Picture Books
by Jory John
Edward the giraffe has a problem. His neck is too long. He tries to cover it up with ties, scarves, and bows. He tries hiding it behind tall trees, beneath the waters of the river, and under deep ravines. But no matter what he does, he's still disappointed in and embarrassed by his long neck. Then one day, he meets Cyrus, a turtle discouraged by how short his neck is. The pair form a friendship and realize that, despite their initial opinions, they've been perfectly created.
Dear Librarian
by Lydia M. Sigwarth
When Lydia was just five years old, she, along with her father, mother, five big sisters, and baby brother, were homeless. For six months, they hopped around to the various houses of her extended family. Lydia had no special place just for herself until her mom brought her to the library one day. The librarian made her feel welcome and gave her the tools to travel anywhere through the pages of a book. Eventually, Lydia grew up and became a librarian to help other kids feel at home with books.
This is an epistolary story featuring the "thank you" of a young woman to the librarian who inspired her.
Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!
by Andrea J. Loney
The magazine article stated that whoever could sell the most sachets would win brand new photography equipment. 14-year-old James Vanderzee won the challenge and became the second person in Lennox, Massachusetts, to own a camera. He began taking pictures of his neighbors and friends.
Learning of the big city opportunities for a budding photographer, James packed up his meager belongings and moved to Harlem, New York. There, he made a name for himself as the first black photographer to document the lives of middle-class black Americans. Years later, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art needed pictures for a new exhibit, they discovered the long-forgotten photographs of an elderly James Vanderzee, and his work became famous once again.
The Vanishing Lake
by Paddy Donnelly
Though it looked like an ordinary waterhole, every so often, Lake Loughareema--the lake near Granddad's house--would disappear. Young Meara was desperate to find out how and why. Grandad presented many different theories — perhaps it was absorbed in the wool of fat sheep, or it was drained by mysterious mermaids who pulled the plug, or it froze in the night and was used as an ice cube by thirsty giants. But Meara knew none of these stories could be true. Early one morning, she joined Granddad on a hike up the mountain to learn the fantastical reason the Irish lake vanished every few days.
Leveled Readers
by Wendy Lewison
The bee sat on the duck, making the duck say, "Quack!" To escape the bee, the frightened duck sat on the back of a hen who sat on a pig, and so on until the entire barnyard was a big pile of chaos.
This Level 1 reader is full of one-vowel words, a small handful of special digraph words, and plenty of repetition for emerging readers.
by Leonard Kessler
Bobby has been up to bat twenty times. Bobby has struck out all twenty times. If only he had a better bat or a better helmet. His mother encourages him to ask his pal, Willie, for tips. Willie assures him that a "lucky" bat won't help. What Bobby needs is hard work and practice. In the next few weeks, the boys meet at a nearby field, and Bobby learns to swing. The day of the big game, Bobby steps up to the plate. The score is tied, and it's all up to him. Will he be able to make a hit, or will he strike out once again?
Baseball fans will enjoy this Level 2 reader.
Illustrated Chapter Books
by Farley Mowat
Billy first finds Wol after a storm. Later, he rescues Weeps from some boys who were doing it harm. Like all other wild creatures, these two great horned owls aren't at first too keen on living domesticated lives. But Billy is determined to raise them alongside his great menagerie of pets. When his father gets a new job and the family must move from their home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to the bustling city of Toronto, Billy must find a home for his beloved feathered friends who have become like family.
A hilarious tale of one mishap after another, this book has been entertaining your readers for decades. That said, it includes two instances of antiquated descriptions of Native Americans as well as the following sentence from p. 61, "An Indian who was being chased by the Mounties, a long, long time ago, was supposed to have hanged himself on that branch so the Mounties wouldn't catch him alive."
The Case of the Missing Cheetah
by Veronica Mang
One rainy night, best friends Rita, Dot, and Peggy see a mysterious woman out their clubhouse window. Curious, they follow her only to discover that she is their teacher, Miss Khan. They soon realize, however, that "teacher" is just her cover. She's actually a member of a secret spy society of women. Miss Khan sees potential in the three young girls and challenges them to uncover the truth about the disappearance of a baby cheetah.
This is the first in a charming trio of illustrated chapter mysteries called the Secret Spy Society. Older fans of Cam Jensen will enjoy this more complex series, also starring female protagonists.
Please note: Though the book is based entirely on fiction, the author has included the personas of real female spies throughout history. An "Author's Note" at the back of the book features short biographical descriptions of the real women, including that of Josephine Baker, a performer who joined the French Resistance during World War II and was suspected of being bisexual. While the story does not mention anything about Baker's personal life, the "Author's Note" says the following: "Josephine did lots of things that women weren't supposed to do during her time--she adopted lots of children, refused to perform in places that prohibited African Americans, and loved whomever she wanted to."
Middle-Grade Novels
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
by Joan Aiken
Bonnie's parents depart for a voyage across the sea, leaving her and her orphaned cousin Sylvia in the care of a governess who came highly recommended. Little do the parents or children know that Miss Slighcarp has a plan to take over the beloved Willoughby estate. She dismisses most of the staff, sends the girls off to a strict boarding school, and with the help of the sinister Mr. Grimshaw, rewrites her employers' will.
