this school works. Why don't they understand the rules of normal school? How do they not know that there are certain ways to behave? Why are there goats? And why does she have to sit with a Kindergartener at lunch?
As the weeks go on and everyone realizes Paulie isn't coming back, the stories about him circulate wider and wider. Eventually they decide they need a new Paulie Fink, and the competition is going to be fierce. As Caitlyn comes up with competitions, another secret comes out. The school is losing funding and might have to close. Can they figure out a way to save the school, crown the next Paulie Fink, and win the rivalry soccer game?
Genre: Realistic
Summary: Paulie Fink was a legend at the small rural school he attended in Vermont. Then, on the first day of 7th grade, he just isn't there. Who is? A new girl named Caitlyn who doesn't understand how this school works. Why don't they understand the rules of normal school? How do they not know that there are certain ways to behave? Why are there goats? And why does she have to sit with a Kindergartener at lunch?
As the weeks go on and everyone realizes Paulie isn't coming back, the stories about him circulate wider and wider. Eventually they decide they need a new Paulie Fink, and the competition is going to be fierce. As Caitlyn comes up with competitions, another secret comes out. The school is losing funding and might have to close. Can they figure out a way to save the school, crown the next Paulie Fink, and win the rivalry soccer game?
Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech
Genre: Realistic
Summary: Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey, he's determined to save him. He names him Winslow. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to his brother, Gus, who is far, far away in the army.
Everyone worries that Winslow won't survive, especially Louie’s quirky new friend, Nora, who has experienced loss of her own. But as Louie's bond with Winslow grows, surprising and life-altering events prove that this fragile donkey is stronger than anyone could have imagined.
Genre: Realistic
Summary: Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey, he's determined to save him. He names him Winslow. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to his brother, Gus, who is far, far away in the army.
Everyone worries that Winslow won't survive, especially Louie’s quirky new friend, Nora, who has experienced loss of her own. But as Louie's bond with Winslow grows, surprising and life-altering events prove that this fragile donkey is stronger than anyone could have imagined.
Ruby in the Sky by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo
Genre: Realistic
Summary: I loved Ruby and found myself rooting for her throughout her story. I was excited to watch her try to find her voice and to realize the lesson that sometimes being courageous simply means standing up.
Ruby and her mom have moved to Vermont for their next "forever home." Ruby hopes this won't last (like the others haven't) and that they can finally head back to their real home, Washington D.C. It was there that they were a family. There that she had a dad. There that she had a mom who was normal and not getting arrested on her first day at work. But now, all that is different. And Ruby finds herself drawn to Abigail, the reclusive woman who lives down the hill. As she starts to learn more about Abigail, and tries to find ways to avoid the 6th grade Wax Museum, Ruby also starts to see what is actually important: standing up for your friends, even when you're scared.
Highly recommend. This is a great read for grades 5-8.
Genre: Realistic
Summary: I loved Ruby and found myself rooting for her throughout her story. I was excited to watch her try to find her voice and to realize the lesson that sometimes being courageous simply means standing up.
Ruby and her mom have moved to Vermont for their next "forever home." Ruby hopes this won't last (like the others haven't) and that they can finally head back to their real home, Washington D.C. It was there that they were a family. There that she had a dad. There that she had a mom who was normal and not getting arrested on her first day at work. But now, all that is different. And Ruby finds herself drawn to Abigail, the reclusive woman who lives down the hill. As she starts to learn more about Abigail, and tries to find ways to avoid the 6th grade Wax Museum, Ruby also starts to see what is actually important: standing up for your friends, even when you're scared.
Highly recommend. This is a great read for grades 5-8.
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming and Erick Rohmann
Genre: Historical
Summary: The book is a highly engaging, fast-paced, easy to read story about a dog who started his life as a police dog in Germany and then became one of America's most famous movie stars in the 1920s. The story is enhanced by the multiple pictures throughout the book, evoking a sense of the silent screen movies of the time. The author's note included at the end showcases the details that the author left in and those that were embellished.
Genre: Historical
Summary: The book is a highly engaging, fast-paced, easy to read story about a dog who started his life as a police dog in Germany and then became one of America's most famous movie stars in the 1920s. The story is enhanced by the multiple pictures throughout the book, evoking a sense of the silent screen movies of the time. The author's note included at the end showcases the details that the author left in and those that were embellished.
Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead
Genre: Fantasy
Summary: This was a strange, magical, charming little book. I initially read it anticipating a Crenshaw -esqu story about an imaginary friend. That is NOT what this is. And, as you read further and further along in the story, you will try to figure out just WHAT Bob actually is, and I bet you won't know until the end.
Livy hasn't been to see her grandmother in Australia for 5 years. Now that she's back, she is shocked to discover that Bob, a small, thin, green-colored creature who is trying to pass himself off in a chicken suit made by a 5-year-old Livy long ago, is still waiting for her in her old closet. She said that she would come back for him, and he believed her.
The only problem? She has forgotten all about him. For the next few days, Livy and Bob try to retrace the steps they took years ago to find out how they met and if there is a way to get Bob back home.
Genre: Fantasy
Summary: This was a strange, magical, charming little book. I initially read it anticipating a Crenshaw -esqu story about an imaginary friend. That is NOT what this is. And, as you read further and further along in the story, you will try to figure out just WHAT Bob actually is, and I bet you won't know until the end.
Livy hasn't been to see her grandmother in Australia for 5 years. Now that she's back, she is shocked to discover that Bob, a small, thin, green-colored creature who is trying to pass himself off in a chicken suit made by a 5-year-old Livy long ago, is still waiting for her in her old closet. She said that she would come back for him, and he believed her.
The only problem? She has forgotten all about him. For the next few days, Livy and Bob try to retrace the steps they took years ago to find out how they met and if there is a way to get Bob back home.
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
Genre: Realistic
Summary: This was a cute, quick read about a girl who is different and ends up going to middle school to learn one of the greatest (and most true lessons there is): everyone has problems. And not all problems are easy to solve. I will say that at first I wasn't sure if this would hold up to the other books it has been compared to (Rain/Reign, Counting by 7s ) but by the end, I think it does. The main character, Lucy, grows on the reader and shows promise by the end. Her group of friends are there for her when she needs it. And she becomes more mature.
Lucy is a mathematical genius. She was struck by lightning when she was 8 and when she woke up, she was a genius. A complete genius about all things math and number-related. Since then, Lucy has been homeschooled and has passed all the requirements for a GED. She thinks she is ready to start college classes, on-line of course, because she doesn't really like to leave the house. She doesn't like new people, and doesn't really care about getting to know them. As she says later in the novel, geniuses don't need normal people's help. But, her Nana and her Uncle Paul think it's time for her to go to school, she she gets enrolled in 7th grade at the local middle school. There she struggles to fit in and decides to hide her math abilities and stay under the radar. Of course, the school's service project gets in the way of that. Lucy's group decides to help out at a local animal shelter, and there's one dog who is "unadoptable." So Lucy has to figure out what to do when a problem doesn't have a solution. And how to let go of something you didn't know you wanted in the first place.
Highly recommend. This is a great middle grade read, perfect for kids who like stories like Wonder & Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.
Genre: Realistic
Summary: This was a cute, quick read about a girl who is different and ends up going to middle school to learn one of the greatest (and most true lessons there is): everyone has problems. And not all problems are easy to solve. I will say that at first I wasn't sure if this would hold up to the other books it has been compared to (Rain/Reign, Counting by 7s ) but by the end, I think it does. The main character, Lucy, grows on the reader and shows promise by the end. Her group of friends are there for her when she needs it. And she becomes more mature.
Lucy is a mathematical genius. She was struck by lightning when she was 8 and when she woke up, she was a genius. A complete genius about all things math and number-related. Since then, Lucy has been homeschooled and has passed all the requirements for a GED. She thinks she is ready to start college classes, on-line of course, because she doesn't really like to leave the house. She doesn't like new people, and doesn't really care about getting to know them. As she says later in the novel, geniuses don't need normal people's help. But, her Nana and her Uncle Paul think it's time for her to go to school, she she gets enrolled in 7th grade at the local middle school. There she struggles to fit in and decides to hide her math abilities and stay under the radar. Of course, the school's service project gets in the way of that. Lucy's group decides to help out at a local animal shelter, and there's one dog who is "unadoptable." So Lucy has to figure out what to do when a problem doesn't have a solution. And how to let go of something you didn't know you wanted in the first place.
Highly recommend. This is a great middle grade read, perfect for kids who like stories like Wonder & Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.
