Outrun the Moon

Outrun the Moon
By Stacey Lee

     Outrun the Moon takes place in 1908 in San Francisco.  Mercy Wong is determined to break free from the cycle of poverty her family seems destined to. Mercy is strong-willed young girl who works her way to getting a scholarship into St. Clare's School for Girls in the hopes that becoming educated will allow her to make a better life for her family, especially her younger brother.  But, after a horrific earthquake hits the San Francisco area, Mercy has to deal with suffering and pain, and figure out what she wants to do with her life.  Outrun the Moon is an excellent historical fiction book for students interested in learning about a time period many are most likely unfamiliar with.

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.