In a reimagined 1832 England where wolves have taken over the countryside, the young girls learn that the wolves they should fear most aren't the ones lurking outside, but the ones living right under their very roof.
While the cover looks quite menacing, this is a charming book that will captivate fans of A Place to Hang the Moon. Please note that the word "d*mned" appears in two sections of dialogue but is used in a historically accurate way.
by Heather Holleman
It seems like everyone has learned the unspoken rules of middle school, but Elita, who just wants to return to the carefree days of 6th grade, when her worth was not determined by the clothes she wore or the number of "followers" she had on social media. Everyone around her seems so grown up, but Elita hasn't changed much over the summer. The ultimate disappointment comes on the first day of the new school year when she tries to sit at a lunch table with her longtime friends, only to be told, "This seat's saved." She feels left out at every turn.
Just when it seems things can't get any worse, they do. One of the popular girls accuses Elita of a crime she didn't commit. Will anyone believe her?
While at first blush, it appears that this Christian fiction is filled with the type of catty and boy-crazy comments that most parents want their young girls to avoid. However, its Ephesians 2:6 redemptive message is precisely what most middle schoolers need to point them toward a healthy view of themselves and others. This is the first in the two-part Elita Brown series.
Please note: Elita lies to the school nurse and says she has "cramps" when she really just wants to avoid peer drama. A few paragraphs mention Halloween costumes and plans for trick-or-treating.
by Caroline Starr Rose
The small town of Oakdale is turned upside down when a travelling medicine man, Dr. Kingsbury, arrives, peddling a miracle tonic that will cure everything from bad weather to crippling diseases. Close at his side is a young apprentice, Jack, who agrees to join the wayfarer when his baby sister took a few doses of the elixir and was miraculously cured of a deathly malady. But there’s something off-putting about the doctor—something that even Jack can’t deny. When the boy and his new friend, Cora, stumble upon an old newspaper article revealing some hidden secrets of the past, they realize it is up to them to stop the showman from his evil intent. Will the townsfolk listen, or will they be too enamored by Kingsbury’s sly tongue and empty promises?
Please note: Two boys are killed at the doctor’s hands. That said, there is no description of the murders. Jack and Cora assume Kingsbury’s guilt based on the newspaper article and the disappearance of another apprentice.
by Kathleen Karr
In a wild misadventure, Simon Green, an elementary school dropout, joins forces with an ornery, old codger to drive one thousand turkeys from a farm in Missouri to the untamed boomtown of Denver, Colorado. Along the way, they face many obstacles and form unlikely alliances with a few other societal outcasts.
Young readers will enjoy this rib-tickling underdog story.
Please note: The text contains a few 19th-century swear words, such as "dadblameit" and "durned."
Parents, Be Aware
by Abby Hanlon
As the youngest sibling, Dory, is often left out. Her older sister and brother don't want anything to do with her. They think she is a baby. In fact, they make up a fanciful story about a baby-stealing woman who roams the neighborhood snatching up anyone who acts immature. With creativity and a whole lot of hijinks, Dory, along with her imaginary friend Mary, outwits her siblings and the evil baby stealer.
This is the first in a seven-book series.
Things to know:
The relationship between Dory and her siblings is, at best, troubling. The older kids call her unkind names, and she continues to pester them on purpose. Dory blames her naughty behavior, including stealing, lying, blatant disobedience, and theatrical tantrums, on her imaginary friend. At one point, she stabs her doctor in the leg with the stick-end of a lollipop. In the end, she and her siblings play house, allowing Dory to be a "baby" without being criticized. However, none of the children really change their behavior, nor are they disciplined for their disrespect and disobedience. Their actions are presented as "normal childishness."
by Lindsay Currie
When her family is faced with foreclosure and the threat of a cross-country move, middle schooler Sarah, along with her friends West and Hannah, use their escape room skills to find a treasure rumored to be buried somewhere inside an old abandoned fun house. The trio breaks in, hoping to find enough money to help Sarah’s parents, and is faced with puzzles, codes, and riddles they must solve, not just to find the prize, but also to escape the mysterious home that has them trapped.
This is the first of a two-part series. I have not read the second book.
Things to know:
To sneak past the “no trespassing” signs of the funhouse without anyone noticing, the tweens lie to their parents. There is passing talk of luck, a fake god, a scary movie, and a haunted house that one of the trio had previously visited. None of these conversations takes up too much ink in the book, however. Additionally, a few chapter titles contain the word “sucks,” some of the characters use the word, “crap,” and one uses the phrase, “in another life.”
Just for you, Mom
by Katherine Reay
A product of the foster care system, want-to-be-writer Samantha Moore uses literature as a coping strategy in her adult life. Instead of sharing her actual view about a topic, she resorts to quoting classic books, particularly the works of Jane Austen. She receives a scholarship to a prestigious journalism school with one caveat: she must write letters to the anonymous benefactor “Mr. Knightley,” detailing her academic progress. Through the letters, Samantha grapples with her past trauma, begins to find hope in her new life, and navigates a budding relationship with a successful novelist.
Fans of Jane Austen will especially enjoy this epistolary novel, which explores themes of healing, rebuilding trust, and forging a new life.