Max and the Midnights by Lincoln Peirce
Genre: Fantasy/Humor
Summary: Max is an unwilling apprentice to her uncle as a traveling troubadour. But what she really wants to be is a knight-even if girls aren't supposed to be knights. They go to Uncle Budrick's hometown to find out that the good King Conrad has been killed and his younger brother Gastely has taken the throne. With Gastely in charge, the people have become rude, unkind, and mean. Max and a ragtag band of kids set out to find the truth about King Conrad and to bring joy back to Byjovia. Filled with adventure and magic, this is a fun, fast-paced read.
Genre: Fantasy/Humor
Summary: Max is an unwilling apprentice to her uncle as a traveling troubadour. But what she really wants to be is a knight-even if girls aren't supposed to be knights. They go to Uncle Budrick's hometown to find out that the good King Conrad has been killed and his younger brother Gastely has taken the throne. With Gastely in charge, the people have become rude, unkind, and mean. Max and a ragtag band of kids set out to find the truth about King Conrad and to bring joy back to Byjovia. Filled with adventure and magic, this is a fun, fast-paced read.
Captain Superlative by J.S. Puller
Genre: Realistic
Summary: "Have no fear, citizens! Captain Superlative is here to make all troubles disappear!"
Red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high top sneakers and . . . a cape? Who would run through the halls of Deerwood Park Middle School dressed like this? And why?
Janey-quick to stay in the shadows-can't resist the urge to uncover the truth behind the mask. The answer pulls invisible Janey into the spotlight and leads her to an unexpected friendship with a superhero like no other. Fearless even in the face of school bully extraordinaire, Dagmar Hagen, no good deed is too small for the incomparable Captain Superlative and her new sidekick, Janey.
But superheroes hold secrets and Captain Superlative is no exception. When Janey unearths what's truly at stake, she's forced to face her own dark secrets and discover what it truly means to be a hero . . . and a friend.
Genre: Realistic
Summary: "Have no fear, citizens! Captain Superlative is here to make all troubles disappear!"
Red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high top sneakers and . . . a cape? Who would run through the halls of Deerwood Park Middle School dressed like this? And why?
Janey-quick to stay in the shadows-can't resist the urge to uncover the truth behind the mask. The answer pulls invisible Janey into the spotlight and leads her to an unexpected friendship with a superhero like no other. Fearless even in the face of school bully extraordinaire, Dagmar Hagen, no good deed is too small for the incomparable Captain Superlative and her new sidekick, Janey.
But superheroes hold secrets and Captain Superlative is no exception. When Janey unearths what's truly at stake, she's forced to face her own dark secrets and discover what it truly means to be a hero . . . and a friend.
Hope in the Holler by Lisa Lewis Tyre
Genre: Realistic
Summary: Waivy's mother has died. She suffered from cancer for a long time and had ample opportunities to plan for what should happen after her death. Waivy was going to go with a neighbor because there wasn't any family to come forward. At least, that's what everyone thought. But then, on the day of the funeral, Samantha Rose shows up and claims to be Waivy's aunt, her mother's sister. And she is going to take Waivy back home to the Holler with her. While being poor isn't anything new to Waivy, living with someone who is spiteful, mean, and only using her for the government checks, is. As she struggles to find a way to live there, and make friends with the other families who are also there, Waivy tries to find a way to follow her mom's advice and be brave and live a life worth living.
Genre: Realistic
Summary: Waivy's mother has died. She suffered from cancer for a long time and had ample opportunities to plan for what should happen after her death. Waivy was going to go with a neighbor because there wasn't any family to come forward. At least, that's what everyone thought. But then, on the day of the funeral, Samantha Rose shows up and claims to be Waivy's aunt, her mother's sister. And she is going to take Waivy back home to the Holler with her. While being poor isn't anything new to Waivy, living with someone who is spiteful, mean, and only using her for the government checks, is. As she struggles to find a way to live there, and make friends with the other families who are also there, Waivy tries to find a way to follow her mom's advice and be brave and live a life worth living.
The Unsung Hero of Birdsong USA by Brenda Woods
Genre: Historical
Summary: This was a wonderful, MG book about life in the South after WWII. As with all historical fiction, it brought to light a hard truth in our past and it showcased it in a completely relatable way for kids to read about and understand. I had very little knowledge of this issue (the hardships black soldiers faced coming home from serving in WWII) and this book brought it to my attention. While the subject matter is important and deep, this book is a great example of how you can introduce those topics to younger readers (grades 5-8) and give them a starting point with the issues. Highly recommend.
