The Red Queen

The Red Queen

By Victoria Aveyard

     In this dystopian book the world is divided by blood, the red or silver.  The red bloods are commoners ruled by the silvers who have superpowers over them. Mare Barrow is a red who is a commoner and finds herself working in the Silver Palace. While working there she discovers that she has a power that threatens to destroy the balance of power.  The Red Queen has similarities to other books taking place in an alternate society. So, if you like The Hunger Games, The Selection, or Divergent you most likely will enjoy Red Queen.

The Biggest Poutine in the World

The Biggest Poutine in the World
By Andree Poulin

     Thomas remembers his mother leaving him when he was five years old and he remembers the delicious poutine that she made for him.  More than anything Thomas wants to see his mother again, so he decides to make the biggest poutine in the world and get into the Guinness Book of World Records.  By doing this he believes he will get his mother to take notice.  This book will take readers on a journey meeting many interesting characters and there will be closure as to what happened to his mother and if he make the record books.

Need

Need

By Joelle Charbonneau

     Need is a new social networking site that students in Nottawa, Wisconsin start to join.  This site will give students what they "need."  To some this seems like a great site, if they need a new iphone, they get one.  If they need a new outfit, they get it.  But, will their be a price to pay for what they need?  And, what exactly is a need?  Students start to realize that the demands of what they must do for a need could destroy them all.  This is a book that middle school readers will relate to and be able to think about the choices they make online.

Pax

Pax

By Sara Pennypacker

Pax was a kit when his human boy owner took him and took care of him.  As war is headed to the area, Pax is left by his boy in the woods.  The boy, Peter felt forced by his father to leave Pax and immediately regrets it.  This story chronicles Peter's journey trying to find Pax and Pax trying to find his way as a fox in the wild.  This book is for anyone who loves animals, has had to make challenging choices in life, or who has ever had a pet they love.

Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories

Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories

By R. J. Palacio

If you've read the book Wonder and enjoyed it, you'll enjoy this book as well.  Auggie and Me adds three new stories to Auggie's story.  The Julian chapter shows the mindset of Julian and what happened to him after he left school.  Pluto, is the story of Auggie's oldest friend Christopher.  The last story is from the perspective of Auggie's classmate Charlotte. This is a must read for anyone who enjoyed reading Wonder.

Untwine

Untwine

By Edwidge Danticat

Twin sisters Giselle and Isabelle life takes a wrong turn when their family is in a car accident.  The story is filled with love and heartbreak, showing how we must go on even when things seem to be at their worst.  For students who enjoyed the book If I Stay this one will resonate with them as well.  

The Hired Girl

The Hired Girl

By Laura Amy Schlitz

Joan Skraggs lives on a farm with her father and brothers, living a life of a farm girl all she does is clean, cook, and make sure things are in order for the men in her life.  Joan wants more, so she decides to flee the farm and take off for the city to become a hired girl, save money, and hopefully go to school some day so she can become an educator.  

The story is told through Joan's journal.  While reading the journal one is able to see how the decisions she makes changes the journey of her life.  This book will give readers and interesting look into what life was like in the early 1900's.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

By William Kamkwamba

This true story is an amazing story of how resilient young people can be.  William, a young man living in Malawi had to stop going to school to help his family out when the country was going through a drought.  All William wanted to do was be educated and make life easier for his family.  In his free time, William went to the village library and read about electricity, he scoured garbage dumps and he created a windmill to help bring electricity to his family farm. He was seen as being crazy by many, but what he did was incredible.  This is a story of a boy finding a passion and working hard because he knew life could be made easier.  Students will find true story amazing and hopefully will see a bit of them self in William. 

Falling Towers

Towers Falling

By Jewell Parker Rhodes

Towers Falling is a story that takes place 15 years after the World Trade Center buildings feel.  The story is of a young girl named Deja.  Deja's family is struggling to make it day-to-day, due to her father's illness so they are living in a community shelter.  Even though Deja doesn't enjoy living there, she works hard as a young girl to help out with her siblings and finds great friends at school.  It's at school where she starts to learn about community and how history connects us.  Throughout her days in school she realizes that her family has a connection to the falling towers and it's impacted her life, even though she hadn't realized it before.  

