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Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Ashley Rhodes lives a very unenviable life bouncing from foster home to foster home. Her story of neglect from so many different angles sheds light on world that many students here know very little about. Her honest portrait of the world of foster children and the adoption process are difficult to bare, yet important. The ambiguous title leaves readers a bit discombobulated. (Middle to Late Adolescence) Rhodes-Courter, A. (2008). Three little words: A memoir. New York: Simon Pulse. -
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pickney & Aesop
When awakened by an unsuspecting mouse, the lion chooses not to hurt the vulnerable mouse. When the lion falls into the net (trap) of the safari hunters, mouse comes to his rescue returning the favor. Told without words the illustrations guide readers through more that a beautiful moral, but a story rich with feeling and conflict and emotions. (Preschool & Primary.) Pinkney, J., & Aesop. (2009). The lion & the mouse. New York: Little, Brown and Books for Young Readers. -
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
Told as a letter from kidnapper to her assailant, Gemma attempts to reconcile herself to her horrific perdicament. During a layover in Bangkok with her family on the way to a vacation in Vietnam, Londoner, Gemma is drugged and taken to the remote outback of Australia. Ty, her obsessed kidnapper, reveals the extent of his plans to snare her making her question all. Great for moral ambiguity unit (7th grade). (Early to Middle Adolescense) Christopher, L. (2010). Stolen. New York, NY: Chicken House -
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip & Erin Stead
Amos McGee, a kind, older, rumpled zoo keeper, devotes his days to his friends at the zoo. When Amos comes down with a cold and can't get to work, the animals mount the city bus and come to him. Showering him with the same love and affection that he daily gives them, the animals and Amos seal their bonds of friendship. (Preschool & Primary.) Stead, P. C., & Stead, E. E. (2010). A sick day for Amos McGee (Caldecott Medal 2011). New York: Roaring Brook Press. -
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Throughout the bedtime stories evening ritual, little chicken just can't help but interrupt when things get the slightest bit dicey. Finally, father suggests that little chicken tell him the story which she does which puts father immediately to sleep. High energy hilarity. (Preschool & Primary: Interrupting burgeoning at 4 years) Stein, D. E. (2010). Interrupting chicken. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. -
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
This intriguing historical fantasy describes Andy's falling-apart life due to the destruction of her family from the death of her 10-year old brother. Thoughts of suicide pervade her every moment when her father takes her to Paris for his genetic research. She slips into the French Revolution in all its confusion meeting Alexandre, a kindred spirit. (Middle & Late Adolescense). Donnelly, J. (2010). Revolution. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. -
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Told in verse, this touching protrayal of a girl's journey from Saigon to Alabama post Vietnam War poetically describes a journey of so many American migrants. Bullying and disgraceful American behavior are a scar that we do not wish to accept about ourselves, yet must. A great, yet quick read that would fit well in social justice, immigration, bullying, historical fiction, and personal narrative. (Intermediate & Early Adolescence.) Lai, T. (2011). Inside out & back again. New York: Harper. -
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
Moving to upstate New York during the Vietnam War with a good-for-nothing father, wall-flower mother, and delinquent brother shows few signs of hope until the small town shows it's many glowing attributes including a old librarian who uses Audobon's artwork to reveal life, a cranky neighborhood playwright, weekly deliveries, and the mill owner--an illikely cohort of souls guiding Doug through insurmountable obstacles. (Middle Adolescence). Schmidt, G. D. (2011). Okay for now. New York, NY: Clari -
Where Things Come Back
Cullen is distraught over the disappearance of his younger brother in his small Southern town which is crazily searching for a long-lost woodpecker thought to have been seen. Simultaneously a missionary searches for meaning in his otherwise floundering life. This metaphor-riddled interwoven tale of Cullen's coming of age tells a story of hope. (Midde & Late Adolescence). Whaley, J. C. (2011). Where things come back: A novel. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. -
Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