Genre: Historical
Summary: This was a wonderful, MG book about life in the South after WWII. As with all historical fiction, it brought to light a hard truth in our past and it showcased it in a completely relatable way for kids to read about and understand. I had very little knowledge of this issue (the hardships black soldiers faced coming home from serving in WWII) and this book brought it to my attention. While the subject matter is important and deep, this book is a great example of how you can introduce those topics to younger readers (grades 5-8) and give them a starting point with the issues. Highly recommend.
Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish
Genre: Realistic
Summary: I loved this book. It was a great story of family, friends, and learning to live with yourself, despite what others might see when they look at you.
Marcus Vega doesn't fit in with the rest of the 8th graders at his middle school. He is bigger, stronger, and more intimidating. He uses this to his advantage and walks kids to and from school, for a profit, enforces a garbage tax, for a profit, and also houses cell phones during the day, for a profit. One of the kids he is trying to keep the others away from finally crosses the line and makes a rude comment about Charlie, Marcus' younger brother with Down Syndrome. Marcus punches him, and things go downhill from there. He is suspended and his mother decides that they need to take a family vacation to recharge and reconnect. They head to Puerto Rico, the place Marcus was born and the place his father fled to 10 years ago when he walked away from his wife and kids. Now Marcus thinks he will finally have a chance to ask his father why he would leave, and if he is finally ready to come back. Once in PR, Marcus discovers a whole family he never knew about and wonders why his father won't respond to his emails. On a five day adventure, Marcus finds out who the real hero of his story will be.
Genre: Realistic
Summary: I loved this book. It was a great story of family, friends, and learning to live with yourself, despite what others might see when they look at you.
Marcus Vega doesn't fit in with the rest of the 8th graders at his middle school. He is bigger, stronger, and more intimidating. He uses this to his advantage and walks kids to and from school, for a profit, enforces a garbage tax, for a profit, and also houses cell phones during the day, for a profit. One of the kids he is trying to keep the others away from finally crosses the line and makes a rude comment about Charlie, Marcus' younger brother with Down Syndrome. Marcus punches him, and things go downhill from there. He is suspended and his mother decides that they need to take a family vacation to recharge and reconnect. They head to Puerto Rico, the place Marcus was born and the place his father fled to 10 years ago when he walked away from his wife and kids. Now Marcus thinks he will finally have a chance to ask his father why he would leave, and if he is finally ready to come back. Once in PR, Marcus discovers a whole family he never knew about and wonders why his father won't respond to his emails. On a five day adventure, Marcus finds out who the real hero of his story will be.
Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau
Genre: Mystery
Summary: I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this one (some of Charbonneau's other books are hit or miss for me), but I actually really enjoyed this one. It is a look at a high school bombing and is told from the perspective of multiple people who are trapped inside. As they try to find a way out, and the bombs keep detonating, they end up in one room together working to escape. But, the news comes over the radio that the bomber is one of them. With the way the story is written, the reader has lots of questions about each of the characters and there are multiple reasons to believe that it could be almost any of them. Suspicions run high as the tension mounts and the situation becomes dire.
Highly recommend, especially for grades 7-10. There is no language and little in the way of graphic descriptions. In some ways it reads like an April Henry book, which is an easy sell for many of my students. More discerning readers might have some questions (the back stories of some of the characters are a little thin and not all issues get resolution), but overall, most students will enjoy this one.
Genre: Mystery
Summary: I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this one (some of Charbonneau's other books are hit or miss for me), but I actually really enjoyed this one. It is a look at a high school bombing and is told from the perspective of multiple people who are trapped inside. As they try to find a way out, and the bombs keep detonating, they end up in one room together working to escape. But, the news comes over the radio that the bomber is one of them. With the way the story is written, the reader has lots of questions about each of the characters and there are multiple reasons to believe that it could be almost any of them. Suspicions run high as the tension mounts and the situation becomes dire.
Highly recommend, especially for grades 7-10. There is no language and little in the way of graphic descriptions. In some ways it reads like an April Henry book, which is an easy sell for many of my students. More discerning readers might have some questions (the back stories of some of the characters are a little thin and not all issues get resolution), but overall, most students will enjoy this one.