This is a perfect book for students who were not around during the World Trade Center attacks to read.  It shows them the consequences of what happened and subtly shows the reader why it's important to remember our history.  This book is outstanding!

Summerlost

Summerlost

By Ally Condie

Summerlost follows the story of a girl named Cedar who moves to a summer home the year after her father and brother are killed in a car accident.  Cedar's mother hopes the move will help heal them that after a devastating year.  Cedar finds a friend in a quirky boy named Leo, and they set off on a unique adventure that involves the mysterious death of an actress in town, working at the local Summerlost festival (think of the Renaissance Faire), and objects that show up on her window sill at night. 

This book is one of resilience and learning to go forward in life, while not forgetting the past.  

Booked

Booked
By Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander did it again. His new novel titled Booked is sure to be as captivating to young adults as his first book The Crossover.  This book is about a young boy who loved playing soccer and doesn't really enjoy reading, especially the dictionary that his linguistics professor father has written.  Throughout the book the reader meets Nicholas friend, school librarian, teachers, a young girl he likes, as well as his parents.  Each of these characters bring the book to life.  This is another excellent book by Mr. Alexander.

Raymie Nightingale

Raymie Nightingale
By: Kate DiCamillo

Raymie Clark is on a quest to win back her father, by becoming famous after winning the Little Miss Central Florida Tire Contest.  This book is about growing up, learning that you can't always win back what you want, finding new friends, and realizing that everyone has a story.  This book has interesting characters that are extremely likeable.  The story goes off in strange directions, but it's all pulled together in the end.  Raymie is a character worth getting to know.  A great book that students of all ages will enjoy.

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics

Mr. Lemoncello's Olympics

By: Chris Grabenstein

What a fun book!  If you've read the first book  Mr. Lemoncello's Library you won't be disappointed by this one.  Luigi Lemoncello is back at his crazy games after children around the country are disappointed that they weren't able to compete in the original games.  New contestants and some old take part in an Olympic style library challenge.  As the games progress Mr. Lemoncello's library is at risk of being taken over by a group of concerned library lovers, this stirs up trouble.  A delightful book that kids of all ages will enjoy reading.

Yellow Star

Yellow Star

By Jennifer Roy

This story is written by the niece of Syvia Perlmutter, who interviewed her aunt to find out about her experience of living in the Lodz ghetto in Poland.  As the years went by in the Lodz ghetto all children were sent away to concentration camps on trains, however when the Russians finally freed the ghetto they found that twelve children were able to stay hidden and survive in the ghetto, Syvia being one them.  The story is told through young Syvia's eyes which show the terrible circumstances they had to face an the amazing strength that was found by many of the families.  

The War that Saved my Life

The War that Saved my Life

by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ada, a young girl who was born with a clubfoot has been held hostage by her mother in their apartment because her mother says she's "crippled."  Ada, determined to do something with her live decides to teach herself to walk and eventually that gives her the ability to flee her home during WWII when other children are evacuating London to get away from bombings.  What Ada finds in the countryside of Kent is a things she has never known before and words she's never heard.  She's happy, sad, angry, grateful, and mad all at once.  This story is a great tale of how resilient humans really are. This story isn't only about Ada, there are many characters throughout the novel who teach Ada that she can do anything she puts her mind to.  

Miss Mayhem

Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins

Miss Mayhem is the second in a series known as the Rebel Belle series, the first book is titled Rebel Belle as well and a third book just out title Lady Renegades.  In the first book the readers is introduced to Harper Price, a southern belle.  After a strange run-in with her school janitor she discovers that she has super powers and finds out she is a Paladin, an ancient guardian with agility, super strength, and lethal fighting instincts.  Things get complicated when Harper finds out her responsibility as a Paladin is to protect the person she likes least.  The second book Miss Mayehm starts with Harper enjoying a simplistic life after the drama in the first book.  But, drama soon finds her and she is required to go through a series of trials in order to stay a Paladin. If you  enjoy mystery, suspense, and some magic this book is one for you.  It's quirky, funny, intense, and unique.