This book reminds me of To Kill a Mockingbird in Austrailia, during the Vietnam War, with a very different yet oh-so-similar story. The characters are made very real with challenges of racism, abuse, and incest and family dysfunction. The main character is visited in the middle of the night by Jasper Jones and brought through the "bush" to witness something that changes his life. (Middle to Late Adolescence). Silvey, C. (2011). Jasper Jones: A novel. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. -
Blackout by John Rocco
On a hot, summer night in the city everyone is busy with their evening routines, too busy for a board game with little sister when all the lights go out! The blackout brings the family and neighborhood together for some unplugged fun. A little disruption to the routine is enough to focus the family on the family. So, even after the power comes back on, they choose to play the board game together. (Preschool & Primary.) Rocco, J. (2011). Blackout. New York: Disney/Hyperion Books. -
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
This rich story of Grandpa Green by Lane Smith warms the coquills of your heart. Grandpa Green creates topiaries that help him remember all the milestones of his life: growing up (even his first kiss), going to war, falling in love, his children and grand children, and even his great grandson, the main character. It's a beautiful story about how we remember the things that happen to us in our lives. (Preschool & Primary). Smith, L. (2011). Grandpa Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press. -
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Immigration tale in verse of Lupita, oldest of eight children, moves to the US only to fight a battle with her mother's cancer. Told in verse, this poetic journey is filled with love and pain, hardship and reward of a young girl with prodigious skill afforded to her from a loving and nurturing mother and family. (Early Adolecence & Middle Adolescence). McCall, G. G., Hale, C., & Weart, K. (2011). Under the mesquite. New York: Lee & Low Books. -
Jefferson's Sons: A Founding Father's Secret Children by Kimberly Bradley
Illegitimacy at society's highest levels at our nation's beginning are addressed head on in this thought-provoking historical fiction of Thomas Jefferson's children begotten from his slave Sally Hemings.Told from 3 perspectives--2 sons of TJ and SH and a slave friend, this intriguing account of the travesty of racism as created and propagated by its very architect is a must read. (Early Adolescence). Bradley, K. B. (2011). Jefferson's sons: A founding father's secret children. New York: Dial Boo -
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness; inspired from an idea by Siobhan Dowd ; illustrations by Jim Kay
The ancient monster that awakes Conor nightly helps him address the horrors of his cancer-riddled mother's impending death. This beautifully sad story will have you laughing and crying as Conor faces his own fragility through this devastating reality. Fans of Sioban Dowd's work see her final kernels of creativity drawn out in words and breathtaking illustrations. (Early & Middle Adolscense). Ness, P., Kay, J., & Dowd, S. (2011). A monster calls: A novel. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. -
Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin
Stalinist Russia needs to have light shown upon its secret genocide. Told with the simplicity necessary for the audience, this complex story of lies and truth, moral ambiguity, and authoritarian regimes resounds. From the literary imagery to the profound conflict of the main character, this historical fiction sets the stage of the dystopian novels that are currently so very popular. (Intermediate & Early Adolescence). Yelchin, E. (2011). Breaking Stalin's nose. New York: Henry Holt. -
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler & Maira Kalman
From the author of The Series of Unfortunate Events, this beautifully illustrated story of a high school relationship takes the banal and makes it hilarious, poignant, and even mysterious. Throughout the story readers wonder, "Why did they break up?" until the final denouement reveals the mastery of our clever author filled with the pathos of young love. (Middle & Late Adolescence). Handler, D., & Kalman, M. (2011). Why we broke up. New York, NY: Little, Brown. -
Insurgent (Divergent Trilogy) by Veronica Roth
Another page-turner. Although the characters are not as compelling, the plot carries similarly to Divergent with nary a dull moment. Tris & Tobias ebb and flow through their relationship. The larger context of the articially divided world of factions plays itself out (slightly predictably). The author does not indulge the reader with any explanations of characters or situations that occurred in Divergent. (Middle & Late Adolescence). Roth, V. (2012). Insurgent. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.