New Kid by Jerry Craft
Genre: Realistic/Graphic Novel
Summary: I grabbed my library's copy of New Kid after one of my GN readers brought it back in. My para has read and loved it already, so I was hoping to see what all the fuss was about. I get it now. This is a great book about what it is like to be a new kid in school, but it is REALLY about what it means to be different and the microaggressions that take place against diverse students in mainly white settings. I would love to see teachers pick up this text to use in classroom discussions and think it would be a great read for book clubs. Highly recommend for grades 6-9.
Genre: Realistic/Graphic Novel
Summary: I grabbed my library's copy of New Kid after one of my GN readers brought it back in. My para has read and loved it already, so I was hoping to see what all the fuss was about. I get it now. This is a great book about what it is like to be a new kid in school, but it is REALLY about what it means to be different and the microaggressions that take place against diverse students in mainly white settings. I would love to see teachers pick up this text to use in classroom discussions and think it would be a great read for book clubs. Highly recommend for grades 6-9.
The Unteachables by Gordon Korman
Genre: Realistic
Summary: OK-I'll admit it. I liked this one. I didn't think I was going to, but I did. Korman did it again, taking a story about something that can seem very blase and commonplace (a small group of 8th graders and a burnt out teacher) and made something that was almost magical. The kids were sweet, the storyline was nice, and the ending is hopeful and uplifting. Overall, I think this is a good choice for readers who enjoy realistic fiction (with some humor) but who aren't ready or interested in delving into harder hitting realities of realism. Appropriate for grades 5-8.
Genre: Realistic
Summary: OK-I'll admit it. I liked this one. I didn't think I was going to, but I did. Korman did it again, taking a story about something that can seem very blase and commonplace (a small group of 8th graders and a burnt out teacher) and made something that was almost magical. The kids were sweet, the storyline was nice, and the ending is hopeful and uplifting. Overall, I think this is a good choice for readers who enjoy realistic fiction (with some humor) but who aren't ready or interested in delving into harder hitting realities of realism. Appropriate for grades 5-8.
Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu
Genre: Adventure
Summary: Bruce Wayne is ready to graduate high school. He has recently turned 18, gained access to his parent's fortune/legacy, and is set for a summer of interning at WayneTech, his parents corporation. Of course, now that he is a full-fledged billionaire, he is on the Nightwalkers hit list. They are a group of vigilantes who go after the corrupt wealthy folks of Gotham City and they have been stockpiling weapons. As Bruce tries to stop a runaway felon in a car chase, he ends up getting arrested and has to serve probation and community service. Its there that he meets Madeleine, a notorious Nightwalker herself. Of course, at 18, she doesn't look like a monstrous murderer, but looks can be deceiving. Throughout all of their conversations, Bruce knows he is being lied to, but he can't shake the feeling that there is more to her than just her criminal record. And he knows he is the next target, unless he can find a way to stop the Nightwalkers in time.
Genre: Adventure
Summary: Bruce Wayne is ready to graduate high school. He has recently turned 18, gained access to his parent's fortune/legacy, and is set for a summer of interning at WayneTech, his parents corporation. Of course, now that he is a full-fledged billionaire, he is on the Nightwalkers hit list. They are a group of vigilantes who go after the corrupt wealthy folks of Gotham City and they have been stockpiling weapons. As Bruce tries to stop a runaway felon in a car chase, he ends up getting arrested and has to serve probation and community service. Its there that he meets Madeleine, a notorious Nightwalker herself. Of course, at 18, she doesn't look like a monstrous murderer, but looks can be deceiving. Throughout all of their conversations, Bruce knows he is being lied to, but he can't shake the feeling that there is more to her than just her criminal record. And he knows he is the next target, unless he can find a way to stop the Nightwalkers in time.
Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Genre: Historical
Summary: Chaya Lindner is a teenager living in Nazi-occupied Poland. Simply being Jewish places her in danger of being killed or sent to the camps. After her little sister is taken away, her younger brother disappears, and her parents all but give up hope, Chaya is determined to make a difference. Using forged papers and her fair features, Chaya becomes a courier and travels between the Jewish ghettos of Poland, smuggling food, papers, and even people.
Soon Chaya joins a resistance cell that runs raids on the Nazis' supplies. But after a mission goes terribly wrong, Chaya's network shatters. She is alone and unsure of where to go, until Esther, a member of her cell, finds her and delivers a message that chills Chaya to her core, and sends her on a journey toward an even larger uprising in the works — in the Warsaw Ghetto.