A Night Divided

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen

Gerta, a 12-year-old girl finds her family divided overnight as the Berlin Wall goes up as her father and brother are on the western side, while her mother and other brother are on the eastern side.  Gerta is frustrated that so many people seem fine with the wall dividing the two sides, almost as penance for World War II.  Gerta, however is not willing to stay separated from her father and brother. With some clues secretly given to her by her father and a determined will, Gerta, with the help of her brother finds a way that they could possibly escape.  It's dangerous and challenging, but she's willing to do anything for her family's freedom, even risk her own life.

Orbiting Jupiter

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

Orbiting Jupiter was a unique tale that was beautiful told. Joseph is a troubled child who enters foster care, the further you read the more you learn about Joseph's life story. Joseph's life story is not an easy one, but as the reader learns what makes Joseph want to do better in his life.  This book is hopeful and devastating at the same time.

Breathe

Breathe
By Sarah Crossan

Imagine living in a world with no air.  Breathe takes place in a world where oxygen doesn't exist as it once had.  In order to survive you must live a dome full of manufactured air and you must pay for it. Some are starting to believe that maybe they are not surviving in the dome, but instead they are trapped in it. The path of three teens intersect in this story for an interesting tale of what could happen in the future.  For students who enjoy this first book there is a second one titled Resist.

In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse

In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse
Joseph Marshall III

Jimmy McClean is a Lakota teenager.  He is often made fun of by his classmates because his name doesn't sound Lakota and he doesn't look Lakota with his light skin and green eyes.  Jimmy takes a trip with his grandfather to learn more about his Lakota heritage and one of the most important Lakota figures, Crazy Horse. Throughout the trip with his grandfather Jimmy learns the challenges and triumphs of Crazy Horse and the Lakota.  He also learns that is stronger than he once thought.

Pivot Point

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Pivot Point starts out following a teenager Addie, who lives in The Compound, a secret society for people with special abilities.  Some people can read minds, some can detect lies, other can make those around them feel less anxious.  Addie's talent is that she can search the future when faced with a specific decision.  The majority of the book shows how Addie's life will play out if she chooses to live with her dad after her parents divorce or her mom. Addie doesn't like either ending, but she has to make a choice.  This book is sure the keep the audience of readers who enjoy books with suspense and alternate realities. 

The Neddiad

The Neddiad - by Daniel PinkwaterHow Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, And Saved Civilization

The Neddiad is a book like no other I have read before.  It's quirky, funny, and unique. The book is about a young boy named Neddie whose family moves to Hollywood and finds himself is some peculiar situations along the way.  He also meets and becomes friends with some endearing characters along the way.  If you're in the mood for a book like nothing you've ever read before, this is the book for you!  

A Little Bit of Spectacular

A Little Bit of Spectacular by Gin Phillips

 Olivia, an 11-year-old girl has to move from her home in Charleston to Birmingham after her mother becomes sick. As she adjusts to the new city she is living in she finds interesting clues in the bathroom of a coffee shop that make her wonder if their is an alien life form here on earth.  This book is a little less spectacular than one may hope for, but the ending is satisfying and Olivia is a character that readers will root for.

Crenshaw

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

What an endearing tale this Crenshaw is. From the author who wrote The One and Only Ivan comes a book of great imagination and creativity.  Jackson, a young boy is having a hard time dealing with the fact that his family is struggling to make it day to day.  They have a lack of food and have to sell many of their personal items so they have enough money for rent.  Jackson feels  that he's old enough to hear about these problems from his parents, but they try not to burden him and keep an optimistic attitude.  During this troubling time Jackson's imaginary friend from years ago, shows up again.  Crenshaw is a very large cat who comes to help Jackson and teach us all about the lesson of trust and being honest.