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.