Genre: Historical
Summary: Chaya Lindner is a teenager living in Nazi-occupied Poland. Simply being Jewish places her in danger of being killed or sent to the camps. After her little sister is taken away, her younger brother disappears, and her parents all but give up hope, Chaya is determined to make a difference. Using forged papers and her fair features, Chaya becomes a courier and travels between the Jewish ghettos of Poland, smuggling food, papers, and even people.
Soon Chaya joins a resistance cell that runs raids on the Nazis' supplies. But after a mission goes terribly wrong, Chaya's network shatters. She is alone and unsure of where to go, until Esther, a member of her cell, finds her and delivers a message that chills Chaya to her core, and sends her on a journey toward an even larger uprising in the works — in the Warsaw Ghetto.
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Genre: Realistic
Summary: This is the book I have been waiting for! I have been desperately searching for a middle grade book that would cover the same topics as The Hate U Give & Dear Martin but in a way that was more suitable for a younger audience. I tried to find it in The Stars Beneath Our Feet , but, that one was not it for me. This one was. This book is important. Relevant. Moving. Authentic. Hopeful. Searing. Gutting. A must-read.
Jerome is shot by the police after a 911 call goes in that there is a man with a gun in the park. He's 12, black, and has a toy gun. After his death, his spirit stays behind to watch his family as the case goes to trial. There, he realizes that Sara, the daughter of the cop who shot him, is the only living person who can see and communicate with him. As the book goes on, he starts to wonder why she would be the only one to see him and what his purpose is in staying behind. He knows there has to be a reason for him and the other "ghost boys," the spirits of other young African-American males who have been killed by those in authority. These ghost boys have a mission to continue on and bear witness.
Highly recommend. Appropriate for grades 5-9.
Genre: Realistic
Summary: This is the book I have been waiting for! I have been desperately searching for a middle grade book that would cover the same topics as The Hate U Give & Dear Martin but in a way that was more suitable for a younger audience. I tried to find it in The Stars Beneath Our Feet , but, that one was not it for me. This one was. This book is important. Relevant. Moving. Authentic. Hopeful. Searing. Gutting. A must-read.
Jerome is shot by the police after a 911 call goes in that there is a man with a gun in the park. He's 12, black, and has a toy gun. After his death, his spirit stays behind to watch his family as the case goes to trial. There, he realizes that Sara, the daughter of the cop who shot him, is the only living person who can see and communicate with him. As the book goes on, he starts to wonder why she would be the only one to see him and what his purpose is in staying behind. He knows there has to be a reason for him and the other "ghost boys," the spirits of other young African-American males who have been killed by those in authority. These ghost boys have a mission to continue on and bear witness.
Highly recommend. Appropriate for grades 5-9.
Speechless by Adam P. Scmitt
Genre: Realistic
Summary: HOLY CATS, this was good. I was hoping for something solid, as my last few reads have been kind of ho-hum, and this more than delivered. I'm almost wishing I still had my top 10 lists of 2018 to write up because this might have made it. This story is middle grade perfection. Highly recommended, first purchase type of stuff for all libraries serving kids grades 7-10.
Jimmy has never been to a wake before, and how he is at his first one. His cousin Patrick has died and he and his parents are there to help out. Once they get there, his mom shares some other awful news: he is going to have to speak at the funeral the next day. Not only does he hate public speaking, there's actually a bigger problem: he didn't even like Patrick all that much. Patrick was mean. Unpredictable. Rude. And definitely not someone Jimmy would have chosen to be friends with. But, as his mother and everyone else keeps reminding him, sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do. So, Jimmy spends the whole wake trying to avoid awkward small talk and figure out a way to say something about his cousin. As he goes through his memories of Patrick, Jimmy (and the reader) begin to suspect that there was more to Patrick than just a mean kid.
Genre: Realistic
Summary: HOLY CATS, this was good. I was hoping for something solid, as my last few reads have been kind of ho-hum, and this more than delivered. I'm almost wishing I still had my top 10 lists of 2018 to write up because this might have made it. This story is middle grade perfection. Highly recommended, first purchase type of stuff for all libraries serving kids grades 7-10.
Jimmy has never been to a wake before, and how he is at his first one. His cousin Patrick has died and he and his parents are there to help out. Once they get there, his mom shares some other awful news: he is going to have to speak at the funeral the next day. Not only does he hate public speaking, there's actually a bigger problem: he didn't even like Patrick all that much. Patrick was mean. Unpredictable. Rude. And definitely not someone Jimmy would have chosen to be friends with. But, as his mother and everyone else keeps reminding him, sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do. So, Jimmy spends the whole wake trying to avoid awkward small talk and figure out a way to say something about his cousin. As he goes through his memories of Patrick, Jimmy (and the reader) begin to suspect that there was more to Patrick than just a mean kid.
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Genre: Horror
Summary: This was fantastic. I had heard from a couple of my "bookish" friends on Twitter that it was one to check out, and I am SO GLAD I listened to them. This was classic middle grade gold: strong storyline, great characters, a bit of spookiness, some humor, some tension, NO romance and NO language. Loved it. Can't wait to get it in the library and hand it off to some readers.
Cassidy Blake can see ghosts. Her best friend is a ghost, so that works out. Her parents are ghost hunters, even though they don't really know about her ability to cross the Veil and they aren't sure how much they believe about Jacob the ghost. He's more of an imaginary friend to them. Cassidy is ready for a summer free of ghosts, traveling to the beach, but then her parents change their mind and share their new plans with her: they are traveling to Scotland to shoot the first episode of their new TV series about the most haunted places on earth.
Once there, Cassidy has to try to keep herself in the land of the living (for the most part). She also meets Lara, a fellow "in-betweener" who can cross the Veil. Lara tells her their purpose is to send the ghosts on, which Cassidy didn't realize was part of the deal. And, the Red Raven, a soul-stealer of sorts, is after Cassidy. All of this leads to a city-wide adventure with life or death stakes.
Genre: Horror
Summary: This was fantastic. I had heard from a couple of my "bookish" friends on Twitter that it was one to check out, and I am SO GLAD I listened to them. This was classic middle grade gold: strong storyline, great characters, a bit of spookiness, some humor, some tension, NO romance and NO language. Loved it. Can't wait to get it in the library and hand it off to some readers.
Cassidy Blake can see ghosts. Her best friend is a ghost, so that works out. Her parents are ghost hunters, even though they don't really know about her ability to cross the Veil and they aren't sure how much they believe about Jacob the ghost. He's more of an imaginary friend to them. Cassidy is ready for a summer free of ghosts, traveling to the beach, but then her parents change their mind and share their new plans with her: they are traveling to Scotland to shoot the first episode of their new TV series about the most haunted places on earth.
Once there, Cassidy has to try to keep herself in the land of the living (for the most part). She also meets Lara, a fellow "in-betweener" who can cross the Veil. Lara tells her their purpose is to send the ghosts on, which Cassidy didn't realize was part of the deal. And, the Red Raven, a soul-stealer of sorts, is after Cassidy. All of this leads to a city-wide adventure with life or death stakes.
Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Genre: Adventure
Summary: This was amazing. I devoured this book and can not WAIT to get it into the hands of my students. I think they will love this story. All of Shusterman's works are very popular, but this is even more intense since it is a story that could be happening right now.
Southern California has been in a drought and it has finally reached a boiling point. The water has been turned off, and the Tap-Out (as it's being called) has begun. Within days things start to break down. And now everyone has to figure out what they are willing to do to survive. Following Alyssa, her neighbor Keaton, Jacqui-a girl they meet on the way, at gunpoint, and Henry, a kid making a killing selling off stockpiled water, this story showcases the lengths people will go to get what they need for basic survival.
This is Shusterman at his finest. He takes something that is completely plausible and showcases what humanity will do in a crisis. There will be heroes, of course, but there will also be villains. And many of us don't know what side of the aisle we will fall on until we find ourselves in a situation with no middle ground. Highly recommend.
Genre: Adventure
Summary: This was amazing. I devoured this book and can not WAIT to get it into the hands of my students. I think they will love this story. All of Shusterman's works are very popular, but this is even more intense since it is a story that could be happening right now.
Southern California has been in a drought and it has finally reached a boiling point. The water has been turned off, and the Tap-Out (as it's being called) has begun. Within days things start to break down. And now everyone has to figure out what they are willing to do to survive. Following Alyssa, her neighbor Keaton, Jacqui-a girl they meet on the way, at gunpoint, and Henry, a kid making a killing selling off stockpiled water, this story showcases the lengths people will go to get what they need for basic survival.
This is Shusterman at his finest. He takes something that is completely plausible and showcases what humanity will do in a crisis. There will be heroes, of course, but there will also be villains. And many of us don't know what side of the aisle we will fall on until we find ourselves in a situation with no middle ground. Highly recommend.
